A Guider of the Way

The Guiders of the .Virtuous .Way are the counsellors and advisers to those who follow its path - and over the centuries their formal organisation has grown into a complex and tradition laden ‘caste’ with all the associated training, ritual, and responsibilities of a more religiously driven priesthood. At their head sits the ‘High Diviner’ - a post that holds a rank and regard equivalent to the Corriden King. Under him/her sits a hierarchy of Diviners, Advisors, and more lowly Guiders and Counsellors, many of whom are engaged in education as well as spiritual and moral guidance. Every Corriden House has its own Diviner, and a body of Guiders, advisers and counsellors who report to them. For reasons of tradition (and probably political and practical reasons) no Guider can reach the rank of Diviner in their own House, and because of this - among other things - the Guider’s caste help keep the influence of the various Houses balanced and enable ideas and innovations to be shared with even the farthest flung outpost and colony.
  Followers of the Way may or may not believe in a god - faith is immaterial to the dedications of Virtue, which are expressed through action and behaviour. .The core of the ‘Way’ is this - that there are seven Virtuous Disciplines, which every soul should follow in order to achieve inner strength and evidence integrity. These Virtues are:
  Production - that is, working to physically produce necessary commodities. Farmers, harvesters, hunters, gardeners, spinners, weavers, chemists, and other professions follow the productive path.
  Leadership - not just inspiring followers, but also being good organisers, managers, tacticians, and strategists. Diplomacy and bargaining are skills that belong on the leaders path.
  Support - working to ensure the health and well being of others in the community, from the humble driver, through the tedium of bureaucracy, to the highly skilled medic, those that follow the supporting path are acknowledged and respected, as society cannot function smoothly without them.
  Construction - the builders, the mechanics, the engineers: all those who make and maintain the machinery and infrastructure that society needs.
  Learning - not just personal learning, but exploration, science and research, alongside teaching and training. Those that follow the learning path bring knowledge to all.
  Defence - the arts of justice and the stalwart defender. The Corrideans are not particularly warlike, and dislike the idea of a warrior ‘caste’, but they approve of those who know how to respond to violence and are willing to offer their lives in the defense of others. Most houses have ‘arms masters’ who act as bodyguards, and ‘justicers’ who serve as police/enforcers of the law. The defender’s path is one of physical self discipline and mental courage and integrity. (NB - even a loyal House defender can act against his House leader if they feel the orders given promote unjustified harm to others. The virtue of the Way always takes precedence over the virtue of loyalty). Defenders can also be found serving in the various planetary/kingdom military arms, or as officers of the law under local Council commissions.
  Creation - the final (and some say most demanding) discipline is the creative way: the expression of creative talent, whether that be in music, art, craft, cookery, poetry or other performance/creative field. The follower of the creative way strives to produce unique and original pieces, to add to the body of art and beauty that all society shares.
  Each discipline links to and reflects all the others. The truly virtuous will strive to master aspects of all seven, but it is generally recognised that most followers will focus on one or two, drawing on aspects of the others to complete their personal virtuous circle.
  A Guider ranked as 'Guide' does not need to have mastered all seven Virtues, but does need to demonstrate their understanding of all of them, and be aware of how they should be expressed. They have a slightly higher standing than a simple Counsellor (who can only advise and provide education in the Way) being able to assess behaviours, direct relevant actions, and impose learning requirements on those that seek their guidance.
  Unlike the Diviners, who stand above them, they have no powers to judge or censor an individual, but they may decide to report someone who - claiming to follow the Way - have cleared strayed from its path. Their training teaches them to use this power with both gentleness and discretion, using their own judgement as to whether errant behaviour may create a risk to others, waste vital resources, or cause harm to society in other ways. Lodging a 'concern' should always be driven by concern, and seen as a last resort.
  All Guiders, no matter their rank or standing are expected to be humble and clearly Virtuous - respecting those they guide, keeping their confidences, and developing trust above all things - but their underlying loyalty is to the Way and the need, not just for Virtuous behaviours, but actions supported by the underlying integrity of a Virtuous soul.