Crow Keeper of the Rest
Overview
A motion to construct the Pilgrim’s Rest in Kallavesa Marsh, Kallavesa was entered into Senate during Autumn 380YE and passed. The sinecure was self funded by Kitsana – a Wintermark Stormcrow of the Way.
Crow Keeper of the Rest is an Imperial title created by the Imperial Senate in Spring 381YE. The position is a sinecure, requiring minimal responsibility but awarded a regular income of liao by the civil service to support the many pilgrims taking rest on their journeys.
The sinecure itself is a modest construction of white granite and other materials resembling a way station or inn by the side of the Pilgrim’s Trail. The establishment offers pilgrims a place to rest before they take the last part of their journey into the marsh to lay their loved one to rest.
Responsibilities
The Crow Keeper of the Rest is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of those who travel through the Kallavesa Marsh whilst on pilgrimage. If Pilgrim's Rest were to be threatened in any way it would be the responsibility of the Crow Keeper to deal with those threats.
Powers
A Portion of Liao
The sinecure provides 8 doses of liao to the Crow Keeper each season, to be used as they see fit.
Gift of Infusions
The Swampcrows, a ragged group of Kallavesi from deep in Kallavesa Marsh, have committed to supporting the Crow Keeper for as long as they are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of those who travel through the Kallavesa Marsh whilst on pilgrimage. The Crow Keeper of the Rest receives three doses of Goosewhisper Infusion each season from the Swampcrows to do with as they see fit.
Appointment
Crow Keeper of the Rest is a national position appointed by the Synod. It is elected by judgement of the Wintermark Assembly.
The title can be held by a Wintermark citizen. The Crow Keeper has tenure and serves until they die or step down. They can be revoked by the General Assembly, the Wintermark National Assembly, and by the Assembly of the Nine.
| Summit | Elected | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Solstice 385YE | Saavi Heroes' Champion | 140 Votes |
| Spring Equinox 383YE | Ursa | 68 Votes |
| Spring Equinox 381YE | Nils Bardstrom |
Recent Elections
This title is currently held by Saavi Heroes' Champion. This title has tenure, the occupant may hold the title until it is revoked, they die or they relinquish the position. The table to the right shows the citizens who have been elected to hold this title in the years since Empress Britta died.
Pilgrim's Rest
Shortly after the winter gathering at Anvil of 380YE construction began on the new way station. The building itself is something akin to a roadside inn, with rooms for travellers to sleep; tables and benches for eating and drinking; a large hearth keeps the main room warm along with an ever burning brazier which is surrounded by plinths with books and maps. The books tell the stories of fallen heroes and the maps mark where they are laid to rest in the marshes. Annexed off from the alcove containing the brazier is a cold store room where fallen heroes may lay before their final journey.
There is a kitchen that serves pilgrims all day and night with traditional Wintermark stews and meats. A bar serves drinks including ‘Kallavesa Wreck’, a wine brewed using Kitsana’s recipe. To the rear of the building are rooms that may be used by pilgrims to rest their weary feet and aching legs. In honour of a fallen hero of Wintermark and a dear old friend to Kitsana there is a constant vigil and unobtrusive presence of a now retired military unit ensuring the safety of pilgrims. Some of these ‘guards’ have taken to hearing and retelling the stories of other fallen heroes in the great Wintermark scop tradition with soft song, lively stories and sombre praise; extolling the Virtues of those who have passed and cheering the spirits of those who mourn. Along with the newfound scops is the presence of a few local Wintermark stormcrows who guide pilgrims and preach all Virtues of The Way. Some of the resident scops and priests like to imagine that, even from beyond the gulf of death, in some way Kitsana herself still uses her lamp to protect travellers in the area.
Before the construction of the Pilgrim’s Trail and Britta’s Pool a Wintermark stormcrow priest by the name of Kitsana would walk the trails of the Kallavesa marshes lighting torches and lamps along the way so that pilgrims would be able to find their way through the marshes whilst taking their loved ones for burial in the Wintermark tradition. Kitsana also maintained a small hut with some basic shelters in order to offer pilgrims warmth and hospitality. While pilgrims ate their hot soup, bread and drank steeped tea or something a bit stronger Kitsana would ask to hear of the virtues of their fallen and the stories of their Names.
Once the Pilgrim’s Trail and Britta’s Pool were constructed Kitsana saw a great increase of pilgrims travelling through the swamps and marshes. She came to the decision that her simple hut and shelters would no longer be adequate and began to collect the materials needed to build something more substantial. In the autumn of 380YE the Senator for Kallavesa heard of her efforts and advised her that he would personally propose the motion to the Senate for this to be built and with a Second from the Senator for Semmerholm and the promise of self funding the motion passed.
Sadly, the day before the sinecure could be appointed for the first time, Kitsana died. The first citizen to hold the title was the stormcrow Nils Bardstrom, of Hendal Hearth.