Within a tangle of three powerful leylines and hundreds of minor ones lies the city of Chicago, a natural place of crossing even from the sleeper’s point of view. The city itself, placed on the edge of Lake Michigan, is a bountiful source of earth-bound power for Awakened and Sleeper alike.
History
Like many places of power, Chicago has it’s own story. Originally the Consillium was divided between the Southwest side Consillium and the Northside Consillium; with Diamond mages on both sides bickering and blaming each other for various Banisher and Seer attacks. This caused friction between the Consillia that momentarily abated when a number of Abyssal entities creeped into the world. During this attack of entities the Consillia united and allied with the Seers of the Throne for a time in order to save the lives of the Awakened. The final battle resulted in what is now known as ‘The Great Chicago Fire.’ After the fire the Diamond orders broke ties with the Seers with an understood mutual respect. The Consillia split as well, and returned to their gang war.
In the early 1920s Al “Scarface” Capone, a Sleepwalker was used by his Master Helios an Obrimos Silver Ladder, to attaion the Hierarch in the Southwest Consillium, he later managed to twist his own will to rope the Northside Consillium to his side. Thereby uniting the Consillia under his banner in 1924.
In 1925, Scarface was given the power and title of Chicago's Crimelord with no mortal suspecting it was Helios pulling the strings.
From the Sleeper’s point of view, Chicago has been marked by the Mafia and crime connections even decades later; this continues over into the Awakened side of things as well. To this day the Consillium has ties in both the Bureaucracy and the Crime of the city and manages to have a say on both sides of the field.
The Consillium
The Consillium of Chicago is currently presided over by Poseidon. Former Hierophant Ares tired of national Order and Path politics broke with traditions and choose his councilors from a speaker for each recognized cabal instead of path and or Order. Six months ago during a regular Consillium meeting Ares was met with a representative of the Guardians flanked by Arrows that charged him with negligence as hierophant leading to multiple deaths in Willowbrook and led him off to a trial. During that time Posiden was raised by the other cabals. After the trial Ares was executed for his crimes and the Orders left Chicago as is. Many reports were filed on follow up opinions by individual orders on what to do with Willowbrook.
The Consillium of Chicago Charter
Declaration
Disparate people, and yet, we are one. We may come from all walks of life. But, we are all members of the Awakened Nation. It is opportunity and fate that calls us together. Be it that we arrived through customs at the airport or were born to Chicago, we walk the same soil for this reason. Encompassing all the area of the City of Chicago; it is this Consilium’s solemn promise and it’s solemn necessity to protect those cabals that call Chicago home.
Responsibilities of the Consilium
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The Consilium of Chicago is charged with maintaining the Veil of Secrecy.
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The Consilium of Chicago is charged with the protection of the associated Cabals and Awakened of the Consilium of Chicago from outsides threats: those who are servants of the Lie, as well as those who are servants of their own insanity and servants of the Abyss.
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The Consilium of Chicago is charged with hearing the ideas, suggestions, and grievances of it’s associated cabals to increase the quality of Awakened Life. This may be done in a few ways:
Consilium Meetings: New business is scheduled to the agenda ahead of time via a Herald or Provost. Through a Provost or Councilor of the Cabal or Individual’s choosing at any time. Through a Herald, should the provosts and Councilors be not available.
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The Consilium of Chicago is charged with recording and tracking public Favors (Rite of Requite).
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The Consilium is charged with the task of maintaining the peace between the Associated Cabals. It is charged with the task of moderation between individuals and cabals, recognized by the Consilium’s Aegis. The Consilium must do all in its power to keep conflicts from escalating to the point of declaring Right of Nemesis. It is that drastic step, that takes our minds off of the task all Awakened are charged with.
The Consilium is charged with appointing a mediator to attempt to solve the problem before it escalates to the declaration of Nemesis; however, the Consilium does recognize the need for the Right of Nemesis under the Precept of War. Member Cabals are charged with bringing such a conflict to the Consilium prior to Right of Nemesis being enacted so that such mediation might take place.
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The Consilium is charged with the interpretation and the execution of the Wisdom of the Lex Magica. It is the wisdom of the Lex Magica and it’s Great Rights, that are protected by the will of the Consilium.
The Consilium of Chicago recognizes all of the Great Rights to it’s Member Cabals. Precedents set by decisions of the Consilium’s Councillors and the Hierarch alone may be added to the Lex Magica; as they are the wisest amongst us.
Lex Magica Violations
Should any of the polity of the Consilium of Chicago breach the Precepts in anyway, the perpetrator will be brought before the Consilium’s Council for a Hearing, and may request a Factotum to represent them.
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The Councilors shall convene and hear the case. These verdicts are final.
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Innocence is assumed, and Guilt must be proven.
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Guilty parties shall have judgement rendered under the Tetragrammaton.
Membership
Membership to the Consilium of Chicago is open to all individuals and cabals Recognized by a Consilium officer.
Duties
Note
No Member of the Chicago Consilium may hold more than one Consilium Office. Thus, to illustrate several examples, no Councilor may be both Councilor and Sentinel, or Councilor and Herald. Likewise, no Provost may be both Provost and Sentinel, and Provost and Herald, nor could a Herald be both Herald and Sentinel, and so on.
The Hierarch
The Hierarch is chosen from amongst the Councilors and is recognized as the wisest amongst them, and may appoint one Herald per ten Mages to assist her and act as the voice of the Hierarch and the voice of the Consilium.
Councilors
Councillors are the wisest of the Paths. Chosen and ascended to their positions in anyway the Path chooses. Should a case of a possible breach of the precepts come to them, Councillors must hear and decide upon guilt or innocence.
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Provosts may be chosen by Councillors in any way the Councillor deems. There are no restrictions upon who may be elected Provost. Each Councilor is allowed a single (1) Provost.
