Tongue of the Tribe

Once in a while, the sparks start to fly between two or more of The Surface tribes or even within one of them. For this reason, most of the tribes nominate their Tongue, a person who serves as a mediator or a representative of a tribe.

Requirements

To be chosen as a Tongue of the tribe, one usually needs to be a wise, calm, and charismatic person. In most cases, this role falls on the shoulders of the elders, whose blood doesn't run as hot in their veins than those younger than them.
The Tongue is chosen, in most cases, by voting, however, there are tribes that instead require passing the trials from the "contenders" to the role and there are ones who choose the oldest living member of the tribe as their representative.

Duties

Internal within the tribe:
Should a fight start within the tribe, the Tongue serves as a mediator between the two sides of the conflict, trying to find either a compromise or the culprit. If the situation can't be simply be finished with a shake of the hands or one of the tribe laws has been broken, the Tongue gathers all the evidence to present it to the leader of the tribe for judgment.
External between the tribes:
If the friction between the two tribes starts to grow, the Tongue is sent to meet the Tongue of the second tribe as its representative. In those situations, the leaders of the tribes join them during the second meeting, after the first contact between them has been made.
If the Tongue isn't able to rationally settle the conflict, either due to the personal bias, being a culprit themselves, or presenting traits not compatible with their role (short temper, anger) a temporary Tongue can be chosen instead of them. However, if that behavior impacts their duties more often, it is the responsibility of the tribe leader to strip them of their rank.

"Children, calm down, there's not enough blood to spill it on the sand."

Type

Civic, Diplomatic

Form of Address

Elder [Name]

Alternative Naming

Mediators, Peacekeepers, Lips (rarely)

Related Locations

• The Surface

Official garb

While acting within the tribe, Tongues dress in the same way their tribesmen do.
When representing their tribe their normal robes are adorned with various beads, braids, and in some rare cases, with colorful sashes or scarves. If the meeting takes place in a location sheltered from the dangerous sunlight of The Surface, their faces are painted with white dyes and it is expected of them to remove their masks.