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100% found this document useful (2 votes)
1K views187 pagesEarthdawn The Theran Empire
Uploaded by
Billy MottCopyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
/ 187
aaes TFERAN
EMPIRE
FASA CORPORATION CONTENTS
=
ON HOW THIS WORK CAME TO BE 5 On the Curious Position of Theran Freemes
AN OVERVIEW OF THE EMPIRE 6 On the Enlightened
(On Thera’s Central Text 7 (On Barbarian Status
‘An Excerpt from The Shining Foundation 7 On Slavery in Everyday Life
(On the Importance of Noble Houses 8 On Osteniation and Display
On the Major Noble Houses 9 On Attitudes towaris the Passions
On the Corrupting Effect of CREANA
House Rivalries 10 (On the Origins of Creana
(On the Structure of Government B On the Pyramid of Name-givers
On the Omnipresence of Bureaucracy 15 On the Pharon
‘On the Theran Military 16 On the Royal Family
(On the Structure of the Military 16 On the Priest Scribes
Onthe Forces Stationed in Great Thera 17 (On the Nomarchs
(On Theran Forces in the Provinces v7 On the Serfs
On the Political Influence On Slaves
‘of the War College 18 On Roles of the Name-giver Races
(On the Role of Slavery 18 ‘On Outlaws and Other Outsiders
(On Slavery in Early Thera 18 On the Theran Presence in Creana
(On Magic and the Empire 20 On the History of Thera and Creana
(On Magical Augmentation (On the Overgovernor and Her Underlings
and lis Implications a ‘On Theran Houses Active in Creana
(On the Many Races in the Empire 2 Concerning Military Deployment
Jackalmen 2 On the Land of Creana
Jubruq 2 ‘Onthe Cities
Leafers 2B On tthe Legendary City of Karnard
Uik-men 23 ‘On the Conquered Cities
(On Theran Culture and Attitudes Py On the Passions of Creana
On the Empire ery On the Great Work
On the Theran View of Barsaive 25 ‘On Tomb Explorers and Grave Robbers
(On Future Relations ro On the Effects of the Scourge
GREAT THERA 26 ‘On the Horrors that Remain
Impressions of the City 26 On the Return of the Dead
(On Sundry Diversions 28 On the Shifting Sands
(On Theran Architecture 29 Regarding Philosophical Unrest
A Tour of the Great City 30 INDRISIA.
On the Eternal Library 30 On Indrisa’s Place in the Empire
On the Sphinx 32 On the Land
On the First Governor's Palace 32 ‘On the Jungles of Indrisa
On the Arbitorium 32 nthe Mayana Mountains
On the War College 33 On the Theran Triumph in Indrisa
On the Hall of the Conclave 33 ‘The Need for Conquest
On the Grand Halls of the Great Houses 34 The Discovery of Indrisa
(On the Monuments of Messias 35 On the Conquest of Incrisa
On Visiting Aerial Buildings 35 (On Fovian, the First Overgovernor
Security Measures Explicated 36 On the Days before the Scourge
On Attitudes toward Foreigners 38 On Events during the Scourge
(On Daily Life in the Great City 38 ‘The Reclamation of Indrisa
‘A Day in the Life of a Noble 38
EZ ZA SS
39
39
39
39
40
a
8
a
4
a4
46
a
48
0
50
50
st
2
32
33
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57
38
2
2
3
6
64
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6
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6
6
69
69
7
n
n
2
” (On Indrisa in the Present Day 5
A Dissicent’s Assessmient 76
On Local Ways =
(On the Livastl Originators 78
(On the Avani Invaders 0
(On Comman Traditions: The Passions
and Thibomata ”
The Jaraput and the Pathalan co
(On the Cities of Indrisa at
Annawath 84
Bullawy 85
Caleutana 86
Dravada 37
Etianari 88
Kanitherium 88
Kopalla 89
Mbutralla 90
Thepinar 90
Vaniri 90
‘The Sunken Cities 1
MARAC 2
A Brief Overview of the Land and Its People 92
On the Make-up of the Maracan Delegation 94
On the History of the War in Marac 95
‘On the Ancient War between the Cities
and the Tribes 95
(On Early Relations with Marac 97
On the First Conquest of Marac 98
(On the Reclamation of Marac 9
On Sufik Activites after the Scourge 101
(On the Jinari Rebellion 103
(On the Jinart 103
On the Unfortunate Acts of House
Narlanth 108
On the Foolishness of House Heindari 105
(On the War against the Fabrikas 105
(On the Assassinations and the Spread
‘of Insurgency 106
(On the Cities of Marac 108
Maracazar 108
Karatha 109
Orana 109
Irkum 10
(On Notable Persons of Marac 10
General Bubac m
General Chribac m
Dossuth El-Landro m1
Krovo 1m
Overgovernor Lestiolem m
Mayu m
‘Admiral Parragea 13
Grand Sultan Quifira 13
Uvira 113
BEEZ
Admiral Vonaxi
TALEA
'A Brief Overview of a Strange Place
(On the Traders
‘An Unanticipated Episode of Poverty
(On Traders’ Charters
On the Traders’ Role in Talean Life
On the Intervention of a
Mysterious Individual
‘On the Dukes
The Rights of Fecal
(On Being Named a Duke
On the Great Dukes of Talea
A Regrettable, but Understandable,
Incident
‘On the Therans
On the City of Pezzano
On Theran Policy in Talea
On Influential Therans of Talea
(On the Signori
On the Rise of the Cities,
On the Rule of the Signor!
