Etoile System

*Etoile competition events will be RPed unless specified otherwise, votes will be conducted after each event as to see how each pair is standing*  

The Etoile system is a system created to balance the school’s politics. Two girls, the older known as the Ainée, and the younger known as the Cadette, serve as the figureheads for the whole of Astraea. Both participants must come from the same school and their duties focus on greeting new students that arrive to Astraea Hill, acting as mediators in disputes between schools in student council-meetings, participating in specific events, taking care of the greenhouse together, and delivering grace before each collective meal in the dining hall, among other tasks. The older Etoile wears a blue pendant, while the identical red pendant is given to the younger Etoile. A competition is held to challenge the pairs running for Etoile. If there is no pair to run against, the only pair running wins by default. If no one runs, the pair that last one the election will continue serving as the Etoiles.

*The Method of competition is Trois Lumiére

*The competition starts in April and runs for three months

*Final selection and coronation takes place in July in Astraea

*The Etoile appears in all of Astraea’s main events, such as the Culture Festival, the Sports Festival, and Christmas

*This is how it is done in Astraea, we will conduct it differently, and in a shorter time period with different months/days  

To run for Etoile, you must obtain a partner from the same school as your character, and write a short message on why you two would like to run. After that, the competition will commence. Please make sure both of you are active enough to participate. The events are as followed:

Etoile Competition Events:

First competition: L’Ouverture Brillante (The Brilliant Overture)

Events:

Examen sur l’Astraea:</i> A paper quiz on your knowledge about Astraea Hill conducted in Chapel Hall or Maiden Park. It is a preliminary test to see if cadette has enough knowledge about all three schools to represent them, and to eliminate the weakest contenders. Note: *Some of these answers are hidden around the group, some are knowledge said within RP, if something seems important, be sure to try hard to remember it! You may not look for answers when the event starts = NO CHEATING!

OR

*If this event is not implemented, then The Mouth of Truth is used as a dramatic substitute:
Mouth of Truth: An event that takes place with regards to a relief carved into the wall close to the entrance of Maiden Park. It bears the images of angels and saints. A shining pentagram is carved deeply in the center of it. Some say it is a lie detector of sorts. Transparent white veils are placed over pairs’ heads and the pairs are then asked to kneel and place their hands into the star-shaped hole, as far as they can go so they cannot be seen. One of the student council presidents from either of the three schools will ask the ainée a series of, at most, five questions such as:

- “Do you swear to love the cadette candidate next to you always, and offer her your unchanging love, even if either one of you should take a husband, for as long as you both shall live?”
- “Do you wish to be bound to the cadette candidate next to you as your one and only partner, both in this life and the next?”    

The ainée must swear to the question then provide a sign to show that she validates the oath. Signs must be actions, and can range from anything such as holding up the cadette’s hand to holding her and even kissing her if they feel that is appropriate, will announcing: “I swear to her in this way.” Vases of flowers are placed around the event site, and when spectators think a couple and her oath is wonderful, they throw flowers into a wicker basket set up for each couple. If the basket becomes full, the couple passes the first event and can advance on to the next. It is a bit of a popularity poll.    

Maiden Horse Race (The Fortress of Promises):  The second round of the first competition, and the first ainée competition. It consists of a horse race and a tower dubbed the “Tower of Captivity” which is set up in the corner of the riding area. The ainée ride their favorite thoroughbreds around a set course, while the cadette stand “captive” on the Tower dressed in princess outfits. The tower is a simple structure comprised of four pillars, a light roof, a guardrail with a white ribbon, and a platform. There is a one meter high sloping platform for a horse to climb up on to achieve a higher position, yet the platform can only be reached on horseback. A fanfare signals the ainée and their horses to line up; a second fanfare starts them off. They are to gallop from the riding grounds and down a narrow horse trail to Maiden Park around a special full-lap course that leads back to the riding grounds and Tower. Ainée must retrieve their captive cadette from the Tower then charge back through Maiden Park through one final lap to the finish line. This event is representary of a fairytale prince with a horse that comes to rescue their princess.          

