Planetary wizard

The wizard responsible to the Powers that Be for the management and maintenance of a given planet as a whole. Ranks above the Continental supervisory level and below the Cluster/stream supervisory level (or the System supervisory level in star systems where more than one planet harbors sentient life forms of the same general matter-base makeup). The position is always conferred by the Powers, though normally after extensive consultation with the other most senior-ranked wizards on a given planet. Once conferred, the position is normally held for life.

The power levels accessible to a Planetary are tremendous: in AWOM, Mamvish remarks to Nita and Kit that if the Powers that Be needed the Earth destroyed, the Planetary is the one they'd turn to. She also suggests that the Planetary may either control the Earth's kernel, or actually contain it. There is also speculation in AWOM that Nelaid may serve as Planetary for Wellakh, due to the relatively small number of wizards on that planet.

The Earth's Planetary during the period beginning with SYWTBAW through AWOM is a woman named Irina Mladen. (AWAB, et al.)

(See also: Geomancer)