Counsel Structure¶
Overview¶
The ROOT Kingdom is governed by a two-tier counsel system: each guild has its own Guild Counsel, and together the four guilds seat members on the Grand Counsel — the governing body of the entire Kingdom.
Counsel seats are not appointed. They are earned through tier progression and peer election.
Guild Counsel¶
Composition¶
Each Guild Counsel has 5 seats, all held by Mage-tier players.
| Seat | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | High Sage | Chairs meetings; casts deciding vote on ties; Guild's representative to Grand Counsel |
| 2 | Warden | Oversees Gate defense rotations and Raid defense planning |
| 3 | Keeper of the Greenhouse | Manages Sprite seed distribution and greenhouse rules |
| 4 | Scroll Keeper | Manages ability trading, training schedules, and Scroll Library access |
| 5 | Treasurer | Manages the Guild's Sprite economy, market pricing, and ransom funds |
Becoming a Counsel Member¶
Eligibility: - Must be Mage tier. - Must have completed at least 1 Final Quest. - Must have participated in at least 5 Gate Battles.
Election Process: - Any eligible Mage can declare candidacy. - All guild members (all tiers) vote. - Voting is open for 48 hours when a seat is vacant. - The top 5 vote-getters hold seats. The top vote-getter becomes High Sage.
Term Length: 30 in-game days (roughly 30 real days). Members may run for re-election unlimited times.
Recall: Any Counsel member can be recalled by a petition signed by 40% of active guild members, followed by a recall vote. A simple majority removes the member and triggers a new election for that seat.
Guild Counsel Powers¶
| Power | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Declare a Raid | Majority vote (3 of 5) |
| Authorize a Ransom | Majority vote (3 of 5) |
| Set Gate Defense Schedule | Warden decision (no vote required) |
| Regulate Seed Distribution | Keeper of the Greenhouse decision |
| Set Market Prices | Treasurer decision, subject to Counsel veto |
| Propose training programs | Any Counsel member |
| Suspend a member | 4 of 5 vote |
| Expel a member (must go to Grand Counsel) | Unanimous vote |
Grand Counsel¶
Composition¶
The Grand Counsel consists of 4 members — one High Sage from each Guild — plus a neutral fifth seat: the Root Keeper.
| Seat | Holder |
|---|---|
| Ground High Sage | Elected by Ground Guild |
| Fire High Sage | Elected by Fire Guild |
| Water High Sage | Elected by Water Guild |
| Energy High Sage | Elected by Energy Guild |
| Root Keeper | Selected by Grand Counsel vote; cannot be affiliated with any guild; holds a veto |
The Root Keeper¶
The Root Keeper is a special position: - Must be a former High Sage from any guild who has left active guild membership. - Cannot participate in guild activities, battles, or economy while serving. - Holds a single veto per Grand Counsel session (once used, it resets next session). - Serves as the tie-breaker and moral compass of the Kingdom.
The Root Keeper's primary duty is to ensure no single guild dominates the Kingdom in violation of the balance maintained by the Tree of Life.
Grand Counsel Powers¶
| Power | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Declare a Peaceful Period | Unanimous vote (all 4 High Sages + Root Keeper) |
| Arbitrate a cross-guild dispute | Majority vote (3 of 5) |
| Introduce a Kingdom-wide rule change | Majority vote (3 of 5); announced 72 hours before taking effect |
| Expel a player from the Kingdom | Unanimous vote (rare; reserved for extreme violations) |
| Authorize a special event or Festival | Majority vote |
| Override a Guild Counsel decision | 4 of 5 vote |
| Convene an emergency session | Root Keeper or any two High Sages |
Grand Counsel Meeting Schedule¶
- Regular Session: Once every 14 in-game days.
- Emergency Session: Called by Root Keeper or any two High Sages at any time.
- Sessions are held at the Tree of Life node (in-game location).
- Proceedings are logged publicly in the Kingdom's Council Archive (on-chain record).
Gifting Aether (Mage Privilege)¶
A unique power available only to Mage-tier players — including Counsel members — is the ability to gift Aether to teammates and Sprites.
