This is first draft of Constantinople – modern Istanbul in Turkey – Uratha medieval setting. Themisine Protectorate write-up is fan musing of @nikink, author of official Forsaken by Rome chapter in Dark Eras Companion. I expanded it till the Vikings times and made packs for the setting. Write-up can be read without knowledge of FbR, but it would help greatly to understand. More ideas and comments are welcome. So let’s begin.
Constantinople & Byzantine Empire
Constantinople – now known as Istanbul in Turkey – is ancient city that was second capitol of Roman Empire. When ancient Empire on West had very difficult managed it’s huge lands in early 300s AD, Emperor Constantine the Great rebuild older Greek city of Byzantium as new capitol in 324 AD – and renamed it on his name, as Constantinople in year 330 AD. After that, line of successors of Emperors fought if Rome or Constantinople should be real capitol of Roman Empire. Finally, in in 395 AD Theodosius I bequeathed the imperial office jointly to his sons: Arcadius in the East and Honorius in the West, dividing Imperial administration, de facto splitting Roman Empire in to two. When Rome on West fell to barbarians, Constantinople on East prospered. Citizens of Eastern Empire till it’s fell to Turks in 1453 AD used calling of "Rhōmais" (Greek: Ῥωμαΐς for ‘Romans’ ) for themselves – even then all around called them popularly ‘Greeks’. Name Byzantium was still used for this new capitol city on common terms, even if not Empire itself.
Themisine Protectorate
In contrast to original Rome’s society, Constantinople Uratha are not ruled by balance. On West, Protectorate was ruled by the alliance of Iron Master and Ivory Claws clans. When in late 3rd Century AD the Romulan Protectorate is stretched thin across the world, and the Magna Mater, huge, bloated and self-cannibalizing spirit favoring Rome, is raving mad. The Protectorate separates with the Roman Empire. This has the fortunate side-effect of quelling the Magna Mater's agony for a brief respite in the local Hisil. When comes to divide of Empire, on East and West, the Eastern Protectorate is led by a more equitable arrangement of Fire-Touched and Ivory Claws, with the Poenii clan claiming authority over all matters spiritual, and Iron Claws from Saturi clan over mortal affairs - much like in the Romulan Protectorate, but with more power and recognition granted to the Fire Touched.
It’s called the Themisine Protectorate. The Fire-Touched, with authority from the gods, and their All-Father, and Father Wolf himself, and touched with divine fevers and insight, guide the more mortal policies enacted by the Ivory Claws. Together they act in (supposed) balance. They have no Magna Mater to appease, or contend with - packs of Uratha squabble over territory until the Protectorate is threatened by packs of 'barbarian' Forsaken. The Themisines bargain heavily with the local Predator Kings, whom they dubbed 'Naturae', in order to combat the rising Forsaken threat, and the constant threat of rogue spirits bolstered by beliefs from dozens of nations and all seeing an opportunity to become the new Protectorate's 'Mater'.
Over the decades in 4th and 5th centuries the three tribes of Pure further divide the Themisine Protectorate among triadic councils - the Horae. Each council holds three Pure - one of each tribe - and each of the three councils is led by a different tribe.
* The First Council is led by a Fire Touched in the seat of 'Xarpo', with The Ivory Claw in the seat of 'Thallo' and the Predator King in the seat of 'Auxo'.
* The Second Council is led by an Ivory Claw in the seat of 'Eirene', with the Predator King in the seat of 'Dike' and the Fire Touched in the seat of 'Eunomia'
* The Third Council is led by a Predator King in the Seat of 'Orthosie', with he Fire Touched in the seat of 'Euporie' and the Ivory Claw in the seat of 'Pherusa'
These three councils shared authority over the Themisine Protectorate, supported by a Fourth Council of Nemeses. This council held limited authority - it was convened to lead Themesine packs to war, and membership was fluid. The Atropos seat was for the Predator King, the Clotho seat was given to the Ivory Claw, and the Lachesis seat was given to the Fire Touched. In times of great conflict multiple 'Fourth Councils' were created to cover different fronts, and only rarely was any 'Fourth' council completely filled. Most often, one tribe would fill their seat and take command of the local packs while another tribe would take command elsewhere.
In this political mosaic, Tribes of the Moon are on margins of actions. Treated early as ‘barbarians’ to Themisine Protectorate, they were often hired to make things Pure could not. Wealthy Forsaken, and useful Forsaken, are welcomed within the Protectorate, but they are not allowed on the Councils, and are thus excluded from ruling it. This makes Byzantine Tribes of the Moon a much more mercenary groups, low community conscious packs – or simply ideological fanatics, sticking to their own high standards on verges of society. Pure in Themisine are having money and wealth – Forsaken needs to fight for the scraps – or leave the game at all, deal with the most important matters for them. They drove to Constantinople, where there is enough human population to let Tribes of Moon to build real community on the lower rungs of society.
This change considerably with coming of Scandinavian Tribes of Moon in 9th century. The so called ‘vikings’ Uratha are already in mercenaries and pirates groups – and more than ready for getting more gold or silver for their services, even from Pure. After centuries of only governing and politicking, many Themisine packs do not have real bravery to take care of problems in their own territories. And Norse Uratha are more than willing to take jewellery and ground under their care. The more ‘barbarians’ get gold and titles, the weaker is Themisine Protectorate. It’s survive till the end of Byzantine Empire. However, more humans Empire is falling, the more power Forsaken reclaim in this society.
