Dreuchd Teagasg
~ Political Lore as viewed by Xilan Horidre in Dark Ages,
Deoch 9.
It is a well-known fact that politics is as much a part of
Temuair as hunting, practicing the abundance of skills, or the
spirit of the Aisling itself. There is much to be learned when it
comes to the political domain of Temuair. I cannot give you
pictures of this and that, but what I can give you is information
of every office (or advice from someone that has attained it) and
what it takes to be a great politician (no, it's not an
oxymoron.) In this piece, the political structure will be
examined, the offices within, and the processes of politics. I
aim to teach as well as to please with this piece; I hope you
enjoy as well as learn.
Table of
Contents
I. Political Structure
- A. Clout
Accumulation and Usage
- a.
Gaining Clout
- b.
Clout Usage
- B.
Offices
II. Being an Officer and Doing it Well
- A. The
Respected Citizen
- B. The
Judiciary Branch
- a.
The Guard
- b.
The Guard Captain
- c.
The Judge
- C. The
Legislative Branch
- a.
The Demagogue
- b.
The Burgess
III.
Conclusion
I. Political
Structure
There are 2 divisions to the government. On one hand, you have
the Legislative Branch. The Legislative Branch, to be frank,
legislates. One of their main duties is writing laws. They also
have other responsibilities which will be clarified later on in
this piece. Secondly, there is the Judiciary/Enforcement Branch.
This Branch essentially enforces those laws which have been
established by the Legislative Branch. The political system is a
mix of a democratic method, as well as aristocratic. You are
elected by your peers. Not anyone and everyone can become a
politician, much less a high official, however. Most people that
are well-known within the government are elders. This does not
mean that you should be discouraged in attempting to gain office.
It is possible, but much more difficult to attain office without
a well-known name, just as politics in any otherworldly land. In
either case, you should have sound judgement as well as a sound
state of mind before entering politics.
The method in which an official is elected is through the use of ‘clout.' Clout, by definition is usually
along the lines of "respect within a community". It is
similar in Temuair; however, the clout is actually measured and
numbered. With this clout, you attain office, as well as remain
in office. Opposite of attaining office of your own, you can
attack opponents, as well as remove others from office with your
clout. This is a great way to utilize your clout without being an
active political official. (Refer to 1A for further
clarification.)
The structure of the political system is step-wise. You gradually
earn respect, as well as higher office and more responsibility.
This is done through your actions, and spreading your name and
legend throughout the community. In both Branches, the higher the
office, the more responsibility comes with it. All offices (with
the unfortunate exception of Judge) are signified by uniform.
Respected Citizen is not an office. THE UNIFORM IS NOT REASON
ENOUGH FOR THE OFFICE. I felt the emphasis on that point was
necessary for two reasons. One, many people feel it is reason
enough, and assume office for that reason only. Two, it will only
be detrimental to our society as a whole, if we have officials
who could care less about their station and more about their
societal garb. If you're in office for the uniform, it is usually
obvious and you may find yourself removed either way. It's a wise
thing to say that you should not even bother assuming office
without noble intent.
Recently, the structure of the system was changed drastically.
All political actions require political assistants. These actions
include those which Cedric, the Burgess of Mileth, or Eduardo,
the Rucesion Burgess (from here on, these will be referred to as
the Political Agents) help administer. These assistants must have
at least a small amount of clout (1) to their name for each
planned assist. Also, some of the civic action is administered by
Aingeal in the Mileth Tavern, or Angelo, the higgler/banker of
Rucesion. (From here on, these will be referred to as the Civic
Agents) Also, everyone within close vicinity can see, and hear
your political actions. This is a good idea in some respects, as
it is good that everyone can see who you are trying to attack or
remove. This can be helpful so there is proof, as well as other
witnesses, in case a less than desirable situation arises. With
widdling, however, there is no need for the entire town hall to
know of your actions.
A. Clout
Accumulation and Usage
Clout, by definition is usually measured along the lines of
respect within a community. It is similar in Temuair; however,
the clout is actually measured and numbered. With this clout, you
are able to attain office, as well as remain in office. In
addition to attaining office, you can attack opponents, or even
remove other unfit officials from office with your clout. This is
a great way to utilize your clout without being an active
political official. All Aislings are entitled to earn, hold, and
use clout.
a. Gaining Clout
There are a number of ways to gain clout. The most common and
most effective, of course, would be from your peers. It is
considered bad politics to ask everyone that happens to pass by
for their support, and it will often gain you the title of a ‘vote-beggar.' There is no law against this,
but many Aislings have been, and will continue to be removed from
office for this method of attaining office. When you show the
community you are worthy of support, you will gain it easily
without having to ask.
