About Them Thay(ans)

The nation of Thay is ruled by cruel wizards, making it a Magocracy.
They rely on slavery to provide them with the wealth and luxury to support their magical research and dreams of conquest.
The land is ruled by eight Zulkirs, the most powerful and devoted wizards.
They, in turn, choose the Tharchions; civil governors.

Their power extends far beyond the borders. Enclaves exist in dozens of major cities, exchanging magic items for goods, riches and, sometimes, slaves of a many lands.

The wizards form an elite class, the nobility of the land.
Through the vast, regional bureaucracy administered by their hand-picked tharchions, they govern the Laws, Commerce and Society.
Free Thayans fall into six classes;
Wizards, Bureaucrats, Priests, Merchants, Soldiers, Artisans.

All Thayan children are examined for magical aptitude at an early age.
Those who show signs of potential are removed from their parents and are subjected to ever more rigorous schooling in the arcane arts.
(those whose talents run to sorcery channel it into wizardry, supress them or leave the country. The wizards despise sorcerers)
To hold real power, a young wizard must master as much arcane might as possible and wield it ruthlessly.

All of the tharchions and zulkirs can muster their own armies, and many wizards have multiple bodyguards, so Thay supports a haphazard array of fighting forces.
These units range from nearly naked goblins fighting in mobs to plate-armored and highly trained cavalry, riding flying steeds or magical augmented mounts.
Thay can send at least two special units into battle; the Vast Legion of Bone, a regimented unit of armored skeletons, and the fearsome Griffon Legion; four hundred battle-skilled Wizards hurling spells and dropping incendiaries from griffonback.

In Thay, slaves are everywhere. Thriving slave markets hawk the living wares of slavers who bring 'merchandise'.
The majority of slaves are humans, but orcs, gnolls, half-orcs and halflings are also for sale.

Thayan wizards shave all of the hair on their heads, including eyebrows and eyelashes. And most tattoo themselves heavily...