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Conclave session

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[[Category:Conclave]]
<quote by="Iñes i Guerra">We do not need to like each other to meet as a Conclave, but we must respect each other if we hope to be effective. My Principle of Proportions ensures respect for other magicians is accorded in the most sublime way. Each of us will weigh the balance of our business against the Conclave's precious time using the scales of magic itself. If the price seems too high, then perhaps what you have to say is not as important to us as it is to you... </quote>
==Overview==
Like the [[Imperial Senate|Senate]] and the [[Imperial Military Council|Military Council]], the Conclave conducts its official business at formal sessions, where declarations are debated and then voted on. The rules of the Conclave positively encourage magicians to pursue their goals outside the sessions so Conclave members often meet to discuss business throughout the day, but a Conclave session is the the only time that [[declaration|declarations]] can be passed.


Traditionally, the Conclave has one formal session each evening during the Imperial summit. The first session is usually dedicated to the appointment of the [[Conclave order#Grandmasters of the orders|grandmasters]] of the [[Conclave order|orders]], which generally takes place on Friday night. Sometimes this is immediately followed by a full session, but more often full sessions take place on Saturday and Sunday evenings, to allow sufficient time to prepare the agenda.
Under normal circumstances, the Civil Service arrange one formal session of Conclave each evening during the Imperial summit. Each session follows an [[#Setting the Agenda|agenda]] composed of a small number of [[declaration|declarations]]. In each case, the declaration is ''presented'', the orders ''debate'' it, and then every attending magician is invited to ''vote'' on the proposal.


During these sessions, the magicians of the Conclave vote on subjects related to the good conduct of their fellows and the use of their resources.
Although the [[Prefect of the Conclave]] has a number of legal powers to ensure they can control the proceedings in Conclave, they don't preside over the session in the way the [[Speaker for the Senate|Speaker]] does in the [[Imperial Senate]]. Rather than have a chair, who can speak, the Conclave uses [[Imperial_Conclave#Conclave_Principles|three principles]] to determine who can speak, for how long and when. These principles allow meetings to proceed in an orderly fashion according to strict rules.


==The Agenda==
==Setting the Agenda==
The agenda for each formal session of the Conclave is determined in advance. Any [[Spell list#Magician|magician]] can add an item to the agenda. The process for doing so is reasonably simple; the magician approaches a Conclave functionary and raises an agenda item. This costs one crystal mana. The civil servant adds the item to the agenda. At the next Conclave session, each item on the agenda is raised and resolved by the meeting, generally in the order in which they were raised.
* '''The Conclave agenda consists of a number of declarations - submitted up to one hour before Conclave begins'''
* '''Each order has the power to raise a single declaration of any type to the agenda of every Conclave session'''
* '''Some Imperial titles have the power to raise a single declaration of a specific type each summit'''


Each [[archmage]] has the power to add a single agenda item for each session at no cost, and may elect to do so under ''the veil of night'', in which case the agenda item is described as being raised by them but no further details need be given.
The agenda for each session consists of a number of [[declaration|declarations]] submitted to the office of the Prefect of the Conclave up to one hour before each session begins. Each [[Conclave order]] has the right to submit two declarations of any kind, one at each of the two sessions that take place. Each order's declaration may only be presented by a single member of that order, chosen by the [[grandmaster]]. The grandmaster may present the declaration themselves, or give the declaration to another member of their order to submit and deliver it.


Any Magician can ask to review the agenda for the next Conclave session. The agenda is normally closed half an hour before the session is scheduled to begin.
A small number of Imperial titles have the power to raise a single declaration once each summit. This declaration must be of a specific type; for example the [[Bursar of the Conclave]] can raise one Declaration of Endowment each summit, the [[Imperial Magus]] can raise one Declaration of Concord each summit. The declarations must be raised and presented by the title-holder or their proxy.


The two most common agenda items are ''address'' and ''declaration".
Finally, there is a single declaration each summit auctioned via the [[Imperial Bourse]] for [[Game_items#Mana_Crystals|mana crystals]]. The citizen who wins the title [[Arbiter of  the Rogue Declaration]] is empowered to raise any one declaration to the Conclave agenda for the Saturday evening session. As an Imperial title, they must present the declaration themselves, or send a proxy. The mana raised from the auction is added to the font at the next summit.


