The Council of Elders

The Great Stone of Wisdom

The great stone of wisdom is a spherically cut undeath gem taller than most people. Council members regularly feed their mana into the stone to access the rich wealth of wisdom that lies beyond. They are also ultimately responsible for electing a king every eight years. The council's attention is highly sought-after, with foreign kingdoms and local lords offering great gifts and wealth to curry favor with the council.

The Council of Elders

The highest rank in the order of wisdom is council member. The council consists of eight members of the wise elders, each expressing mastery in a different affinity. To qualify, the following conditions must be met:

• A previous member must have died,
• One must be a wise elder,
• One must have attained mastery in the same affinity as that elder,
• Upon recommendation by another wise elder, one must be appointed by a vote among them.

The council is responsible for convening to use the great stone of wisdom, and for dispensing its wisdom to the wise elders, the king and lords of [location], and nearby kings who have contributed to the development and maintenance of the order of wisdom. Council members who wish to exit sanctioned areas must always be accompanied by several stone sages.

The Wise Elders

Wise elders are responsible for interpreting and distributing wisdom found by the council. Each elder, from induction, is granted a moderate undeath gem for personal use (of about 4-8cm in size?). To become a wise elder, one must first pass a few conditions:

• One must have expressed basic proficiency in any affinity,
• One must have spent at least 16 calendar years (3200 days) as a stone sage,
• Upon recommendation by a wise elder, one is inducted if fewer than eight elders express distinguished opposition.

Wise elders are not required to be accompanied by stone sages, but it is regarded as foolish (the antithesis to wisdom) to leave sanctioned areas unguarded without proper reason. Elders often journey to neighboring kingdoms to serve as consultants, or at home any number of people may wish to consult them. Finally, wise elders are also responsible for accepting new members into the stone sages.

The Stone Sages

The stone sages are so named for their first and most essential role: to protect the great stone of wisdom, and ensure the safety and well-being of council members. They are also broadly responsible for assisting and protecting the wise elders, including vetting anyone who wants to consult an elder. Especially senior members may come into possession of small undeath gems (of about 1-4cm in size?), and it is considered generally distasteful for all but the most senior members to possess such gems. The stone sages must also train and induct new members, with the agreement of the wise elders.

People

The people of [location] are not usually regarded with any particular title, but it is clear from the outside that the vast majority of the population are in some way part of the order of wisdom, or at least heavily embedded in its underlying religion and culture.

Type

Government, Leadership

Location

Twenty three