Steel Ministry
The Steel Ministry was the religion of the Final Empire, made up of various divisions, named Cantons, that also served as the government's bureaucracy. Obligator is the title for those who are part of the Ministry. It also contains the Inquisitors.
One of the main purposes of the Ministry was to witness a myriad of contracts and agreements, even something as simple as promise to come to a game of shelldry. [1]
Cantons
The Cantons were the subsections of the Steel Ministry.
- Canton of Orthodoxy
- Organized the Steel Ministry and looked after the religious side of things.
- Canton of Finance
- The bank of the Final Empire.
- Canton of Resource
- Tasked with trade, transport, and taxation.
- Canton of Inquisition
- Organized the Steel Inquisitors and acted as law enforcement over the Allomantic community.
There was a long standing rivalry between the Canton of Orthodoxy and Inquisition, for the Canton of Inquisition believed that they should have dominance over the other Cantons. They are eventually given the dominance when they capture Vin and prove that she is the Lord Prelan's half-breed daughter. [2]
It was in charged of the financial operations of the Final Empire. Their work included the transport of funds. The majority of atium mined at Pits of Hathsin was transported along with the coins, in order to hide them from Ruin's view.[citation needed]
The Canton's headquarters was an imposing building. It was tall and blocky with a massive rose window in the front, with two red banners hanging down beside the window, proclaiming praises to the Lord Ruler. Upon entering the building, one would find a desk at the end of an extended entryway, with an obligator manning the desk. Decorations within the building were sparse and lacking. It was often described as austere, bearing only the most necessary furniture and simple grey carpeting, the walls also lacking adornments.
An exception to that rule was the waiting room. With plush chairs and lavish décor, the room clearly catered to the tastes of visiting noblemen.[3]
Obligators
The obligators would have to be called in to witness or approve of anything significant going on in the Final Empire.
In addition to their bureaucratic functions the obligators served as the Lord Ruler's religious leaders. They would teach the Lord Ruler's religion to skaa and noblemen alike. They were required to witness any wedding, even that of skaa. Template:Annotation ref
Obligators were notable in having a deep faith in the religion surrounding the Lord Ruler and Obligators were distinguished by intricate tattoos around their eyes to signify to their rank and Canton membership. [4][5] There were also assassins in the Steel Ministry. [1] Any assassination in the Empire would have required the Ministry's approval from bribery. [6]
Organization
- Obligator
- Prelan
- High Prelan
- Steel Inquisitor
- Outside the regular chain of command, but technically ranked lower than the Lord Prelan [7]
- Lord Prelan
Known Obligators
- Lord Prelan Tevidian
- Prelan Laird: Canton of Finance
- High Prelan Arriev: Canton of Finance
- Noorden
- Prelan Yomen: Canton of Resource [8]Template:Annotation ref
- Marsh