The Twelve Ministries

The Twelve Ministries

It is important to note that anyone of Agent status can join any Ministry in which they choose and fit best. Each Ministry was dedicated to one of the five Clans and to that degree the Ministers, not the Agents, must be members of the Clan the Ministry is dedicated to. For example, while anyone can join as Agents of the Ministry of War, only hengeyokai can take the positions of Minister of War or Assistant Minister of War. A few Ministries may have certain requirements to join. One without fighting abilities is not suggested to seek a place in the Ministry of War, for example. The other Ministries use similar bases, and a few have actual Trait requirements. Inquire more about each Ministry from the Head Storyteller, Cam. If a new Agent is unsure of exactly what he or she should be doing in his or her chosen Ministry, the Elders may appoint certain tasks at least until the Agent is comfortable in the Court.

All members of the Court are paid a monthly stipend by the Court. It isn't much, but is enough to get by under most circumstances (especially considering that the Court offers free room & board at the pagoda). Those Courtmates who wish to waive their stipend are encouraged to instead elect an appropiate charity that the Ministry of Welfare sponsors. (Not all charities are safe, especially in the World of Darkness; let the experts decide.) The stipend is then funneled directly to that charity. Monthly stipends are as follows:

Agents: $1,000
Assistant Ministers: $1,250
Ministers: $1,500
Councillors: $2,000
Elders: Who do you think is paying your salary?

Ministry of the Month

For certain months the Council will take vote on which Ministries provided the greatest contributions for that month. Whichever Ministry is voted receives a commendation paper. At the end of a one year period, whichever Ministry has the most commendations receives a special reward. If more than one Ministry shares the same amount of commendations, both receive special rewards.

Sub-Ministries

The largest Ministries are further divided into Sub-Ministries. No "Sub-Ministers" are appointed and no additional duties are expected of the members. The Sub-Ministries are simply for additional organization and improved division of labor. Currently, only the Ministries of Justice, Secrets, and Welfare carry Sub-Ministries, as described below.

Ministry of Culture

Preservation of Little Asian culture -- in the many colors it comes -- is the foremost concern of this Ministry. Included in that culture is the prosperity of merchants of local, hand-made goods as well as all religious sites, including Western religions bearing temples and churches within Little Asia. The discouragement of immoral, irreligious, or overly barbaric ways are also a task for this Ministry to pursue. Religion and belief is the life-blood of the hsien, and so its Ministerial duties falls into their hands.

Ministry of Education

This Ministry is in the business of providing an efficient education for their fellow Court-mates. Too many in the Court narrow their studies to only certain roads. Such makes for poor scholars indeed. The Ministry of Education has the duty of testing its fellows for education levels, then arranging courses for the tutelage of specific fields. These fields include modern science and computer technology to the arcane of astrology and cosmology, from literature and humanities from all cultures, Oriental and Occidental, to numerology and lore. This was given to Clan Chi'n Ta to honor the mages' traditional role as devoted scholars and sages.

All members of the Court are invited to attend the variety of subject courses the Ministry of Education offers. There is no fee or requirement of any sort to attend, but those who choose to attend are expected to do so responsibly and keep up with studies and assignments.

Go here for systems related to the educational ability of this Ministry.

Ministry of the Fabric

An important Ministry, the Ministers and Agents herein are first expected to be the middlemen between the Court and the spirit worlds. They communicate with and interpret for all manner of benevolent and allied spirits and their symbolic manifestations. Their tasks also include keeping tabs on the Mirror Lands, watching for signs of impending danger. They are often the ones to take action against extra-dimensional threats. These duties traditionally fall into the shamanistic hands of Clan Hengeyokai and it would be a disservice to offer them elsewhere.

Ministry of Finance

The Ministry of Finance has a most important job -- the management and protection of all Court funds. These members of this Ministry are to monitor and protect funds electronically and at times, publically. To that end, some members of this Ministry are accountants while others may be knee-cappers. In any event, this Ministry has one of the (apparently) safest tasks, and so it was assigned to the less-empowered Clan Jinrui. There is less danger, however, but just as much responsibility.

Ministry of Justice

One can imagine the Ministry of Justice as the "police force" of the Court of Infinite Ages. This Ministry is largely comprised of those courtiers who are adept at hunting demons. With steel or fang, these courtiers slice off the corrupted blights in Little Asia like the pruning of a beautiful flower. Working in pairs while patrolling the district or as lone spies who uncover the darkness, leaving only to return with an army of their comrades, this Ministry is often on the front-line of the ever-present conflict with vampire and demon alike. These duties were awarded to Clan Jinrui due to the unAwakened warrior's desire to quell the evil of nefarious shen.

Sub-Ministry of Prevention

Tasked to the patrolling of Little Asia and investigation of criminal and more importantly Yomispawn activities. Their job is the traditional role of this Ministry -- finding and stopping evil before it does its deeds.

Sub-Ministry of Punition

When Prevention fails and innocent victims are taken, the Sub-Ministry avenges their deaths. The members of Punition are the lesson-teachers, hunters, and assassins of the Court, and their sanctioned targets are those who murder and abuse the helpless and commit great injustices against Heaven.

Ministry of the Land

The lands and waters of Little Asia require constant maintenance if they are to be kept as clean as possible. Demonic forces constantly work to rip apart the wilderness, aided by foolish forces like the Subtle Thunders who would cut down the entire forest and put up a mall in the name of "progress". This Ministry is a preservation force, much like the Ministry of Culture. Important to everyone, especially the hsien and hengeyokai, the duties of this Ministry involve protecting the lands from poachers and deforesters, as well as keeping the streets of Little Asia (not the rest of the city, that's too monumental) as clear as litter as possible while beautifying its few public parks and gardens. The stretch of the Missouri River (the Blue River) that passes nearby also falls into this Ministry's protectorate.

