The Gilded Council

The council that rules the Golden City and by extension, Azmith as a whole. Are an oligarchy of the city's richest and most influential merchant lords and public leaders.

The Gilded Council is the ruling body of the Golden City, a powerful and exclusive oligarchy composed of the wealthiest merchants and influential figures in the city-state. This elite group embodies the values of the city: wealth, ambition, and an unrelenting pursuit of power. Every decision they make reflects their primary goal of safeguarding and expanding the city's vast economic dominance.

The council consists of a select number of individuals, typically between 10 and 20, each representing one of the city's most lucrative industries or trade monopolies. Membership is not inherited but purchased or earned through staggering displays of wealth, influence, and business acumen. Key sectors represented on the council include:

Gold and Jewel Trade: Members who oversee the city’s famous mines.

Trade and Shipping: Magnates control caravans, docks, and shipping fleets.

Enchanting and Mana Crystals: Entrepreneurs who harness the city's rare magical resources.

Slave Trade: Powerful figures who profit from the institutionalized system of slavery.

Council members are fiercely competitive, often jockeying for influence within the group, but they are unified in preserving the economic and political supremacy of the Golden City.

The Gilded Council wields near-absolute power over the Golden City, acting as both legislators and executives. While their governance often benefits the city as a whole, their decisions are driven by self-interest, ensuring their wealth and power remain unchallenged. Joining the Gilded Council is an ambition pursued by many, but achieved by few. The council operates more like a gilded battleground than a harmonious assembly. While members collaborate to maintain the city’s dominance, internal rivalries are rampant. Backroom deals, political intrigue, and even outright sabotage are commonplace as members seek to expand their influence within the group. Meetings of the Gilded Council take place in the Golden Hall, a lavish chamber in the heart of the city. Decisions are made over feasts of rare delicacies under the watchful gaze of opulent gold-leaf murals depicting the city’s history.

Type

Geopolitical, City council

Contributors: Kashii, Taylorzilla, Yuii, Foxhound99