Excerpt from “An Introduction to Circadian Civics in the Reconstruction Age” by Odipos Rakes
While the world of Circadia orbits around the Gods and their doings, the everyday lives of Mortals–from the growing of crops to the repairing of roadways to the education of civilians–is of importance to even the most cerebral Devout. After all, while the Gods offer their Blessing, the day-to-day tasks that sustain Mortal life are equally shared among the people of Circadia.
The political organization of Circadia reflects this. As one might assume, in recorded Circadian history, there have never been Mortal sovereign rulers such as Kings and Queens. Instead, the Pantheon has always served as the supreme ruling body; the God who heads the Pantheon serves as the ruler of Circadia.
During the first Pantheon, Faeris’lyr was founder and leader of the Pantheon and, therefore, sovereign of the realm. In the age following Faeris’lyr’s reign, T’rer stood as the King of the Gods and, therefore, the King of Circadia. After the Blood War, Beodhen unseated T’rer and took his place as leader of both Gods and Mortals. During Beodhen’s reign, of course, the Pantheon Gods share democratic control of Circadia and assure a system of checks and balances.
But where does this leave Mortals? Surely, while the Gods may provide us with the magical foundation for our lives, they are not out and about collecting taxes, determining our children’s curriculum, or asking the fishmonger the latest trends in civilian cuisine. Such tasks fall to us Mortals and, to help guide them, we rely on our Mortal leaders: the High Clergy.
The High Clergy
The High Clergy, described in more personal detail below, are the handful of Devout individuals who serve as the chosen High Priest to a God. They are personally chosen by the God and act as a mediator and conduit between the Gods and their Worshippers. While Gods can and do communicate with Mortals who are not High Clergy, they share close relationships with their High Clergy and rely on their counsel. For most in Circadia, a relationship with a High Clergy representative is just as strategically important as a relationship with a God.
The High Clergy live at Gods Road, where they act as a democratic High Council who oversee Mortal affairs. Superficially, the only ranking High Clergy are those in service to the immediate Pantheon–in practice, however, and particularly after the Blood War, High Priests of Fallen Gods are generally given a seat at the proverbial table. Importantly, High Clergy tend to age much more slowly than even other Devout–due to their connection to the Gods, they are offered somewhat more robust vitality and will often appear younger than they are. Such aging returns to normal once they retire from their positions.
The Devout
Immediately below the High Clergy are the Ranking Devout: somewhat more numerous than the High Clergy, they are individuals who have been appointed by the Clergy or the Gods themselves to serve as mediators between regions and households. Beneath these Ranking Devout are the Devout–the backbone of Circadia that best walk the line between the layfolk, the High Clergy, and the Gods. Devout perform many tasks, from answering the personal call of a God to advocating for an underrepresented township. They are provided the ear of the High Clergy whenever asked and, like the High Clergy, reside for at least part of the year at the barracks outside Gods Road. While the High Clergy may hold the highest power of all Mortals, the Devout beneath them are truly upon what the realm relies.
But, as we all know, very few people are Devout. So what of the Folk Civil–sometimes called layfolk–that make up the vast majority of Mortal demographics?
The Layfolk/Folk Civil
As the proud father of 6 Devout and 1 Folk Civil, I can assure you that the pathways for the Folk Civil are more numerous than those provided for the Devout.
(I will add. Many use the term “layfolk” when referring to those non-Devout. I prefer Folk Civil as it accounts for those non-believers who nonetheless pay their taxes. This, of course, says nothing of Witches who have only ever funded our public works in thoroughly ironic ways.)
Folk Civil are not so much “mundane” Mortals as they are Mortals who, however pious they may be, have not been called to direct service of the Gods. They tend to be more concerned with the daily affairs that make Circadia what it is and, therefore, even the Gods rely on them. What is, afterall, a God without a populace?
Which leads us to popular governments falling outside the High Council.
Popular Governments
Circadia is estimated to be home to some 4 to 6 million Mortals, not including the 100, 000 or so Mynaira and some 300, 000 Hyrnedhnai. While these numbers are nothing compared to the estimated 10 to 12 million prior to the Blood War, they are nevertheless made up of diverse people who–after all this time–have discrete governing bodies, interests, and geographical cultures unique to them.
Generally speaking, Circadian towns and cities organize themselves around a popularly elected Mayor and representative town or city council. Term limits and election processes vary from region to region, but it is uncommon for governmental processes to differ wildly between areas. The High Clergy more or less supports different regional leaders assuming that such leaders affirm the Pantheon.
There are exceptions to the rules, as one might expect.
The Hyrnedhnai have appointed The Speaker who, when the Hyrnedhnai deign to speak with the High Council, will serve as representative for the Hyrnedhnai. The Mynaira used to have a Speaker but now rely on the former High Priestess of Mynair. Witches are excepted from High Clergy proceedings as one would guess and hope. (To quote one of my sons, “They do their own thing.” Thank our Lord Nepheris for that!)
Additionally, it is common in areas with established Devout dynastic clans–such as the Lionhardt or Beausejour families–for supported towns to pay fealty to noble houses; in such cases, the dynastic families often appoint a head of town or city and conduct business through them. Assuming that such business fulfills the needs of the Pantheon, the High Priests allow it.
Dynastic Clans
Dynastic clans are an important consideration in all of this. Generally speaking, the Dynastic clans are families who have long served a particular God or Gods. Most famous among these are the Lionhardts and my own family, the Rakeses. These families have unswervingly followed Beodhen and Nepheris respectively and rank among some of the most respected Devout. Other families exist, of course. Though of increasingly lesser import during the Reconstruction, the Aspera family has long followed the sisters Kasamei and Steramestei. Similarly, the Redsprings are former followers of Hyrnedhna who renounced her during the Blood War and now follow Beodhen. Lesser known are the curious Albright and Beausejour clans. While the Albrights nominally follow Beodhen, they are one of the few Dynastic clans who maintain worship of not only Gu’labir but even older Gods. The Beausejour are notorious in their commitment to Verine and have maintained their loyalty across the Dynastic ages.
And what would a lesson in Civics be without a list of the current High Priests? Below is the High Clergy as of the writing of this tome, 534 Sela.
Petra Lionhardt, High Priestess of Beodhen since 502 Sela
Myr’naianesa, High Priestess of Nepheris since 502 Sela, Speaker and High Priestess of Mynair since 475 Sela
Duncan of Fairchild, High Priest of Steramestei since 502 Sela
Cyrus and Milot Aspera, High Priests of Kasamei since 496 and 500 Sela respectively
Sympathy called Sincerity, High Priest of T’Zyri since 504 Sela
Cyriaque Beausejour, High Priest of Verine since 510 Sela
Amik Westward, High Priest of Hyrnedhna since 488 Sela
Samson Trent, High Priest of T’rer since 503 Sela
Currently, both Cyrus and Milo Aspera serve as High Priests of Kasamei. This is somewhat unusual but was granted to Kasamei during the Blood War: the amount of Death that occurred during the War necessitated that she offer seats for two High Priests. The tradition has maintained over the reconstruction.
There are, undoubtedly, High Clergy of both Opix and Gu’labir but, for now, they have kept their names to themselves.
Zealot Larp 