Kehphan (kay-fahn)

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The various Khyims and local territories of Tu-quet consider the Kephan to be their chief governing body. Formed around the Detshons, or "Worker Guilds" of pre-ruin Tu-quet society, the Kephan is considered to be little more than a formal extension of a larger series of social ties, historical traditions, and federated groups. The Kephan serves as a predominatly democratic body, formed through a confederated system of workers within their local geographies and the chief institution responsible for managing the governance of the broader territory of the Tu-quet interests.

The Alchemy of Authority

While The Kephan is often the most recognizable authority, namely to outsiders, it is but one of three primary bodies that work in tandem to administer the people of Tu-quet. The Kephan is not merely a single body of elected representatives, like is observed in Svain or Scietti. Instead, it is comprised of delegations sent to it by the dziskyons. The Dziskyons, in turn, are federated bodies based on local assemblies of a given region, and are supported by the Conclaves founding documents.
Kehphan, confederation of khyims where coordination and general principles are established. The Kehphan maintains and updates the Gtso Yiggan (agreement of principals) - a statement of principals by which every member dziskyon and assembly is expected to abide.
Dziskyon, administrative council of a geographic jurisdiction, often centered in a khyim as elected by an Assembly.
Assemblies, the bi-yearly gathering of delegates as elected by detshons, serving as the ultimate authority over matters of importance to the federated detshons of the khyim. The only authority able to create rules and amend the Dam Yiggan (agreement of rules).
Whereas dziskyons are federated - members agree to abide by the specific rules the member body enacts - the Kehphan is a much more confederated system. This means that the Kehphan has very little power to enforce decisions on any single dziskyon, but rather spends most of its efforts coordinating between those bodies, or handling matters that are too big for any single dziskyon to take on alone. The current Kephan is comprised of five voting powers. When called, the Kehphan is attended by delegations of the current Dziskyons of each Khyim. At least one Kehphan is held every year.
Additional meetings of the Kehphan can be called by any member dziskyon, with quorum being reached when at least 50% of voting members are represented, assuming all members have been notified in good faith. Currently there are four Khyims which participate in the Kehphan - Dgaba, Dzinma, Skabsyal, and Iho. A fifth voting seat is reserved for the Suskyba. Dgaba, though largely uninhabited, is a Khyim central to Tuqueti history and mythos. It is almost entirely populated by Bramzes, and some smaller Detshons which support their work. By the rules of the body, the Ihan Tshogs calls quorum as having been achieved, and by tradition Dgaba does not normally count. However, should the Ihan Tshogs decide that to do so, Dgaba may be counted towards quorum, though the rare circumstances this has been done in the last 200 years have been rare and controversial.
The Gtso Yiggan (agreement of principals) is maintained by the Kehphan, and spells out principles all of the Dzyskyons can agree upon. These principles are general, outlining a need for cooperation, protection of the khyims, mutual aid, and rules for updating the Gtso Yiggan.

Representatives to the Kehphan

While the Kephan is made up of several dozen individual representatives, many of them fall into roughly three different factions. While none of these groups are strictly codified within the documents or the traditions of the Kehphan, their interests are nonetheless understood.

Rgyud Pa

The Rgyud Pa, or "Preservationists", are the oldest and most conservative of all factions within the Kehphan. Led by Dzinma Dzisky, Tsholbapa mindu Gso Pa Chophel, the Preservationalists consider themselves to be the cultural heart of Tu-quet. Hailing primarily from great metropolis that is Dzinma Khyim, the detshons of the Rgyud Pa are the most varied in scope and size, though detshons of Smiths, Bramze's, Healers, and Teachers make up the most influential share of the party.

Tsholbapa mindu Gso Pa Chophel

Chophel is an accomplished healer of the Gso Pa Detshon. Gso Pa Detshon is well known for merging with smaller, related detshons, and has through this practice established a cohesive set of medical practices among the Tuquet. Their shrewd decisions in making changes when necessary, confronting nonsense when it pops up, and maintaining the health of so many Tuquet, has made the ancient detshon a powerful force within the Conclaves. Like her fellow practitioners, Chophel has an excellent bedside manner, and is well liked by many of her peers. When the blacksmiths, bramzes, and the education detshons could not decide who should lead the Dziskyon, Chophel became a well liked compromise candidate. Just as Gso Pa maintains a certain degree of orthodoxy, Chophel represents maintenance of the expected order within Dzinma.