===Address===
===Order of Business===
The magician, or one named individual to whom they defer who must be present, can address the Conclave for up to five minutes on whatever topic they desire.
* '''Each Conclave session follows a strict order of business'''


When this item is raised, the civil servant will ask if any of the [[Conclave order#Grandmasters of the orders|grandmasters]] wish to silence the speaker; if one chooses to do so, a vote is called. If the vote passes, the agenda item is removed from the agenda and the address does not take place. As is usual with conclave votes, the mana crystal paid to place the item on the agenda counts as a vote in favour of the address.
The order of business for each Conclave session proceeds in the following order:


===Propose a Declaration===
* Civil service announcements
The magician proposes that the Conclave votes on an issue, generally the use of one of its legal powers in the form of a Declaration. The crystal of mana always counts as a single vote in favour of the declaration.
* Address by the Throne
* If the Throne has nominated a prime declaration then this is debated first
* If the [[Imperial Magus]] is raising a Declaration of [[Concord]], using [[Imperial Magus#The Magus' Precedence|Magus' Precedence]] then this is next
* All other [[declaration|declarations]] in the order they were first submitted
* If the Throne has nominated a final declaration then this is debated last
* The session ends


The Conclave has a number of powers to enable them to fulfil their constitutional role of protecting the Empire from the abuses of magic. These powers are grouped together as the Declarations of the Conclave.
The Civil Service will declare the official start of the Conclave Session and make any necessary announcements that are relevant to the Conclave, such as challenges to grandmasters, titles that have become unexpectedly vacant, and so on. Once the announcements are out of the way, the Prefect will declare that the Session has begun and invite the Throne to address the Conclave if they have requested to do so and are physically present.


====Declaration of Candidacy====
Following any address by the Throne, the declarations are raised and resolved. The default sequence is the order in which they were submitted to the Prefect, but this can be changed. The Throne can choose to nominate one declaration as the prime declaration and one declaration as the final declaration. The prime declaration is moved to the top of the agenda and debated first, the final declaration is moved to the end of the agenda and debated last. In addition, the Imperial Magus may opt to take precedence over the normal running order, and have their Declaration of Concord debated after the prime declaration or first if there is no prime declaration. In both cases the Throne and the Magus must inform the Prefect of their wishes before the agenda closes (one hour before the session begins).
The Conclave can declare someone to hold a specific position controlled by the Conclave. This is most commonly used to propose someone for the post of [[archmage]] or [[Dean of the Lyceum]]. If there is someone already holding the position, they obviously lose it when the vote passes. Occasionally, this same declaration has been used to simply remove someone from their position, by declaring that their post should be filled with ''nobody''.


It is typical for the civil service to group all declarations of candidacy that effect the same position together at the point on the agenda where the first one is announced and for the position to be claimed only when the last vote for that position has taken place.
Finally, in the event that two identical declarations are raised - for example if two [[Alignment|Declarations of Alignment]] are raised to declare enmity against the same eternal - the civil service will combine them. In this case, the declarations are discussed and voted on once but all members of the Conclave presenting the declaration have a chance to put their case and lead the debate. They combined declarations are resolved at the point that the first declaration submitted would have been dealt with.


====Declaration of Sorcery====
In each case, the Civil Service announce the wording of the declaration and then invite the speaker to give a formal presentation of their case if they wish to do so. It costs to speak on a declaration in Conclave, so the person must pay for their time according to the [[Imperial Conclave#Principle of Proportions|Principle of Proportions]] (one mana for the first minute, two for the second and so on).
The Conclave may declare a magician to be a sorcerer. The most common reason for this declaration is as a result of an abuse of 'legal curses' against citizens or allies of the Empire. If this Declaration is made:
* the sorcerer is prohibited from contributing to rituals.
* the sorcerer is prohibited from carrying or using crystal mana.
* the sorcerer is not permitted to run a mana site. Such a resource is confiscated by the Conclave, and its production added to the [[Archmage#Vault of the Archmagi|vault]].
A sorcerer who violates these prohibitions will be subject to arrest and trial before a [[Imperial Law|magistrate]].


