Official Name: Tevinter Imperium
Demonym: Tevinter
Government: Mageocracy
Capital: Minrathous
Religion: Imperial Chantry (majority)
The Tevinter Imperium is a costal nation in northern Thedas known for it pro-magic culture and once-vast rule over much of the continent.
In Tevinter culture, might makes right, and the society's mage leaders, known as magisters, do as they please. It was the Tevinters who destroyed the legendary elven city of Arlathan and who first took the elves as slaves, resulting in the death of ancient elven culture. Slavery in the Imperium is still actively practiced.
The ancient Tevinter magisters are also blamed for the creation of the darkspawn and the start of the Blights, as they are said to have turned the Golden City black by trying to enter it. The story of their hubris is a cornerstone of Chantry faith.
Ages ago, the Imperium controlled nearly all of Thedas. Several Exalted Marches and protracted war with the Qunari in Seheron led to the Imperium's decline. While still relatively powerful, the modern Imperium is a shadow of what it once was.
Because of its history as a conqueror, the role the magisters played in starting the Blights, and the current Schism with the Divine in Orlais, the Tevinter Imperium is the most maligned and demonized nation in Thedas. It is virtually impossible to find writings from Tevinter outside its borders that have not been heavily altered or outright forged. To most Thedosians it is a corrupt and degenerate mageocracy that must be feared until it can be converted.
The Tevinters themselves view the rest of Thedas as barely civilized savages who lack poper reverence for tradition and respect for authority. Magic rules the Imperium and their clothing reflects this. Dark robes, hoods, and light armor are common place in Tevinter.
Dragons feature prominently in Tevinter, decorating everything from ancient art and architecture to modern public buildings. Tevinter construction frequently incorperates magic. Foundations of important structures may be raised directly out of the earth by mages. The Old Gods of the ancient magisters were depicted as dragons, and even when their worship was banned with the Cult of the Maker, the dragon remained a defining symbol of the Imperium. Tevinter Circles were built in the ruins of ancient temples to the Old Gods.
The Tevinter Imperium is governed by a mageocracy. Powerful, noble mages from a legislative body known as the Magisterium. Its magisters, spend almost as much time engaging in elaborate political schemes to prove their superiority over each other as they do making actual decisions for the good of the country.
Archon
The Archon is the supreme ruler of the Imperium. He has the authority to appoint new seats in the Magisterium and the final say over enacting any laws the Magisterium passes. Archons usually inherit their titles; they are the sons, nephews, brothers, cousins, or apprentices of previous Archons. The reigning Archon designates his heir to the Magisterium before he dies.
If an Archon dies without naming an heir, the Magisterium elects an new one. Previously, candidates came from within the ranks of the Magisterium, but this practice has been banned since the Black Age. Candidates are now only eligible if they do not hold a seat in the Magisterium or rank in the Imperial Chantry.
Archons rule by divine right, a tradition that predates the Imperium. Their authority, like their magical power, is said to have been granted to them by a god. The specific divinities changed over time, from the Old Gods to the Maker, but the general belief in magic being bestowed by a higher power remained a constant in Tevinter culture.
The Magisterium
The mage elites of Tevinter's Magisterium regularly gather to govern the Imperium. There are several routes into the Magisterium. A magister can be chosen by each of the nations seven Circles of Magi, usually from the ranks of the senior enchanters. First Enchanters are ineligible for this seat. Every grand cleric of the Imperial Chantry has a seat, as does the Imperial Divine. Seats can be inherited from magisters by their heirs. The Archon reserves the right to appoint new magisters of his choosing at any time.
The great city of Minrathous has the unique honor of having never been conqured, and for good reason. It was built on an island of rock not far from the shore, accessible only by a single bridge that can be destroyed if necessairy. The island's ports and shipbuilding facilities are immense, as are the legendary catacombs that were carved beneath the island and capable of storing enough food to feed the city for a year.
The embassy in Minrathous, said to be constructed by Darinius himself as a guest home for the dwarven king Endrin Stonehammer, is still in use and is considered one of the wonders of the world. Another wonder is the city's massive arena, known as the Proving Grounds. The architectural marvel, built as a triangular prism, takes its concept from the dwarves. The exterior is decorated hanging, terraced gardens, making it a green jewel at the center of a stone city.