Ruling Signori and their Cities Described
On the Temple
(On Serenity IV
On the Theology of Prima
On the Hierarchy of the Temple
On the Power of the Pompate
On Prominent Name-givers of the Temple
A Quiet Departure
On the Kings
On the King of the South
On the King of the North
On the King of Arancia
(On Mercenaries
On the Republicans
A Final Farewell
VASGOTHIA
(On Theran Vasgothia
(On imperial History in Vasgothia
On the Present Theran Hierarchy
(On Theran Settlements
‘On the Tribal Lands
(On the Organization of the Tribes
(On the Barbarian Passions, Ancient
‘and Modern
On the Adopted Passions
On the Place of ReNaming
‘On the Deep Forest
On Astral Taine
On the Fruits of the Passions
On the Fruits of the Horrors
On the Half-Horrors
On the Woman of Power
us
us
us
6
16
16
47
8
18
19
9
120
ws
ws
15
15
126
8
129
9
130
133
133
a
18
135
137
138
138
19
140
140
ago
ut
ut
cts
crs
us
M6
a7
18
148
us
150
150
152
153,
154
134
158
14 On the Towers
On Earthswallower's Pattern,
On the New Races
On the Leafers
On the Ulk-men
On the Toads, or Gruthrump
GAME INFORMATION
General Rules
Playing New Races
Languages in the Empire
Great Thera
Depatterning
New Blood Charms
‘Theran Magical Augmentation
‘Theran Glossary
Creana
Sandstorms
Mummies
Jacicaimen
Creanan Glossary
Indrisa
Indrisan Relies
Dh
Indrisan Glossary
Marac
Rhetoric
Jinari
Jubruq
Maracan Glossary
Talea
Talean Glossary
Vasgothia
Leafers
Ulk-men
Vasgothian Forest Magic
Fruits of the Passions
Vasgothian Glossary
TTNCRAY EMPIRE SPURCEBOOK CREO
ct rs Lobe
Tn Al Tos Bf Lautenen Math Nsom Mel Satin
Fred Hope Nan
62S ON ROW TRIS
WORK CAME T? BE
embark upon the weiting of this introduction with pride and trepidation, Pride, because my colleagues and I have
‘gone to great lengths to compile this volume, and because it so well accomplishes the goals set out for us by Fis Royal
Highness, King Neden of Throal. I shall dispense with the usual self- congratulatory rhapsodies to which we of the Great
Library are prone upon the completion of a mammoth task such as this one. I will merely—and deservedly—praise the ster
ling efforts of my colleagues: in their sometimes hazardous field research and in the more sedentary but no less arduous
process of writing and editing, I congratulate them on a job well done.
Lands of the Theran Empire isthe first commission given us by King Neden, and historians of the future will doubt
less find ita telling symbol of our new sovereign’ priorities. For we stand at a crossroads in Barsaive: the kingdom of
Throal ison the edige of war with the mighty Theran Empire, as evidenced by the recent Battle of Prajjo's Field, where
Throalic and Theran military forces clashed for the first time in more than half a century. That event marked out entry into
a new and confusing phase of history. No longer are the unearthly Horrors our chief enemy; now we must also concern
‘ourselves with the subtler, more ambiguous threats offered by other nations. Are the Therans the implacable foes they seem
tobe? Are awe doomed to shed our blood fighting them in the name of the Council Compact? Oris it possible to reach a
‘mutual understanding that allows for peaceful coexistence between their mighty empire and our small but proud and
determined nation? And if such an understanding is not possible, can we find weaknesses to exploit whereby we might
bring abour their defeat? King Neden commissioned this Volume ta find answers to these vital questions,
Readers may be surprised to learn how the teazn of scholars responsible for this tome, headled by your humble servant,
‘went about its research, We initially planned to rely on the accounts of Barsaivian adventurers, as well as material supplied
tous by Theran dissidents and exiles now living in Throal. We had completed a preliminary outline ofthe project when one
Apulian Coriatus, a merchant of Bartercown who maintains connections with the Theran leadership in Vivane, approached
Us. He carried an invitation from no less a personage than Korgan, Grand Master of the Eternal Library of Theral The
Eternal Library was conducting a Great Symposium of Scholars to be held on the island of Thera, at wich archivists from
throughout the Theran Empire would exchange information about their homelands, To my everlasting surprise, | andl any
colleagues I wished to bring with me were graciously invited to attend,
‘Whether to accept this unusual invitation was a matter of great debate, both atte Great Library and in the Royal
Chambers. Many courtiers feared that the Symposium was an exercise in propaganda, designed to lll politically unsophis-
Licated scholars into minimizing the Theran menace. Some feared we would be taken hostage. (One concerned individual
even predicted that we would be drugged and our minds drained of information by Thera’s nethermantic inquisitors.) In
the end, however. we decided to go. Though I had my own reservations about Thera’s motives in this matter. co refuse an
opportunity to acquire knowledge contradicts all [believe in.
