Custodian of the Kennels
Overview
The Custodian of the Kennels is an Imperial title constructed by the Senate. The position of Custodian of the Kennels is a sinecure, requiring minimal responsibility but offering a regular monetary income. Work on the kennels were finished shortly before Spring Equinox 383YE. The Kennels of Holfried are in the region of Holfried, Holberg.
At the Winter Solstice 383YE, the Imperial Senate authorised an expansion to the kennels, after the graduates of Georgie's House achieved renown for their skills in catching rats, increasing the income of the Custodian by 100 rings, and allowing the expanded business to provide trained hounds to purchasers across the entire Empire.
Responsibilities
The Custodian receives a stipend from the kennels. In return they are expected to offer support and aid to the houndmaster, who is responsible for the day to day running of the kennel. Furthermore, if the Kennels of Holfried were to be threatened in any way it would be their responsibility to deal with those threats. Likewise, if any opportunity relating to the kennels presented itself it would their responsibility to make the decisions needed to take advantage of it.
Powers
Custodian's Stipend
The Custodian of the Kennels receives an income of 19 crowns, 8 rings each season from the kennels.
Appointment
The Custodian of the Kennels is appointed by unanimous decision of the senators of the League. If a unanimous decision cannot be reached, the title may be appointed by the Imperial Senate instead.
The title can only be held by a citizen of the League. The Custodian is appointed annually, during the Spring Equinox. They can be revoked by the General Assembly, the League National Assembly, and by the Assembly of the Nine.
Kennels of Holfried
Built in the upper city itself, the kennels are regularly referred to as Georgie's House by the locals in honour of a beloved animal belonging to the Withering Gaze coven, who financed the construction. They are a combination of kennels, training school, and dogs home. The kennels take in as many of the cities' strays as they can, and pay a number of young apprentices to roam the streets looking for animals to rehome. Some of the more enterprising apprentices make extra money locating and returning lost pets and animal companions in return for rewards.
The dogs are trained for a variety of useful roles such as guards, ratters, and hunting hounds, but there is also an emphasis on providing a good quality of life for the animals. Particular emphasis is placed on training all the dogs to attack and kill rats - such vermin being a regular problem in the city especially given the spreading of the Morass and the ruins created during the Druj invasion. Given recent memories of the siege of Holberg, there is some demand for trained companions who can also protect the city's food supplies.
Following the dreadful curse laid on Holmauer Park by agents of the Hag Queen, a plague of rats bedevilled the people of Holfried leading to increased demand for the services offered by the kennel. This saw the sinecure's profits increase and even after the salaries of new staff were taken into account, the kennels' income each season was still increased by three crowns and six rings.
| Summit | Elected |
|---|---|
| Autumn Equinox 386YE | Esme Beatrix de Holberg |
| Spring Equinox 386YE | Hildegarde |
| Spring Equinox 385YE | Hildegarde |
| Spring Equinox 384YE | Hildegarde |
| Spring Equinox 383YE | Alfredo von Holberg |
Recent Elections
This title is currently held by Esme Beatrix de Holberg; it will be reelected at Spring Equinox 387YE. The table to the right shows the citizens who have been elected to hold this title in the years since Empress Britta died.