Master of the Keys

The Master of the Keys is a hierarch within the Mynster who allocates and enforces access to the upper works. As deputy to the Warden Regulant, the office controls the tower portcullises that gate the stairways leading up through the Praesidium to the Starhenge.

First Appearance and Context

The office is first described while ascending the Praesidium toward the rooftop instruments: during the hours of darkness, the four corner‑tower portcullises are configured so that only one math has access to the stair and the Starhenge. All but one are closed by the Master of the Keys, and the open/closed pattern is visible from the maths below within the Mynster.

Roles/Actions and Affiliations

• Deputy to the Warden Regulant; counted among the hierarchs who administer the Discipline inside the Mynster.
• Controls the raising and lowering of the corner‑tower portcullises at night to ensure that a single math has sole access to the stair and the Starhenge on a given night.
• Implements observing plans approved by the Primate: when directed, keeps a specified portcullis open on particular nights and leaves the others closed.
• Signals assignments visibly via the portcullis positions so that other maths can see whether the starhenge is in use.

Relationships

• Reports as a deputy to the Warden Regulant.
• Acts at the direction of the Primate for special access schedules (e.g., multi‑night observations).

Descriptions/Characteristics

• As a hierarch, adheres to conservative forms of Orth and standardized dress and grooming that help prevent information leakage between maths during necessary communications.
• Physically associated with the corner‑tower portcullises and the stairways that spiral up inside the Praesidium's tracery walls toward the rooftop works.

Current Status/Location

Active within the Mynster's upper works: manages nightly portcullis configurations that govern access to the stair and the Starhenge; executes access directives issued by the Primate.