I therefore chose three companions to travel with me to the Symposium. At my right hand was the indefatigable Thom
Edrull, who made his determination to attend the event amply clear from the first receipt ofthe invitation, [also included
the redoubtable Jerriv Forrim, whose attention to detail was matched only by his rigorous skepticism. The fourth one of us
‘was the ’skrang troubadour T’saanas V'shala, whose gift for listening and willingness to place herself in unusual situations
contributed much information about ordinary life in Thera that would have eluded the rest of us (who, I confess, often
value book learning over experience).
The Symposium was even more fascinating than we had hoped. We spent many a long evening in unfettered discus.
sion: curiously, our Theran hosts forbade us no subject. Throughout this tome, we have combined our first-hand observa
tions with excerpts from the works of archivists from Thera and its provinees. These writings and speeches were particular:
ly useful in the sections concerning other provinces, of which we have no personal experience. In a world where the unbe
lievable is commonplace, one can never be completely certain of the veracity of any report: however. I have not knowingly
included any information I suspected might be false. Wherever we found ourselves uncertain of the truth, we have endeav
‘red to show both sides of the matter at hand, As in the past, we have invited outside scholars and interested lay people to
include marginal notes at any points of contention. For this book, we also Invited a select number of Therans to add thelr
comments. [think they found! seeing themselves through our eyes an unsetiling experience, indeed, AN OVERVIEW OF TAE EMPIRE
‘This section offers the uninitiated reader a broad outline ofthe history. culture and workings ofthe Theran Empire. For the conve
lence ofthe reader, we have substituted the Throalic calendar throughout this book wherever the original material uses Theran dating.
~Merrox, Master ofthe Hall of Records, 1509 TH
ON THERA'S CENTRAL TEXT
—As written by Thom Edull, Archivist ofthe Hall of Records
‘To understand how Therans think of themselves, one must
read The Shining Foundation by Rzardo the Bearcled. This tex.
‘written in 1040 TH, is considered the definitive work of Theran
history, and is an integral part of the education of young nobles
and other educated Name-givers on the island of Great Thera,
Though the reader may strongly disagree with Rizardo's blind
confidence in Theran superiority, we include The Shining
Foundation here as the clearest possible expression of the way
the typical Theran views the world. Should any stalwart cit-
zen of Throal come into contact or confllet with a Theran
diplomat, military officer or spy, know that the Theran’s
aititudes have been shaped by phrases such as the ones
you are about to read—phrases that make it easy to under.
stand why Therans see themselves as conquering saviors
who know our needs better than we do, and to whom we
‘owe thanks for the blessings of their civilization,
AN CXCERPT FROM THE SHINING FOUNDATION
‘Our forebears founded Thera to fight the Scourge, and
every aspect of our Empire's existence reflects this fact.
Thera became an Empire because we seek to save as,
many Name-givers as we ean from the coming onslaught of
the Horrors. IFour leaders have sometimes engaged in practices
‘hat seem brutal or unjust, we have only done so to further this
‘most noble of goals, Leadership Is the ability to determine when a
few must suffer in order that the many may be saved.
Leadership has no greater exemplar than Elianar
Messias the elven scholar who first prophesied the coming of
the Scourge. Messias first rose to prominence as an adviser (0
(Queen Failla, ruler of the Elven Court. At that time, so long ago
that Great Thera was no more than a distant dream, the Elven
‘Court ruled the minds and hearts, as well as the bodies, ofall
the world's elves. Thanks in part to Elianar Messias, the elves of Thera have
‘been freed from this unjust enslavement of the self like all their fellow
‘Therans, Thera’s elves properly owe their allegiance co the Empire rather than to a hereditary ruler granted sway over them
simply because of theit shared race. But even in Messias's day, forward-thinking elves were beginning to question the
supremacy of the Elven Court and its queen. The details of the archaic feud that forced Messias to break with Failla are of
no interest ro the modern reader: it s enough to know that Messias rejected Failla’s outdated ways and misguided choices,
as did many other enlightened elves of the time.
Messias left the Elven Court and journeyed to an isolated spot in the region we know as the province of Barsaive,
‘where he found a small settlement of questors dedicated to Mynbruje, the Passion of Justice and Knowledge and Truth. In
tribute to their patron Passion, the questors had begun an arduous labor of love: translating a collection of ancient texts they
had recently discovered in a network of nearby caves. They did not know that these millennia-old documents told a terrible
story that would change the face ofthe world forever. Messias was the frst to learn the truth contained in the ancient wrt ings, and he paid for this knowledge with his life. Shortly after beginning this work, he was found dead, and beside his hor
ribly mutilated body were found the beginnings ofa translation of what came to be known as the Books of Harrow. Ever
since, we have called him the Martyr Scholar. because he gave his life so that all of us might live through the tetvor that is
soon to come upon us. Let the memory of Fianar Messias guide you, should you ever be ealled upon to sacrifice yourself
for the sake of your fellow Name-givers. Messias embodies the True Pattern of the Theran hero; for the sake of the world,
he stepped into the breach and risked all. As he did, so must all Therans da whenever the need arises
The Books of Harrow spoke ofa cosmic eycle that determines our fate, a cycle in which the level of magic in the world
increases and decreases over thousands of years. When the magic reaches its apex. lis power creates a doorway from our
world to the mysterious home of the Horrors. malignant monsters that glory in untold destruction. Whenever this doorway
‘opens, the Horrors come through it and ravage the world until the magic falls again, The followers of Messias kniew that this
terrible onslaught, called the Scourge, would destroy all life in our world unless someone discovered a means of protection.