====Declaration of Reconciliation====
Once the final declaration has been resolved, the session ends and any declarations that have passed come into force. If a session ends prematurely for any reason, remaining declarations are abandoned.
The Conclave may reconcile a sorcerer with the Empire. If this declaration is made, all rights that were taken from them are returned. They regain possession of any confiscated mana site, but not of any crystal mana it may have produced while they were sorcerers.


====Declaration of Enmity====
==Debating a Declaration==
The Conclave may declare a specific [[Eternals|Eternal]] to be an enemy of the Empire. If this declaration is made, it becomes illegal for anyone to consort with the Eternal named in this declaration, or with their Heralds. Such an act can result in the alleged offender being arrested on charges of sorcery or treason, and the case taken before the magistrates.
* '''After presented is complete, the Civil Service will allow one minute for members of the Conclave to talk among themselves before the formal debate begins'''
* '''The debate takes place over a series of rounds; each order has one opportunity to participate in each round in strict order of Precedence, from smallest to largest'''
* '''At their order's appointed turn each grandmaster may choose to nominate a single speaker, to pass, or to move to vote'''
* '''The debate ends immediately if all seven grandmasters declined to nominate or at the end of a round in which or half or more of the grandmasters moved to vote'''


Performance of rituals that deal with, or appear to deal with, an Eternal subject to the declaration of enmity (such as [[Ephisis' Scales]], [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]], [[Missive for Sadogua]] and the like) may be treated as sorcery; the magistrates will often seek the assistance of the [[archmage|archmagi]] to clarify this, unless there is a separate [[Conclave session#Declaration of Interdiction|declaration of interdiction]] against specific rituals.
After the presentation is complete, the Civil Service allow one minute for members of the Conclave to discuss the declaration with each other before the formal debate begins. The debate takes place in rounds; each order has one chance to speak in each round, proceeding according to the [[Imperial Conclave##Principle of Precedence|Principle of Precedence]], from the smallest to the largest.


As of 374 YE, the only well-known Eternal subject to declaration of enmity is [[Wendigo]], a Winter Eternal that promotes unspeakable acts and cannibalistic feasts. He was made subject to this declaration in the 306 YE Winter Solstice session of the Conclave following exposure of his involvement in no less than three cannibalistic cults dedicated to blasphemy, idolatory and heresy.
On their order's turn, a grandmaster may either choose to nominate a speaker; to pass; or to move to vote. The debate is over at the end of any round during which the Throne moved to vote, or half or more of the grandmasters moved to vote. The debate ends immediately if all seven grandmasters declined to nominate a speaker at the last point they were asked, either by passing or moving to vote.


====Declaration of Amity====
===Nominating a Speaker===
The Conclave may declare a specific Eternal to be an ally of the Empire. Imperial citizens are encouraged to demonstrate courtesy and even aid these Eternals, or their Heralds, where it is possible for them to do so. The Heralds of that Eternal receive the same status and protection under Imperial Law accorded to any mortal foreigner.
* '''A nominated speaker must either be an Imperial citizen; an eternal with amity; or a herald of such an eternal, they do not need to be a member of the grandmaster's order'''
* '''The speaker can speak as long as they please, but must pay for each minute they speak, following the Principle of Proportions'''
* '''The speaker may not pass their time to a third party, but may use their time to grant the individual presenting the declaration a chance to respond'''
A grandmaster can nominate any Imperial citizen who is present to speak, they do not have to be a member of their order or even a magician. They may also nominate an eternal with amity or the herald of such an eternal. Inhabitants of the realms who do not have amity and foreigners or barbarians are not permitted to speak in Conclave during the debate and cannot be nominated.
<table style="max-width: 200px; float: right;">
<tr><td>Total Time</td><td>Total Cost</td><tr>
<tr><td>1 minute</td><td>1 mana</td></tr>
<tr><td>2 minutes</td><td>3 mana</td></tr>
<tr><td>3 minutes</td><td>6 mana</td></tr>
<tr><td>4 minutes</td><td>10 mana</td></tr>
</table>
Every nominated speaker must provide mana to the Conclave in exchange for the right to speak. Under the [[Imperial Conclave##Principle of Proportions|Principle of Proportions]], the first minute costs one mana, the second minute two mana, and so on. Once nominated, a speaker may continue for as long as they can pay mana; when someone plans to talk for more than a minute it is common to provide the civil service with a pile of mana to use as they speak. Since the speaker has paid for their time, those assembled are required to let the speaker use their minute freely.


