Council of Stewards

COUNCIL OF STEWARDS The Council of Stewards comprises 30 members, two from each of the Danaan-morand one from each of the other 14 Danaan Families . Each family chooses its representative through a family conclave, generally selecting the family elder, but sometimes choosing a more talented debater or politician . Each Steward serves for one to five years, according to his family's wishes . On occasion, a Steward may temporarily yield his Council seat to another family member if that kinsman knows the matter under debate at a particular Council meeting better than the Steward himself. The Danaan Families occasionally refer to their Stewards as "prionsa ." or "prince," but they rarely use this term outside of the ritual addresses and greetings among the Council members . The Danaan-morcare little for formalities of rank and title, and the term prionsa is used more often outside the Council than within it . Prionsa also denotes an elder or senior member of a Danaan Family or such an elder's firstborn, Many elves find this usage pleasing . The Council of Stewards controls the Senate . so it determines Senate policy and legislation . In effect, the Council of Stewards governs the Tir . The Council holds routine conclaves when necessary to determine the outlines of future legislation ; these policy meetings do not consider legal details or laws pertaining to trivial issues . Full conclaves of the Council, which all Stewards must attend, occur at the equinoxes . At these formal conclaves, the Stewards wear full ritual regalia and consider business of vital importance to the Council . An elected High Steward nominally heads the Council : currently, William O'Dunn holds this position . As a member of a family whose role in Tir public life covers administrative rather than political . judicial, or economic power . O'Dunn is the perfect selection for this largely administrative office . The Council of Stewards meets in Tara, but the Tara they refer to has no specific geographical location in the Tir . A physical Hill of Tara exists in the TIr, but "Tara" in the spiritual sense exists in many places aside from that hill . Rather than a literal place, Tara is the mystical seat of the High Kings of Ireland, believed to lie in the county of Meath. Within that county, "Tara" is created mystically and symbolically through the use of ritual regalia and the presence of one or more Great Spirits of a nature appropriate to the specific conclave's purposes . For example, a Great Spirit of Water or Land might preside at a conclave whose central issues are environmental . At the equinoctial conclaves, a Great Spirit of the Tuatha is always present . >>>>>[The Great Spirit isn't the half of it . Watchers are ten a penny, and plenty of elementals also prowl around . If the elves are talking real business, watch out for Great Spirits of the Fiery Firmament.]««< -Taranis (05 : 12 : 12/3-MAY-54) »»>[What the frag are they?]««< -Bandit (05 :30:10/3-MAY-54) »»>[You'll find out . If you're unlucky.]<<<<< -Taranis (05 :40 :11/3-MAY-54)