Персональная Драгонэйджпедия, Тевинтер
The Tevinter Imperium is the oldest human country in Thedas. In ancient times, it occupied almost the entire continent. Nowadays it lost his its former power but it is still strong and rich, and it is a one of the major nation in Thedas.
The power of Tevinter is based on the magic. The magic saturates everything from religious rituals to common domestic things and even architecture. People coming to Tevinter for the first time are most impressed by the huge palaces almost floating in the air. These constructions couldn't exist without the magical support.
The first Tevinter magisters received their knowledge from the Ancient Gods the thousands of years ago. Then they looted many priceless magical artefacts and secrets when have destroyed the city of Arlathan and the elven kingdom. Elven slaves also were the perfect resource of blood for dark magic rituals. All this power helped Tevinter to conquer huge territories from the cold ocean in the south to the northern deserts and it undividedly ruled the whole Thedas for the centuries.
Actually, the further history of Tevinter is similar with to the fate of Ancient Rome in our world. Fulfilled of with gold, power and countless pleasures it stuck in the corruption, debauchery and internal conflicts and was broken up by the hordes of barbarians led by a new religion.
The prophet Andraste united the southern tribes and the rebel slaves into the a great army that has marched across Thedas in the name of the Maker. The new religion denied the Ancient Gods and claimed that the magic should serve people but not to rule over them. The thousands of humans and elves exhausted of the cruel govern of the mages joined the army and fought with Tevinter forces everywhere. The rebellion has been finally crushed and Andraste has been betrayed and executed but Tevinter has lost the majority biggest part of its territories and had no more strength to fight for them.
The situation went got even worse, Andrastian cult gained momentum among Tevinters themselves. They decided that the old gods have left them these days and looked for the comfort in the Song of Light, which promised the forgiveness and the love of the Maker. The ruling magisters of Tevinter have lost their influence and eventually surrendered to the new Chantry.
However, they still have had enough power to join the Chantry on their own terms. Unlike the another other parts of Thedas, where mages have lost their freedom, property and even the right to live with their families, Tevinter magisters have kept all their rights and have gradually returned their privileges. Moreover, how could the young Chantry possibly compete with them in texts interpretation? The main idea of Andraste: “The magic must serve men, not to rule over them” could easily mean that the magisters are the humble servants of the nation and country on their high positions in the Magisterium, the Circle of Mages and the Chantry, couldn’t it?
As we have mentioned above, the unity of the Chantry has not existed for a long period after that. Thus, Tevinter is a very dangerous neighbour for all other countries of Thedas, like an old lion with broken claws, which pretends to be peaceful but still can bite.
The power of Tevinter is based on the magic. The magic saturates everything from religious rituals to common domestic things and even architecture. People coming to Tevinter for the first time are most impressed by the huge palaces almost floating in the air. These constructions couldn't exist without the magical support.
The first Tevinter magisters received their knowledge from the Ancient Gods the thousands of years ago. Then they looted many priceless magical artefacts and secrets when have destroyed the city of Arlathan and the elven kingdom. Elven slaves also were the perfect resource of blood for dark magic rituals. All this power helped Tevinter to conquer huge territories from the cold ocean in the south to the northern deserts and it undividedly ruled the whole Thedas for the centuries.
Actually, the further history of Tevinter is similar with to the fate of Ancient Rome in our world. Fulfilled of with gold, power and countless pleasures it stuck in the corruption, debauchery and internal conflicts and was broken up by the hordes of barbarians led by a new religion.
The prophet Andraste united the southern tribes and the rebel slaves into the a great army that has marched across Thedas in the name of the Maker. The new religion denied the Ancient Gods and claimed that the magic should serve people but not to rule over them. The thousands of humans and elves exhausted of the cruel govern of the mages joined the army and fought with Tevinter forces everywhere. The rebellion has been finally crushed and Andraste has been betrayed and executed but Tevinter has lost the majority biggest part of its territories and had no more strength to fight for them.
The situation went got even worse, Andrastian cult gained momentum among Tevinters themselves. They decided that the old gods have left them these days and looked for the comfort in the Song of Light, which promised the forgiveness and the love of the Maker. The ruling magisters of Tevinter have lost their influence and eventually surrendered to the new Chantry.
However, they still have had enough power to join the Chantry on their own terms. Unlike the another other parts of Thedas, where mages have lost their freedom, property and even the right to live with their families, Tevinter magisters have kept all their rights and have gradually returned their privileges. Moreover, how could the young Chantry possibly compete with them in texts interpretation? The main idea of Andraste: “The magic must serve men, not to rule over them” could easily mean that the magisters are the humble servants of the nation and country on their high positions in the Magisterium, the Circle of Mages and the Chantry, couldn’t it?
As we have mentioned above, the unity of the Chantry has not existed for a long period after that. Thus, Tevinter is a very dangerous neighbour for all other countries of Thedas, like an old lion with broken claws, which pretends to be peaceful but still can bite.