Cysgor Politics

The cysgoroesi, or shadow elves (despite not really being elves), are governed by a Council of Septarchs, who make decisions affecting all the septs (which are a cross between sub-cultures, political parties, and organizational structures to which all cysgor belong).

Ranks

Cysgor who are associated with the monasteries (and thus first-class citizens) are part of a hierarchy. Septarchs and abbots speak for septs, but many septs may share a monastery. Which means that the Abbot and the Priors may not be allies.

Septarch

Technically first among equals of the abbots of a given sept. In the council, the septarchs exercise a veto on any policy that would directly affect their sept. This veto can be overridden by a vote of 12 of the remaining members of the council. They do not preside over a monastery personally.

Abbot

monastery heads, at least technically. A few of them have roles that go beyond any particular monastery. There are currently 11 abbots for 9 monasteries.

Prior

Heads of specific efforts within a monastery.

Sub-prior

lieutenants to the prior.

Hierophant

team leader for the larger teams.

Servitor

Lowest rank, serving on a team.

Political Parties

The primary division among the cysgor other than sept is how they answer the question "how must our way of life change to prevent the Great Decline" (the impending extinction of the cysgor race). There are three major factions--

The Expansionists

This group, headed by Septarch Jael of Myji, believes that the answer is to reinvigorate the race through selective breeding and conquer new lands and bring others under the cysgor umbrella. Policies include the Realignment (bringing all females out of teams and assigning them to chosen males) and establishing new creches. They would throw away many of the traditions and bring the race into a more "progressive" and "modern" age. With them at the head, of course.

The Traditionalists

This group, headed by Septarch Balaam of Oula, believes that the answer lies in re-establishing the traditional place of the cysgor people as the defenders of Shadow. They are searching for ways to re-establish the Pact with Death, although their understanding of that pact is limited.

The Renunciates

The smallest group, headed by Septarch Bilbah of Deverel, wants to retreat from Shadow as much as possible and focus on building the race in more conventional ways. They see Shadow as poison.

Myji (Ravens)

• Septarch Jael of Myji. An imperious, driven man. Wields the top segment of the Ebony Rod as a symbol of his authority. Known for being intensely persuasive, almost in a mesmerizing way. The public face of the Expansionists.
• Abbot-Myfryr Elias of Myji. Abbot of Myfryr. Pudgy and oily, he's the one who is pushing the Realignment the most. A complete snake, but quite intelligent.
• Abbot Pagiel of Myji. Abbot of a Myfryr satellite monastery. Replaced Abbot Arnyek after his exile. A young cysgor man, he is a total syncophant of Jael's, rumored to never have an independent thought.
• Abbot-Deadlands Ahira of Myji. The eldest of the Myji abbots, he's out of favor with Jael's faction. Focused mostly on the war against the Waste. Ally of Abbot Ashur of Orsa and a staunch Traditionalist.

Bran Vras (Magpies)

• Septarch Zadok of Bran Vras. An expert arcanist, he's an expert in the artifacts of the ancient cysgor. Wields the center piece of the Ebony Rod. Jael's shadow and (some believe) the power behind the throne.
• Abbot Libari of Bran Vras. Abbot of one of the satellite monasteries of Fortress Cysga. Libari focuses on the reclamation efforts, trying to retrieve artifacts. Dislikes outsiders. A loyal soldier to Septarch Zadok.
• Abbot-Cysga Kohath of Bran Vras. Abbot of Cysga. Apolitical, he focuses only on crafting and maintaining the shadesteel golems.
• Abbot Mahli of Bran Vras. Abbot rank, but not head of a monastery. He is the head of Bran Vras's intelligence operation. Close ally of Abbot Enon of Orsa. Officially neutral, he's not part of Bran Vras's inner circle.

Orsa (Bears)

• Septarch Mahlon of Orsa. Fairly new to the post, which he gained in part by Jael's machinations. Very indebted to Jael and publicly an Expansionist, but not particularly happy with that.
• Abbot Ashur of Orsa. Vice-abbot of Deadlands. Extremely traditional, has little patience for politics. Head of the guard force and very military-focused.
• Abbot Enon of Orsa. Head of a satellite monastery of Myrfyr. Head of Orsa's intelligence and assassin network. Highly opposed to the Realignment, in part because many of his best agents are women. Politically officially neutral, although his sympathies lie with the proscribed organizations that try to resurrect the Lost Septs.

Oula (Owls)

• Abbot Balaam of Oula. Head of the traditionalists. Ancient. Arch-traditionalist, he was Arnyek's secret patron until the latter's insanity was exposed too much.
• Abbot-Brightpool Zuriel of Oula. Head of Brightpool Fortress. Mystic and head of the Listener teams. Supports the Realignment based on "dreams and visions and omens", but only weakly connected to the Expansionist party.
• Abbot Merari of Oula. Head of a satellite monastery of Myfryr, where the archives are kept. A historian and archivist, he rarely speaks. He is one of the few who knows the truth about the Lost Septs.

Deverel (Beavers)

• Septarch Bilbah of Deverel. Head of the Renunciates and the only woman on the Council. A hard, bitter woman who is deeply unpopular with her fellows. Currently maintaining a veto on the Realignment against attempts to override it.
• Abbot Achan of Deverel. Not head of any monastery, but associated with Fortress Deadlands. At odds with his septarch; he supports the Realignment despite being officially a Renunciate.