Post by Kento Waffles on Sept 15, 2015 2:25:15 GMT -5
Within Soul Society are three judicial bodies. The first, the Lower Courts, decide upon minor crimes such as theft. The second, the Higher Courts, decide upon crimes such as murder, rape, and torture. The final body is the Central 46. The Central 46 is the highest judicial body in all of Soul Society, and decides upon all cases which involve spiritual presence and spiritual energy.
The Lower and Higher Courts have been around since the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, otherwise known as the Gotei Thirteen, were first established. They were created to ensure a peaceful land. The Central 46, however, has existed since the era of the third Captain Commander, who deemed after the treachery of his predecessor, the second, that it would be necessary for a higher authority, above even the Captain Commander and the Higher Courts, to exist in order to maintain the serenity of the Soul Society for all eternity.
As such, the Central 46 was formed. To reiterate, it is the highest judicial body in all of Soul Society. Its rulings can be challenged by no one, not even a Captain, and not even the Captain Commander himself. It wields total control over the three main military bodies of the Soul Society: The Thirteen Court Guard Squads, the Kido Corps, and the Omnitsukido. The Central 46's authority over these bodies is final. It can overrule any decision made by each commander of any of the three bodies. Unlike the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, which answers primarily to the directive of the Captain Commander, the Omnitsukido and the Kido Corps are primarily commanded by the Central 46. These bodies often execute cruder tasks such as political assassination or arrest, all in order to maintain the balance and stability of the Soul Society. They are also charged with having the power to use executive force to exert the authority of the Central 46, should the Thirteen Court Guard Squads or any other individual or body attempt to disregard.
The treachery of the second Captain Commander of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads was what led to the formation of the Kido Corps and the Central 46. The Central 46 would from then on judge crimes of spiritual nature, and would also wield the Kido Corps as well as final authority over the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, both to prevent any other traitors of so high a rank, and to ensure that none too corrupt could ever ascend to a position of such prominence again.
The Central 46 is comprised of 40 sages and 6 judges. The role of the 40 sages is to debate and discuss at length all issues which are presented to the Central 46. This will be done in the presence of those involved in the matter directly. After the 40 sages have unanimously agreed that the issue has been discussed at length, and each of the sages has spoken his or her mind at least once, the six judges will vote upon the issue. The six judges are also known as the Golden Six, and are so numbered so as to prevent a nearly equal split, as would be the case were it five judges. Because there are six, division is impossible, and an issue cannot be resolved until one has been convinced to align either way and create a 2/3 majority. Though the 40 sages are not responsible for voting, it is they who are charged with nomination of judges, and who then vote for approval of who becomes a judge. Likewise, when a new sage is required, it is the judges who nominate and decide.
Thus, the Central 46, to avoid the corruption of the outside world, possesses its own underground living quarters, which serves as the most forbidden place in all of Seireitei to enter. To enter without permission is punishable by death. The Central 46 is more or less comprised of those who are raised in this underground facility to become members. Each sage, upon becoming a sage, will take on an apprentice, called a magistrate, who will shadow that sage and learn directly from him or her. Therefore, if one sage retires or dies, then the primary pool from which a new sage is chosen is the pool of magistrates. Likewise, if a judge dies or retires, then one can choose the next from the pool of magistrates, or more likely from the current sitting sages. This allows a cycle of viable sages or judges to be at the ready at all times. However, it is noteworthy that a new sage or judge does not always come from these pools. Sometimes, an anomaly is nominated.
The Central 46, however, does not have powers. Members are typically not allowed to possess any form of spiritual powers, and it is well known that nobles and Soul Reapers typically do not become members of the Central 46.
Throughout history, though the Kido Corps and later, after founding, the Omnitsukido, have been under the control of the Central 46, their ability to defend themselves from assassination or manipulation has not always been as strong as one might desire. Thus, the Central 46 will often seek allies from the nobility, as the noble families can offer private military power to bolster one's defenses, or assurances that as long as a Central 46 member does certain favors for said nobility, then they will find certain favors done for them as well. Though this practice is illegal by law, it is a well known mechanism of the Central 46. Though members are not supposed to leave the underground facility, more often than not one can find a Central 46 member at a lavish noble party, or else enjoying themselves in a gaudy way somewhere, indulging in some of the corruptions and pleasures of the world above. This is possible because of the Central 46 salary, which has been noted by Squad 8 to be one of the largest expenses to take into account when planning the Seireitei's budget each financial cycle.
