Before the Xoriats were as they are now, the roles were actually as the first leaders of trade guilds in Westwind. After the four original guild leaders met in 1868, they quickly consolidated their powers and condensed into just one major trade guild (especially for monetary reasons), each previous guild becoming one arm of the new Guild. Today, guilds are organizations far below the Xoriats, and usually the Xoriats assign authorities to their individual industries. As development across Dystelia independently increased (leading up to the end of the Dark Days), so did the guild leaders’ powers. Eventually, it made more sense for the smaller versions of businesses and industries to sell out to offload upfront costs (as well as problems where they could manage) onto the Guild. This has since monopolized each industry/authority across most of the continent, with one Xoriat "Hand" leading each "arm" of the Guild.
Despite the appearance based on the Andrells, the position of Xoriat or Hand is not based on blood but rather conglomerated wealth; the four Xoriats are now intertwined and mostly inseparable due to the guild merges, but are each individually four of the wealthiest people in all Dystelia. Hand replacements are chosen by endowment: whoever receives the Xoriat’s money and assets replaces them in their authority. The Andrells just have a manner of keeping that money within the bloodline.
Below are the standing Xoriat Authorities:
- Tesker R. Saltorian - Hand of Route Management
Before the end of the Dark Days, there weren't so much "roads" as there were "paths". Dangers abounded on the old routes. When trade became a more pressing concern, and when the Guild wanted to press out of Westwind, one of the original Guild leaders was placed in charge of clearing these routes and creating more proper roads for cargo to travel along between cities. While this did help trade, it immeasurably changed the flow of people across Dystelia: mostly, it caused them to flow across at all. As a side effect of creating and clearing the routes, this Hand typically had the greatest working knowledge of the land. Thus, this arm was also tasked with the cartography of Dystelia. The Guild is the primary employer of cartographers everywhere, and if you aren't a member, you'll have a difficult time getting any of the tools, time, or money you would need to make it a career. Saltorian is the youngest Xoriat and the youngest ever Hand, having taken over the arm at just 20 years of age. His arm is the most independent; he needs little in the way of resources or creatures. Saltorian spends large portions of his time with Vector by choice, but seems to typically avoid the others.
- Altierius T. Vector III - Hand of Cargo and Manufacturing
Vector scarcely knows a hard days work in a factory, but this is what he is known for. In the past few years, the rise of steam power and the availability of elemental magic has made it possible to scale production rapidly. Factories he visits tend to have distasteful but not inhumane working conditions; factories he doesn't frequent typically commit much more grievous violations of workplace safety. Vector bothers with very little of this, instead preferring to hone his personal skills and health. Vector is the eldest Xoriat, but you might not know it by looking at him; he appears uncannily young for a man of nearly 66. He spends as much time as it seems he can get alone, but when he is seen, he is seen with Saltorian. Or arguing with Andrell.
- Sylvestor S. Andrell - Hand of Resource and Supply Chain Management
Sylvestor is a conman and a snake. He is the Xoriats' "dealmaker": his role in the guild is to procure all of the various resources required to maintain the other Guild arms. In practice, this means that Sylvestor charms politicians into signing the rights of their people away, and ruins lands and cities to get to valuable resources. His grandfather before him colonized the now Andrellian Isles for just this purpose, and Sylvestor is living up to his family name. The Andrells relocated to Ilyarus during the union riots in Waycarres. He is small of stature, and can typically be found next to the much more substantial Escherfeld.
- Magnus V. Escherfeld - Beastmaster General
The role of the Beastmaster General speaks mostly for itself: for every working animal, there was a breeder and a trainer behind them. The Beastmaster deals with everything from livestock to service animals to mounts. They are the final say on specialty breeds and training practices. For a price, a Beastmaster could even procure more obscure animals as companions... or for other purposes. Escherfeld travels frequently, but has made a home in Asovine since the Waycarres union riots.
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