This declaration is also used to rescind a [[Conclave session#Declaration of Enmity|declaration of enmity]].
Minutes are timed using a set of minute glasses provided by the Civil Service, who are also responsible for ensuring that individuals obey the time limits. The civil servants have the legal power to remove a magician once their allotted time has expired, but this is rarely needed, Conclave magicians are positively encouraged to police themselves - by barracking any magician who attempts to carry on speaking until they pay the mana or relinquish the floor.


====Declaration of Interdiction====
The speaker may ''not'' invite others to speak on their behalf, but they may use any part of their time to grant the individual presenting the declaration a chance to respond.
The Conclave may censor material that could pose a supernatural risk to the citizens of the Empire. They can use this to declare the use of a specific ritual or enchanted item to be an act of sorcery, meaning that anyone found guilty of using that magic is arrested and brought before a magistrate.  


Specific items that have been declared under interdiction are usually given to the civil service for secure disposal; scrolls or tomes containing rituals that are placed under interdiction are generally destroyed. However the Conclave can also declare something interdicted without the supervision of the Conclave - generally meaning without the specific intercession of one of the [[archmage|archmagi]]. In this case interdicted items or tomes are handed over to the Conclave for appropriate disposition.
===Passing===
* '''A grandmaster may pass when asked to nominate, to indicate their order is forgoing the chance to speak at that point in the debate'''
* '''They will be offered another chance to nominate in subsequent rounds of the debate'''
* '''The debate ends immediately if none of the seven grandmasters have nominated a speaker at the last time they were asked'''


====Declaration of Acceptance====
The grandmaster may choose to ''pass'' when asked to nominate a speaker. If this happens, the Civil Service will move to the next grandmaster. The order will not have a chance to speak in that round of the debate, but they can participate normally in any future rounds if the debate continues. The grandmaster will be asked to nominate a speaker when it is their turn again in the following round.
This declaration will remove or modify a ban placed by the [[Conclave session#Declaration of Interdiction|declaration of interdiction]].  


This declaration can also be used to suggest that a specific ritual be added to the body of Imperial Lore, allowing magicians all over the Empire to receive training in the ritual. This process can be quite costly, and requires [[Imperial Senate]] approval - it is the senate that meets costs involved, although the Conclave may offer additional support to the Senate if an appropriate [[gambits|gambit]] is raised. If this declaration is made, the civil service functionaries will add it to the [[Imperial Senate]] agenda. <label type="info">Further information will be added to this section shortly.</label>
If all the grandmasters declined the opportunity to nominate a speaker the last time they were asked, either because they passed or moved to vote, then the debate ends immediately and the vote begins.


====Declaration of the Balance====
===Move to Vote===
The Conclave may require the civil service to arrange the election of the [[Conclave order#Grandmasters of the orders|grandmasters]] again. This declaration rarely passes unless more than one [[Conclave order|order]] (and thus grandmaster) wishes to re-evaluate the voting strength of the orders as a whole. The civil service will attempt to arrange the re-election after the current session, and before the next session, ensuring sufficient time is allowed for all magicians to be aware of the re-election.
* '''A grandmaster may move to vote when asked to nominate, to indicate their order has no further interest in debating the declaration'''
* '''They will not be offered another chance to nominate a speaker in any subsequent rounds of the debate'''
* '''The debate ends at the end of the current round if four or more of the grandmasters have moved to vote'''


===Voting on declarations===
If the grandmaster chooses to ''move to vote'' they indicate that their order is finished with the debate and wishes the vote to begin. Once this happens, the grandmaster cannot change their mind. Their order forfeits the right to nominate a speaker in any future round of the debate.
A declaration is always considered to have a single vote in favour. If nobody opposes it, it passes automatically. If any [[Conclave order#Grandmasters of the orders|grandmaster]] chooses to oppose the declaration, a vote is called


During a vote each grandmaster may commit an amount of crystal mana to either support or oppose the declaration. Crystals are placed secretly, then counted by the civil service. A grandmaster cannot commit more crystals than the voting strength of their order, as recorded during their election.
If the Throne has moved to vote or at least half of the grandmasters present have moved to vote, then the debate finishes ''at the end of the current round'' and the vote begins.


