quote:

---

Originally posted by Thraskir Skimper

Thay doesn't restrict religions except Mulhorandi, Mystra or Velsharoon and most of these have been taken care of.

Thay is a very open restriction free society. Regardless of what you may have read, heard or been told.

Sure elders are often walked off to or buried in the undead grave yards, to be risen up for eternal Thayan service. It is quite the honour.

Religious freedom, outside Thaymount freedom of movement, changing profession, even adventuring in the restricted Tharks is encouraged. Racial freedom exists, while some think all Red Wizards are Mulani nobles, or even funnier that all nobles are based upon Red Wizards families. :)

Drow, Orcs, Gnolls, Orges and Trolls, Goblins and a few humans... Ha that is funny as well. Sure the other races do exist freely in Thay, often employed as guards or consultants. Drow are common in areas but so are all other Elves, Dwarves and Halflings. Gnomes of all types and they are not all Slaves. Sure some areas have Devils or Demons but they are almost always bound in service of a Red Wizard.

Red Wizards are all Specialist wizards and politically in command in Thay. They don't all work together and other than Arch Zulkir Tam no one commands all the others, even Zulkir Tam is mostly interested in Thay stability not in the affairs of 1000's of wizards.

Not all Wizards are Red Wizards in Thay. Red Wizards are generally Human or mostly so. A large number are Mulan but not all. Nobles not Red Wizards are concerned with who is or isn't a Mulani or how much of one. The notion that only Red Wizards are nobles is hilarious.

Politics in Thay.

Arch Zulkir Tam
Zulkirs of houses outside necromancy
The various other titles in the hierarchy, including Thraskir.

Thraskir are judges or investigators, it depends on Alignment to an extent. Not all Judges are Lawful nor Evil.
Nor are all Red Wizards.

There are other powers who may or may not be Red Wizards. They can order even to a certain extent Red Wizards around as long as their authority represents a Zulkir's.

Nobles who are not Red Wizards have authority usually through commerce or traditional power or force of will.

Commoners are free roam most lower levels of Thay. The Keeps of Red Wizards are usually off limits but lots of Red wizards live outside the seats of power.

Outside Thay enclaves exist but most of you understand them already.

In Thay Slaves are the lowest order but usually are well treated. Sure some get used up but even dead slaves from mining operations get "blessed" into undead ranks and armies.

Some Slaves are workers, some are intellectually involved in Thay, some are gardeners, yes there are gardens in Thay, some domestic servants, child rearing, wait staff etc... They are generally well treated. There are different kinds of slaves. Enemies captured tend to get used up. Civilians captured tend to have better lives, economic slaves are often those who pay off debt with service of a set duration, they have more rights and typically are not mistreated. Nobles who screw up can find themselves as slaves, it is typically a welfare like effect and as fortunes change, their lot in life can change too. Some beloved slaves are freed or earn their freedom. Then there are those who don't accept their captivity and they are weeded out with the ill and weak on the Slave Way march. But they keep the Guards and various mercenaries sharp.

Clerics and non red wizards are not uncommon. Clerics have reverence by many but will not be high ranking Red Wizards. All Red Wizards whether through a prestige class introduction, or working up through schools and or colleges. Even then Red Wizards are a political calling as well as an advancement in power. Most junior Red Wizards, novices, choose to be but not all. Advancement is then based on merit and orders from above.

A Red Wizard life is similar to a Clerical calling but is strictly Arcane and without dedication to a specific greater power. A Nishkir and a Draxkir are similar but different classes or ranks. Both are generally equal in influence but serve different purposes. As a Thraskir I will call upon both of their services. Draxkirs to set something up or arrange witnesses or accommodation or gathering of materials. Nishkirs to bring in someone or something or explain what something is or does. They make great bounty hunters or just hunters of things in general. Nishkirs are more action oriented. Typically the Red Wizard you end up in battle with will be a Nishkir more often than not. Novices typically are the lackeys, but it depends school or college novices fulfil this role. Prestige class Red Wizards are more the adventuring type of Novices. The Scribes are just above the Novices, the Barakirs, in rank. They tend to do scholarly duties or will join Novices or lead them on orders from Draxkirs or Nishkirs to find info on a creature or people or place or custom or even a law. Some Thraskirs spend all day studying laws. Some investigate things. Political intrigues, people or find stuff or things. (Think of it like a Judge investigator in France). We tend to root out people places or things. Being Divination based also helps in this. But all ranks are represented in all schools. All Novices are Raalkirs call them such and any other Red Wizard you don't know how to address. If they want you to know who they are they will tell you.

No one has successfully impersonated a Red Wizard of Thay. But it isn't true that only Red Wizards wear red in Thay. But if you are wearing red robes it is best that you clearly state that you are not a Red Wizard.

Wizards Marks, they exist, they are all different and most are known. But not everyone can know every Wizard Mark.

Temples most people are surprised to learn that Bane or Beshaba is not the main religion of Thay.

Beshaba is well revered and Bane is bold and present but

Kossuth is the main divinity in Thay!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by sleyvas

I also figure warlocks and sorcerers to have existed prior to the ToT and thus we have to have some kind of revisionist history to a degree.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

quote:

---

Originally posted by sleyvas

I also figure warlocks and sorcerers to have existed prior to the ToT and thus we have to have some kind of revisionist history to a degree.

---

Officially, sorcerers did exist prior to the ToT. That was another of those "it's always been that way, but no one knew about it!" things WotC did with the advent of the 3E Realms.

I prefer them to be a new thing, since they weren't documented before, but that's not that big a quibble for me.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

My idea is to respin the return of Shade, having it result in such major disturbances to the Weave that previously unmagical races suddenly could access magic, and there were new ways to access it, as well.

---