Building relationships with Aislings is the most effective way to
gain clout. Of course, never befriend someone with the intention
of using them only for their supporting capability. Your friends,
however, will be solid supporters if you express to them your
desire to attain office and make a difference. They will also be
the ones most likely to help you remain in that office. Finally,
there is the mundane support. Mundanes award clout for your
submissions to their libraries. In certain cases, they also
reward you with clout for other contributions to the community.
It is always a good practice to maintain good standing relations
with the Mundanes. The rewards for their community contests are
as follows:
The clout awarded for each category is signified by the level of
the award. The contests are categorized by their relevant
political connection. I personally believe Philosophy should be
more important than History, as a Philosopher represents a great
thinker. While literature can sometimes be a great or beautiful
story, or biographies and art may hold a great significance to an
individual, or even the community, they do not have as much
political relevance, if any.
b. Clout Usage
When it comes to using clout that you have acquired, there are a
number of ways to make use of it. There is the obvious point of
obtaining a political office yourself. Unfortunately, most
Aislings are not cut out for politics, due to the stress it
causes, and the effort it takes to make your township a better
place, one step at a time. You can also ensure that other
officials remain in office. This is done through endowment.
Endowment is the only method which can be employed in this
manner; you use your own clout to boost the clout of an official
of your choice. By using a hefty sum of your own clout (10), the
citizen you wish to support receives a nice amount (7) as well.
This process requires an assistant, of course, and is conducted
in the presence of Cedric/Eduardo, or with the use of the Mileth
or Rucesion Politics spell. This spell is granted to Demagogues,
Burgesses, and first-time Respected Citizens. It is a remote way
of performing the same actions you would in the town hall, if you
happen to be away on other business.
Of course, there are more positive, or even negative uses for
your clout as well, whichever the case may be. These 2 processes
would be widdling and attacking. Widdling is a partially
secretive process in which a small bit of the widdler's clout (2)
is expended to decrease the opponent's clout (1). If Cedric
assists in this process, everyone in the town hall can overhear
who you are widdling. On the other hand, the victim does not know
who is dwindling their clout. The more secretive Aislings find
someone with the Mileth or Rucesion Politics spell that they can
trust. This way, they have an assistant as well as a choice of
locations from which to do their political actions. Secondly,
there are attacks. The victim of the attack knows who is
performing the deed. The opponent loses a great deal of clout
(10) while the attacker loses half that amount (5).
B. Offices
As previously stated, there are two branches to the government of
Temuair. There are three offices in the Judiciary Branch and two
in the Legislative Branch. Within the Judiciary Branch, positions
are as follows: Guard, Guard Captain, and Judge. In the branch of
Legislation, the two offices are Demagogue and Burgess. Each
office requires a clout requirement, as well as other
prerequisites. All higher officials must hold the position of
Respected Citizen at least once before continuing in the
political arena. To become a Respected Citizen, a reasonably
small sum of clout (10) is required, as well as the completion of
one student's mentorship. The aspiring citizen must be of the
11th insight, as well. Respected Citizen is not considered an
office per se, but more of a title and an introduction. It is,
however, a necessary task for anyone wishing to be a politician.
It also gives a small amount of responsibility, which can give a
semblance of an idea of political status. The clout required for
each respective office, as well as the prerequisites are listed
as follows:
II. Being an
Officer and Doing it Well
A. The Respected
Citizen
The most important factor to remember about the title of
Respected Citizen, is that no Aisling is automatically entitled
to the respect of others. This respect must first be earned. You
should always act as a Respected Citizen, and begin to earn the
respect of others long before you decide to claim this title.
This title is supposed to show that others have confidence in you
and your actions. This is not a title to be taken lightly. It is
not a title to "beg" for. If you must harass others in
the process of "begging" for this title, you can almost
surely know that you do not deserve it.
The Respected Citizen is the stepping stone of the entire
political system. No office can be attained without serving at
least one term as a Respected Citizen. It is not considered an
office; there are no real 'powers' associated with the position.
