Gatekeeper of Falling Snow

Steam rises from the hot springs as snow drifts gently down.

The Garden of Falling Snow was commissioned by a motion of the Imperial Senate in Summer 379YE. The position of Gatekeeper is a sinecure, requiring minimal responsibility but offering a regular income of Cerulean Mazzarine. The position is a Wintermark national Imperial title.

Responsibilities

The Gatekeeper has no particular responsibilities; they simply receive a bounty of herbs from the Garden of Falling Snow in Hahnmark. If the Garden were to be threatened in any way, it would be the responsibility of the Gatekeeper to deal with those threats.

Powers

The Gatekeeper of Falling Snow is an Imperial title that grants custodianship of a sinecure.

Cerulean Bounty

The Gatekeeper receives an income of 12 doses of cerulean mazzarine each season.

Selection

The Gatekeeper is a Wintermark national position appointed by the Senate. Under normal circumstances it will be appointed by unanimous vote of the Wintermark senators.

Because this is a national position, the title can only be held by a citizen of Wintermark.

Removal

The Gatekeeper has tenure and serves until they die, step down or are revoked.

The title can be revoked by the Wintermark national assembly, the General assembly or the Assembly of Nine.

Cerulean mazzarine requires extra
effort to cultivate in the cold north.

History

Construction of the Garden of Falling snow was completed shortly before the 379YE Autumn Equinox. Pendraed of Bjornholt was appointed as the Gatekeeper by unanimous decision of the Wintermark senators.

The Garden of Falling Snow

The Garden is constructed around a series of hot springs in a high-altitude valley in Hahnmark. Cerulean mazzarine does not prosper in the northern Empire, being more suited to the warmer climes around the Bay of Catazar. The hot springs, however, provide the warmth required to cultivate large quantities of the herb. Still, the delicate plants require regular tending and careful monitoring by a small cadre of predominantly Kallavesi gardeners, wise in the ways of herb lore. They also carefully protect the herb gardens from animals drawn to the warmth of the hot springs who might otherwise damage the cerulean mazzarine. For the most part, though, they have plenty of time to dedicate to personal mystic pursuits - indeed parts of the area set aside specifically to allow gardeners and visitors to enjoy open air bathing. Floating in a pool of hot water, watching the snow gently fall, is said to be particularly effective in allowing a mystic to achieve a meditative state.