The Arcaneal Magistrate is the title given to local administration within the nation of Ichos. Originally comprised of the strongest mages in a particular city, modelled after the Arcaneum Federation, the Federation implemented a clear hierarchy structure to ensure that no one city grew to be able to outshine the nation itself.
Ranks
There are a handful of ranks within the Arcaneal Magistrates, though some towns and villages may intentionally lack the lower ranking Magistrates due to a smaller population.
The highest ranking Magistrate is the Chief Magistrate, usually acting as the direct leader of the area. As Chief, their authority over matters relating to their area is absolute. While rulings and actions can be overruled by the Arcaneum Federation, such instances are rare, emboldening the Chiefs of Ichos to act with near-total impunity. The position of Chief is filled through specially designed arcane rituals meant to determine the best fit for the role. All regions, including small towns with populations only in the dozens, will have a Chief Magistrate.
Directly below the Chief Magistrate is the Advisory Council, each comprised of Regional Magistrates. These Regional Magistrates each focus on a specific area of city management, and the types of focuses occupied by Regional Magistrates varies wildly between individuals regions. These Magistrates are chosen by the Chief, which has led to numerous instances of mismanagement due to nepotistic and self-interested Regional Magistrates.
Operating below them is the Junior Magistrates. The Junior Magistrates act as assistants to the Regional Magistrates when needed, providing additional resources and allowing incresed response time for urgent matters. As a result, the Junior Magistrates are the ones who largely keep the cities running. These Magistrates are electected by the populace of the cities in most cases, though some smaller cities have them chosen by appointments instead to simplify the process.
