Post by Kage2020 on Dec 29, 2003 9:04:19 GMT -5
The following is the structure that I created for the 'government' of the eldar craftworlds and has been created to, as much as possible, remain "'fluff' transparent". That is to say that it is possible within the consistent framework to explain the various manifestations of craftworld government which are superficially described in, say, Codex Eldar or Codex Craftworld Eldar.
As presented the system is predicated upon one feature: that the eldar are a far more homogenous culture than the limited information in the 'fluff' might on superficial examination suggestion. This could be from the nature of pre-Fall eldar civilisation, the enhanced communications permissible through the Webway, or whatever ones personal preference suggests (though I go for a combination of these features).
The eldar craftworld government - including the captive government of the various colonies - has a basic tripartite council structure:
The Clan Council
Composed of the representative Clans present on the craftworld, they are primarily involved in the mundane governance of the craftworld and of the determination of both internal and external policy, i.e. how the eldar impact upon the 'outer universe'. It also includes representatives of the "Court of the Young King" and the Seer Council...
The concept of the Clan is important since it does not specifically relate to kin-ship bonds but rather a common philosophical and/or political approach to either the 'outer universe' or the actions of the eldar. Membership of a Clan is changeable, determined by individual approach to life and, as such, is self-evidently modified by Path and Way.
Somewhat ironically since they enjoy a perspective on the outside universe that other eldar as a rule do not, all Clan 'chiefs' are selected from former walkers on the Path of the Outcast. (Heartily borrowed from the D&D supplement The Elves of Alfheim.)
The Seer Council
This is composed of leading representatives of the various Seer Ways on the craftworld. It may or may not be composed of 'paramount practitioners', but this is unlikely and depends upon your interpretation of the Path and what a 'Farseer' (or Exarch or whatever) is. The leader of the Council is always the ranking Farseer on the craftworld but, again this is imporatant, the Council is not composed exclusively of Farseers.
Other than the Council leader another important function is the "Voice of the Elders", a Spirit Seer who speaks for the Ancestors in meetings of the Seer Council...
Ancestor Council
Those that have passed into the Infinity Circuit and hold themselves differentiated still perform tasks which impact upon the material universe. Whether this is to become guides for children (teah-shih), to be the controlling intelligence in certain important areas, and so on. The wisest and, often, most ancient of these spirits forms the Ancestor Council upon which there is always one empty seat except at the darkest of times... Then when the shadows of blood and war darken the place of meeting is this seat taken by the bound representative of the Bloody Handed...
The Ancestor Council also often 'sends' a represenative to the speak through the Voice on the Seer Council or to speak more directly with the Clan Council.
The importance of each Council varies from craftworld to craftworld such that on Ulthwe it is the Seer Council that holds pre-eminence, while on Biel-Tan it is the Clan and more specifically the Court that holds sway...
Eldar government is a complex skein of inter-relations and not just the dictation of Farseers...
As normal constructive comments are welcome but, I shall be honest here, it is unlikely that people will radically change my opinions on the eldar. No other system that I have seen presented has offered the numerous possibilities that the above does.
Kage
As presented the system is predicated upon one feature: that the eldar are a far more homogenous culture than the limited information in the 'fluff' might on superficial examination suggestion. This could be from the nature of pre-Fall eldar civilisation, the enhanced communications permissible through the Webway, or whatever ones personal preference suggests (though I go for a combination of these features).
The eldar craftworld government - including the captive government of the various colonies - has a basic tripartite council structure:
The Clan Council
Composed of the representative Clans present on the craftworld, they are primarily involved in the mundane governance of the craftworld and of the determination of both internal and external policy, i.e. how the eldar impact upon the 'outer universe'. It also includes representatives of the "Court of the Young King" and the Seer Council...
The concept of the Clan is important since it does not specifically relate to kin-ship bonds but rather a common philosophical and/or political approach to either the 'outer universe' or the actions of the eldar. Membership of a Clan is changeable, determined by individual approach to life and, as such, is self-evidently modified by Path and Way.
Somewhat ironically since they enjoy a perspective on the outside universe that other eldar as a rule do not, all Clan 'chiefs' are selected from former walkers on the Path of the Outcast. (Heartily borrowed from the D&D supplement The Elves of Alfheim.)
The Seer Council
This is composed of leading representatives of the various Seer Ways on the craftworld. It may or may not be composed of 'paramount practitioners', but this is unlikely and depends upon your interpretation of the Path and what a 'Farseer' (or Exarch or whatever) is. The leader of the Council is always the ranking Farseer on the craftworld but, again this is imporatant, the Council is not composed exclusively of Farseers.
Other than the Council leader another important function is the "Voice of the Elders", a Spirit Seer who speaks for the Ancestors in meetings of the Seer Council...
Ancestor Council
Those that have passed into the Infinity Circuit and hold themselves differentiated still perform tasks which impact upon the material universe. Whether this is to become guides for children (teah-shih), to be the controlling intelligence in certain important areas, and so on. The wisest and, often, most ancient of these spirits forms the Ancestor Council upon which there is always one empty seat except at the darkest of times... Then when the shadows of blood and war darken the place of meeting is this seat taken by the bound representative of the Bloody Handed...
The Ancestor Council also often 'sends' a represenative to the speak through the Voice on the Seer Council or to speak more directly with the Clan Council.
The importance of each Council varies from craftworld to craftworld such that on Ulthwe it is the Seer Council that holds pre-eminence, while on Biel-Tan it is the Clan and more specifically the Court that holds sway...
Eldar government is a complex skein of inter-relations and not just the dictation of Farseers...
As normal constructive comments are welcome but, I shall be honest here, it is unlikely that people will radically change my opinions on the eldar. No other system that I have seen presented has offered the numerous possibilities that the above does.
Kage