Sefdaanian Ethnography Chapter 18 - Government

Introduction

• Of the Six Peoples, the Ethrans live in large communal dwellings (ðűno), the Pyrans live in villages (da̋bo), as do the Lithans (kı̋lo). The Hydorans and the Humans live in small restricted settlements (na̋do and ce̋iɱo, respectively). The word “community” (kőintu) 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 each of the herding, or procreating, Peoples 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 (ṡoxda̋sta).
• There are six mages (se̋ilu). Each one is the governor (ðųnda̋slu) of one of the six citadels. The two praetors (zı̋lþu) and three of the six archons (vę̋lu) assigned to a citadel constitute the citadel council (ðų́nmuþı̋ȝu). The eldest of these pairs of mages is the vice-governor (ðę́ðųnda̋slu). 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 ðűno. The election takes place every six years.
• There is also a great council (mezðų́nmuþı̋ȝu) 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 Rose Citadel (ɱɔðų̋no) in the Caucasus Mountains - Ȝumɱa̋ka Ma̋nu, the archimage (úfðųnda̋slu)
    • Ma̋idu
    • Asmődu
  • The Columbine Citadel (penálunðų̋no) in the southern Urals - Ȝumłe̋ntu A̋su
    • Ambűru
    • Műru
  • The Red Clover Citadel (dovðų̋no) on the Crimean Peninsula - Ȝumą̋þu Sa̋þru
    • Ve̋rxu
    • Hama̋lu
  • The Primrose Citadel (puðų̋no) in the Balkans - Ȝumą̋þu Arma̋itu
    • Zűru
    • Ba̋rbu
  • The Lavender Citadel (haðų̋no) in the eastern Carpathian Mountains - Ȝumȝa̋ku Aurva̋tu
    • Aðva̋xu
    • Ha̋nu
  • The Violet Citadel (ṡumðų̋no) in the western Carpathian Mountains – Ȝumgővtu Ámerta̋tu
    • Ca̋mbu
    • Ba̋rxu
• Each of the citadels governs a designated region (ta̋ima) of Sefdaania. Given below are the approximate extents of the six ta̋imas:
  • 1. The Rose Citadel on Mt. Ebrus – Ukraine, Caucasus nations, Asian Turkey, Romania, Moldava.
  • 2. The Columbine Citadel on Mt. Yamantau – Russia, Belarus, Scandinavia, The Baltic Nations
  • 3. The Red Clover Citadel on Mt. Roman-Kosh – Greece, European Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia
  • 4. The Primrose Citadel on Botev Peak – Italy (Including Corsica), Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia And Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania
  • 5. The Lavender Citadel on Mt. Hoverla – Iberia, France, the British Isles, the Low Countries, Switzerland, Iceland
  • 6. The Violet Citadel on Mt. Gerlach – Poland, Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary.
• The Pyran government is a gynococracy (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 (mąmkóinleuðı̋ȝu). The head of the da̋bo (davnę̋ȝu) is appointed by her predecessor. She is not required to appoint her daughter or the oldest woman in the da̋bo. Therefore, the davnę̋ȝu need not be the head of the extended family (seve̋lu). 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 davnę̋ȝu holds in her right hand her staff of office, known as a verge (dasba̋xlo). The dasba̋xlo is made of oak (pérkydasba̋xlo). Affixed to the top of the dasba̋xlo is a large orange gemstone, usually a sphere of orange topaz (pų̋co), known as precious topaz (arpų̋co).
• There is an intervillage council (mezdávmuþı̋ȝu) to handle disputes that occur between da̋bos of a river region (dąta̋ima). This council meets, as needed, in the oldest da̋bo (ufda̋bo) which serves as a de facto capital of that dąta̋ima. Every davnę̋ȝu is a member of this council. The úfdavnę̋ȝu heads the mezdávmuþı̋ȝu. She periodically makes visits to the other da̋bos of her dąta̋ima.

The Hydorans

• The Pyran government is a panocracy (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 (nę̋ru) 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 (dasba̋xlo). The dasba̋xlo is made of willow (sálkdasba̋xlo). Affixed to the top of the dasba̋xlo is a large blue pearl (pőɱo).*She and the other women of the na̋do constitute the village council (náðmuþı̨̋ȝu). This council applies the law and makes policy for the na̋do.
• There is an intersettlement council (meznáðmuþı̨̋ȝu) to handle disputes that occur between na̋dos. This council meets in the oldest na̋do (ufna̋do) of the dąta̋ima which serves as the de facto capital of the dąta̋ima. Every tove̋ru is a member of this council. The úftove̋ru heads the meznáðmuþı̨̋ȝu. She periodically makes visits to the other na̋dos.

The Humans

• The Human government is a gynocracy (ǧenda̋sta).
• Each Human village (ce̋iɱo) is an independent society. Each ce̋iɱo is the home of an extended family (se̋vo). The ce̋iɱo is limited to ten homes (arge̋ḷo). When a male child is born who would require another home for his se̋vo, a search begins for a site for a new ce̋iɱo and the ten arge̋ḷos are dug and built. If an arge̋ḷo becomes unoccupied, a yet childless couple from another ce̋iɱo may be invited to join them, adding their horses to the ce̋iɱo’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 (mąmkóinleuðį̋ȝu). The head of the ce̋iɱo (ceiɱnę̋ȝu) is appointed by her predecessor. She is not required to appoint her daughter or the oldest woman in the ce̋iɱo. Therefore, the ceiɱnę̋ȝu need not be the head of the extended family (seve̋lu). Should she die before making the appointment, the oldest woman in the ce̋iɱo takes the office.
• When presiding, the ceiɱnę̋ȝu holds in her right hand her staff of office, known as a verge (dasba̋xlo). The dasba̋xlo is made of ash (ǫ́sdasba̋xlo). Affixed to the top of the dasba̋xlo is a large red gemstone, usually a sphere of garnet (reuðta̋ino).*There is nothing so structured as a ce̋iɱo council. The women merely gather to discuss the policies of the ce̋iɱo. They apply the law and make policies for the ce̋iɱo, except for the care of the horses which is the responsibility of the men.
• Disputes between ce̋iɱos are solved by binding arbitration. The women of a third ce̋iɱo act as arbitrators.

The Xylans

• The Xylans are totally without a governing structure.

The Lithans

• The Lithan government is an androcracy (ɱirda̋sta).
• 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 (taþkóinleuðį̋ȝu), albeit not autocratic. The head of a kı̋lo (ḳőngu) is elected by male suffrage. Having completed one’s 25th winter solstice (hemsűka) 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 ḳőngu holds in his right hand his staff of office, known as a verge (dasba̋xlo). The dasba̋xlo is made of beech (vą́zdasba̋xlo). Affixed to the top of the dasba̋xlo is a large purple gemstone, usually a sphere of jasper (ȝa̋xpo).*All men eligible to vote comprise the village council (kílmuþı̨̋ȝu). 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 (mezkílmuþı̨̋ȝu) 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 dąta̋ima. Every ḳőngu is a member of this council. The ufḳőngu heads the mezkílmuþı̨̋ȝu. He periodically makes visits to the other kı̋los.