To this great effort they devoted themselves, delving deeper into the Baoks af Harrow to learn all they could of what faced us,
But the terrible forces that had claimed Messias’s life were still at work, embedded in the Books themselves, Because the
Books contained knowledge of the dread Horrors, heir patterns were Infused with the dangerous magical energies of those
‘monstrous beings—awful manifestations that threatened the questors and thelr settlement even though the Horrors them:
selves were centuries away from arriving in our world.
The leader ofthe questors. an elderly elf Named Kearos Navarim, knew that he and his fellows dared not stay. A secret
and powerful magical ritual, cast by Navarim to discover the most auspicious place to fee. led him to a map of the region sur
rounding the questors’ settlement, and drew his eye o an island whose magical pattern was particularly resistant to evil
nfluences. He led his people to that island and made it our home, Great Thera, The founding of our motherland through
‘magic marks the first instance in a long tradition: we have always employed our great gilts of sorcery to protect ourselves and
‘others. Thera began with and thrives through our magical knowledge, and so all true Therans respect scholars and magicians,
‘The questors fled, but the evil inthe patterns of the Books of Harrow followed them. They found rest ancl peace only
‘when they reached the island of Thera after a long and treacherous sea voyage. Then, as now, Thera was a refuge from the
‘vast. uncontrollable forces of the world. To ensure that it always would be, Kearos Navarim founded a place of learning
and Named it the Eternal Library. From that day to this, the scholars who maintain it are the spiritual heirs of Navarim and
Mesias. Nevarim also founded a settlement around the library, which he Named Nebr'esham—the center ofthe mind.
From this small community of dedicated magical scholars, our vast empire sprang, shaped by the intelligence and fore.
thought embodied in its Name. Let this remind you that the same intelligence and forethought must be the hallmark of @
true Theran leader
A time of heroes followed the days of our beginning, Magicians, adventurers and countless people of learning,
descended on Nehr'esham, drawn there—though they knew it not—by the pattern ofthe island itself, which called to it
those who shared its greatness. These Therans, the worthiest Name-givers in all the world, are your ancestors. Never forget
that you come of superior stock.
In the fullness of time. it became clear that Nehr‘eshamn held within i the seeds of a greatness thus far unknown to
Name-giver history. Its people re-Named it Thera, which means “foundation.” Never forget the debt you owe to that foun:
ation—a debt you can never repay. Protect the lands and people of Thera whenever and however you must, even with
your life if necessary
ON THE IMPORTANCE Of NOBLE HOUSES
As wieitten by Jeriv Forrinn
[Ask a Theran to name the most important element in his society. and he will invariably speak of the noble houses. The
houses hold most of the Empire's power and wealth, and their scions are therefore of great consequence, The houses also.
form the foundation of Thera's government: members of the eleven most prominent ones make up the majority of the
Conclave. Thera's primary ruling body. (More on the Conclave appears in the next section of this chapter.)
Each Theran noble house is composed of several aristocratic families who are bound tagether by a common history
though not necessarily by blood. Most of the major houses inclucle families of various races. though some may be dorninat
ed by a particular race. Each noble house specializes ina distinct sphere of activity, from which it derives power, material
‘wealth, or both. For example, House Carine! is known for trade and exploration, while House Krand profits front its mem.
bers’ unsurpassed skill in magical manipulation ofthe natural world. Rivalry between the houses isa constant in Theran
life, as one of our Theran contributors 10 this tome shows just a bit further on in this chapter.
oC S= 9N THE MAJOR NOBLE NOUSES
‘Therans recognize many more noble houses than are described below, but those houses that send no representatives to
the Conclave have far less influence than those that do. We concern ourselves here with the eleven major houses represent:
ed in the Conclave: Argenti, Carinci, Gaseilium, Heindari, Ippuli,Jotyn, Krand, Medari, Narlanth, Thaloss and Zanjan.
House Argenti
House Argenti, which is dominated by dwarfs, provides various services vital to oiling 1
tion. Its members are moneylenders, healers, messengers, legal advocates, and owners of shops, taverns and food halls,
wheels of Theran eiviliza-
House Carinci
‘House Carine is dominated by t'skrang, a race second only to dwarfs in a natural gift for rade. It therefore should
‘come as no surprise that the Carinct are the Empire's foremost traders. Like traders of Throal, they invest a great deal of
{ime and effort in exploration. hoping to find andl open up new markets. House Carin’ also produces more than its share of
naval officers,
House Gascilium
House Gascilium dominates agriculture throughout the Empire. Its members own and farm vast tracts of land in all the
provinces, which produce food for export. Gascilium nobles are fond of reminding others that Thera would die without
‘them, as the island of Great Thera has nowhere near enough arable land to support its dense population, House Gascilium
relies heavily on slave labor to plant and harvest its erops.
House Heindari
The Helndari are makers of things, from fine art objects to everyday household items. Allies of House Krand, they use
‘that house's magical knowledge to thelr benefit, employing pattern magic to quickly and cheaply manufacture everything
from swords to clothing to cookware, Various ill omens frequently plague their gargantuan installations, which are there-
fore are located only in the provinces.
