The Court of the Ebon Flame
Court Officials
Below are the officials employed in the Court of the Ebon Flame.
Ancestor
The Ancestor’s duty is as spiritual guide for the Court. It is the Ancestor who makes the most important decisions, leaving daily routine decisions to the mandarins. It is the Ancestor who upholds the Great Principle and oversees if not performs all ceremonies of reward and punishment. Most Ancestors must be of the Dharma level, Ancestor, to be appointed to this task. Courts who are not as fortunate to have such an enlightened person are typically led by a council of mandarins instead. Though such individuals are rare enough not to worry too much about attaching astrological significance to the position, it is most auspicious indeed that this Court’s Ancestor is of the Center Direction while his mandarins fulfill other Directional roles.
Mandarin Roles
All four mandarins act as advisers to the Ancestor. They also run the daily affairs of the Court and its interests.
Magistrate
The judge and arbitrator of the Court, this mandarin oversees disputes and passes and executes sentences of punishment. The Magistrate also interprets the traditions of the Court. In many ways, the Magistrate’s word is law and is all but the leader of the Court. Only the Ancestor overrules her decisions once they’re formulated, and that doesn’t happen often (or the Ancestor would find himself a new Magistrate). The Magistrate is normally of the North Direction.
Mandator
The Mandator is the “field general” of the Court. It is his duty to carry out the will of the Court and enact change within the Court. The Mandator’s duties don’t end with leading Shadow or Midnight Wars. His tasks include inspiring and encouraging change within the Court that may lead to policy amendments and new goals. Naturally, the Mandator must be wise enough to know when the change is beneficial, and by this age most are. This position is given to a vampire of the South Direction.
Minister of the Harvest
Protecting, guiding, and manipulating the human herd falls under the juress of the Minister of the Harvest. This mandarin’s task is to insure that the primary vessels that the Court utilizes are kept healthy and free of other influences (particularly those of other shen). The Minister is also to keep an eye peeled for potential Urns. Naturally, such a large scope typically requires the appointment of one or more Assistant Ministers. The position of Minister of the Harvest is normally given unto a vampire of the East Direction.
Minister of Omens
The last mandarin role involves an interpretation of physical and spiritual omens. It is the duty of the Minister of Omens to properly divine likely futures of Court endeavors and to know the past so that the results may be compared. The Minister must also be an adept shaman, capable of interacting skillfully with both Yin and Yang Worlds. Two jina are appointed to aid in this part of his duty if possible (see below).
Jina Roles
Jina are the Kuei-jin analog to the Cainite ancillae role. The jina aid the mandarins and carry out their will. Some jina are simply entitled “Assistant” to whom whatever mandarin they’ve been appointed. Others fulfill lesser but unique roles, and the ones that this Court currently employs are as below.
Assistant First Interrogator
This Gui Ren aids the First Interrogator in his torturous endeavors. The Assistant also acts in the First Interrogator's stead when he is absent.
Assistant Minister of the Harvest
This jina works with the Mandarin to insure the herds are healthy and to keep an eye (or three) peeled for potential Urns. Sometimes, the Mandarin appoints an Assistant to a permanent task, such as Custodian of the Torn Blossom (minister of the red light district) or Musterer of Devils (watcher of Urns).
Custodian of the Vault
This important role entrusts the jina with the task of being the Court's accountant. He or she must have a sound grasp of financial affairs and investing practices. But mere money is not the only duty of this jina. She must also maintain the safety of the Court's vital property, such as treasures and antiquities (which may include True Jade or Magical Artifacts). And the Custodian of the Vault is also the clerk through which other courtiers must go through to gain access to the Dragon Nest. The Custodian must insure that no one abuses its power.
Demon-Slaying General
The Demon-Slaying General is a vampire appointed to overseeing and mastering the task of identifying akuma and any unbound demons. For the time being, the General’s duty includes learning the nature of the Kin-jin. He must understand the ways of destroying all these fiends and be capable of carrying out the task himself. Naturally, whenever such a monster is spotted and targeted for elimination, the Demon-Slaying General can call on his brethren’s aid.
