Shufet (pronounced SHOO-fet) are the traditional rulers of the cities of Tamkaranu, a term that roughly equates to a judge. Though the positions were abolished during the region's period as a kingdom, they were restored with the dissolution of the monarchy in Y9360*. Shufet are also common in areas of major Tamkaranu cultural influence, including its colonies across the seas like Ashnan, Ellu, and Kashadum, the smaller cities and towns founded by Tamkaranu settlers, and the independent nation of Korymbos.
In Tamkaranu and Korymbos, two shufet are elected by each city to serve one-year terms. While these judges have expansive executive and judicial powers, they also preside over elected city-level assemblies who advise the shufet. In this form of diarchy, any shufet can veto the actions of their peer, thus forcing them to negotiate and reach an agreement on any issue in which they hold differing views. On certain matters the shufet must defer to their assemblies, most notably on any question of military action, trade embargo, or other such diplomatic activity.
Those elected to positions in the assembles or as shufet are invariably individuals of some degree of wealth, typically prominent merchants, as these positions do not confer any salary or other personal benefits.
In the colonies of Tamkaranu, some shufet are elected by local populations while others are selected by the leaders of the metropole.
The plural of shufet is the same word.