Empire

Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper's Counsel.jpg
The gatekeepers often engage in intense discussion on the allocation of true liao.

Overview

Each of the seven cardinals of virtue appoints a single gatekeeper. Although there is no formal relationship between the cardinal and their gatekeeper, they often work closely together sharing the burdens of providing leadership to those who follow their Virtue. They are generally referred to as "Gatekeeper of (Virtue)".

The gatekeepers have no formal assembly - but there is often an unofficial council of gatekeepers where they meet to discuss matters of faith and decide on the allocation of the Empire's bounty of True Liao.

Responsibilities

The gatekeepers are responsible for determining who receives the precious, and limited supply of true liao. They are expected to choose someone of obvious virtue to receive each dose. Normally, a dose of true liao is used to experience a past life vision, but there are several other uses to which it can be put. Regardless of the wishes of the gatekeepers, the law is crystal clear. The gift of true liao is a reward from the Synod for virtuous behaviour, and the recipient is free to put it to any legal use they wish.

In practice, each gatekeeper tends to take their own approach to the title. Some act as an unofficial proxy to the cardinal who appointed them, working in their interests to support the faith. But sometimes they take the opposite approach. When a virtue assembly is split politically or over doctrine, the cardinal may agree to appoint someone with opposing views as gatekeeper. Some restrict their role to seeking out suitable candidates for true liao - but during the time of Emperor Ahraz for example, the gatekeepers operated as an unofficial body overseeing inquisition and condemnation, organizing other priests to root out perceived corruption in the Senate and Military Council.

First deserve it, then desire it.

Marcher Proverb

Powers

Keepers of True Liao

The gatekeepers are responsible for determining how true liao will be distributed. The legal requirement for a decision is for a majority of the gatekeepers (four) to inform the civil service of the single decision on who will receive each of the available doses of true liao. By custom, the gatekeepers often seek a unanimous decision but this is not required - the names of four gatekeepers appended to a written document detailing who will receive each dose is sufficient. Once the decision is made, it cannot be changed; a ruling instituted during the reign of Empress Brannan following several high-profile murders.

By longstanding tradition, the gatekeepers meet as a group to discuss candidates, but there is no formal meeting organised by the Civil Service. Though they are rare, there have been periods of Imperial history when the gatekeepers have been unable to agree a single candidate.

Usually, the gatekeepers will meet informally to agree their choices, acting as a defacto body similar to the Senate or the Conclave. This reflects the intent of the laws passed at the time and scholars have noted the similarity with a greater majority in the Synod. But no council has ever been formally established by Senate motion, and attempts to pass Senate motions that share a power between other title holders, outside of one of the five great houses of the Empire, have always been ruled unconstitutional. Many modern constitutional scholars question whether the titles would pass scrutiny today. The complex constitutional challenges posed by the existence of the gatekeepers has thwarted all attempts to put the allocation of liao on a more secure legal basis.

Appointment

Each gatekeeper is appointed by the appropriate cardinal. A gatekeeper must be a member of the virtue assembly they represent. Unlike many titles, if a new cardinal is appointed they may immediately reappoint the appropriate gatekeeper.

It is heavily frowned upon to name a gatekeeper from the same nation as the cardinal. This custom dates back to the creation of the gatekeepers. Any cardinal who breaks the tradition risks the suspicion of their colleagues and the censure of their fellow priests. It can be difficult for such a gatekeeper to gain the respect of their peers, especially if they are a member of the same household as their cardinal.

The cardinal of a Virtue Assembly - excluding the Assembly of The Way - has the right to appoint a member of their assembly as gatekeeper.

Every time a new cardinal is elected the cardinal may choose to replace or retain the existing gatekeeper.

A gatekeeper serves until they die, step down, or a new cardinal is elected and chooses a new appointee. It is important to note that once appointed the cardinal cannot choose to simply remove their appointed gatekeeper from office. Only a successful re-election or revocation allows a cardinal to appoint a new Gatekeeper.

A gatekeeper can be revoked by the General Assembly, and by the appropriate Virtue Assembly.

The History of the Gatekeepers

In the early days of the Empire, the allocation of true liao was controlled by use of the judgement of rewarding. Unfortunately, the rarity of true liao led to increasing conflict within the Synod as priests squabbled over the precious material. The disposition of true liao became such an important political issue it started to dominate the Synod, leaving them less focused on their role as spiritual advisers to the Empire. This state of affairs continued to deteriorate until 72YE, when Empress Teleri - as part of her overhaul of the Synod - worked with the Imperial Senate to address the issue.