Many of the Central 46 members own property, and have luxurious homes for vacation which are away from prying eyes.
In the past, the Central 46 exerted great influence over all aspects of Soul Society, even the nobility. It is notable that with the current generation of nobility, the Central 46 have found some of their powers diminished. Some believe that part of it is a result of turmoil in the recent past. The members of the Central 46 were all slaughtered mercilessly during the betrayal of Azeru Cho and the beginning of the First Arrancar War, and even afterward the replacements for them all were slaughtered again during the betrayal of Sonken Kouhai, the second King of the new Las Noches.
As a result, none of the sitting Central 46 members have been around for more than two decades. However, the vast majority of them are very advanced in age due to the longevity of the Central 46 who were previously slaughtered by Azeru Cho. Currently, the majority of them are physically aged over sixty. May of them are quite independent of the nobles as a result of the slaughtering. Though previously the likes of Jinbei Kawada may have had some of the Central 46 pocketed, those whom he had are now deceased, resulting in difficult times for some of the nobles wishing to expand.
Below, you will find a brief bio for each member of the Golden Six, or in other words the six judges.
DISCLAIMER: The Six Judges are flavor. They have no technical role in the site, and are used strictly for reference in the stories of RPCs, most probably but not limited to nobles. In other words, as long as you follow personality guidelines, you are free to reference or even utilize the below judges as you wish. You don't need permission and you don't need a staff member to control them for you. You can write them into your story or post or thread or whatever and control them yourself, as you see fit. Just let me (Kento) know in advance in the event that your use of them would cause bios to be altered a bit to include your use of them. Just, you know. Don't kill any of them off. Faceclaims are a pain in the butt to find. Otherwise, do as you please with them, but make sure it makes sense to the story. It's one thing if, say, Kimiko Shihoin, who is a Captain, tries to threaten one of them to go along with her. It's another if a lowly grunt with no influence tries it. But most importantly have fun with these guys. They're here for you to use in your stories!
Name: [Judge Izayoi Mikasa]
Tenure: [11 years]
Bio: [Izayoi is famous for her skill with a spear, and she can be seen demonstrating it like a dance at more than one noble gathering. Otherwise, she is a very conservative judge who interprets the law very literally, citing only what is explicitly stated or written in any given law. She does not believe in stretching the law or inferring. Only interpretation of what is written. She is very talkative and loud mouthed. Sometimes rude. A shrewd, very bull-headed woman. Her most famous ruling is from the nomination of the 35th Captain Commander, whom she not only voted no for, but demanded he be imprisoned for two thousand years. Naturally, her opinion was not the final verdict at that time.]
Name: [Judge Yuusuke Jinzo]
Tenure: [16 years]
Bio: [Currently the longest sitting judge at the table, Jinzo is well known for being a complete anomaly. His vote is often the deciding vote, and he is very sporadic. Neither conservative nor liberal, and possessing no known consistent sense of justice, his vote is often very surprising even in the most controversial of cases. He is very cocky and smug when speaking, and condescending. He is known to talk a lot, even for a judge. Second in wordiness only to Izayoi. Rumor has it, however, that Jinzo is in Sozen Kuchiki's pocket. His most famous ruling is from the promotion to Captaincy of former Squad 7 Captain, Enma. At the time, Jinzo, after all his questioning and skepticism toward Enma, was expected to turn him down. Instead, Jinzo voted yes, granting Enma majority, but added the addendum requiring Enma to prove his worth by slaughtering a thousand criminals by year's end.]
