Sefdaanian Ethnography Chapter 18 - Government

Pronunciation table

p	b	f	v	m̃	m			t	d	þ	ð	ɫ	l			ṡ	ż	s	z	r	n			k	g	x	ƣ	h	ȝ			š	s̨			i	e	a	ǫ	o	u			ĭ	ĕ	ŭ
/p/	/b/	/ɸ/	/β/	/m̥/	/m/			/t/	/d/	/θ/	/ð/	/l̥/	/l/			/ʦ/	/ʣ/	/s/	/z/	/ɾ̥/	/n/			/k/	/g/	/ç/	/ʝ/	/j̊/	/j/			/sʷ/	/sʲ/			/i/	/e/	/ä/	/ɒ/	/o/	/u/			/ɪ/	/ɛ/	/ʊ/

Introduction

• Of the Six Peoples, the Ethrans live in large communal dwellings (ðűűno), the Pyrans live in villages (da̋bo), as do the Lithans (kı̋lo). The Hydorans and the Humans live in small restricted settlements (na̋do and ṡe̋im̃o, respectively). The word "community" (kőinu) refers generically to these five. The Xylans live solitary lives.
• The governmental structure of the communal Peoples is very similar, differences depending on the life led by the People in question.
• The communities of the Pyrans, Hydorans, Humans, and Lithans start as the home of one man and his family. This incipient community is established because the family’s former community can no longer support an increase in population. As a community grows, the site for a future community is selected and work on the infrastructure begins. This work must be done before the snow arrives.
• There is no personal real estate, although other property can be held privately. The land and the buildings belong to the community, but the community’s government insures the rights of each family to live in and alter their dwelling and to utilize the crop fields and the pastures.

The Ethrans

• The Ethran government is an oligarchy (s̨oxda̋sta). The mages are the "oligarchs", receiving their authority from the fact that were created to be such.
• There are six mages (se̋ilu) , the eldest of whom is known as the archimage (reeðse̋ilu). Each one is the governor (ðuunda̋slu) of one of the six citadels. The two praetors (zı̋lþu) and three of the six archons (ka̋mþu) of the citadel constitute the citadel council (ðúúnmuþı̋ȝu). The elder of the praetors is the vice-governor (ðééðuunda̋slu). These councils meet as needed to make policy for their citadels and for the regions they govern. The three archons are elected by the residents of the ðűűno every six years.
• There is also a great council (mezðúúnmuþı̋ȝu) composed of the six mages who meet to make policy for the People as a whole.
• The six citadels (in the order of their foundation), their governors, and the mages on the council are as follows:
  • The Oriole Citadel (m̃élaƣðűűno) in the Caucasus Mountains - Ȝumm̃a̋ka Ma̋nu, the archimage
    • Ma̋idu and Asmődu
  • The Robin Citadel (ǫ́n̨alðűűno) in the southern Urals - Ȝumɫe̋ntu A̋su
    • Ambűru and Műru
  • The Kingfisher Citadel (ṡéérolðűűno) on the Crimean Peninsula - Ȝumaa̋þu Sa̋þru
    • Ve̋rxu and Hama̋lu
  • The Rosefinch Citadel (ƥalbĕðűűno) in the Balkans - Ȝuma̋a̋þu Arma̋itu
    • Zűru and Ba̋rbu
  • The Woodpecker Citadel (piixðűűno) in the eastern Carpathian Mountains - Ȝumȝa̋ku Aurva̋tu
    • Aðva̋xu and Ha̋nu
  • The Jackdaw Citadel (ðeexðűűno) in the western Carpathian Mountains – Ȝumgővtu Ámerta̋tu
    • Ṡa̋mbu and Ba̋rxu
• Each of the citadels governs a designated region (ta̋ima) of Sefdaania. Given below are the approximate extents of the six ta̋imas:
  • 1. The Oriole Citadel on Mt. Elbrus – Ukraine, Caucasus nations, Asian Turkey, Romania, Moldava.
  • 2. The Robin Citadel on Mt. Yamantau – Russia, Belarus, Scandinavia, The Baltic Nations
  • 3. The Kingfisher Citadel on Mt. Roman-Kosh – Greece, European Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia
  • 4. The Rosefinch Citadel on Botev Peak – Italy (Including Corsica), Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania
  • 5. The Woodpecker Citadel on Mt. Hoverla – Iberia, France, the British Isles, the Low Countries, Switzerland,Germany, Iceland
  • 6. The Jackdaw Citadel on Mt. Gerlach – Poland, Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary.
• The major portion of Sefdaania lies within the ðuunta̋ima of the Rosefinch Citadel and of the Robin Citadel. Small portions on the western side of Sefdaania lie in the ðuunta̋ima of the Oriole Citadel, and a smaller portion in the northwest in the Jackdaw Citadel.
• At the main citadel there is a committee of six advisors appointed by the úfðuunda̋slu. Each of these advisors is assigned to one of the six river-regions (daata̋ima) of Sefdaania. They are appointed to handle any problems that occur between one People and another in their region.