Skyong

The Skyong, or "Expansionists", are the smallest faction, based out of Skabsyal Dziskyon. Led by Mindu Gseng Rol Nyandak, the Skyong represents the more curious, adventurious and diplomatic interests of various Tu-quet detshons. Based in Skabsyal Khyim, the Skyong were formed to represent those Tu-quet at the frontier of new resources, and possess a desire to interact with much of the world.
The most significant detshons contributing to Skyong include miners, farmers and merchants. Several entertainment detshons also hold influential positions among their party.

mindu Gseng Rol Nyandak

Nyandak is a well respected merchant who in his younger years travelled much of Orela. He spent many years among the Svanesse and the Maibusi, is said to have traded in Jakata, and even to have arranged some deals with villages among the Escabla. Though only a rumor, some believe that Nyandek has had dealings with revolutionaries among the Xianlian. Perhaps because of these experiences, Nyandek remains cautious of what he sees as squabbling societies, and is ever concerned about being pulled too far into their affairs. He is respected as a wise and clever Gnau, and so his tendency to support some traditional Bramze caution is also seen as a wise decision. People who know Nyandek know that he measures most decisions by a a two part question, "How much do the Tuquet gain, and what are the costs?"

Nandika

Translated sometimes as "Resolute", the Nandika are often exclusively associated with the detshons and dziskyon of Iho Khyim. Often disagreeable and distant in nature, the Nandika were formed in conflict during the Spon Ba Period. Led by Tsholbaparim mindu Damcho Jungney, the Nandika is most heavily influenced by their academic doganpas, artificer detshons, and blacksmith detshons. As a result, the Nandika are not as conservative as the Rgyud Pa, but their ambitions and interests are focused inward, rather than outward. The Nandika's interests are on the academic and engineering achievements of the conclaves, and work towards removing any obstacles to those goals.

Tsholbaparim mindu Damcho Jungney

Jungney is one of the most senior masters of the renowned Damcho Doganpa, the artificing monastery known and respected across the entirety of the Conclaves. One of Jungney's pe brismas, "Shedding Light on the Nyimai Khor" produced new discoveries around the ancient sun stone artifacts at the center of the Khyims leading to more effective crystal growth, and slightly more efficient mana consumption. This earned him fame, and even begrudging respect of the bramzes detshon. Jungney's willingness to work with nearly anybody has made him quite accessible, but his harsh wit, and sharp criticisms means that alliances outside of Iho are often practical in nature, or rarely long term. Jungney actively practices yantas gsung, believing that too many Tuquet speak on matters to which they are academically illiterate regarding or ignorant of. Because of this, Iho rarely votes on all matters before the Kehphan, and often simply does not attend meetings except for the annual Kehphan meeting, as required under the Gtso Yiggan.

Dgaba Dziskyon

Inhabiting an unusual position in the Kehphan, the dziskyon representing the ancient home of the Tuquet, Dgaba Khyim, takes on a largely ceremonial, nearly religious position within the Kehphan. The Langs Loga Reforms resulted in this Dgaba remaining on the Kehphan formally, though their rights to vote or count towards quorum have been heavily restricted, generally through a decision made by the presiding Ihan Tshogs. Though this khyim has a large presence of miners, comparatively the biggest influence in their dziskyon is the Bramze Detshon who maintain the khyim as a site of pilgrimage, and cultural heritage.
Dgaba is technically afforded both voice and vote, but during the reforms of the Khokyimams Period they began mostly voicing their positions instead of voting. When Dgaba votes or is used to establish quorum, it is often considered controversial or risky. They are seen to be heavily influential over Dzinma, and generally operate behind the scenes to get the votes they want at the Kehphan.

Chodgnasrim mindu Bramze Samten

Dgaba's Dzisky, Chodgnasrim mindu Bramze Samten, is one of the oldest living Tuquet, having spent much of his life in the Faewilds living in Dgaba. He is provided information by networks of shub bu, gribmatse, and bramzes, and always seems to know much more than he should. He rarely speaks at the Kehphan, but has strong allies among various dziskyons in the Conclaves. Whether he is your friend, or foe, Samten is known to be dangerous by those who know him personally. When he speaks, everybody knows to listen carefully, and read between the lines.