Name: [Judge Ryuu Kuchiki]
Tenure: [2 years]
Bio: [Youngest of Mephisto Kuchiki's children, and thus youngest sibling of Sozen Kuchiki. The nomination and eventual acceptance of Ryuu Kuchiki was incredibly controversial and unique. It was unheard of before him for any judge to be so young, and he is the youngest judge ever to hold a seat. Ryuu is also the first noble to ever hold a seat, and is the second Soul Reaper to hold a seat. Of the judges, he is the only one with any Soul Reaper powers, though he was required to sacrifice his Zanpakuto before taking seat. Most agree that he achieved this position because of how many sages are in Sozen Kuchiki's pocket. He is a liberal judge who votes on a very strong sense of justice. He is quiet, and usually listens rather than speaking. Though it can be agreed that he likely achieved his position because of Sozen Kuchiki being his brother, Ryuu is not one of those in Sozen's pocket, and has more than once ruled against Sozen's side in a case. He has ruled in Okami Shihoin's favor, however, as the two share a sense of justice. His most famous ruling is recently, when authorizing Sozen to execute all of the newly discovered Vizards under Calleum Morgana. Five in the Central 46 voted yes, and Ryuu alone voted no. Ryuu is noted as being extremely pro-Vizard, and believes in incorporating them into Soul Society as members. ]
Name: [Judge Amare Hisagi]
Tenure: [13 years]
Bio: [Amare Hisagi is a moderate conservative judge who prefers things the traditional way, but who is considered a logical and reasonable man. His reputation is as a very calm person who can be discussed with. But, don't let that fool you. He also has a reputation as a womanizer, though there has never been any confirmation of this rumor. Though the general public is unaware of this, all nobles know that Judge Amare is the one most in Sozen Kuchiki's pocket. His most famous ruling is also from the recent case with the Vizards, wherein he agreed to their execution by Sozen, and stated he believed that Sozen should have the right to execute all Soul Reapers who disagreed. This addendum failed to obtain the support of the other judges. It is said that in addition to an annual sum of 1 billion Ryo received from Sozen Kuchiki, Judge Amare is under threat of something worse than death.]
Name: [Judge Miyagi Watanabe]
Tenure: [13 years]
Bio: [Achieving status as a judge at the same time as Judge Amare, Judge Miyagi is a very conservative judge. Most of his social rulings are considered incredibly racist, and he is probably the least liked of all the judges. His vote is also the most predictable, and it is very public knowledge that he is literally owned by Sozen Kuchiki. It is said that he is the wealthiest and most corrupt of the judges. Therefore, it is incredibly difficult to buy him off. Because his corruption, though not proven, is so widely known and somehow accepted, he can refuse most situations of blackmail. His most famous ruling is from when he first became a judge. In defining who he was, he ruled on a case which asked if perhaps Mod Souls and Bount should no longer be considered species to exterminate, and if they should be allies of Seireitei instead. His ruling, which became the deciding vote, was to genocide all of them. He is known for his persuasive writing, as he was able to also persuade one of the other judges, who had been leaning the other way, to vote the same as him.]
Name: [Exalted Judge Francis "Hawkeye" Jaegar]
Tenure: [15 years]
Bio: [If the judges were to have a "leader," it would be Judge Francis. Within the Golden Six is a position called the "Exalted Judge." This one is the only one capable of dismissing one of the sages. This means Judge Francis can literally remove any of the forty sages from their seat at will. He can be overruled on this matter only by unanimous vote of the other five judges. Judge Francis is considered a twisted, sinister, evil man who spends much of his time with prostitutes whom he abuses and gambling which he wins by cheating. He is extremely sadistic, and will always vote in a way he thinks will lead to the most death and pain. He became a judge, and the Exalted Judge at that, only by the machinations of Kenryoku Kawada, who had intended to own Francis and his rulings to control the Central 46. Unfortunately, he had to give up on this, as he was unable to control Judge Francis. Judge Francis is a wild card, and though not owned by Sozen Kuchiki, he is a secret friend of the Kuchiki Head, and therefore often rules in Sozen's favor. He was also a good friend of Azumi Kasumi'Oji, but had no relations with her sister, Taiho. It is said that he was a good friend of Jinbei Kawada, but this rumor has never come to fruition. Exalted Judge Francis seems to deal illegally in information brokering as well on the side, and seems to have blackmail on several of the Captains. Blackmail that he can sell for just the right price. His most famous case is when he brought Judge Amare to his side, and managed to utilize Judge Amare to convince one more judge to side with him. He then removed fifteen of the forty sages and had them replaced (seemingly with those under someone else's influence), and then had it ruled that the Senzaikyu Prison System, rather than being more "humanized," as had been suggested by Judge Ryuu, would instead become more brutal, and would be expanded to be larger and deeper underground.]
