L.M.S.S.
Master of Feasts, Master of Fools, Mystery to those who know not Misrule
There are many a historic and honorable title bestowed by Poartlind University; everything from the humble Associates of Arts to the Prestigious Doctorate of Learned Motions of Nature. However, there is one title that never appears on the honor roll, Never scribed on certificates or announced to the cheering families of graduates. Yet its influence is felt throughout the school, and indeed all of Mira. That title is four simple letters: L.M.S.S. It's been seen on the plaques of portraits of famous professors, scratched on the wall of the Men's loo on the 3rd floor of the physics building, and even painted on an Urn sitting outside the President's office.
But no one knows what it means.
At least, most people don't know...
Qualifications
To Qualify for the elusive and mysterious L.M.S.S title, one must be selected as the Host of Festivities for Poartlind University's Festivale of Hearthflame. That host, colloquially known, is the Lord of Misrule. The Lord of Misrule is selected from a secret pool of candidates monitored throughout the previous year by the faculty of Poartlind University. As a whole, the Lord of Misrule(s) is Witty, quick on their feet and charismatic. Most tend to come from the arts division of the university from this fact alone, although a couple outliers over the years has managed to shake up expectations several times.
Appointment
While the Lord of Misrule is officially crowned at the start of the Festivale of Hearthflame, Preparations for the role begin months in advance. At the end of the preceding School year, the Selected host for the upcoming Festivale is summoned to the Dean's office on pretense of a 'schedule mishap', or a similar minor administrative hiccup. Upon accepting the position, The Lord of Misrule works with the faculty over the summer to prepare the Festivale.
Duties
The Chief duty of those with the title of L.M.S.S. is to ensure that fun, general mockery and overall bedlam remain in the world. The natural prankster nature of many of the previous hosts lend themselves well to this duty.
It is also critical to their duty that their identity as maker of mischief is never discovered: Mystery and Wonder are all part of the fun, after all.
Responsibilities
The currently elected Lord of Misrule is Host of Events for the Festivale of Hearthflame. They lead the annual parade, act as Emcee and host for Autumn Games, and Lead the chorus in the halftime show at the Big Game, Culminating in the Feast of Fools at the end of the week. Once the Festivale has ended, the Lord is granted the title L.M.S.S, an honorific that denotes their tenure as Lord. Previous Lords have been known to drop in and lend a hand to the current Lord, especially when their identity is close to being revealed.
Benefits
There is a small monetary benefit to taking the title of Lord of Misrule, if only to supplement the income of those who would otherwise be taking summer work. Once the current Lord retires, they are gifted a small pin and are sworn to absolute secrecy. While the society never gathers all in one place, their influence can be felt throughout the Kingdom of Mira whenver mysterious shenanigans are afoot.
Accoutrements & Equipment
The Lord of Misrule wears a colorful costume of contrasting colors and patterns through his tenure of Host. A near-full mask is essential, as the Lord is a different person each year and great care is taken to obscure his identity. The Costume itself changes every year, although a general theme is kept.
Upon retiring from the role, the Lord is granted a small pin to wear whenever they feel like.
Cultural Significance
The Lord of Misrule is an important part of the Cultural heritage of the Festival of Hearthflame. They are both the host and the face of the activities, and help keep the spirit of the event alive and in good cheer. No one is sure what the Festivale would be without the Lord of Misrule, and no one ever wants to find out.
Notable Holders
While the identities of the Lord of Misrule are kept a secret, there is always speculation about who the next Lord of Misrule will be. Two of the current contenders for the upcoming year are Elijah Goodvich and Nicholas Derriere. Although there are a few who believe that both of these individuals are a bit too obvious of choices.
Type
Academic, Honorific
Status
Official Title, Held by a select few
Alternative Naming
Liscensed Manager of Scintilating Solicitation, Lord of Misrule Secret Society
Source of Authority
Dean of Students
Length of Term
One Year
Related Locations
Related Organizations
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