Rhetorlord
Selection
"From the heights of the Gusts, the skies darkened and thunder boomed, with a great rush of wind traveling down the Deluge Stair, knocking stalls and flags asunder." - The Whistling Observer, commenting upon the Discourse.Chosen as the first among equals, the Rhetorlord is generally selected from within the Rostrum. In the early days of Anhara, this took the form of The Discourse, an oratorical contest between the candidates for the position. Shrouded in mystery and ritual, this process has changed over the years. Early in its history, the contestants utilized the inherent powers given by their goddess to defeat their opponents by the force of words. However, as time went on, the gods departed, and the knowledge of their gifts dwindled, the Rhetors turned the Discourse into a ceremonial rubber stamp on a typical political leadership contest. Now, a simple vote decides who shall lead Anhara.
Duties
The leader of the Rostrum, the Rhetorlord is tasked with keeping the Rhetors in line and on task. In charge of the menial running of the meetings, maintenance of procedural rules, and order of speakers, the Rhetorlord has parliamentary duties as well as executive ones. However, beyond being the leader of the legislative body, they are also the face of the nation in international relations. Depending on the strength of the Rhetorlord and their command over the Rostrum, they may also appoint Rhetors to specific positions within the government unilaterally or with a vote. From the High Justicar, dispensing Anhara's justice, to the Keeper of the Purse, handling the budget, the Rhetorlord delegates duties to members of the Rostrum. However, the holders of these ranks typically come from the same house, as over their history, noble houses have trended towards specialization in a specific field."Rhetorlord Leone today spoke from the Rostra in Meridia, beseeching the people to stand against civil strife in the Vestral Downs, and oppose House Etan's wanton expansion at the expense of the nation's food supply." - The Whistling ObserverWithin the Rostrum itself, the Rhetorlord does not receive a bonus vote. They instead are the Rhetor for their house, but are expected by tradition to hold their vote until last, and to break ties in the most impartial way possible. This serves to balance the benefits of being selected as Rhetorlord, as national power and prestige comes at the expense of voting ability. The Rhetorlord also sits at the head of the Council of State, an advisory board made up of their appointees, used to coordinate government policy. Most importantly, the Rhetorlord is seen as the embodiment of Vestria's will on the mortal plane, and the face of the entire nation, regardless of what real power the office holds at any given time. This makes the position one of immense soft power, even in eras of high decentralization and strong noble houses, and puts a premium on controlling the office or its holder. Even the oldest, spineless, least charismatic Rhetorlord is the most important pawn in Anhara's game of politics, and the house which controls the office will gain immeasurably.
Current Holders
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