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The Duchys : Arc * Dry * Eye and Shore * High Island * Masked * Moon * Oak * Snake * South * Stones
The people of Athory believe in a single Creator who was responsible for bring the lands and themselves into being. This Creator is acknowledged at births, marriages and funerals and also at general celebrations such as the Summer and Winter Festivals. Priests offer a prayer to the Creator each morning.
Priests are generally a group of respected scholars responsible for formal recognition of people or events. Like their Lathian counterparts, they tend to witness births, marriages, deaths and are called to record the succession in a noble family. However, Athory priests differ from Lathany priests in two respects. Firstly, they deal with land disputes. Secondly, they give prayers to the Creator (Lathany priests simply acknowledge their Creators). Priests are not magi; except in the rare cases when a person with magical ability decides that the priesthood is their calling. It is also worth noting (from a real world perspective) that priests are not required to be celibate.
Trade between Athory and the Southern lands is mainly conducted at the seaports within the Duchys of the South, the Snake and the Masked Duchy. However, occasionally merchants will travel to other Duchys with a hope of obtaining a good price for rare goods, particularly for any ores from the mines in the Barony of Frankis.
Like Lathany, within the towns and the cities, news is carried by criers who work directly to the nobility. However, unlike Lathany such messages are usually are usually direct orders from Dukes, Duchesses, Lords and Ladies to their people.
Tellers spread the myths, rumours and gossip. Tellers divide into two main groups; those who live their lives in one place, gathering local accounts and news from visitors and those who travel from place to place, spreading the word as they go.
Some Tellers specialise in the oldest histories of the Empire and the Kingdom. However, this group have to tread carefully as it is not uncommon for a ruler to have them executed for spreading an unwelcome truth (or lie).
There are two main festivals held in Athory; the High Summer Dance of Masks and the Fire Lights of Deep Winter. All the Duchys celebrate these affairs.
There are also a number of smaller festivals, some of them peculiar to particular Duchys. Plus it is customary for a Duchy to celebrate the handover of rule.
There are three coins of value in Athory; pennies, stars and circles. The first are made of a non-descript brownish metal (a mixture from the mines), the latter two are both made of silver. These can usually be exchanged on a one-for-one basis for the equivalent Lathany coins, although some merchants may not give a direct exchange.
Taxes are collected from all the settlements in a Duchy. Money is paid to the Lord or Lady who has jurisdiction for the settlement, then to the Duke or Duchess.
Mages are rarer in Athory than Lathany with one exception - Empathy mages. Whenever a new empathy mage discovers his or her abilities they come under direct command of the Duke or Duchess of their Duchy. They are expected to fight for their ruler alongside the army. Empathy mages who refuse to serve are called the Rogue Stones and they are executed whenever they are discovered.
Mages of other paths are not expected to fight for their ruler, but a large number of them are pressed into service anyway.
More recently, however, it seemed as though things might change. The Duke-Mage Leonides has declared his castle and island (situated in the centre of the Snake) to be a haven for all Athory mages. Only time will tell whether his wishes will actually come true.