Invisible Fortress:Celestial Bureaucracy

The Celestial Bureaucracy is a system that regulates and manages everything in Creation. It is primarily comprised of gods, though some elementals also have positions within it, and champions of the Maidens of Destiny also hold positions.

Gods do not embody their concepts. The Unconquered Sun isn't the sun itself. If he were to somehow die today, the sun would not cease to exist tomorrow.

At the bottom of the bureaucracy are the Least Gods. Every single object in Creation has a Least God. Every rock, every sword, every shoe has its own Least God. The responsibility of Least Gods is to make sure their object continues to behave as that object is meant to behave. The Least God of a particular sword ensures that it cuts things, that it remains made of metal, that it's an appropriate temperature for the environment that it's in, and so on. Since objects generally behave as they should, Least Gods spend most of their time asleep.

At the top of the bureaucracy are the Celestial Incarnae (the Unconquered Sun, Luna, and the Maidens of Destiny). They are generally preoccupied playing the Games of Divinity rather than actively doing their jobs within the bureaucracy, but their power allows them to do some of what they're responsible for passively.

Between the two extremes are gods of a variety of concepts and varying power levels.

Bureaus

The Celestial Bureaucracy is organized into five bureaus.

Destiny

The bureau is meant to be governed by the Maidens of Destiny, but they ignore their duties in the bureau while busy playing the Games of Divinity. The bureau has a Division for each of the five Maidens, managing the related aspects of destiny and fate.

Heaven

The bureau is meant to be governed by the Unconquered Sun, but he ignores his duties in the bureau while busy playing the Games of Divinity. The Department of Abstract Matters provides oversight on abstract concepts, while the Department of Celestial Concerns deals with management of Yu-Shan itself.

Humanity

The Divine Witnesses of Human Works and Deeds organize and oversee the works and creations of humanity. The Five Directions Directorate covers each of the five terrestrial directions, while the Department of Universal Human Affairs deals with concepts and human activities. Unfortunately in recent centuries, the duties of the department have slowly been taken over by the Department of Abstract Matters in the Bureau of Heaven.

Nature

The Superintendency of Nature Grand and Humble concerns itself with wilderness, plants, animals, and other natural objects. The bureau is divided into two hierarchies: the Hierarchy of Type, which is concerned with appearance and tangible characteristics, and the Hierarchy of Function, which is concerned with abstract properties.

Seasons

The Celestial Monitors of Seasons and Weather oversee Creation's weather, seasons, and calendar. Each god in the bureau is responsible for one day, week, or month, as well as one form of weather.

Champions of the Maidens

Human champions of the Maidens of Destiny operate within the Bureau of Destiny along with a variety of gods. Their interpretation of a prophecy at the end of the First Age led to its downfall, and a schism within their ranks.

Gold Faction

The Gold Faction's interpretation of the prophecy was that the champions of the Unconquered Sun would be necessary to save Creation. In the Second Age, they wish to aid the return of those champions to what power they can find.

Bronze Faction

The Bronze Faction's interpretation of the prophecy was that the champions of the Unconquered Sun would be responsible for the destruction of Creation. They manipulated Dragonmarked humans into killing the champions which ruled Creation at the time, and in the Second Age they continue their manipulations to direct the path of development of the Realm.