Archmage

"You think you have power? Stand back, my lord, and I will show you what true power looks like."

Brell Darkhand, Archmage of Litheria.

The title of Archmage is shared between a number of different countries, but is commonly used to refer to a powerful arcane magic user appointed as an advisor, bodyguard, and sometimes teacher to the country's leader. Countries with an Archmage include Everflame, Litheria, the Southern and Eastern Elves, Krin'garr, and Gildmire.   The Sovereign Baronies of Everflame   In the Baronies of Everflame, the Archmage is appointed by the Head Baron but must be approved by a majority of the Everian Council. Their responsibilities include advising the Council on magical matters, forging diplomatic relations with other nations, protecting the Head Baron, and keeping an eye out for possible successors to their title. In the case of a Baron's resignation or death, the Archmage is expected to fulfil their responsibilities until a replacement is elected.   It is common for Head Barons to select Archmages from among the teachers, students, and graduates of the Great University, though appointments of others are not unheard of. Sometimes, Everian Archmages outlive the Head Barons that appointed them, passing down their acquired knowledge to the next. This most notably happened in the case of Ciradyl Araralei, an elven archmage, who outlived 4 human barons before her resignation in 1258 ANG.   The Litherian Empire   In the Litherian Empire, the Archmage is a far more secretive figure due to the widespread belief that arcane magic is heretical. Each Archmage is selected and trained by the previous one, and serves as an advisor and bodyguard to the Emperor. This position has proved controversial over the years, but the fear of an assassination attempt from the priesthood has led successive Emperors to maintain a magical bodyguard with no ties to the clergy.   Southern Elves   The Archmage of the Southern Elves is not an advisor to a singular leader, but rather an academic leader that rules alongside other village councillors. Elected by majority vote, the Archmage is often a Bladesinger. Due to the long lifespan of elves, there have only been five Archmages of the Southern Elves in the nation' history.   Eastern Elves   The Archmage of the Eastern Elves is not necessarily a wizard, unlike in other nations, but commonly a bard or artificer charged with overseeing the storage, research, and disarmament of magical technologies from the era of the State of Darhemia. They serve as one of 20 lesser advisors to the Consuls in Esidell.   Krin'garr   While referred to by other nations as an Archmage, the Orc Chieftain's arcane advisor is referred to as a 'Gur'takk' in Orcish, which translates approximately to 'Great Shaman'. Going into battle alongside the Chieftain, the 'Gur'takk' provides spellcasting support in combat as well as using divination magic to advise the Chieftain on matters of governance, though foreseeing the future is an art left to the nation's 'Kin'okkt', or 'Divine Eyes', clerics specialising in reading the future through spells like communion.   Gildmire   The Archmage of Gildmire advises and protects the King or Queen, from magical as well as physical threats. All potential Archmages are required to have mind blank, detect magic, and dispel magic in their repertoire of spells, in order to protect the monarch from enchantment and illusion spells. There are also unsubstantiated but persistent rumours that the Archmage sometimes uses enchantment magic on potential business partners, as well as divination magic to identify and predict potential future markets. The nation vehemently denies this, though do always seem to be the first to offer aid when a crisis occurs - for a price, of course.