Tevinter Imperium

**Tevinter Imperium** is the oldest extant human nation in Thedas and is ruled by a powerful magocracy. People from Tevinter are often simply called **Tevinter,** or **Vints** as an insult. The language of the Tevinter Imperium is called **Tevene.**

The leaders of the Imperium are called **magisters**, and are led by the **Imperial Archon**. In ancient times, the Imperium's power was unrivaled and its borders stretched across nearly the entire continent. In modern times, while Tevinter is a shadow of its former self in both size and power, it is still relatively powerful, and a major nation of Thedas.

Tevinter society is often seen as backwards by outsiders, since most other human societies tend to see people that wield magic as too dangerous to be allowed around normal people. It is also the only place where slavery remains openly legal (although slavers do operate elsewhere... just in secret).

## Places in Tevinter

### Settlements

* **Asariel**
* **Caimen Brea**
* **Carastes**
* **Fort Viridan**
* **Marnas Pell**
* **Marothius**
* **Minrathous** - Imperial capital and largest city in Thedas.
* **Neromenian**
* **Nessum**
* **Perivantium**
* **Ventus** (formerly known as 'Qarinus')
* **Solas**
* **Teraevyn**[note]
* **Trevis**
* **Vol Dorma**
* **Vyrantium**

### Regions

* **Arlathan Forest**
* **Eyes of Nocen**
* **The High Reaches**
* **The Hundred Pillars** - Massive pillars made of a strong material identified only as a "hard dust"; the material isn't stone, and is similar to a mortar (concrete).
* **The Silent Plains**
* **Valarian Fields**
* **Ventosus Straits**

### Seheron (Disputed Territory)

* **Ath Velanis**

## Class Structure

The society of Tevinter is very strictly divided into four classes: Altus at the top, Laetan second, Soporati third, and slaves at the very bottom. The Altus and Laetan classes are made up of mages, while Soporati are non-mages. The slaves of Tevinter are mostly elves, although human, dwarven, and Qunari slaves can be found as well.

### **The Archon**

The reigning Archon of Tevinter (officially the Imperial Archon) is **Archon Radonis**. He sits at the top of the imperial hierarchy, serving as the mage-ruler of the Tevinter Imperium. The position is usually inherited, whether through blood relation or apprenticeship of the previous Archon, but the Magisterium, the legislative body of Tevinter, has the power to elect the Archon should the need arise. Most notably, this is done in the event that an Archon passes without an appointed heir.

### **The Magisterium**

Magisters are members of the Magisterium, the upper house of the Tevinter Imperial Senate. These coveted seats are split among the Circle of Magi, the Chantry, and the major families — who are currently all mages. Their edicts rule the Tevinter Imperium. Young mages often aspire to become a **magister's apprentice** because it offers them the best chance of ascending to the rank of magister. Foreign mages may also indenture themselves to a magister in order to eventually become imperial citizens.

### **Altus**

Altus mages are believed to be descendents of the dreamers or magisters who possessed the ability to speak to the Old Gods in the Fade. The Old Gods are no longer objects of worship but the descendents of these powerful mages are still held in esteem and often are the most high-ranking mages in the Imperium; indeed the majority of magisters are Altus. Interestingly, there was a time in which these Altus mages were scorned for their seeming part in creating the Blights as the corruption of the Golden City transformed these mages into the first darkspawn. As a result, many such mages were slain during the period of Transfiguration when the Imperium became Andrastian. Since then, the Altus mages have returned to the upper echelon of Tevinter society.

### **Laetan**

The next highest social level is that of Laetans, who are either:

1) mages born into families that had up to that point shown no magical ability, or

2) who have been mages for generations but have no link to the higher Altus class.

One third of the Archons throughout history have been Laetans. Archon Tidarion was the first Laetan to become Archon, and the outrage that this caused among the Magisterium led to a civil war that lasted over seventy years. The magisters believed that magic was a favor of the Old Gods rather than an accident of birth, and refused to acknowledge the mage underclass of elves and newly liberated foreigners. The civil war was only ended in -620 Ancient when Archon Parthenius, former high priest of Dumat, finally admitted the Laetans to the temples and gave them three seats in the Magisterium.

### **Soporati**

All common citizens of the Imperium who are non-mages are considered part of the Soporati ("sleepers") social class. This is a mainly human class which is allowed to own property and serve in Tevinter's military but they have no real power in the nation's governance and are unable to attain a higher rank in the Imperial Chantry than mother or father. Often they are found to be merchants. However, when a Soporati family produces a mage child — this is greatly desired in Tevinter, unlike within the rest of Thedas — it allows them entrance into the Laetan class and thus a higher social standing. In general, the Soporati and ruling mage classes exist in a state of tension due to the inequality of their standing in the nation.

### **Slavery**

It is still legal for elves and humans and even sometimes Qunari to be sold into slavery in Tevinter. Many elves are illegally trafficked into Tevinter from other parts of Thedas. Slave uprisings are frequent but rarely successful, as are attempts by Tevinter politicians to abolish the practice. Slaves can technically only be freed legally before a judge, but their owner must be present to make the decree. Otherwise, slaves may also be freed by their owner's will upon their death. Slaves are not considered citizens of Tevinter. Those who achieve freedom are instead sectioned into another class standing known as the "Liberati". Some individual slaves do manage to free themselves, however, and may escape Tevinter. Slaves who are found to be mages are fairly rare and valuable, and the knowledge they have access to is usually kept limited by their owners.

