The Chapter Houses

A Chapter House serves as the station of operations for the local branch of The Guild. From the House, commissioned displays are designed and produced, smaller fireworks – often made by the apprentices for training purposes – are supplied, in limited quantities, for Feast Days, and so forth.

Each Chapter House is administrated by the Master or Mistress of the Chapter House – who is elected for an indefinite period by the most senior Illuminators of the Chapter House, when the position becomes incumbent. Skills in leadership, accountancy, and Illumination are valued, but the Master or Mistress of the Chapter House often has to take responsibility for his or hers House's actions.

While the Master or Mistress of the House is extremely influential – their word can encourage an Illuminator's expulsion from The Guild or revoke such action. He or she can authorise Guild displays, and appoints Illuminators to various positions in The Guild.

However, The Guild's complex pattern of secrets and underground operations means that the Master or Mistress' authority is seldom absolute, and just as easily as they were nominated they can be removed.

Other formal positions in a Chapter House includes that of the Stores Master or Mistress, who is responsible for cataloguing the raw materials the Chapter House owns, and for coordinating requests for new ingredients. These requests are passed on to the Local Guild Account, who balances the books and is responsible for disguising and issuing the Chapter House's orders.

Additionally, the Head of Apprentices, while not necessarily taking any role in tutoring or disciplining Apprentices, is responsible for organising their classes with fully qualified Illuminators.

The first established Chapter House was in Tarabon, near the capital city. Later, the House in Cairhien – rich from the trade across the Aiel Waste – was established, and after the Aiel War, this second Chapter House flourished, bringing vibrant Illuminations across to the Foregate regularly until the Shaido razed the shanty town.

The Chapter House in Cairhien, while preparing a large display, was destroyed when several of the fireworks went off, and the Tanchico Chapter House was destroyed in a similar manner while the Seanchan forced entry. The Children of Light had previously refused the Illuminators permission to establish a new Chapter House in Amador, but since The Guild fled the Seanchan, they are still looking for a new site to re-establish themselves. In the mean time, the scattered Illuminators must attempt to find as many of their fellows as possible, to reunite The Guild.

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