The Audh Gavaaligaghem XXII is the reigning sovereign of the Kingdom of Ithrien and its maritime holdings, collectively called the Ithranean Empire.

Ithrien is officially a monarchy and the ruler is addressed as Audh that precedes his or her given name. Ithrien's monarchy is based on the seniority system of succession, undiscriminating of sex. Upon the death of a sovereign, the eldest of the surviving royal siblings inherits the throne until the entire generation is exhausted by which time the eldest of the issues of the first sovereign from the previous generation will inherit the throne. The Audh is believed to be the direct descendant of Aroth, their godhead, and therein derives the Audh's right to rule. Real power lies in the hands of two Audhian clans namely the Pavashti and the Azradhi, the former being a family of naval and military commanders while the latter of bureaucrats and ministers with investments in trading companies. A third power would be the audhdom's association of trading companies who has invested interest in the slave trade of Ithrien's overseas colonies.

Men and women wearing wide, powdery eyeliners is the fad in the Empire. It died some 100 years ago, but it's being revived only last decade due to religious revivalism and wearing eyeliners is a mark of devotion. Red and yellow are the official imperial colors. In this portraiture, the Audh is wearing a tall crown, a chestplate that covers the shoulders with two min-animals decorating each side, decorative metalplates that are attached at the back of the chesplate piece, an imperial sabre, metal boots and a silk cape. The tall crown and decorative metalplates have personal functions which are to create a personage that is larger than life while the metalplates help to project the sovereign's voice during speeches, especially ones that are given to a vast army before an ensuing battle in the fields.

For further information: http://www.worldofgotha.com/wiki/in.....?title=Ithrien