Ticasi
In the year 206SA, the Kingdom of Salaq took Ticasi from the Empire of the Ced. For the next 225 years, Ticasi belonged to Salaq's king. In the year 431SA, Armanthar, a great scholar, proposed that Ticasi could serve Salaq better as a scholastic center than as a royal fief. In the year 438SA, the King of Salaq was convinced. He named Armanthar Royal Governor of Ticasi and authorized him to create a tax - exempt scholastic center with full internal independence. During his reign as Governor (438 - 496SA), Armanthar dedicated his life to this task. In the year 479SA, he formed a Council of Scholars to rule after his death and received a writ automatically investing its chairman as the Royal governor of Ticasi. When he died (496SA) his body was preserved, incorruptibly, and placed in the Royal Chamber to serve as an inspiration to the Council.
After Armanthar's passing, the land was stable. In the year 702SA, a plague struck the city and killed more than 12,000 people in the 18 years that it lasted. To counter its threat, the Council of Scholars overcame their revulsion for interfering in the affairs of others and passed the Edict of Respite (720SA) by a 16 - 7 vote.
NOTE - The Edict of Respite was a draconian measure. It established a firm code of cleanliness and order, banned the wearing of personal weapons in public, established curfews and created a constabulary to enforce the will of the council.
The Edict of Respite stabilized the land until the year 1000SA. In that year, the Donarans entered Ticasi. To forestall a large invasion, the Council accepted a Donaran Resident and began paying a yearly tribute, on the restriction that Donarans in Ticasi would be subject to Ticasi law. (Because of their troubles in Shiben, the Donarans accepted.) Soon after the Donaran presence became fact, the Council created the National Guard (1004SA) and the Coastal Patrol (1009SA) to protect their land. Since this time, they have been at peace.
Population
The capital is the city of Ticasi (19,000). The nation's total population is 75,000. Ticasi's armed forces are divided into three groups. The Constabulary has 200 footmen in chainmail located in Ticasi as a garrison and a police force. The National Guard consists of 1,200 foot militia and 400 horse militia from the countryside around Ticasi. All of them are trained. The Donaran Resident commands a force of 400 footmen camped outside the city of Ticasi. Ticasi's fleet, the Coastal Patrol, consists of 10 warships including 1 trireme. No Donaran warships are based in Ticasi.
Economy
Ticasi uses organized and efficient agricultural methods. They have a large fishing fleet. Their trade revolves around the exchange of knowledge for the raw materials and goods that they lack. Ticasi is one of the most important centers of learning in the world.
Religion
All faiths except those that practice "dirty" rites are tolerated in Ticasi. Law orientated religions are favored.
Personality
The people of Ticasi are devoted to logic and rational behavior. Over 90% of their people are literate in at least one language. Most citizens strive toward the national purpose of scholastic excellence. Most of them are intellectuals with an aloof and passive nature. Violence is a last resort in this culture. Intellectual curiosity, especially within one's field of interest, is their life.
Legal System
Ticasi is ruled by a 23 - member Council of Scholars. All decisions of national importance are decided by this council. Its leader is called the Master Scholar. No meeting can be held without his presence. Council members are selected by scholastic competition in each of the recognized fields of knowledge, as defined in Ticasi.
Ticasi has a complex justice system. A full trial takes months in minor cases. In major cases, it can take years. While awaiting the resolution of a case, suspects are confined in private rooms in the council's prison. Ticasi has no law that provides for bail or parole. Unless a suspect has influence with the judge, a council member or some other important person, he remains in jail until his case is decided. (If he is found innocent, he is paid 1 GC per month spent in jail to repay him for his time. All prisoners are allowed to study while they are confined if they choose to do so.)
Criminal penalties in Ticasi are public service (street cleaning, sanitation work, etc.), imprisonment and death. All major crimes are punished by death. Some things that are major crimes in Ticasi are murder, carrying a concealed weapon, excessive slovenliness (after multiple offenses) and the performance of "dirty" rites of magic (Necromancy, Death, Disease or Plague spells, etc). An actual sentence of death requires majority agreement by the Council of Scholars. If they disapprove, the sentence is changed to life in prison.
Allies
Ticasi pays tribute to Donara. They have harmonious relations with Shiben. They are loyal to the memory of Salaq and help citizens of Salaqara when they can.
