Monday, August 12, 2013

Fantasy Core RPG: Jianghu Setting-The Governor's Ministers

Fantasy Core RPG
© Jerry Harris 2013
(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Index.)

The Governor’s Ministers of State

Eunuchs tend to be missing more than just body parts, namely their humanity.

Shaman Ministers in the Empire wield a tremendous amount of power, not just magically, but politically.  They control important departments and are accorded the respect of nobles and royalty.  They are the cohesive glue that has allowed the Manchu government to rule the Han people.  Ministers have also made the ultimate sacrifice to obtain their magical power and to enter into the ruling class.  Males have lost their manhood.  Females lose their breasts and are sterilized.  (Yes, I know that’s not historical.  Just trying to be gender equitable for a change.)  This is the proof of their loyalty and to ensure that, in a culture where family is everything, the Empire itself is their only descendant.

Not everyone in the departments are eunuchs or shamen, but all of the Ministers and Sub-Ministers are.  All of the lower level members are referred to as Officers. Anyone with aspirations of higher office will be shamen in training.  High level officers who are not shamen are referred to as Masters or Mistresses.  Officers and Masters/Mistresses are accorded respect as a Minister.  They may give orders to and take command of bureaucrats, soldiers, and constables, within reason, under certain circumstances.  Only Sub-Ministers and Ministers have something approaching blanket authority over other government officials.   

While eunuchs are generally the epitome of loyalty to the Empire, a few do go rouge.  Disgraced eunuchs may be powerful enough to escape punishment.  Rulers have even been deposed by sufficiently vain Ministers.  Many eunuchs possess Forbidden spells, which are eponymously not allowed.  It is usually not an issue unless said spell use is publicly exposed. 

There is one such spell that will carry a death sentence: the Gender Switch Ceremony.  It is what it sounds like, a eunuch fully becomes the opposite sex.  There is only one advantage to completing this spell.  It allows for the casting of high level forbidden spells without any penalty, such as insanity (given that the caster is already insane).  There is no good reason for needing this ability, unless the caster is planning on usurping power. 

There is a good deal of professional rivalry between Governor Yu’s Ministers and their departments/chambers (and outright animosity between Xun and Liu).  The different chambers are constantly stepping on each other’s toes, trying usurp each other’s authority in various situations (not to mention internal squabbles within the Chambers).  However, this all goes on behind the scenes.  While it is seemingly acceptable to embarrass a rival department, any matter that might cause the Governor himself embarrassment is unthinkable.  All Ministers will end up sharing in the shame and punishment (such as after the Yong Incident).  On some level, the Chambers are forced to work together in order to maintain order in Shang-tu.  That is ultimately paramount. 

All of the Chambers are of equal importance to Governor Yu, though the perception is seen to be otherwise.  Minister Liu and the North Chamber (palace security) are envied for being physically closest to the Governor, though having the least authority.  Minister Su and the South Chamber (economics and taxation) is in conference with the Governor the most, though also the most scolded.  Minister Xun and the East Chamber (internal security) has immediate access to the Governor at any time, but his job is to ensure that that is unnecessary.  Minister Kiri and the West Chamber (foreign affairs and military) may seem neglected in personal attention, but being in charge of the military, they have the largest budget and usually have priority in funding.               


These two Ministers are left undefined here in personalities and abilities.  It is up to you as to how you wish to use them.

Minister of the West Chamber Kiri: Foreign affairs and military

Minister of the South Chamber Su: Economics and taxation

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