Eternal Shafts of Time
Overview
The Eternal Shafts of Time are located near the town of Vorota, in Wieliczka in the Varushkan territory of Karov. Custodianship of the Shafts grants an Imperial title; a seat on the Imperial Bourse; and a seasonal bounty of valuable mithril.
The Resource
In the mountains near Vorota in Karov are the Eternal Shafts of Time. These ancient shafts were old long before the Empire was born and the size and precise dimensions of the oldest five-sided shafts hints that those who once worked them were not human. Time seems to run strangely in the shafts, workers claim some days simply run longer than others and the output of the mines seems to support their claims. Some Heralds of the Autumn Eternals Ephisis and Estavus have dropped hints that they know more about this strange phenomenon, but they refuse to be drawn on the specifics - allegedly they claim that "the bargain has not yet run its course so it would be inappropriate to discuss it."
Ownership of the Shafts was hotly contested between the citizens of Temeschwar and those of Varushka in the early days of the Empire, but in the end the Varushkans retained control of them. The League has made little secret in the past of their desire to control the mines. In 340YE, during the reign of Empress Giselle, an effort was made to have the mines reallocated as an Imperial Seat using a document of dubious provenance to claim "significant doubt" over the validity of the Varushkan claim. The motion was quashed before a vote was taken by the Constitutional Court who reiterated their opinion that the only way for a new vote of allocation to take place is if the resource is lost and then later reconquered (this all took place long before the Senate had the power of relinquishment). Even after the motion was withdrawn, factions in Varushka were not satisfied. The day after the Senate meeting where the attempt was made, several of the Empress' most prominent supporters in both the Senate and Bourse were cursed. Anger took some time to die down and for the next two years the Varushkan senators were united in their opposition to every motion raised by a League senator.
Control of the Shafts is assigned to whichever Varushkan candidate receives the most support from Varushkan owners of mine resources. In a similar manner to the Granites of Veltsgorsk, the mine-owners of Varushka often offer their votes to potential candidates in return for an agreed-upon share of the mithril the mines produce. The most successful holders of the Seat are able to strike a good balance between receiving sufficient support, and keeping enough mithril for themselves to keep the title profitable.
Prior to the start of 385YE, the Eternal Shafts of Time produced only 27 wains of mithril each season. With the completion of the Iron Roads in Karov, however, improved access meant they were capable of producing 29 wains of mithril each season. During the Autumn Equinox 385YE a small group of scions launched an attack on the mine. Though they were challenged by the heroes of Anvil they managed to make it through to the resource and claimed much of the mithril that had been mined that season. A small band of schlacta from nearby Vorota were dispatched and found no remnant of the heralds of Cold Sun.
The Bourse Seat
Responsibilities
The Seat has no particular responsibilities; they simply receive a bounty of mithril which is theirs to do with as they will. If the Eternal Shafts of Time were to be threatened in any way, it would be the responsibility of the Seat to deal with those threats. Likewise, if any particular opportunity were to arise related to the Eternal Shafts of Time, the Seat would expect to be consulted as to how that opportunity might be resolved.
Powers
Seat on the Bourse
Custodianship of the Eternal Shafts of Time comes with a seat on the Imperial Bourse. For the most part, this Seat comes with no additional responsibilities. It is an Imperial title that grants the right to participate on the rare occasion when the Imperial Bourse as a body is required to make a decision.
Bounty of mithril
The Seat has control of a source of mithril and receives Bourse certificates to represent that control. They can dispense this resource as they choose. Production is 29 Imperial wains of mithril every season.
Appointment
As with all mithril Bourse seats, the holder of the title is determined during the Autumn Equinox. Control of the Shafts is assigned to whichever Varushkan candidate receives the most support from Varushkan owners of mine and forest resources. Votes are recorded in private in conjunction with the civil servants who support the Bourse.
Custodianship of the Eternal Shafts of Time is retained for a year, or until the citizen holding the seat dies, or steps down. An Imperial Bourse seat cannot be revoked by the Imperial Synod.
| Summit | Elected | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Equinox 386YE | Dorys Delgorokov | 376 Votes |
| Autumn Equinox 385YE | Vasiliy Krenyenkov Valeskai Strascovich | 348 Votes |
| Autumn Equinox 384YE | Pavuk Vid Strascovich | 320 Votes |
| Autumn Equinox 383YE | Tomislav Straskovic | 142 Votes |
| Autumn Equinox 382YE | Tomasz | 112 Votes |
| Autumn Equinox 381YE | Tomasz Stracovich | |
| Autumn Equinox 380YE | Tomasz Stracovich | |
| Autumn Equinox 379YE | Tomasz Stracovich | |
| Autumn Equinox 378YE | Tomasz Stracovich | |
| Autumn Equinox 377YE | Tomasz Stracovich | |
| Winter Solstice 376YE | Tomasz Stracovich |
Recent Elections
This title is currently held by Dorys Delgorokov; it will be reelected at Autumn 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.