With the introduction of the winter sphinx, I think it's about time someone expands on the structure of their season based government system. It might as well be me, sooo here's a huge lore post.
The Bones of Sphinx Society: Leaders
There are four seasonal leaders, and the power of each leader is, obviously, determined by the season. When a leader's season begins, they are refered to as prime-leaders, the two closest season's are called sub-leaders, and the "diagonal" season are called minor leaders. (The diagonal season is explained in the minor leader section)
Leaders all work together to ensure the safety and security of the pride.
Picking Leaders
How a pride chooses its leaders varies. Some prides decide democratically, while others have established dynasties. A few prides have competitions, usually fighting, foraging, hunting or plant-rearing, and a few decide based on signs from their gods. Each pride is unique in its methods.
Some prides have restrictions based on qualities such as sex or birth season, but most only have rules on age or experience.
Leaders are usually appointed until death or retirement. In republics and democracies, they stay in their position for as long they can win the votes of the pride.
Cycles
Like their seasons, leaders cycle through their roles. The specifics of the cycle vary from pride to pride. Most commonly, prides slowly shift leadership depending on natural cues. Another popular method is for leaders to officially switch positions on the equinox or solstice, and then gradually have power change hands. This applies for all leaders, not just the prime.
Prime
These leaders are the ones who take charge during their respective season. Prime leaders control what a pride does, what the prides priorities are, the laws they follow, and they usually work in tandem with minor leaders to negotiate with other prides, beastclans, or dragons. In prides with structures similar to democracies or republics, the prime usually has an extra vote or automatically breaks ties. A prime's order or law takes priority over the orders or laws of any other leader.
Sub
Sub-leaders are the leaders who align with the seasons directly before and after the current season. For example, if it is summer, then the two sub-leaders will be spring and fall. The sub-leader's main jobs are to properly prepare for or transition from their respective seasons. Usually the closer to a sub-leader's season it is the more power they have. The word of a sub is prioritized over that of a minor, but is superseded by a prime.
Minor
Minors rule during the season diagonal to the prime. Because their seasons have little bearing on the current season, they mostly focus on tasks that do not involve the seasons at all. Tasks such as patrolling borders, managing out of pride relationships, and keeping track of resources are all common. They also support the prime and subs in whatever way is required of them. Orders given by minors are considered with less importance than those given by a prime or sub. They do usually have an equal level of voting power to subs in republican prides.
Diagonals
The diagonal season is called this because if the seasons were aligned in a circle, they would be directly diagonal from each other. Summer and winter are one pair of diagonals, with autumn and spring being the other.
The Bones of Sphinx Society: Leaders
There are four seasonal leaders, and the power of each leader is, obviously, determined by the season. When a leader's season begins, they are refered to as prime-leaders, the two closest season's are called sub-leaders, and the "diagonal" season are called minor leaders. (The diagonal season is explained in the minor leader section)
Leaders all work together to ensure the safety and security of the pride.
Picking Leaders
How a pride chooses its leaders varies. Some prides decide democratically, while others have established dynasties. A few prides have competitions, usually fighting, foraging, hunting or plant-rearing, and a few decide based on signs from their gods. Each pride is unique in its methods.
Some prides have restrictions based on qualities such as sex or birth season, but most only have rules on age or experience.
Leaders are usually appointed until death or retirement. In republics and democracies, they stay in their position for as long they can win the votes of the pride.
Cycles
Like their seasons, leaders cycle through their roles. The specifics of the cycle vary from pride to pride. Most commonly, prides slowly shift leadership depending on natural cues. Another popular method is for leaders to officially switch positions on the equinox or solstice, and then gradually have power change hands. This applies for all leaders, not just the prime.
Prime
These leaders are the ones who take charge during their respective season. Prime leaders control what a pride does, what the prides priorities are, the laws they follow, and they usually work in tandem with minor leaders to negotiate with other prides, beastclans, or dragons. In prides with structures similar to democracies or republics, the prime usually has an extra vote or automatically breaks ties. A prime's order or law takes priority over the orders or laws of any other leader.
Sub
Sub-leaders are the leaders who align with the seasons directly before and after the current season. For example, if it is summer, then the two sub-leaders will be spring and fall. The sub-leader's main jobs are to properly prepare for or transition from their respective seasons. Usually the closer to a sub-leader's season it is the more power they have. The word of a sub is prioritized over that of a minor, but is superseded by a prime.
Minor
Minors rule during the season diagonal to the prime. Because their seasons have little bearing on the current season, they mostly focus on tasks that do not involve the seasons at all. Tasks such as patrolling borders, managing out of pride relationships, and keeping track of resources are all common. They also support the prime and subs in whatever way is required of them. Orders given by minors are considered with less importance than those given by a prime or sub. They do usually have an equal level of voting power to subs in republican prides.
Diagonals
The diagonal season is called this because if the seasons were aligned in a circle, they would be directly diagonal from each other. Summer and winter are one pair of diagonals, with autumn and spring being the other.