Envoy to the Ebon Dragon
Essentially an Assistant Minister of Omens, the Envoy’s duties are limited to making contact with and diplomatic overtures to the spirits of the dead in the Yin World. Her tasks include interacting with all wraiths that come to the Court’s attention, especially those of the Court of the Silver Censer.
Envoy to the Scarlet Queen
Just like the Envoy to the Ebon Dragon, this jina’s job is to the denizens of the Yang World. He has no wraith Court to parley with, only the myriad and varied inhabitants of the living spirit world. On occasion, he must also be prepared to deal with messengers of some great Spirit Court. Both Envoys report directly to the Minister of Omens.
First Interrogator
This solemn duty is appointed to whichever jina can demonstrate the most creative and efficient methods of interrogation. Naturally, mere torturers are avoided. A jina of this role must be a true devil, able to coerce information from a prisoner without harming a hair on his body. But of course, the First Interrogator must be capable of simulating the torments of Yomi Wan should it prove necessary. The First Interrogator is often one of the older jina of the Court. (In some Courts, this position is a Mandarin role.)
High Tong Lord
The overseer of the Court’s most trusted Scarlet Screens, this jina’s duty is mainly to monitor their activities and pass on the orders of the mandarins (typically the Mandator or Minister of the Harvest). The Scarlet Screens this jina deals with are those who are actually aware of the Kuei-jin’s existence and serve loyally. Sometimes that loyalty requires a price that the High Tong Lord may be in charge of dispensing (or even acquiring).
Steward of the Axis
The vampire in this role finds him or herself attached as an assistant to the Mandator. Indeed, he or she aids that Mandarin in the fulfillment of often rather vague and important duties. The Mandator is often the general of the Court's military responses. That makes Stewards of the Axis captains, and they must be sound warriors and tacticians alike. Of course, Stewards are more than soldiers, just like the Mandator. They must be careful not to let themselves become nothing more than shallow killers, or they may find themselves listed among the Court's expendable assets...
Voice of the Hearth
In the Court of the Ebon Flame's recent past, it became evident that contact with Kin-jin was inevitable despite isolationist practices and policies. This jina role was constructed to funnel any contact with Kin-jin to one capable vampire instead of risking corruption of the entire Court. The Voice of the Hearth will not regularly deal with Kin-jin fortunately, and so far extends only to the rare Wu-Zao (Salubri) who enters Little Asia. So this vampire's role extends also to earthly shen, however, such as the other Courts (excepting the Court of the Silver Censer, which falls under the duty of the Envoy to the Ebon Dragon). The jina in this role must be a sharp thinker, but also a good diplomat, familiar with protocol and tact.
Warden of the Great Principle
A Warden of the Great Principle is just as it sounds: the jina is a deputy of law, and thus are considered Assistant Magistrates. They insure that the Great Principle is followed by all within the Court. They also enforce the Magistrate's dictates of justice and enforcement to outsiders beyond the Court, as necessary.
Wings of the Crane
This jina role seems at first to be the least independent or glorious. The Wings of the Crane is essentially a personal assistant to the Ancestor: a page or secretary. The vampire must be a clear thinker, but she must also be careful that any emissaries with which she is entrusted are not warped. For example, if she is sent to summon a Mandarin, she'd better summon only that Mandarin, and not one of his assistants. The Ancestor would take out his irritation on the jina, not the Mandarin! This is not a managerial role in any fashion. The jina simply exists to make management easier on the Ancestor in a growing Court. While it may not be the most glorious of jina roles, this Gui Ren gets the education to take up a Mandarin role sooner than most other jina. Note that the title of this position depends on the Dharmic inclinations of the Ancestor. If the Ancestor were a Celestial Devil, for example, the title might be "Claws of the Tiger".
Other jina may be appointed as the roles become necessary.
A Few More Corpse-Families
Wu: these small families of vampires, which should number from 3-7 vampires at most, are greatly encouraged. Bonds of guanxi are not only part of joining a Wu, but a measure of following the Great Principle. A Court that is not bound with guanxi may not be for long.
