Matriarch of House Selwyth
Like most Swynfaredian Matriarchs/Patriarchs, the matriarch of House Selwyth has the first and last say in arranged marriages involving men and women of House Selwyth.
House Selwyth is a unisex title, but a majority of the past holders and the current holders are sorceresses ergo it's currently a matriarch, not a patriarch.
Requirements
Be an elder with the Selwyth surname.
Have a solid understanding of broader Swynfaredian politics.
Be respected or feared by other Selwyths.
Appointment
Appointment is by informal acclaim. An elder that is viewed as clever and is especially interested in family politics will eventually become treated like a matriarch until she becomes called "Matriarch".
Duties
Ensure the long-term prosperity of House Selwyth
Responsibilities
Formal responsible is to review and advise all pending or potential marriages of unwed Selwyths.
Informal responsibility to set broader House Selwyth political policy and goal.
Essentially since Selwyth's inception, House Selwyth has had a political policy of being allied to House Gorisonad.
For the last several generations, the long-term goal of most Selwyth matriarchs has been legitimizing the mass use of undead soldiers and workers.
Benefits
The position is unpaid but wields a lot of prestige and influence.
Grounds for Removal/Dismissal
Since most matriarchs or patriarchs are advanced age, death is usually how these leaders step down. When Gerallt the lich became undead, he still had to step down as Patriarch because House Selwyth couldn't publicly share the fact that he wasn't completely dead.
It is possible (though unlikely) that a foolish or unpopular matriarch can be pushed out of her position due to incompetence or because a different ambition elder is able to arrange a coup of influence.
Type
Nobility, Honorific / Ceremonial
Equates to
Length of Term
life or until ousted
Current Holders
Past Holders
Related Locations
Related Organizations
Comments