The Suskyba

Minpa Raahat Gaanv Suskyba, known simply as Suskyba, always has both voice and vote at the Kehphan, though she represents no detshons or dziskys, and collects no titles. She rarely shows up to the Kehphan, and when she does it is seen as a significant event. The mythology of the Suskyba is ancient, but she often works outside of the Conclaves. When the Suskyba shows up in the Conclaves, it is normally an event that stirs up the masses in ways that sets the Bramzes on edge. Generally she has no real alliances, but her words carry immense weight. Never in the history of the Kehphan has any vote gone against the Suskyba, and her words seem to carry the effect of law in a way that no detshon, doganpa, or individual within the Conclaves has ever achieved. Rumors persist that the Bramzes have sometimes captured and secluded the Suskyba "for her own protection", but the Suskyba has never commented publicly on these events. She is often accompanied by a contingent of itabagrub (children of the Suskyba's soul).
The current Kehphan traces its lineage and history to the Return, when there were only two khyims with notable dziskyons - Dgaba and Dzinma. Since that time, there have only ever been three notable breaks from the current Kehphan's membership, some periods of lower than usual participation, and some where the Kehphan worked almost as though it were a true, powerful government. Importantly, scholars agree that these periods are almost entirely informed by cultural tendencies among the Tuquet of that time. Some important cultural touchstones referencing the Kehphan are listed below.

History

The history of the Kephan, and the organization of the conclaves is recorded during several distinct periods.

Ita Bibyong Period

This period predates the Return. Though most scholars of history would argue that it should be broken up into its own, smaller periods, Ita Bibyong is often treated as monolithic given its distance in the past. Tuquet Historians often roll their eyes when somebody says "Ita Bibyong Period", but for most Tuquet this scale of time represents ancient, long forgotten history. That being said, it is the case that the Kehphan was a structure that predates the return, and served as a coordinating body for many centuries before the Tuquet arrived in Terra Rynn.
Dominant mythos from these times often include stories about brave detshons heading out into the Faewilds, never to be heard from again. One of the most well known stories from this time includes the founding of Gyurba Khyim, for which a messenger arrived in Dgaba declaring the founding of the Khyim, establishment of an associated Dziskyon, and an immediate call for mutual aid in the form of food and defense. This story is told to highlight the ancient tradition of Tuquet providing mutual aid to their fellow distant Khyim cousins, the folly of over-confident detshons, and the power of the Tuquet to overcome any obstacle united together.

Gnas Len Period

At the end of the Return, there were only two khyims left - Dgaba, in the Faewild, and Dzinma, newly established but thriving in Terra Rynn. This period marks a massive shift in the population and make-up of the Tuquet, and the first dissolution of the Kehphan in many centuries. With Dgaba being largely abandoned save for the Bramze Detshon, Dzinma's dziskyon, by decision of their Assembly, determined that there was no further need for the Kehphan. Dgaba, they determined, was a cultural site to be maintained by some Detshons, but did not have a sizeable enough permanent population to warrant independent consideration. "Any attempt," the Assembly resolution read, "to establish a Kehphan that includes only Dgaba and Dzinma represents an attempt to ensare a responsible majority to the illusion of a collective, held up only by cultural tradition instead of material fact. Without the significant permanence of a second true khyim to be represented at a Kehphan, it is our vote to dissolve the body until its form is necessary once more."

Spon Ba Period

The Spon Ba Period saw the reintroduction of the Kehphan but for corrupt reasons. Since the Return, the Spon Ba period marks more than a century of work by the Bramze Detshon to re-establish Dgaba Khyim as an independent settlement, largely under their control. Tuquet historians discuss the inappropriate use of the the Bramze's unique position as information coordinators, and cultural leaders, to pressure an Assembly into recognizing Dgaba as a unique Khyim once more with a representative dziskyon. The Kehphan was called into being, giving the Bramze's unparalleled influence over the basic philosophical documents of the organization, and thus power over the Dzinma Dziskyon. During this time, detshons which directly competed with the Bramzes were largely quashed, and the Bramze Detshon rose to central power and prominence. It is also in Spon Ba when the Iho Dziskyon was declared, through which many academic Doganpas, several prominent artificing detshons, and some mining detshons broke away from Dzinma.
At the end of this period, Dzinma began to experience heighted tensions and issues. The Nyimai Khor became less stable, and Tuquet society less predictable.

