Hierarchy The Viszudar in some ways is a remarkably equal society, and in others is remarkably unequal. All adults of the Viszudar receive their vocations from the shamans of their house upon passing their trial of becoming. Generally, there is no escaping one's vocation and lot in life, although there are a few notable exceptions. Any citizen of the Viszudar may attempt to rise above their station and volunteer themselves as a Brave. This involves appealing to the assembly of the shamans, and being approved. Only rarely are these appeals declined. An appeal may be declined if it is deemed the vocation the citizen fills in the society of the Viszudar is integral to its function. This must be agreed by the majority of the assembly of the shamans. At times this is legitimate, and at other times may be used as an excuse as a punitive measure to disallow a criminal or undesirable from rising up in society. Once an appeal is accepted, the citizen will study at the House of the Spear, the military academy in the Xola district, for a year. After this, the would-be-brave will appeal to the shamans for permission to bond with a Shindri. These requests are not denied except in extreme conditions. The would-be-brave then is led into the caves of the Ningopo, and takes steps to bond with a Shindri, directed personally by a shaman. This process wreaks havoc on the body, and half of those who attempt it are slain. If one is slain attempting to bond with a Shindri, an honorable burial is observed. If one succeeds, their mind is forever melded with the Shindri hive. Some do this out of honor, some to rise from their station, and others have different reasons. The result is the same - the individual is forever changed into a Brave of the Viszudar. The lifespan of Braves is increased by one half, and they grow more physically powerful and resistant to many ailments. Their lodgings and food are provided by the people, and on top of that, they receive the greatest pay of any vocation other than shaman. When not on campaign, the Braves serve as the military police of the Viszudar. Their heightened senses, imposing physical forms, and Shindri companions do well to deter crime. Rarely will every Brave be called on campaign. In the rare case where every Brave is called away and the Droneguards are occupied, the Viszudar is briefly a lawless place. On special occasions, such as witch's moons, the Queen's Droneguard will police the streets of the Viszudar for the night as well. Their presence is heralded by the Shindri Drone. The Queen herself emanates this noise, and the entire Viszudar and its surroundings can feel it as well. This drone rallies the Shindri to protect her and the Viszudar. From the ranks of the Braves, a select few individuals will eventually become a part of the Queen's Droneguard. This is an especially prestigious rank few ever see. The Queen's Droneguard maintains ninety-nine members. Generally, a Droneguard is an older Brave with years of combat experience. Each Droneguard is a deadly warrior, and is specifically chosen by the Queen via the decree of the Adjudicator. Unlike normal men, the physical prowess of Braves does not diminish with age, so the Droneguard both possess the vitality of youth and the prowess of age. The wages and caste of the Droneguard are equal to a normal Braves, but it is such a great honor, few would pass it up. Indeed, there is no lawful mechanism to deny an appointment. The Droneguard are stationed with the Queen in the Palace of the Adjudicator. The shamans of the Viszudar are given their vocation, like every other citizen, upon completing their trial of becoming. Typically, talented youths are noticed at some point during their development, and will later be given their appointment by the shamans of their house. This is the only way the Shamanic Order of the Viszudar recruits. Generally, the people of the Viszudar employ a caste system. Citizens are on the lowest level, then Shamans, then Braves then the Matriarchs and Patriarchs, and then the Adjudicator and the Shindri Queen. This system is in place to maintain order, and has been in place since the shortly after the formation of the Viszudar. An individual on a lower caste is expected to obey the orders of one in a higher caste, but these orders may be checked by those of the same caste or higher and dealt with accordingly, if the intent is deemed improper. The Shamans are deemed to be a higher caste than a regular citizen because they are considered to represent the greater citizenry as a whole. The Braves are higher caste than the Shamans because they are personally bonded to a Shindri and are thus connected to the greater will of the Queen. They stake their lives to protect the Viszudar, and continue to risk it as well, which garners a great amount of respect. This ultimately means the Braves are not subject to the will of the Shamans, and function independently of them. The Braves of the Viszudar are subject only to the will of the Queen. The Matriarchs and Patriarchs have a high caste because they are the overlords of their house, and thus their ranks surpasses even the Brave. Obviously the bipartite despot of the Viszudar, the conjoined minds of the Adjudicator and Queen of the Shindri have the highest station, surpassing all others. Childhood Each citizen of the Viszudar has a unique name, until they perish. Then, their name is relinquished, and a successor to their legacy may be named. This is often only done after great people die, and the names are given to children displaying great