Patricians of Balic

The patricians of Balic are like nobles in most other city-states. Thinking themselves superior to the great masses of their city-state, they carry themselves as though they themselves are the rulers. Of course, the merchant Houses rule Balic, and patricians are given little say in how Balic is truly governed. Under Andropinis, the patricians were given the illusion of participation in government in the form of the councils held in the Chamber of Patricians. In order to protect the secrets of Balic, the sorcerer-king had these patricians maimed, and all councilmembers were all deaf, mute, and blind. Their only communication was through the use of psionics. After the banishment of the sorcerer-king, these patricians were returned to their families for care.

Most patrician families have profited after the fall of Andropinis. Though the Slayer of Elves no longer demands tributes from his wealthy subjects, the ruling merchant Houses require taxes to support the armies and provide basic services for the city, such as maintaining the walls, docks and roads.

Though they have wealth and power, the patricians must answer to the three merchant Houses of the city, and their treatment depends on which House under which they fall. Patricians whose estates fall outside the city walls run their own affairs and pay taxes based on their holdings and sales of goods inside the city. For these tax payments, they receive protection from the Balican army from the bandits and beasts of Athas.

For those patricians inside the city, if they inhabit the territories of House Tomblador, then they are treated no better than anyone else, just another (albeit richer) resource for the House to exploit. Patricians under House Rees are given the respect of a patrician’s house – provided they meet their production quotas. House Wavir treats patricians well as long as those patricians do no evil in their eyes and are good members of society. Being profitable to the House certainly helps the cause of the patricians as well.