The Council

The Council

“The Council’s a den of sharp tongues and sharper knives, but maybe that’s just what Sarielle needs. Let her learn to dance in the dark before someone pushes her into it. I just hope they don’t grind all the starlight out of her before she finds her footing.” - Sorek Redmarch

Informally dubbed "The Council" by courtiers and gossips, this unofficial group of unmarried noblewomen aged sixteen to nineteen has become a quiet undercurrent in court politics. While it is often treated as a harmless social circle, the reality is that this collective holds soft power — influencing introductions, reshaping rumors, and occasionally guiding the courtship dance behind the scenes.
Lady Calira Meroven is its quiet center. Though there is no formal leadership, everyone knows the tea is not poured, and the games are not played, until she’s seated. Most girls drift in and out of the Council’s gatherings, but some names remain regular fixtures.

Current Core Members

• Lady Calira Meroven – The organizer and unspoken chair of the Council. Calm, perceptive, and unshakeably poised. She rarely gives orders, yet everyone falls in step with her rhythm. Many believe the Council is her proving ground for a future as a consort of real influence.


• Lady Myra Durathen – A presence too sharp to ignore. Though some suspect she considers herself above such girlish circles, Myra still attends Council gatherings often enough to maintain awareness and, perhaps, exert her own gravitational pull. Her interactions with Calira are like two cats pretending not to notice each other.


• Lady Sophia Amadis – A curious inclusion. Even she cannot recall how she was pulled into the Council — one day she was simply there, sipping tea and listening. Sophia brings a quiet warmth to the group, though some whisper Calira keeps her close for reasons unknown. Others note that Sophia’s ties to House Amadis may be more valuable than she realizes.


• Sarielle Redmarch – Earnest and open-hearted, Sarielle lends the Council a touch of innocence and sincerity. Calira seems to shield her subtly, nudging her away from dangerous liaisons or ambitious suitors. Some suspect Calira sees Sarielle as the soul the others lost along the way.


• Lady Lenira Vallent – Beautiful and fashion-forward, Lenira often appears to be the face of the Council in public — all smiles, lace, and laughter. But beneath the surface, she’s brighter than her reputation suggests. Calira often uses Lenira’s social glitter to deflect attention from deeper moves within the group.


• Lady Calvera Thorne – The most outspoken member of the Council, Calvera is bold, clever, and irreverent — a delightful contrast to Calira’s quiet grace. Her humor is biting, and her tongue often dances on the edge of propriety. Calira tolerates this because Calvera's charm disarms even the most pompous suitors, making her a perfect distraction when needed.


• Lady Emeris Lanneth – A reserved and bookish girl from a minor scholarly house. Emeris often sits at the edge of gatherings, listening intently and taking mental notes. She has a gift for memory and trivia, often recalling obscure bloodlines, heraldry, or precedent when others forget. Calira values her quiet intellect and occasionally consults her privately.


• Lady Thessaly Virell – The youngest and most romantic member of the Council. Thessaly dreams of tragic poetry, knightly vows, and love matches. The others often humor her, though Calira seems quietly fond of her. She’s impulsive, emotional, and prone to throwing dramatic glances across the room — but she sees court life with fresh, honest eyes that occasionally unsettle the more jaded members.

Courtly Rumors About the Council

• "They’re just a tea circle — until a marriage falls apart and a new one rises from it within a month."
• "You don’t marry one of them. You marry all of them — or none of them lets you forget it."
• "Every time a suitor walks in, Calira blinks twice and the others fan out like hawks in silk."
• "No one remembers when they joined. That’s how it works."

Political Role

While the Council has no formal standing, many veteran courtiers are beginning to take them seriously. Their informal reach extends to gossip, matchmaking, soft alliances, and subtle rivalries. Some barons joke that the Council is more dangerous than any border rebellion — at least the rebels declare their intentions.
Those who ignore them do so at their peril.