From the time of the arrival of the Terminus and up until the Fall, Theus was held to a system of governance based on three principles which evolved over six decades. With each passing year as the system was refined, the Dead City itself physically and spiritually changed.
Korak the Raven set down the Deep Laws and declared that all laws must be clearly written and made public. All Theans under the Deep Laws were equal before its magnificence; it was to reward those who followed it with gifts shaped from reverent prayers of the living, and to punish those who violated it in a manner that would reform their threefold actions of corpus, speech and mind. Thus, the Deep Laws guaranteed that actions taken are systematically predictable. It was argued by Korak the Raven that if the Deep Laws were enforced correctly, even a weak ruler would be strong.
With the laying down of the Deep Laws, the roads of Theus became as polished black marble that no blade could scratch nor any fire scorch. The streets widened to allow the leisurely passage of its many denizens. Bridges sprang forth like long shadows to cross rivers, gardens and the Low Roads. No location was cut off or hidden from any other.
Eshu the Fox put into motion the Mysteries to ensure that no one could ever usurp control of Theus from the state itself. Especially important to the Mysteries was the principle that no one should be able to fathom the motivations of the ruler, thus no one could know what behavior might help them in getting ahead except by following the Deep Laws.
As the Mysteries wound their way even into the body language of the denizens of the Dead City, its buildings and walls became as dense as the longest of nights. The city learned to protect itself by never yielding to aggression. Those who sought to bring war to the Dead City wrote that they could never find it. For those who would bring misery to the dead, the city would simply not be there.
Rasimha the Lion designed the Empty Throne; the position of the ruler (not the ruler him or herself) that holds power. Therefore, analysis of trends, the context, and the facts are essential for being in power.
With the raising of the Empty Throne, the dark streets and hallowed towers of the Dead City became illuminated with lamps, glowing crystals and drifting clouds of luminescent mist. Gardens grew rich with thorned roses. Where the dead wandered the streets in rags or chocking clouds of soot, they wore opulent robes of fine silk and cotton, their withered hands adorned with rings of gold, silver and platinum.
By this it should be clear that the Terminus did not intend to rule over Theus, but rather to help it to rule itself. Collectively they agreed that it shouldn't only the living who holds reverence for the dead, but the dead as well should hold themselves to higher standards than those saddled with the burden of flesh. They should be the ones to show the living how to apotheosize the deceased.