Post by lkrouss on May 20, 2010 14:05:20 GMT -8
Sept Positions and Duties
(One man’s opinion)
By Dr. Leonard Krouss, M.D., Ph.D., KF
Every organization, by definition, has a hierarchy and defined duties. From mundane clubs to the multi-national conglomeration industries. They all have a ladder to climb and every step offers new challenges. Even in this world of darkness do we see this. Vampires have courts, mages have chantries, even the fea have their own. Here I will lay out how the majority of Cearns are organized (yes I know every tribe does it a bit differently but I will try to address that as I go.)
Every sept needs leadership. Werewolf crave it. Either to be the leader, or to be lead. That need is so ingrained in their psyche that it’s no longer a conscious desire. It feels good to know who is above you in the pecking order of the sept. At the top of this mountain we find the Counsel of Elders, being lead by a Grand Elder. They have done so much for so long that they have been deemed worthy to lead the sept in war and in peace. Many of these are formed of three to 13 Garou.
If the sept is a small one, Three tend to suffice: Ragabash, Philodox, Ahroun. Or if it is a liberal sept: Homid, Lupus, Metis. In a majority of septs, this counsel is made up of Five garou, and is called a Silver Counsel. A Ragabash, a Theurge, a Philodox, A Galliard, and an Ahroun take the slots. This is slightly more balanced as each of the garou in the sept feel that they have a voice in the running of the sept, through their Auspice elder.
The Grand Elder is the oldest and most respect Garou in the sept, or maybe he’s the easiest for some people to manipulate without him seeming weak. He leads the counsels meeting and is the final voice in any given vote. He can make sweeping, sept-wide, proclamations, but must be careful, or very sure of his footing, because to anger the counsel may mean loss of his position, and maybe even his life.
The counsel is responsible for justice of the sept, arbitration of wrongs to great for one man, or one wolf, to decide. Over-all running of the sept, and deciding when the sept is in a state or War.
After the Counsel of Elders comes the individual offices that make up the day to day running of a sept possible. Many of them hold position within the Elder Counsel as they tend to be the highest ranking members of the sept anyway. The most senior of them are: The Master of the Rite, Master of the Challenge, Tale-singer, Gatekeeper, and Warder. I haven’t found one that is solely the realm of the Ragabash but that seems to be that they are to fractious a lot to be confined to one role. Ragabash have held each of the afore mentioned roles at one time or another through out history, to varying degrees of success.
The Master of the Rite is responsible for the proper day-to-day running of Rites within the Cearn and sept proper. His permission must first be sought out before and major Rite be undertaken. He is also the final word or who may learn what Rites. He is also the lead emissary to the Sprits of the sept. If he finds that a member has grossly ignored favors owed, it is his duty to set the errant garou straight.
Master of the Challenge is most often held by the eldest Philodox, but in more war-like Tribes, most notable Get of Fenris and Red Talons, an Ahroun may hold this slot. He is the second to last arbiter of any and all grievances between sept members (Think final court of appeals before the Supreme Court). It is his word that is law and he can choose to bring a matter before the Elder Counsel. He is also responsible for the education of the sept in matters of the Litany, although delegation is possible he must chose wisely as if there is failure he gets a part of the blame.
The Tale-singer is the historian for the sept, and the keeper of precedence. He is also the keeper of renown for the sept. He’s word can bring the low high, and make the mighty fall. This may seem like a job for a younger garou, but at his word, rank may be stripped or given, so the power rests in the hands of one ready for that responsibility.
One of the more important duties is that of the Gatekeeper. He is the Garou who is sought out for the opening and closing of the sept’s Moon-Bridges. He must deal with the spirits that protect these bridges and is Chief Emissary to other septs. He is the first face that any Garou traveling by moon bridge sees when entering. He is also the protector of the Pathstone, what this is I’m not sure, but I am sure it is important, as I could not glean any information about it.
Finally we have the Warder. Quite possibly the single most influential position in a sept, that is held by a single Garou. Most often held by an experienced Ahroun, this position is utterly responsible of the safety and well being of the Cearn. He may close the Cearns borders, eject person or persons and even refuse access to the Cearns Heart. The defenses and Guardians fall under his purview. He must live in the Cearn and so is not usually one to go and seek out the usual Glory as done by the younger of his auspice. While he can’t call a War-party, he can say who must stay behind. He may even go so far as countermanding the Elder Counsel’s orders if he thinks it for the good protection of the cearn and it’s bawn.
The Guardians are the Warder’s eyes and ears. In larger septs, the Warder can’t be everywhere at once and so calls upon worthy Garou to fill this gap. They can act in the Warder’s stead, detaining Garou for his approval for entry. They may take action to protect the sept during times of crisis. They tend to be armed by the sept for the purposes of this duty.
One who is very important to the day-to-day running of the sept is the Keeper of the Land. He must co-ordinate with the Master of the Rite and the spirits to maintain the general up-keep of the sept and cearn to the proper standards. This duty may even be held by the Master of the Rite, but is just as frequently held by any person. At first glance this may seem a superfluous position, until you take into account the seemingly fickle nature of Spirits. When a single weed may interrupt the flow of energies, or even ruin a powerful rite, his presence becomes necessary. The idea of Feng-shui, while chines in origin is not these only. Many cultures have their own concepts of this idea. From the celtic ley-lines to the Polynesian guardian posts, spiritual flow is taken into account.
