ORDER OF SILENCE A law of the High Council that applies to any and all neathlings they see within their domain. Whether neathlings/other races choose to follow the Order or whether they'll make an enemy of the High Council is up to them. The Order of Silence holds that the High Council will destroy any threat to Enlightenment (for more on this, see History). The Order requires them to not expose themselves to the general public. Using magic publicly is not necessarily exposure. As long as a rational excuse exists to cover minor exposure, the Council will tend to not act. Anything more than that and you can expect to have Watchers chasing you down. Watchers will mercilessly kill witnesses and neath who threaten to break the Silence.
ADJUDICATION The original purpose of the High Council was to arbitrate conflicts between the Valir population. Although most neathlings think of the High Council in relationship to their enforcement of the Enlightenment, adjudication between covens and witches is the true foundation of the High Council's power. The Nine Councilors hear the case as argued by Assemblymen and then determine the outcome. Precedent and Western legal standards influence the Council's decisions though there are no formal laws to which they are held.
SELECTION Those who wish to join the High Council must be chosen. Councilors select their replacements, the Councilors choose the Assemblymen and Watchers, and everyone else gets to sit in the Gallery. Those who formally join the High Council are generally given access to the High Council's vast magical resources. Watchers and Assemblymen have even greater access to these resources, but only the Councilors themselves have access to the totality of the High Council's power. Witches selected are generally from one of the Assemblymen or Councilors' lines. Merit is important but merit alone will not get you a place in this organization. Make no mistakes, the neathlings are not interested in meritocracy.
Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2015 8:43 am
COUNCILORS At any given time, there are SIX Councilors on the High Council. Councilors are chosen by their predecessors. In the event that a Councilor does not name a successor prior to their death, the other five (or however councilors remain) will determine who fills the vacant slots. Councilors have access to the full strength of the HC and are in direct control over the Watchers. While Assembly positions are largely ceremonial and have little meaningful power, Councilors are arguably the six most powerful people in the world. Councilors have access to the full libraries and vaults of the High Council. Councilors cannot be removed from their positions unless challenged by another witch to whom they lose in combat. Although the most powerful of witches prefer to avoid these posts, the influence and cultural capital of the Councilors more than makes up for any gap individual power they may have. Those with ambition and apart of the bloodline should seek one of these seats.
ASSEMBLYMEN Assembly Members are representatives from covens the world over. Not all covens are represented in the Assembly; in fact, most are not. Only covens who have proven their 'worth' are invited to the Assembly. Covens can be stripped of membership by the Council. Assembly members are the neathlings who speak before the High Council on whatever issue is at hand. In trials, one must seek an Assembly Member to speak on their behalf. Those who lack one are unable to speak in their own defense. No one said witch law was fair. Like the High Council members who choose their successors, Assembly Members choose theirs as well. There are never more than thirty Assemblymen despite hundreds of covens answering to the High Council. It is rare for someone not at the head of their Coven or Bloodline to be appointed an Assemblymen.
WATCHERS Watchers are neathlings/other races who serve the Council, carrying out their will across the world. While Assemblymen have a great deal of social influence among the people of the world, Watchers are the ones truly feared the world over. Watchers are the only people with the authority to kill their own kind; murdering a person without just cause is an unforgivable offense. Those who have a legitimate claim can defend themselves before the High Council. Watchers are generally people from established lines or of some significant power. They are forbidden from joining any coven while serving the High Council.
Watchers serve many purposes. Some conduct research, some hunt threats to the Enlightenment, and some cull the enemies of the Council. All watchers must be capable of each task. The High Council does not outlaw any particular practices of magic; 'good' and 'evil' are relative as far as the High Council is concerned. The High Council claims to only regulate the relationships between witches to ensure mutual survival. Those who threaten the peace of the Enlightenment will not be spared. Exposure is unforgivable. The High Council uses its extensive political influence to limit coverage of the supernatural. Watchers are posted across the world. Most major cities have at least one Watcher posted there. Magically active areas tend to attract more watchers.
INNER RANKS HAND OF THE EMPRESS The Hand of the Emperor/Empress is the person who sits upon the head chair of the council. They are essentially the Empress/Emperor's proxy during their absence in council and often is the advisor to Valezka. He/she goes through a lot of vetting to be trusted with this seat. The person holding it currently is of noble blood, and was most trusted by the late Emperor Venice Vamraak who passed away. The person may be close to her or may not be. The connection to the King and how they become trusted is entirely up to you but must be run by me first.
MASTER OF COIN This person is the kingdom's chief treasurer and bookkeeper. They know everything about the kingdom's financial and simply make it their own business. This person would also go through the same vetting as the hand because they are in charge of the money of the crown and the kingdom. It's a very important role within the council and kingdom.
MASTER OF WHISPERERS (Female is preferred for this position and the face is negotiable.) She is the keeper of secrets and chief intelligence advisor (the spymaster works with her) supervising covert activities and information gathering, both at home and abroad. She is a lady in her own right born with the thrill to please and fight for the crown. Knighted when she served for a brief time with the guard, she is severely trusted by the crown and has never been doubted. This woman knows how to get secrets from even the most unlikely of people; born with a silver tongue and a passion to do whatever it takes to get something done.
MASTER OF LAWS (Origin Vamraak) Closed/Already Filled.
GRAND MASTER The grand master is a person wise in history, science and medicine who also provides counsel with their seat in the council. Their opinion is often trusted and expected when the council convenes. Though, they may not be needed in every day attendances when a meeting comes together their opinion is important.
Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2015 9:17 am
YOSAN COVEN ~1100 CE - 1400 CE The early connections of the Yosan League were built on the well-established covens of Central Valir. Although the covens remained formally independent and unique from the other Yosan covens, they cooperated significantly and their frequent communication with one another eventually fostered trade. The coven's influence grew as their hold over the formal Yosan league expanded. By the 15th century the Yosan Coven held a surprising amount of influence among the continent's covens. They did not, however, claim any authority like the High Council later would. Instead, the Yosan Coven was an assembly where Neathlings would settle disputes without resorting to infighting. Not surprisingly, the Covens who participated in the Yosan coven's adjudication grew stronger; not having young Neathlings die in unnecessary battles tends to help with that.
OSTDEN 1424 CE - 1427 CE ]Eventually the cultural conflicts centered around the commercial activity of the Ostden lead to the Coven separating itself. The division was messy, with many witches wanting to remain tied to the Ostden and the coven. When the dust settled, the separatists were the winners. A compromise came down and witches who wishes to remain in the Ostden could, but the covens were no longer obligated to assist with Ostden business. Many attribute the fall of the Ostden in the subsequent century to the loss of magical backing on their ventures.
CENTRALIZATION AND EXPANSION 1430 CE - 1650CE The formally separate High Council was fully in place by this point but the Assembly was still made of all member covens. Membership ranged between 20 all the way to 153 covens present at the height of the pre-Enlightenment Council. As Valir colonialism opened new mercantile possibilities to the area, the High Council took advantage of the weakened states to import resources, witches, and ancient artifacts from colonized areas. The High Council will later be criticized for the ways in which they assisted colonization of other closer planets, with minor reparations made to non-member covens and appropriate custody of artifacts established for member covens. Possession of nearly all artifacts and resources collected remain under Council control.
ENLIGHTENMENT 1650-1800 The Assembly would be trimmed down to a set number of represented Covens at a time when active membership to the Council neared the thousands. Nearly every major coven was either forcibly or willingly part of the High Council. In 1673 the High Council ruled unanimously to enforce the Order of Silence across the planet. A century later and the High Council was in direct control of almost 2,000 covens across the globe of valir, uniting witches for the first time in millennia. This will represent the peak hard power of the High Council. The contemporary organization boasts much greater soft power and political influence but the raw magical power and membership of the High Council is not as great as it was at the beginning of Enlightenment.
PEACE AND SILENCE 1800 - 1920 The next century would mark growing political influence among witches within the High Council. As witches from around the world grew increasingly connected, magical theory advanced rapidly and the High Council benefited. Aside from using newfound power to fund political ambitions, the High Council was also able to develop the Watchers to their current status. Previously Watchers only enforced the decisions of the High Council. They did not otherwise serve the Council or witches more broadly. While the High Council enjoyed their silence, they also chose to remain silent on human affairs.
GLOBALIZATION 1920 - 1960 (Nealthings/Earth) While the first world war had been largely ignored by witches, the Second prompted more involvement. Although they would not so openly oppose or support one side or another, the High Council used its resources to protect witches on both sides of the conflict and assisted many in escaping to friendlier territory. Witches benefited immensely during Valir's reconstruction. Age old Covens were returned ot their ancestral land, ancient sites and artifacts were rediscovered from Nazi looters, and the weakening empires of the West allowed greater autonomy for witches outside of Europe. In turn for the assistance of the Council, many covens previously coerced into the organization came to value it more highly.
DIVERSIFICATION AND TRANSFORMATION 1960 - Present As the Council's membership grew more global, its traditional members started leaving. Neathlings in North America and Europe became increasingly human and distanced themselves from what was seen as an archaic institution. The counterculture movements of the era affected witches as well, with many coming to view the High Council as a political entity and example of outdated witch traditions. After other races and creatures outed themselves and hunter activity increased, the High Council is now returning to the forefront of many witches' minds. Even so, the organization is not particularly interested in growing its numbers. Obedience and silence are what they want.
(Female is preferred for this position and the face is negotiable.) She is the keeper of secrets and chief intelligence advisor (the spymaster works with her) supervising covert activities and information gathering, both at home and abroad. She is a lady in her own right born with the thrill to please and fight for the crown. Knighted when she served for a brief time with the guard, she is severely trusted by the crown and has never been doubted. This woman knows how to get secrets from even the most unlikely of people; born with a silver tongue and a passion to do whatever it takes to get something done.
I can provide you a sample of my skills and anything else you request dear mother.
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2015 8:13 am
Quick question, you have to part of the family to apply or can there be other guild influences?
Quick question, you have to part of the family to apply or can there be other guild influences?
That's a great questions other guild influences may apply to be on the council. : )
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2015 1:04 pm
Empress Valezka Vamraak
Great! I would apply to be a Councilor, But I guess you need on of the existing councilors to refer you, unless an exception is made. But if not, I would apply to be a Watcher. I can provide any evidence of experience for the tasks upon request.
Great! I would apply to be a Councilor, But I guess you need on of the existing councilors to refer you, unless an exception is made. But if not, I would apply to be a Watcher. I can provide any evidence of experience for the tasks upon request.
At this time you don't need to be referred from an existing council. I know you personal from our past experiences so I won't be so strict with Daniel. I hold alot of respect and trust so you may apply for the Watcher position. Far as seeing your experience I would just like to see a sample of your role-play (any example, via PM.) since it's been awhile but other then that you're good.
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2015 1:19 pm
Princess Vythica Vamraak
Thank you for applying for a rank darling, just send me your most current RP sample via PM soon so you can be placed.
You both have been approved for your requested positions. All I need is an image of your RPC to add to the post and also remember to post your role-play characters. ~Thank you.