A Respected Citizen is a trusted member of the community; they
are 'respectable.' One should take their Respected Citizen
term as seriously as they would if it were one of the
"official" offices. A Respected Citizen has the ability
to admit citizens to their township. They can do this by speaking
with the Civic Agents, and expending a small amount of clout (1).
When admitting a citizen, one should be sure to interview and
explain the laws of the region to the prospect. This way, you
ensure a quality citizenship basis for your township, by
selecting those few who wish to obey the laws of your region, and
to try to make it a better place (at least to your knowledge and
faith in them).
Also, the Respected Citizen is trusted by the Mundanes of the
realm. The Mundanes allow Respected Citizens to use their tools
and such, without the fear of thievery or misuse. A Respected
Citizen can assist in Regional Tailoring with a tailor. The
garment is given to the tailor. The Respected Citizen borrows the
Mundanes sketches and tools, and instructs the tailor in their
use. All garments from the 1st to the 41st insight can be
Regionally Tailored in the following locations: Mileth, in the
Mileth fashion; Rucesion, in the Rucesion fashion; Suomi, in the
Suomi fashion; and Piet, in the Loures fashion. All higher
officials have this ability as well, but the Respected Citizen is
where it begins.
The position of Respected Citizen is one that gives someone a small
taste of what it is to be an official. If one cannot be trusted
with the duties of the Respected Citizen, then they surely cannot
be trusted with that of a legitimate political official.
B. The Judiciary
Branch
a. The Guard
The Guard takes an oath when they take office. Within this oath,
they swear to protect their township, and the fair citizens
within, to the best of their ability. The basis of being a good
Guard is realizing what your purpose is and knowing how to attain
that goal. The Guard is but a servant to the community. Their
uniform consists of a Tabard for the gentlemen or a Bliaut for
the ladies. This uniform can also serve as armor to some, in
certain situations. The disadvantage of this uniform is that it
also decreases the maximum will of the wearer (1000 mana). It is
a green chain mail garment. All Guards receive this uniform, as
it signifies your position in society. It should be worn while
patrolling, so people may recognize you as a Guard if a problem
arises. Each Guard's uniform is specifically tailored to fit only
that Guard it was tailored for.
The Guards' greatest assets are a level-head, knowledge of the
laws, a sense of amiability, professionalism, stability, and
sound judgement. Allowing personal differences to get in the way
of performing your duties will always result in chaos. An amiable
attitude will make you seem more open to your fellow Aislings,
and they will come to you with their problems without pause.
Seeming too ‘elite' or
anti-social is not a good quality of a Guard, as they are far
from elite, but more like the tools of the community. Granted,
being a tool is not in any way, shape, or form an insult. It is a
privilege. Without the politicians, Temuair could be in an
unimaginable chaotic state. It may not be in its prime at
present, however, but it could be much worse. A sense of good
judgement is useful to anyone. This is especially true of a
Guard, considering they must often assess the actions of their
peers. An innate ability to read people and their behavior is
very useful to a Guard, especially when it comes to enacting
justice.
The Guard should learn to be lenient, yet firm in your decisions.
Enforcing with an iron fist is sometimes the worst method of
getting things done. You never know when one party is lying, who
is right or wrong in a situation, or when the whole truth is not
presented. When lenient, you are less likely to resort to
banishment instead of working the situation out in a less harmful
way to all parties involved. Sometimes, however, there is no
alternative method and one must decide the proper route of action
to be taken. You should never take action before trying to listen
to both sides of a dispute.
The Guard must know the laws of his/her township like they know
the back of their hand. If you do not, you can not legitimately
perform your tasks and duties as a Guard. The Guard enforces the
laws, and you cannot enforce that, which you neither know nor
understand. Realize that the Guard is not a writer of laws, as
that is the job of the Demagogues and Burgesses. All that is
asked of you is that you know what the laws of consist of, what
they mandate, and how they should be enforced. Personal opinions
and feelings should never cloud your judgement.
The Guard should know the Guard Conduct and follow it to the best
of their ability. If they do so, they will surely get along just
fine, never having to worry about office removal and such. Right
now, we have well over 50 Guards.. I sometimes wonder, "
Where are they, and why do I not see them!?"
b. The Guard Captain
The Guard Captain holds all the responsibilities of the Guard, as
well a number of other duties. The Guard Captain should organize
the Guards, and make sure everything is running as smoothly as
possible. They also need to resolve disputes between the Guards
whenever deemed necessary. A good Guard Captain must set an
example. In addition to the qualities set forth for Guards, the
Guard Captains must be organized, prompt, and experienced. A
Guard Captain must first serve 4 terms as a Guard, as the
requirement to attain office. This does not mean they have as
much experience as another Guard. A Guard, Captain, or Judge who
does not work and carry out his duties regularly, will not have
much experience. Even one that does, for example, one that lives
in Rucesion, will not have the experience of a Mileth official,
or vice-versa. That is not to say they are less capable, but it
is a fact that they differ, due to the demographics of the two
townships. Experience is necessary for a Guard Captain because
they must be able to give solid advice to their Guards when
needed.
