Polis of Mytilene
The Polis of Mytilene is the governing body of the island of Íssa. It is ruled from the city of Mytilene, and the current leader is Archon Eudoxia. It is an unusual government, based on the direct intervention of the island's many gods, rather than the enfranchisement of its human population.
Structure
The government of the Polis of Mytilene is a form of theocratic autocracy. The Archon is effectively selected by the gods of the island, who show their favor for a particular candidate by granting them some form of miraculous power. This can be anything - for example, the goddess of the Potamós Skála will typically grant the ability to produce water from the air, while the god of Belus (the greatest of all the gods of Íssa) will bless the candidate with the ability to summon storms and call lightning.
Each of the gods may endorse multiple candidates, although it is rare to see more than two or three people on the island vieing for the position of Archon. The candidate must demonstrate their gifts before a conclave of priests drawn from all over Íssa, who assess the authenticity of each gift, and identify which of the gods granted the power. The title of Archon is granted to the individual who can demonstrate the support of the most gods.
The Archon is given absolute power, with almost no constraint. The one real check on their power is that they can be challenged for the throne at any time, and these challenges are not permitted to be delayed more than three days. In the challenge, the current Archon must demonstrate that they still hold the favor of the gods, and more of it than their challenger.
Once in power, the Archon is free to make up the government in any way they see fit. Archon Eudoxia has established an elected council that debates laws and regulations for their approval, but this is only one of the systems that has been enacted on Íssa over the centuries. Citizens of the island are generally in favor of their system, as they believe that the gods, with their long lives and perspectives, are better able to select the leader they need for the times at hand.
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