Throneworld Court Society

For the location, see Throneworld Court Palace.

The pinnacle of Chatcaavan society, in terms of concentration of power. Only the lords with the most wealth, status, and personal prowess congregate at the Throneworld court, there to fight for dominance. They gather at the palace in the guest towers.

Customs

Honor and Favor

The Chatcaavan concept of honor is orthogonal to that of the Pelted, the humans, or the Eldritch. Thus the "honor set" of wounds, gained by being raped by the Emperor, is indeed an honor: the Emperor only bothers to test, by violence and rape, those who he considers dangerous enough to be a challenge but useful enough to not kill outright. To be raped and given the honor wounds is to be recognized as important. The Queen assures Lisinthir that everyone at court has been raped by the Emperor, except the insignificant. "Those the emperor has personally dealt with become either his most bitter enemies or his most trusted confidants, or his most useful tools." The Emperor tailors the method to the individual; for example, he fairly rapidly discovered that he could test Lisinthir by threatening to harm innocents if he did not submit. In addition, to be judged worthy of testing, someone must insult the Emperor personally, which is inherently dangerous. The testing can easily kill the person being tested. On the other hand, one who falls in his regard will not be tested in private but will be humiliated in public.

Humiliating or dishonoring a male in public is used as a lesser punishment than death, but for one who is not respected enough to be dominated or humiliated in private. Chatcaava are most likely to be punished in this way if they submit voluntarily and publicly to the dominance of the one offended, and if they do not submit, they will likely be killed outright. A common way to humiliate a male is to break off horns; two horns (one on each side) is the minimum punishment dealt in this way. Most Chatcaavan males have lost at least some horns.

The Emperor has been known to spend a long time with those he wants to break. Lisinthir is an obvious example, but there have been others: a fractious noble who required several weeks to mend his way, a lord who refused to accept the Emperor's sovereignty and was tortured publicly on a regular basis until he yielded--and then died, female alien slaves who were tortured over long periods out of a curiosity about their bodies, and randomly-chosen victims from among those who have already submitted to him. The latter was considered perverse, as testing the loyalties of those who have already been tested and have submitted is gauce. Various tools are used in testing: public humiliation, private humiliation, violence, breaking of horns, various racks and bondage equipment, and tools of sexualized violence such as clamps and a knobbled leather device called a whip-tail.

Being a favorite of the Emperor is dangerous; according to Third-Who-Was, the "second-pillow life" is dangerous and people who are respected enough to hold that role usually become dangerous enough to be killed. Second is a notable exception, having been the Emperor's Second for his entire time on the throne, up until the arrival of Lisinthir.

"Inside" and "Outside"

Chatcaavan society is actually several societies coexisting in the same space. There are those Inside, who have power, wealth, and political clout, but are subject to the violent rules of the Throneworld Court and similar courts across the Empire. There are those Outside, who have no such power but are not beholden to any political power and cannot be casually killed. There are also nonentities, who are not officially Inside or Outside: aliens (both enslaved and free) and females.

Inside and Outside are throne-world constructs, some planets do not have this.

Inside

The males who are Inside play the game of politics, domination, and strategy. Unlike those Outside, they are obliged to their political patrons, even if those patrons might have cause to want to kill them. They are also subject to the rules between males Inside that excuse murder between rivals in most cases.

Higher-ranking males may choose to "test" lower-ranking males through rape, torture, and humiliation, to put them in their place and see their limits. It is considered an honor, as only the most promising and dangerous males are put to the test. Those who pass the tests, however, rarely live long, as they become a threat.

Castrates and palace servants are the lowest of the low within the Inside sphere. "They did not speak; they were Inside, and the lowest of the low Inside, and confronted with a male Outside they were permitted only deference."