Aether Gifting: - A Mage can gift Aether during or between battles. - Gifting Aether temporarily reduces the Mage's WIS by 2 for 24 hours (their reserves are lowered). - Recipients receive a Power Boost: +10 to their highest stat for 3 in-game battles. - A Mage can gift Aether up to 3 times per week.
Gifting to Sprites: - A Mage can infuse a Sprite with Aether before a Gate Battle. - The Sprite gains +10 to ATK and DEF for that battle only. - This consumes the Mage's weekly gift (counts as one of 3).
Counsel members receive an additional weekly gift use (+1, total 4 per week) as a perk of service.¶
The Counsel Hall¶
Each Guild Counsel operates from a physical location in the Guild Village: the Counsel Hall. The Hall is a permanent structure adjacent to the Training Arena, accessible to all guild members.
Features¶
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Main Chamber | Circular room with one seat per Counsel member and a central speaking bowl linked to the Tree of Life's Aether |
| Archive alcove | Physical records of all Counsel decisions, votes, and member logs (on-chain backup in the Kingdom Archive) |
| Emergency Bell | Can be rung by any active guild member to summon Counsel for an urgent matter; triggers a 2-hour response window |
| Visitor gallery | Non-Counsel members may observe sessions from the gallery; no speaking rights unless invited |
Emeritus Status¶
A Guild Counsel member who completes their term and meets the eligibility requirements (Mage tier, 1 Final Quest, 5 Gate Battles) is granted Counsel Emeritus status:
- Marked with the suffix
[Counsel Emeritus]on the Guild Member List. - May attend Guild Counsel meetings as a non-voting observer.
- Eligible for accelerated election to any future Counsel seat (vote count threshold waived for first 14 days after leaving the seat).
- Cannot be recalled — Emeritus status has no governance authority.
A member who leaves the Counsel without completing a full term does not receive Emeritus status. They may run for re-election normally.
Dispute Resolution¶
When two guild members have a conflict that affects guild operations — a disputed trade, a contested ability scroll claim, an accusation of unsportsmanlike conduct — the Guild Counsel adjudicates.
Filing a Dispute¶
- Either party submits a written account of the dispute to the Guild Counsel via the Scroll Keeper (in-game action or on-chain form).
- The Warden reviews the filing within 24 hours and assigns it a severity level:
| Severity | Example | Resolution Path |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Disputed trade terms, miscommunication | Scroll Keeper mediates; 48-hour resolution |
| Moderate | Contested ability scroll ownership, repeated unsportsmanlike conduct | Full Counsel vote; 72-hour resolution |
| Severe | Suspected cheating, theft of scroll NFTs, griefing | Grand Counsel arbitration; open-ended |
Resolution Outcomes¶
| Outcome | Available for |
|---|---|
| Reassignment | Minor — parties return to status quo ante |
| Restitution | Moderate — one party compensates the other (tokens, scrolls, sprites) |
| Suspension | Moderate/Severe — right to participate in guild activities revoked for up to 7 days |
| Expulsion referral | Severe — escalated to Grand Counsel for Kingdom-wide expulsion vote |
Counsel members are recused from any dispute in which they have a personal stake. The High Sage appoints a temporary replacement for that vote.
Counsel Succession & Emergency Procedures¶
Mid-Term Vacancies¶
If a Counsel seat becomes vacant between regularly scheduled elections — due to recall, resignation, or Emeritus promotion — the remaining Counsel members must fill the vacancy within 14 in-game days. The process works as follows:
- Declaration Window (3 days): Any Mage who meets the standard eligibility requirements (see Becoming a Counsel Member) may declare candidacy.
- Campaign Period (5 days): Candidates may address the guild and present their platform.
- Vote (48 hours): All guild members vote. The top vote-getter fills the seat.
If the seat is not filled within 14 days, the High Sage may appoint a temporary Counsel member with full voting rights for up to 30 days, after which a special election must be held.
Emergency Conclave¶
In times of crisis — a severe raid during a Peaceful Period, a discovered exploit, or a threat to the Aether itself — the High Sage may call an Emergency Conclave of the full Counsel:
- The Emergency Conclave must convene within 24 hours of the High Sage's call.
- Decisions made during an Emergency Conclave require a two-thirds majority of all filled Counsel seats.
- Emergency Conclave rulings may be overridden by a unanimous Grand Counsel vote within 72 hours.
