Stygia

History

According to legend, before the Eld arrived in the land of Stygia, it was inhabited by a race of giant-kings. The Eld bred with the kings and, learning much of their ancient sorcery, became the Stygians. A Stygian priest that says that some mummies have lain in their tomb for ten thousand years could be boasting - to suggest Stygia is older than it is – or he may be referring to the tombs of these long-dead kings.

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The Pyramids

The first pyramids of Stygia were built by the pre-human giant race that were superseded by the Stygians. No one remembers what their original purpose was, but they now serve as temples as well as tombs for the mummies of Stygia’s elite. Over the centuries, as the kingdom became more powerful, new pyramids were constructed that dwarfed the originals in size and opulence. The insides of these new pyramids serve as temples for Yag and burial chambers for kings and lesser royalty. New pyramids are rarely constructed in Stygia, but the current dynasty has commissioned the creation of three to serve as the new resting place for his decedents, and as symbols of his kingdom's power and wealth.

The pyramids serve another function as well - the priesthood stockpiles the alchemical weaponry and copies of sacred writings inside them to serve the kingdom in the event of war. The dark secrets contained within the pyramids are one of the most powerful deterrents against invasion that Stygia has, and along with the kingdom's military might almost guarantee the safety of the Stygian people.

Government

Stygia is a theocracy. The government claims its right to rule on behalf of Yag, the Great Serpent. The king claims to have the support of Yag and his pantheon – and says that any attempts to remove the king would risk [[[Yag]]’s displeasure.

Almost the entire bureaucracy of Stygia is comprised of priests. The largest temple complexes are almost cities in and of themselves, employing almost every sort of worker. Produce and animals from the farms arrive constantly, and everything is recorded by temple scribes.

Many thousands of Stygians are needed to make sure Stygia runs according to the king's desires. The king claims to be master of the world, all which is seen and unseen. The priests and the bureaucracy then serve as his eyes.

The bureaucracy is arranged much like a pyramid. The wide base of the pyramid is built from the common scribes. They function as clerks, record-keepers, tax collectors, supply distributors and accountants. Exceptional scribes can move into the next level of government and oversee the common scribes. Being even a 'common' scribe is still respectful and higher in status than a non-literate overseer of a farm. These are primarily scholars, although any class can take the training.

Above the scribes in the scheme of Stygian government is the class of dignitaries, who are high priests, army officers, town officials and governors. The dignitaries live like wealthy landowners. Of course, most of them are wealthy landowners. Skilled scribes can often make their way to this tier of government. These characters are usually mid- or high-level non-noble characters, or low level nobles.

Above these dignitaries are the most gifted and influential of the nobles and dignitaries, chosen by the king to serve as his central administrators. They are usually given impressive titles, such as Master of the King's Surplus. Another high ranking title is the Speaker of Yag, who is one of the most politically influential and powerful sorcerers from the priesthood. These central administrators live almost like kings themselves, in huge houses approaching the size of palaces and with vast quantities of quality servants.

Above the central administrators are the two viziers of the king. One vizier serves Stygia from the bend in the Styx to the east and the other is in charge of Stygia from the bend in the Styx toward the north. A diagonal line that runs from the bend at Khemri toward Sukhmet divides the desert. The viziers are the eyes and ears of the king, to whom all things must be reported.

At the apex of the pyramid is the king of Stygia. He is the supreme judge of all disputes and the ruler of all people. He is the commander of the army and the representative of the gods on earth.

Military

Stygia holds some of the most secure borders in the world with a ruthless army that is strictly disciplined. The ruling theocracy forces their warrior castes to wear obsolete armor and use antique weaponry, including war chariots still made the traditional way. Chariot fighting is a noble art and cavalry is base, fit only for foreign mercenaries. While Stygian armies are walking anachronisms, they are effective. Their men and horses are accustomed to Stygia’s climate and geography. Their armies are also augmented by the sorcerer-priests, who call black plagues out of darkened tombs to help repel invaders. The army is well coordinated and extremely mobile, brave and formidable. It is considered a major military power. The Stygian army could be called upon to quickly overwhelm invaders in sheer numbers, often negating superior tactics and equipment. Despite these strengths, however, Stygia is very reluctant to send its forces abroad, even to reclaim captured lands.

Women

Women in Stygia are respected and treated as equal to men in most ways. Legally, Stygian women can run businesses, own land, inherit property and appear in court. They face the same penalties under law as men do. Women may hold professions and run households. In marriage, women retain their independence and control their own assets; Stygian women are not subordinated to their husbands nor are they treated like property.
As the bearers of children, women have a highly regarded role in Stygia. Families are extremely valuable and Stygians treasure their children. Since women bear and raise these treasures, the women are likewise treasured. While land was usually passed down to a family’s sons, the jewelry and furniture usually goes to the daughters.

