The Weight of Rubies

The High Council sits on the island city of the Aihv’, just off the central southern coast. Historically, the Council consisted of a few oligarchs from the most powerful and wealthy Shalidar (or elven) families. At its height, the Council and its members controlled the lands from the southern and eastern oceans, north to the forest of Tivaris and west to the A’nari keep. Humans lived under Shal’ rule – a rule that could be benevolent or tyrannical.

The Council’s authority has diminished over time – as has Shal power. Today, there are a number of independent states, with different governmental systems described briefly below. A number are under human control and they have claimed seats on the High Council itself – these are the human-controlled states that arose relatively peacefully, with changes in the relative sizes of human populations and changes in economic systems. Other human-controlled states – namely, Seldez and Torei – arose through violence, as humans rebelled against the more autocratic Shal rulers, and have no place on the Council.

Other races, such as Dwerg (dwarves), Weinig (Halflings) and Jotunn (see Farolan), have emissaries assigned to the Aihv’ to represent their interests; however, they have no members on the Council itself.

Although the Council does have standing troops directly under its command, it governs more by consensus and economic pressure rather than a threat of force.