Hovven History & Culture

Overview

The Hovven are humanoids native to the Magic Realm who have the ability to transform into four-legged, fire-breathing draconics, commonly referred to in English as dragons. They are notorious for their bright red hair, their superiority complexes, and their flaming tempers. 



While in human form, Hovven age identically to humans until the age of 20, at which point they visually age approximately five times slower than humans. The oldest Hovven to live on record was 406.


In the mountain range beyond the large, dry desert that separates their territory from the Warm Forest, the Hovven occupy various areas of the landscape, with higher castes living towards the peaks, lower castes living in the valleys, and small, conservative populations living within caves.

Hovven values revolve around the Five Pillars: extravagance, family, hierarchy, law, and loyalty.


According to Hovven beliefs, hierarchy across species is as follows: dragons, seers, elves, dryads, humans, wyverns, animals. Humans are placed above wyverns for their innovative technology and "worthiness" as opponents.

The PPD & PPA

Population Protection Declaration of 1421 (PPD)

According to historical records, concerns of a dropping population due to the Great Slaughters of the Medieval Period prompted King Hensoǜ to create the Population Protection Declaration of 1421, which:


  1. Ordered the immediate closure of all veils in Europe; all veils along European trade routes in Africa, Asia, and modern-day Eastern Canada; and select veils that were deemed as threats
  2. Ended changeling practices, primarily as a consequence of the veil closures
  3. Removed Hovven women from "dangerous" occupations
  4. Prohibited new marriage and intercourse between Hovven women and non-Hovven men (pre-existing marriages were unaffected by this declaration)
  5. Outlawed homosexuality (pre-existing marriages were annulled under this declaration)
  6. Required the marriage of Hovven women within ten years of reaching adulthood (women over this age threshold were provided six months to find a husband)
  7. Banned cloacal sex and egg-laying due to perceived vulnerability and long development periods of eggs in comparison to pregnancy
  8. Forced the sterilization of disabled* Hovven
  9. Declared automatic public execution as the penalty for murdering a Hovven under the age of 20


*Disability under Hovven Law is defined as meeting one or more of the following criteria:

  • Lack of proficient eyesight, with an onset before the age of 100
  • Severe hearing loss, with an onset before the age of 125
  • Profound hearing loss, with an onset before the age of 150
  • Inability to communicate by the age of 20
  • Inability to perform labor by the age of 20
  • High susceptibility to illness
  • Weakness without ability to improve
  • Presence of significant physical anomalies at birth


The ban on egg-laying that the Population Protection Declaration of 1421 created is directly attributed to a rise in mortality rates in women during childbirth, particularly when bearing sons. Due to male Hovven being significant larger in size than females, sons were more likely to kill their mothers. Female first-borns began to be revered, as they would generally allow their mothers another chance at bearing a child and would likely be able to bear children themselves one day. 


Additionally, the news that Europeans had rediscovered America prompted King Hensoǜ to create the Population Protection Amendment of 1504, which:


  1. Closed all veils in the Americas due rising European presence and high rates of violence
  2. Allowed Hovven men who hold higher class than their wife to take on additional wives