Byzantium

## ***Under Scythes:***

Scythe Darius, Scythe Pleistarchus, Scythe Attila, Who each live with the High blade in his mansion.

## ***Region Background:***

Byzantium is a peaceful country. All of the high blades that have been elected in Byzantium are fighting against the separation of the Scythedom and the factions of Old-Guard and New-Order. Most people in Byzantium follow the ways of the new order, as they are well trained, and Byzantium is mostly unattached to the rest of the world. It was decided many dozens of years ago that scythes would need 2 years of apprenticeship, and not just one. Byzantium is usually filled with unsavories, as the Thunderhead surveillance is lower then other places close to Byzantium, and there were fewer revival centers. After being elected, High Blade Leonidas’ made an act to unite the Scythedom again, to ban all obnoxious robe decorations representing the New-Order, such as Gems. Those robes showed different groups, and the Byzantium Scythedom wanted to preserve the Old-Guard ways.

## ***Apprenticeship***

Since there were two years in Apprenticeship, every scythe apprentice would have to attend 7 conclaves, without being absent at any of them, or they would have to attend all of them again, and their ring was delayed. This was to make sure only good and well trained scythes would be ordained, even though a lot hated those rules, they still respected the clear difference between other Scythedoms and Byzantium. Therefore, there were 7 tests for Apprentices. All the apprentices started at the same time, as the tests were all synchronized.

1. TEST ONE: A test on poisons and deadly substances
2. TEST TWO: You would get asked a question and be in a certain situation, and have to give the correct answer
3. TEST THREE: Bokator sparring, with and without weapons.
4. TEST FOUR: Rendering a family member dead-ish
5. TEST FIVE: The apprentices will have to make custom poisons that must render a subject dead-ish in under 15 seconds. TEST SIX: The apprentices must make a blade weapon and learn to sharpen it and use it properly and with great precision TEST SEVEN: Tournament between all the apprentices, one versus one to the death-ish, with the weapons they crafted. All the apprentices are ordained, except the ones who died the first fights of the tournament, who can become blade guards. The grand winner of the tournament would get the honor of having a special robe with a cape.

## ***Region Politics:***

The High blade is elected by vote like other regions, but in Byzantium there is no limit to the amount of contestants, and you can change your vote. The High Blade can be replaced if he Self Gleans or chooses no longer to be a high blade. The High Blade can make any change or modification he wants, if it doesn’t affect the 10 commandments of Scythedom, or the original intent of the founders. The Under Scythes can help the High Blade make decisions, and also have a high role in the decisions that the Scythedom makes. The Under Scythes live with the High Blade most of the time, or have rooms in his house. The High Blade is to live in a Greek (Byzantium) styled estate. Most decisions are made with a system similar to democracy. For example, for a small decision, the Scythedom will have a vote, or the High Blade and his underscythes would gather opinions. Although the High Blade has the final decision on anything.