Powers That Be

The phrase “Powers That Be” is used extramuros as a catch‑all for the governing authorities. In the mathic world this corresponds broadly to the Saecular Power, though the expression is informal and nonspecific rather than the name of a particular office or bureau.

First noted usage and context

On the eve of Apert, an extramuros artisan uses the term while answering an avout’s wide‑ranging questionnaire in the library. In that conversation, the “Powers That Be” are cited as the ones who: - Attempt to protect roaming “Magistrate Doctors” (officials who travel in sealed purple boxes), though that protection has not always been effective. - Increase public surveillance by installing additional speelycaptors. - Impose a temporary, non‑painful spine‑clamp device on those judged to have committed crimes; the device visibly announces the offense in Kinagrams, hobbles the wearer for a time, and then falls off.

Characteristics and scope

• The phrase is generic and does not specify a particular chain of command or agency. Who exactly has access to the speelycaptor feeds is not known to the artisan describing them.
• Usage suggests day‑to‑day administrative and policing functions outside the concent’s walls, complementing the mathic perspective that refers broadly to the Saecular Power.

Status

Active in the world extramuros at the time of the discussion, with capabilities that include surveillance and the administration of non‑carceral penalties.