Patriarch/Matriarch

The current leading kayans, they are always a married pair between a former crowned child and their pair bond.

Ancestry
Always inherited from parent to child, either the matriarch or the patriarch can trace their lineage back to the founding couple directly. While this is only required for one of the pair, the former crowned child, it is common that the other can as well.

Social Expectations
Being at the top of the social pyramid does not free this pairing from sceptical eyes that seek any sort of flaw or weakness that may reflect poorly upon the empire. Theirs is the most rigid of positions, and many trials must be met in order to reach the place they are in. There is always an ambitious viscount who wishes to take the position should the current pair prove unfit.

While they can make whatever changes they see fit within the empire, they are unable to fully eliminate the traditional checks and balances within their own rank, and must abide by the rules of leadership set by Mu'oi and Intira themselves.

Monogamy is strictly required between the matriarch and patriarch, with infidelity being punishable by banishment and ultimately replacement within the empire. Should the banished party be the former crowned child, their spouse will be demoted to their former rank and either the position is taken by the current crowned child, should they be of age, or a viscount/ess may take the position for themselves.

Rank Duties
The ruling pair are the absolute rulers of their diarchy, holding the final say in many matters of importance and able to make drastic changes to the clan if needed without question. Though surrounded by viscounts and the Phra’cea, so long as their word does not infringe upon the domain of the latter, they are primarily unchallenged.

With the empire's size and numbers, many duties that were once held exclusively by the rulers have been divided among the viscounts and Phra’cea over the centuries, but should they feel a need to exert more control over any given area they are within their rights to do so.

While the Phra’cea focus on religious matters, the diarchy focus primarily on the day to day workings of the empire and their defense. Both must have some skill within the military, in case another war were to break out between the clans like the days of old.

Crowned Child
Although typically the oldest child of the ruling pair, any child of their litters may be chosen as the Crowned Child. A particularly promising child may inherit the title despite being the youngest, for example. Of course, this means that the title is in no way perminant and a previous chosen may lose the rank if another shows more ability or some other factor makes them appear unfit. For this reason, the children of the Matriarch and Patriarch are highly protected, as each one is seen as the potential future of the empire. Those who are not chosen as crowned child, or fail to ascend to matriarch/patriarch, become viscounts and viscountesses.