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THE QUEEN
Supreme Queen and High Priestess.
THE HIGH PRIESTS
Pretty heavy in the temple but not so much at court.
THE HIGH CHAMBERLAIN
The Queen's chief Advisor - depending on the Queen, this is the one
who more or less runs the country. Most Queens are preoccupied
with their own diversions and he has full rein. A few, however, have
been strong-minded enough to run things themselves.
ASSORTED FUNCTIONARIES OF THE COURT
These are, in effect, bureaucrats who handle various aspects of
government. Much jealousy and bickering and so forth.
MODES OF ADDRESS
The Queen -'Eternal Salmissra', 'Beloved of Issa'
The High Priests -'Most High'
The High Chamberlain -'My Lord High Chamberlain'
Others at Court - My Lord this or that (Title)
Commoners - Called by name only
Slaves -'You' or 'Slave'
Note on the Queen: The drug she takes to keep her perpetually young
is also a powerful aphrodisiac, and since she must dose with it daily,
the Queen is in a perpetual state of sexual arousal. (It also inhibits
prevents - pregnancy.) It is this that makes most Queens docile.
They are too busy satisfying their lusts to have time for government.
Part of the duties of court functionaries are to service the Queen. She
also keeps a stable of slaves for this purpose. Other drugs make
them unnaturally potent.
Note on Drugs: The antidotes to the various poisons are usually
addictive. Thus most Nyissans are addicts - euphoric and
sometimes half-asleep. These addictions are what hold down the Nyissan
birth-rate. The men are too doped-up to be much interested in sex.
Nyissan women frequently turn to slaves for satisfaction, and
lesbianism is quite common.
MANNERS
'Elaborately formal. No open hostility. Hissing is considered a sign of
,,,respect.
HOLIDAYS
Erastide - Not all that important in Nyissa
Day of the Serpent - Issa's Birthday
Day of Salmissra - Traditional birthday of the Queen
Festival of the Poison Ones - The day when Salmissra kisses a cobra
(a special drug she takes makes her odor pleasing to the snake so
that he will not bite).