The primary role of women, however, is to bear children. Just as men boast about how many children they have fathered, Stygian women are proud of their fertility. Life is a cycle of birth and rebirth and part of that cycle is sex and pregnancy. Stygians are not modest about sex - after all, it is through sex that women gain reputation and social acceptance. Pregnancy earns women the admiration of society, especially from infertile and childless friends.

Marriage

Stygian marriages are different than most of the rest of the world’s practices. For two people to marry, they merely have to move in together into a household. Cohabitation and sexual relations constitutes the basic level marriage in Stygia. Usually there is a grand party involved when two people join together but it is a social event, not a religious one.

Commoner Stygian girls marry at around 12 years old and commoner Stygian boys marry at around 15 or 16 years old. Wealthier girls and boys marry a few years older than that. Older men who lose their wives usually seek a replacement from those newly available. It is not uncommon to see an older Stygian male married to a 12 year old girl. Girls are eligible for marriage as soon as they enter puberty. Boys marry at an older age because they are expected to have some work ability before contemplating marriage.

Royal marriages are often done at a younger age. Kings often marry as young as 9; since kings and princes do not have to learn a trade in order to support a family, there is no need for them to wait. Some royal princesses and noblewomen wait as old as 15 or 16 before they marry, spending the extra time in the temples to learn even more sexual skills to better please their noble husbands.

Marriages in Stygia are arranged by the parents, although some young people are given a chance to choose their own spouse – often when the original arrangement ended due to an early death. Marriages are usually between people of the same social class. Indeed, social class is more important than race or nationality among Stygians. There is also no incest taboo in the kingdom of Stygia. Brothers and sisters can marry, as can fathers and daughters. It is not uncommon for marriages to be arranged between relatives, especially between cousins or uncles and nieces.

Most people in Stygia only have one wife, although Stygian rulers always have several. Taking additional wives is expensive, so only the wealthy do so. Among Stygians, serial monogamy is much more commonplace than polygamy, since there is no social stigma attached to divorce nor does one need a reason for divorce. The king and the ruling elite usually take a principal wife, then take further wives only to ensure an heir. The king of Stygia often has several hundred wives. Interestingly, the wife of the king can also have another husband. If she and her other husband have a child, the child is considered to be the king’s. Thus, the king is always the son of the previous king, even if the previous king has no male children.

Women bring into the marriage anything they own, including land. They retain ownership, although they traditionally allow the male to administer and work the property as he sees fit, although she can regain control at any time she wishes.

Marital Obligations
The bride is expected to keep her body completely hairless (except for her eyebrows and the hair on her head) throughout the marriage as a symbol of cleanliness and respect for her husband. The husband is expected to administer to the estate. Wives are expected to be fertile and provide children for the husband. The husband is expected to make sure the woman and her children are cared for. Mothers are expected to raise the children unless she can afford slaves or servants to do it for her. Women are also expected to do the cooking and the housework just as the man is responsible for doing his work outside of the house and for overseeing the housework. Women are responsible for making sure the house has enough food and furnishings by being responsible for trading and selling what is grown in the household garden and whatever else can be made by the woman and her children. The husband is responsible for seeing the children are clothed and fed and that they will have an inheritance. He is also responsible for fidelity to the wife, to make sure the wife gets any medical attention she needs and to never, ever treat her like a master treats a servant.

Slavery

Slavery has a slightly different context in Stygia than in The Old Empire or the Pax Icatia. A slave in Stygia is simply a person with reduced rights and dedicated to a certain task. People become slaves when in debt, because of punishment, due to voluntary action, when taken as a prisoner of war or when sent forth as payment of tribute. The period of enslavement is normally limited. Some slaves are personal servants. Other slaves serve estates and are transferred when the estate transfers. The children of slaves are also slaves, but they are not separated from their mothers under normal circumstances.

Debt slaves are Stygians who are sold into slavery by creditors because they cannot pay their debts. Also, some Stygians sell themselves into slavery to escape poverty; the economic security offered by such a situation outweighs the freedoms lost. These slaves can buy themselves out of their status at any time they can come up with the economic wealth to do so.

Convicted criminals can also be enslaved by the vizier. He also sets the term of enslavement, which can be life if the crime warrants such a term.

Some Stygians merely want protection and safety in an almost feudal sense and often pay a monthly stipend to a temple or powerful person to take them on as a servant or slave. Such contracts are usually limited to a certain amount of time, but lifetime slavery contracts are possible.