promise. Occasionally, this results in embarrassments when the child does not quite live up to the expectations given to it. Children are named on their fourth birthday. Prior to this, they are simply referred to as 'you' or 'child'. All children of the Viszudar are equals until their adulthood. Adulthood is determined by the Matriarch or Patriarch of the child's house. This is signified by permission for the child's trial of becoming. Generally, permission for the trial is granted upon the child's eighteenth birthday, unless the child is a known delinquent or layabout. It is considered punitive to be denied ones trial of becoming upon turning eighteen, and is a point of social stigma and derision. This social pressure plays a role in keeping many children in line, although outliers will always be present in a population of large enough size. Colloquially, this event is known as 'your trial', or their 'writ'. Notices are sent by messengers of the Matriarch or Patriarch, who are always brightly adorned by the house's livery. If the child reaches age thirty, and is denied their trial by their Matriarch or Patriarch, the child is lowered down the great lift, and given food and water to survive for fourteen days. They are exiled from the Viszudar and are not allowed to return. An individual sentenced in such a way is dubbed a 'Pariah', but few alive have this label. Those exiled from the Viszudar often are troublemakers with few skills, and little to offer society. In cases of exceptionally bright, promising youths, the Matriarch or Patriarch may decide the child is ready for their trial of becoming at an age no earlier than sixteen. Similarly, this is done very rarely, and is this exception usually only applies to youths who have distinguished themselves in some spectacular way compared to their peers. There is one notable exception to this law. The Matriarch of the Thal is permitted to adopt slaves into her house. At times, this is a contentious and controversial action, but in modern times, it is considered less taboo. Part of the reasoning for this is the auguries for adopted slaves are indulged by the Adjudicator. This is considered a sign the Queen of the Shindri allows the practice of adopting slaves. Even so, many view slaves as less-than naturalized citizens of the Viszudar. Part of the Matriarch or Patriarch's duty is to send lists of names of children ready for their trial to the shamans. Shamans of each house will then prepare the ceremony. Ceremonies for trials of becoming are generally handled in small groups, and the entire group is generally has the same task. Firstly, however, once everything is in order, a missive is sent to the Adjudicator. Once the Adjudicator approves all children, a missive is returned, and plans for the first part of the ceremony, the moonlight augury, is relayed to all involved. It is here, before all four tribes, in the Axis square, the Adjudicator reads the signs in the night sky, and tasks the children with their trial of becoming. Then, the houses will provide their children with necessary equipment for their trials. If successful, the children will return, and the shamans of their house will give them their vocations. These vocations are for life, and wages are paid monthly. To collect wages, one must go to the Cointrove on the southwest side of Axis square, adjacent to the Thal district. Once a vocation is given to an individual, there is little chance for advancement, aside from becoming a Brave. Appointments & Succession Rank is fickle in the Viszudar. Almost all citizens are of the same rank, but when promotions are required, there are procedures and traditions which must be followed. Shamans grow their own ranks by giving those returning from their trial of becoming the vocation of shaman. Often, shamans will scout bright and talented youths before granting their vocation, and often will train especially talented individuals in the ways of magic early on in life. It is rare for a shaman vocation to be given as a surprise, but it will happen, rarely. This happens most often when the conclave of shamans is depleted after an Adjudicator dies. Adjudicators have extended lifespans, but are not immortal. When an Adjudicator dies, a new Adjudicator is selected by the Assembly of Shamans after a year and a day. This interval is known as the time of mourning. During this time, much of the government of the Viszudar does not function. Tasks such as auguries for trials of becoming or the normal duties of the Adjudicator are delayed until the new Adjudicator can make the decisions required. Shamans vote on who is to be the next Adjudicator from their own ranks. A shaman may vote for themselves. When a shaman is selected for this prestigious position, they attempt to drink the Queen's nectar. Very few survive this process. The nectar is a deadly poison, and robs the imbiber of nearly all of their strength. Less than five percent of those who attempt this process survive to become the Adjudicator. Thus, when it is time to select an Adjudicator, the conclave of shamans is routinely cycled. Never before has a shaman survived this process on the first attempt. Some speculate the Queen prunes those who are unworthy, and others speculate it is simply a measure of fortitude to survive the Queen's nectar. Naturally, this process is fraught with intrigue and political machinations by the shamans. This period of time is always unstable within the Viszudar, but order is largely maintained by the Queen via her link with the Braves. When a Matriarch or Patriarch of