The Imperial Council is the body in charge of overseeing the management of all political aspects of Fastheld. The Emperor delegates the administration of specific areas to various Offices that comprise a circle of trust meant to help maintain the flow of day-to-day activies in the realm. The head of each Office has a seat on the Council table and is granted a status of Royalty.
Contents
The Office of Imperial Intelligence
The Office of Imperial Intelligence is in charge of gathering information relevant to the workings of the realm. Headed by the Imperial Spymaster, the Office is kept by a web of informants.
The Office of Imperial Resources
The Office of Resources oversees the management of all Imperial resources. The head of this Office, the Imperial Trademaster, is in charge of hiring people in order to execute the following duties:
1) Ensure the flow of day-to-day activities in the Market District by meeting, whenever necessary, with the various heads of guilds.
2) Ensure the safekeeping of all Imperial woods and keeping tabs on the general movement of wood as an asset in the realm.
3) Ensure the safekeeping of all rivers and keeping tabs on traffic on them.
4) The administration of Imperial quarries across the land and keeping tabs on the traffic of minerals in the realm.
5) The administration of the Imperial Treasury and the control of taxes across the realm.
This office represents consolidation of the positions Watermaster, Tradesmaster, Quarryman, Woodsman, and Assessor, and all related duties. Basically, FOIR covers the government's stake in all things material, from taxes and trade to forests and the Fastheld River. The office was formed by Regent Oren Nillu early in the moth of Kilning, 625 ATA. Initially, this seat was held by Duchess Sahna Nillu, but after a falling-out with the emperor she was dismissed publically from office. Several months later, Abon Nillu took up the duties of FOIR, and the tax office itself was split back into the Assessor's positon; This was held, once again, by the re-appointed Sahna Nillu.
Sahna Nillu was dismissed when Zolor Zahir usurped the throne, abolishing taxes. Currently, nobody has been appointed as a replacement, so all that remains is the skilled crafter registry. (Feel free to add your craft info in-- This is an IC document so it can be used to locate crafters.)
The Office of Palace Management
The Office of Palace Management does exactly that: it ensures the smooth operation of all day-to-day activities within Fastheld Keep. The head of the Office, the Imperial Chancellor, is in charge of ensuring the management of the palace, scheduling hearings with the Emperor and events in the palace, and scheduling Council meetings. Also a part of this Office is the Imperial Healer.
Imperial Surrector
The Imperial Surrector is the Imperial Bloodline's personal bodyguard. He investigates all things related to the Imperial family in order to ensure their safety.
"Surrector: Coordinates the Crown's independent tracking of Shadow-Touched threats to the realm. Although the Church of True Light also scours the realm for this menace, the Surrector tends to be concerned with pursuing evidence of the Shadow as it manifests in close proximity to the Emperor or his kin. Recruits informants. Provides briefings to the Emperor on a weekly basis and periodic reports to the Council."
Blademaster
The Blademaster was a title held by the leader of the [[Emperor's Blades], the long-standing Fastheldian army. However, under the rule of former Emperor Zolor Zahir - now Regent - the Blades were disbanded and regrouped into a new army known as the Imperial Watch. The Blademaster is a retired post.
The first recorded Blademaster was Ulfell Lomasa, and the last known man to hold the position was Hartnek Lomasa.
Lightkeeper
A gleaming silver rapier with a point-tipped cylindrical blade, about 30-inches in length, that extends from a brass-trimmed hilt and handguard.
This blade once belonged to a traveling fencer named Urago Seed, who wandered the Forest District of Fastheld, engaging noble opponents in duels.
Along the way, he bested many opponents from the various Houses and, in exchange for his prowess, he departed with spoils such as Kahar Imperials, livestock, fine works of art and statuary, and even the occasional vassal.
Some fifteen years ago, however, he happened upon the township of Light's Reach, where he matched his skill against a young swordsman of noble blood named Alieron Mikin.
Although the duel seemed as if it might go Urago's way for some time, with the fencing champion landing two nasty cuts to Alieron's sides, the noble ultimately won through a combination of fleet-footedness and nimble swordplay. For his prize, Alieron claimed the fencer's rapier and dubbed it "Lightkeeper.
- Status: Destroyed after Alieron Mikin's unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Talus Kahar XIV.