The Midling Council

The Midling Council is a committee based organization responsible for all administrative, regulatory, and executive functions on the island of Sum Saihc. The Council is led by the spirit of a dying star who fell from the sky and created the island.

The Midling Council is a committee based theocracy led by the Great Star Spirit.

On the island of Sum Saihc, resident's lives are defined by which tempus they are in (a tempus is a period of 7 years starting at birth).

First Tempus (0-7yo): Children are expected to simply learn, grow, and play in their first Tempus.

Second Tempus (8-14yo): Known as Apprentices, children will now spend about 20 hours a week helping a Master with tasks like farming, woodworking, shipbuilding, blacksmithing, sewing, baking, etc.

Third Tempus (15-21yo): Now nearly adults, Apprentices are encouraged to attend social events in addition to their normal work schedule. Most residents of Sum Saihc will meet their future spouse in their Third Tempus. Although marriage is not allowed until both persons reach their Fourth Tempus, all the necessary learning and preparation for family life is expected to take place in the Third Tempus.

Fourth & Fifth Tempus (22-35yo):
All residents upon reaching age 22, will enter the busiest and most point in their lives. They will now, on their own time, get married and start families. Residents will also begin to take part in the ritual of Conversing. Residents in these Tempus will be responsible for all administrative, regulatory, and executive functions of the island, according to the guidance received during the Conversing.

Sixth & Twelfth Tempus (35-42yo & 78+): Residents in these Tempus are expected to not work as well as stay out of political affairs. However, they are expected to focus on personal growth, exploration, and creativity.

Seventh Tempus (43-49yo): Known as the Mirror Tempus (referencing the mirrored sunset on the surface of the ocean in the evenings), these residents have the esteemed responsibility to help those in the First Tempus. They will often watch, entertain, and care for children whose parents must perform duties for the Midling Council. Most children are as close to their Mirror as they are to their parents.

Eighth & Ninth Tempus (50-63yo): Residents in these Tempus are referred to as Masters. They are in charge of training, overseeing, and administrating non governmental operations. Examples include running a bakery, training new farmers, or helping design a new bridge (under direction of a committee from the Midling Council).

Tenth & Eleventh Tempus (64-77yo): Citizens in these Tempus are reaching the end of their societal obligations. For two Tempus they will be referred to as Philosphers, and much like the Masters, they will play a training or educational role. Where the Masters lead the Second and Third Tempus, the Philosophers lead the Midling Councilmembers of the Fourth and Fifth Tempus. It is important to note that Philosophers have no real governmental power but rather act as thought leaders, founts of wisdom, and historians offering perspective.

At the root of the Midling Council is the Conversing ceremony where councilmembers seek advice and guidance from the Great Star Spirit. As long as the residents of the island continue to enjoy great prosperity they should continue to trust in the supposed omniscience of the Great Star Spirit.

The Midling Council has a unique position of having its youngest generation knowing they will be in a position of power to change anything they don't like in the future. As well as the older generations knowing that they will have the opportunity to advise the Council directly after they have been removed from the process for a while.

Sum Saihc society is very strict on the age restrictions placed on their culture. Birthdays are enthusiastically tracked and celebrated. Anyone who tries to act in a way not in accordance to their Tempus is often summoned to converse directly with the Great Star Spirit directly and receive consultation.

The Island of Sum Saihc The Island of Sum Siahc is a simple civilization. Most people will work in multiple positions over the course of their life (see above - Power Structure).
Industries on the island include but aren't limited to:
- fishing
- boat and vehicle construction
- farming (mostly tropical roots, fruits, and fibers)
- mining (the central volcano offers a rich supply of volcanic minerals)
- civil engineering
- food preparation
- entertainment

The Midling Council has never had to make a ruling on immigration. As a remote island in the middle of the ocean, most residents of Sum Saihc have not seen a newcomer on the island in their lifetime. Although there are legends and folktales of strangers washing up on the beaches...

Centuries ago, the spirit of a dying star fell from the heavens. Legends state that it was tired of watching life on earth flounder about in ignorance. None of the lifeforms on earth knew the great mysteries of the universe. When the greater stars heard its complaints they cast it down to the earth with a fraction of its power challenging it to prove its point by creating a new life on earth that could comprehend the greatness of the universe. The star spirit created a small island in the ocean and then created humans. When the humans began to grow old and begun to learn to survive, the star spirit revealed itself to them and began to guide their lives. Quickly the island grew from a village to a full civilization.