a house dies, the next Matriarch or Patriarch must be voted on in the Assembly of the Shamans. Whichever name receives the majority vote at the end of the Assembly is passed on to the Adjudicator. The Adjudicator may approve or deny the name. If the name is approved, the individual is made into the new Matriarch or Patriarch of their house. If the name is denied, the individual may never become the Matriarch or Patriarch, and is excluded from becoming one in the future. This happens with moderate frequency, and shames the individual subjected to the denial. Once appointed Matriarch or Patriarch, the individual holds the position until they die. This, unfortunately, may lead to some Matriarchs or Patriarchs having their reign cut short, if another considers themselves more suitable and is willing to get their hands dirty. House Heads The Matriarchs and Patriarchs of the Viszudar serve an important role in society. Most generally, a Matriarch or Patriarch decides on where and how to spend resources internally, such as how to empty a treasury, or which goods to stockpile for trade. Similarly, Matriarchs and Patriarchs decide how to utilize materials and manpower for infrastructure, and how best to utilize their workforces to develop and maintain their infrastructure. It is fortunate these tasks are divided among four individuals. Punishments for minor crimes are often arbitrated by the Matriarch or Patriarch of individual houses, as long as the offender and victims are of the same house. If multiple houses are affected, the judgement must be shared between the two house heads, or the judgement will be decided by the Adjudicator. House heads decide when a child is ready to be an adult. This can be as early as age sixteen, and no later than thirty, for reasons previously discussed. Politics do not often come into play here, with the rare, hypothetical exception of a house head becoming personal enemies with a child, and being petty enough to exile them. This, frankly, does not happen. House heads are under scrutiny as well, and it is not becoming to rule purely on puerile whims. In the Viszudar, there is a knife ready for a back and a small army of people willing to replace you if you falter in a position of power. Each house head has a palace in their district. In their palace, they are attended by adults they specifically designate, the number of which may not be larger than forty-nine. As it is the prerogative of the house head to decide, these individuals are granted reprieve of their vocations and are instead directly subject to the will of their better. They may serve as messengers, bodyguards, and anything in between. It is truly up to the house head to designate their role. House heads may designate any citizen of any vocation to their personal retinue, at any time. Invariably, this results in nepotism of varying degrees, but often exceptional craftsmen and advisors are designated into a personal retinue. This retinue may be definition be for any purpose, although the identities of these people are known to the public. Each house has storehouses in their district, and personal treasuries. This limits the resources of each house and divides each district into effectual states even further. Nevertheless, trading is common and easy among the citizens of the Viszudar. State-sponsored businesses and revenue streams are the common practice, and citizens are not allowed to be taxed. Effectually, each district could be considered to be a private company, under the laws of a sovereign state. Matriarchs and Patriarchs of the Houses The Patriarch of the Vardo is Gillespian. Gillespian is an elderly, friendly looking man in his sixties. He has long wavy gray hair and a long gray beard, both of which are neatly combed. It is plain his lineage traces back to Galthan, as Gillespian's faintly blue sigil illuminates his throne room and wherever else he goes. He typically wears modest finery of Vardo orange and green. He is known widely as a kind traditionalist, and an egalitarian at heart. Gillespian has been the Patriarch of the Vardo since his twentieth year, and has a history of great stability in his house. His greatest public weakness is his fence-sitting. He appears outwardly to want to please everyone, but ultimately doesn't satisfy the needs of all of his people. In truth, this may enforce stability amongst the Vardo, reduce factionalism, and not anger any groups enough to get rid of him permanently. Other than possessing a reputation for genuine compassion, Gillespian is known as a renowned duelist, and has defended his reputation and honor in twenty-seven duels. Without exception, he accepts yields, and has never lost a duel. He doesn't accept every duel, however. A man must know his limits. In addition to his martial prowess, Gillespian is an accomplished diplomat and mediator. He accepts nearly all mediation requests to mediate disputes among his people, and patiently makes sure both parties are satisfied enough with the result. The Vardo almost never require arbitration through the Adjudicator. The Patriarch of the Xola is Galbehrt. Galbehrt is in his late thirties, and is starting to go gray. As far as military commanders go, he has few scars and soft hands. His hair is very short, and his face is shaved clean. Nevertheless in characteristic Xola fashion, he towers above most and his frame carries bulky muscle. Galbehrt typically wears furs and ceremonial armor in the style of his court. Galbehrt is known as a decisive man and a peerless military mastermind. Second only to the