The Familial Khural

The Familial Khural is an organization of recognized noble families within the Ashardian Empire. Consisting of the heads of Ashardia's largest families, the Khural votes on all of the laws produced by the Imperial Senate, as well as laws written by their fellow members pertaining to nobility. Their order is one of the oldest in the Empire, dating all the way back to the early tribal councils of the Urian nomads.

Structure

Joining the Khural is a matter of invitation and requirement: generally speaking, any noble family that is not a cadet family or a landed knight may be invited. In addition, most need to have a significant fife, including other noble houses under them; no minor family with no influence would ever be invited to join the Khural. 
Only the head of a noble family is invited to the Khural, and membership is passed down with inheritance. Every member gets a single vote on laws and Khural matters, with the exception of the Urian Families, who receive two votes as a special privilege descending from their "First Family" status.

Culture

The Khural is extremely insular and is often hostile to newly-landed nobles. Obsessed with "noble blood", bastards and children of half-noble birth are looked down upon and treated very poorly, even if they are legally legitimized by the head of their house. Members of the Khural live an extremely decadent lifestyle, often partaking in expensive luxuries and lavish parties. Even their legislative sessions are accompanied by fine wines, hired entertainment, and festivities. 
Among the Khural, the most powerful nobles (in terms of sheer votes) are those hailing from the province of Ur. Known as the "Zaluu Mori" or "First Families", some of these Khural members are descended from families that predate the Ashardian Empire completely. Despite their voting power and cultural importance, however, not all of these families are as wealthy as those from other provinces. While they are respected, the true rulers of the Khural tend to be the long-lived Gnomes of L'turon, and the populous families of Corinas.

Public Agenda

The goal of the Khural is clear: to secure and exert as much power within the Empire as possible. The Khural (and by extension, nobility) are expected to raise and educate commanders for the Imperial Army. However, the Imperial Senate raises soldiers from various settlements, and they are capable of keeping the Khural in check. The Khural is extremely self-preservationist, and tends to pass legislation that strongly benefits them. While they support the Empire, they are also typically the first to rebel, with the very peasants they govern being forced to bare the weight of their agenda. In their own words, "If the Khural can survive, then it will".

Assets

The Khural controls a vast amount of resources within Ashardia. Raw resource production is usually handled by smaller noble houses represented by the organization, while larger families engage in massive amounts of domestic and foreign trade. In addition, a massive number of military officials come from nobility.

Alternative Names

The Tribal Council

Parent Organization

Ashardian Empire