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| ==Overview==
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| The ''Keeper of the Sapphire Stair'' is an [[Imperial title]] awared to a [[League]] citizen. It is a National position, appointed by unanimous decision of the League [[Senator|senators]].
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| Associated with the [[Tassato#The_Sapphire_Stair|Sapphire Stair]] in [[Tassato]], the keeper is paid a portion of each toll paid for use of the lock. The majority of the monies raised goes to the maintenance and operation of the marvellous locks, but the keeper is assigned enough to ensure a comfortable lifestyle. Perhaps more importantly, this [[sinecure]] also brings with it a certain amount of influence in the politics of the city itself and the lock keeper. As such, control of the sinecure is hotly contested by guilds on both sides of the Vassa and on the irregular occasions when the sinecure must be re-appointed, competition to influence the League senators is extremely fierce.
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| The Keeper is ''almost always'' from Tassato. While there have been incidents where League citizens from other cities have been appointed to the position they have rarely found their tenure to be very satisfying. They either moved to Tassato and became involved in the politics of the city, or they found themselves shunned, villified, harassed and on one very unfortunate occasion during the reign of [[Empress Brannan]], murdered for their temerity in involving themselves directly in a Tassatan matter.
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| ==Responsibilities==
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| The title holder is expected to ensure that the Sapphire Stair remains open and in a state of good repair. The actual job of operating the lock falls to civil servants and local labourers, mostly domiciled in the fortified village of [[Tassato#Cascatas|Cevia]]. While the title comes with a comfortable house on the banks of the Vassa, few Keepers actually spend much time there preferring the entertainments of the city of Tassato.
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| ==Powers==
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| ===Comfortable Income===
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| As a sinecure, the Keeper of the Sapphire Stair provides an income drawn from the tolls paid by merchants using the lock.
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| The holder of the sinecure receives 2 Thrones in income each season.
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| ===Tassatan Influence===
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| Regardless of whether they are from Regario, Mestra or some other part of the League the Keeper's position brings with it a number of votes in the [[The_League_leadership#Leading a Territory|Election]] of the Senator for Tassato.
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| ==Selection==
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| The title is selected by unanimous decision of the senators of [[The League]]. The title can be held by any [[The League|League]] citizen. If a unanimous decision cannot be reached, the title may be appointed by the [[Imperial Senate]] instead.
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| ==Removal==
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| The Keeper serves until they die, step down or are [[revocation|revoked]].
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| The Keeper can be revoked by the League assembly, the General Assembly or the Assembly of Nine.
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| ==History==
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| The current Keeper of the Sapphire Stair is Rebeca Porteiro di Tassato, a [[naga]] member of the Gilt Moth ''camorra'' - an wealthy [[guild]] from northern [[Tassato#Madeiras|Madeiras]] known for, among other things, trade in fine cloth, dark ale and [[Navarr]] goods. Exiled from the city proper nearly two centuries ago following some scandal or other, the guild stays neutral in political affairs. Rebeca herself is known to be a rake, a [[bravo]], and a hellraiser, and has a reputation for daring amorous adventures and remarkable skill with the sword. Rumour suggests that she was appointed to the position in 366YE following the successful seduction of all three League senators. She has so far refused to vote in the Senate elections citing "''a matter of personal honour and principle.''"
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| [[Category:Senate]]
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| [[Category:Imperial Titles]]
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