Tate-Masen
Insular and dutiful, the dwarves of the Tate Mountains hold territory spanning the length of Thascien. The people of Tate-Masen see themselves as a last bulwark against the darkness, and hold enough control over trade and travel throughout the land to command respect as Thascien's shield.
Government:
The Tate Mountains are divided into several kingdoms and princedoms, under the absolute rule of the emperor. Compared to the feudal structure of Khorhas or the lost kingdom of mankind, over a third of the population is part of the aristocracy, but in actuality only the highest royalty hold substantial power or prestige. Succession is based on proximity of blood for all noble ranks but that of the emperor. Every ninety years, eighteen dwarven children are chosen as potential heirs to the imperial throne of Tate-Masen. Selected from state-protected orphans and those volunteered by their families, all required to be of sound mind and good health, and between the ages of three and six, the imperial wards are chosen by the use of an ancient magical crown said to reject an unworthy wearer. Once selected, the eighteen youths, known as gisei-ko, are raised by the emperor as if their own children, giving up all prior familial connections or titles. Often more than a quarter are assassinated, and a similar number give up their claim to the throne. The same artifact is used to choose a new emperor from those who remain, in the event of the emperor’s death. They are considered agendered unless disqualified from the line of succession, and vow lifelong celibacy, but are allowed chaste marriages. Nontraditional dress or other casual means of self-expression are discouraged, and gisei-ko are advised to view themselves as representatives of the dwarven people first and individuals second. Educated in history, philosophy, politics, and poetry, most go on to take other political positions, and all are highly respected. Every emperor maintains a formal advisory council of three appointees. One is elected by the nine kings of Tate-Masen, another position is auctioned, and one is chosen by the emperor at the time. These positions are held until the advisor retires or dies, although advisors will at times retire early to show disagreement with a new emperor.Law:
For all Tate society is legalistic, little of it is formally encoded in written law. Traditions and social expectations rarely needed government to enforce them, and as a result, most laws of Tate are made in reaction to those seen as outsiders. Curfews were established to curb fetchling markets staying open later and poaching trade. Drug laws were made to combat any possible influence of Kalaviiri hedonism. Public nudity laws were made to be enforced only at the borders against Duleinish barbarians. Community-enforced social codes govern the empire, and conflicts are typically brought to respected community members or family patriarchs, not to judges or constables.Relations:
With the border of the Deadlands being formed by the mountains, and only the formidable terrain and patrols by the people of the mountains warding off some of the monsters of that cursed land, the dwarves have come to view themselves as most of Thascien's first line of defense, a claim that is at the very least not without substance. On this basis, the majority of dwarves view Khorhan hobgoblins as ungrateful parasites, for their military prowess would perhaps even be enough to retake territory from the Deadlands, were they not only willing to devote it to subjugation and their own defenses. The people of Aelinar are generally seen as admirably well-intentioned but idealistic fools, too sentimentally attached to defending their forests and spindly tower cities when they can only hold out for so long, lacking either defensible natural barriers or effective fortifications. Nonetheless, at least they prioritize fighting the good fight, even if in the long run, from a typical dwarven perspective, one day they'll likely need to plead for shelter in or beyond the mountains, and will probably be quite an inconvenience then. Too many of the Kalaviiri, they might say, spend their lives chasing after wealth without substance, for coin to buy a fine sword or a sturdy home is one thing, but too much of silks and frippery are good for nothing but burying a pretty corpse. This difference of opinion aids more than hinders frequent trade with Kalaviir, though. Most other peoples of Thascien they regard as soft, letting themselves be children while adults fight for them, but a good few dwarves do have a grudging respect for some of the more self-sufficient and spartan Duleinish tribes.Culture:
Dwarven society is highly structured, and the intricacies of properly respectful interactions can easily baffle visitors. Pragmatism and honor are equally emphasized, despite occasional conflict between the two. Taking responsibility for one's actions is perhaps of the same level of importance, and often serves to emphasize already substantial dwarven stubbornness, for making a bad decision one can claim as one's own is regarded as less faultworthy than making a bad decision otherwise. Dwarven humor tends toward the morbid to the point where others frequently fail to recognize it as humor, and the majority of preferred tales, whether ostensibly real or wholly fictitious, are both moralistic in nature and have noticeably tragic endings. Deceased heroes are regarded with reverence in song and story, and it could be argued that the concept of a still-living hero is near-unknown to dwarven culture. Despite this, most dwarves will be quick to disdain anyone for excessive nihilism or defeatism. Day-to-day clothing is kept simple, even for the ruling class. Ceremonial garb is stunningly ornate, but often worn only a few times in a lifetime - for a wedding or a close family member’s funeral, when named as a head of household, or for coronations - and handed down through generations. Wealth is displayed instead in jewelry and high-quality arms and armor, which also frequently become family heirlooms. Shifts in style are essentially nonexistent, mostly in the form of new craftsmanship using different gemstones more frequently; currently sapphire and moonstone are popular. Musical instruments are mostly limited to drums and flutes, occasionally accompanied by simple zithers. Dwarven music is usually intended to accentuate poems or storytelling rather than stand alone or overshadow it, and rhythm and form are prioritized over melody. Calligraphy and poetry are the most respected arts to not utilize the metal or gems of the Tate-Masen mines.Structure:
Tate cities are primarily influenced by their proximity to the tunneled roads through the mountain connecting Aelinar and Kalaviir. Fortified cities with grandiose gateways cluster around the borders of these roads, meant to impress and intimidate travelers. Markets fill the large caverns between them, with few living along the road but the merchants and craftsmen who make a living there. In higher or lower levels of the mountain, or caverns to either side of the thoroughfares, population is evenly dispersed, with most dwarves living in large but humbly decorated estates meant for an extended family. Plateaus on the side of the mountain host small patches of sunlit farmland, with towns forming adjacent to them. In the center of the mountain range, one level above the roads, passageways from across Tate-Masen converge around the imperial palace.
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Demonym
Tate
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Nin (.2 gp), min (8cp), ein (.2 cp)
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