The Pyrans

• The Pyran government is a gynecocracy (ǧenda̋sta).
• Each Pyran village (da̋bo) is an independent commune. Each da̋bo is the home primarily of an extended family (se̋vo), although in a few cases there are inhabitants who have moved from another da̋bo.
• Because the men are involved with the care of the reindeer, the Pyrans have developed a matriarchal society (máámeefƣe̋ðra). The head of the da̋bo (davne̋e̋ilu) is appointed by her predecessor. She is not required to appoint her daughter or the oldest woman in the da̋bo. Therefore, the davne̋e̋ilu need not be the head of the extended family (sev̈e̋e̋l̤u). Should she die before making the appointment, the women of the council elect one of their own to this office.
• She and the other women of the da̋bo constitute the village council (dávmuþı̋ȝu). This council applies the law and makes policy for the da̋bo, except for the care of the reindeer which is the responsibility of the men.
• When presiding, the davne̋e̋ilu holds in her right hand her staff of office, known as a verge (dasba̋xlo). The dasba̋xlo is made of oak (pérkŭdasba̋xlo). Affixed to the top of the dasba̋xlo is an orange gemstone, usually a sphere of orange topaz (pűűṡo), known as precious topaz (arpűűṡo).
• There is an intervillage council (mezdávmuþı̋ȝu) to handle disputes that occur between da̋bos of a river region. This council meets, as needed, in the oldest da̋bo (ufda̋bo) which serves as a de facto capital of that daata̋ima. Every davne̋e̋ilu is a member of this council. The úfdavne̋e̋ilu heads the mezdávmuþı̋ȝu. She periodically makes visits to the other da̋bos of her daata̋ima.

The Hydorans

• The Pyran government is a pantocracy (orda̋sta).
• The Hydorans live in an egalitarian, cooperative family commune. They are a fisher/gatherer society and have a less sophisticated social structure than the other three village Peoples. Their settlements are not so large as those of the other three Peoples. Whereas the da̋bo and the kı̋lo may have as many as 30 homes, there are seldom more than five or six Hydoran houses (a̋ito).
• The Hydoran village (na̋do) is an independent entity. Each na̋do is the home of an extended family (se̋vo). The men and the women share the tasks of life and both are present in the daily activities. Therefore both men and women share in what little governance there is.
• However, the Hydorans believe that women are special messengers of Neeru (ne̋e̋ru) and their words are given special weight in decision-making. Because of this, the women function as the leaders (tove̋ru) of religious rituals. This role devolves on the eldest woman of the na̋do. Upon the death of the tove̋ru the office is assumed automatically by the eldest woman in the na̋do.
• When presiding, the tove̋ru holds in her right hand her staff of office, known as a verge. The dasba̋xlo is made of willow (sálkĕdasba̋xlo). Affixed to the top of the dasba̋xlo is a blue pearl (pőm̃o).
• She and the other women of the na̋do constitute the village council (náðmuþı̋ı̋ȝu). This council applies the law and makes policy for the na̋do.
• There is an intersettlement council (meznáðmuþı̋ı̋ȝu) to handle disputes that occur between na̋dos. This council meets in the oldest na̋do (ufna̋do) of the daata̋ima which serves as the de facto capital of the daata̋ima. Every tove̋ru is a member of this council. The úftove̋ru heads the meznáðmuþı̋ı̋ȝu. She periodically makes visits to the other na̋dos.

