ACTIUS (County of)
Location: Southeastern corner of the continent of Brun, along the eastern border of Karameikos and the Kerenda river, north of the Sea of Dread and south of the Altan Tepes Mountains. OW
Area: 240 sq. mi. (620 sq. km.).
Population: 10,000 (90% human, 10% sea elf) including the town of Actius (pop. 8,000).
Languages: Thyatian (Hattian dialect).
Coinage: Thyatian Standard: emperor (pp), lucin (gp), asterius (sp), denarius (cp).
Taxes: 25% income tax collected quarterly on the aristocracy, nobility, and wealthy; 20% income tax collected quarterly on everyone else (Va. 1, Ya. 1, Fy. 3, and Ei. 1). Thyatians abroad must still pay their taxes. Expensive and magical items are also taxed 25% of their worth. 10% imperial commercia sales tax on all goods except food, clothing, and fixed assets; levied on imports, rebated on exports. Tax on slave owning equal to 50% of the slave's value annually. Property tax levied based on quality of land, roughly 6% of its value annually.
Government Type: Dominion, member of the Thyatian Empire.
Industries: Agriculture, crafts, fishing, oil, shipbuilding, trade.
Important Figures: Geraldan Actavius (Count, human, male, F16), Dalia Salieri Actavia (Countess, human, female, Rake 9), Heraclius Actavius (Heir, human, male, F12), Comentas Dulcissinuis (Magist, human, male, M18), Cyril Helladius (Prelate, human, male, Pr16 of Protius), Xendorian Hydrosius (Commodore, human, male, F15).
Flora and Fauna: Olive trees, date palms, cedar trees in cultivated orchards. Sheep and goats, dolphins and other sea life.
Further Reading: Dawn of the Emperors boxed set, DDA1 Arena of Thyatis, DDA2 Legions of Thyatis, previous almanacs.
Description by Vivianna Romanones.
A small island known for its fishermen and shipyards, which serves as a trade way station for merchants travelling the southern route around Hattias.
The Land
Actius is the smallest island in Thyatis that rates dominion status (there are many smaller islands, most of which are not noted on any map because they would clutter it, and are governed by other dominions rather than being dominions on their own account). The island itself is hilly and infertile, suitable only for grazing by goats and growing hearty vines. Most Actians make their living off the sea. Actius has an unusually good harbour, around which the town of Actius is built. This port is broad and deep and is surrounded by wide beaches, and has become a centre of shipbuilding for the Thyatian navy.
Often forgotten is that Actius is not just surrounded by the sea, but part of it is under the sea. A community of sea elves lives in the waters nearby, and their ocean home produces pearls, fish, and other bounty from the sea.
The People
The vast majority of Actians are fishermen,
seafaring merchants, or shipbuilders.
The town of Actius contains 80% of the County's population. The rest are farmers and herdsmen living in
the hills around the town, or sea elves living in the waters around the
island. Actius has lately been involved
in provisioning ships for the war against the Twaelar, and the blockade and
reconquest of Hattias. The sea elven
inhabitants have been alert for possible Twaelar incursions into Thyatian
waters, but so far none have appeared.
Gambling is a popular past time among the Actians, with dice being the
favourite. There are many gambling halls
in town, and just about every tavern has a table or two where games of chance
are being played at all hours of the day and night.