Tag: the Rakes

Circadian Political Structures in Detail

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.

On the Nature of Mana and Magic

On the Nature of Mana and Magic
Magister Paxia T’Myra
Keynote Address, Gods Road Symposium on Magic
Magic in the Reconstruction Series, 534 Sela


The following notes are transcribed from the symposium address delivered by Magister T’Myra, Cleric of T’Zyri and High Mage of Myrim’lyr College, in the year 534 Sela.


Honored colleagues, it is a true pleasure to join you during this return to the annual Symposium on Magic at Gods Road. As a representative of Myrim’lyr College, the oldest institution of higher learning in Circadia, I hope this address can move all of us towards a progressive future dictated by our noble history. Additionally, as a lifetime follower of my lady T’Zyri, Keeper of Secrets, I feel especially honored to present such information in her name. Without further ado…

Magic has long been a subject of interest among both the Devout and the layfolk. Indeed, entire careers have been dedicated to understanding the Blessing bestowed upon us and its reverberation in our Mortal world.

While the Blood War remains a staunch tragedy in the minds of even the most stalwart, we cannot deny that in Hyrnedhna’s carnage, we learned much about Magic. However, it is easy to fixate on the immediate. In light of current political tensions, I wish to instead turn back to basics.

Since T’Myrim and Zyr’Zane graced Mortal soil, some form of Magic has existed among all worshippers. Indeed, the Age of Worship, when our various cultures came together in pursuit of the Old Gods, we learned quickly that those faithful among us can channel the Magical essence of this world. And, of course, when the first Pantheon of Faeris’lyr came to be, such Magic and the rise of the Devout coincided–as we now well know, to be Devout is to be a vessel of the Gods’ tremendous power. Mortals have never before seen the power provided by our current divine Pantheon.

Such matters, as you well know, are matters for historians. They are well documented in the Cloisters’ archives for any past-minded person to scour. However, I am no historian. I am a Mage.

And, so, back to basics.

Devotion. Attributes. Mana. Magic.

The combination that binds the Devout in service to all of Circadia and the Gods. Our gift, Blessing, and burden.

As a High Mage, I remind you of the best accepted theory on magic. The theory of Divine Mana Channeling.

As all Mages know, the world is infused with various forces: we understand them as the Four Corporeal Elements and the Ethereal Gift. Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Caliber.

To be more descriptive: the stability and strength of Earth, the ever-rushing flow of Air, the sudden surges of Water, the Fire that can erupt at any moment, and the Caliber of your spirit. These elements are aligned with the world around us– capitalizing on that alignment through our faith is how greatness happens.

Enter Mana, the stuff of the Circadian landscape. The unseen carriers of such elemental power that exist beyond most Mortal perception. Even the most talented of Mages have yet to ethically distill Mana into its discreet parts for more than a few moments. Nevertheless, we know it is there.

Beyond this, we know we, the Devout, are able to channel Mana through our Devotion as manifested Attributes.

Prismatic Theory states that the role of the Pantheon is for the Gods to collect Mana and distribute it among their chosen Devout. The collection of an enormous pool of Mana manifests as a single Attribute–the Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Caliber that represents our Divine power. We know that when we expend an attribute, it is eventually refreshed by the Divine power of our patron God or Gods. Such is the well-established relationship between Devotion, Attributes, and Mana.

To my first year undergraduates, I explain the process thusly.

Mana is the nearly intangible stuff that infuses Circadia; we can only see it in heavily controlled or awesome spaces, but research concludes it is unrefined elemental power. Our Pantheon Gods can collect huge amounts of this Mana and channel it into their Devout. This manifests as the Attributes we feel within ourselves. In other words, the Gods make the multitude of magical essence around us into something we can use. Small bits collected and made material within us.

As any Mage knows, as Devout Mages our Gods give us the power to channel raw Mana into spells. Since we cannot see the Mana, but we know it is there, it becomes our duty to reverse engineer our Magic–we master the tangible spell to corral the intangible Mana.

I study such things daily, and, still, such a reality captures me in wonder.

It bears reminding: as far as we know, the Devout are the only confirmed individuals with Attributes. Those who have walked or fallen from Devotion report they lose the sense of power and can no longer feel or use their Attributes. Lifelong layfolk report no manifestation of Attributes within them, even when they are experts in the study of Magic itself.

So, seemingly, that’s how Magic works. But it does not answer the question, what is Mana?

We still don’t know. I find that, as a scholar nearing retirement, a delightful opportunity for this generation of rising Mages.

In this era of massive change, we have new variables that expand our horizons.

To return to the Blood War.

Magister Rubius Rakes II’s study on magical re-entry suggested the veracity of many longheld theories. A lay follower of Nepheris, Magister Rakes was given permission to enter the battlefields as a neutral party during the Blood War. His sole task was to observe and record seeming changes in Magical manifestation. Of course, when a God was on the field, the Devout were more powerful, finding themselves gifted with temporary Attributes and even new abilities.

But something more troubling arose. The reality of death that bore the fruit of the Rubius Law: Mana seems momentarily perceptible, by Mortals, during times of great death.

In the Battle of Beasts, when Hyrnedhna and Beodhen took the field with their forces, over 3000 Mortals, including Hyrnedhnai, perished. All survivors, including Magister Rakes, witnessed thousands of multicolored orbs floating around the field. In a well told tale, Beodhen won this battle because he was able to quickly seize the power of many of these orbs and channel them into his Clerics. The Clerics restored to life roughly 300 of his mightiest Paladins, and they took the field. Hyrnedhna retreated.

More troubling still is the earlier death of Mynair. Magister Rakes, having witnessed the Battle of Beasts, looked for the survivors who had withstood Hyrnedhna’s raid on the coast. High Priestess Myr’naianesa, chosen of Mynair and now Mortal Consort to and High Priestess of Nepheris, reports that when Mynair fell, the Tides swelled with millions of blue orbs. Such orbs fell upon the Mynaira before disappearing. While neither High Priestess Myr’naianesa or Magister Rakes can truly confirm it, it seems that the death of a God resulted in an exponential version of the phenomenon witnessed at the Battle of Beasts.

And what do we make of all this? Our theorem remains seemingly true but perhaps comparatively insignificant when we muse at that still unknown.

To conclude, I pose a perhaps strange direction: interdisciplinary studies.

Those who have studied witchcraft and even those who have observed Magicians have long waited in the shadows of academic halls. This seems unfair: to understand Heresy, one must study Heretics. These scholars, our proper colleagues, have risked life and limbs to observe the doings of Heretics. Yet we cast them aside.

As a Devout of T’Zyri, I suggest we welcome our colleagues made outcast by our own outdated academic cultures. It seems intellectually lazy to resist the knowledge of other students of the world.

And so.

As High Mage of Myrim’lyr College, I hearby establish the first ever accredited Department for the Social Study of Heretical and Abyssal Magic, hosted by Myrim’lyr College. The esteemed Magister Devon Rakes, lay follower of Nepheris, has agreed to sign on as the first Chair of the Department.

I propose this with T’Zyri’s Blessing.

Thank you.