Sovereign Marriage

The Sovereign Marriage Tradition in Miran is a system by which marriages are arranged for all Miranen people born on the Northern and Southern continents of Miran.

Background
The Sovereign Marriage tradition is the only extant effort that requires the cooperation of both the Order of Scripts and the Councils of Leaders for both continents.

The system was originally created seventeen eras previous, at a time when Miran faced a population crisis. Arranging marriages allowed both the Order and the Council to contribute to a rise in the population in urban areas. The system was eventually expanded to include the entirety of both continents.

The Tradition
All Miranen men and women are married on their 17th birthdays. These marriages are arranged based on date and time of birth and the match is communicated to the families around the time of the individual's 14th birthday to allow for travel if the potential marriage partner lives in a distant location.

Logistics
The Order of Scripts is heavily involved in medical matters for most Miranen women as they are primarily focused around female concerns. As part of their duties, they record the birth dates and times for all babies that are born in Miran. These times and dates are communicated to a unique shrine of Delphai that is focused entirely around the momentous task of using this information to determine future marriages.

While the Order of Scripts determines suitable marriages based on the date and time of the birth the records are typically kept and maintained by the Council of Leaders. This is due to the fact that an extensive record of genealogy has always been a part of their duties.

The shrines local to the marriage partners are responsible for communicating matches at an appropriate time and assisting in necessary relocations. As it is typically the male that relocates, this offer of assistance is rarely utilized.

Missed Connections
While marriages are arranged when the person is born, there are instances when the planned marriage cannot take place. This can be due to a number of reasons such as death, severe illness, pregnancy, or errors within the records. When this occurs, it is considered to be taboo. Individuals that find themselves unmarried as a result are often considered unlucky and often become social outcasts as a result.

If an unmarried Miranen woman becomes pregnant by someone other than her intended-by-law, it is considered to be a sign from the gods that the planned marriage was never meant to be. Due to the sovereign marriage tradition, it is extremely rare that the woman would then marry the child's father. All parties involved would find themselves under the same social stigma as someone whose future partner had died.

In Mi-Fe Cie, women who found themselves unmarried after the appointed date were able to find employment at the Palace of Angels.

Eilora
With a relatively high mortality rate, one of the principle reasons that a marriage may not take place is due to the death of the intended spouse. When this occurs, the surviving spouse is considered to be eilora, literally "unsung." These individuals are not considered unlucky in the same sense that other unmarried individuals might be. Instead, they often find positions within the community that allow them to contribute, such as working with a village council or serving the Order of Scripts. They are sometimes considered to be uniquely gifted, especially with communication or spiritual insight.

Divorce
There are no formal divorce proceedings in Miranen culture. However, couples who stay out of each other's view (literally) for more than half a year are considered to be no longer married. This is recognized by the Order of Scripts, though the Council of Leaders has never held firm with the concept.

Later Marriages
While first marriages are invariably arranged, an individual who has been widowed or who never married may take another spouse. Second marriages are uncommon but not unheard of. Second marriages are more prevalent in rural areas.