(One man’s opinion)
By Dr. Leonard Krouss, M.D., Ph.D., KF
Every organization, by definition, has a hierarchy and defined duties. From mundane clubs to the multi-national conglomeration industries. They all have a ladder to climb and every step offers new challenges. Even in this world of darkness do we see this. Vampires have courts, mages have chantries, even the fea have their own. Here I will lay out how the majority of Cearns are organized (yes I know every tribe does it a bit differently but I will try to address that as I go.)
Every sept needs leadership. Werewolf crave it. Either to be the leader, or to be lead. That need is so ingrained in their psyche that it’s no longer a conscious desire. It feels good to know who is above you in the pecking order of the sept. At the top of this mountain we find the Counsel of Elders, being lead by a Grand Elder. They have done so much for so long that they have been deemed worthy to lead the sept in war and in peace. Many of these are formed of three to 13 Garou.
If the sept is a small one, Three tend to suffice: Ragabash, Philodox, Ahroun. Or if it is a liberal sept: Homid, Lupus, Metis. In a majority of septs, this counsel is made up of Five garou, and is called a Silver Counsel. A Ragabash, a Theurge, a Philodox, A Galliard, and an Ahroun take the slots. This is slightly more balanced as each of the garou in the sept feel that they have a voice in the running of the sept, through their Auspice elder.
The Grand Elder is the oldest and most respect Garou in the sept, or maybe he’s the easiest for some people to manipulate without him seeming weak. He leads the counsels meeting and is the final voice in any given vote. He can make sweeping, sept-wide, proclamations, but must be careful, or very sure of his footing, because to anger the counsel may mean loss of his position, and maybe even his life.
The counsel is responsible for justice of the sept, arbitration of wrongs to great for one man, or one wolf, to decide. Over-all running of the sept, and deciding when the sept is in a state or War.
After the Counsel of Elders comes the individual offices that make up the day to day running of a sept possible. Many of them hold position within the Elder Counsel as they tend to be the highest ranking members of the sept anyway. The most senior of them are: The Master of the Rite, Master of the Challenge, Tale-singer, Gatekeeper, and Warder. I haven’t found one that is solely the realm of the Ragabash but that seems to be that they are to fractious a lot to be confined to one role. Ragabash have held each of the afore mentioned roles at one time or another through out history, to varying degrees of success.
The Master of the Rite is responsible for the proper day-to-day running of Rites within the Cearn and sept proper. His permission must first be sought out before and major Rite be undertaken. He is also the final word or who may learn what Rites. He is also the lead emissary to the Sprits of the sept. If he finds that a member has grossly ignored favors owed, it is his duty to set the errant garou straight.
Master of the Challenge is most often held by the eldest Philodox, but in more war-like Tribes, most notable Get of Fenris and Red Talons, an Ahroun may hold this slot. He is the second to last arbiter of any and all grievances between sept members (Think final court of appeals before the Supreme Court). It is his word that is law and he can choose to bring a matter before the Elder Counsel. He is also responsible for the education of the sept in matters of the Litany, although delegation is possible he must chose wisely as if there is failure he gets a part of the blame.
The Tale-singer is the historian for the sept, and the keeper of precedence. He is also the keeper of renown for the sept. He’s word can bring the low high, and make the mighty fall. This may seem like a job for a younger garou, but at his word, rank may be stripped or given, so the power rests in the hands of one ready for that responsibility.
One of the more important duties is that of the Gatekeeper. He is the Garou who is sought out for the opening and closing of the sept’s Moon-Bridges. He must deal with the spirits that protect these bridges and is Chief Emissary to other septs. He is the first face that any Garou traveling by moon bridge sees when entering. He is also the protector of the Pathstone, what this is I’m not sure, but I am sure it is important, as I could not glean any information about it.
Finally we have the Warder. Quite possibly the single most influential position in a sept, that is held by a single Garou. Most often held by an experienced Ahroun, this position is utterly responsible of the safety and well being of the Cearn. He may close the Cearns borders, eject person or persons and even refuse access to the Cearns Heart. The defenses and Guardians fall under his purview. He must live in the Cearn and so is not usually one to go and seek out the usual Glory as done by the younger of his auspice. While he can’t call a War-party, he can say who must stay behind. He may even go so far as countermanding the Elder Counsel’s orders if he thinks it for the good protection of the cearn and it’s bawn.
The Guardians are the Warder’s eyes and ears. In larger septs, the Warder can’t be everywhere at once and so calls upon worthy Garou to fill this gap. They can act in the Warder’s stead, detaining Garou for his approval for entry. They may take action to protect the sept during times of crisis. They tend to be armed by the sept for the purposes of this duty.
One who is very important to the day-to-day running of the sept is the Keeper of the Land. He must co-ordinate with the Master of the Rite and the spirits to maintain the general up-keep of the sept and cearn to the proper standards. This duty may even be held by the Master of the Rite, but is just as frequently held by any person. At first glance this may seem a superfluous position, until you take into account the seemingly fickle nature of Spirits. When a single weed may interrupt the flow of energies, or even ruin a powerful rite, his presence becomes necessary. The idea of Feng-shui, while chines in origin is not these only. Many cultures have their own concepts of this idea. From the celtic ley-lines to the Polynesian guardian posts, spiritual flow is taken into account.