Enemies
Ticasi dislikes Chiros, a land of wastrels, and detests Clima, a dirty land of evil magicians. They fight piracy and have nothing to do with those who harbor pirates.
Language
| Salaqi | 80% | |
| La'Ced | 40% | |
| Aratad | 40% | |
| Donaran | 40% | |
| Caldan | 40% | |
| Climan | 40% | |
| So'reas | 20% | |
| Kazi | 20% | |
| Zen'dali(W) | 20% | |
| Irava | 20% | |
| Zarunese | 20% | |
| Thaban | 20% | |
| Thaliban | 20% | |
| Rogizini | 20% | |
| Goidanese | 10% | |
| Korchi | 10% | |
| No'reas | 10% | |
| Djani | 10% | |
| Ghiam | 10% | |
| Zen'dali(C) | 10% | |
| Marentian | 10% | |
| Bhamoti | 10% | |
| Cerulean | 10% | |
| Balas | 10% | |
| Robari | 10% | |
| Sair'a'cili | 10% | |
| Ro'babzan | 10% | |
| Shandar | 10% | |
| Gomese | 10% | |
| Dirlla | 10% | |
| Kolari | 10% | |
| Trean | 10% | |
| Tongue of the Abyss | 5% | |
| Animal Tongues | 5% | |
| Tongue of the Blasted Soul | 5% | |
| Tongue of Darkness | 5% | |
| Tongue of the Dead | 5% | |
| Tongue of Death | 5% | |
| Tongue of the Desert | 5% | |
| Tongue of Dvalinn | 5% | |
| Dwarf Elder | 5% | |
| Tongue of the Earth | 5% | |
| The Elder Tongue | 5% | |
| Tongue of Elder Fire | 5% | |
| Elder Water Tongue | 5% | |
| Elf Sidh | 5% | |
| Faerry Sidh | 5% | |
| Tongue of Fiery Chaos | 5% | |
| Giant Tongue | 5% | |
| Goblin | 5% | |
| Great Ape | 5% | |
| Tongue of Catheta | 5% | |
| Tongue of the Jinn | 5% | |
| Kotothi Tongue | 5% | |
| Tongue of Lawful Fire | 5% | |
| Tongue of Light | 5% | |
| Ashura's Command | 5% | |
| The Primal Tongue | 5% | |
| Tongue of the Sidh | 5% | |
| Tonah Tongue | 5% | |
| Troll Tongue | 5% | |
| Tongue of the Wind | 5% | |
| Tongue of Young Chaos | 5% |
Basic Characteristics
| Height | 68" | |
| Weight | 150lbs |
Common Weapons
Dirk, Swords, Polearms
Ancestry
These peoples are of La'Cedi stock. They follow the characteristics of that group but are a bit larger, heavier - built and lighter - skinned.
Special Note - The Council Of Scholars
The recognized fields of knowledge, in Ticasi, are Agronomy, Art, Astronomy, Ceramics, Engineering, Geography, History, Husbandry, Jewel Crafts, Linguistics, Magic, Medicine, Metal Crafts, Military History, Music, Navigation, Physical Sciences, Politics and Law, Religion, Sanitation and Writing. There are 22 fields of knowledge. The council is chaired by the Master Scholar who is the ruler of the land.
Competition for seats on the council are held every two years. The single person with the most knowledge in a given field wins its seat. It is his until he loses it.
To become Master Scholar, a candidate must earn a seat on the council in two different fields of knowledge (at different times), must have served on the council for at least ten years consecutively and must be at least 40 years old. The Master Scholar is elected by acclamation of the council.
Sixteen votes, out of a possible twenty - two, are required to elect a new Master Scholar. He holds the seat for life or until the council decides that someone else is more qualified.
NOTE - The current Master Scholar, Hovan Vachera, won seats for Astronomy (4 years), Magic (12 years), Navigation (2 years) and Linguistics (4 years) in his career. He has also served as Ambassador to Donara and Grand Admiral of the Coastal Patrol. He is 73 years old and has been on the council, in varying posts, for more than 40 years. He has been Master Scholar since the year 1082. He is likely to retain the post until death.
Population Details
Ticasi is supported by 8 towns (average population of 2,470). There is also 1 fortress town (population of 3,100). Total town population is 22,200.
There are 186 villages distributed about the land (average population of 180). Total villiage population is 33,800.