“As the Dictator attained his august position eons ago, so too do our praetors follow in his steps. They assume authority’s mantle by the people’s will.”
Balican politics distinguish the remote city-state from all others. The city’s leaders, from the patricians who represent the noble’s interests all the way up to the sorcerer-king, attained power and prestige through the people’s will. According to legend, Andropinis was called to lead the city-state as its Dictator for Life, and under his wise leadership, he has passed on the custom of election to every office in his government. Thus Balican templars, called praetors, attain their positions through popular election just as does every other city official.
Recruitment: The elections are a sham, of course, and only those individuals favored by sitting praetors and the sorcerer-king are allowed to win these contests. Should an inappropriate candidate win, an accident often befalls that person, forcing another round of voting to fill the vacancy with a more favorable candidate. Praetors are elected for ten-year terms and no limits exist on the number of terms they can serve.
Training: Would-be praetors are groomed for their positions from birth. Children drawn largely from landowning and noble families attend special institutions to determine and foster magical or psionic talent. Those with some ability learn the political system, hone their public speaking skills, and make contacts they can later use to secure power.
Duties: Although the methods by which they gain their positions are far different from templars in other city-states, Balican templars fulfill many of the same duties. They enforce the laws, manage the city’s resources, and command the city’s famous legions in battle. Praetors gather in the Praetorium where they debate legal matters and address concerns pertaining to the city, and where they also determine which matters are worth bringing to the Dictator’s attention and which they can attend to themselves.
Advancement: The more terms a praetor serves, the greater the standing and power within the Praetorium. Praetors who have served three or more terms wield the greatest authority and can shape policy in the city-state, influence elections, and might win the favor of the sorcerer-king. Losing an election does not always mean an end to service. The Dictator often takes powerful praetors into his personal retinue to act as his advisors and agents.
Adventuring Templars: Trade is Balic’s paramount concern, so adventuring praetors might find
excuses to leave the city-state to negotiate trade agreements in distant emporiums, set sail on silt skimmers
to find islands holding new resources useful to the
city-state, or travel south to expand the sorcerer-king’s
influence. Elected praetors might be more limited
in their freedoms since they must attend to the dayto-day work of governance, but important missions
might see a praetor install a proxy to act in his or her
place while undertaking a mission abroad.