Council of Heralds
The Council of Heralds is the final arbiter over all disputes involving titles in Orlais. The current leader is Duke Bastien de Ghislain.
Structure
The council was formed from the heads of seven of the oldest and most influential noble families in Orlais, with many of them being able to trace their bloodline all the way back to the time of Emperor Drakon himself. In exchange for their positions on the council, each of the council’s members had to swear an oath of loyalty to the Throne of Orlais — regardless of whom sat upon it.
Public Agenda
Aside from their official duties, the Council of Heralds are also the Gatekeepers of the infamous and deadly Grand Game. While each member is a master player in their own right, the Council is revered as the very pinnacle of the great Orlesian pastime, even setting them above the Empire's Ruler. It is the Council's decision who goes up and who goes down. Their word alone can see a player rise through the ranks of the game and society, just as easily as they can crush the ambitious and see them go tumbling down. Such is the capricious will of the Council of Heralds as it is the nature of the Grand Game.
History
Though titles and heraldry of the Orlesian nobility were banned by Emperor Kordilius Drakon I, those Ciriane people who formed the empire would not give up centuries of culture and tradition so easily, and instead found themselves mired in conflicting claims of birthright and inheritance. Emperor Reville's habit of handing out new titles to his supporters only made the situation worse. When Emperor Judicael I inherited the political turmoil left by his father, which had already cost the life of his brother Emperor Etienne II, he created the Council of Heralds in an attempt to win over the nobles of his court. The Council would be the final arbiter over all disputes involving titles, including that of emperor.
The creation of the council was met with widespread approval from the nobility and the Imperial court. For it was seen as a more fair and just system, with their peers having control over titles and inheritance, rather than the throne. Though it was also met with envy as the Councillors were raised to lofty positions of power and still are seen as gatekeeper’s of the Game because of the power and influence they wielded. Many a noble aspires to be on the council, but all of the seven seats are hereditary, passing on from generation to generation.
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