Succession of the High Sage¶
The High Sage does not have a fixed term — they serve until they resign, are recalled, or leave the Counsel. If the High Sage position becomes vacant:
- The most senior Counsel member (by earliest election date) assumes the role of Acting High Sage.
- An election for the High Sage must be held within 30 days.
- The Acting High Sage may run in this election but holds no veto power during their interim tenure.
"The tree does not fear the empty branch — it grows a new one." — High Sage proverb
Counselor's Oath¶
Every member of the Guild Counsel — from Initiate rank to the High Sage — takes the Counselor's Oath upon election. The oath is not merely symbolic; it is a binding magical contract woven into the member's Aether signature by the sitting High Sage at the moment of their inauguration.
The Oath's Text¶
I serve the Root, not the branch. I speak for the voiceless Aether, and I bear the weight of counsel without folding under it. What I hear in the Hall stays in the Hall — unless the Root demands it be heard. What I decide protects the many, not the few. This I swear on the Tree, and on the roots that hold me.
Oath-Bound Consequences¶
Breaking the Oath carries mechanical and social consequences:
- Aether Severance — The oath's magic severs the breaker's ability to channel Aether through Guild channels (including Gifting Aether and Dispute Resolution rituals) for 30 days.
- Loss of Rank — The breaker is automatically removed from the Counsel and stripped of all rank benefits (including any active bonuses from Specialization Paths or Grand Counsel privileges).
- Public Record — The oath-breaking is recorded on the Counsel's permanent ledger in the Counsel Hall. The entry cannot be removed or amended.
- Reclamation — A breaker may petition the Grand Counsel for readmission after 90 days. Readmission requires a unanimous vote and a new Oath swearing.
The Oath and the Tree¶
The Counselor's Oath is considered a direct line to the Tree of Life itself — the oath's magic draws on the same Aether that sustains the Root. This is why breaking the oath causes Aether Severance: the Tree interprets the breach as a rejection of its roots, and temporarily closes its channels to the breaker.
The oath is not words. It is a root that grows into you. Pull it free and you bleed Aether. — High Sage during the Season 1 inauguration
Counsel Traditions and Ceremonies¶
The Guild Counsel maintains several traditions that reinforce the bond between governance and the guild's elemental identity.
The First Bell Ceremony¶
At the start of each new Counsel term, the First Bell Ceremony is held in the Counsel Hall. The outgoing High Sage rings the Emergency Bell one final time, and the incoming High Sage rings it to begin their term. The number of rings corresponds to the number of active guild members, symbolizing that the Counsel serves all, not just the few.
Seasonal Counsel Retreats¶
Once per season, the Guild Counsel retreats to a secluded location within their territory for a Seasonal Counsel Retreat. This is a time for: - Strategic planning for the coming season - Team-building exercises that often involve cooperative battles against AI-controlled opponents - Aether attunement rituals to strengthen the Counsel members' connection to their guild's element - Open forum where any guild member can address the Counsel directly (no voting rights, but all voices are heard)
The retreat lasts 3 in-game days and is considered a sacred time — no Gate Battles or Raids can be declared against a guild while their Counsel is in retreat.
The Oath Renewal¶
Every Memorial Day (see 09-guild-warfare.md), all sitting Counsel members participate in an Oath Renewal ceremony. They reaffirm their commitment to the Counselor's Oath by placing their hand on the Oath Stone — a special artifact in each Counsel Hall that contains the Aether signatures of all past Counsel members. This renewal strengthens the magical bond and resets any minor Aether decay that may have occurred during their term.
Counsel Emeritus Council¶
Former Counsel members who have achieved Emeritus status (see Counsel Succession & Emergency Procedures) can form an Emeritus Council — an advisory body that meets quarterly to provide wisdom and historical context to the current Counsel. While the Emeritus Council has no voting power, their insights are highly valued, especially during times of crisis or when interpreting ancient guild traditions.
The Emeritus Council maintains the Counsel Archives — a collection of all historical Counsel decisions, meeting notes, and significant guild events. These archives are stored in the Archive alcove of the Counsel Hall and are available for review by any guild member, though some sensitive materials may be restricted to Counsel members only.
Tradition is the root from which wisdom grows. Break the root, and the tree withers. — First High Sage of Ground Guild