House Ippuli
The Ippull are entertainers, writers, poets, troubadours and sometimes even adventurers. Though smaller than the other
‘major houses, House [ppuli maintains influence out of proportion to its size through historical and cultural tradition, as well as
less savory means (ifthe rumors about the house are true). Many of Thera’s greatest early heroes were scions of Ippuli infact,
the house began as an adventuring band whose members received the right of representation inthe Conclave as a reward for
their impressive acts of heroism on behalf ofthe Theran cause. Nowadays House Ippuli has a disreputable, even dangerous rep-
"tation. Its members are said to control gangs of thieves and bandits in various Imperial provinces, and even in the Great City
(of Thera, (The reputed head ofthe Great City’ thief gangs is the Supreme Warden of the City, an Ippull oll Named Cha-
Thordovis. Tis sa shocking thing, ifirue, a the Supreme Warden oversees the enforcement of the law throughout the Great
City. Our own T’saanas V’shala gleaned more information on this subject, which appears in the chapter on Great Thera, p-36)
Ona less sinister note, Ippull storycellers and dramatists also maintain their house's hold on Theran society. The ability ©
popularize certain legends and ridicule or suppress others has practical application in our world, governed by pattern magic as
itis. Ippuli artists like to call themselves free spirits, but most of them deliberately create works that suppart the Empire's
philosophical aims,
House Jotyn
Members of House jotyn are hewers of wood and drawers of water. ina manner of speaking, They do not, of course,
perform these labors themselves. Rather, they own the businesses that extract resources from the Empire's far-flung provinces.
‘The great clemand for orichalcum that drove the expansion ofthe Empire in the days before the Scourge made this house
‘wealthy beyond the dreams of the most covetous questar of Chorrolis; these days, House Jotyn specialize in mining, forestry
and fishing
House Krand
Krand, founded by nethermancers andl other magicians, makes its Fortune through discovering the workings of magic in
the natural world and turning this Knowledge toward practical applications. Unlike House Narlanth, another house with a
strong magical bent, House Krand is less interested in magical scholarship for ts own sake than in the immediate, profitable
uses to which magic can be put. For example. an ancestor of House Krand first discovered the magical techniques by which
‘Theran shipwrights to this day weave true air into stone to create the Empire's massive kilas ancl behemoths, House Medari
Members of House Medi are the Empire's middlemen, smoothing the path of finance for Thera’s wealthy business own
ers—fora part of the profits, of course, The very houses that rely on their services hold the Medart in contempt—partly because
they resent their dependence on what one Symposium attendee called "greedy copper-nickers who don't make anything you
can see or touch or hold,” but also because House Medari fs notorious for underhanded political dealings. Whether this reputa
tion is wholly deserved or not is difficult for an outsider to say. For my part, to hear one Theran calling another manipulative is
like hearing a cobra cella viper that it has a forked tongue.
House Medari also controlsshipping and the slave trade, which should not endear the house to any decent Name-giver
anywhere.
House Narlanth
House Narlanth is dominated by elves and humans and contains the greatest number of Thera's accomplished scholars
of magic. Many house members are wizards, and the depth of their arcane knowledge gives them potentially world-shak.
ing power (or so the average Theran believes, and I have no reason to doubt that view). More than a few of the feared
Heavenherds. Thera’s greatest magicians, are said to be of House Narlanth
‘Members ofthis house are largely responsible for the average Barsaivian’s less-than-accurate image of Therans, Pale
‘and thin from spending to0 litle time outdoors in the sunlight, many Narlanthi wizards and scholars look sickly. and they
often bear a striking resemblance (o one another. House Narlanth must have been disproportionately represented among
the first wave of Therans to return to Barsaive; nothing else accounts for our common assumption that most Therans look as
they do, One wonders why so many of these scholars of the arcane should have been the first to return to Barsaive; but alas,
[was unable to find any satisfactory answer during my limited stay in the Great City
House Thaloss
Scions of House Thaloss are the bureaucrats of the Empite. They dominate Thera's government administration and
also frequently manage various businesses owned by other houses. As governmental administrators without peer. House
‘Thaloss gains its prineipal power because its members collec the Empire's taxes and decide how ta spend them though
usually in private meetings rather than in public debate. More than once during our stay on the island, I heard knowledge
able Therans say, “Thaloss makes decrees from behind the throne.”
House Thaloss also controls construction and public works and counts many architects, builders and military eng
neers among its members,
House Zanjan
House Zanjan produces the Empire's proudest soldiers and mercenaries. [ts members are a fair mix of races, somewhat
‘weighted in favor of orks and trolls; prominent orks and trolls in Thera are Wkely to be af House Zanjan. The First Gavernor
‘of the Empire, an obsidiman by the Name of Kanidris, is of Zanjan descent.
‘ON THE CORRUPTING CFFECT Of MOUSE RIVALRIES
In the words of Winasa, Theran crite
We of Throal have na monopoly on criticism of Theran ways. Thera tolerates a surprising degree of dissent, if ony from its own cit
teens, Statements that would be labeled sedition if made by natives of Imperial provinces are permitted—even encouraged in some quar
ters—when made by free Therans, as a necessary corrective to possible corruption. Here we present an excerpt from the words ofa
prominent Theran critic. the poet and actor Winasa, who attended the Symposium.
