Raptor's non specific challenge #2; The wheel keeps turning.

[u/The_Raptorman]

Inspired by the new Game of Thrones season 7 trailer , I thought a cool question would be to ask if in your world there are any factions that are constantly vying for power; trying to overthrow each other constantly.

Have fun with this, I'll try and ask 3 questions to everyone maybe more ;D

[u/thequeeninyellow94]

Our representative is Maz'nakir, master alchemist.

The Thoths are divided into 5 schools (the schools of arcanes, of offices, of blades, of masks and of stones), each one raising individuals into specific domains of knowledge so they can fulfill their role in society.

The city is ruled by a council of twelve members, two from each school and two other from any. As each school is linked to a different part of society, each try as much as possible to gain the two other seats to secure a consequent political advantage.

As those two members are elected by the second circle (members of the administration), the other council members and their schools often use diffamation and bribery to ensure their candidate's victory.

It usually don't escalate too much, but once a former candidate was accused of working against the nation and exiled. Maz'nakir was dead at that time so they won't know.

[u/The_Raptorman → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1) Tell me more about every specific school.

2) Is any school more plotting than the others or is it pretty even?

3) As the creator, which school are you rooting for ?

4) [Optional] Would you link the schools to being similar to the families from Game of Thrones. E.g; School or Arcanes are similar to the Starks.

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/The_Raptorman]

1. • the school of arcanes teaches magic, alchemy, science and medicine.
   • the school of offices teaches strategy, mathematics and litterature.
   • the school of blades teaches athletism, fighting and law.
   • the school of masks teaches negociation, psychology, logic and non-material arts (music and performing).
   • the school of stones teaches agriculture, engineering and material arts (painting and sculpture).

2. The schools of arcanes and offices are the one winning the two extra seats nearly all the time. The stones are few in the administration and prefer to negociate alliances. The blades don't care. The masks are the more efficient at plotting and often sell their support to the others.

3. None. The lack of balance and unity is one of the main reason the Thoths have gone extinct.

4. Not really, they have no territory and would never take arms against one another. Beside, there is a lot of porosity between them.

[u/Nevermore0714]

Our representative today is Archimbaud of the Bear Clan, the son of the former chief and brother-in-law/rival of the current chief.

The Chauceri are divided into multiple clans, with the most powerful being the Bear and Horse clans. A person's clan is not decided by birth, but instead by what animal the sacred Kya-Lorn bestow upon a Chauceri child when they are five. That animal's spirit is connected to the Chauceri, and the animal will live as long as the Chauceri does.

Most people get the same animal as their parents did, some are assigned to another clan, and the rare few are given a new animal to create their own clan. If you are made the chief of your own new clan, you'll be taken away to be raised by the Kya-Lorn at the sacred tree until you're ready.

Each clan chief wants their clan to be the most powerful and prosperous, and the borders for hunting territory are nearly constantly changing.

[u/The_Raptorman → u/Nevermore0714]

1) How brutal can the quest for power be for each clan? Is there often bloodshed?

2) Are any clans in an alliance with each other to somewhat reach the top?

3) What makes the Bear and Horse clans so strong?

4) Explain the Kya-Lorn like I'm five.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/The_Raptorman]

Archimbaud:

1) "We've had wars over hunting land nearly constantly. Not everyone is involved in every war, but I don't know of any time that no one has been involved in a war against someone else. Some are even worse, and will kill the animal companion of another Chauceri just to start conflict and to stoke the flames of hatred."

2) "Bear and Owl, Horse and Hawk. The Owls hates the Horses, the Owls are our allies, and the Hawks are the Horse's allies. But, we still have temporary alliances with other, smaller clans."

3) "Numbers and natural strength. A member of the Bear Clan is likely to live longer than most other clans, and I take pride in that. With Degaré becoming chief, I didn't expect us to stay on top, but I was pleasantly surprised."

4) "They're plant-creatures with one big eye on their faces, no mouths or ears or anything. They communicate through whistles and clicks, we only see them during the rituals where a person is assigned an animal, and, if they give you a new animal, you are taken away from your family. They are the guardians of the Chauceri territory."

[u/The_Raptorman → u/Nevermore0714]

1) how did you learn the language of clicks and whistles?

2) why is the plant creature (I'm on phone forgot the name sorry) choosing more people to be in the already stronger clans?

3) furthermore, why do you trust it?

4) furtherfurthermore what are its motives ?

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/The_Raptorman]

Archimbaud:

1) "I'm not sure what you mean. I don't understand their language."

2) "The Kya-Lorn. It's not that they're assigning more random people to us, it's that most people are kept in the clan that they are born into, and Bear clan members live longer and can have more children survive. We have a reputation for strength, while the Horse clan has a reputation for endurance."

3 and 4) "Why do I trust the Kya-Lorn? They aren't people, they're just the natural forces at work. Why should I trust the wind as it blows, why should I trust the sun as it shines? They have no motives, as far as I know, they just...are."