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THE MAGOCRACY
Politically, the
formal, ritualistic Court of
Dragons stands at the center of the city. Culled from the noble caste,
they meet to decide
law, make
decisions of justice and arbitration and otherwise conduct the
affairs of general rulership, guiding and judging the day-to-day lives
and actions of every citizen.
The
greatest wizard of the city, the Archmage (sometimes known as 'the
Dragon') presides over the Court,
finalizing all decisions and guiding the city towards prophecied ends
with the subtle whispers from the priets of Malar and Mystra ringing
in his (or her) ears.
The Court is rumored to
take part in terrible magical experiments and rituals in the chambers and
passageways of the Great Tower, though none but the
ruling caste know if this is true.
Of similar rumor and restriction are the
fabled vaults said to hold the ancient
magics gathered over the the centuries of the Court's rule.
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Magic of nearly any sort can be bought and sold in
the city, for it is the binding force of this society, as common as
seawater or ale in a sailor's city. But magic is not a tool, not to be
used lightly, it squirms and creeps under its own power, whispers
darkly in the mind which seeks to hold it.
The ruling caste knows this and so keeps the magic of Theymarsh
in check through ritual and appeasement, giving it no chance to
blossom or creep forth in silence. And it is this dark tinge to magic
which makes
the folk of other cities cringe and grip their irons: a superstition arises from a
reality, for northern magic
is often foiled by steel and iron, and cannot affect that which is
made of it in any way.
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THE PEOPLE OF THEYMARSH
Citizens move through life in a formalized ritual of
behavior, seemingly mechanical in word and deed, hidden behind
elaborate masks both literal and metaphorical, the mask telling all
their name and caste, each mask born
of that citizen's knowledge and ability with magic. And all citizens
use magic in some way, from the most simple cantrips to the most powerful
incantations.
They
work with spirits and nether-creatures, whisper words men were not
meant to utter and know what to bind into everyday items to bring
magic creeping out from within it.
But the more powerful the magic
one wields, the
higher their caste, and the more freedom and responsibility they have.
The citizens, and moreso the ruling caste, see failure to observe or lack of
knowledge of proper behaviour as signs of lesser intellect and
civilization, and it is unforgivable among their own people to act
thusly.
Often, these are the half-orcs of the city, whose orcish parents have functioned as
Theymarsh's hired muscle and army for centuries and whom are the only
outsiders tolerated within, and then only at the whim of the Court of
Dragons.
For those without the knowledge of magic must suffer the harsh existance of a slave and servant,
even that of an
abandoned, diseased animal ignored in the street.
Additionally, there
are also a surprising number of dark-skinned elves (both drow and
half-drow) throughout the city and within its protectorate who claim
citizenship among the masked populace.
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TEMPLES
Grand
temples to the traditional deities of the city, the gods of magic, dot
the city, some hugging the base of the Great Tower, even providing
entrance to it.
These
deities include
Mystra, the Lady of Magic; Oghma, the Lord of Knowledge;
Deneir, Lord of Glyphs and Azuth, Lord of Wizards. Though painted in
solidarity, the truth is that worshippers of each proclaim their own
chosen patron's superior benefits.
But there
is a
greater temple whose spires reach up from the ground towards the sky,
and whom none decry no matter their other allegiances. The city is devoted wholly to Malar, the Great Dragon, the
patron and lord of Theymarsh, Protector of the Archmage, the city and
Father of All Wizards.
Lesser
temples and shrines to other deities also dot this section of the
city, but none of these cults hold much power. Even the small sect
of priests of Talos and Umberlee here who hold the ear of the Court of
Dragons are kept upon a short leash by the same.
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THEYMARSH