Although some might assume this to be sole province of the hengeyokai, the duties of the hengeyokai are often muddled -- they are the protectors, the warriors, not so much the preservers or groundkeepers. That task traditionally fell into the hands of the kamuii hsien, so management of the Ministry was awarded to the elemental lords.

Ministry of Lore

The upkeep of the Court library is not a simple task. It involves the management and organization of what is already in the library. It also involves that the members seek out more information to be gathered, recorded, and compiled -- especially knowledge and lore regarding other supernaturals and their ways of life (their plans are left to the Ministry of Secrets to uncover), and every nuance conceivable. As the gathering of knowledge has long been attributed to the scholarly chi'n ta, this Ministry's tasks fall firstly into their hands.

Ministry of Omens

The future remains a mystery to many, and especially to a Court without diviners. This Ministry's duties entail the act of attempting to divine the future for the good of the Court. Omens are interpreted, spirit warnings heeded, bones are cast, visions are dreamed -- all of this falls into the hands of the Ministry of Omens. Any major task that the Court may undertake is often subjected to the Ministry of Omens' divination first, to insure that the Court will not bring disaster down upon itself. If battle is the strength of the hengeyokai and immortality the benefit of the vampire, then awareness is the gift of the chi'n ta -- it's thus only sensible that it given to the sorcerors to manage.

Ministry of Relations

If the Ministry of Secrets is the Court's eyes and the Ministry of War is the Court's hands, then the Ministry of Relations is the Court's voice. Diplomats are sent to chosen organizations throughout the city from this Ministry. The art of diplomacy is a delicate one and not to be taken lightly. The slightest mishap can start a war. On the other hand, successful diplomacy can bring invaluable alliances. Clan Hengeyokai was awarded this Ministry after the dissolution of Clan Kyaku.

Ministry of Secrets

The Ministry of Secrets is the eyes of the Court. Its members must be keen and watchful, ever-observant of their surroundings. They are the scouts and spies of the Court, always keeping tabs on friends and foes alike. They may lurk in the shadows or walk down the street, or they may accompany the Ministry of Relations in diplomatic missions. They are always there, however, seeing and learning all of the rest of the city's secrets. As the Dead are often best fitted for spying without being detected, this Ministry falls into the hands of such shen, Clan Rinji, in the Court.

Sub-Ministry of Information

Gathering secrets can be done in many ways. Those in this Sub-Ministry excel at gleaning hard information on the affairs of Little Asia's denizens from any particular source -- street contact, spirit, computer. They may not be the best at staying unseen or exploring, but their service is just as valuable.

Sub-Ministry of Observation

Members of this Sub-Ministry are tasked to uncovering dangers to the Court and Little Asia through direct (and preferably unseen) observation. They may not have a lot of connections or research ability, but are brave explorers and scouts.

Ministry of War

The Ministry of War is the first line of defense for the Court. At current time, the Court's primary strategy is defensive. This Ministry's duties entail determining practical strategies and tactics combining the marvelous array of potential a Court of mixed shen can provide. The Ministry is also responsible for tutoring their Courtmates in the various methods of combat. And finally, those in this Ministry are expected to be on the front-line of any major conflict, leading their brethren to victory. Unsurprisingly, this Ministry falls into the hands of the hengeyokai, perhaps the mightiest warriors of the shen.

All Courtmates must attend the physical and combat training courses the Ministry of War teaches. The Court does not want to create an army, but all Courtmates are expected to be able to at least defend themselves and their fellows. A well-written letter of moral purpose given to the Elders of the Court will count as an excuse from these courses. Examples of "moral purpose" include offending one's current instructor (for students who attend one of the martial arts schools in the district, like the Kwoon) or being of a pacifist philosophy. Also, once a Courtmate reaches a certain level of skill (*** by Trait level), he graduates from the training courses and need not attend anymore. Training includes (Physical Attributes: add all Attributes up and match or exced 12 dots to graduate; Firearms, Brawl/Martial Arts, and Melee).

Ministry of Welfare

Someone has to take care of the hapless mortals of the city, at least in the area of interest in which the Court of Infinite Ages stands (Little Asia). The mortal government is corrupt, the undead abound in ridiculous numbers, and even the Subtle Thunders are unable to provide an environment anywhere near safe. This Ministry works to preserve the health, prosperity, and dignity of all humanity in their protectorate. Whether they do it from sponsoring soup kitchens or attending charity balls, their purpose remains the same. As the duties of answering mortals' prayers has traditionally fallen into the hands of the hsien (ever since the Wan Xian botched their chance), especially the hirayanu who have long been closest to mankind, this Ministry's management is their own.

Sub-Ministry of Health

The physical, psychological, and even spiritual health of the humans of Little Asia is this Sub-Ministry's first concern. It may seem that that is what the Ministry of Welfare did anyway, and indeed the line between this Sub-Ministry and the one discussed below is thin. But to further differentiate, this Sub-Ministry specializes in dealing with health care, soup kitchens, and counseling.

Sub-Ministry of Serenity

Serenity, peace of mind, comes for most human beings when their economic affairs are stable -- not necessarily wealthy, but at least able to maintain a dignified life and family. This Sub-Ministry helps Little Asia's population attain that state. Various charity programs, education of the youth against dangers (e.g., teen pregnancy), and the search for lost family members to help a family stay stable are all part of this Sub-Ministry's job.

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