### **Liberati**

Liberati (freed slaves) function as a small subset of the population, and those within it are granted limited rights. Liberati are able to act as apprentices in a trade, and if they are gifted in magic they may join the Tevinter Circle of Magi. Liberati are also able to own land and property, but they cannot join the military and rarely have a say in governance.

### **Siccari**

The Siccari are a secret order of spies and assassins that answers to the Archon himself. Although they are widely considered to be the best spies in Tevinter, their existence has been officially denied. Little is known of the Siccari, except that they are a shadowy and secretive order comprised of the most skilled Tevinter agents, perrepatae (mage-hunters), spies, slavers, and assassins. Most of them are not mages, and pose as slaves, which allows them to blend in. They are said to rival the Antivan Crows in stealth and the most skilled Dalish Elves in archery. In recent times, the Siccari have been sighted most often on Seheron and in the Silent Plains, but in truth, almost nowhere in Thedas is safe from their shadow. Some of the Siccari are said to come from slave families. Their families are kept safe, as a promise and a threat, to ensure that the Siccari never flinch from their duties.

## Culture

Tevinter society is notoriously decadent, and also takes great pride in their history and achievements. The Imperium treasures their past and preserves it, as indicated that everything they've built has been carefully preserved and renovated. Ambition and magical ability are the hallmarks of its ruling elite, the magisters.

### Blood Magic

The ancient magister lords ruled the Imperium in the Circles of Magi (before their modern incarnation), maintaining a tight hold over its people through the power to infiltrate their dreams using blood magic. Though blood magic is now technically banned in the Imperium, mages who practice it are quietly acknowledged as the most proficient dreamers and diviners. The ban is really only paid lip service to the Chantry's teachings; even the most devout Altus mages in Tevinter know at least the basics. This circumvention is often necessary in order to simply survive the deadly rivalries and competitions for power and influence amongst the Tevinter noble families, who only ever put aside their constant bickering to unify in the event of a major crisis such as acts of sedition amongst the indentured populace.

### Etiquette

While addressing someone above your station, you may use the term **Domine**, or "My Lord/Lady." Altus and Laetan mages must always be addressed this way by non-mages.

All elves are expected to carry papers proving their freedom status (this isn't a legal requirement, it's just an unfortunate reality that life is tougher without them). Sometimes poor humans also carry these to avoid trouble, as humans can also be enslaved.

Speaking ill of the Archon is technically illegal, although seldom enforced unless you're too loud about it.

## Religion

### The Black Divine

The head of the Imperial Chantry, as well as the Tevinter Circle of Magi, is **The Black Divine**. As of 9:41 Dragon, the Black Divine is **Urian Nihalias.** He became the Black Divine in about a decade ago after a coup against his predecessor.

## Tevinter Circle of Magi

Outside of Tevinter, having mages in your bloodline is considered undesirable. In Tevinter, it's the opposite--magical blood is highly sought after, because in order to move up in social class, you must have magic in your blood. So it follows that, in contrast to the rest of Thedas, instruction at a Circle in Tevinter is not an obligation, but a privilege, as they are considered prestigious academies, not mage prisons.

### The Harrowing

In Tevinter, every person who appears to have magical abilities must report to a Circle of Magi for assessment. Every mage is required to undergo the **Rite of Harrowing,** which tests a mage's will and ability to resist demonic possession. However, not every mage is considered entitled to an education.

Only mages born into an Altus family or a respectable Laetan family are considered worthy of learning and mastering the arcane arts. When an Altus or respectable Laetan mage enters the Circle of Magi, they are given a period of apprenticeship to practice and master the basics of magic before their Harrowing. On the other hand, Lowborn Laetan mages and slaves who manifest magical abilities must scrape by with any hedgewitchery they can glean on their own. They are often rushed through the Harrowing process without preparation, and as a result fail more often, which only furthers the idea that "not all magical blood is of equal quality."

### Phylacteries

Upon their Harrowing, mages have a few drops of their blood taken by their local Circle's First Enchanter and placed in a **phylactery**. This ensures the mages' loyalty to the Archon, as Imperial Templars can track runaways through their blood. Magisters are no exception to this rule. Their phylacteries are stored in deep within the archives of the Circle of Magi in Minrathous, where the Archon's men can quickly access them if a Magister steps out of line.

### Tevinter Circles

Most major cities have one Circle of Magi, which operates as a school and library. The most prominent circles in the nation are:

* **Minrathous Circle**: The oldest Circle in Thedas, housing the largest library of arcane knowledge, the **Arcanist Hall,** run by the archivist Magister Irian Amladaris. This Circle operates as the seat of power for the magisters, the Imperial Senators, and the Imperial Archon.
* **Carastes Circle**: A prestigious academy of magic in the eastern Imperium. A small, selective school that produces many famous arcane researchers.
* **Vyrantium Circle**: Famous for producing many famous war mages and generals.

## Notable Families of Tevinter

The following families of Altus blood by their associated regions:

* House **Adria**
* House **Alexius** - Notable members include Magister Gereon Alexius of Ventus.

* House **Amladaris** - Notable members include Magister Irian Amladaris, the current master of the Arcanist Hall in Minrathous.