THIBIA (UTAWALA)
Geography
Country: Thibia Continent: Utawala Capital City: Ankhais Other Notable Cities: Lydo, Khabai, Satifh
TERMINOLOGY
“King/Queen” - Per-aa (masc.), Per-ai (femin.) - “great house” “Prince/Princess” - Kheper-aa (masc.), Kheper-ai (femin.) - “to become great” “Councilors” - Inhep - “by law” “Concubine” - Hemet-ai - “great wife” “Cousins to the Royal Family” - “Keht”
HISTORY
It’s unclear by whom the Thibian region was first settled, but records indicate wars between several nomadic tribes vying for control of land. Some 800 years ago, the first Per-aa, a warrior king, succeeded in uniting several tribes into one country, named Thibia after the conqueror’s wife. The first instance of polygyny is noted 200 years later, after the reigning Per-aa, his son, and wife were killed in battle. The Khesenf Dynasty took control of the country approximately 350 years ago, when a revolt rose up under the tyrannical rule of the Per-aa, who had been the oldest son but not the most qualified child to inherit the throne. The first Khesenf Per-aa established the Inhep to maintain justice and order, and the family has retained rule ever since.
RELIGION
The Thibians worship more than one thousand gods, ranging from several prominent gods and goddesses to hundreds of minor deities. The polytheistic religion practiced is a nameless one, but no other religion is recognised. The religion is anchored in the belief that the gods are present in the world around them, so to be close to nature is to be close to the gods.
POLITICS
Thibia is run by the Per-aa and his five councilors, who are called Inhep, regardless of gender. The Per-aa’s title is hereditary, and he is supposed to name an heir before his death. After the Per-aa’s death, the Council will vote to approve or nullify the ascension of the new Per-aa. If they feel the selected heir is unfit for the role, an heir will be chosen from among the Per-aa’s other children. This can take weeks or months, depending on the situation, and the Per-ai rules in his stead; if the Per-ai is also dead, the longest-married Hemet-ai rules until a new Per-aa is chosen. Inhep are appointed to the council by the Per-aa and serve until death, which means they may serve several Per-aa throughout their life. An Inhep can be removed from the council if a unanimous vote is given by the other members. Inhep are usually scholars or military leaders, but occasionally will be a member of the royal family, which removes them from the line of succession.
MARRIAGE
Marriage in the Royal Family: For hundreds of years, it has been common for the Per-aa to take multiple wives to ensure a suitable heir. Only one Per-aa in recent history refused to do, and when he died without an heir, civil war broke out between his brothers. While the Per-ai is queen and rules by his side, the Hemet-ai are his “great wives” and are next in the hierarchy. It is considered a great honor to be chosen as a Per-aa’s Hemet-ai, who are often valued because of their beauty or intelligence, and it is is an unspoken rule that no unmarried Thibian woman may refuse the honor. If a Hemet-ai is unhappy in her role, she may choose to leave, relinquishing her titles and status; however, if she has borne an heir, she forfeits all right to her child upon giving up her position.
Marriage Among the Commoners: Marriage is usually done to divide property, and there is little religious significance to a marriage or divorce. A couple is not considered married just because they begin to live together, but if a couple is living together when the man dies, it is expected that the man’s family will continue to provide for the woman. Wealthy commoners may mimic the royal tradition of multiple wives, but a man without the resources to support a large family is only expected to have one wife; if he has multiple wives, and has nothing to give them, he would be shunned by the community.
BASTARDS AND ORPHANS
It is considered shameful for a man to not provide for his child, whether it is a bastard or born into a marriage. There is no legal ramification, but a man’s reputation will suffer to the point where he is shunned from his community. Orphaned and unwanted children might be left at temples, where they will be brought up with vocational training (such as weaving), trained as a warrior, or put to work as a laborer. Orphaned or unwanted children may also be adopted by sympathetic families or barren women who can afford the additional mouth.
In The Royal Family: If a Per-aa suspects that a Hemet-ai gives birth to a child that is not his, he can declare the child a bastard and it will be raised with an off-branch of the royal family, such as by one of the Per-aa’s siblings or cousins (if the Hemet-ai is still in his good graces) or at a temple.
INHERITANCE AND SUCCESSION
In the royal family, the crown is passed from one Per-aa to the next, and although a deceased Per-aa’s wife might rule in his stead, a Kheper-ai has never been named Per-ai in her own right. This is due to the fact that a Per-ai could not produce enough heirs, while a Per-aa can produce many heirs with multiple women. Despite this, the Kheper-ai are valued among the family and in society as a whole. Inheritance of property is given to the oldest son or oldest unwed daughter, unless a will is drawn up, and money is divvied up equally among each man or woman’s child. Consequently, children also inherit their parents’ unpaid debt.
FASHION
The amount of skin shown in a basic Thibian outfit would make a proper Eldurian blush. Lightweight textile, like linen, silk, and cotton, are preferred, although the price of the fabric depends on the quality. Children might be seen in little more than their smallclothes before puberty. Jewellery is used to display wealth and status, and even the poorest citizen might try to stack their arms with cheap bangles. Body decorations are also common, as it is believed that adorning your body with the symbols of the gods will bring you closer to them. Sometimes this is done in the form of permanent tattoos, but other times will be painted on for special occasions, or, for those who have the time, each morning.
credits to ani