Council of Nine
Here in the Bright Halls, the council weighs and measures the affairs of the Kingdom. It's been more than a century and a half since the last succession war ravaged the Kingdom and the council has been the rock and the fulcrum for the lever of change, for change became necessary in the face of the corruption and bickering of the nobles of the Kingdom. The faces have changed, but the goal has not: stability. Always the bedrock of the kingdom, since the time of Aminade, stability has been that which separates the Kingdom from the other nations and it has been the duty of the council to protect it when the line of Kings failed. Beware brothers and sisters of that which pulls our eyes from the stability that has graced the Kingdom. When we turn our eyes to our own glory, when we seek power for the sake of power, when we forget where we came from with the fall of Ban-haden, we will lose all of that which we have built.
Structure
There are three branches of the Council of Nine. Prosperity, Order, and Freedom. Each branch is concerned with a different aspect of society. There are three heads of each branch as well: Councilor (who speaks during council), Agent (concerned with carrying out the branches policies), and Factor (Who is concerned with the resources at the branches disposal). The duties do overlap, but generally the Councilor is the one who has the final say in the branches positions. When there is conflict between two of the branches, the third is called upon to be the deciding voice. The structure of each branch is significantly different and has evolved through the years.
Culture
The Council frequently finds itself working at cross-purposes. The branches are often in tension with each other and where the responsibilities of the Branches overlap, jealousy and pride hamper efforts at cooperation. Regardless, the council prizes stability above all else, and where there is conflict, it usually ends in a compromise that keeps the status quo. As the events of the succession wars become more clouded and distant in the hearts and minds of the Kingdom, the pursuit and value put on stability has waned.
Public Agenda
The branch of Order is responsible for justice and application of the law. The army also falls under control of this branch. The branch of Order is conservative and opposed to change of any kind.
The branch of Prosperity is concerned with the economy and resources of the Kingdom. There is a growing awareness that the resources of the Kingdom are finite and a growing preoccupation in the Branch of Prosperity is expansion beyond the historical borders of the Kingdom.
The Branch of Freedom is concerned with education and entertainment and more recently have begun dabbling sorcery. Generally perceived as the weakest of the branches, they also are the clandestine hand of espionage and information for the council. The Branch of Freedom is the most vehemently opposed to the Bautinem and actively discredits those who worship Bau.
Currently, all three branches have different goals. The Branch of Freedom has become subversive in nature and is quietly subsuming the other two branches. The Branch of prosperity is looking to foment war in order to acquire more resources. The Branch of Order has become paranoid and sees threats within the populace that are being suppressed with a heavier and heavier hand.
History
The Council initially took control after the fifth succession war. Ban-Haden was the heir presumptive and finally wrested the torc from the hands of a rival house at the end of a bitter 5 year campaign that left the Kingdom ravaged and open to attack from the outside. The council formed from a group of military men, merchants, and nobles that had seen two succession wars in a two decade span of time. There was a deep and abiding sense that the Royal line had failed the Kingdom and that stability and order needed to be brought about in a new fashion.
After eliminating Ban-Haden and several other claimants to the throne, the council established itself. First in the capitol city of Amin, and then quickly and surprisingly bloodlessly, throughout the rest of the war-weary Kingdom. The Bautinem quickly became marginalized and through unity, the council established a more secular standard of society. The three pillars of Order, Prosperity, and Freedom were widely popular among the cities of the Kingdom, while the more rural areas clung to their Bautinem roots. The council generally ignored such things, as long as they fell in line with the three pillars.
As time has progressed, the council has splintered and found itself at odds with itself more and more frequently. The original founders ideals are held up in name, but each branch has become more invested in acquiring more power for itself and the infighting has become more and more apparent to those outside of the council.
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