Outside

Those Outside are not obligated politically to any male, not even the Emperor, though they still follow the general laws of the Empire. This means that they are unable to strive for power outside that afforded them by their role, but are also shielded from the violence of those Inside. Accordingly, they may not take sides in conflicts between males who are Inside. Males Outside may nevertheless become powerful and influential if their particular skills are needed (as with the Imperial Surgeon, who knew very well that he was needed to heal the injuries they inflicted on each other).

Those Outside will not share information that they have learned from or about those Inside with others who are Inside; this is part of their neutrality.

"It made her wonder suddenly if the world Outside was striated with the fault-lines of ancient and provincial attitudes, and if that was part of why they were not permitted Inside."

Alien Slaves and Females

Unlike those Inside and Outside, alien slaves and females are nonentities or objects; they are treated as furniture, to be used and perhaps to be appreciated or enjoyed in their use, but not as people in any way. Slaves and females are immediately brought to the Preparation Room to be stripped, cleaned, fitted with collars, and decorated. Some slaves are also branded to mark them as the Empire's property. It was the Slave Queen's duty to bring new harem members to the Preparation Room to be stripped, collared, and decorated.

While finding pleasure in the pain of another is completely normal in the society of males Inside, it is considered crude to kill during the process. "...to actually destroy one's playthings was considered a lack of self-discipline."

Titles

Titles are preferentially used over names by those with them, as names denote status either as a low-ranking male (e.g. Uuvek, Oviin) or a female or child (e.g. Firemint, Whisper).

See List of Chatcaavan Titles for more information.

Justice

At court, there is a distinction between a duel--which can be declared between any two members--and the Emperor's justice. A duel may be called at any time, with no evidence of the wrongdoing. The Emperor's justice requires the gathering of evidence, though the evidence does not need to be presented at the accusation. Both issues are raised at supper in the Fields of the palace. The Emperor's justice is also subject to certain rules. A sole Heir can evade justice, but an Heir with another viable sibling candidate cannot. The condemned can choose to fight the Emperor, or to be executed.

Duels

Duels take place in the same place as Imperial justice, but require no evidence to be brought.

Strength is respected among the Chatcaava, but only strength inherent in the body, hence the focus on hand-to-hand combat for duels. Strength that "must be borrowed from steel and riches" is not respected; if power "is not inside a male, it is not there."

Communication

Males signal their willingness to be visited by flying their flags; it is not an imposition to land on the balcony of one with a flag flying. As Lisinthir cannot raise and lower his flag, he instead signals his willingness to be approached with a red scarf tied to the railing.

It is outside the bounds of court protocol to send messages via comm or electronically. Physical or verbal communications brought by messengers are preferred. Exceptions may be made in emergencies, such as the need for critical medical attention.

Dining Customs

See also Chatcaavan Foods.

The court eats its evening meal at the Fields, outdoors. Tables are set in a horseshoe shape with the Emperor at the top of the horseshoe and the least favored (traditionally including the Alliance Ambassador) at the ends. The tables are low, and diners sit at them on pillows atop mounds that indicate their status. A sure sign of rising favor with the Emperor is being 'promoted' to a seat closer to him. Duels, and the Emperor's justice, both take place in the space bounded by the horseshoe.

Poison tasters taste the food and drink for prominent members of the Court. The Emperor's most trusted male--the one who, it is said, values the Emperor most (and the feeling may be mutual) serves as his poison taster: until Lisinthir Nase Galare took over this role, he had always had his drink tasted by Second-Who-Was. The Emperor's drinking vessel is a heavy metal chalice.

While meat is often served already slaughtered and dressed, it is not unexpected for a live beast to be brought in to be killed at table by one of the diners' hands. Food is eaten with the fingers, with claws used to cut and tear meat. At the Throneworld Court, important figures have poison-tasters. The Emperor chooses his own by assessing who values him most, and "some say that the feeling is mutual."

