The Kingdom of Tiriath
The Kingdom of Tiriath is a land of extremes. On its western edge one will find flat plains stretching for as far as the eye can see, all of them filled with the most beautiful, not to mention fastest, horses in all of Edras. Before long, however, the plains give way to living deserts blooming with multicolored cacti and filled with the howls of coyotes. As one continues east across Tiriath, eventually the deserts crack and crumble until they become the foothills of the Bones of the Beast, the largest mountain chain in Edras.
Tiriath is a nation of clans ruled by the strongest among them, currently Padishah Kuthag Woundcarver Ogolatak, a hard and grim man of many years. When the current ruler of Tiriath dies, preferably in battle, the Dust Clans come together in Al’Zadiya and the greatest champions among them battle to the death to see who will be crowned the next Padishah.
Tiriath is known amongst the kingdoms for its abundant natural resources. The horses of nearly every cavalry in southern Edras can find their roots in the plains of Tiriath and there is nigh a single bakery in Dorwine that doesn’t draw its wheat and grains from those same fields. The deserts and foothills of Tiriath are troves of resources themselves, providing gems, precious stones, metals, and exotic rock to the Four Kingdoms.
The people of Tiriath are hard. They value self-sufficiency and strength. They believe that a man deserves only the help he gives himself. The most popular professions among the Tiriathi are animal handlers, miners, stonecutters, farmers, smiths and metalworkers.
The Dust Clans
- The Tel Kadhish (The Horse): The sons and daughters of the horse are the herdsmen, farmers, and craftsmen of Tiriath. Centralized in the fertile plains of western Tiriath, the Tel Kadhish are good, honest people happy to live their simple agrarian lifestyles in peace. The more adventurous among them, however, can be found further afield practicing skilled tradecrafts such as metallurgy, gem-cutting, and even tinkering. There is very little that is produced or consumed in Tiriath that has not passed through the hands of a Tel Khadish.
- The Qatiybah (The Vulture): The children of the vulture are the scavengers, hermits, and wise men of Tiriath, living off of the scraps left behind by the other Dust Clans. Deeply spiritual and fanatically devoted to the deities of the Brisingelion, they provide religious services and perform the tasks other Clans shun in exchange for alms and offerings. The Qatiybah believe that this way of life is a kind of holy pilgrimage, bringing them ever closer to apotheosis.
- The Azadani (The Scorpion): The heirs of the scorpion are the mages, astrologers, and magistrates of Tiriath. Where the Qatiybah devote themselves to religious pursuits, the Azadani focus on the arcane and occult mysteries of Edras. Closely allied with the Circle of 12 Seals, the children of the scorpion are the primary practitioners of biothaumaturgy in the kingdom and hold a near monopoly on apothecariums and 'meat markets'. They are also uniquely qualified, as a result of their magical studies, to see to it that the kingdom's laws and traditions are followed - a function which they are more than happy to perform with frightening efficiency.
- The Bani Sarish (The Camel):The children of the camel are the merchants, explorers, and couriers of Tiriath, always on the move. Perhaps the most jovial and gregarious of all the Dust Clans, the Bani Sarish possess a great zeal for life and a love of the open road. It is said that the children of the camel are the lifeblood of Tiriath - making sure that resources are distributed throughout the kingdom quickly and fairly.
- The Hammasaniyah (The Lion): The sons and daughters of the lion are the warriors, diplomats, and caretakers of Tiriath. Honorable and stoic, but at the same time possessed of a deep, genuine affection for their fellow man, the Hammasaniyah are a contradictory people. The children of the lion are just as comfortable tirelessly waging war against the ogre tribes to the northwest, as they are serving as nursemaids and caregivers in the southern cities.
- The Sakala (The Snake): The heirs of the snake are the scholars, emissaries, and viziers of the Tiriath, ever on the lookout for threats from without and within. A secretive and insular people, the Sakala are nevertheless revered in Tiriathi society as teachers and keepers of knowledge. The children of the snake maintain the great archives of Tiriath and advise clan leaders on the movements of factions both internal and foreign. It is rumored among the Dust Clans that a group of Sakala serve the Padishah as spies and assassins, though no one would ever suggest such a thing in their presence.
The Laws of Magic
- Arcane, Divine, and Natural Magic are all generally legal.
- Necromancy is illegal.
- Magic that comes from pledging oneself to Outsiders or agents of the Primordials is strictly illegal.
- Sorcerers face extreme persecution; they must be registered to travel through Tiriath and must wear special clothes marking them as Sorcerers when doing so.
Structure
Secular Hierarchy
- Padishah/Shahansha
- Shah/Shahbanu
- Shahzadeh
- Begzada/Begzadi
Demography and Population
Population: approx. 5,200,000
Demographics
- Goliaths 24%
- Genasi 20%
- Tortles 15%
- Loxodon 14%
- Leonin 12%
- Tabaxi 11%
- Misc. 4%
Territories
- Al’Zadiya, The Place Where the Dust Settles: The capitol of the Kingdom of Tiriath. When the leader of Tiriath dies, the Dust Clans gather here and have their greatest champions battle to the death to decide the next Padishah.
Religion
Tiriath maintains a special devotion to Enmensur.
Foreign Relations
Tiriath is joined to Eglarest, Dorwine, and Valonde in a loose confederation through the Treaty of Four Kingdoms. The shadow of war looms between Bastion and Tiriath over religious differences and access to resources in the Bones of the Beast.
Priesthood
Religious Hierarchy
- Vada Dastur
- Dastur
- Mobad
- Ervad
- Magi
Founding Date
2645
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Demonym
Tiriathi
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Confederation
Economic System
Mixed economy
Currency
Tiriath eschews the use of coin, instead relying on precious gems as its currency
Official State Religion
Location
Official Languages
Neighboring Nations
Comments