Few people willingly enter into the ranks of the stewards. More often, the profession is populated by those with few options to advance through Precentor society through other means, and for whom the role is seen as a backstop against destitution. Then there are those, like Cassander, who see stewardships as ladders of opportunity. And Cassander has climbed that ladder to the very top, all the way to the heights of direct service to a ruling Tetrarch’s household.

Cassander has served Ultimo and his family loyally since the days of the Titus Rebellion. That loyalty has been remunerated, as the chief steward is often privy to the private consultations among Ultimo and his counselors, family, and others. As one of the rare few individuals with a window into his patron’s thoughts and plans, Cassander often counsels the Margrave Tetrarch in his most intimate moments. This friendship, forged over decades, is one of Ultimo’s closest and longest-lasting — one that Cassander values above all else.