Guard Captains should make it a point to hold useful meetings. In
these meetings, a lot of points can be clarified, laws discussed,
quarrels resolved, and many more relevant things can be
accomplished. It should be enforced that Guards must attend these
meetings; it is necessary that all Guards are on the same page at
the same time. This will ensure a more effective Guard unit,
overall.
At the meetings, the Guard Captain should keep order. They should
also have an organized plan before the meetings begin.
Organization is a great quality of a Guard Captain. With this
trait, they will know what is going on at all times during their
meetings. Organization also helps Guard Captains when it comes to
categorizing case evidence. If an old case is brought up, or
brought to the Judge, evidence can and must be presented to
convict or acquit the alleged criminal. Also, if a Guard Captain
is more organized, even when it comes to a logical pathway of
thought, they can tell you what law you broke and where to find
it. This shows a knowledge of the law as well an orderly
recollection of sed law.
Finally, the Guard Captains, as well as Guards, must know where
their allegiance lies. The Guard Captain has (hopefully and
rightfully) earned their rank, and in essence can command the
Guard unit to do certain things; otherwise, the Guard Captain
would be nothing more than a Guard. This is not the best
approach, and should only be used in instances where swift action
is absolutely necessary. Also remember, neither the Guard nor
Guard Captain fall under the authority of a Demagogue or Burgess.
They are two entirely different branches of government, and
should only be intertwined when necessary. A Demagogue ordering a
Guard to banish someone always ends up in conflict, and that is
something no one wants. In either case, if the Captain is good
enough, they can resolve the conflict. I know this from personal
experience throughout my terms. Prevention is always better than
rectification of a problem later on.
c. The Judge
At the top of the Judiciary Branch ladder, is the Judge. The
Judge has no uniform, so do not attempt to attain the office for
that purpose, as many unfortunately have a habit of doing. The
Judge's primary duty is to administer fair and impartial
judgement to all citizens of their township. The laws are written
by the Demagoguery, but the Judge must be able to interpret the
laws, not leaving room for any ambiguity.
The Judge appoints the prosecutor, the defendant, and the jury,
when cases are brought to court. They have the ability (if they
so desire) to designate trial rights and responsibilities. They
must schedule court cases in a timely manner, as well as enforce
the schedule.
In being a Judge, you have the experience from serving eight
double-moons as a Guard under your belt, as well as eight
double-moons of Guard Captain, if not more. The reason that such
duties are considered prerequisites for the position of Judge are
very simple; a level head will make you an effective officer in
all three positions. You will gain political maturity as you
climb the ranking ladder. The Judge should be the most
experienced of all three officials. If this is not the case, the
Judge did not perform their prior duties as they should have.
A Judge should have a working knowledge of all the cases in their
township. Granted, there are many different cases one
would have to keep up with. In Mileth, this is almost impossible
due to the amount of citizens and size of the community. I'm sure
it is extremely difficult in other townships as well. To do your
best is the most you can do, as long as you are aware of as many
things as you can be. Even if you do not volunteer yourself to
mediate cases, you will be asked to, simply due to your social
status. The Judge serves as council to Guards as well as Guard
Captains.
A Judge should categorize and organize all of the evidence
presented to them. This evidence should be kept in private files.
This way, if anyone ever attempts to appeal a case, the needed
materials will be easy to find. It is also necessary for the
Judge to post their cases on the Judgements board in the
courtroom. This way, there will be a public record for all to
view, in regards to political cases.
C. The
Legislative Branch
a. The Demagogue
There is much controversy involved with the actual duties and
responsibilities of the Demagoguery. This position is not one to
be taken lightly. Just as with all other political positions,
Demagogues are also servants of the community. Even though you
are in a political position, you are not entitled to respect, it
must still be earned through your actions and abilities. The
Demagogues, in some capacity, speak as a liaison of the
community. Just as the Judiciary officials must have a level-head
and sound judgement, so must the officials of the Legislative
Branch.
