The Seven Crowns

The Xentorn system is ruled by a body known simply as The Seven Crowns.

This group is comprised of three members of the military, three from the priesthood, and one who is from neither.  They are elected for life and selected from among the Naéla Båvassí (Miraculous Children, or Spirit Children); these individuals comprise a sacred segment of Xentoran society as they are children of impossible birth, most of them from pregnancies resultant from ryeal (a sacred orgy held in Xentoran temples every third klaeretha — a division of the Xentorn calendar), but can be anyone whose birth is deemed a miracle by a temple priest due to the exceptional unlikelihood of it.

These individuals are charged with maintaining the safety and security of Xentor and her people.  They are responsible, too, for the preservation of Xentoran culture, language, and tradition.  Their principle duties are the maintenance and ultimate command of the temples spread throughout the Xentoran system as well as the tri-galaxies.  They are also the law makers, judges, and chief enforcers of the Jaýnæ (Holy Law).  They maintain the Xentoran military, a defensive force that patrols the space inside and around the Xentorn star system.

Each Crown is granted residence in one of the Grand Palaces (Ilnyara Vaersa), one of which is located on each of Xentor’s largest continents, and they rule from the Spirit Palace or Great Temple (Kaelsha Ilnyara) located over what ancient Xentoran tradition holds is the heart of Xentor Herself, located in a valley between Xentor’s two greatest mountains and home of some of the world’s most spectacular geysers, hot-springs, and other geothermic phenomena.

Once selected as a Crown, the individual is blessed as a home for a portion of the spirit of Xentor by the other six Crowns.  The Crowns do, in fact, wear crowns — though technically they are tiaras — each is an elabourate filigree of irydra with polished olphaeria the size of hummingbird eggs.  Once the coronation is complete the Crown may never leave Xentor unless she is of the military Crowns, then she may leave the planet (so long as she remains within the system) to lead military actions in very specific and dire situations.

They do act as head of state and are responsible for greeting and hosting all visiting dignitaries, as well as selecting diplomats to represent the crowns when there is need for their presence in an off-world setting.  These diplomatic representatives are also selected from among the Naéla Båvassí and are granted Xentor Båvassí (Xentor’s Blessing) — a temporary, and small portion of the spirit of Xentor, when selected for such an honour.  For most details of etiquette these diplomats are to considered heirs apparent of a royal household.