The Council of Five
The Council of Five is the shadowy, proto-fascist organization that rules Dwarfesbörg. Known for their harsh policies as well as state eugenics programmes, the Council of Five is composed of equal members who all get the vote on matters of state. One of the members is derived from the priesthood, which is indicative of how much power the Cult of Jügular has in the nation. While the positions are elected, there is a minimum income threshold that has to be met in order to vote for these representatives as well as to run for election. Regardless of this, however, there are thoughts that the elections are rigged, as many who take over positions are relatives of their predecessors. Only men can serve on the Council of Five.
Structure
All on the Council of Five hold equal power to one another, although they have different roles. These are:
- Leader of the Temples: Essentially the High Priest of the dwarven Cult of Jügular
- Leader of the Treasury: In charge of all financial and trade affairs
- Lead of the Military: Self-explanatory
- Leader of the Peoples: In charge of justice, state giving to charity (which is rare), migration, and eugenics policies (among other miscellaneous duties)
- Leader of the Trades: Overseer of the operation of industry and manufacture, and the rules for guilds of each trade
Culture
Patriarchal, xenophobic, insular, elitist, mercantile: all words that can describe the culture and ethos of the Council of Five. Comprised by rich men only—women have other "important" duties like breeding, and the poor are much too debased to hold office—the organisation can be summed up as proto-fascist. Believing in dwarven supremacy because of being "Jügular's chosen", they enact eugenicist and anti-migrant policies frequently. Speculations about how they work, exactly, is a matter of popular mythology, actively encouraged by the Council, who wish to keep their actual workings secret from the common folk.
Public Agenda
The Council of Five promises to "fairly" reign over Dwarfesbörg in the honour of their patron god, Jügular. They do this by enacting many eugenicist, anti-migrant policies aimed at preserving the "purity" of dwarven stock in order to maintain their "natural" supremacy above the other peoples of Olrion, as well as mercantile economies to "boos the nation's purse" (and their own coffers, too).
Demography and Population
Members of the Council of Five must be:
- Of purely dwarven stock going back ten generations
- Baptised into the cult of Jügular
- Male
- Over the age of 55
- Having money and assets worth over 50,000 gold OR be part of the old nobility OR the leader of the priesthood
Religion
The Council of Five is inextricably tied up with the dwarven Cult of Jügular. One of the council members is, indeed, a member of the priesthood. It is sometimes difficult to disentangle state policy from religious doctrine. Both require the people to pledge allegiance to them, and religion is often used as the only explanation for why certain laws and edicts are passed.
Foreign Relations
There is a peaceful yet cordial relationship between the Council of Five and the other government bodies of Olrion. The other peoples of Olrion regard them suspiciously for both their secrecy and outright admittance that they believe dwarves are superior beings, but trade flourishes between nations as a result of the Council's mercantile policies. Peace was struck in a deal between the Council and the surface governments following on from the War of the Surface and the Deep that occurred in the previous eon, after five years of stalemate.
Laws
There are a large number of laws that the Council holds as its flagship policies. These include:
- A two-child limit on poor families, with a (unaffordable) tax on those who do not conform
- Restricted migration of other races into Dwarfesbörg, to preserve the purity of dwarven stock and their natural supremacy
- Requirements for representatives of communities to be present at state and religious affairs
- Incentives for middle-income and rich members of society to breed, as there are fears that the already overwhelming majority of poor people will swell even further, running the risk of class consciousness and a subsequent evolution
- A ban on the "infirm" from having children
- The "care" of the mentally unwell in asylums for life from the discovery of their illness
- A "tough on crime" approach to law and order, including hard labour for many crimes as well as gratuitous use of corporal punishment and the death penalty
Hail the Chosen of Jügular
by Peter Forster
Founding Date
3E47 ATK
Type
Governmental, Senate/Parliament
Alternative Names
The Council of Bastards (derogatory, said in secret between common folk)
Government System
Plutocracy
Power Structure
Autonomous area
Economic System
Market economy
Comments