The cardinals proposed to move control of true liao to the Assembly of Nine, but Empress Teleri resisted passionately. She saw no advantage in allowing the often deeply political cardinals to directly control access to true liao - she wanted the decision about who would have access to the substance to be spiritually, rather than politically motivated. In the end a compromise was reached and a separate title of gatekeeper was created. One gatekeeper was appointed by each cardinal and they would decide the disposition of the liao together. Teleri attempted to make it a legal requirement that the gatekeeper could not be from the same nation as their cardinal, but the Constitutional Court ruled this to be unconstitutional, much to her chagrin. Empress Teleri was able to make her requirements known - but was unable to legally enforce them.

The prominence of the gatekeepers has waxed and waned. During times where the Synod is especially active, the gatekeepers often work closely with the cardinals, almost like additional proxies. While they have no specific legal powers in this area (beyond those available to every member of the Synod), they are often called on to represent their virtue assembly when the cardinal, or their proxy, is busy with other matters. There have been repeated incidents where corrupt, weak, or unpopular cardinals have been displaced by their own gatekeepers - this is seen as evidence that the system works, that the gatekeepers also keep a close watch on the cardinals for signs that they have abandoned spirituality in pursuit of political power.
Appointment Schedule Virtue
Winter Solstice Prosperity
Spring Equinox Ambition & Vigilance
Summer Solstice Courage & Wisdom
Autumn Equinox Loyalty & Pride

Incumbent

The current gatekeepers are listed here - the full election history for each title are shown on their respective pages.

  • Harwyn Eternal

    Harwyn Eternal

Election History

Ambition

SummitNationElected
Spring Equinox 386YEThe LeagueSerrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato
Summer Solstice 385YENavarrCorey Wayfarer
Spring Equinox 384YENavarrCorey Wayfarer
Spring Equinox 383YENavarrCorey Wayfarer
Spring Equinox 382YENavarrCorey Wayfarer
Spring Equinox 381YEDawnViviane de Coeurdefer
Spring Equinox 380YEDawnViviane de Coeurdefer
Summer Solstice 379YESilent John
Spring Equinox 379YESeraiah Armand of the Suns of Couros
Winter Solstice 378YESilent John
Spring Equinox 378YEThe LeagueSerrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato
Spring Equinox 377YEThe LeagueSerrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato
Winter Solstice 376YESilent John

Courage

SummitNationElected
Summer Solstice 386YEWintermarkMasha Sigeling
Winter Solstice 385YEImperial OrcsTulva
Summer Solstice 385YEWintermark'Shacklebreaker' Thanmir Hrafnar
Spring Equinox 385YEWintermarkThanmir Hrafnar
Summer Solstice 384YEWintermarkEthelfrith Sigeling
Summer Solstice 383YEHighguardNina of Cantiarch's Hold
Summer Solstice 382YEHighguardNina of Cantiarch's Hold
Summer Solstice 381YEHighguardNina of Cantiarch's Hold
Summer Solstice 380YEWintermarkJorma Steelhail
Spring Equinox 380YEWintermarkJorma Steelhail
Summer Solstice 379YEVarushkaAgnieszka Katrinova Prochnost
Summer Solstice 378YEVarushkaAgnieszka Katrinova Prochnost
Summer Solstice 377YEUrizenCyrus Cascade
Winter Solstice 376YEHighguardAsher of Felix's Watch

Loyalty

SummitNationElected
Autumn Equinox 386YEUrizenEurybia of the House of Wanderers
Autumn Equinox 385YEUrizenEurybia of the House of Wanderers
Autumn Equinox 384YEUrizenEurybia "Blue" Melampus de Tassata
Autumn Equinox 383YEVarushkaAnastasiya Volkov
Autumn Equinox 382YEVarushkaAnastasiya Volkov
Autumn Equinox 381YEThe MarchesTess
Autumn Equinox 380YETess of the Marches
Autumn Equinox 379YEUrizenAnna-Valeria Cascade
Summer Solstice 379YEUrizenAnna-Valeria Cascade
Winter Solstice 378YEThe LeagueOberon Caeli Rezia di Tassato
Autumn Equinox 378YEDawnTancred de Rondell
Spring Equinox 378YEDawnTancred de Rondell
Autumn Equinox 377YEThe MarchesAlan Young
Winter Solstice 376YEThe MarchesAlan Young

