Deacon

Silver Ladder Deacon (●●●●+)

Leader, lawgiver, priest and chief representative.

Loneliness at the top would be a comfort. Instead, the deacon is all things to all théarchs: leader, lawgiver, priest and chief representative. His duties aren’t confined to his caucus; when Convocation calls he must answer, and if necessary assume Magisterial duties. Deacons are ambitious, socially gregarious, and above all worldly. Other théarchs of this stature avoid the position, opting to intensify their quest for the ultimate Mysteries. Thus, the deacon’s chair represents something of a sacrifice. Time spent ministering to the order is time away from researching Archmastery.

There are deacons who aren’t Masters, but unless they have some other exceptional talent they don’t get a full measure of respect. Enlightenment and power are twins, coiled snakes of a caduceus. There’s no wisdom that does not proceed from competence — no Ascension without the Imperium Mysteriorum. A respectable deacon should be a qualified factotum, too, and knows the Ruling Council almost as well as his family. It is his family — he’s its father, mother and elder role model whether they acknowledge it or not.

The deacon has many duties. He sets the caucus’ agenda. He calls lictors when he needs to and lays down the local Shadow Law. Along with his brothers in other Consilii he organizes Convocations and carries out their decisions. He sits on the Ruling Council or chooses the claviger who does — and if he goes for the latter option, the claviger speaks the deacon’s words, not her own. If the Consilium has a théarch Hierarch, he’s usually made a deacon to prevent internal conflict.

A caucus can theoretically have any number of deacons, but the general sentiment is that multiple leaders will inevitably compete for power. Unless deacons work out a strict pecking order the whole caucus understands, there will be trouble. Clavigers will join one clique or another; toadying acolytes will try to play them against each other. One successful model sets up an archdeacon and lesser deacons with particular duties: one for the Ruling Council and one for Convocations, for instance.

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