Thagretis

Thagretis

Physical Information

Size Large Location Unknown to Liadain and Epressa Region Points of Interest

Societal Information

Primary Occupants Humans Government Theocracy Primary Language Common

Economic & Military Information

Defenses City wall Primary Exports Primary Imports

OOC Info

Image Source See footnote[1]

Thagretis is a sovereign city state located in an unknown land. Prior to its Portal Stone reactivating in the year 370, its continued existence remained unknown to Liadain and Epressa for generations. The wealthy city is governed by a theocratic government that worships a dragon-god. Many citizens of the city have some mix of dragon blood and the potency of this determines one’s place in the city.

Located in a fertile river valley, Thagretis sits on the mouth of the river with easy access to the sea to the west. The river flows from the east to the Gulf of Thagretis. The city is surrounded by arid land outside of the river valley to the north and south. A large island known as the Dragon’s Throne rests to the west of the city.

While the nearest powers that could threaten the city are far to the south, massive walls surround the city proper. The river flows through the center of the city, though portcullises could be lowered to block anything from entering from upstream or downstream. The Thyka Palace serves as the city’s keep as well as seat of government.

Much of the city displays levels of wealth that would rival other cities on Liadain and Epressa. Several buildings and structures within the city remain suspended in the air via ancient magic. Clergy owned buildings, such as the Thyka Palace, normally display peak of opulence. The wealth of the secular nobility still rivalled that of continental wealth. Much of this wealth is said to come from Thagretis’s ancient history. Wealth disparity still existed in Thagretis with non-human slums and neighborhoods scattered in and outside the protection of the city walls.

The economy of Thagretis, prior to 370, has been relatively insular compared to the economies of cities on the other continents. The city is able to grow enough food for itself in its own river valley. Its historical gold and jewel supplies have lasted for untold generations. New supplies of iron and gold are mined from the southern mountain chain that separates Thagretis from southern half of Turnua. Rarely, Thagretis will trade with the other barbarian states.

The state church of Thagretis preaches that the land the city sits upon was created by the Holy Elder Dragon. The holy texts describe how the Holy Elder Dragon forced the land to emerge from the sea. The Holy Elder Dragon then granted his most loyal followers the right to settle in the river valley that Thagretis now occupies.

The legends continue with Thagretis being declared the Holy Elder Dragon’s chosen city to represent the Dragon-God’s will in Arethil. The Holy Elder Dragon tasked the city to subdue other people in the world and collect tribute for the Dragon-God’s hoard on the island the Dragon’s Throne. For the city’s service, the Holy Elder Dragon shared some of the tribute with the people. In cases where the city could not act, religious texts say that the Dragon-God would send His Consort, a female dragon as large and dangerous, to subdue foreign lands.

The origins of the state church of Thagretis is described in legends to come from a point where the Holy Elder Dragon desired a singular voice to the people of Arethil. The Dragon-God then appointed the first Archprophet and had the Thykla Palace constructed for the new head of religion. The Draconic Order formed around the Archprophet and have served as the head of both government and religion for years.

After Thagretis’s founding, legends say that the Holy Elder Dragon mixed his blood with the Draconic Order. To this day, it is said that the majority of Thagretis’s citizens are descended from their Dragon God.

The scripture also describe the time when the Draconic Plague befell Thagretis. The Holy Elder Dragon was able to make his followers immune to the disease. Those that were not a part of the Draconic Order’s congregation suffered from the disease – which is still endemic within Thagretis.

The Draconic Order’s texts acknowledge that the Holy Elder Dragon and His Consort disappeared at one point. They say that they left to confront threats in foreign lands. A prophecy was passed down that the Holy Elder Dragon would return the next time the planets and moons align in the sky.

Until the city’s Portal Stone reactivated, Thagretis remained isolated from Liadain and Epressa for many generations. The city’s academics knew of these foreign landmasses, yet the sea between them remained extremely treacherous to traverse. Stories of hissing sea creatures attacking vessels traversing west have spread among the city. Attempts have been made by the city to explore the seas despite this risk, though.

The city also remains isolated from the other city states on its own landmass. This is in part due to both these other city-states being non-believers of the Holy Elder Dragon and physically isolated via a large mountain range to the south. Sailing south by sea to avoid the mountains is very difficult due to a phenomenon known as the calms that occurs near the mountains. In that area, there are normally long, sometimes several week long, periods of little to no wind to push any sailing vessel.

The Draconic Order and Archprophet’s hold over the city still remains. Since the city’s founding, a number of noble families have emerged to compete over property and clergy seats.

In the middle of the city is a long inactive Portal Stone. Then one morning in the year 370, this Portal Stone reactivated and opened Thagretis up to the world once more.

The majority of Thagretis’s citizens are human. Religious lore says that all humans are descended from their Dragon-God. Though the validity of this statement cannot be easily verified, it can be observed that the vast majority of humans display draconic traits in their blood. These traits may only be noticeable via magical observation for the majority of people. Yet for some people known as the Dragon Blooded, they may have draconic shaped eyes or even horns to show their connection to this dragon ancestor of the city.