Declarations pass or are defeated after a single pass. In the case of a tie, the declaration is considered to have passed.
==Voting==
* '''Voting takes place immediately after the debate ends'''
* '''Every Imperial magician present is eligible to vote on a declaration'''


Any crystal mana used during a vote is transferred to the Conclave's reserves.
Once the debate has finished, the vote takes place. The civil service reads out the wording of the declaration again, to remind everyone what they are voting for. Every magician of the Conclave who is present has a single vote they can cast as they wish. Citizens may not act as proxies to cast the vote of other magicians in Conclave. Once the vote is complete the results are recorded and announced. The result of the vote comes into effect at the ''end'' of the session.


===Concluding the Agenda===
The exact procedure for the vote depends on the Prefect but is usually conducted by show of hands. If the vote is close, the Prefect may instruct the civil servants present to count each hand. In most cases magicians are voting either in favour of, or against the declaration. In cases where a declaration may involve multiple outcomes (especially a Declaration of [[Candidacy]]) the Civil Service may ask magicians to move to stand with their preferred candidate, with a civil servant representing the "none of the above" option.
Once all agenda items are dealt with, or (in some very rare circumstances) once the time allocated to the agenda expires, the Conclave session either concludes or moves on to the consideration of the [[#Hearing the Gambits|gambits]]. Any remaining agenda items are added to the start of the next conclave session.


==Hearing the Gambits==
It is rare for citizens who are not magicians to attend a Conclave session, and being a magician '''is''' a legal requirement to vote in declarations. It is common practice to assume every citizen present is a magician but magistrates will prosecute any impostors who are uncovered.  
{{CaptionedImage|file=Wintermark-3133.jpg|title=Magic is expensive|caption=Costume & Headdress by [https://www.facebook.com/TotallyLeathered Totally Leathered]<br/>
Curved rustic staff by [http://www.skianmhor.co.uk Skian Mhor]|align=right|width=360|height=540}}
After all agenda items have been raised and resolved, the Conclave proceeds to resolve the gambits put forward by the [[Conclave order#Grandmasters of the orders|Grandmasters of the orders]]. Gambits are usually proposed and decided twice during an Imperial summit, assuming time allows.


The Conclave has a store of resources, usually referred to as the Conclave Vault. This exists predominantly in the form of crystal mana and [[Materials#Ilium|ilium]], but some other [[materials]] also end up in Conclave coffers. These reserves are built up from a range of sources including Conclave politics; seizures from sorcerers and barbarians; and the production of some resources controlled on the Conclave's behalf by the civil service. The Conclave is responsible for ensuring that these magical reserves are put to the use of the Empire. This is achieved through gambits and through the decision of the [[archmage|archmagi]].
{{Conclave further reading}}
 
===Proposing a Gambit===
A gambit is a proposal that formally requests the use of the Empire's magical resources. It usually takes the form of a statement with three components.
* The name of the [[Conclave order|conclave order]] that proposes the gambit, and the name of the specific magician who requests the use of, and takes responsibility for, the resources
* The exact resources needed, clearly identified by type and amount
* The specific use to which this magical resource will be put is clearly stated; it is common to include a deadline after which any excess materials will be returned to the Conclave.
 
Examples of past gambits have included:
* ''The Rod and Shield requires thirty-five crystals of mana for Amelia Larkwood de Rousillon so that she may enchant the armies of the Earl de Rousillon with the Shining Panoply of War before they face the Druj in battle tomorrow morning.''
* ''The Unfettered Mind require magician Serval i Riqueza receive forty crystals of mana to engage in an investigation of the mechanisms whereby the ritual Tribute to the Thrice-Bound Court functions; he will deliver a report to the Conclave on his findings in one year.''
* ''The Shuttered Lantern require ten crystals of mana for Garrett of Osterly so that he may scry the dispositions of the Thule armies near Skarsind and deliver a report to the Warmage by tomorrow evening.''
* ''The Celestial Arch require that the Icewalker Felendahnk of the Rod and Shield order receive twenty crystals of mana so that he may help the forces defending Mahnraking Hall in Hahnark by raising the Standard of War on their armies.''
* ''The magician Heldregard requests that she be given thirty-five crystals of mana so that her coven may perform the Devastating Scythe of Anguish and Loss during the battle tomorrow morning against the Jotun.''
 
