Dragon Fence

A dragon fence is a barrier common throughout the Trans-Draconic Federation that denotes spaces reserved for dragon use(usually hunting). Humans(or any sentients) who cross the fence may be captured and devoured with no legal recourse. Fences are clearly marked and any near population centers will be well-maintained.

Dragon Fence

A typical dragon fence is four feet high, with large square markers placed every ten feet. These are usually made from wood or stone, with a standardized four-inch-by-four-inch square shape and four feet protruding above the surface. They are usually painted bright colors in order to stand out. As an additional measure, a wire connects the top of each post. In more populated areas, a few additional wires are added lower down to help make the fence's purpose as a barrier more obvious. Every one hundred feet is also a warning sign, containing written warnings in several language and large pictograms depicting what will happen to anyone who crosses.

Where they cross rivers, large markers are placed on either side with additional signage. In more remote areas, the wire is left out, as the the fence is not meant to form a barrier for migratory animals. Some fences may run for tens of thousands of miles.

History

The first Dragon Fence was around the city of Arindell during the Alliance era. When the city was first built in the early Golden Age, the local Atayans had had a long-standing truce with the dragons giving them access to the library for which the city was named. At the time only a single, well-known track was used and the dragons knew to avoid it and the few campgrounds along the way. With a city being placed in the protective shadow of the mountain, the dragons and humans agreed that a line should be drawn.

The defense of the mountain was simply pragmatic; dragons everywhere had to deal with attempted theft of their gold on a regular basis, and among most flights it was common practice to kill any humans caught anywhere near the mountain. Rather than debate intent, an arbitrary boundary was created: set one foot over this line, and you will be considered a thief and devoured as such.

Further afield there was another issue. Dragons, as a rule, do not want competition for game on their lands. Near dragon eeries you will seldom find other apex-predators. Humans hunting for sport or food still denoted "competition", and thus some lands had to be set aside exclusively for use by dragons.

During the Alliance era there was no hard and fast rule. The fence existed mostly as a series of warning signs around the city(being much closer to the eerie and thus much more likely to encounter a dragon). Further afield there was no barrier but it was understood that "from the foothills up" belongs to the dragons. At the time it was usually standard practice to challenge and human caught inside draconic territory and eat them only if they did not have a good explanation.

New Day Alliance Era

When the Trans-Draconic Federation was founded at the start of the New Day, it meant that humans would be living near dragons all over the known worlds. As such the tradition of the dragon fence was adopted far and wide. Initially, the common practice was resumed: challenge anyone caught on the wrong side. Unfortunately, there happened to be a great many humans who rejected dragon rule but were also unwilling to simply relocate to someplace where they would not have to endure it. Crossing, moving, or destroying the fence was adopted as an act of protest.

At first, the Federation made this a crime, but found it difficult to encourage their human law enforcement personnel to properly enforce the rules.