Theites
Contrary to the understanding of Theah, the First Prophet was not the first person to speak of Theus. In the lands now held by the Crescent Empire there was a people who knew of Theus and his puzzle that he had set forth before humanity. During the expansion of the Republic, they came into conflict with Numa and were soundly defeated. Or so Numa thought. Through careful maneuvering and deal making, they rose in the favor of a senatorial family, one of the senatorial families that became part of the Bargain that granted the senators Sorcery. The leaders of the Theites learned this sorcery, but most used it to maintain their position and power as the senators had done, rather than help their own people. Power from beyond does corrupt after all.
It was from the Theites that the First Prophet came, speaking out against all sorcery, and speaking to all peoples, not just the Theites, about the puzzle of Theus that was creation. The leaders of the Theites did not appreciate being told what to do by this man, who also spoke of more prophets to come, but before they could decide what to do, he appeared before the Senate and was put to death. Non-Theite legend has them betraying the First Prophet, though the records of the Rilasciare show differently.
But eventually, the senator’s family fell out of power, and the Theites no longer had protection against other factions of the Republic. As the words of the first prophet were accepted in the empire, the Theites were made the new targets of hatred. After all, the common people said, did not the Theites betray the first Prophet? Within generations their sorcery was lost and they were homeless wanderers. For several hundreds of years they tried to live among the people of Theah, but they were often shunned into their own communities. Actual persecution did not begin until the rise of the Third Prophet and his crusades against the Crescent Empire. Now actively hunted, it was only among the Carls of the Vestenmanjavenjar that they were able to find a refuge. But it was shocking to live with such barbarian people, and soon the Theites were educating their neighbors in the ways of the world and the message of Theus. And eventually, the Vendel and the Guilds arose.
The Theites still live among but separate from the Vendel, though it’s not readily obvious to anyone walking down the streets of Kirk as to who is who. Centuries of living in their own communities still leads the Theites to keep to their own, even among the Vendel where they are most easily accepted. As a result, any nationally based social advantage costs +1 hp, except among the Vendel.
Bonus Trait: Wits
The Theites have their own language as well, though not all Theites learns to speak it. For Theites, the language (Teru) costs 1 point to learn. For all other Theans, it costs 4 hero points. (It only costs 2 points for Crescents, but we don’t have any data on them yet.) Theites buy languages based on the country where they were raised (usually, but not always, Vendel)
Although the sorcery is thought lost, there may be a few families of Theites out there who have some ability with the spirits of the world. It was said that those who had Spiritus could command ghosts, even the Mirror Ghosts of Porte, Djinn and the like.
Shamanisim: Katuleh
The Theites practice an intricate Shamanisim that is difficult to learn, taking a lifetime of study.
Updated: Friday, March 23, 2001