Iris Council

Founded in year 2800, the Iris Council rules the Kingdom of Vern. It consists of eight members and the king, Cornelius Aberator. As the Council is comparatively young compared to many other governments, many rules have not yet been codified--including the succession of members.

Members

Currently, the council consists of eight members that can be grouped into two groups, based on their involvement during the Iris Rebellion. The politics of the council are mostly fluid, with compromise between the two factions occurring regularly.

New Blood

Lyndis Zelandrosel has ties to the Spellweavers' Circle, but turned down the offer of archmagi in favor of a career in politics. Although the Circle has decidedly removed themselves from politics after the rebellion, Lyndis is their staunch ally. She is the most powerful known wizard in the kingdom, and played a vital role in securing Cornelius's place on the throne during the rebellion. Now, she speaks on behalf of all mages, not just the Circle.
Carris Whismael speaks on behalf of the newly-formed middle class. One of Cornelius's close friends, he helped secure and deploy armaments for the rebel forces. He also joined Cornelius and Lyndis on the front lines, engaging in direct combat with the loyalists. Since the rebellion, he has pushed for reforms on behalf of the miners within the Goldspine Mountains and Zwillmer Range, where the vast majority of precious metals and gems exported by the kingdom are mined. He is well-suited to serve as an economic advisor, as his understanding of the markets of Vern are impressive.
Rufus Miller owns the largest plot of land outside of Vern, where a burgeoning town has appeared since the rebellion. Cornelius appointed him to the council in order to speak on behalf of the farmers, shepherds, and other blue-collar folks who provide food for the city of Vern. Through his work, the living conditions for these agriculturalists have risen, as the taxes on their goods are lower than ever before.
Kragma Flikt, the Sword of the Throne, captain of the guard, and commander of the king's forces, advises on all manners of security and the safety of the kingdom. Her brilliant tactical mind was a deciding factor in the rebellion, as she led the city guard against a better trained and better armed force--and won with limited casualties.

Old Blood

These four members originally advised--or are related to advisors of--the previous king Cessatio Aberator, but refused to side with the other loyalists during the Iris Rebellion.
Rudroc Goldspine holds tradition in high regards, but understands that the world has changed ever since the Iris Rebellion. He was the last of the old blood to declare loyalty to Cornelius, but his impressive wealth nearly single-handedly funded the entire rebellion. Since then, he has divested many of his holdings within the Goldspine Mountains, allowing their ownership to pass to the newly formed middle class. He often voices support for the status quo and aligns his interest with the other noble families of Vern.
Dack Melandris is the current merchant-captain of Melandris Shipping, the largest mercantile fleet in both the eastern and western seas. His hawkish demeanor and eye for profit have lived up to his father's legacy, but he disagreed with his family's decision to remain loyal to the former king. He joined Cornelius and acted as a diplomat to East Agon, West Agon, and the Ilosian Theocracy, securing their recognition of the newly formed government. This ensured that these rivals to the Vernish throne would not capitalize on any instability arising from the rebellion.
Sicha Barrowes is the largest patron to the Bard's college and an accomplished socialite. Her soirees are often the talk of the town and the center of political intrigue. She was the first prominent member of the aristocracy--and first former advisor to Cessatio--to join the rebel's cause. Her expertise in subterfuge helped secure covert assistance from many of the nobles of Vern. She styles herself as a defender of the arts, ensuring that artists are recognized for their talent and treated with fairness.
Elias Wissen is the former Dean of the Vernish Institute, the highest place of education in the kingdom. He also served as an advisor to Cessatio. Although the institute was chartered by Rex Aberator shortly after the kingdom was founded, the Institute was a hotbed for rebel activity before the rebellion. Towards the end of his tenure, Elias's refusal to punish rebel students led to increasing tensions between the Royal Guard and the university, tensions which erupted into bloodshed during the Student's Massacre. This conflict led to Cornelius's decision to plot against his father. Elias was the first councilperson to join Cornelius's cause, as he found it unconscionable to continue supporting Cessatio after the massacre. He abdicated his involvement with the Institute at the end of the rebellion in an effort to atone for his sins against its students, but Cornelius convinced him to remain on the council.

Type

Government, Leadership