SCLARAS (Protectorate of)
Location: Island off the southeastern corner of the continent of Brun, east of Actius, south of Mositius. OW
Area: 64 sq. mi. (165 sq. km.).
Population: 5,000 (including 250 estate-masters, 1,250 apprentices and family members, 3,000 slaves and servants). Numerous uncounted monsters and creations serve as guards. Population figure is notoriously unreliable when it comes to such servitors.
Languages: Thyatian (Thyatian 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: Specialty agriculture (mostly herbs), crafts, magic.
Important Figures: Demetrion Karagenteropolus (Magist, human, male, M21), Triella (Duchess of Mositius, human, female, M20), Sarapammon (Magist, human, male, M20), Athanasia Romanones (Proctor of the Collegium Arcanum, human, female, M20), Philoxenus Scholasticus (Curator of the Great Library, human, male, M20), Irene Trenzantenbia Tatriokanita Isaurica (Former Empress, human, female, M20), among many others.
Flora and Fauna: Virtually anything can be found here due to the eclectic tastes of the wizards who live here and create menageries according to their tastes.
Further Reading: Dawn of the Emperors boxed set, DDA1 Arena of Thyatis, DDA2 Legions of Thyatis, previous almanacs.
Description by Vivianna Romanones.
This tiny island is divided into some 250 estates, each a quarter of a mile in size, each by ancient tradition the retreat of a powerful Thyatian wizard where they can conduct their researches undisturbed by even each other.
The Land
This small island consists of rolling forested hills perched atop high cliffs that ring its coasts. The majority of its area is divided into quarter-mile square estates. Of the remaining approximately 1.5 square miles, part of it is used for a common harbourage, and the rest for pathways allowing access to each estate. The harbourage is used by ships transporting supplies for use by the residents (and stored in warehouses until collected). While the estate-owners themselves can use magic to enter and exit their domains, not all of their family or servants are so capable. Thus the need for connecting roadways, which allow non-wizards to get to the estates.
As for the estates themselves, each is individually different, moulded to suit the needs and desires of its master. Neither space nor discretion permits describing them in any detail.
The People
For as long as anyone can remember, the Protectorate of Sclaras has been the abode of the most powerful wizards of Thyatis. It is said that Empress Valentia herself was the first to establish an estate here. Only the most powerful of arch-mages are permitted a domain on Sclaras, and even so there is a waiting list. Though many (if not most) are active in Thyatian affairs more generally, participating in social and political affairs, here they have absolute privacy. It is here that they may retire to conduct their arcane studies and researches in peace, away from prying eyes. There is one law on Sclaras and that one simply states that no one may enter the estate of a wizard without his permission. Flying at an altitude of a thousand feet or more is not considered entering the estate, but the airspace below that is likewise sacrosanct, as is the ground under it down to a similar depth. Despite this law that allows privacy and isolation, the mages of Sclaras are usually professionally cooperative when they do encounter each other.
Don't Miss / Do Miss
There are more fantastic and wondrous things
to see here than can possibly be listed, and because of dimensional and
distance-altering magics used by many of the residents, the estates often seem
much larger than they really are. But
unless you have invitation to enter you are best advised to not try and see
them. In this case wilful stupidity is
not its own punishment. Ignoring this
advice is hazardous to your health.