The Lower and Higher Courts have been around since the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, otherwise known as the Gotei Thirteen, were first established. They were created to ensure a peaceful land. The Central 46, however, has existed since the era of the third Captain Commander, who deemed after the treachery of his predecessor, the second, that it would be necessary for a higher authority, above even the Captain Commander and the Higher Courts, to exist in order to maintain the serenity of the Soul Society for all eternity.
As such, the Central 46 was formed. To reiterate, it is the highest judicial body in all of Soul Society. Its rulings can be challenged by no one, not even a Captain, and not even the Captain Commander himself. It wields total control over the three main military bodies of the Soul Society: The Thirteen Court Guard Squads, the Kido Corps, and the Omnitsukido. The Central 46's authority over these bodies is final. It can overrule any decision made by each commander of any of the three bodies. Unlike the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, which answers primarily to the directive of the Captain Commander, the Omnitsukido and the Kido Corps are primarily commanded by the Central 46. These bodies often execute cruder tasks such as political assassination or arrest, all in order to maintain the balance and stability of the Soul Society. They are also charged with having the power to use executive force to exert the authority of the Central 46, should the Thirteen Court Guard Squads or any other individual or body attempt to disregard.
The treachery of the second Captain Commander of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads was what led to the formation of the Kido Corps and the Central 46. The Central 46 would from then on judge crimes of spiritual nature, and would also wield the Kido Corps as well as final authority over the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, both to prevent any other traitors of so high a rank, and to ensure that none too corrupt could ever ascend to a position of such prominence again.
The Central 46 is comprised of 40 sages and 6 judges. The role of the 40 sages is to debate and discuss at length all issues which are presented to the Central 46. This will be done in the presence of those involved in the matter directly. After the 40 sages have unanimously agreed that the issue has been discussed at length, and each of the sages has spoken his or her mind at least once, the six judges will vote upon the issue. The six judges are also known as the Golden Six, and are so numbered so as to prevent a nearly equal split, as would be the case were it five judges. Because there are six, division is impossible, and an issue cannot be resolved until one has been convinced to align either way and create a 2/3 majority. Though the 40 sages are not responsible for voting, it is they who are charged with nomination of judges, and who then vote for approval of who becomes a judge. Likewise, when a new sage is required, it is the judges who nominate and decide.
Thus, the Central 46, to avoid the corruption of the outside world, possesses its own underground living quarters, which serves as the most forbidden place in all of Seireitei to enter. To enter without permission is punishable by death. The Central 46 is more or less comprised of those who are raised in this underground facility to become members. Each sage, upon becoming a sage, will take on an apprentice, called a magistrate, who will shadow that sage and learn directly from him or her. Therefore, if one sage retires or dies, then the primary pool from which a new sage is chosen is the pool of magistrates. Likewise, if a judge dies or retires, then one can choose the next from the pool of magistrates, or more likely from the current sitting sages. This allows a cycle of viable sages or judges to be at the ready at all times. However, it is noteworthy that a new sage or judge does not always come from these pools. Sometimes, an anomaly is nominated.
The Central 46, however, does not have powers. Members are typically not allowed to possess any form of spiritual powers, and it is well known that nobles and Soul Reapers typically do not become members of the Central 46.
Throughout history, though the Kido Corps and later, after founding, the Omnitsukido, have been under the control of the Central 46, their ability to defend themselves from assassination or manipulation has not always been as strong as one might desire. Thus, the Central 46 will often seek allies from the nobility, as the noble families can offer private military power to bolster one's defenses, or assurances that as long as a Central 46 member does certain favors for said nobility, then they will find certain favors done for them as well. Though this practice is illegal by law, it is a well known mechanism of the Central 46. Though members are not supposed to leave the underground facility, more often than not one can find a Central 46 member at a lavish noble party, or else enjoying themselves in a gaudy way somewhere, indulging in some of the corruptions and pleasures of the world above. This is possible because of the Central 46 salary, which has been noted by Squad 8 to be one of the largest expenses to take into account when planning the Seireitei's budget each financial cycle.
