Innkeeper

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The innkeeper role is one that encapsulates a number of responsibilities; in effect, innkeepers take on varying tasks that help to keep a system running and as efficient as possible. It is mainly useful within gateway systems. The innate abilities of an innkeeper involve the managing of switches, cluster designations, and welcoming or dismissing walk-ins.

These jobs are similar to that of a gatekeeper, but a notable distinction is that an innkeeper also functions as a jack-of-all-trades when other role-oriented headmates are unable to front, for whatever reason. This may include quickly acting as a protector in an emergency, soothing headmates who cannot reach their system's natural soothers, and representing their system externally as a diplomat.

A reason for this is for the way an innkeeper may be able to control switching and fronting; often, when pulling other headmates to front, an innkeeper will "step to the side" in order to remain co-conscious enough that they are aware of the outside, but distant enough that it is easier for someone else to maintain their own control. Remaining co-conscious is important so that the innkeeper will be able to return to the foremost position of the front at a moment's notice, should they be needed to enact another switch to remove or replace the current fronter.

It is possible for more than one innkeeper to be active at the front at any given time.

History
Serrin Volienne (of the Wool System) first coined the term in July of 2020. The name innkeeper is meant to reference the additional responsibilities that an innkeeper (of an inn) might end up doing themselves in order to keep their business running smoothly.

Related Terms
Gateway

Gatekeeper

Fronting

Co-conscious