Each [[Conclave order#Grandmasters of the orders|grandmaster]] may place a single gambit for consideration prior to each session, at the cost of one crystal of mana.
 
A magician who is not a grandmaster may also place a gambit for consideration, but this requires five crystals of mana, and all gambits from individual magicians are heard after the gambits presented by the grandmasters.
 
===Presenting a Gambit===
Prior to the Conclave session, tokens are drawn at random to determine the order in which the gambits will be heard by the [[archmage|archmagi]]. These tokens may be swapped with other token holders as part of a negotiated arrangement. Gambits raised by [[Conclave order#Grandmasters of the orders|grandmasters]] on behalf of their [[Conclave order|orders]] are always heard before gambits raised by individual magicians on their own behalf.
 
The named magician has five minutes to present their case for the gambit. The [[archmage|archmagi]] then take a short time to discuss the gambit with each other and the magician who has presented it, before deciding if they will resource the gambit.
 
===Resourcing the Gambit===
The materials available to resourcing all gambits in a session is determined before the first gambit is presented.
 
* One-sixth of all mana crystals and materials belonging to the Conclave is assigned to each archmage, which they can apportion as they wish to resource a gambit.
* Archmagi can agree to co-operatively pool their allocations to resource a gambit, and may discuss their intentions as they wish.
* After deliberation, each archmage writes down the amount they will contribute to the gambit and passes to the civil servant who announces the numbers and whether it has been resourced or not.
** If the gambit has been resourced, all materials assigned to that gambit are removed from the archmage's reserves. If the gambit has been over-resourced, excess materials are returned to the archmage's supply after the gambits are heard, after the materials have been assigned proportionally by the civil service. This engcourages the archmagi to be sensible with their pledges.
** If the gambit has not been resourced in full, no materials are assigned, and all materials remain in the supply of the archmagi. The gambit is said to have failed..
* There is no requirement for archmagi to utilise all, or even any, of their allocation of materials. The tally of unused materials allocated to each archmage accumulates from season to season, but is the property of the position, not the individual magician.
 
If the Gambit received sufficient material, it is resourced; the mana is given to the designated magician at the end of the session.
 
===Concluding the Gambits===
Once all gambits placed by [[Conclave order#Grandmasters of the orders|grandmasters]] are heard, remaining gambits are presented in a random order, At any point after the six [[Conclave order|order]] gambits are heard, an [[archmage]] may withdraw from the proceedings.
 
[[Category:The Conclave]]
[[Category:The Empire]]

Latest revision as of 11:45, 8 May 2023

We do not need to like each other to meet as a Conclave, but we must respect each other if we hope to be effective. My Principle of Proportions ensures respect for other magicians is accorded in the most sublime way. Each of us will weigh the balance of our business against the Conclave's precious time using the scales of magic itself. If the price seems too high, then perhaps what you have to say is not as important to us as it is to you...

Iñes i Guerra

Overview

Like the Senate and the Military Council, the Conclave conducts its official business at formal sessions, where declarations are debated and then voted on. The rules of the Conclave positively encourage magicians to pursue their goals outside the sessions so Conclave members often meet to discuss business throughout the day, but a Conclave session is the the only time that declarations can be passed.

Under normal circumstances, the Civil Service arrange one formal session of Conclave each evening during the Imperial summit. Each session follows an agenda composed of a small number of declarations. In each case, the declaration is presented, the orders debate it, and then every attending magician is invited to vote on the proposal.

Although the Prefect of the Conclave has a number of legal powers to ensure they can control the proceedings in Conclave, they don't preside over the session in the way the Speaker does in the Imperial Senate. Rather than have a chair, who can speak, the Conclave uses three principles to determine who can speak, for how long and when. These principles allow meetings to proceed in an orderly fashion according to strict rules.

