Tira

Tīra spans the full northern edge of the Ten Queendoms. It has natural ties to the Abyss, with historical commerce with Graz'zt and Orcus but notable traffic among other planes as well. As a queendom, rulership is often in flux, or the land is divided amongst rival Queens, with the ultimate ambition being to sit on the Dark Throne in Ratrapura.

Although northerly for the ten queendoms, Tīra is not a cold or forbidding land. It is mountainous, and the taller peaks have some glaciers and perhaps get more snow in winter. But it is fractured, both by politics and geography. Local rulers often exercise more real power than the distant queen, who is very likely engaged in political struggles to maintain power against rivals.

The City Ratrapura and the Palace of the Golden Flame

The capital of Tīra is Ratrapura, where the great river Amarasarit empties into the Bay of Ghantay. The city is by far the largest trading city in the north, and possibly in the Queendoms. Much of the wealth of Tira flows through Ratrapura in one way or another. Ratrapura is only exceeded in size and population by Khalrī. With many merchant factions in rivalry, and the constant tensions between the very wealthy and the very poor, Ratrapura is a dangerous city.

The Queen rules from the Dark Throne in the Palace of Golden Flame, and she rules over all aspects of Tīra: commerce with the Queendoms; commerce with the Abyss; intrigue amongst the nobles; rivals for the throne.

Most political rivalry happens either on the battlefield or by single combat. By unbroken custom, battles are kept far from Ratrapura. The sacredness of the great city is such that none would dare bring armies to Ratrapura. By the time conflict is that close to home, things are settled by more subtle intrige, or -- often enough -- by single combat between rivals for the throne.

As for the goddess herself, Tīra is thought to well in one of the layers of the Abyss. But like all the Ten Goddesses, Tīra transcends good or evil. The temples to Tīra represent one of the most stable elements of society in this queendom, offering refuge, healing, and sanctuary to any and all.

It is said has a beautiful appearance, but that terror comes with her. It is said that she has nothing but blessings to offer, for those who can brave her presences.

It is said that whoever sits on the Dark Throne immediately knows the mind of Tīra and is known to the Goddess. Those without the strength of will to hold that presence will perish instantly, or go mad. This has happened in living memory: The Elf-Witch Szinzayel fought for ten years to challenge the unpopular Queen Kalikhim. After many battles throughout the queendoms, with more and more of the people and the nobles of the land rallying behind Szinzayel, when at last she sat on the Throne she clutched at her throat, unable to breathe... and never breathed again. The subsequent scramble for the throne was of interest to scholars in that many factions fought bitterly to gain that power, but few individuals actually sought the seat itself.

That matter was resolved by single combat between the two greatest wizards of the age, Lady Aya'takh Nash, representing the merchant guilds, and the charismatic leader of the noble classes, Princess Rilla ma Bhikara. Unusually, the combat ended not with death, but when the Lady Aya'takh Nash conceded and shifted to support the Princess, leading to a rare decade of stability in the Queendom of Tīra.