Archmage of Summer

The Summer archmage supports Imperial magicians and serves as a diplomat to the Realm of Summer.

Overview

Archmage is an Imperial title bestowed upon a magician by the members of the Imperial Conclave. There are six archmages; one for each of the magical realms. They serve as a focal point for ritualists of that realm, as well as helping to guide the use of the Conclave's resources. The six archmages match the six realms into which magic is divided. Where the influence of a grandmaster is primarily political, the archmages are responsible for attending to the magical business of the Conclave. They are assumed by the Senate, the Military Council, foreign dignitaries and eternals alike to be well-versed in the capabilities and lore of their Realm. The archmages are often seen as the public faces of the Conclave; they are the individuals most likely to be consulted by other Imperial bodies when they wish to know what magical possibilities exist.

Each archmage is addressed by their title and the name of the Realm of magic they stand for - commonly in the form Luke, Archmage of Summer or Archmage Corvus of Summer. The title archmage comes originally from Urizen, a development of the title mage.

A Summer Archmage may find themselves involved in all kinds of dangerous enterprises.

Responsibilities

The Archmage of Summer is responsible for attending to the magical business of the Conclave, and bears powerful tools to help them do so. They represent the Empire to the eternals of the Summer realm, and vice versa. They also work with magicians versed in the lore of Summer magic to expand the Empire's understanding and power in that realm, and employ it to the advantage of Imperial citizens.

Powers

Each archmage position is an Imperial title in the Conclave.

Archmage of Summer

The Archmage of Summer has the legal powers common to the Archmages. They can participate in the Arcane Colloquium; accept a formal parley with Summer eternals; raise a Declaration of Alignment for a Summer eternal once each summit; and advise the magistrates as the recognised master of Summer magic.

Regalia of Summer

In common with the other archmages, the Archmage of Summer has legal ownership of three powerful magic items that make up the regalia of the archmage. These include the Staff of Summer which greatly enhances the bearer's prowess with Summer ritual magic; the Crimson Chain of Aesh that can reduce the magnitude of a Summer ritual; and the Belt of the Oak which can allow multiple covens from the same nation to cooperate in the performance of a single Summer ritual.

Tower of the Dragon

Jewels from the Deep Mountain
15 ingots of tempest jade	1 Stonedragon's Eye
18 ingots of tempest jade	1 Deepglimmer
36 ingots of tempest jade	2 Deepglimmer
42 ingots of tempest jade	1 Mountainheart Stone

The Tower of the Dragon is built of unbreakable adamant with windows of reinforced tempest jade. It contains comfortable living chambers, offices, and a sealed vault specifically for use by the Archmage to protect their valuables. The tower is served by two gates; one flanked by statues of Archmage Corvus of Auric Horizon of Urizen and Archmage Andreas Gremani of Varushka, and the other by the Highborn Archmages Solomon and Exarch Luke.

The Archmage of Summer can purchase beautifully crafted magical jewels at a set price from the koboldi of the tower. The Archmage makes their decision on how many ingots of tempest jade to spend during downtime from their character page. Ingots are removed from, and ribbons are placed into, the character's inventory when the downtime is processed.

Mountainheart Stone

• Description: A fist-sized multi-faceted orb of crystal, usually deep red in colour.
• Form: Paraphernalia. Takes the form of a piece of ritual paraphernalia. The item must be present in the ritual to use its magical properties.
• Effect: Twice per day the coven may perform a Summer ritual that does not count towards their daily limit of rituals performed.
• Roleplaying Effect: When this covenstone is used, each contributor feels an urge to acquire beautiful and valuable things - fine clothes and jewels, masterwork weapons and armour, expensive food and drink. The effect fades over the course of the hour following the ritual.

Deepglimmer

• Description: A large gemstone, usually a dark colour such as cobalt blue or deep purple, often set into a ring or amulet.
• Form: Foci. Takes the form of a piece of jewellery. You must be wearing this item to use its magical properties.
• Requirement: Any character can bond to this item.
• Effect: Once per day gain 1 rank of Summer lore for the purposes of performing a ritual, subject to the normal rules for effective skill.
• Roleplaying Effect: While wearing this item, you find it easy to get lost in the beauty of gems, jewels, and polished metal.

Stonedragon's Eye

• Description: An orb of crystal or glass, usually golden or emerald in colouration, sometimes with a vertical flaw in the centre reminiscent of a cat's eye
• Form: Paraphernalia. Takes the form of a piece of ritual paraphernalia. The item must be present in the ritual to use its magical properties.
• Effect: Members of the coven who are performing a Summer ritual they have mastered may use tempest jade in place of crystal mana. Every two measures of tempest jade spent count as one crystal mana.
• Roleplaying Effect: After this covenstone is used, each contributor feels an urge to create or build something, using whatever they can lay their hands on. The effect fades over an hour.

Click Expand to see details of the items that can be created by the koboldi for the Archmage.

Appointment

The appointment, replacement, or removal of the Archmage of Summer is made by declaration of candidacy as part of a Conclave session. A candidate can be presented for the post of archmage only once a season, and the title can be held by any Imperial citizen.

The Archmage of Summer serves until they are replaced by another magician using the Declaration of Candidacy. As a title in the Conclave, an archmage cannot be revoked.

Summer Eternal	Concerns
Adamant	Stone, beauty, treasure, construction
Barien	Challenges, worth, tests
Cathan Canae	Might, winter, durability
Eleonaris	Majesty, nobility, victory
Hayaak	Wrath, vengeance, ferocity
Jaheris	Power, adversity, empowerment
Meraud	Magic, enchantment, splendour
Rhianos	Adventure, the sea, seafarers

The Eternals of Summer

The Archmage of Summer is the Empire's formal representative to the inhabitants of the Summer realm, and often serves as a go-between when those eternals wish to communicate with the Empire. Most eternals will treat the archmage as a peer - although that can mean very different things for different eternals. One of the most potent abilities the Archmage of Summer possesses is the power of plenipotentiary, allowing them to communicate with eternals from their realm and potentially arranging a parley. A list of previous plenipotentiary results can be found here

Of all the archmages, the Archmage of Summer may be said to have the most difficult job when dealing with the eternals. The Summer eternals style themselves as powerful monarchs, ruling over shifting domains, and their character is such that they regularly clash with one another. For example, Eleonaris and Cathan Canae are bitter rivals, and gaining the support of one can sometimes risk worsening relations with the other. A wise Summer archmage either seeks to avoid being drawn into their conflicts and rivalries, or else commits entirely to one or two of the eternals without caring about the opinions of the others.

The Archmage of Summer is often in a good position to present declarations of amity and enmity to the Imperial conclave when relations between the Empire and an eternal need to be formalised. Indeed, more than any other Imperial title, the archmage benefits from staying abreast of the relationships between the inhabitants of the Summer realm and Imperial citizens. The current status of the Summer eternals with an interest in the Empire can be found here.

Mirella of the Twisted Rose, Archmage of Summer

Summit	Nation	Elected
Winter Solstice 385YE	Dawn	Mirella of the Twisted Rose
Autumn Equinox 382YE	The Marches	Exarch Luke
Summer Solstice 380YE	Highguard	Solomon
Winter Solstice 379YE	Varushka	Andreas Gremani
Winter Solstice 376YE	Urizen	Corvus of Auric Horizon

Recent Elections

This title is currently held by Mirella of the Twisted Rose; it can be reelected at any summit by a declaration of candidacy. The table to the right shows the citizens who have been elected to hold this title in the years since Empress Britta died.