Grand Conclave

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The Conclaves are the semi-meritocratic ruling bodies of the Free Cities, modelled after the first Grand Conclave of Azyrheim, the capital of Sigmar's grand civilization.[1a][2a][3][18] Each Conclave is meant to represent every race, station, and enclave within the city.[18]

Membership

The Cities of Sigmar that have been created in the Age of Sigmar are all ruled by a system of government modelled after the original Grand Conclave of Azyrheim. Though the size of the Conclave and the titles of its members vary from city to city.[1a][2a] Each Conclave is meant to represent the dizzying diversity among the Free Peoples that live within the city they govern.[11a] Lords of Sigmar's Stormhosts have also been known to serve in prominent positions among the Grand Conclaves.[15a][17a]

Members of the Grand Conclaves are elevated to their positions through a variety of means, but traditionally they are democratically elected to their positions based on personal merit.[18] Though on numerous occasions members have been elevated to their positions by decisions of an existing Conclave[2a][12] or the God-King himself.[1a] In some cases titles pass onto hereditary heirs.[6a]

Major Conclaves

Lords of the Heavenhall

Where once Azyrheim had been ruled by a senate with representatives from the many and varied factions within the city; in the Age of Chaos many were corrupted by the Dark Gods of Chaos and a bloody civil war began on its streets. In its aftermath, Sigmar himself slew those he considered guilty, whether they were tainted by Chaos or simple hatred, and decreed the creation of a new government.[1a]

The Lords of the Heavenhall became the first Grand Conclave to ever be established, tasked with governing Azyrheim in Sigmar's stead. It is comprised of two-hundred fifty-six members each given a title and command by the God-King himself.[1a][2a][3][14c]

The Lords of the Heavenhall are responsible for interpreting Sigmar's will and ensuring it is carried out across every aspect of life in the Eternal City of Azyrheim.[14c]

Grand Conclave of Hammerhal

The Grand Conclave, sometimes known as the Stormrift Conclave[10], governs over the Twin-Tailed City of Hammerhal is perhaps one of the most important within Sigmar's vast demesnes. Not only does this council of 244 members govern over the city of Hammerhal, which is a vast metropolis built on both sides of the Stormrift Realmgate, it also directs the armies of Order all across the Mortal Realms in their wars against Chaos and Nagash. The council is comprised of Duardin, Aelves, and Humans who represent every faction in the city and ambassadors from other great cities of Order. They assemble and govern from the Aqshy side of the city.[4a]

Of the 112 members of the Grand Conclave selected from Hammerhal Aqsha, a full half are members of Azyrite noble houses. Despite this many powerful dynasties of Aqshian origin have risen to high acclaim in the city. With the most famous being Houses Taladin, Vanx, and Naffir, all of whom had had members who acted as Master Patriarchs, or Matriarchs, of the city.[14a] One of the most well-known members of the Conclave is neither Azyrite nor Reclaimed, but rather the Stormcast Lord, Aventis Firestrike, who has long served as the Magister of Hammerhal.[15a]

The Council of Twelve is a sub-body of the Grand Conclave of Hammerhal that is responsible for directing the relations between Hammerhal Aqsha and Hammerhal Ghyra, the two halves of the massive metropolis. These lords are selected by the authority of Azyr .[4a]

