Starrander's Wayte

Introduction

Starrander's Wayte a the chamber in the Almeayar Palace that lies at the heart of the Protectorate of Arc, and is where the Protector recieves guests, meets with ministers and advisers and recieves a daily report from the Lord Counsel. It is a small, ornate marble floored room, with the twin banners of the Protectorate crossed behind a long oak table where the Protector conducts their daily business. At the north facing end of the room is the now disused imperial throne room, that is immaculately maintained by the Protector's servants, but which is devoid of any and all life. The room was the antechamber to the imperial throne room that was built by Jorei Starrander, and following the death of the last emperor, Toun a Dryn, became the seat of the Protector's government. Each Protector, ever since the end of the Arc Empire has symbolically used this small and modest room as the centre of government in order to demonstrate to the class that gives all protectors their power, the bankers, that the ruler of Arc is prudent with its wealth and not given to the egotism of emperors. The term 'Wayte' is derived from 'wait' - the antechamber was used as a waiting room for those who sought an audience with the Emperor, but following the collapse of the empire it was became the new chambers of Protectors.

The Closed Circle

The council of the Protectorate, which meets daily to carry out the Protector's wishes or rule in his stead when the Protector is ill, incapacitated or at war, is known as the Closed Circle. This term denotes the trust placed in the council, the secrecy they are sworn to, and the ordeals each member is required to face before they can be admitted to the Protector's service. The management of the city's taxes, the covenants that grant the merchants rights and powers, the maintainance of the Oboline and the value of Arc's currency are all controlled by the Closed Circle, along with the maintainance of order in the city, secret intelligence, diplomacy and the extension of the city's military power overseas. The Closed Circle is a seperate body to the Hushed Quill, who act as an informal body of associate advisors to the Protector. The Closed Circle is effectively the government of the city and Protectors in the past have used the Hushed Quill or similar bodies to outmanouvre ministerial advice, by acquiring wider access to information.

A Fire in the Heart of Knowing

Our debut Arclands novel is available here. Read A Fire In the Heart of Knowing, a story of desperate power struggles and a battle for survival in the dark lands of Mordikhaan.

Type

Room, Chamber, Council