Pride

SummitNationElected
Autumn Equinox 386YEVarushkaNisha Melinka Rupeilia Strazcovich The Boyarina
Spring Equinox 386YENavarrHarwyn Eternal
Autumn Equinox 385YEThe LeagueEstella Krazentia Callabrese Von Holberg (The Wandering Artist)
Autumn Equinox 384YEThe Brass CoastConstanza i Kalamar i Guerra
Autumn Equinox 383YEThe Brass CoastConstanza i Kalamar i Guerra
Autumn Equinox 382YEThe Brass CoastConstanza i Kalamar i Guerra
Winter Solstice 381YEThe Brass CoastConstanza i Kalamar i Guerra
Autumn Equinox 381YEThe LeagueAstrid Fjellrevening Rezia di Tassato
Summer Solstice 380YEThe LeagueAstrid Fjellrevening Rezia di Tassato
Autumn Equinox 379YELady Josephine Novarion
Spring Equinox 379YELady Josephine Novarion
Winter Solstice 378YESamson of Cantiarch's Hold
Autumn Equinox 378YENavarrMeurig Tystwarden
Autumn Equinox 377YENavarrMeurig Tystwarden
Winter Solstice 376YENavarrMeurig Tystwarden

Prosperity

SummitNationElected
Autumn Equinox 386YEThe Brass CoastHembeneth i Guerra
Winter Solstice 385YEVarushkaIvana Petara Vodjavic
Winter Solstice 384YEVarushkaIvana Petara Vodjavic
Winter Solstice 383YEThe LeagueOphelia Sanguineo Rezia di Tassato
Winter Solstice 382YEThe LeagueOphelia Sanguineo Rezia di Tassato
Winter Solstice 381YENavarrMorgan Leafstalker
Winter Solstice 380YENavarrMorgan Leafstalker
Winter Solstice 379YEWilhemina Maryenkovich Poltova
Spring Equinox 379YEWilhemina Maryenkovich Poltova
Winter Solstice 378YEWintermarkEdythe Dunne
Summer Solstice 378YEEnoch of the Shattered Tower
Winter Solstice 377YEDarius i Esmara i Erigo
Winter Solstice 376YEDarius i Esmara i Erigo

Wisdom

SummitNationElected
Summer Solstice 386YEUrizenClytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer
Summer Solstice 385YEWintermarkTuuli
Spring Equinox 385YEUrizenClytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer
Summer Solstice 384YEThe Brass CoastRaphael i Zamora i Riqueza
Autumn Equinox 383YEDawnEdward Watcher
Winter Solstice 382YEDawnEdward Watcher
Summer Solstice 382YEWintermarkSeaver
Summer Solstice 381YEVarushkaAmris Johan Merikovich
Winter Solstice 380YEAmris
Summer Solstice 380YEWintermarkGirthwynn Frythsdottir Tokling
Spring Equinox 380YEWintermarkGirthwynn Frythsdottir Tokling
Summer Solstice 379YELivia Cascade
Summer Solstice 378YELivia Cascade
Spring Equinox 378YELivia Cascade
Summer Solstice 377YEHywel Summercrow
Spring Equinox 377YEDawnAgnetha de Rondell
Winter Solstice 376YEStarac Sijed Orzel

Vigilance

SummitNationElected
Spring Equinox 386YEThe LeagueIrada Von Temeschwar
Spring Equinox 385YEThe LeagueIrada Von Temeschwar
Spring Equinox 384YEThe LeagueIrada Von Temeschwar
Spring Equinox 383YEThe LeagueIrada Von Temeschwar
Spring Equinox 382YEHighguardSela
Spring Equinox 381YEWintermarkAarne Ceorling
Spring Equinox 380YEAlys of the Woodwych Harts
Summer Solstice 379YEWintermarkAarne Ceorling
Spring Equinox 379YEVarushkaNikolovich Drakov
Spring Equinox 378YEHighguardAbraham
Spring Equinox 377YEWintermarkSilas
Winter Solstice 376YEHighguardAbraham

Further Reading

Core Brief

Additional Information

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