Many of the Central 46 members own property, and have luxurious homes for vacation which are away from prying eyes.
In the past, the Central 46 exerted great influence over all aspects of Soul Society, even the nobility. It is notable that with the current generation of nobility, the Central 46 have found some of their powers diminished. Some believe that part of it is a result of turmoil in the recent past. The members of the Central 46 were all slaughtered mercilessly during the betrayal of Azeru Cho and the beginning of the First Arrancar War, and even afterward the replacements for them all were slaughtered again during the betrayal of Sonken Kouhai, the second King of the new Las Noches.
As a result, none of the sitting Central 46 members have been around for more than two decades. However, the vast majority of them are very advanced in age due to the longevity of the Central 46 who were previously slaughtered by Azeru Cho. Currently, the majority of them are physically aged over sixty. May of them are quite independent of the nobles as a result of the slaughtering. Though previously the likes of Jinbei Kawada may have had some of the Central 46 pocketed, those whom he had are now deceased, resulting in difficult times for some of the nobles wishing to expand.
Below, you will find a brief bio for each member of the Golden Six, or in other words the six judges.
DISCLAIMER: The Six Judges are flavor. They have no technical role in the site, and are used strictly for reference in the stories of RPCs, most probably but not limited to nobles. In other words, as long as you follow personality guidelines, you are free to reference or even utilize the below judges as you wish. You don't need permission and you don't need a staff member to control them for you. You can write them into your story or post or thread or whatever and control them yourself, as you see fit. Just let me (Kento) know in advance in the event that your use of them would cause bios to be altered a bit to include your use of them. Just, you know. Don't kill any of them off. Faceclaims are a pain in the butt to find. Otherwise, do as you please with them, but make sure it makes sense to the story. It's one thing if, say, Kimiko Shihoin, who is a Captain, tries to threaten one of them to go along with her. It's another if a lowly grunt with no influence tries it. But most importantly have fun with these guys. They're here for you to use in your stories!
Name: [Judge Izayoi Mikasa]
Tenure: [11 years]
Bio: [Izayoi is famous for her skill with a spear, and she can be seen demonstrating it like a dance at more than one noble gathering. Otherwise, she is a very conservative judge who interprets the law very literally, citing only what is explicitly stated or written in any given law. She does not believe in stretching the law or inferring. Only interpretation of what is written. She is very talkative and loud mouthed. Sometimes rude. A shrewd, very bull-headed woman. Her most famous ruling is from the nomination of the 35th Captain Commander, whom she not only voted no for, but demanded he be imprisoned for two thousand years. Naturally, her opinion was not the final verdict at that time.]
Name: [Judge Yuusuke Jinzo]
Tenure: [16 years]
Bio: [Currently the longest sitting judge at the table, Jinzo is well known for being a complete anomaly. His vote is often the deciding vote, and he is very sporadic. Neither conservative nor liberal, and possessing no known consistent sense of justice, his vote is often very surprising even in the most controversial of cases. He is very cocky and smug when speaking, and condescending. He is known to talk a lot, even for a judge. Second in wordiness only to Izayoi. Rumor has it, however, that Jinzo is in Sozen Kuchiki's pocket. His most famous ruling is from the promotion to Captaincy of former Squad 7 Captain, Enma. At the time, Jinzo, after all his questioning and skepticism toward Enma, was expected to turn him down. Instead, Jinzo voted yes, granting Enma majority, but added the addendum requiring Enma to prove his worth by slaughtering a thousand criminals by year's end.]
