The Rulers of Skaris

Introduction

When the prophet and founder of Skaris, Elunre Ashtar, lay dying in the year -38, she summoned to her side five of her followers called the Exiles. The names of these faithful servants were never recorded by Skarisi sages (at her behest). Each was forced to renounce their name and to take a name of Elunre's choosing. Each was forced to demonstrate their loyalty and fidelity to the Keeper and to Ashtarian teachings by cutting off a finger or thumb on the right hand (each of the five removed a different digit), and by vowing to wear a mask in public for the rest of their lives, abandoning all identity for the rest of their days. Only through this process of pain and submission, did Elunre believe she could rid them of the curse of vanity. This was an immensely important task, as far as she was concerned, because Elunre was more aware of the real events in the long struggles between the Thaladic Graces and the Keeper than many Aruhvians realised. She knew that the Keeper's great failing had been his vanity, and she believed that the only future for Skaris was the permanent supression of pride and self regard. After her death, the Five formed the first ever Coven of Purity (a term that Elunre Ashtar herself would have been uncomfortable with). It was originally meant to be a council to decide over religious and doctrinal issues, with no thought to other matters of day to day governance. Skarisi had been content to obey the dictums of their prophet previously, and Elunre Ashtar had ruled through a combination of guile, personal charisma and when it necessitated it, brutal violence.
Throughout her life, Skaris had grown into a major metropolis, and a successor government that thought nothing of the rules of trade, law and order, sanitation or military service quickly became an absurdity. In the six months after her death, several waves of unrest across Skaris (that the coven claimed was the product of the people's grief, but in reality was a desperation for proper governance), led to the coven developing into an effective system of repression firstly, and then an administrative government secondly. Three centuries later, the Coven of Purity still rules Skaris, and as each of the Five dies, another is selected, undergoing the same process, losing their finger, their name and their face.
The Five are always known as:

• Sister Nye
• Brother Canthus
• Brother Myle
• Sister Crowe
• Sister Dyan

They rarely make public appearances, Elunre Ashtar equated speeches to the masses with vulgar populism, instead it was expected that the people of Skaris would obey their masters without having to inspired by them. This article explores the working of Skarisian Government from the Coven downwards and explains how the city operates under their rule and how this affects the daily life of the Skarisi people.

Ruling Skaris

The Coven of the Pure has one over-riding goal that eclipses all others, to preserve Ashtarian Aruhvianism. The world view of the coven is that the Ashtarian faith is surrounded by deadly threats and enemies, from the High Aruhvianism of Arc, Dancare and Gol, to the evils of the creatures that dwell in the Blackbriar. They believe that unless they are actively exporting Ashtarianism, the teachings of Elunre Ashtar will eventually dwindle after a generation or two, therefore the constant, agressive agitating and conspiring of Skaris against it neighbours is a vital part of the survival of the faith. The coven are aware that because Elunre founded Skaris deep in the heart of the Blackbriar, that food resources are precarious and can only be secured through the conquest of lands beyond the forest through military action the coven calls 'Providence'. The oppression of the non devout in order to feed the faithful makes perfect sense from the Coven's perspective. The coven take little interest in the day to day administration of the city, in any other polity this would have led to anarchy, but the coven delegate these functions, called 'Temporal Duties' to the judges of Skaris, whose collective title is the Taoand (In early Aruhvian philosophy, the first communities of the faithful were governed with the Taoandic councils). Judges apply Ashtarian law to questions of trade, property, personal and sexual morality. The Taoand are meant to have control over the actions of the Skargoline, but these secret religious enforcers and inquisitors are almost a state within a state in Skaris and cannot be contained by any force short of the coven itself.

Succession

The Coven of Purity maintains a selection process for new members that is shrouded in secrecy, hidden from the prying eyes of the general population. This clandestine process serves to both create an aura of mystery and ensure that only the most dedicated and submissive individuals are chosen to join the ranks of the Coven.
Rumours and whispers permeate the city of Skaris, fuelled by the hints of clandestine rituals and sacrifices involved in the selection process. The Skarisi people, captivated by the enigma surrounding the Coven's operations, find themselves both fearful and intrigued. These rumours, carefully spread and encouraged by the Coven, contribute to the overall sense of mystery and exclusivity associated with their selection process.
Potential candidates identified by the Coven undergo a series of rigorous psychological assessments and evaluations. However, these assessments go beyond traditional means and delve into realms of hunger, pain, and devotion. The Coven believes that only those who have proven themselves capable of enduring extreme physical and emotional trials can be entrusted with the responsibilities of leadership and maintaining the purity of the faith.
Hunger is utilized as a test of discipline and commitment. Potential candidates may be subjected to extended periods of fasting, where their ability to control their desires and prioritize the needs of the faith over personal gratification is assessed. Those who demonstrate exceptional willpower and unwavering devotion are viewed favorably by the Coven.
Pain, too, plays a significant role in the selection process. The Coven believes that enduring physical suffering is a testament to one's resilience and dedication. Candidates may be subjected to various forms of physical hardship, such as enduring long periods of isolation, exposure to extreme temperatures, or even self-inflicted pain. This painful trial serves to identify those who are willing to sacrifice personal comfort for the sake of the Coven's ideals.
Devotion, perhaps the most crucial aspect of the selection process, is thoroughly examined. The Coven scrutinizes the potential candidates' loyalty, commitment, and willingness to submit to the authority of the Coven and its teachings. This evaluation involves testing the candidates' unwavering adherence to Ashtarian Aruhvianism, their willingness to obey without question, and their ability to fully immerse themselves in the dogma of the faith.
Through a combination of hunger tests, endurance of pain, and demonstrations of unwavering devotion, the Coven identifies those individuals who have proven themselves worthy of joining their ranks. The selection process is designed to weed out any potential dissidents or individuals lacking the necessary level of submission to the Coven's authority.
In this secretive and manipulative environment, the Coven ensures that only the most dedicated, disciplined, and fanatical individuals become part of their ruling elite. The process instills a deep sense of loyalty and commitment among the chosen members, further solidifying the Coven's control over Skaris and its inhabitants.