The Public Council of Greyhawk

In 581 cy, the Directing Oligarchy decided to pacify a growing popular call for greater involvement in government affairs. A clever suggestion by Glodreddi Bakkanin led to the creation of a new council of representatives elected by popular vote from each of the eight city quarters, Voting would take place every four years on the last day of Harvester (the 28th, a Freeday and the day just before the start of Brewfest), starting in 582 Cy. It would cost 1 silver noble per person for the right to vote in each election, which the Oligarchy blandly stated was to keep out riffraff and discourage repeat voting by individuals. This said, the Oligarchy made it a point to not count how many times anyone voted in the elections, and to always accept coinage from anyone wishing to cast a vote. As expected, many power groups in the city secretly passed out silver nobles to their followers to get their candidates elected, filling the city’s coffers.

The initial election took place against the backdrop of the start of the Greyhawk Wars. In a nightmare of voting fraud, drunken street brawls, and extraordinarily bizarre political parties and platforms, a council of eight was elected that included a talking goat, a charismatic beggar-thief, a doppleganger (who was exposed but continued to serve as councilor while in hiding) and a very pleasant woman who turned out to be a priestess of Vecna (and was swiftly executed, leading to a second election in the Foreign Quarter). Yet it was all the Directing Oligarchy could hope for, as holding the election immediately before Brewfest guaranteed that the (drunken) population would not think seriously about major issues, that the “crazies” would dominate and further insure that serious issues would not be discussed, and that the elections would sate the periodic public calls for democratic government.

In the long run, however, the creation of the Public Council created more problems that it solved. By 586 Cy, several of the councilors had gained a remarkable following, and all were receiving secret financial backing and vocal support from some of the city’s guilds, The guilds had initially opposed the creation of the council, but several guildmasters realized that if they gained control over one or more councilors, they would gain additional voices in the government, even if the voices were small. Worse, the social scars following the aftermath of the Greyhawk Wars and the flood of refugees in the city brought out strident calls for social reform, law and order, and even expulsion of the refugees. “Real issues” came to the fore, and the election of 586 Cy was violent and bloody, with rioting throughout the city even during Brewfest. Twelve were killed and over 100 injured.

The Directing Oligarchy nearly annulled the elections and dissolved the council, fearing worse was to come, but the council was saved by one vote on the Oligarchy. The Oligarchy took several steps instead toward social reform, sponsoring the renting of new, low-cost farmland around the city and the development of new villages centered on the outlying manors of Greyhawk’s nobles. Blackfair Manor and Lockswell Manor are the two largest manorial villages created in this way for the refugee population.

From Adventure Begins

The Public Council of Greyhawk meets with the Oligarchy in a full session for one day every quarterly festival, detailing conditions in each quarter, proposing solutions, and offering other advice as felt necessary. Some councilors are clowns and are ignored (though the talking goat was actually quite a good speaker). A few seem intelligent and make sense, and a couple even agree with the Directors at times, which the Oligarchy greatly appreciates.