There are some requirements to stand for the office of chief stated in king of Sartar. Because not everyone has this let's quote some useful bits for this discussion
>He must be initiated into the clan secrets of
>Orlanth, and have participated in the Four Yearly
>Rites and the Lightbringer Quest in Sacred Time.
There is an implication here that you need to lead an Orlanthi clan you need to be an Orlanthi initiate. I'd also allow Vinga (because it is how women worship Orlanth). Elmali clans are not Orlanthi clans, so have different rites, but I suspect that an Elmali in an Orlanthi clan would still need to be an Orlanthi initiate, he could only be just Elmali in an Elmali clan.
This is not that strange. 'All' Orlanthi worship Orlanth and Ernalda. To not, probably excludes you from leadership. You are too different from most folks lives. Player heroes find this strange because they often focus on 'strange' gods, but no one should be suprised if these kind of communities deny them opportunities because they are different. Heortlings are conservative.
Note the ritual requirements. These require you to have had enough importance to have been selected to participate in these rites. This tends to mean that candidates are already leaders: thanes or priests. This seems like a sensible prohibition to prevent unproven leaders vying for the chieftaincy. Again players may find this strange, but to contest for the chieftaincy ou first need to prove your worth as a leader to the community. (In Red Cow a challenge for leadership was revealed when a thane participated on the LBQ in Sacred Time, when she was not expected to, so that she could fulfill the requirements for chieftainship).
King of Sartar goes on to list other atrributes. He must display the Orlanthi virtues, and must have folk that can attest to them before the clan. He must:
"know men�s magic and have a magical item of his own...two good horses, a metal helmet and byrnie, two good swords, and six spears".
Note the warrior paraphenalia here. The chief is expected to be a war leader - it is one of his duties. The note about men's magic and possession of a magic item implies his position as leader of the clan's rituals. That seems to exclude non-Vingan women leaders unless the clan has Esrolian style of leadership (in which case the requirements will differ and not allow male candidates).
And:
>>Finally, he must prove his skills against all other
>>candidates for the office in the Chief Tests
So there are contests involved. I have not identified what they are yet, but I am sure that the candidates need and expect help to complete them - thus providing a great hook for involving the heroes. Though I have fixed on what they are yet, I have mentioned that there are 10, and that many are practice heroquests. I am sure most come from the myths of how Dar became the first chief. Anyone care to kibbutz on them?
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