Following the vacancy of the office, a Conclave of the Path is called to determine a new Councilor. A Councilor may be appointed in one of three traditional methods:
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By Majority: A vote. A majority of votes is obtained from all Path members not seeking the appointment themselves. If the Conclave numbers too few to collect three votes, the 'majority' is too few and the collective will of all in attendance will pronounce the Councilor by Acclamation.
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By Acclamation: A contender for the position is overwhelmingly favored to the extent that there is either no dissent, or only one or two -- often rivals for the position.
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By Superiority: In cases where one or more contenders questions the collective Wisdom of the Conclave, the office may be seized by a demonstration of superior Enlightenment. This may be in the form of a demonstration of Mastery, Power, or even a Duel Arcane, or forfeiture of said challenge(s).
Heralds
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Heralds may recognize new member cabals of the Consilium.
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Heralds are charged with informing the Council of any new Solitaires and Cabals who have been recognized and informing the polity of any news and changes.
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Neutral heralds are charged with overseeing the Rite of Requite should two members of the Consilium wish to undergo it.
Provosts
Provosts speak with their Councilor’s voice, but must escalate cases of possible Breaches of the Precepts to the Council. They must be of the same path as their Councillor.
Sentinels
It is the Sentinel’s duty to be informed and be ready for possible threats to the Consilium and its members. Be they of the Void, the Mad, and the Liars as well as threats from within.
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The Sentinels may be called upon by the Consulate to execute the will of the Consilium.
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Sentinels are to be chosen by the Hierarch or Council.
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Sentinels are able to deputize magi temporarily without the need of formal permission from the Hierarch or Consulate. This deputization lasts for the extent of the problem, or 72 hours, whichever comes first. Deputies may be created again (reactivated) if the problem is not solved at the end of 72 hours, but the Hierarch and Council must be notified at this time and approved by the Hierarch for the continuation of the deputization for the remainder of the problem. Deputies, while active, act at the authority of the Sentinel which deputized them. As such, any action taken by the deputy during this time is also an action of the Sentinel which deputized them.
embers
Those member cabals within the Consilium of Chicago, are asked of the following, so that the Consilium may prosper and flourish as a whole and greater than the sum of its parts:
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It is asked that those member Cabals of the Consilium of Chicago respect the edicts and mandates of the Consilium; to adhere to any and all verdicts either for or against them, including individual members.
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Should the Consilium be attacked by outside forces and a call to action is declared, it is the duty of the member Cabals to heed and accept the call to action.
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It is asked that those member Cabals of the Consilium of Chicago may ask for a favor of its member cabals. Ranging from access to its resources to its expertise. This is a favor that is repaid over time by the Consilium.
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Failure by any member of a Member Cabal or any total failure by an entire Member Cabal to adhere to their duties to the Consilium of Chicago may result in the following or more determining on the nature of the Lex Magica of the Consilium of Chicago:
Revoking of protection by the Consilium of Chicago Freezing of the Member or Member Cabal’s assets, including it's Sanctum or Hallow. Forced Service to the Consilium of Chicago.
Trial Procedures
A Trial occurs when an accusation is made by one Recognized member against another Recognized member. The accusation must be made in regards to a Law of the Consilium. An accusation, and thus a trial, may be brought against anyone who was a Recognized member of the Consilium at the time of the crime they are accused of. Thus, even if a Sentinel strips a member of the Consilium of their recognition before or after an accusation was brought forth, the accused would still be brought to trial so long as they were Recognized when the supposed crime was committed.
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The Council will declare the date of a Trial after the Accusation has been heard and Factota have been assigned to prosecute as well as advise and defend the Accused. The Trial must take place within a year of the Council hearing the Accusation.
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The Heralds are charged with informing the polity of the charge.
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The Heralds or Provost are charged with bringing the Accusation immediately (within 24 hours by written message or telephone call) to the Council.
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A Councilor who has been accused, or who has brought accusation against another member of the Consilium, must appoint a Provost, or, in the case of a Provost being one of the accused, the accuser, or an assigned Factotum, another member of their Path to Represent their Path and act as Judge during the trial.
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In the case of a Councilor being aware of an accusation, they must also inform the rest of the Council, as well as the Heralds within 24 hours.
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Any Member of the Consilium involved in an Accusation or a declared Trial is exempt from any Duel Arcane challenge issued over a matter which involves the Accusation or Trial.
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All Accused are not innocent nor guilty until stated by the Council during the assigned Trial.
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The Council is tasked with finding the Truth.
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Accused may plead either Guilty or Not Guilty.
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Should the Accused plead Guilty, the Council will move directly to the penalty stage as required by the Tetragrammaton.
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Should the Accused plead Not Guilty, the Council will further hear the case.
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When the Accused pleads Not Guilty the Council must judge the Truth of the Accusation and the events involved therein.
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One Factotum, assigned before the Date of the Trial, will prosecute the case.
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One Factotum, assigned before the Date of the Trial, will defend the Accused.
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Sentinels are charged to assist the Prosecutor in investigating the accusation.
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The Defense may retain assistance to prove innocence.
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Witnesses called by the Prosecution or Defense are required by Law to stand and give evidence.
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Once all evidence is received, the Council will deliberate.
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All evidence must be presented during the Trial. The Council must examine all evidence.
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If cleared or convicted of the accusation, the accused is protected from any retribution under the Precept of War.
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The Council is charged with using the Tetragrammaton and Prior Judgement's to decide on any necessary punishment.
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All decisions are final. There is no appeals process.
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Should the Accused be found guilty, a failure to adhere to the punishment may result in the removal of protections of the Consilium, banishment, or forced servitude to the Consilium.
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