Ask a Samanayr who is in charge of their world and the answer will change depending on the individual’s magical ability. The Song of the Rainbow appears to be the center of Samanayr society, and indeed many social events take place around the Song of the Rainbow Hotsprings while the lead stallion of the Song of the Rainbow interacts directly with the Sharians. However, magic-wielding Samanayrs are more likely to perceive the Mystics’ Circle as the leaders.
The Circle is a group of five Mystics who are in charge of many aspects of the Samanayr world, although not nearly as publicly as the Song of the Rainbow. The Circle includes four Mystics, each able to use magic from one of the main elements, and also a fifth, the First Mystic, who leads the Circle. The First can control any type of magic and is chosen by the Circle, and is usually elevated from regular Circle membership rather than bringing in an outsider.
The Mystics in the Circle are chosen by the current Circle members when they retire or die. The First is required to retire after five years as First or whenever the Circle chooses to promote a new First. Firsts usually go their full five-year span and it’s unusual for the Circle to promote a new First before the old one is ready to retire. It’s also seen as a reprimand to the old First as it means the Circle as a whole does not think the First was leading well.
The Circle does consult with the Song of the Rainbow when required but it’s a very one-sided conversation. For the most part they treat the Song of the Rainbow as the public figurehead while they see themselves doing the ‘important’ work in the background.
History
The Circle was formed during the time when Samanayrs were still widely scattered, before the formation of the Song of the Rainbow Hotsprings but after Songs were introduced. The Samanayr population was dwindling rapidly, a fact discovered by the Mystics, who at that time still wandered from Song to Song. With the greater distance between Songs it was harder for unrelated Samanayrs to meet and form new Songs, and the dangers of the world, including capture by humans and Kysians, made travelling incredibly risky. Fewer Songs were being formed and so fewer foals were being born, and those that were born had a higher mortality rate.
Three Mystics happened to meet upon their travels one day and, upon comparing notes, realized the danger the Samanayr population was in. They decided to help escort groups of young Samanayrs to other, unrelated groups to aid in the formation of Songs and getting of foals. They decided to begin at the furthest reach of their territory, in the east, and make their way as far west as they could, gathering and leaving Samanayrs as they went over the year-long journey.
Their mission was a success and they safely escorted hundreds of young Samanayrs to new areas to begin their Songs and families, pausing over the winter when travelling became too difficult. Over the course of the year the trio picked up two more Mystics who wished to join them, and their number became five. They began to refer to their journey as the Circle, and themselves as the Mystics of the Circle. In time they just became known as the Circle.
They completed the journey ten more times and became very well known in the area. Songs began to time their foals so that their yearlings would be ready when the Mystics made their regular arrival. In addition to their escorting duties, the Mystics also provided a more advanced level of dispute arbitration and were able to combine their magical abilities to perform greater magical feats than a lone Mystic could, although they performed such feats only when absolutely necessary to conserve their energies for their travels. It was natural that many Samanayrs began to view them as the ones in charge, especially as the Samanayr population began to grow with the success of their journeys and foals heard the tales of the brave Mystics that helped their dam or sire to their new home.
At the end of their twelfth journey some very strange news greeted the Mystics when they arrived at the westernmost point of their circuit. A local Song had made contact with a silver Sharian named Moontide shortly before the Circle was due to arrive. The Song presented the Circle as the representatives of their kind, a title they did not dispute, and from then they acted as such with the blessing of the other Samanayrs, at least at the time.
Organization
Today the Circle consists of four members, each controlling one of the basic natural magic types – earth, air, fire, or water. The leader of the Circle, known as the First, can control any type of natural magic. A Mystic able to control more than one type of magic can take any of the positions related to the types of magic they control, so a Fire-Water Mystic could be Fire or Water of the Circle. As more magic types have been discovered there has been a push to allow for different types of magic to be part of the basic Circle as well, but currently the Circle is holding firm with the basic four.
There is currently no limit on how long a Mystic can be a member of the Circle, although a member can be voted out at any time by a majority of the the other members. This is something that occurs more often than is probably necessary due to personal disputes rather than concerns with competency or ability, which is what voting out a member was originally intended for. The membership of the Circle changed fairly regularly, although the current members have managed to remain as a group for several years now.