Known Positions and Titles

Common Positions

  • Master Patriarch: The Grand Conclaves of the Free Cities are usually, but not always, led by state heads with lofty titles. The most commonly used among these is the title of Master Patriarch or Master Matriarch. Though in many cases they rule in name only.[1a][2a][14a][16] Other titles used by the leaders of Conclaves include Chancellor[2a], Landgrave[6a], Grand Matriarch[12], and High Matriarch.[5a] Occasionally such positions are hereditary.[6a]
  • High Arbiter: Responsible for dispensing justice and overseeing the Law. [1a]
  • High Architect: The High Architect helps design a Free City.[2a]
  • High Artisans: Most cities will have multiple High Artisans serving on their conclaves. They are responsible for overseeing the infrastructure of a city, as well as maintaining its defences and fortifications. The original Grand Conclave of the Eternal City of Azyrheim itself boasted six individual High Artisans.[1a][2a][11a]
  • High Despot: A title held by members of the Hammerhal and Excelsis Conclaves.[9][12]
  • Lord Cultivator: The Lord Cultivator, Greenfather, or Master of Oaks depending on the city, is a position found upon the Conclaves of all Sigmarite settlements in the Realm of Ghyran. The title is always held by a Jade Wizard and they must ensure their city maintains harmony with the surrounding wilds.[14b]
  • Lord Vintner/Lady Vintner: Those who hold this title are taxed with overseeing festivals and festivities within their Free City.[7a][9]
  • Magister: Magisters oversee arcane matters, this position is often held by the highest-ranking member of the Collegiate Arcane in the area. [1a][11a] However others beyond the Collegiate have been known to hold this office as well. Such as Lord-Arcanum Aventis Firestrike, Magiaster of Hammerhal and Malthus Irayn of the Domini University vies for the office in his home city of Brightspear.[15a]
  • Prime Commander: The Prime Commander serves as the military commander of all of a Free City's forces.[9][12]
  • Councillor: All members of the Grand Conclaves, no matter their positions, are known as Councillors.[13a]

Positions on the Hammerhal Conclave

  • Alumnus Verita: A title held by members of Hammerhal's Grand Conclave. An Alumnus Verita is a representative hailing from other major cities of Order, tasked to represent the interests of their people in Hammerhal.[9][10]
  • High Artillerist of the Dispossessed: A title held by a member of the Hammerhalian Grand Conclave.[10]
  • High Castellan: A title held by a member of the Hammerhalian Grand Conclave.[9]
  • Imports Doyenne: A title held by a member of the Hammerhalian Grand Conclave. It can be assumed their duties involve the inflow of imports into the city.[10]
  • Lord Audacious: A title held by a member of the Hammerhalian Grand Conclave.[10]
  • Mistress of the Cogforts: A title held by a member of the Hammerhalian Grand Conclave. Their duties involve overseeing the city's Cogforts.[10]
  • Supreme Pontifex: A title held by a member of the Hammerhalian Grand Conclave.[9]
  • Wallmistress of the High Artisans: A title held by a member of the Hammerhalian Grand Conclave.[9]

Other Positions

  • Arbitrave: A title of the Conclave of Arbitrium.[6b]
  • Excelsior of the High Temple: A title of the Conclave of Arbitrium. Represents the High Temple to Sigmar in that city.[6b]
  • Grandseeer: A title of the Grand Conclave of Excelsis. The Grandseer uses Glimmerings and a special facility to foresee coming events, such as disasters.[12]
  • High Ordinancer: A title of the Grand Conclave of Excelsis. In charge of the city's batteries and military ordnance.[12]
  • Lord-Commander of the Knights of the Undying Crusade: In Arbitrium the commander of the order known as the Knights of the Undying Crusade held position and title on the Conclave.[6b]
  • Margrave: In the city of Arbitrium the high commander, the Margrave, of the Freeguilds had a high position on the Conclave.[6a][6b]
  • Master of the Tithe: Those Free Cities, such as Arbitrium, who have fallen under the yoke of the Ossiarch Empire often place a Master of the Tithe on their conclave. It is this individual's grim duty and task to prepare the city for each tithing period.[6b]
  • Orator Magnus: A title of the Grand Conclave of Excelsis.[12]
  • Representative of Swifthawk Eyrie: The city of Arbitrium boasted a representative of the Swifthawk Agents on their conclave.[6b]

Internal Conflict

Conflicts often erupt between the groups and subfactions that represent a City of Sigmar's many Free Peoples, though only rarely does it descend into bloodshed. Instead, such conflicts play out in the governing body of the city, with bribery, blackmail, filibustering, and politicking of all sorts plaguing nearly every Conclave.[11a]

Trivia

  • Earlier sources claim that there were 244 Lords of Heavenhall, rather than 256.[1a]

Sources