Red Leader
Requirements
- Must be of direct blood relation to the previous Red Leader
- Must be adept in melee combat: preferably
Appointment
The new Red Leader must beat the previous one in a trial by combat.
The challenge must be issued in the presence of three credible witnesses and the trial must be conducted publically. The trial is to the yield, and if the challenging party is victorious, they are immediately designated as the Red Lord or Lady.
It is important to note that no one calls the ruler of Idorough the "Red Leader". They are referred to as the "Red Lord" or "Red Lady" instead, depending on the gender of the ruler.
There is a short formal ceremony that makes a show of the previous leader passing their power to the new one, but it is merely a formality.
Duties
They are the ruler of Idorough and the Mountain region.
Responsibilities
They are responsible for running not only Idorough, but the mountain region as well. A council has been instated to advise the Leader, but they have to personally oversee the region. They are required to monitor the immigration and emigration of people, the import and export of goods, the production of the mines, the commerce from the market and the guilds, the spending of the Clarets and College, and the state of the Militia.
In recent years, the General has taken military responsibility so the Leader can focus on running the city in the dire circumstances.
Benefits
Large political power (only power greater is the King/his personal advisors), comfortable living conditions, respect of people.
Accoutrements & Equipment
The mark of the Red Leader's power is Skycleaver, a red dia-steel battle axe passed down from the first Mountain ruler (a warlord ruling the region around 200 HE). They wear no crown or other adornments to mark their rank.
Grounds for Removal/Dismissal
If the holder is beaten in a trial by combat, then they lose the position and are removed from power immediately.
History
The first Red Leader recognized by a King ruled from Niskane, a small city on the edge of the mountains. Prior to the first age, there was no title of Red Leader, though there were people who ruled over the Deargs.
The first Mountain Ruler was an unnamed warlord who wielded a red dia-steel battle axe (Skycleaver) as their weapon of choice. The weapon was claimed by the next warlord to take the position, and it has been passed down through the ages as the mark of the Mountain Ruler and is the badge of office for the Red Leader.
When the title was sanctioned by the King, the method of appointment was allowed to remain as a trial by combat, though the limitation that the challenger had to be of blood relation was put in place to prevent pretenders and invaders from taking control of the region.
The capital of the Mountains moved from Niskane to Idorough in 878 TE and the Red Leader moved with it.
Cultural Significance
The position and how it's passed on is a remnant of the warrior culture of the Mountain Kingdom. Then, prowess in combat dictated political power, with Warlords leading factions and eventually the whole region. Today, no other rank is determined in this manner, though there had been pressure from the other regions and the King to change the method of appointment to something "more civilized". The people
Type
Nobility, Non-hereditary
Status
The Red Leader continues to rule the mountains to this day
Creation
Officially, the title was sanctioned in 3 TE by the First King.
Alternative Naming
Ruler of the Crimson City, Idorough's Guiding Hand
Equates to
Lord or Lady of the Central and Coastal region, Queen of the Plains, Chieften of the Northern region.
Source of Authority
They rule by right of blood and combat prowess.
Length of Term
No maximum length. Position can be held once a lifetime.
Related Locations
Related Organizations
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