—Thom Edrull, Archivist of the Hall of Records
AAs proud Therans and proud nobles, | and my fellow citizens prefer not to think about the corrupting effect of house
rivalries on Thera's political life. Our empire was built on the worthiest of principles, set out by Kearos Navarim and the
‘other founders of Nehresham, Our forebears charged us to protect the people of the Selestrean, and everywhere else our
influence might reach, from the coming Scourge. They charged us to bring education and enlightenment to all. Well, we
hhave done soto an extent, We protected our fellow Name-givers from the Horrors. We spread our ways—our laws. our
arts, our Passions. our knowledge—as far as our alrships could take us. Yet with them we also spread war and greed and
exploitation, How can a nation built on the selfless legacy of Elianar Messias, the Martyr Scholar, do such things? I submit
to you, my Theran comrades, that one thing above all has brought such ignominy upon us: the petty rivalries between our
noble houses, And I say this in the presence of our honored guests, to show what true Therans are really made of. True
Therans are not afraid (o look at themselves honestly, nor to admit thei filings, If, during our empire's early years, some invisible enemy had wished to somehow subvert
‘our society, that enemy could have done no better than to create the noble houses that currently
rule over us, Because of each house's foolish desire to outdo all the others, the glorious aims of
‘our founders all too swiftly sank in a sordid sea of back-stabbing and intrigue. Our most gifted
and ambitious leaders competed with one another for power like children squabbling over the
last slice of cake. The race to the shelters, undertaken to save all Name givers from destruction,
became an excuse for money-grubbing, with house fighting house for the greatest share of the
profits. In our heedless pursult of power and wealth, we made grave errors. We waged war
‘against the dragons instead of recruiting them to our cause. We exploited and oppressed the very
ial peoples we had promised to save and thereby aroused unquenchable hatred in the
5 of those who should have been our grateful and loyal partners. And now, with the Scourge
1g from memory, we have seemingly cast our last vestiges of altruism to the winds. We
have everything: vast wealth, immense knowledge, unparalleled magical accomplishments and
military power. And we are poised to lose it all in short-sighted, self-destructive intrigue. [have
heard it said that the Theran Empire will never fll because no enemy dares assault us. But ene.
mies do not only Turk without, my friends. Thera’s most dangerous enemy lurks within.
My own house, Carine, spends only a little time these days expanding the trade routes that
bring light to the pathetic provincials who without them would lle shuddering in darkness
Instead, we spend too many of our days glancing nervously over our shoulders, waiting for
House Medati to cheat us oF steal our hard.won markets, In a sensible world, our two houses
‘would be partners; House Carinci to open the trade routes and provide the goods, House Medari
to ship the goods to those in need of them. But instead we fly at one another's throats or betray
‘one another for a piece of silver every chance we get.
omy dear FRIEND
wusasa oakes
aac case,
Narely does $0 BY
exXAGGeRATION. ALL
struggle FoR
advantage over
others. 1d0n7
want thera RUN,
wy Dewy-eved
wiloeLowers, vat
By weN AND
womEN Hako:
Forged mi the
cauLDHON OF
compennon.
—rburwon,
bouse aedane bis: [And how do other noble houses see House Medari? Hardly better than my own house does. The Argentl despise them
because Medari seeks to create professional associations that will take away Argentl control over the mathematicians, the
healers and the advocates. House Thaloss distrusts House Medari's political ambitions. House Gasclium resents the exorbi
tant fees that Medari shippers charge to transport their crops to market and so encleavars to build its own airship fleet. When
Gascilium’s ships were burned recently in the shipyards, did the house members blame provincial rebels, Horror tainted folk
co mad questors? No, They blamed House Medari. And most of the rest of us believed them, without asking to see even a
scrap of evidence. What kind of nation do we belong to, when we immediately assume that our brothers are our enemies?
By some of your faces, I can see that you are hearing my words through the biases of your houses. “She is Carinci,” you
think to yourselves. "Of course she speaks ill of House Medari, who have always been her rivals.” But do not, I beg you,
hear from my lips only the animosity of centuries, We are all at fault. House Medar! is hardly the sole offender, House
“Thaloss hates House Argenti because Argenti wants to turn into private businesses functions now petformed by Thaloss
bbureaucrats—and the private services. of course, would be House Argent's to run. For its part. Argenti sees Thaloss as an
entrenched, self-serving cabal willing te stoop to any depths to keep its grip on the reins of power. House Jotyn despises
House Heindari for refusing to pay fale prices for its wood and ore; meanwhile, Heindari believes Jotyn is already making
‘oo fata profit at House Helndar’s expense, House Narlanth complains that House Krand’s unthinking exploitation of
‘magical energles for quick profit will one day doom us all, while House Krand accuses Natlanth of undermining it to keep
‘magic as Narlanth’s own exclusive source of power:
Don't interrupt. friends—T am not finished yet. What of House Ippull, that lays all ofthe empire’ ills at the doorstep of
House Zanjan by claiming that Zanjan seeks to ake Thera a tyrannical state run by generals? Or House Zanjan calling House
Ippuli nothing but a sanctuary for thieves andl agitacors? And the Zanjani don't stop there. Their hard/-eyed military men and
‘women take every opportunity to belittle the magical accomplishments of Houses Narlanth and Krand because those accom:
plishments rival their own feats on the battlefield. Alas for Thera, that loathing of Zanjan is perhaps the only thing Houses
Narlanth and Krand can agree upon!
