6F04.TXT

HD 6F04  Thirz Empire, The "client state" to Zhodani.

                       By

                  Roger Myhre
                  Ammerudgrenda 168
                  0960 Oslo 9
                  Norway


History.
Thirz Empire was founded in 1016 by Aztangkuella Thir¹. He came from an old
family of aristocrats. Thir was born 969 on Uthgvoe (Gvurrdon 0512). When he
came of age he started in politics and soon got popular for his high charisma.

In 1012 the interstellar government that Uthgvoe belonged to went
through political upheaval. A short civil war followed. Uthgvoe was spared
from most of the war by declaring neutrality. When the combatants had
expended most its fighting strength Thir took a gambling chance an appealed
to both sides. Peace talks started in late 1014, and armistice was declared.
In 1015 agreement was met. And in 1016 Thir was declared unanimous by
the new council, King of the new established empire.


Government.
The King is the head of the government. Next under him is the
council that are staffed by aristocrats that have been voted into their
positions by the peerage. The peerage in consist of aristocrats that
come from the different worlds in Thirz empire. A council member is
voted into a position for 3 years. There is no limit on how long a
member may be in the council.

The different worlds are represented in the peerage, but only one
aristocrat may represent the world in the council. Each world do also
have a governor that represent the King on that world. This governor
are usually from the world he or she is assigned to. In some cases the
King may assign someone else as governor on that world. This is
particulary done on worlds that have fallen for conquest. Most of the
worlds Society of Equals lost to Thirz Empire have governors that is
not citizen of that world.

The king sits for life and his oldest son will take his seat if
the king should die. He has vote in the council, but not a final
decision. He have however delayed veto right. If a law or motion that
he don't like are about to pass, he may lay down veto on the
suggestion. The suggestion may not be taken up before 2 years have
passed. The only member that can take it up before this time, is the
king himself.


Military.
All military forces in the imperium is under the kings command
without exception when he can declare that the nation is under threat
by outsiders. In peacetime he can only command the Imperial navy and
the Imperial troop forces. These forces are financed in several ways.
- Hiring out forces to non-Thirz worlds that need help.
- Taxes on the different worlds.
- Piracy in hostile space


Relations to Zhodani.
When Thir began to expand his imperium, Zhodani sought his
cooperation when they could use him as a tool to prevent corsairs
intruding on their worlds. They have helped Thirz Imperium with many
things. A few of these things are:
- Cheap psionic training for the royal family
- Military aid. Giving Thirz better technology
- Financial aid. Helping Thirz to establish trade agreement with
  Zhodani worlds.
- Military advisors.

Because of this many outside Vargr views Thirz Empire as a large
client state of Zhodani.


Current king.
The current king Oekhueso Thir took over only 20 years old in
1109. He is the fourth king in succession. His first major test was the
Equality war fought from 1111 to 1116. Thanks to his training from his
father and his tutors he managed to keep the enemy at bay. Even for his
inexperience he managed to keep the council together so that he could
draw on their experience to solve matters. He did not make any rash
decisions. His analytical mind helped him to take the correct decisions
where it counted.

After the war he rolled on a wave of high charismatic increase. In
the latest years he have been working to get the worlds conquered from
Society of Equals to accept his leadership. A few worlds have been
swayed when their living standard have improved somewhat after the war.

Oekhueso Thir     Current king of Thirz Empire
59587B    Hits 3/4   Terms: 3        Born 305-1089 on Uthgvoe
Psionic power: 10, has no psionic ability.
Handgun-1, Computer-1, Grav veh-1, Leader-3, Tactics-1, History-1


Insignia.
The insignia of Thirz Empire is the same used by the family of Thir in more
than 1200 years. The circle under the shield holds the personal emblem of
the family member. Thus the shield is present in all the family insignias,
but the personal insignia within this circle changes from person to person.
Thus when the old king died in 1109, all military starships and banners had
to change the circle under the shield to the one now present. The old king
had a red flower as his personal emblem.

The swords got red pommel and the shield is colored blue on the
dexter side (left), and green in the sinister side (right). The star is
black with bright golden background. The lower part of the wreath
looking thing is colored blue like the dexter side of the shield. While
the two branches that circles the shield has the same green color on
the lower part as the sinister side of the shield. The upper part got a
lighter shade of green.


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¹) On Uthgvoe the "z" in Thirz shows that the word Thirz is used
as pronoun hinting to who owns the imperium.