Fifth-Hammer

The Fifth-Hammer is the lowest (and, as the name suggests, fifth) ranking member of the ruling Council of a Tetra Under-City. They are, at the same time, the Hammer Master of the Guild of Silver & Ruby (itself the fifth-ranking guild in the Under-City).
While undoubtedly a high rank within the Under-City, the Fifth-Hammer is something of a consolation prize. Citizens have been eligible to change guilds since their Mastery (aged approximately 30 years old) - and the Guild of Silver and Ruby is not the most prestigious. It is assumed, therefore, that those who make a successful career within the guild, and rise to become its Hammer-Master are somehow inferior or lower-class to the other Hammer-Masters.
On the other hand, the Fifth-Hammer provides an easy opportunity for responsibility and leadership at an early age - the post is often less contested and, having served 5 years as Fifth-Hammer, other guilds are happy to induct you and appoint you to higher positions in the city administration. The role-model for every careerist young politician is Tze'bo 'All Hammer' - who was famously Fifth-Hammer by the age of 35, and First-Hammer before 60. 
Conversely, the post can also be found filled by an elderly master, moving towards retirement and happy to serve. The longstanding First-Hammer Kildren Trozo finished his fifth term as First-Hammer aged 68, and promptly announced his candidacy for the Fifth-Hammership. He was elected, and served an honourable and pleasant retirement - frequently apologising for overlooking the joys of a good drainage channel while in his formerly exalted position.

Qualifications

Strictly, the Hammer Master is the most skilled member of a guild, and an example to all artificers. However, as the guilds have grown in power, their internal structures have grown similarly. Therefore, the Hammer Master now functions primarily as the head of this bureaucracy and clan of families, and their representative on the governing Council.
Thus, the route and qualifications to be Fifth-Hammer are closer to political skill, and popularity within the guild leadership.

Responsibilities

The Fifth-Hammer retains official responsibility as the head of their guild (the Guild of Silver and Ruby) - but this is primarily delegated to other officials now. Instead, the Fifth-Hammer serves on the Council, and manages the administrative duties of the guild to the rest of the city:

• The guild is responsible for all silver extraction, purification, and smelting. The Fifth-Hammer thus has responsibility for all silver-seams, and all the produce from them.
• The guild also has the exclusive right to craft and export silver ingots, and rubies, to the Over-City - the Fifth-Hammer thus co-ordinates the silver trade and export.
• For the city itself, the guild is responsible for sanitation, water supply, and food production. The Fifth-Hammer must oversee the stonemen's work to repair drainage channel, cisterns, and the import of food into the Under-City

Type

Civic, Political

Form of Address

Master

Alternative Naming

'Silver Hammer'

Length of Term

5 years; re-election possible