Khokyimams Period

Broadly speaking, this is considered one of the darker periods of the Kehphans. With the Kehphan operating with a propped up, and disproportionately powerful Bramze element, a significant element of Tuquet society rejected this by establishing the new, non-member Iho Dziskyon, and Dzinma Khyim suffered fatally from the disappearing of many skilled members of Iho's associated detshons. Early during the Khokyimams Period the Skabsyal expedition set out, searching for new minerals and areas to grow, to make up for material losses Dzinma continued to incur.
This period ended in the Langs Loga Assembly of Dzinma, in which the annual census was overrun. Thousands of Tuquet arrived at Iteba Dzin, home of the Bramze Detshon, and the seat of the Dzinma Dziskyon, refusing calls to order,demanding reform of the Kehphan, and recognition of Iho's Dziskyon. Even Lagpa Doganpa, the historic protectors of Dzinma and Dgaba Khyims, stood aside and joined ranks with the Langs Loga Assembly. The Langs Loga Assembly took two months, but in the end the Bramze Detshon stood down, Dgaba was accorded ceremonial status in the Kehphan, and Iho was recognized as an independent dziskyon. Centralized power of the Bramze Detshon was legally diminished, even if practically it largely remained, but these actions overall saw the return of the Kehphan's legitimacy among the Tuquet people.
Despite these reforms, the reputation of the Bramze detshon would be impacted until the current era, with many Tuquet suspicious of their intentions. The academic doganpas of Iho found themselves isolated an estranged from broader Tuquet society. This separation has made messaging and deeper connections across khyim populations more difficult for Iho to sustain.

Bam So period

Generally scholars agree that the Kehphan is under a new, current period of relative peace, support, and mutual aid. While tensions remain among the Bramzes Detshon and the Iho Dziskyon, they maintain at least superficial support for one another. Shortly after the Langs Loga Assembly, Dzinma Dziskyon and the Skabsyal expedition mutually declared the formation of a new Skabsyal Khyim, which was then later admitted the Kehphan. While the Iho Dziskyon largely resists what they view as the undo influence of the Bramze Detshon at the Kehphan, they still occasionally participate, maintaining good relations with other Dziskyons except Dgaba. Otherwise, this is a peaceful period of the Kehphan with lower tensions across Dziskyons, and cooperation remaining high as the Tuquet look out at world unavoidably at their doorstep

Structure

As each dziskyon administers the affairs of federated detshons, the Kehphan is a confederation of dziskyons where coordination among all khyims can be carried out, and general principles of cooperation established. The Kehphan maintains and updates the Gtso Yiggan (agreement of principals) - a statement of principals by which every member dziskyon and assembly is expected to abide. This confederated council is called together by the Ihan Tshogs, a title which is elected by the Kehphan at the end of every meeting of the body. The Ihan Tshogs is responsible for setting agenda items, and keeping the members on track while in session.
The Kehphan sets no laws which govern dziskyons, but rather lays out a set of general principals which may guide or limit the types of laws that an associated dziskyons can create.

Public Agenda

The Gtso Yiggan largely defines the principles under which the Kehphan operates. It outlines no laws, but provides general guidelines on how member dziskyons should be structured, expectations of participation in the Kehphan, and duties of the Kehphan. Broadly, these principles can be outlined as:

• Membership - any entity claiming to represent detshons may present their census, and request recognition as a dziskyon. After verificiation and acknowledgement, they may apply for membership in the Kehphan after recognition. Dziskyons, when recognized, are given geographic jurisdiction which, should another dziskyon form which may overlap that jurisdiction, must be negotiated and agreed to by all members.
• Structure - the Kehphan represents a coordinating body between dziskyons, khyims, and works to address any items that may affect the Tuquet people as a whole, including affairs relating to foreign powers. The caretaker of the Kehphan, the Ihan Tshogs, shall be elected at the end of every meeting of the body. They are responsible for calling the yearly meeting, calling additional meetings as they deem necessary or when petitioned by the members. Such meetings should be called only when a matter not contained within the Writ of the Ihan Tshogs needs to be addressed. The Ihan Tshogs is otherwise expected to govern inter-dziskyon affairs within the mandate of that writ.
• Participation - every member dziskyon may send representatives to the Kehphan to speak. Only the dzisky of each group may ultimately cast votes in decisions made, and every dzisky is afforded a single vote.
• Mutual Aid - when called upon to provide support to another, each dziskyon is expected to help however they are able.
• Census of Detshons - every member dziskyon shall be represented by their member detshons, afforded voting power after after an Annual Census is conducted.
• Detshon Membership of Dziskyons - no member dziskyon shall refuse detshons under their jurisdiction participatory access to their deliberations if that detshon is already recognized by another dziskyon.
• Arbitration Between Members - the Kehphan shall have the power to be final arbiter of conflicts that arise between member dziskyons.

Overall the Kehphan seeks to represent all significant communities of Tuquet, coordinating efforts between those bodies, and making sure that the Conclaves can survive in a complex, often dangerous world.

Type

Governmental, Senate/Parliament

Alternative Names

Confederated Conclave

Leader Title

Ihan Tshogs

Parent Organization

Tuquet

Subsidiary Organizations

• Bramze Detshon

Location

Dzinma Khyim

Related Species

• Gnau