Guildmaster's Council
Once, we were bound to serve the nobility, but, for all the hardship it brought, this disaster has also given us a taste of freedom! Would you so eagerly submit to the whims of others once again? Join us in building a city freed from the tyranny of the nobility!
In many cities and kingdoms, the ruler is advised by a council of Guildmasters, a collection of elected representatives of each of the city's guilds, helping the ruler understand how their decisions might impact the city's most prominent industries. Traditionally, the council has no direct power, but in many cities, rulers rely on the guilds to carry out many of their edicts, giving the Guildmaster's Council in these places significant influence on how these rulings are implemented.
The Council in Caelester
Over the last century, the Guildmaster's Council in Caelester has grown in influence significantly, eventually being consulted for almost every decision made during the reign of the last Grand Duchess. With her death in the earthquake eight years ago, the Council suddenly found itself having to make decisions on their own, in hopes of leading the city through the crisis.
Some masters took to this role with enthusiasm, advocating for their visions for the future of the city, while others found it difficult to adapt to this unexpected level of responsibility. Most of the latter stepped down from their positions, which left their seats unfilled for months while the city slowly recovered to a point where elections of new guildmasters became practical. During this time, the more politically active council members eventually settled into three major factions, supporting a restoration of the Grand Duchy and rule by the nobility, focus on commerce and allowing the Merchants to direct the city's future, or the establishment of an elected City Council around the existing Guildmaster's Council, making their own decisions as the Free Republic of Caelester.
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