When a member retires, dies, or is voted out, a replacement for that position is found during the annual Summer Meet at the Mystic Hotsprings. Nominations can be made by non-Circle Mystics and all Mystics present participate in the vote for the position. If the vote results in a tie or there is extreme disagreement about the winning candidate, a duel between candidates may occur, something that is not encouraged and usually results in injuries or even death.
Members of the Circle can be in a Song, but the Song is expected to follow the Circle wherever they go. The bearing or siring of foals is discouraged while the Mystic is a Circle member but not completely unheard of.
The First
The First is the leader of the Circle, with almost ultimate power over the other members. Originally the First was chosen based on intelligence, wisdom, level temper, and magical ability, but today charisma, private political agendas, and other more unfortunate criteria often play a role in the election of a new First.
At first the duties of the First were to break ties between the other members, be the voice of the Circle, and to act as arbitrator between the other members. Today the First has much more power, with the ability to command other Mystics as a whole and to override decisions made by the rest of the Circle. They must still follow the regulations and laws of Samanayr society as a whole, and failure to do so can result in mutiny between the other Circle members and the First being expelled.
The First must retire after five years of serving as First, either leaving the Circle altogether or taking up an elemental post, if the appropriate one is free. The new First is chosen by the four other members of the Circle and is usually promoted from Circle ranks, although an outsider is occasionally brought in for the position. As the First must remove themselves entirely from the process of picking their successor, the selection process can get quite heated between the other members. Duels and outright battles aren’t an unusual occurrence during this process.
Circle Duties
Today the Circle travels almost constantly during the warmer months, stopping only for the Summer Meet. They limit their movements to the area around the Mystic Hotsprings in the winter, except in the case of emergencies. While travelling, if someone needs to contact the Circle, they can be reached by fast-flying and specially trained dragonets that make their home at the Mystic Hotsprings.
The Circle’s main duties are:
Arbitration
Disputes both big and small are judged by the Circle.
Magic
They can perform larger magical tasks as a group or smaller ones for Songs and Samanayrs that do not have a local Mystic who can (or is willing to) help them.
Consulting with the Song of the Rainbow
As the stallion of the Song of the Rainbow is the official representative of the Samanayrs to the Sharians, the Circle consults with him regularly.
Carrying news, stories, and items
Although Wandering Mystics and other Samanayrs also carry news and stories from place to place, some don’t consider them ‘official’ until they’ve heard them sung by the Circle.
Planning and organization
The Circle helps to plan the location of new Songs and hot springs, works with others to prepare adequately for the coming winter, encourages Songs to produce more or fewer foals depending on local conditions, and other such tasks.
Samanayr escort
In more dangerous areas the Circle still performs their original duty of escorting Samanayrs from place to place.
Census
The Circle tracks the Samanayr population to the best of their abilities.
Training and dispatching Wandering Mystics
Most Wandering Mystics are taught by the Circle and then dispatched as necessary.
The Circle has a set three-year route they follow, which incorporates the summer and winter breaks and takes them to most of the lands inhabited by Samanayrs over the course of the three years. They can deviate from the route if there’s an urgent need of their services but this is very uncommon.
The Mystic Hotspring
The Mystic Hotspring is both the home of the Circle and their center of operations. It is located a two day’s walk down the Sharian road from the Song of the Rainbow Hotsprings and is hidden deep within the forest, featuring one large hot spring with water that cascades down a series of smaller springs until finally flowing into the river below. A series of magically-created caves in the cliffs surrounding the largest hot spring house the Circle, their Songs, other Mystics on duty, the dragonets and other pets, and visitors, as well as various storerooms. At the top of the cliff is a large clearing where assemblies can be held, with a large rock platform at the cliff edge.
The exact location of the Mystic Hotspring is known to all Samanayrs but kept a secret from the Sharians and other non-Samanayrs. It is considered a special place for all Samanayrs, but especially to Mystics – their seat of power, their place of refuge.
There are a few year-round residents, mostly Mystics who work with the Circle, and visitors are always welcome, except for Miseries and Sa’kriens. Local Mystics who are not in a Song, especially wandering Mystics, tend to spend the winter at the Mystic Hotspring with the Circle and their Songs.
