hPack Ranks
hhSovereign -- regnant leader/monarch, aka "the throne" [𖤓]
hhExarch -- chosen advisors to the Sovereign regnant (contains ranks of 'Consul' and 'Envoy.' [❅||❆]

hhVestal -- throne heir, chosen by sovereign [𓆩⚝𓆪]
hhConsorte -- sovereign's chosen mate(s) [🏵]

hhAcolyth -- general term for pack members [✵]
hhNovitiate -- juveniles; pups now coming into their own [✶]
hhTyro -- pup rank (babies!) [✦]
hhArchon -- eldest members of the pack, making up the archonate [☽||☾]

hhConsorte Regent -- ex-consorte of the current or previous sovereign [✾]
hh

hOverview
hhFrom the time of Mercia onward, each reigning sovereign has the right to:

hhhh-- a choice of Consorte(s)
hhhh-- a choice of Vestal
hhhh-- two choices of exarch

hhThose chosen as Consorte are considered outside of the political sphere, and therefore will have no real sway on pack politics or direction while inhabiting the role. They are also granted pack immunity, and are not allowed to fight or otherwise put themselves in harm's way. They answer to the Sovereign, and the Sovereign alone.
hhConsortes are allowed the unique ability to abandon their role without any input necessary from the Sovereign, exarchs, or archonate. They are thus granted the choice of whether to stay in the pack as an acolyth, or take up the role as a Consorte Regent, wherein they retain their immunity but are no longer subject to the previous restrictions of the role.

hhIn order to reign as Sovereign, it is understood one most procure a Vestal. While most Sovereigns are given a two-year grace period, after the third year, they must choose a Vestal. Otherwise, the Vestal will be chosen by the archonate.
hhIf a Vestal is chosen that the archonate deem unfit, they can push back on the decision after a majority vote is made, but only if they have their own candidate in mind. After this stance is taken, the decision will go to the acolyths to decide through vote which is the better candidate for the position.
hhVestals cannot be members of the archonate. They cannot be one of the chosen Exarchs. They cannot be a Consorte, or Consorte Regent. They do not have to be directly related to the Sovereign to be chosen. If a Vestal is chosen as an acolyth or tyro, once they age into the role of Archon, they no longer qualify for the position and must be replaced.
hhIf a Sovereign dies without having chosen a Vestal, the decision is turned over to the archonate. Otherwise, upon a Sovereign's death, the chosen Vestal at that time will ascend to the position of leadership without challenge.
hhNote: During their first two-year grace period, until they have chosen a Vestal, the archonate is not allowed to put forth any of their own candidates.

hhIn order to ascend to Sovereign, a wolf must choose two others to take up positions as exarchs -- aka, close advisors to the throne who are beholden only to the will of the Sovereign.
hhExarchs help direct and enforce the will of the Sovereign. They are seperate from the archonate in that they cannot put forth any political ideas of their own. They are reflective of the Sovereign's will.
hhThe position of exarch lasts for the time of their chosen Sovereign's rule. Once the Sovereign dies or steps down, they are thus relegated back to their place as acolyths or members of the archonate.

hhAcolyths are those who make up the main body of the pack. Followers of the Sovereign, and all that. They have graduated from the rank of novitiate, but have not yet aged into the role of an elder.
hhTo an acolyth, the position of Sovereign is meant to guide and affirm the larger beliefs of the pack. If the acolyths feel as if leadership is overstepping their bounds, or that they are no longer keeping the promise of a Sovereign to their pack, they can voice their complaints to the archonate.
hhThis allows them a paw in the handling of the pack, and presents the possibility of consequence if a Sovereign was to go too far.

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[WIP.txt]