Azorius Senate Write-Up

Azorius Senate:

Food & Cuisine:
	As can be expected from the Azorius, food preparation is strictly regulated and controlled. The source of the food doesn't matter, because once it gets to the Azorius, it's sold in discrete packages - just enough to make one item of food. The box itself will come with a detailed step-by-step recipe, as well as optimized condiment packets. Generally speaking, most Azorius households will have a catalogue of these pre-packaged meals, with guidelines how to optimize macro-and-micro-nutrient uptake. Generally, people will pre-order a month in advance. The more affluent eat at restaurants where their information is on file and meals are prepared so that there is no wait time as the customer arrives.

	Azorius cuisine is both simple and opulent. While the food itself may be bland, Azorius (being one of the smaller guilds) provides quality foodstuffs for their people, out of a sense of optimizing their people. On that note, if a member of the Azorius is found to be indulgent in consumption, generally speaking that person will be mandated to visit a proper nutrionist, who will then make food decisions for the person in question. Alcohol and mind-altering substances are frowned upon, as are most depressants. Simic stimulants are frowned upon, but if the person is using, but not abusing them (to optimize workflow, to take the edge off work, etc), and the proper paperwork is signed for, a person may partake.

Leisure & Recreation:
	The Azorius generally present a rather dour face to the public. This is broadly speaking true. They don't have wild parties, or street fairs, and so on. The most public display of festivities is when a new Arbiter is chosen. Despite this, the Azorius are not fools and realize that the various functionaries need some kind of fun. Generally speaking, Azorius fun happens in smaller social circles and is generally more cerebral than rowdy. There are public poetry readings, conversational games, debates, and so on. Expressive art is generally frowned upon, but as long as it meets an exhautive list of criteria, it will be good enough to be enshrined in one of the publically available galleries. Furthermore, the Azorius Senate is the most literate guild, so figuratively, there's libraries on every corner. Private libraries are also a thing, with one's collection of fiction/non-fiction being a matter of pride.

Friendship and Conflict:
	On average, the Azorius are more introverted than extroverted. Yes they have the public speakers, the propagandists, and the town criers (with the latter being subsumed by the Dimir). Despite this, the average Azorius is more likely to be a functionary in the background, working on what the guild needs. Due to their inherent workaholism, they're more likely to make friends in or around the workplace. A formal letter is generally the proper way to engage in contact. Once friendships have been made, formalism is usually dropped. However, as a rule one of the friends will request a transfer to a different department, so as to not create a conflict of interest. If this is not done, the friends will generally be constantly bothered by official inquiries.

	Conflicts in Azorius society are very easily resolved. The two people set a time and a place, and either present their case before a higher-ranked functionary or hire elocutors. This can (and often does) escalate higher and higher until the two parties are satisfied. This is why in social settings, the Azorius person will actually have a set of guidelines on how to act. ((So, in other words, unlike our society, where we have unwritten codes of communication, these guys have an actual code. And yes, they have a variety of the Bro Code, literally enforceable by law)). Because of this, people generally strive to have the Azorius be their arbiters.

Relationships and Sexuality:
	Relationships in the Senate also begin as very formalized affairs. Whole books have been written and re-written on proper courtship. Azorius is very egalitarian so there is no gender preference on who initiates courtship. Proper steps generally have to be followed and either party can terminate (and even litigate) if the steps are not followed. Other than that, the Azorius also has a ton of rules on appearances and behavior in public (so, no hand-holding during work hours, for example). At the same time, they recognize people's right to privacy and what goes on inside a couple's private space is none of the Senate's business.

	Azorius adopts a gender-and-sexuality neutral approach. So long as the proper paperwork is filled out, the Senate itself will recognize any kind of partnership. That being said, the Azorius generally tend towards the monogamous and heterosexual, since they're very keen on tradition. Extramarital relationships are a huge taboo and are grounds for expulsion - since that would violate the marriage contract. These kinds of things are generally pushed off on the Orzhov instead, since that's more up their alley.

Childhood and Old Age:
	Schools in the Senate generally have a focus on things the Azorius Senate stands for: law, mathematics, magic, sky-riding, and so on. Generally there is a top-down approach - the Senate makes a projection about what it needs and then the schools receive instructions on how to fill it. Children are taught that it is better to be a part of a whole operating as one rather than be an individual. Merit and intellect however act as buffers - if a person is a clear fit to join the Young Elocutor Squad or has an aptitude for divination magic, they'll get placed accordingly.

	The elderly enjoy a pension based on their positions and merit. Nobody throws the elderly to the wolves, but at the same time, senseless charity is frowned on. If you contributed a lot during your life, you will get yours. If you didn't, but were a member of the Senate anyway, you'll get the bare minimum. Families taking care of their elderly is generally uncommon, though again, with the proper paperwork and protocols, it's doable. Furthermore, the elderly are ecouraged to retired only if they feel like it or if they start making mistakes - if they do not however, they can keep working for as long as they can. Instances of sharp-minded (but weak of body) Azorius dying at their workplaces are not unheard of.

General Notes:
	The Azorius are very work-oriented. That is their chief trait. Anybody who doesn't contribute to the functioning of law and order is generally frowned upon, but at the same time, since Guild membership is not a sacrosanct right, the Azorius Senate is full of people who are interested in law and order, and willing to work for it. And while there are a ton of rules and forms to obey while being in the Senate, the guild is fairly laissez-faire when a person is in private.