The Summer Meet
The Summer Meet is an annual event where the Circle remains at the Mystic Hotspring for a week or two during the summer. All local Mystics are expected to attend and as many as can travel from more distant places. Non-Mystics are also welcome if they have a request or grievance they would like to air to the Circle.
General assemblies are held every morning where news is exchanged, plans are discussed, and requests are made. In the afternoons the Circle works with smaller groups of Mystics and the evenings are reserved for feasting and relaxation. If there is an open space in the Circle, nominations and voting for the new Circle member also take place during the Meet, so it’s important for non-Circle Mystics to attend if they want to become known and have a chance at a Circle position.
The stallion of the Song of the Rainbow is also expected to attend the Meet in order to catch up on Samanayr business.
Conflict
“The Circle helps the grass to grow but tells me when I may eat it.” – anonymous Samanayr
Although there is no doubt that the Circle does good and useful work, there are many Samanayrs that are in conflict with the Circle for one reason or another.
Non-Mystic Samanayrs
Non-Mystic but still magical Samanayrs in particular feel that they are not adequately represented by the Circle, arguing that although Mystics were one of the few magical species when the Circle was formed this is no longer true. Campaigns to include non-Mystics in their number have not been successful and a number of non-Mystics actively resist pressures from the Circle to act one way or another.
The exceptions are Miseries, who have no desire to join the Circle, and the Elementals, who consider themselves above these kind of petty concerns. It’s rumoured that the Kirins are working to create their own form of governing body, and indeed they have become much less vocal about the Circle as of late.
Non-Magical Samanayrs
Non-magical Samanayrs also feel that a group of Mystics may not necessarily be representing them or their interests fairly, particularly when a request for a magical work is turned down or an arbitration does not go their way. As with the non-Mystic magical Samanayrs, attempts have been made to have non-magical Samanayrs as a part of the Circle have not been successful.
A certain amount of the Circle’s work is shrouded in secrecy (for their own reasons, whatever they may be) and many feel that they should be more transparent about what they’re doing and why. When a Song is told they shouldn’t have more foals or that they should move to a different location they are not always given an explanation, which is obviously frustrating. The vast majority still follow their orders because the Circle is still helpful and valuable in many ways, but Samanayrs and Songs that don’t do as they’re asked can find themselves spurned by the Circle in times of real need.
The Song of the Rainbow
Originally the Circle and the Song of the Rainbow worked together more or less equally, but as the years passed the Circle took on more and more responsibilities while the Song was busy with the Sharians and other, smaller tasks. Today the Song acts more as the public face of the Samanayr world but has little involvement outside local affairs and maintaining their relationship with the Sharians. Non-Mystics are more likely to approach the Song with a problem and ask to have it passed on to the Circle than deal with the Circle directly.
The Circle deals with the stallion of the Song of the Rainbow, who they see as a figurehead without much real power. They instruct him on his interactions with the Sharians and give him orders to pass on to his Song and the local Samanayrs. There is a great deal of patronization on the Circle’s part, as if they’re doing a favor in keeping him ‘in the loop.’
Most of the stallions of the Song of the Rainbow have found this a very uncomfortable position to be in and have avoided dealings with the Circle as much as possible, preferring to make their own decisions and acting on their own whenever they can. The Circle may see the Song stallion as a mere figurehead, but he certainly doesn’t see himself that way.
Glint of the Ice Prism is the first Kirin stallion of the Song of the Rainbow, and having heard the rumor that Kirins in general are planning on undermining the Circle’s power, they are very wary of him. The word is that the Circle limits their interactions with him as much as possible.
Current Circle Members
First
Mystic of the Windswept Woods (Earth-Air Mystic mare, songless, daughter of Glittering Earth and Edged Zephyr)
Earth
Mystic of the Glittering Earth (mare, lead mare of the Song of Singing Skies)
Air
Mystic of the Edged Zephyr (stallion, of the Song of Singing Skies)
Fire
Mystic of the Dream Aflame (stallion, songless)
Water
Mystic of the Dreaming Depths (mare, songless)