Name: [Judge Ryuu Kuchiki]
Tenure: [2 years]
Bio: [Youngest of Mephisto Kuchiki's children, and thus youngest sibling of Sozen Kuchiki. The nomination and eventual acceptance of Ryuu Kuchiki was incredibly controversial and unique. It was unheard of before him for any judge to be so young, and he is the youngest judge ever to hold a seat. Ryuu is also the first noble to ever hold a seat, and is the second Soul Reaper to hold a seat. Of the judges, he is the only one with any Soul Reaper powers, though he was required to sacrifice his Zanpakuto before taking seat. Most agree that he achieved this position because of how many sages are in Sozen Kuchiki's pocket. He is a liberal judge who votes on a very strong sense of justice. He is quiet, and usually listens rather than speaking. Though it can be agreed that he likely achieved his position because of Sozen Kuchiki being his brother, Ryuu is not one of those in Sozen's pocket, and has more than once ruled against Sozen's side in a case. He has ruled in Okami Shihoin's favor, however, as the two share a sense of justice. His most famous ruling is recently, when authorizing Sozen to execute all of the newly discovered Vizards under Calleum Morgana. Five in the Central 46 voted yes, and Ryuu alone voted no. Ryuu is noted as being extremely pro-Vizard, and believes in incorporating them into Soul Society as members. ]
Name: [Judge Amare Hisagi]
Tenure: [13 years]
Bio: [Amare Hisagi is a moderate conservative judge who prefers things the traditional way, but who is considered a logical and reasonable man. His reputation is as a very calm person who can be discussed with. But, don't let that fool you. He also has a reputation as a womanizer, though there has never been any confirmation of this rumor. Though the general public is unaware of this, all nobles know that Judge Amare is the one most in Sozen Kuchiki's pocket. His most famous ruling is also from the recent case with the Vizards, wherein he agreed to their execution by Sozen, and stated he believed that Sozen should have the right to execute all Soul Reapers who disagreed. This addendum failed to obtain the support of the other judges. It is said that in addition to an annual sum of 1 billion Ryo received from Sozen Kuchiki, Judge Amare is under threat of something worse than death.]
Name: [Judge Miyagi Watanabe]
Tenure: [13 years]
Bio: [Achieving status as a judge at the same time as Judge Amare, Judge Miyagi is a very conservative judge. Most of his social rulings are considered incredibly racist, and he is probably the least liked of all the judges. His vote is also the most predictable, and it is very public knowledge that he is literally owned by Sozen Kuchiki. It is said that he is the wealthiest and most corrupt of the judges. Therefore, it is incredibly difficult to buy him off. Because his corruption, though not proven, is so widely known and somehow accepted, he can refuse most situations of blackmail. His most famous ruling is from when he first became a judge. In defining who he was, he ruled on a case which asked if perhaps Mod Souls and Bount should no longer be considered species to exterminate, and if they should be allies of Seireitei instead. His ruling, which became the deciding vote, was to genocide all of them. He is known for his persuasive writing, as he was able to also persuade one of the other judges, who had been leaning the other way, to vote the same as him.]
Name: [Exalted Judge Francis "Hawkeye" Jaegar]
Tenure: [15 years]
Bio: [If the judges were to have a "leader," it would be Judge Francis. Within the Golden Six is a position called the "Exalted Judge." This one is the only one capable of dismissing one of the sages. This means Judge Francis can literally remove any of the forty sages from their seat at will. He can be overruled on this matter only by unanimous vote of the other five judges. Judge Francis is considered a twisted, sinister, evil man who spends much of his time with prostitutes whom he abuses and gambling which he wins by cheating. He is extremely sadistic, and will always vote in a way he thinks will lead to the most death and pain. He became a judge, and the Exalted Judge at that, only by the machinations of Kenryoku Kawada, who had intended to own Francis and his rulings to control the Central 46. Unfortunately, he had to give up on this, as he was unable to control Judge Francis. Judge Francis is a wild card, and though not owned by Sozen Kuchiki, he is a secret friend of the Kuchiki Head, and therefore often rules in Sozen's favor. He was also a good friend of Azumi Kasumi'Oji, but had no relations with her sister, Taiho. It is said that he was a good friend of Jinbei Kawada, but this rumor has never come to fruition. Exalted Judge Francis seems to deal illegally in information brokering as well on the side, and seems to have blackmail on several of the Captains. Blackmail that he can sell for just the right price. His most famous case is when he brought Judge Amare to his side, and managed to utilize Judge Amare to convince one more judge to side with him. He then removed fifteen of the forty sages and had them replaced (seemingly with those under someone else's influence), and then had it ruled that the Senzaikyu Prison System, rather than being more "humanized," as had been suggested by Judge Ryuu, would instead become more brutal, and would be expanded to be larger and deeper underground.]