Setting the Agenda

  • The Conclave agenda consists of a number of declarations - submitted up to one hour before Conclave begins
  • Each order has the power to raise a single declaration of any type to the agenda of every Conclave session
  • Some Imperial titles have the power to raise a single declaration of a specific type each summit

The agenda for each session consists of a number of declarations submitted to the office of the Prefect of the Conclave up to one hour before each session begins. Each Conclave order has the right to submit two declarations of any kind, one at each of the two sessions that take place. Each order's declaration may only be presented by a single member of that order, chosen by the grandmaster. The grandmaster may present the declaration themselves, or give the declaration to another member of their order to submit and deliver it.

A small number of Imperial titles have the power to raise a single declaration once each summit. This declaration must be of a specific type; for example the Bursar of the Conclave can raise one Declaration of Endowment each summit, the Imperial Magus can raise one Declaration of Concord each summit. The declarations must be raised and presented by the title-holder or their proxy.

Finally, there is a single declaration each summit auctioned via the Imperial Bourse for mana crystals. The citizen who wins the title Arbiter of the Rogue Declaration is empowered to raise any one declaration to the Conclave agenda for the Saturday evening session. As an Imperial title, they must present the declaration themselves, or send a proxy. The mana raised from the auction is added to the font at the next summit.

Order of Business

  • Each Conclave session follows a strict order of business

The order of business for each Conclave session proceeds in the following order:

  • Civil service announcements
  • Address by the Throne
  • If the Throne has nominated a prime declaration then this is debated first
  • If the Imperial Magus is raising a Declaration of Concord, using Magus' Precedence then this is next
  • All other declarations in the order they were first submitted
  • If the Throne has nominated a final declaration then this is debated last
  • The session ends

The Civil Service will declare the official start of the Conclave Session and make any necessary announcements that are relevant to the Conclave, such as challenges to grandmasters, titles that have become unexpectedly vacant, and so on. Once the announcements are out of the way, the Prefect will declare that the Session has begun and invite the Throne to address the Conclave if they have requested to do so and are physically present.

Following any address by the Throne, the declarations are raised and resolved. The default sequence is the order in which they were submitted to the Prefect, but this can be changed. The Throne can choose to nominate one declaration as the prime declaration and one declaration as the final declaration. The prime declaration is moved to the top of the agenda and debated first, the final declaration is moved to the end of the agenda and debated last. In addition, the Imperial Magus may opt to take precedence over the normal running order, and have their Declaration of Concord debated after the prime declaration or first if there is no prime declaration. In both cases the Throne and the Magus must inform the Prefect of their wishes before the agenda closes (one hour before the session begins).

Finally, in the event that two identical declarations are raised - for example if two Declarations of Alignment are raised to declare enmity against the same eternal - the civil service will combine them. In this case, the declarations are discussed and voted on once but all members of the Conclave presenting the declaration have a chance to put their case and lead the debate. They combined declarations are resolved at the point that the first declaration submitted would have been dealt with.

In each case, the Civil Service announce the wording of the declaration and then invite the speaker to give a formal presentation of their case if they wish to do so. It costs to speak on a declaration in Conclave, so the person must pay for their time according to the Principle of Proportions (one mana for the first minute, two for the second and so on).

Once the final declaration has been resolved, the session ends and any declarations that have passed come into force. If a session ends prematurely for any reason, remaining declarations are abandoned.

Debating a Declaration

  • After presented is complete, the Civil Service will allow one minute for members of the Conclave to talk among themselves before the formal debate begins
  • The debate takes place over a series of rounds; each order has one opportunity to participate in each round in strict order of Precedence, from smallest to largest
  • At their order's appointed turn each grandmaster may choose to nominate a single speaker, to pass, or to move to vote
  • The debate ends immediately if all seven grandmasters declined to nominate or at the end of a round in which or half or more of the grandmasters moved to vote

After the presentation is complete, the Civil Service allow one minute for members of the Conclave to discuss the declaration with each other before the formal debate begins. The debate takes place in rounds; each order has one chance to speak in each round, proceeding according to the Principle of Precedence, from the smallest to the largest.

On their order's turn, a grandmaster may either choose to nominate a speaker; to pass; or to move to vote. The debate is over at the end of any round during which the Throne moved to vote, or half or more of the grandmasters moved to vote. The debate ends immediately if all seven grandmasters declined to nominate a speaker at the last point they were asked, either by passing or moving to vote.