Nearly all Thagretis citizens follow the state religion that worships the Holy Elder Dragon. Nearly everyone lives within easy walking distance to a place of worship. Citizens are expected to confirm their belief and join the congregation at a young age. While the Dragon-God is worshiped as the primary deity, there are those that create shrines to His Consort.

One means for the poor to raise their social status is by joining the clergy. However, positions in the church – even at the lowest levels – are very competitive. Education is also not guaranteed to all and is strictly controlled by the state church. As a result, noble families have an easier time educating children designated to serve the clergy and getting them into the Draconic Order. Someone born in the slums rising to the status of a High Priest is a rare occurrence, though they could join the clergy if talented enough and set up their children for such a future.

Secular noble families have long existed in Thagretis. Like any other noble family elsewhere, they intermarry to create alliances and must compete for property and limited clergy positions.

Small communities of non-humans live in pockets across the city’s territory. While the Draconic Order’s scripture does not say non-humans cannot be believers, non-humans have never had a voice in the upper echelons of Thagretis society to give them a voice.

Magic is highly valued in the clergy, and thus a common trait for High Priests. The Draconic Order has their own brand of Divine Magic that is taught to those that can learn it. It both relies on the user’s faith in the Dragon-God as well as whatever latent dragon blood is within the user.

Thagretis is a theocratic absolute elective monarchy. The head of state and government is the Archprophet, who rules for life. The Archprophet has absolute legal power over the city. He or she may pass any laws or decrees. The Archprophet can even reform the contemporary government of Thagretis however he or she desires. People live and die at the pleasure of the Archprophet.

In addition, the Archprophet is the head of religion for the Draconic Order. He or she is the final decider on all matters of scripture. The Archprophet may excommunicate anyone, and thus effectively exile them to the hostile desert outside of the Thagretis river valley. The Archprophet directly appoints any High Priests of the Draconic Order and confirms any appointments in positions below the High Priests.

In practice, the Archprophet’s unlimited power only works until he loses support from the majority of High Priests and secular nobles. Archprophets with the good capabilities of a leader will know their limits. Decadent or overly ambitious Archprophets have led Thagretis into violent civil wars in the past.

The High Priests of Thagretis are just below the Archprophet in the city’s hierarchy. They are selected by the Archprophet and serve for life. While the Archprophet may freely appoint anyone, High Priests are usually selected from either distinguished Priests or zealous, decorated military officers.

High Priests have many duties to fulfill to maintain the state church’s power in Thagretis. Though, one of the most important things they must do is select a new Archprophet upon the death of the incumbent one. Tradition is that the High Priests select one of their own, though there is nothing stopping them from electing a pauper from the streets.

There are several secular noble families residing in Thagretis that play a huge part in the city’s politics. These families normally compete for positions within the church’s clergy and to eventually push a family member to become the Archprophet. This also serves as a defense against a potentially whimsical Archprophet. If a family managed to get someone appointed as the Archprophet and he or she proved to be destructively arbitrary, that family may permanently lose their status in the city.

The Draconic Army forms the military forces of Thagretis. While the Archprophet is the commander-in-chief, this duty is normally delegated to one of active military service. The Draconic Army is very typical compared to those of Liadain and Epressa. One unique aspect is the inclusion of units of Dragon Knights and Mages that serve as elite soldiers.

The journey to become a High Priest or Archprophet normally requires one to be either of a noble family or to have visible draconic traits – such as horns or slit pupils. Even then, the individual would have to receive an education and then join either the clergy or military.

Thykla Palace is the highest building within the city. It looks as if it emerges from within the hill it rests upon. It has steep, high walls that seem impossible to climb. Its outer walls are painted white and constantly maintained to be clean year-round. The roofline of the palace is adorned in gold trimming.

The building itself is like a fortress. It has an unfathomable amount of stairs to the top levels with plenty of vantage points that defenders can take to attack any invaders. Defensive ballista and catapults sit on the roofs of the palace.

The Archprophet normally resides within the Thykla Palace. Because of this, the interior of the palace is highly decorated with gold and silver – many of which are naturally in draconic imagery.

Across the Gulf of Thagretis and to the west, the Dragon’s Throne Island is where the legendary Holy Elder Dragon rested during the time that he ruled Thagretis. Access to the island is heavily restricted by the Draconic Order. Soldiers guard key points on the island and the city’s small navy was built solely to guard it.

On the island is also the Dragon’s Hoard. This is where many riches supposedly stolen from across Arethil could be found. Essentially, the Dragon’s Hoard represents almost the entire wealth of the city. Because of this, the entrance to the underground Dragon’s Hoard is heavily guarded, kept secret, and contains lethal traps for those that do not know the way.

Permits to the Dragon’s Throne can be granted via permission from any one High Priest.

1. ^Image credits: Escutcheon from Wikicommons, Halo from Wikicommons, Dragon heraldry from Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1, page 7
2. ^Image credits: Dragon Age: World of Thedas Volume 2, Page 35
3. ^Image credits: Roman Does Art
4. ^Image credits: The Art of Dragon Age: Inquisition
5. ^Image credits: Adam Paquette