The Tsurani are the dominant race of Kelewan.
The Tsurani compared to humans of Midkemia possess high cheekbones. They are shorter, averaging to 5'6 feet.
Geography
The Empire of Tsuranuanni consists of the following provinces, spanning three continents on the world of Kelewan; Dustari, Ambolina, Neshka, Szetac, Hokani, Lash, Coltari, Honshoni and Sweto.
Culture
The Tsurani culture is based on a feudal hierarchy. Every individual is born into a specific station with the exception of the "Great Ones", the main hereditary classes being slave, freeman and lord. Great Ones, the Master Magicians of the Greater Path, can be drawn from any class, even slaves, based on any observed talent towards magic. Social status is extremely important to the Tsurani culture and there are many fine divisions of these class distinctions.
The land of Tsurani is divided into Provinces, each province divided into many estates, the hereditary homes of the Tsurani Lords, the feudal master class. The Lords have soldiers, field workers, household staff who have sworn fealty to the Lord in return for protection and shelter as well as slaves who are considered property. A sub-class of Tsurani that falls beneath even a slave is that of the grey warrior, former soldiers of dead or disgraced Lords, who as a debt of shame to their former house, are not permitted honourable death.
The lords of the Empire are allied by Clan and by Party. Tsurani culture places a high value on tradition and family values and the Clans can be thought of as cousin Lords banding together. Lords will also ally themselves by political affiliation.
All Clans nominate a Warchief, who commands the military forces of a Clan. The Lords of the Five Families can nominate one of their members to be Warlord, the supreme military commander. The Warlord is seen as second in command only to the Emperor, though the Warlord usually has more power than the Emperor, as the Light of Heaven is more of a spiritual leader.
Politics
For thousands of years, the Tsurani have been ruled by the High Council, which consists of the lords of Great and Lesser houses. The Lords of the Five Families, the oldest Houses in the Empire can be nominated Warlord by consensus of the High Council. The Warlord is then the leader of this council. Political machinations usually play the biggest part in the nomination of Warlord, with murder not being unheard of during the election.
Although political groups such as the Blue Wheel Party exist, houses can join and leave these parties as they wish, and affiliation to a Party is often used to gain advantage over an enemy or to rouse support for a Lords own agenda. Political parties can also join together in alliances as was the case during the Riftwar. The War Party and the Blue Wheel Party joined forces in the Alliance for War but the Blue Wheel party withdrew from the alliance when it no longer served their purpose.
Clan Affiliation is often quite loose and does not have a huge impact on voting in the High Council. If Clan Honour is called, every House in the Clan must support the agenda of the House who has called Clan Honour. As Clan Honour could potentially drag the entire Empire into War, the Great Ones can intervene and forbid any fighting between Clans or Houses, even going so far as to use their powers to enforce their will.
The Riftwar with the Midkemians heralded a sweeping change to the structure of Tsuranni politics. Mara of the Acoma became disillusioned with Tsuranni politics when a slave in her possession explained the structure of Midkemian society, which was similarly a feudal state but with a much more just leadership and no slavery. Using every political advantage at her disposal Mara managed to remove the position of Warlord from the High Council, making the Emperor the supreme leader of the council, supported by the Lords of the Five Families. In a twist of fate, Mara's own son by the barbarian slave Kevin was adopted into the Imperial Family and eventually became Light of Heaven.
List of Known Clans
List of Known Political Parties
- Blue Wheel †
- Golden Flower
- Jade Eye
- Party for Progress
- War Party †
- Party for Peace
- Imperialists
- Traditonalists
- Yellow Serpent Party
- Members of the Alliance for War†
Religion
There are 20 orders (10 higher, 10 lower) that have priests and temples throughout Tsuranuanni. Only a few of the Tsurani gods are listed in Raymond Feist's novels. They are as follows:
- Chochocan: The Good God. The Healer. The Bringer Of Rest.
- Zamach: The Leveler. The Fountain of Knowledge. The Master of Justice.
- Oxalaca: The Master of Oceans. Builder of Ships. Master of Fishers.
- Lashima: Queen of the Sky. Mother of Birds. Builder of Clouds.
- Juran: The Just. Master of Life. God of the Home. Father of Winds.
- Sibi: She who is Death. Lover of All. Dancer in the Darkness.
- Jastur: Lord of War. Bringer of Terror. The Revenger.
- Thanaxaca: Master of Song. Lord of the Dance. Father of the Arts.
- Hilbantucan: The Architect. The Silent Builder. The Master of Works.
- Fa: The Sleeper. Master of the Night. The Retriever.
- Tomachca: Bringer of Peace. Lover of Children. Protector of Orphans.
- Hilio: The Teacher. Master of Wisdom. Judge of Life.
- Juru: Lord of Sailors. Father of Waves. Lord of Fish.
- Salana: Mistress of Rain. Harvest Mother. Mother of Beasts.
- Hantukama: Lord of Healers. Bringer of Blessed Health. Cloud Rider.
- Turakamu: Brother to Death. Eater of Hearts. The Silently Waiting One. The Red God.
- Baracan: Lord of Swords. Singer of Battle. God of Honor.
- Milianxana: Goddess of Singers. Mother of Happiness. Mistress of Wine. Goddess of Love.
- [[Tuth: Master of Levels. Hewer of Stone. God of Builders. Lord of Laborers.
- Nictac: Lord of Thieves. Master of Assassins. Protector of Travelers.
Positions of Importance
The Emperor
The Emperor is known as the Light Of Heaven and is viewed as a living god, revered by all Tsurani. Although this is the highest rank one may have in the Empire outside of the Assembly of Magicians, the Light of Heaven is seen as more of a spiritual leader who rarely enters public sight, let alone exercises his power. He spends most of his time in spiritual contemplation praying for the welfare of his nation. The Warlord tends to rule the Empire in the Emperor's stead, commanding supreme political and military authority.
The Warlord
The Warlord is the supreme commander of the Tsurani military but is also the political leader as the Emperor's role is to be the spiritual leader of the Empire. The Warlord is elected by the lords of the five major families of the High Council.
Great Ones
Great Ones, or Black Robes, are magicians on Kelewan that form the Assembly of Magicians which resides in The City of Magicians in northern Tsuranuanni. Great Ones are considered outside the law, their position to serve the Empire as they see fit. Even the Light of Heaven cannot overrule a decision made by a Great One. Although the Great Ones usually avoid meddling with the day-to-day running of the Empire, there have been certain events that have curved the evolution of the Empire due to intervention by the Assembly.
Of every five persons inducted into training to become a Great One, only one (on an average) makes it to this ultimate goal, and takes his or her place in the Assembly of Magicians, while those who fail, die in the process.
Army Ranks
- Warlord
- Warchief
- Force Commander
- Subcommander
- Force Leader
- Senior Strike Leader
- Strike Leader
- Patrol Leader
Rifts
A rift is a pathway between worlds, often created by magicians. The Black Robes of Tsuranuanni have discovered a method to create rifts, but only Milamber (Pug as he is called on Midkemia) and Macros the Black have thus far mastered the ability to control the size and destination of rifts. The first rift to appear on Midkemia came from Kelewan, which led to the Riftwar.
Inspiration
Tsuranuanni is a blending of pan-Asian culture. The structure of the Clans are families is Japanese, the politics of the central court is Chinese but the building are Aztec. There are some Zulu influences.[1]