The Minrathous Circle of Magi is the second oldest building in the Imperium. In ancient times, it was the Temple of Razikale. This Circle is considered the best preserved example of ancient architecture in the Imperium.
Despite the decline of the Imperium since the First Blight, Minrathous remains the largest city in thedas.
Tevinter society is broken down into four distinct classes, two magical and two non-magical.
Mage Classes
Altus: The Altus mages are descendents of the origial Dreamers, Tevinter magisters who were said to communicate with the Old Gods in the Fade. Though these gods are no longer venerated, ancient, ancient, magical bloodlines are still respected, and their ranks still form the upper crust of Tevinter nobility. The lion's share of magisters comes from Altus families. For a time, the Altus were meligned for their apparent role in the creation in the First Blight. The act turned their most powerful and influential leaders into darkspawn, and many magisters were later slaughterd during the Transfiguration, when the Imeprium converted to worship of Andraste's Maker. Over the ages, the Altus have restored their place at the peak of Tevinter society.
Laetans: The core of the Laetans class are mages born to families with no prior history of magic or to mage families who have practiced magic for generations, but cannot trace their ancestery to the Dreamers. Many Laetans are known to vie viciously for power, having to prove themselves over the power-by-blood Altus class. A third of the Archons in the history of the Imperium have been Leatans.
Mundane Classes
Soporati: The Soporati are non-mage or "mundane" Tevinter citizens. Members of this overwhelmingly human class are aloud to own property and serve in the military. Many are merchants. Soporati do not have a direct say in matters of governance and cannot rise above the ranks of mother or father within the Imperial Chantry.
When a mage is born to a Soporati family, that family is given entry into the ranks of the Laetans and given new prestige in Tevinter society. This is not to say Soporati look up to the mage classes. Indeed friction persists between the ruling class and their able-minded if ungifted brethren.
Slaves: Slaves are not allowed to own property or serve in the military. Many of them are skilled workers who have been trained in a profession. However they are not considered artisans nor keep apprentices. Even when armed and serving as personal soldiers or bodyguards, slaves are not honored with military ranks. In the past Tevinter slaves were overwhelmingly elven. Since the Long Walk, the class is a mix of humans and elves.
Slaves can only be legally set free in front of a judge, with the owner formally present to formally state the slave has been given freedom, or by the owners will upon death. Freed slaves are still not considered citizens. They are instead known as Liberati, a subclass with limited rights. Liberati can join a Circle of Magi or serve as an apprentice in trade. Liberati may also own property, but they cannot join the military and rarely have a say in government.
The dwarven kingdoms have enjoyed a close relationship with the Imperium for more than two thousand years. Their bond is evident in the Imperium's Proving Grounds and massive stone golems known as Juggernauts who guard the gates of Minrathous.
A large number of surface dwarves live in the Imperium. They are not considered citizens, but instead foreign dignitaries even if their houses have lived in Tevinter for generations. Since the time of Archon Darinius, Orzammar has had a sizable emissary in Minrathous. The dwarves now have embassies in every major Tevinter city, much like the dwarven enclaves found in other Thedosian nations. The difference between the dwarves of Tevinter and the dwarves of every other surface nation is that those in Tevinter have their own branch of government.
The Ambassadoria is the dwarven body of representatives elected by the dwarves to advise the Archon and Magisterium. The Ambassadoria functions less like a parliament and more like a lobby group.
Lyrium is the primary reason Tevinter and the dwarves enjoy such a close political relationship. The mage-centric Imperium is dependent on a steady supply of lyrium from Orzammar. without it, much of the Imperium would literally collapse. Magic is so prevalent in Tevinter life that entire buildings are raised and maintained by magic.
The dwarven embassies, in Minrathous, Neromenian, and Qarinus, are completely subterranean. Because these embassies are still technically within the Stone, dwarves who serve there retain their caste-even if their families have spent generations outside of a thaig. Some of the dwarves in Tevinter live their entire lives within the confines of their embassy, never stepping under the open sky.