The main concern of the Demagogues should be to study and ensure
the well being of the township. One way to accomplish this is
through proposing and passing laws that protect the community as
a whole. They write the laws that are carried out and enforced by
the Judiciary Branch of the political officials. When writing
laws, the Demagogues should always have the best interest of
their township at heart. Be weary, it is very easy to write laws
that you feel may serve your own best interest instead. You must
always remember that you have been elected to serve the community
through your actions, not for the community to serve you. Laws
should not be hastily written. Much thought and revision must be
put into proposed laws. Laws must be written in a way which
allows equal protection for all citizens. When writing laws, the
Demagogues should remember to write the laws in a manner which is
as direct and indisputable as possible. With the attribute of
ambiguity in a law, much unnecessary chaos can result.
Demagogues have been given a special ability, the ability to
exile criminals from the township. Unlike banishments, this
punishment will void any positive record an Aisling has made for
himself in the township. This punishment will negate all
political positions one has held in the past, and the Mundanes
will no longer hold any special regard for the Aisling. To keep
accusations of political abuse of power to a minimum, Demagogues
should never exile an Aisling without a ruling of the Court.
While it may be an ability and a privilege, unfortunately, it can
be devastating if used improperly. Once an exile is made, there
is no way to rectify the damages if done unjustly. Another very
important obligation of the Demagogues is one that is often
overlooked by many. The Demagogues are responsible for moderating
and cleaning the less desirable messages off of the various
notice boards throughout the community. These boards are meant as
a means for positive communication amongst the citizens of a
township. Since we do not live in a perfect world, sometimes
these posts can be less than appropriate. As it is the
responsibility to ensure the well being of the community, these
boards must be regulated and cleared of rubbish. At times, this
duty can seem to be torture, but it is a job that must be done.
Finally, the Demagogues hold the same ability that a Respected
Citizen does. They must admit citizens that will prove to be an
asset to the community. By speaking with these Aislings in
detail, it is much eaiser to decide whether or not they are a
good candidate to be a citizen of the township.
b. The Burgess
Much like the position of the Demagogue, the Burgess' main duty
consists of ensuring the well being of, and serving, the
community. The same responsibilities of the Demagogues fall upon
the Burgesses. As a Burgess must first serve eight double-moons
in term as a Demagogue, their skills and abilities of their
office should be refined and almost second nature.
The Burgess is to a Demagogue, as the Guard Captain is to a
Guard. The Burgess should be a leader and set an example. The
Burgess should try to the best of their ability to supervise the
Demagogues and guide them in their endeavors. The Burgess should
try to observe the Demagogues and suggest methods of improvement.
As a leader, the Burgess should also try their best to schedule
and administer routine meetings of the Demagogues.
Burgesses also have a special ability to veto and remove any or
all laws they believe to be inappropriately written. This is a
bold step and should neither be taken lightly nor without
support. While Burgesses hold quite a bit of power in the
community, they should always act responsibly and with the utmost
respect toward their citizens. It is not a good quality of a
Burgess to act as if they are above others. While they may have
certain abilities and privileges, they should never act alone and
should always consult with the Demagogues, or other officials,
before taking action. Without input from others, the Burgess may
seem to be tyrannical, insensitive, and irrational.
III. Conclusion
After reading about the different stations in the political
realm, the requirements, and what it takes to serve as one, I
hope that you have dediced whether or not you are cut out for
politics. Something that people fail to remember, politicians and
officials are the servants of the community. After a while, it
may seem as if an official gains a certain aire about themselves,
an elitist quality if you will. This could be detrimental to
their serving as an official in their township. Without the
well-being of the citizens in mind, the official is nothing more
than the owner of a uniform they do not deserve. There is an open
forum for political discussion, once you have gained a legitimate
position. To locate this forum, ask me when you see me in Temuair
and I will surely refer you. Thank you for journeying through the
political realm with me, and I hope you succeed in your
endeavors. Realize, it will be a bumpy ride, but well worth it if
properly approached. Farewell, may Deoch's flames light your way
through the sometimes dark reigns of politics.
~ Xilan Horidre
Deoch 9, 9th Moon, 3rd Sun, 4 a.m.
This
scroll has been made using 100% recycled parchment and non-toxic
dyes and fruit juices or extracts. Help keep Temuair clean!