The Humans

• The Human government is a gynecocracy (ǧenda̋sta).
• Each Human village (ṡe̋im̃o) is an independent society. Each ṡe̋im̃o is the home of an extended family (se̋vo). The ṡe̋im̃o is limited to twelve homes (arge̋l̨o). When a male child is born who would require another home for his se̋vo, a search begins for a site for a new ṡe̋im̃o and the twelve arge̋l̨os are dug and built. If an arge̋l̨o becomes unoccupied, a yet childless couple from another ṡe̋im̃o may be invited to join them, adding their horses to the ṡe̋im̃o's herd.
• Because the men are involved with the care of the horses and are away with the herds in the warm weather, the Humans have developed a matriarchal society (máámeefƣe̋ðra). The head of the ṡe̋im̃o (ṡeim̃ne̋e̋ilu) is appointed by her predecessor. She is not required to appoint her daughter or the oldest woman in the ṡe̋im̃o. Therefore, the ṡeim̃ne̋e̋ilu need not be the head of the extended family (sev̈e̋e̋l̤u). Should she die before making the appointment, the oldest woman in the ṡe̋im̃o takes the office.
• When presiding, the ṡeim̃ne̋e̋ilu holds in her right hand her staff of office, known as a verge (dasba̋xlo). The dasba̋xlo is made of ash (óósdasba̋xlo). Affixed to the top of the dasba̋xlo is a red gemstone, usually a sphere of garnet (reuðta̋a̋ino).
• There is nothing so structured as a ṡe̋im̃o council. The women merely gather to discuss the policies of the ṡe̋im̃o. They apply the law and make policies for the ṡe̋im̃o, except for the care of the horses which is the responsibility of the men.
• Disputes between ṡe̋im̃os are solved by binding arbitration. The women of a third ṡe̋im̃o act as arbitrators.

The Xylans

• The Xylans are totally without a governing structure.

The Lithans

• The Lithan government is an androcracy (m̃iirda̋sta).
• The Lithan village (kı̋lo) is an independent commune. The citizens (kı̋lru) of a kı̋lo are from many clans as the Lithans are much more mobile than the other Peoples.
• Since the men are part of the community life all year, the Lithans have adopted a patriarchal society (taaþkóinleuðı̋ȝu), albeit not autocratic. The head of a kı̋lo (k̨őngu) is elected by male suffrage. Having completed one’s 25th solstice (sűka) confers eligibility on men. The term of office is two years. Vacancy in office results in a new election and a new two-year term.
• When presiding, the k̨őngu holds in his right hand his staff of office, known as a verge (dasba̋xlo). The dasba̋xlo is made of beech (váázdasba̋xlo). Affixed to the top of the dasba̋xlo is a purple gemstone, usually a sphere of jasper (ȝa̋xpo).
• All men eligible to vote comprise the village council (kílmuþı̋ȝu). This council applies the law and makes policies for the kı̋los.
• The mines are communal property. Each mining Lithan pays a percentage of what he mines to the kı̋lo. Part of this tax is used to help those families whose fathers can no longer work in the mines or in the smithies.
• There is an intervillage council (mezkílmuþı̋ȝu) to handle disputes that occur between kı̋los. This council meets, as needed, in the oldest kı̋lo (ufkı̋lo) which serves as a de facto capital of that daata̋ima. Every k̨őngu is a member of this council. The ufk̨őngu heads the mezkílmuþı̋ȝu. He periodically makes visits to the other kı̋los.