Queen in tactical prowess, he is present at every major engagement, especially when the Viszudar is under attack. Galbehrt's greatest weakness is his unwillingness to humor those he deems fools. Outwardly, he is headstrong and seems to always think himself correct. To Galbehrt, it is beneath him to put on a friendly face when his time is wasted. This attitude has garnered Galbehrt a reputation as a prideful and somewhat contemptuous man. This, of course, is bad for diplomacy, and this is precisely why Galbehrt has a team of diplomats in his entourage. As young as he is, Galbehrt is already a modern day legend of Viszudar. Many consider his deeds to be sufficient for sainthood once he passes on. There are none of Viszudar's neighbors he hasn't met and defeated on the battlefield. No commander is without losses, but he is victorious nineteen out of twenty battles, it is said. Despite common misconception, augmented by his stature, Galbehrt is a tactician, and not any sort of great warrior. Although no stranger to a blade, Galbehrt is an adequate duelist at best, and his talents are much better suited planning a battle. Many consider Galbehrt to be a genius tactician, and some consider him to be the greatest military commander that has ever lived. The Matriarch of the Thal is Kiristiana. She is by far the youngest of the heads of houses, at twenty-five years old. Kiristiana succeeded her predecessor, Lysenza, one year prior. Kiristiana in many respects appears just like a Yoggite. She has bronze skin, is somewhat shorter than the Viszudar average, and has an aquiline nose, like many Yoggites. Like just about every Thal matriarch before her, she is also known for extravagant displays of wealth on her person and her court. Kiristiana, like her courtiers, wears navy blue and scarlet silks. This is a symbol of status, as it is considered a show of strength to wear silks plundered from the Iskhar-Yog exclusively. Additionally, Kiristiana claims the sheer material would reveal the weapons of any assassins in her court. While this claim may be true, the veracity of her claim and purity of its intention are doubted by some. Kiristiana's greatest weakness is her reputation and lack of tenure. The Thal court has had few days without some scandal impacting courtly life on account of their Matriarch's whims. In short, it has been a tumultuous year. Some may consider this unpredictable reputation to be an advantage, as it makes some reconsider before taking action against her. Among these scandals and unpopular political moves, Kiristiana has adopted many slaves into her house, and then aggressively raided the east and traded with the Glimmer Dwarves for more. This has upset some Thal citizens for various reasons. Additionally, Kiristiana has taken a private retinue of slaves to attend to her personally, which to say the least, is a new custom. Colloquially, these slaves are known as the 'matriarch's bedfellows'. Whether or not this is literally true, or if they are for other purposes, is not publicly known. Not all of Kiristiana's actions have elicited derision or ridicule. Notably, one of her first actions as Matriarch was to recall all coins in the Viszudar, refine impurities in the metals, and mint extremely high purity coins. Once the recall was concluded and the citizens reimbursed with the debasement of the currency several generations ongoing reversed, many were pleased with her initially. Additionally, in a single year, Kiristiana has rooted out corruption among many important vocations among her people. By her order, in a single year, more 'important' people were rounded up and executed than by any Thal matriarch in remembered history. It did not seem to matter if the crime was embezzlement or coopting slaves, the punishment was the same. Obviously, Kiristiana's reputation is contentious, but by virtue of this, she has also gained quite a few ardent supporters. The Matriarch of the Rhane is Feodora. As a half-face, it is difficult to know her true features. She often appears to be a short-haired woman of medium build in her early forties. She wears the tunic and hose of a common person in the silver and black of her house. Feodora is well liked by her people, as far as their generally downtrodden situation is concerned, and is known for her humility, diplomacy, and generally improving living conditions for her people. She is generally known as fair, and for best utilizing what little resources her house has to their best potential. Feodora's greatest weakness is her weak position. Of the four houses, the Rhane are the newest, the most disliked, the least respected, and the least trusted. This weakens her bargaining position tremendously with the other houses and the shamans. Warfare is not even a viable avenue for advancement, as unlike the Thal they lack the finances, and unlike the Xola, they lack the manpower. The Rhane are bereft of nearly every resource compared to the other three houses, yet they are managed incredibly well. This still limits the scope of what Feodora is able to accomplish in the grand scheme of things. Feodora's greatest accomplishment might be the greater acceptance of her people, the half-faces, into the greater Viszudar society. She has always led by example, and has always outwardly appeared as a paragon of virtue - someone you would want your daughter to become. As a strong, competent leader who embraces local culture entirely, she has imprinted the selfsame image of her people into the minds of many. Ultimately, regardless of what her designs truly are, Feodora