‘And all ofthat is just the intriguing between houses. Relations within houses are as bad or worse, marked by constant and
shameless maneuvering for advantage. I do not speak against honest competition. That sort of rivalry improves us; it encour-
ages us to do our best, But we advance ourselves through spreading rumors, tondying (o superiors—sometimes even bur
lary or murder! What Theran worthy of the name of noble—indeed, what Theran worthy of the Name of Theran—can.
advance his own interests in such ways and not feel 2 burning shame in his inmost heart?
Legends of ancient days are full of cautionary tales of mighty civilizations that crumbled when their own people turned
‘on one another. We are doing the same thing, Like wild dogs fighting over scraps of meat. our noble houses attack and
‘wound one another for momentary advantage—or in imagined revenge for some slight given generations ago. If we are ot
to deal our Empire a hundred mortal wounds, we must abolish the house system and bury with it centuries of outdated
antagonisms. We have litle to fear from the provineials, no matter how much they may loathe us. At the rate we're going,
‘we will devour one
another long before
they do us harm,
THERAN N@BLE MUSES —
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= 1S SS ON THE STRUCTURE °F GOVERNMENT
In the words of Phiescapian the Younger of House Ippull
While on the island of Ther, I had the distinct pleasure of spending time with che witty and charming Phiescapian the Younger.
‘The elf Phiescapian Isa former military officer and scout, an expert on fine wines, and —or so it’s rumored —a thief adept. Someday 1
will tell he story of my adventure with Phiescaplan in the Great Cty that involved a certain noblewoman and a necklace of singing sap
hires. But here I have transcribed Phiescapian’s views on Thera's government. Phiescaplan has a unique perspective on this matter; he
isa lavernae, a representative elected by his house to attend the Conclave that governs Thera,
[As Phiescapian made his comments over several fine dinners we shared, Ihave paraphrased him in this account. I hope Ihave done
justice to his entertaining manner of speaking
—T’saanas V'shala, roubadour of House V'strimon
My saintly grandmother, who single-handedly stole the Teeth of Derem-Ba from the tomb of Phahn, had a saying:
“There's the way things look like, and the way things are.” That's a saying to keep in mind, my friend, when you look upon
the workings ofthe Imperial government. What it looks like and what it is don't necessarily have much to do with each other.
It starts with the very Name af the Theran head! of state. The leader of the Theran Empire is ealled the First Governor.
Strange ttle, yes? Highest authority in the Great City and throughout all Theran lands, the leader to whom the Conclave
and the Arbiiorium and every provincial overgovernor and even the army and navy must answer—shouldn't someone like
that be called the Emperor? Well, yes. But if we were to call him that, the dragons might declare war on us, and not even.
the mighty Theran Empire wants (o risk infuriating all the dragons of the Selestrean Basin atthe same time. We might have
already done so, with that business of but no, 'd rather not digress onto that subject. The les saidl about it, the better.
‘The First Governor rules the Theran Empire-—which isto say. he decides where i's going and how i's going to get there
and then tes scads of lesser officials to carry out his policies. (He's not entirely an absolute ruler, whatever you may have heard
tothe contrary. He does have to deal with the Grand Conclave, which doesnt always confine itself to asking, “How high?”
‘whenever he says jump, and the bureaucrats of the Arbitorium have quite abit of practical ability to frustrate the will of the
powerful simply by “forgetting” to push the right pieces of parchment atthe right time, But I'l get to that ina bit)
(Our current First Governor, Kani, is an obsidiman from House Zanjan and as strong-willed and forceful as any rigidly
patriotic Theran could wish. You don't ever want to get on his wrong side, He believes utterly inthe righteousness ofthe
Empire and makes no distinction between his personal enemies and the Empire’ foes. ("lam the Empire,” is one of his favorite
sayings) Kanidris believes that his enemies have been put on this earth for one reason: o give hm someone to crush, Of course,
he's wildly popular, both with the common people and rest of Thera’s ruling lass. Something in the Theran soul laves an
authoritarian, begs to be ordered around by a Name-giver with a firm jaw and an inflexible view of the world. Kanidris has
been First Governor for a dozen years, and the only thing likely to remove him from office is the cal of his Liferock.
Like all First Governors. Kanidrisis attended by a court of officials called stipatari, who serve entirely at his pleasure, Most
‘of the stipatori are members of House Thaloss, despite Kanidris’s House Zanjan origin. The stipatori help the First Governor
formulate broad policies for the Empire. The Arbitorium, the sprawling bureaucracy with atleast one tenciil in every comer of
the Empire, actualy carries them out.
The Arbitorium runs the Empire, if any one group can truly be sald to do so. The Theran Empire is gigantic and unwieldy
like an enormous cart running out of control down a fight of steps. I's out of control because it has a dozen drivers instead of
one, andl they're ll busy back in the tavern having an argument about some other matter entirely, not yet having noticed that
the cart is missing. That's how things realy are.