Harem Customs

There are two harems in the Imperial Palace: the gift harem, containing females the Emperor lends or makes available to males in the court or visitors, and the Imperial Harem, used only by the Emperor and those in particular favor with him, at his express permission. In addition, permission must be sought to "damage" or kill his harem members. Females in the harems spend their time waiting for the visits of males. In the interim, they recline, converse, play games, and help one another bathe and groom themselves. They are not supposed to pleasure themselves in the absence of males. Harem members come together in joyful solidarity at the successful birth of one of their members' children.

The Slave Queen's few duties included assessing the health of a female who wanted to conceive and then giving or withholding permission to do so, placing the face-jewels on the current Mother, and bringing new slaves to the Preparation Room. She is generally resented by harem members, though they treat her with deference as she has a title. "They did not love her. They did not love themselves. But the possibility of better treatment--that they understood."

Harem members, along with the prettier slaves, may be used as living statues for fêtes and important events, or privately.

Pregnant harem members who have difficulty giving birth do not habitually get medical attention, even when the lack would result in the death of them or the child. The mender, however, will give them advice on conceiving.

It is still considered proper to approach the Slave Queen by flying into a lower harem and then walking up; this custom dates back to when the Queen Ransomed was a respected figure, and has not died out even in the modern era where females are nonpeople.

Child Rearing

Typically, Chatcaava do not name their children from birth, and simply think of them as "son" or "daughter" before later assigning them a tag.

Death Rites

The noble males, after killing one another, show no respect for the corpses, which are often heaved off balconies and left for carrion eaters, or dropped in the sea. The servants of the palace observe their own death rites, however, which involve wrapping the body in fragrant linen strips, wetted with oil that would speed the burning of the corpse when it is placed on a pyre. These bodies are burned in the morning, before the court woke, and when the light would not be as likely to be noticed. Sprigs of the everdawn herb are arranged somewhere near the face, as a symbol of the Living Air's promise that all Chatcaava will go where it is always morning.

Items, Art, and Possessions

===Material Culture===*Seats with low or narrow backs, or narrow backs that flare out at shoulder to head level, to account for wings

• Seating commonly on the ground on pillows
• Cups with broad mouths or spouts to accommodate drinking with a beaklike mouth
• Shallow shelves
• Tall, thin books
• Mosaics as dominant art form

Costume

Males' Clothing

At the Imperial palace, and perhaps elsewhere, males in relatively casual circumstances wear robes of silk or satin with slits to accommodate the wings, and, optionally, loose pants; the robe is pulled over the arms and beneath the wings and tied. The robes and pants have a range of levels of formality, from satin robes decorated with tiny beads to casual robes and sleep pants. Robes include slits for the wings. When worn by an Eldritch, the pants fit by hanging off the hips instead of around the waist.

Females' Clothing

Females generally wear nothing but jewelry and possibly paint/cosmetics, but they can be dressed for special effect; for instance, the Slave Queen wore a low-backed sideless robe and translucent shift to Lisinthir's introduction to the court, and Bethsaida was dressed in a thin shift shot through with silver thread for her presentation. Within the harem, they may wear sashes, scarves, or translucent shawls, but nothing concealing.

Jewelry

Jewelry is reserved for females, who are decorated to enhance their beauty and show the wealth and power of their masters; males do not wear it. Jewelry is created in the Preparation Room, where collars are also fitted.

Types of jewelry:

• Collars, used to denote status as a possession. Collars have a fastening to attach a leash, and may be elaborately decorated and set with cabochons. Temporary collars can be removed, but permanent collars are welded in place. The welding is done without causing damage to the skin thanks to a thin sheath placed between the metal and the neck. The Queen's collar has raised patterns and is set with amber cabochons; Bethsaida's, with opal.
• Rings
• Bracelets, including bracelets with chains connecting them
• Horn-rings, with or without gems hanging from them
• Armlets
• Anklets
• Chains with gems and bells strung through and around the perforations in the Queen's wings; exclusive to her
• Waist, tail, and horn-dangles
• A pendant, worn when a female sought to become pregnant by the Emperor and was given permission by the Queen to "seek his divine attention." The menders recognized it and would give the female advice on conceiving, and the Emperor recognized it too and might choose to give the Mother-in-progress special favor.
• The Mother's face-jewels, draped over the brow and anchored on the horns, given when the Mother-in-progress conceives a child by the Emperor and becomes the Mother.