👑Petite Couronne:</b>👑 “Little Crown” The couple that places first in each of the other two competitions receive small jeweled crowns. It is slightly rare to receive a petite couronne, as a couple needs to have one first place in both of the two rounds in the first competition.

Second competition: L’ éprevue d’amour (Love Ordeal/Test of Love)

Events:

Astraea Cup: A small tennis tournament held between Etoile contestants. It is the second round of the cadette event. The game is played as doubles, with each pair working together on a team. There are many rules pertaining to the game, and a large tally board for each team. Sometimes, a fencing or a basketball variation can take place instead. St. Spica is usually at an advantage in this round.    

OR

*If the student council agrees:
Faceless Devil: A rarely conducted two-week event for the second round of the cadette event. This event can be called relatively boring, and a bit cruel if a running pair has established a strong bond with one another. The rules of the Faceless Devil are as followed:

Rules of the Faceless Devil:

1. For two weeks, the ainée and cadette will not be allowed to see each other.

2. During these two weeks, they must endure and affirm their love toward each other.

3. Those couples who have succumbed to the temptations of the devil will be disqualified.

4. Those couples who have resisted the temptations of the devil will proceed to the next round.

Each school of a running pair will send out one or two Devil candidate(s) to tempt an opposing pair. The Devils are not to be publicly named nor will come announced. The devil’s goals are to make the couple break up or squeeze keywords out of the lonely target such as, “I like you more than___” or “take me away.” If these words are uttered by the participant, the devil wins. The devil has a list of pre-selected words beforehand that the individual must not utter if they wish not to be disqualified. The devil could then choose a partner and participate in the second event of the second round or the devil may not participate if they do not wish.  

Saveurs de L'amour:</i> The second ainée event. The ainée must make a complex dessert for their cadette in secret. They can only use ingredients given to them by a couple of an opposing school, or if none such couple exists, by the student council president of the opposing school. Some ingredients might be pertaining to a certain dessert, however, there is one trick ingredient provided, such as tomatoes among a delivery of flour, sugar, milk, and eggs. All the ingredients must be used. After the dessert is made, they must present it to their cadette before the student council presidents of each school. Presentation and quality are key!    

OR

Épée de Vérité:</i> One of the two choices for the second ainée event. The ainées are called to St. Spica’s gymnasium where they will be paired with an opponent ainée of a rival pair and fence for the win. Five points must be collected to move on; the loser is disqualified along with her cadette. Fencing practice and/or lessons can be requested to be given one day prior to the event.          

Third Competition: Le Dernier Miracle (The Final Miracle)

Events:

Mouvement de Soie:</i> The third and finale cadette competition. The participating pairs are tasked with a theme word, sewing equipment, and a deadline of a week to come up with outfits for themselves pertaining to how they decide to apply the theme. The outfits and creativity will be rated and polled afterwards. Both outfits must correspond with one another’s: for example, a demon and an angel, or two Greek goddesses. Theme words can be words such as, “Light” or “Heaven” or something more obscure such as “Mystery.”        
*Participants must have their outfits done by the deadline

*If more supplies then given are needed, please consult the corresponding school’s student council president
Ballroom Finale: The final competition for the ainée, and the final competition overall. Each couple will learn and perform a joint waltz in Miator’s ballroom, then move to the theater for finale judging where they stand under their school’s appropriate banner. This is where the final results are gathered and announced. The practice for the waltz will take exactly three weeks.    

Finale Ceremony: After the winners are announced, the ceremony moves to the Church the next day, where the Etoile pair receives their pendants from the student council president of the school that won. The ainée receives a scepter for the ceremony which she holds along with a crown; the cadette receives a tiara. If the pair won both the first and second competition, the scepter could be adorned with up to three crowns maximum.