and yes this is simply the start of my questions....

*stroked his muzzle while sitting back.*

I'm a bit shocked...

Only one person could partially figure it out? Hmm. Even Seeker's definition of courts is, though interestingly humorous impromptu, and informative, wasn't complete, though somewhat accurate. To be short, I'm impressed.

The Courts are indeed comprised of 'Councils'. In these 'Councils', Elders, Leaders and Officials gather with the concerns of their subjects, garnered by petition, or in the case of the Kami, prayer. They then give each other council as to what should take place, or be done about any situation. In the Heavens, there's ALOT less struggle about who's in charge of what, or who's over whom.

The Courts on earth are reflective of these 'Councils', known now today as 'Diets'. They reflect the warmth of community (for some breeds) as much of the community does indeed gather to watch and listen to the 'Council' as they 'debate'. While this goes on, much of the community socializes quietly while the Council and Diet Elders, Leaders and Officials talk with each other about the on-going concerns, passing and rewriting laws, giving judgment on criminals and criminal activities.

The proceedings pretty much align with most official Court proceedings. You can pick up books of law and government for that.

Courts also include the political maneuvers, courting and marriages, espionage and manipulations and back-stabbing as any other court, though the latter sets of worse things are not always there. To be honest, 'Inner-Breed' courts, because they have a larger and closer sense of community, have alot less back stabbing, which is good when someone is brushing your tails.

Think of the Kitsune courts as a cross between the modern and the ancient, and you'll have a general right idea. Just one warning: Though the Courts can be pretty passive, it can get cut-throat quickly, and if you don't have the mind for political intrigue?... Don't get involved. It's too... hurtful, at times.

It takes alot to form a Mass Diet. Similar to a 'Conclave', they comprise of all Ujis appearing to represent. Something like that would be having to do with something massively catastrophic, such as the waking of an ancient Oni, which hasn't happened for over 300 years. (So said, the last one woke up a volcano that nearly destroyed half of Japan. How do I know?... I remember the smell of the smoke. Blasphemous brimstone and corruption. It spread like... well, you get the idea.)

This, of course, is what I know of the Kemono Youkai Courts, mainly the Kitsune Courts.