Archmagi of the Valley

Archmage is a title unlike most others, in that it is not elected or inherited. Rather, any mage can call themselves Archmage, but this opens themselves up to being legally obligated to accept a challenge from any other mage who wishes to claim the title. The archmage also requires the blessing of the guild of mages, which is almost always guarenteed. This rule exists so deter would-be assassins from simply killing the existing archmage and claiming the title, or from people simply laying claim to the title while the archmage is travelling.
The title itself comes with many benefits. The archmage is granted a suite at the mage's college of his choice. Sandpoint Mage's Guild was once the most esteemed college in the land, but as Sandpoint began to lag behind the rapidly expanding Tsar (after the events of the first Righteous March), Tsar's Arcane College is now the likely choice. The Archmage is also granted the title of Lord and allowed to sit at the High Council, but many Archmages have sent others in their stead. This may be because an archmage may prefer to have someone more politically adroit vote on his behalf, or perhaps the council chamber's permanent antimagic field may be daunting. In theory the title also comes with the Archmage's Hat, Staff and Robes, but these are lost or destroyed so often that this tradition is largely ignored.
In return, the Archmage is expected to dedicate his life to serving the High Council in any way he is able. This usually leaves plenty of time for study, but is fraught with peril as well. An archmage is expected to travel across continents and planes, always on the lookout for threats that may assault the Valley from afar.
=== Previous Archmages ===
Most archmages last a long while - averaging a few centuries, as most mages are able to extend their lifespans. Most archmages are wizards, simply because while sorcerers may be more powerful, wizards have a little more flexibility, and are able to command a wider array of spells.
Arhmage Speigal was a diviner, who sought visions of the future, so he may protect the Valley from threat not yet realised. The exact circumstances of his death are unknown, but The Great Downward encountered the Oracle of Rappan Athuk, who claimed to be the skull of Speigal himself. He claimed that a spell went wrong, separating himself from his body, flinging it to the distant reaches of the Maelstrom. His familiar and apprentince are missing and almost certainly long dead.
He was succeeded by Archmage Zelkor, a kind and thoughtful man, specialising in evocations and cunjurations. He would go on to lead the Righteous March, but would never return from the halls of Rappan Athuk. If stories are to believed, he remained there as a shade, possibly by choice.
The current Archmage is Fondon, who is a wizard. He was an adventuring companion of Orlinde Calaelen and Arkhim Stonecleaver, and it was with them he befriended the dragon Blackfang. Reborn as a gnome (and Blackfang has since also been reborn as a terrorfying elder lava drake, and has presumably thought of a better name), Fondon travels the world, fighting the extraplanar intrusions that have sprung up as of late.