I would suggest that 'in a sense' the person 'donating' their body (or such persons), attempting to 'become' Moonson, etc, etc, are going to be Egi, even if they only 'became' Egi five minutes ago, and only for that purpose. This is arguably just semantics, but basically I don't really see the 'guy who gets to be the body' as being different in kind from the 'guy who gets to be assorted other bits', if there even is truly a single (I won't say, singular...) such guy. Motivations may range from personal ambition, being shoved into it by this or that faction, a noble, selfless desire the serve the greater good of the empire, regardless of which 'bit' (in so far as this is even identifiable) one wants to be/contribute to). (Gives a novel, and somewhat wincemaking to the concept of 'compromise candidate', doesn't it?)
This is focusing on the mortal bits (Egi or otherwise), of course, in a way that may alarm Martin. I'm not denying The Part of Him Which is Immortal, by any means, just noting that for the purposes of Early Interegnum Politics that's somewhat moot, as that part has just been lightly smeared all over half of Peloria my something with more double-yoos then him, along with all the previous mortal bits... (though once the appropriate rituals are complete, he is of course a genuinely _single_ being, not some sort of uneasy coaltion of bits threatening to come apart like an ill-Singered Frankenstein, so that distinction is a little misleading).
> Joining the Council of Egi might ordinarily appear to be a prime example of
> what MOB referred to as being "kicked upstairs" to a position of "revered
> impotence on the Red Moon" (not a verbatim quote, pardon me for loose
> phrasing). But in the succession crises, it'd be like being one of the
> Tories' Men in Grey Suits who emerged from the woodwork during the glorious
> Fall of Thatch.
Ah, there's the image we've been looking for: Masks are 'born', they're not 'created', why, they simply 'emerge'.
> I think there would be keen competition in certain circles
> to be "elevated" to the Council of Egi. Not just *during* a succession
> crisis, but throughout the normal political life of the Empire. A very
> Urquhartish position...
I suppose in crude political terms, they act something like a Star Chamber. Moonson drifts off to Commune With the Egi, flunkies mutter "Oh shit", and start scrurrying for cover. Shortly afterwards he returns, with a beatific grin on his ruddy fisog, and announces, "Chaps, I have had this really _excellent_ chat with the Egi, and have numerous new ideas on celestiology, troop deployment doctrine, and bondage techniques. Summon the requisite officials, and draw my bath."
> NB: I have assumed the Egi are *always* resident on the Red Moon, sitting as
> a heavenly Council, and not that it's a job one turns up to (like e.g.
> popping into the House of Lords for a quick vote).
I imagine that's so. I think many of the Egi are probably something of a 'short straw' position: the Teelo Norri roles, as it were, at least figuratively, so probably there's an element of last-minute press-ganging. In practical terms, after you've participated in an Egi ritual, then you, or what's left of you, would definitely be in an Elevated State Indeed, and not likely to be doing much politicing. An Egi who has been promoted, but no yet 'used' in a Ritual I imagine might be at a bit of a loose end, thinking of all sorts of mischief to be getting up to...
Cheers,
Alex.
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