‘The chief officer of the Arbitorium isthe Arbiter- General, also called the karinthini. Every four years the Conclave
meets (0 elect the karinthini, who allegeslly answers to the Grand Conclave rather than to the First Governor (though ult:
‘mately. everyone answers to Kanidris one way or another), Our current Arbiter-General, a Medari elf Named Andreax, is in
the middle of his fourth term in office. He complements First Governor Kanidris perfectly. Kanidris is hidebound, authori
tarlan and inflexible; Andreax is perversely well-informed, so manipulative he’s said to meet himself coming around cor:
ners. and a profound student ofthe art of expediency. He arranges the deals between often-competing interests that ult
mately keep the Empire functioning. He maintains his grip on power because he’s better at the job than anyone else could
be, has a reputation for keeping his word and knows everyone's secrets. He's also very entertaining company, which is
helpful in his position. He does have his share of rivals and is a magnet for resentment that the nobles dare not direct at
Kanidris, tll. I expect him to continue in his post until he gets bored with it, Can't quite imagine anyone daring to push
him out—or succeeding if they were fool enough to try. Officially, atleast, the First Governor and the
Arbiter-General are both responsible to the Grand
Conclave. an assembly of noblemen that convenes
every four years, The Grand Conclave contains 231
_members, or lavernae, including eleven stipatori and
‘members from each of the eleven most influential
noble houses. Each noble house also holds its own
Conclave every four years, during which it selects
lus lavernae, (My house, unorthodox as always,
uses its Conclave as an excuse for revelry and
over fo scheme against one another. We select our
lavernae through sporting or performance compe
titions; I won my seat by taking
Both the Grand Conclave and the house
Conclaves are pits of intrigue in which infighting
‘and backbiting rise to art forms. These gatherings
are supposed to be lofty policy det
opinions are swayed by mighty ora
the official proceedings almost alway
into unseemly sereaming matches, and the matter at
hhand is usually a business dispute involving huge
‘sums of silver. The real activity happens behind
the scenes; opinions are swayed by back-room
deals in which cadres of representatives swap
\_ votes for their mutual benefit, Actual vote
buying is frowned upon, though not illegal
uunmannerly is more like it. Conclave mem:
bers who wish to enrich themselves can do
so in various ways—crudely, by selling
their votes, or more acceptably by making
connections that lead to lucrative but
above-board business arrangements. In
short, most lavernae are much more interest
e oftheir own purses
sin which
ed in the immediate st
than in the long-term interests ofthe
Empire, Little wander you provineials see
tus as heartless occupiers, Think of the
Empire as an extendible observation glass,
with the Grand Conclave at the eyepiece.
‘What on our end looks like mere short
sightedness and petty greed is magnified in
the outer reaches of the Empire, to the point
where our merely foolish decisions become
exploitive and even vieious practices.
(One of my favorite examples of sheer folly
took place atthe last Grand Conclave, where
House Krand squabbled fiercely with House
Gascilium over a license to build more of Krand’s
‘magical installations in Vasgothia, The Gascilium laver
nae feared that the hauntings and magical disasters inva
ably attracted by these installations would harm their house's, farming operations and refused to allow Krand to build them. That's one of the few times that Gascilium, hated as itis in
Vasgothla, actually made common cause with the provincials there. The Vasgothians don't want any more loci for magical
oddities builtin thelr courtyards; they've quite enough magical oddities of their own. House Gaseilium ultimately lost the
fight—not because the Grand Conclave hates Vasgothia and wants to harm it, but simply because building the installations
‘meant increased revenues for House Krand, whose members were therefore willing to dole out coin and valuable favors to
\Wwin support from otherwise uninterested lavernae. House Gascilium couldn't outspend them. The Gaselii wanted the sta
tus quo: but they spent their budget for "inducements" regarding their Vasgothian holdings long ago, when they originally
‘won the licenses to farm that land from the Conclave,
Between Grand Conclaves, the First Governor makes policy cautiously, preferring to Implement resolutions agreed
upon at past assemblies rather than enact anything likely to raise a fuss. Herein lies the real check on the First Governor's
power: if he disturbs the delicate balance of entitlements held by the various noble houses, he may face Impeachment pro-
‘ceedings at the next Granl Conclave. The Arbiter-General is even more vulnerable than the First Governor, as itis easler to
{get rid of him through legal maneuverings,
To win reelection, the Arbiter-General must guarantee that his minions will carry out the Grand Canclave's policies in
the Empire's distant provinces. Provincial overgovernors have a way of ruling their provinces like local despots, ignoring
those Imperial edicts that displease them. They are often more nakedly ruthless than Thera's central government would
prefer. because they are lining their own pockets or those oftheir noble-house alles.
To deal with potentially troublesome overgovernors, the Arbiter-General commands two special military divisions: the
Aedate and the praetori. The kedate are low-level messengers with only marginal authority. The praetori, on the other hand
\wield significant discretionary powers, Inquisitors or diplomats asthe situation requires, they are usually equally adept at
‘swinging a sword, ring off a mind-dagger spell, questioning a subversive and making witty conversation at official din
ners, Many a praetor ends up getting between a Theran noble and his money-making scheme, a generally dangerous posi
tion—and so these varied abilities are essential to a praetor who wishes to live long enough to retire. In truth the practori
are the sole outlet for tensions in a system of government that I fear has become dangerously corrupt, Those sufficiently
skillful and honorable can right wrongs wherever the broader interests of the Empire are compromised by the greed of this,
noble or that overgovernor, Unfortunately. the efforts ofthe praetori aren't always enough.
ON THE OMNIPRESENCE Of BUREAUCRACY
The somewhat excitable speaker on this subject. C'aan Aris, i the official historian of House Carinci and a member ofthe Grand
Conclave. He is well known in Thera as a staunch opponent of the Arbiter-General and a thorn in the side ofthe Arbitorium. He