The Queen kept a piece of jewelry from each harem member who was killed, retrieved from the body by the Mother.

Cosmetics and Toiletries

• Smoothing lotion for the mane
• Paint and powder to accentuate wounds and injuries
• Scented oil for wing-oiling
• Soap intended for Chatcaavans are not suited to the skin of aliens; Laniis Baker used her own rose-and-spice scented soap, which the Queen later offered to Lisinthir.

Members

Courtiers

• Lord of the Jeweled Reaches (he has poor distance sight)
• Lord of the Marchward Flight (deceased as of Worldlord-Second's acclimation)
• Spinward Western Marches (tan with gray mane)
• System Apex-North
  • System Apex-North's Hand

Servants and Staff

Palace maintenance is done by a combination of individuals Outside (all male, usually specialists or authorities), and a fleet of female and castrate servants. This team oversees the environs immediately outside the palace (the grounds and the herds used for food) and the buildings themselves. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, repair and maintenance of systems (mechanical and computer), provisioning, accounting, lawncare, livestock handling and butchering, bodyservants, nursery attendants, interior decorating (and repair for frequent destruction of, or wear on pillows, sheets, curtains, glassware, etc), and oversight and decoration of harem females. Additionally medical care--advanced for the lords and minor for the servants--is undertaken by this team.

The top of this hierarchy is a male known as the Overseer. This male is an appointee out of Second's column, and reports to the hand of Second. He is a courtier/uncut male, and Inside, and is aligned with the current power structure. He can hire, fire, kill, or replace those Outside staff working for the palace, but his power over them is otherwise minimal, particularly if his superiors like the Outside staff. He has free rein with the servants, however, and their organization, roles, duties, living arrangements, feeding, and health are completely in his power.

Female servants compose the majority of the menial labor, with castrate help; the ratio of female-to-castrate is high because most male servant children are killed at birth. Only a few are cut and remanded to the labor pool.

Staff Outside

• Surgeon
• Triages
• Master of the Preparation Room

Servants

Castrates can have names like descriptive names or normal names.

• Cirrus
• Everdawn
• Oviin and Tsonet, nestbrothers

Females

The Queen Ransomed, just prior to the palace coup, reports that there are "thirty-odd children" and that many females, about, in each of the harems. Laniis later estimates the totals between 100 and 150. Harem females remain in the harem until they no longer interest the current Emperor, at which point they are usually gifted to courtiers for use in their households. They are rarely sent into the labor pool because life in the harem does not prepare them for labor, and they have been proven to be consistently poor performers: either too weak for the work, or too indolent.

Queen's Suite

• Slave Queen, the most exalted and most debased. Has her own suite above the Imperial Harem
• Temporarily, alien slaves
  • Khaskha/Laniis
  • Bethsaida Emil Galare
  • Unnamed Malarai and Tam-illee, captured along with Bethsaida
  • Sixteen unnamed aliens

Imperial Harem

• Black Rose
• Dapple
• Emerald, later the Mother
• Firemint
• Flower
• Garnet
• Moon
• Pretty
• Priestess (Stripes)
• Song (Character) |Song
• Sun's Kindness
• Quickness

Gift Harem

• An unnamed bronze-skinned female sent to Lisinthir Nase Galare

Nursery

• Lead Attendant, assigned name Sojourner Stars; self-titled

Children

• Gale
• Whisper
• Maazi

Alien Slaves

• New alien slaves are quartered in the Palace catacombs until they are released to the Slave Queen, who has them collared and decorated in the Preparation Room.

Trivia

• The Emperorship is referred to metaphorically (and perhaps literally?) as the Thorn Throne or the Throne of Thorns.