Nominating a Speaker

  • A nominated speaker must either be an Imperial citizen; an eternal with amity; or a herald of such an eternal, they do not need to be a member of the grandmaster's order
  • The speaker can speak as long as they please, but must pay for each minute they speak, following the Principle of Proportions
  • The speaker may not pass their time to a third party, but may use their time to grant the individual presenting the declaration a chance to respond

A grandmaster can nominate any Imperial citizen who is present to speak, they do not have to be a member of their order or even a magician. They may also nominate an eternal with amity or the herald of such an eternal. Inhabitants of the realms who do not have amity and foreigners or barbarians are not permitted to speak in Conclave during the debate and cannot be nominated.

Total TimeTotal Cost
1 minute1 mana
2 minutes3 mana
3 minutes6 mana
4 minutes10 mana

Every nominated speaker must provide mana to the Conclave in exchange for the right to speak. Under the Principle of Proportions, the first minute costs one mana, the second minute two mana, and so on. Once nominated, a speaker may continue for as long as they can pay mana; when someone plans to talk for more than a minute it is common to provide the civil service with a pile of mana to use as they speak. Since the speaker has paid for their time, those assembled are required to let the speaker use their minute freely.

Minutes are timed using a set of minute glasses provided by the Civil Service, who are also responsible for ensuring that individuals obey the time limits. The civil servants have the legal power to remove a magician once their allotted time has expired, but this is rarely needed, Conclave magicians are positively encouraged to police themselves - by barracking any magician who attempts to carry on speaking until they pay the mana or relinquish the floor.

The speaker may not invite others to speak on their behalf, but they may use any part of their time to grant the individual presenting the declaration a chance to respond.

Passing

  • A grandmaster may pass when asked to nominate, to indicate their order is forgoing the chance to speak at that point in the debate
  • They will be offered another chance to nominate in subsequent rounds of the debate
  • The debate ends immediately if none of the seven grandmasters have nominated a speaker at the last time they were asked

The grandmaster may choose to pass when asked to nominate a speaker. If this happens, the Civil Service will move to the next grandmaster. The order will not have a chance to speak in that round of the debate, but they can participate normally in any future rounds if the debate continues. The grandmaster will be asked to nominate a speaker when it is their turn again in the following round.

If all the grandmasters declined the opportunity to nominate a speaker the last time they were asked, either because they passed or moved to vote, then the debate ends immediately and the vote begins.

Move to Vote

  • A grandmaster may move to vote when asked to nominate, to indicate their order has no further interest in debating the declaration
  • They will not be offered another chance to nominate a speaker in any subsequent rounds of the debate
  • The debate ends at the end of the current round if four or more of the grandmasters have moved to vote

If the grandmaster chooses to move to vote they indicate that their order is finished with the debate and wishes the vote to begin. Once this happens, the grandmaster cannot change their mind. Their order forfeits the right to nominate a speaker in any future round of the debate.

If the Throne has moved to vote or at least half of the grandmasters present have moved to vote, then the debate finishes at the end of the current round and the vote begins.

Voting

  • Voting takes place immediately after the debate ends
  • Every Imperial magician present is eligible to vote on a declaration

Once the debate has finished, the vote takes place. The civil service reads out the wording of the declaration again, to remind everyone what they are voting for. Every magician of the Conclave who is present has a single vote they can cast as they wish. Citizens may not act as proxies to cast the vote of other magicians in Conclave. Once the vote is complete the results are recorded and announced. The result of the vote comes into effect at the end of the session.

The exact procedure for the vote depends on the Prefect but is usually conducted by show of hands. If the vote is close, the Prefect may instruct the civil servants present to count each hand. In most cases magicians are voting either in favour of, or against the declaration. In cases where a declaration may involve multiple outcomes (especially a Declaration of Candidacy) the Civil Service may ask magicians to move to stand with their preferred candidate, with a civil servant representing the "none of the above" option.

It is rare for citizens who are not magicians to attend a Conclave session, and being a magician is a legal requirement to vote in declarations. It is common practice to assume every citizen present is a magician but magistrates will prosecute any impostors who are uncovered.

Further Reading

Core Brief

Additional Information

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