is a woman who can tell anybody 'no' and leave them thinking they gained something from the exchange, and are happy with the outcome. Crime & Punishment Culturally, the people of the Viszudar are hard on crime, and view criminals with derision and distrust. Largely, punishments for wrongdoing are harsh, and are a good deterrent. Theft and not respecting the property of another are crimes, as are murder and the violation of another. Actions such as spitting on another or necromancy is under the umbrella of violating another. Dueling is allowed, if approved by the head of house, as is raiding foreigners. Generally, it is up to the judgement of the house head or the Adjudicator to decide if an action was criminal. This ambiguous degree of arbitration acts as another deterrent to crime. Common crimes by common people are arbitrated by house heads, typically. War crimes or crimes against the Viszudar as a whole are arbitrated by the Adjudicator. This allows for a great freedom of punishments in theory, although cultural customs are in place to normalize punishments for most offenses. Every ruler is at the mercy of their people to some extent, after all, and optics are important in politics. Minor crimes, such as food theft result in fines twice the perceived value of the item taken or act performed. Major offenses may result in the perpetrator being enslaved and sent to work in Thal mines, regardless of caste or vocation. This generally does not have duration of the sentence, although at times the offender may be adopted into the Thal house. This has not improved the public's perception of the Thal. Alternatively, major offenders may be forcibly conscripted into military service in the 'Shaman's Vanguard'. This army of conscripts are supervised by the Braves, and released as disposable soldiers in times of war, primarily as distractions, or to slow enemy progress. Culturally, it is viewed these people have a chance to redeem themselves on the field of battle, although this rarely occurs. The decision to deploy the vanguard is decided by majority vote in emergency meetings of the assembly of the shamans. A trial of Îsha is the sentence for the worst offenses, such as murder or violations. This, nearly invariably, results in death. In the rare event an offender survives the fall, a mob may finish the job. There are is only one jail in the Viszudar, for important political prisoners in times of war and forced conscripts. These prisoners are kept in a labyrinthine dungeon called 'The Place of Confinement', in the Palace of the Adjudicator, under the supervision of the Queen's Droneguard. Shamanic Council of the Viszudar The Shamanic Council of the Viszudar is the least powerful body of the government of the Viszudar, but still an important and influential one. The influence of an individual shaman is small, but is considerable as a whole. The shamans are considered wise men, and must be trained from a young age in their occupation. Youths are scouted early and taught the ways before they are given their formal vocation, typically. The term "shaman" is a broad one, applying to everything from a shindri handler to an archmage. Upon coming of age, before being formally inducted as a member of the Shamanic Council of the Viszudar, one is required to take an oath to protect the Viszudar and her people, and to swear fealty to the Queen of the Shindri. This oath is not as binding as becoming a Brave, but is still considered sacrosanct. Without exception, a shaman of the Viszudar must have some magical skill, even if it is the ability to cast a single spell. The shamanic tradition has remained unbroken, if not explicitly respected in spirit, from ancient times. In times of old, the shamans served as the magical backbone to the tribe, as advisors and purveyors of wisdom of all kinds. In modern times, this is still somewhat true. The shamans live, learn, and work in the Conclave of the Shamans. This hub lies beneath the Viszudar proper, and above the Palace of the Adjudicator. Principally, places of learning within the conclave are divided into five areas. With the exception of the hermitage, all are below a district. All shamans live where they study, and house has no bearing on where the shamans go, only aptitude, vocation, and assignment. All shamans meet quarterly in the Assembly of the Shamans, in the center of the conclave below axis square quarterly. The Academy of the Old Ways, a school of wizardly magic, lies below the Xola district. The Grand Cathedral of Îsha, a place of worship and refinement of clerical craft lies below the Vardo district. The Cathedral also teaches Temple Guardians in the ways of martial arts in the ways one would attribute to a monk. The Lodge of Shindri Handlers lies below the Rhane district. The Lodge of Shindri handlers also practice martial arts of various kinds, including the craft of what one would typically dub 'rangers'. The School of Alchemical Sciences is held below the Thal district, and it is there topics of all sciences and craft are developed, from the making of alchemist's fire to construction of golems or flying platforms. Finally, the Hermitage is distantly far past the mountains to the west. Those who develop and respect the natural world are sent to the Hermitage. The druids there have restored a grove in the desolate wastelands of the Gaskhar wastes, and have summoned powerful creatures of the natural world to defend their grove. Quarterly, the Assembly of the Shamans is held in the Assembly Chambers, a great amphitheater below axis square. It