Speaker of the Highborn Assembly
Overview
The Speaker of the Highborn Assembly is an old title that fell into disuse some time ago. Historically, the Speaker for the Highborn Assembly served in a manner very similar to a cardinal of virtue, guiding the assembly and ensuring its traditions were upheld. With the formation of the Synod in the early years of the Empire, however, the title fell out of fashion and was eventually abrogated during the reign of Empress Varkula, allegedly at the request of the Assembly of the Nine (over the bitter protests of the Highborn Assembly). The actual role never really went away, however, although it rose and fell in prominence as the politics of the Highborn ebbed and flowed.
The title was reinstated shortly before the Summer Solstice 383YE following the refurbishment of the Basilica of Seven Doors by the Imperial Senate.
Responsibilities
The Speaker of the Highborn Assembly guides the Highborn National Assembly, ensuring its traditions are upheld. The Speaker has responsibility for chairing the meetings of the National assembly, encouraging the priests of Highguard to vote on judgements of the Synod and express the will of their congregations, organising the Day of the Dead memorial, and serving as custodian of the Basilica of Seven Doors. If the Basilica were to be threatened, it would be the responsibility of the Speaker to face those threats; likewise should any opportunity related to the Basilica arise the Speaker would decide how to respond.
Powers
A Portion of Liao
The sinecure provides 15 doses of liao to the Speaker each season, to be used as they see fit.
Donations to the Basilica
The Basilica of Seven Doors draws pilgrims from across Highguard; it is considered by many to be the true birthplace of the Way and making the pilgrimage to visit is seen by many Highborn as necessary to truly understand Pride in their nation. Some of these pilgrims make donations to help maintain the Basilica or for the Speaker to use as they deem necessary in Anvil. The Speaker of the Highborn Assembly receives 6 crowns and 15 rings each season from these donations.
To elect the position the morning after Day of the Dead would generally mean raising a judgement of appointment on Saturday evening no later than 19:00, with nominations closing at 22:00 Saturday and voting closing 14:00 Sunday. Alternatively, primacy would allow for the title to be appointed quickly on Sunday morning without requiring nominations. There is of course no legal requirement for the election to take place this way; the judgement could be raised at any time during the Winter Solstice.
Appointment
The Speaker is a national position which is appointed by judgement of the Highborn assembly.
The Speaker is appointed during the Winter Solstice each year. They can be revoked by the General Assembly, the Highborn Assembly, and the Assembly of the Nine.
Traditionally, the appointment of the Speaker takes place the morning after the annual Day of the Dead celebration, at the start of the Highborn new year, and there have been requests that this custom be maintained if possible - although there is no legal requirement for this to be the case.
| Summit | Elected | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Equinox 386YE | Nicodemus of Balthazar's Vineyard | 210 Votes |
| Winter Solstice 385YE | Abraham | 325 Votes |
| Winter Solstice 384YE | Isaac of the Silent Tide | 261 Votes |
| Winter Solstice 383YE | Isaac of the Silent Tide | 163 Votes |
| Autumn Equinox 383YE | Asher | 315 Votes |
| Summer Solstice 383YE | Lev | 364 Votes |
Recent Elections
This title is currently held by Nicodemus of Balthazar's Vineyard; it will be reelected at the next summit. The table to the right shows the citizens who have been elected to hold this title in the years since Empress Britta died.
Basilica of Seven Doors
The old meeting halls of the original Highborn assembly, the Basilica of Seven Doors, stand at the centre of White City. They are as beautiful and majestic today as they were when they were first completed. Seven chapels, one dedicated to each of the virtues, form an outer ring around a single great hall beneath a white marble dome. The great cathedral stands at the heart of a public park through which seven wide avenues extend, serving as the "spokes" around which the rest of the city was originally arranged. The Highborn still use the Basilica of Seven Doors for important festivities.
The Basilica was built explicitly for the use of the original Highborn Assembly in the years following the end of the civil war. It was constructed long before the foundation of the Empire, and long before the Way spread to other nations. At one point, it was perhaps the most significant building in Highguard - the centre of both spiritual and secular power, guiding the chapters and building a new nation on foundations of virtue and faith.
The Basilica is old, and while it is well maintained, it was built at an earlier time when there were fewer priests. In order to serve as the new heart of the Highborn assembly, it required some refurbishment. Following some discussion with Lev Unbound, the Custodes Clavium suggested that the building could be expanded without harming its unique history, and they were more than willing to oversee these refurbishments themselves. All they required was the permission of the Senate and the support of the Highborn assembly. Gaining support to refurbish the Basilica took time; it was eventually granted during the Spring Equinox 383YE. Once secured, the actual work was quickly completed with the work finished shortly before the Summer Solstice.
For many years the duty of overseeing the citadel and its grounds fell to the Custodes Clavium - a Highborn chapter named for the ring of keys they notionally hold, each one used to secure one of the gates to the citadel. In the Summer 383YE, following the completion of extensive refurbishments, the Speaker of the Highborn Assembly took over custodianship of the Basilica.