Demosthene Ascendancy

The Demosthene Ascendancy is a fairly large territory among the human states of D'hennex. It is largely composed of a single province of the earlier kingdom of An-Yneaith, with some small changes in border due to incursions and conquest. It is governed by the Assembly, a parliamentary body composed of the aristocracy of the land -- power wielders. Personal honour and face are the two most important commodities, and political savvy is a necessary survival trait, among that aristocracy.

Societal Structure

The Ascendancy is, at its roots, a feudal land. Mortal peasantry exist at the whim of their powered overlords, held in psychic domination by psions and enthralled to the power of mages. These power wielders owe their allegiances to other lords, with the most powerful owing allegiance to no one except themselves. Whereas a king might rule in other places, the Assembly takes that place. Complex movements of political power occur in the Assembly, and even the most powerful lord cannot stand against the combined might of the Assembly, should he think to stand against its collective decisions. This serves to keep the nobility in check from running wild as they otherwise might -- although the internal affairs of their fief are largely up to them to decide upon.

Several unique factors exist, besides the feudal structure and the Assembly, to set the Ascendancy apart. First is the very low incidence of ki-wielding fighters. It is considered, among the people of the Ascendancy, that while possessing significant ki energy is not bad, to exercise it by expelling it (whether in combat, as blasts and aura explosions, or merely in peaceful flight) is a hideous crime. As ki energies are the energies of the soul, they believe that expending them outside the body is actually to deface your very soul. With that tradition binding them, ki wielders of the Ascendancy are at a significant disadvantage compared to those of other powers. Second, is the Demosthene Code Duello. This dictates the terms upon which the various members of the aristocracy can violently interact. It limits powered conflict within the borders of the Ascendancy to strictly-controlled duels. Internal conquest is only recognized as legitimate if performed using mortal troops to conquer the target's land. Honour dictates that they defend themselves using only mortal troops as well.