#exalts

1: Governmental Structure of the Southern Icefield

For those who are not familiar with my lore on ice flight, here’s a quick rundown of the background info:

Icewarden’s original creations were broken into twelve Great Clans. The six clans of Last Tower would eventually merge (or split depending on how you want to think about it) to become the present day ice flight. The six clans of Ends remain in tact to this day. Each one is charged with governing one ward of the fortress as well as a portion of the land outside of that. 

This chart focuses on the Fifth Ward of the fortress and its holdings. The other wards have similar holdings and together they sum to the whole of the flight territory. 

Starting then with the Great Clan of the Fifth. As explained above, these are the dragons of one of the original bloodlines of tundras. Their time spent locked away in the fortress rather than mingling with the rest of the world and high magic exposure has altered their appearance slightly. They also use the archaic name for their kind, Gaolers.

The leader of the Great Clan of the Fifth is given the title Warden of the Fifth. The Warden receives their orders directly from Icewarden and, by those orders, directs their portion of the exalted and the flight. 

The Great Clansmen are selected from at random to serve on the Grand Jury which presides over Icewarden’s Courtroom. The Warden may serve as judge when needed. Otherwise Icewarden is Judge. 

Great Clansmen also make up the Hailstrike Nobility. The “Nobles” preside over Hailstrike Tower, an exalted outpost in Cloudscrape, and govern the city that has grown up around it. 

The City of Hailstrike is made up of many individual clans who (loosely) follow the rule of the local nobles. Hailstrike is one of several large cities which fall under the governance of the other great clans. 

Surrounding the City is the Central Pass Region of Cloudscrape. This area is home to still more clans which are technically under the jurisdiction of the fifth ward, however the influence fades quickly the farther one ranges from the city. 

All of the clans here produce exalts with some regularity and receive payouts from the local coffers in exchange. These exaltees can end up anywhere in the flight, but Fifth Ward territories and interests get first pick of recruits from Fifth Ward holdings.  These exalts who stay internal will go on to work in one of three places, Hailstrike Tower, The Fortress of Ends, or any number of towers, outposts, forts, and lockups which make up the Hailstrike Dist. Prison Network. Movement of personnel between these places is quite common.

Those who go to the fortress will end up working in the Fifth Ward Proper and will enter as Exalt Recruits. 

2. Ranks of the Exalted Guard

Upon become an Exalt Recruit, an exaltee will be presented with three options for forward progression. Often recruits will show disposition for one starting rank or another. Most commonly, the Tower Captain will place them where they are needed.

The most popular path is that of a Cell Guard, for whom the progression looks as follows:

Guard: A single guard assigned to no more than two cells in the blocks. 

Captain: In charge of one hall of cells in the blocks, commands a number of guards.

Keeper: In command of one wing of the ward. Gives commands to two to four Captains. Keeps the keys to inmate cells.

Sentinel: Senior officer in charge of one division. Commands three keepers and works in tandem with the Ward’s other Sentinel. 

Those who excel in their positions in the Cell Guard may be promoted into the Hall Guard. These positions run as follows:

Line Guard: A paroling guard on the main line between cell blocks or in the common areas

Line Captain: Commands the Line Guards in one section of the hall. 

First Guard: Stands guard in the chamber outside the ward. Guards during court hearings. Last line of defense between cell blocks and civilian areas.

Another option for a recruit is the Records Staff, for whom the progression is:

Cell Writ: keeps track of all movements inside the ward, noting all changes of cell, security, detail, etc. and reporting to the relevant Recordant.

Recordant: Assigned to a row of cells for which they compile information from the Cell Writs, as well as from collected Guards’ Reports This information is reported to the Tower Master.

Force Recordant: A Recordant who may act in any section of the ward. Audits records from the ward to compile with those from other wards. 

The final path is that of the investigators. These positions are dedicated to the capture of escapees and new arrests, usually held by those with strong magic and therefore some level of Shade sensitivity. 

Runner: Assigned to marks as they arise. Unpredictable hours and usual danger.

Seeker: Assigned to a steady team of three or four which takes marks on schedule.

Tracker: Captain of a Seeker Team and lead investigator. Sent out to find new marks to assign. 

The paths converge once again with the Tower Staff. Tower Staff are appointed positions which are selected from the full pool of a ward’s personnel. Tower positions are often seen as cushier. While anyone can be appointed to watchman, it is most commonly Sentinels, Keepers, and Force Recordants who are given the opportunity. From there, the positions are:

Watchman: Stationed in one of several watch towers Notorious for long shifts. A weed out position to test the resolve of candidates looking to move higher.

Watchmaster: Captain of the Watchmen. In charge of signalling for the main tower. In charge of emergency response.

Quartermaster: Keeps guards records and doubles reports from the Recordants. In charge of lodging and provisioning. Reports to the Tower Captain on which positions are and are not available.

Tower Captain: Warden’s Second in Command. Assigns new recruits. Hands down promotions or demotions. Moves prisoners in and out of the ward. Position is held for a set number of years before the Warden may keep or replace them. One may not be Tower Captain of the same ward twice.

3. Sashes

A sash is worn by each member of the exalted which gives information on their rank and position. 

The main clasp shows the emblem of the facility to which the wearer is assigned. All major holdings posses a unique variant of the flight symbol. 

The sash also shows a rank insignia, as well as a number for the assigned hall and the color of the Ward under who’s jurisdiction that hall operates. 

4. Territories by Ward

Each of the six wards is responsible for some chunk of the Icefields’ territory. This map shows roughly which land is ruled by which wards, and the names of the Towers from which they operate. Influence fades the farther from these outposts or the Fortress of Ends one goes.