is here shamans congregate to vote on decisions which will impact the Viszudar as a whole. The eldest shaman in tenure presides over the assembly, and is given the title of Elder. Yes and no decisions are decided by majority, as are decisions with multiple or custom outcomes. If every shaman voted for something different or there is a tie, the Assembly must vote again. This, rarely, results in grueling filibusters. Foremost, the Assembly of the Shamans decide on the vocations of each and every to-be adult in the Viszudar. An image is conjured of the individual, and a short bio describing them is provided before decisions commence. Often, notable deeds are recognized, as is mediocrity. Records of vocations are kept in a vault in the Assembly under guard. This also means shamans indirectly control which house receives which vocations, and mold the opportunities held by each house of the Viszudar. Shamans will read and decide on appeals from each head of house after vocations are decided upon. After this business is concluded, citizens are permitted individually to bring in appeals. Often during Assembly, queues in Axis square can be miles long. Assembly lasts for twenty-four hours consecutively, and is a test of mental endurance. If all business, excluding the pleas of citizens are inconclusive after twenty-four hours, another twenty-four hours is allotted for rest, and then another Assembly proceeds after the time of rest. At times, emergency sessions of Assembly are called. This may be when a house head dies and must be voted on, or the Viszudar is under attack, and the Vanguard must be deployed. Emergency sessions are often single vote issues, but will only conclude will all business is decided. After a year and a day after an Adjudicator perishes, an emergency meeting is called, and the shamans vote on which of their number will be the next Adjudicator. This is perhaps the most grueling and stress-inducing aspect of a shaman's life, as all of their lives may hang in the balance, until the new Adjudicator is chosen. Other than study, shamans must make the preparations for each individual's trial of becoming. This falls on each of the Conclaves, and is typically undertook in rotating schedule, so each shaman in theory has equal amounts of unoccupied time. When the Shaman's Vanguard is deployed, several accomplished shamans accompany the convicts. They both supervise and supplement the army, and are never without their recall glyph. This glyph returns the shaman to the Assembly chambers, and only transports the individual. This allows shamans to escape before the fighting gets too risky for them, although accidents and miscalculations happen, and invariably some shamans perish in prolonged conflicts. The Adjudicator The minds of the Adjudicator and the Queen of the Shindri are one. In the Viszudar, this dualistic entity rules as a despot, without question. The Adjudicator does not control the precise intricacies of every citizen of the Viszudar, but has absolute sole power over each and every one of them. The decree of the Adjudicator is final, and is enforced by the full might of the military of the Viszudar. Historically, the Adjudicator and the Queen of the Shindri have been merciful and fair, if severe at times. An example of this is sparing the Thal after the betrayal of some, and recognizing the loyalty of the Rhane after they surrendered themselves to the mercy of the Adjudicator. Ultimately, the Adjudicator's role is both mouthpiece and despot. The life of an Adjudicator is not a perfect one. The Adjudicator resides in the Palace of the Adjudicator, at the lowest level of the Viszudar. There, he or she is attended to the Droneguard, and a handful of personally permitted shamans. The Adjudicator is physically crippled, and is incapable of much other than speaking and walking a few paces. With only one exception, this is the fate of every single Adjudicator. The single exception was the very first Adjudicator, Galthan the Illuminated. The Adjudicator leads a pampered life of relative luxury, surrounded by attendants, in a broken, incapable body, sharing an boundless wealth of knowledge with an alien creature. The Adjudicator's official duties are not expansive. An Adjudicator must appoint a new member of the Queen's Droneguard when one expires, keeping the number at ninety-nine. The Adjudicator has the right to declare war on an external threat or power. The Queen then rallies the Braves, and at times, the Droneguard to attack enemy forces, remotely. Very rarely, this is used internally within the Viszudar, such as in the Fratricide war. The Adjudicator bears the power to oust or execute any dissident force within the Viszudar, but rarely chooses to do so. Perhaps the Adjudicator's mercy extends to those who may change their minds, someday. The Adjudicator has the final say on many matters. Each individual who is to become an adult of the Viszudar, must first be personally approved by the Adjudicator. Names of the children are passed to the Adjudicator, and a nod for yes and a shake for no is all that is required. Similarly, this process is used for approving a new Matriarch or Patriarch of each house when the previous dies. The Adjudicator must also perform the moonlight augury in the ceremony for the trials of becoming children must undergo. The Adjudicator is wheeled to the Axis square, and must divine meaning in the stars. It is then the Adjudicator will announce the trial the children must overcome to become adults of the Viszudar in front of all gathered in the square.