Some Stygian slaves come from war conquests and the tribute of conquered peoples. When cities fall to the Stygians, the dusky-skinned conquerors bring back prisoners of war and make them slaves. The families of conquered soldiers are usually brought back as slaves along with captured soldiers. Stygian soldiers may take slaves in this manner. Defeated cities must also send tribute to Luxur and slaves are usually part of this tribute.

The most unfortunate slaves are those sent to work in the gold and copper mines of Stygia. Water is rationed strictly there and many die of exhaustion and dehydration. The luckiest slaves are those who work for the royal family or the nobility, for they have an easier life (often easer than free commoners) and have the opportunity to make themselves indispensably useful to their owners and can even rise to high governmental positions. Once they are set free they can even marry into their former owners’ families.

Stygians also capture foreign travelers and sell them into slavery. Since the travelers are in a foreign land and no one knows them, they have no one they can appeal to.

There are no huge slave markets in Stygian cities such as one finds in Turan or Shem. The trade in slaves is relatively small in Stygia. Virtually all slave transactions are between private parties and are not public auctions. Much of the ‘trade’ in slaves takes the form of gifts.

Stygians generally prefer male slaves because they can endure hard labor but the most cherished of all slaves are those who have special or rare skills. Female slaves are problematic because wives do not want them around for their husbands to sleep with.

Slaves are generally treated well and often live more secure lives than free commoners. They fill a wide range of positions – all the way from laborers to administrators. They perform non-clerical tasks for the temples, serve as watchmen, and as soldiers. In some cases, they become like family and often receive inheritances from dead masters. Sometimes the children of slaves are adopted by the master family, effectively freeing the children from slavery.

There is no legal protection from bad masters, however. Once a person is a slave, he is at the mercy of his master. If he is ill-treated, it is considered his own fault.

Slaves are property. Escaped slaves are pursued and recaptured if at all possible. Escaped slaves must either escape to a foreign land or seek asylum at one of the temples.

The Economy

The cults of Yag and Nagina utterly dominate Stygian society; the temples own most of the arable land and the government bureaucracy is filled with priests. The temples drive Stygian economy in every possible way. Ceremonies are required by law and priests always charge for these services. Examples of these required rites are numerous: crops must be blessed; all children must be consecrated to Yag; and even the dead have requisite funerary rites that must be performed.

Each of these ceremonies must be paid for by the hard work and contributions of the Stygian citizen. The Temple of Yag has its own granaries, its own breweries, its own bakeries, its own craftsmen and its own farms. One third of all the grain harvested on its land is collected as rent. An army of priests oversee it all, an inescapable presence in Stygia, a theocracy of economy as well as of spirituality.

As with many religions, this Stygian theocracy is conservative, and minimal contact with the outside world is permitted. Thus trade is kept to a bare minimum. Most of the trade in Stygia occurs along the River Styx. Most trade is also handled by farmers or their wives, selling or trading grain, fruit, vegetables, fowl, cattle, honey, oil, beer, wine, bread and linen. Merchants travel up and down the river, taking goods from one city to another.

Overseas trade is in the hands of royal emissaries. There are no commoner overseas merchants – many of them have noble blood. Steel weapons are highly sought after but are expensive. Steel weapons cost at least twice as much in Stygia as they do elsewhere in the world.

For the most part, trade is done via barter. Often wages are paid in food since most people would spend their money on food anyway. Many commoners have risen in estate because they knew how to save grain and when a famine came, traded food to the starving in return for land and slaves. Laborers often trade work or crafted goods to the temples and priests in return for ceremonies, amulets and medicine.

In addition to barter, Stygia does have a form of money. Instead of coins, they melt gold, copper and silver down into golden, copper or silver rings of a certain weight. This form of currency is normally reserved for trading with the outside world – almost no one within the kingdom has much use for it.

The problem with the barter system is that in order to get a good, one must have a good the other party desires. Another problem is that the goods traded are often too big to carry around in on one’s pocket (such as oxen or bushels of wheat). In order to get around this, credit is given, often written up in contract form. If one does not have what the other party wants, the one desiring the other’s good promises to come back with something else. These promises are written on anything flat enough to be written on, including papyrus, pot shards, stones and leaves. Additionally, people can deposit grain in state warehouses and gain a certain amount of income. The person leaving grain in the public stores can write withdrawal orders, which function like checks in the modern banking system.

Stygians can also take out loans from the wealthy, though the state does not limit interest rates, which are commonly between 90% and 200%.

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