Constantinople & Byzantine Empire
Constantinople – now known as Istanbul in Turkey – is ancient city that was second capitol of Roman Empire. When ancient Empire on West had very difficult managed it’s huge lands in early 300s AD, Emperor Constantine the Great rebuild older Greek city of Byzantium as new capitol in 324 AD – and renamed it on his name, as Constantinople in year 330 AD. After that, line of successors of Emperors fought if Rome or Constantinople should be real capitol of Roman Empire. Finally, in in 395 AD Theodosius I bequeathed the imperial office jointly to his sons: Arcadius in the East and Honorius in the West, dividing Imperial administration, de facto splitting Roman Empire in to two. When Rome on West fell to barbarians, Constantinople on East prospered. Citizens of Eastern Empire till it’s fell to Turks in 1453 AD used calling of "Rhōmais" (Greek: Ῥωμαΐς for ‘Romans’ ) for themselves – even then all around called them popularly ‘Greeks’. Name Byzantium was still used for this new capitol city on common terms, even if not Empire itself.
Themisine Protectorate
In contrast to original Rome’s society, Constantinople Uratha are not ruled by balance. On West, Protectorate was ruled by the alliance of Iron Master and Ivory Claws clans. When in late 3rd Century AD the Romulan Protectorate is stretched thin across the world, and the Magna Mater, huge, bloated and self-cannibalizing spirit favoring Rome, is raving mad. The Protectorate separates with the Roman Empire. This has the fortunate side-effect of quelling the Magna Mater's agony for a brief respite in the local Hisil. When comes to divide of Empire, on East and West, the Eastern Protectorate is led by a more equitable arrangement of Fire-Touched and Ivory Claws, with the Poenii clan claiming authority over all matters spiritual, and Iron Claws from Saturi clan over mortal affairs - much like in the Romulan Protectorate, but with more power and recognition granted to the Fire Touched.
It’s called the Themisine Protectorate. The Fire-Touched, with authority from the gods, and their All-Father, and Father Wolf himself, and touched with divine fevers and insight, guide the more mortal policies enacted by the Ivory Claws. Together they act in (supposed) balance. They have no Magna Mater to appease, or contend with - packs of Uratha squabble over territory until the Protectorate is threatened by packs of 'barbarian' Forsaken. The Themisines bargain heavily with the local Predator Kings, whom they dubbed 'Naturae', in order to combat the rising Forsaken threat, and the constant threat of rogue spirits bolstered by beliefs from dozens of nations and all seeing an opportunity to become the new Protectorate's 'Mater'.
Over the decades in 4th and 5th centuries the three tribes of Pure further divide the Themisine Protectorate among triadic councils - the Horae. Each council holds three Pure - one of each tribe - and each of the three councils is led by a different tribe.
* The First Council is led by a Fire Touched in the seat of 'Xarpo', with The Ivory Claw in the seat of 'Thallo' and the Predator King in the seat of 'Auxo'.
* The Second Council is led by an Ivory Claw in the seat of 'Eirene', with the Predator King in the seat of 'Dike' and the Fire Touched in the seat of 'Eunomia'
* The Third Council is led by a Predator King in the Seat of 'Orthosie', with he Fire Touched in the seat of 'Euporie' and the Ivory Claw in the seat of 'Pherusa'
These three councils shared authority over the Themisine Protectorate, supported by a Fourth Council of Nemeses. This council held limited authority - it was convened to lead Themesine packs to war, and membership was fluid. The Atropos seat was for the Predator King, the Clotho seat was given to the Ivory Claw, and the Lachesis seat was given to the Fire Touched. In times of great conflict multiple 'Fourth Councils' were created to cover different fronts, and only rarely was any 'Fourth' council completely filled. Most often, one tribe would fill their seat and take command of the local packs while another tribe would take command elsewhere.
In this political mosaic, Tribes of the Moon are on margins of actions. Treated early as ‘barbarians’ to Themisine Protectorate, they were often hired to make things Pure could not. Wealthy Forsaken, and useful Forsaken, are welcomed within the Protectorate, but they are not allowed on the Councils, and are thus excluded from ruling it. This makes Byzantine Tribes of the Moon a much more mercenary groups, low community conscious packs – or simply ideological fanatics, sticking to their own high standards on verges of society. Pure in Themisine are having money and wealth – Forsaken needs to fight for the scraps – or leave the game at all, deal with the most important matters for them. They drove to Constantinople, where there is enough human population to let Tribes of Moon to build real community on the lower rungs of society.
This change considerably with coming of Scandinavian Tribes of Moon in 9th century. The so called ‘vikings’ Uratha are already in mercenaries and pirates groups – and more than ready for getting more gold or silver for their services, even from Pure. After centuries of only governing and politicking, many Themisine packs do not have real bravery to take care of problems in their own territories. And Norse Uratha are more than willing to take jewellery and ground under their care. The more ‘barbarians’ get gold and titles, the weaker is Themisine Protectorate. It’s survive till the end of Byzantine Empire. However, more humans Empire is falling, the more power Forsaken reclaim in this society.
) in Forsaken maybe condemning sympathizers. Those more pragmatic would take Themisine gold and hunting rights to let them live in Empire.
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