Thiasos

A **thiasos** (sometimes also **thyasus** or **tiasus**, pl. **thiasoi**) is the predominant form of social organisation among the Etoi. It resembles a religious community usually headed by one or multiple matriarchs, also called Ariadnai, who perform both political and spiritual functions. Each thiasos is associated with a symbolic colour and a sacred totemic animal or Paratestos that serves as the supernatural protector of the community. The Paratestos is also depicted on the thiasos' Tessera Hospitalis - its token of hospitality to outsiders.

The Etoi lack any notions of individual ownership or responsibility. Thus, no nuclear families nor monogamous relationships exist within the thiasoi. Instead, all women take collective responsibility for raising and educating offspring. Men, usually inferior in rank to women, are shared as partners among female members of the thiasos.

## Structure

A thiasos is made up of many siphne, who resemble the lineages in Iskuzai society. Each siphne is led by a single matriarch and her favourite lovers, the Erotioi (the 'lovable ones'), who form a sort of aristocracy within the siphne. Being an Erotios is the highest social status a man can achieve in Etoi society. Below them are the women who are usually free of bondage. The lowest class consists of all other men who are mostly enslaved.

The matriarchs, or Ariadnai (meaning 'pure ones'), serve as the head of the thiasos for life. After the death of a ruling matriarch, a new one is either elected by the community or chosen from its elite females through incredibly challenging and dangerous trials. To honour their predecessors, newly elected matriarchs frequently took the name of the deceased one they succeeded.

Etoi matriarchs have wide ranging powers and act as judges, head priestesses and even military leaders. These matriarchs typically decide about the assignment of tasks or positions within the thiasos as well as the distribution of resources among its members. However, the degree to which the matriarchs control life in the Thiasos varies between regions. Whereas the eastern Etoi kingdoms are characterised by 'tyrannical' thiasoi with matriarchs who hold absolute power, the western Etoi practice a more democratic organisation within their thiasoi. In the west, men also enjoy greater autonomy in general and are allowed to accrue personal wealth.

## History

Most Etoi kingdoms consisted of a multitude of thiasoi and were governed by an assembly of matriarchs who appointed one of them as queen or 'eparch'. After the fall of the Coastal Eparchies to the Iskuzai, many Etoi adopted some of the customs of their conquerors. The siphne within the thiasoi gradually evolved to resemble the lineages of the Iskuzai. For instance, it became increasingly common to name a siphne after a renown ancestor (such as the Acamantidai) and for their matriarchs to follow a dynastic order of succession. The role of Etoi men was also strengthened under Iskuzai rule. In some cases, male descendants even became effective leaders of their lineages.

## Known thiasoi

### Bronze Moray Thiasos

The thiasos of the Bronze Moray-Eel was the predominant thiasos in Beitris before the Iskuzai invasion. It was so influential that its eponymous animal became associated with the city itself. The ariadnai of the Bronze Moray thiasos ruled Beitris up until their last matriarch Acamante surrendered to the besieging Iskuzai. Following the Iskuzai conquest, the thiasoi fell apart but Acamante's siphne gave rise to the lineage of the Acamantidai who remained important figures in Beitris' government. The Acamantidai kept many of their Etoi traditions as well as their matriarchal form of organisation. Their most recent head Erigone died presumably from snake poisoning.

### Coral Antelope Thiasos

Colony of Noskos and wider Mriga Archipelago

##### Members

* Arudara
* Kythanetos (after finding refuge there)

##### Members

* Adunitana
* Daodas