Architect of Illumination
Overview
The Architect of Illumination is an Imperial title created by Dima Vasilyevna Novosad, as Master of the Koboldi during the Winter Solstice 385YE. The inspiration for the House of Illumination was spearheaded by the Varushkan Assembly's call to action to dedicate the builders of the Deep Chamber.
Responsibilities
The Architect has a responsibility to seek closer trade ties with Varushka and find other markets for Urizen illumination tools. If the House of Illumination, its workers, or those who trade there were threatened in any way, it would be the responsibility of the Architect to deal with those threats.
Powers
Portion of Trade
The Architect gains custodianship of a sinecure. Each season, they receive 10 crowns, a portion of the trade in the lightstones and other sources of illumination from the House. In addition, they receive two magical items that relate to light and illumination each year: a Fireglass at the Spring Equinox; and a Brazier of Benediction at the Autumn Equinox.
Wealth of the House
The House of Illumination is also a great work that provides wealth to every business in Redoubt and Morrow owned by a citizen of Urizen. The season they are appointed, the Architect of Illumination can make an announcement in the Imperial Senate to declare whether the traders of Urizen wish to be paid in coin or goods for their lightstone.
If they announce coin, then the business owners will receive 36 extra rings each season. If they announce goods, then each business will receive two random ingots each season.
No voting is possible by the Senate at this point, as the power has been delegated to the Architect of Illumination. The Synod may, however, choose to exercise their veto over the Architect's decision.
Appointment
This title is appointed during the Winter Solstice each year. The Architect of Illumination is appointed by citizens of Urizen who control mana site personal resources through the Tally of the Votes. The more improved a mana site an individual controls, the more votes they can allocate in support of a candidate. The voting is handled by the civil servants in the Bourse.
Only an Urizen citizen may hold the title. They do not receive a seat on the Bourse. As a title appointed through the Bourse they cannot be revoked by the Synod.
Recent Elections
The table to the right shows the citizens who have been elected to hold this title in the years since Empress Britta died.
The Title in Play
The role does not provide additional information about events in the Empire, nor allow the player holding it to request special reports or downtime actions. These details are assumed to be below the abstraction layer. The title holder is encouraged to create their own stories about their activities within reasonable limits and to get involved in events appropriate to their title during the game, but they do not have any powers beyond those explicitly listed in the section on powers.
These details exist partly to provide context and character to the role - and partly to allow our writers to use the title as a plot hook. Plot that involves the position will be rare - but all the campaign positions in Empire have these details to create the potential for it to happen.