Tender of Kleist's Winter Gardens
Overview
The Tender of Kleist’s Winter Gardens is an Imperial title announced by Bernhard Kleist von Ennerlund as the Bearer of the Second Imperial Wayleave in Winter 384E. The position is a sinecure, requiring minimal responsibility but offering a regular bounty of valuable herbs. The Winter Gardens are built around the site of the Holberg University Duelling Society Field of Honour in Holmauer Park, in the Holmauer region of Holberg.
Responsibilities
The Tender of Kleist’s Winter Gardens has no particular responsibilities; they simply receive a bounty of herbs from the Winter Gardens. If the Gardens were to be threatened in any way, it would be the responsibility of the Tender to deal with those threats.
Powers
Bounty of Herbs
The Tender gains custodianship of a sinecure. Each season they receive a total of 45 drams of herbs composed of bladeroot, marrowort and true vervain.
Appointment
The Tender of Kleist’s Winter Gardens is a Bourse position and is auctioned by the civil servants associated with the Bourse during the Spring Equinox summit.
The title may be held by any Imperial citizen. As an Imperial Bourse title, the Tender cannot be revoked by the Imperial Synod.
Kleist’s Winter Gardens
The Gardens encircle the open expanse of the Holberg University Duelling Society’s Fields of Honour. Where previously trees grew around a meadow, now are placed a ring of protective menhirs designed by the Marcher Abigail of Ashill to channel the devastating winter magic laid upon the Park through the curse of the eternal Skathe. These menhirs redirect the magic of that curse to bolster the growth of a garden of valuable healing herbs.
At the north-eastern corner, two imposing statues flank the pathway, each depicting a larger-than-lifesized mercenary of the notable Holberg Haudegen in their distinctive and flamboyant dress, facing each other with halberds crossed together over the path. Duellers, spectators, Holmauer citizens and visitors alike must pass beneath the ‘Halberd Arch’ to gain entrance to the Winter Gardens.
Terraced beds around each menhir contain the growing herbs, attractively planted to produce geometric patterns of texture and hue. The bed enclosures are constructed in weirwood, carved with reliefs depicting Holberg’s city walls. Between the beds wind a series of paths. These occasionally broaden into wide clearings of bare earth, where members of the Duelling Society, and Holberg bravos, can practice, teach and exhibit their swordplay.
Over the western exit of the Winter Gardens rises a simple stone arch surmounted by the emblem of Kleist von Ennerlund, Vintners and Victuallers of Holberg; the two bears bearing hammers indicate the guild’s early origins as a mining family. Before departing, visitors can choose to stop by a small sturdy wooden cabin by the gate to purchase Kleist’s signature Spiced Biscuits, Cheesejacks or Battle Cake. Perhaps they might even take home a bottle of the famed ‘Anvil Mud’ - the delicious and vitalist-friendly chocolate hazelnut cream liqueur which funded this sinecure through sales at Anvil Summits.