Elections & Leadership¶
Each faction is led by an elected Lord Commander — a member chosen by the faithful to steer the faction's fortunes. Leadership is earned at the ballot box, and only by those who have proven themselves in the field.
The Lord Commander¶
The Lord Commander is the elected head of a faction, seated in that faction's home city.
- One Lord Commander per faction (Trinsic, Yew, Vesper).
- Chosen by election, held every two weeks.
- Wears the title "Lord Commander" above their name in place of their rank title, so their authority is visible to all (see Ranks, Titles & Standing).
What the Lord Commander Controls¶
- Town bonuses — the Lord Commander decides which of the town's bonuses to activate for the faction's benefit (see Townships).
- Additional powers of state, exercised through the Town Stone of the home city.
Should a Lord Commander leave the faction or lose their citizenship, they vacate the office immediately — a departed leader does not keep the seat, and it stands empty until the next election fills it.
Elections¶
Elections run on a recurring cycle in each faction's home city.
The Cycle¶
An election moves through phases:
- Nomination — members put themselves forward as candidates.
- Voting — members cast their ballots.
- Resolution — the votes are counted and a winner installed.
The full cycle runs on a bi-weekly rhythm, so leadership is regularly contested and no Lord Commander rules unchallenged forever.
Who May Vote¶
To vote in a faction's election you must be: - A member of that faction, and - A citizen of that faction's home city.
Voting is one vote per account — an account with many characters still casts only a single vote, so numbers of alts confer no electoral advantage.
Who May Run¶
To stand as a candidate you must meet the voting requirements and have reached a threshold rank (a mid-tier rank on the ten-step ladder). Leadership is reserved for those who have proven themselves in battle — a fresh recruit cannot seek command.
Resolution¶
When voting closes, the candidate with the most votes becomes Lord Commander. In the event of a tie, the candidate who declared first prevails.
Standing for Election¶
The path to leadership, in order:
- Pledge citizenship to a faction city and enlist in its faction.
- Fight and earn kill points until you reach the rank required to run.
- Nominate yourself during the nomination phase, at the Faction Join Stone.
- Campaign — rally your faction's voters.
- Win the vote, and take up the mantle of Lord Commander.
Hold the office well, and your faction prospers under your bonuses and your banner. Neglect it — or fall in the field — and the next election will find someone to take your place.