Archmagistrate of Kel'tan

The seven most powerful mages of the Kel'tan Empire, the Archmagosi, form the Archmagistrate. Separate from their clans of birth, they are the real day-to-day power in the Empire. An Archmagos can command almost any lesser gwerin, let alone one of the magebred to do almost anything at any time, and they must obey.

Dramatis Personae

The following appear in order of seniority on the council. This information is mostly public at least at the noble level--6 of the 7 openly wield their power in full view of everyone. The last, the Veiled, is not well known and always appears in costume for official acts and meetings. The other Archmagosi likely know their identity, but have not revealed that publicly.

1. Senior Archmagos Un Ynafol [oon EENA-fol] is, second to the Phoenix Emperor himself, the oldest living being in the Empire. Born sometime during the 3rd age, he has used countless clones to avoid death. And it shows. Known to be extremely paranoid, he usually does not appear in person but sends semi-illusionary duplicates of animated ice in his place. His area of focus is on the magical barriers that protect the borders of the Empire. Known to be extremely devotedly loyal to the Emperor.
2. Archmagos Gwaedlyd [WAE-did] was born in about 350 BC and is a known practitioner of necromancy and blood magic (by which he sustains himself unnaturally). He is the normal High Judge for matters appealed to the Archmagistrate unless the body decides to take it collectively. Another loyalist.
3. Archmagos Shvant [ZVANT] was born in about 150 BC. An ardent clone practitioner, she is a known sybarite with...wide...tastes in partners. As well as taking pleasure in rather extreme forms of recreation (of the bedroom/torture chamber variety). Her area of expertise and focus is on the breeding and control of sena'ka and chaudeekar as well as the beast races. Cares for little except her own pleasures. (dead)
4. Archmagos Enaid [en-AID] was born in about 100 BC. He also practices the cloning arts. His area of focus is the southern border and the overall military. Loyal to the nation, openly disdains the culture and government. Survives because he has the backing of many powerful individuals and is extremely hard to kill.
5. Archmagos Gwydian [GWID-ain] was born in about 2 AC. He is on his first clone body. His area of focus is on the soul and on history. He is one of the most active of the Archmagos in most respects, and has a very strong personal following as a charismatic speaker. Of the Archmagistrate, he is the only one known to be stably life-mated (instead of the contract marriages and concubines most common to major nobles). Publicly espouses total loyalty, but is known to push against the decadence of the current culture.
6. Archmagos Bathory [BA-thor-ee] was born about 18 AC. She practices blood magic to stay young; it's whispered that she bathes in the blood of (commoner) virgins. She handles most of the economic matters of consequence. In it for the money, as far as anyone can tell. (dead)
7. The Veiled Archmagos is an interesting, mysterious figure. Elevated to the Archmagistrate about 5 years ago after successfully defeating (and killing in the process) the former occupant of the seat when he attacked them. Always appears shrouded in black, impenetrable veils of illusion (and cloth) and uses both magical and mundane means of disguising their voice. Nothing is known (publicly) about their origins, magical specialties (other than that they're powerful enough to shrug aside an Archmagos's full attack and capable of warding themselves against very interested prying), or political leanings. Since their elevation, they have taken an active role in many areas, especially the smaller concerns that normally would not attract the attention of the Archmagosi.