Speaker of the Crows

Overview

The Speaker of the Crows is an Imperial title created by the Imperial Senate during the Winter Solstice 385YE. They are appointed by the National Assembly of Wintermark and have a responsibility to support and encourage the members of the Synod in Wintermark in the matter of making and voting on judgements. The opportunity to rebuild the Hall of Rund was presented in the Old ways wind of fortune.

Responsibilities

The Speaker of the Crows is ultimately responsible for supporting the Wintermark National Assembly. They are responsible for chairing the meetings of the National Assembly, encouraging Wintermark members of the Synod to vote on judgements, and serving as custodian of the Hall of Rund. If the Hall, or those who visit it, were to be threatened, it would be the responsibility of the Speaker to deal with those threats.

Powers

A Portion of Liao

The sinecure provides 18 doses of liao to the Speaker each season, to be used as they see fit.

Appointment

The Speaker is a national position which is appointed by judgement of the Wintermark Assembly.

The Speaker is appointed during the Spring Equinox each year. They can be revoked by the General Assembly, the Wintermark Assembly, and the Assembly of the Nine.

Hall of Rund

Rund is known to have been an ancient Kallavesi hero, a woman who sought out omens and offered advice to the chiefs of the Kallavesi long before the arrival of the Steinr. The town of Rundhal is named for her, and for the circular hall she built at the heart of the settlement. When it was first constructed, it was intended that all the priests of Kallavesa could meet there together, seated in a great ring, with none taking a place of prominence over another. Over time, this traditional meeting was opened to the priests of the Suaq and the Steinr, fostering a period of increased understanding of the spiritual realm. It was here that the great discussions and arguments about the Way took place in the reign of King Alof Bearning, and ultimately where the priests first began to explore the nature of the seven virtues and the teachings of the new religion.

Meetings at Rund's Hall began to falter some two centuries ago. Increasingly cramped, the hall was no longer fit for purpose - there were simply too many priests and stormcrows who wished to attend the meetings. The last real meeting of the priests of Wintermark was in 238YE when the priests threw their support behind (then General) Guntherm for the Throne. Contemporary reports talk of the hall being filled to capacity, and priests clustered seven deep outside around the four doors straining to hear and fighting to be heard.

The mandate enacted by Severi Jarlmarison in Winter 382YE saw interest within the nation increase for someone who could support the Wintermark Assembly in a similar fashion to the Speaker of the Highborn Assembly. The Hall of Rund was an obvious choice for a site to restore in order to inspire a new generation of priests. The solution of the Suaq was to build upwards. The walls of the lower hall were replaced with stronger material and the previous roof was removed, adding two more levels above the first, with broad stairs and a raised dais in the centre for whoever is speaking. It is not possible for the Hall to once again house all the priests of Wintermark at once.