The Royal Council

"We are the Lesser Royals of the Kingdom, the Lords of Royal Meetings." - Lord Eddward Costayne.
The Royal Council is a body which advises the King of the Four Kingdoms, later the Six Kingdoms and institutes policy at his command. It is the inner council of the king, essentially forming the "Government Cabinet" of the Four Kingdoms. Members are appointed to their position by the King; theoretically they can be dismissed at will by the king, however in practice this might lead to undesirable political fallout.
The King serves as the Head of the Council and takes note of its recommendations, but only the king can make the council's decisions into law. The Lord Regent is the leading advisor on the council and serves as the king's proxy when he is not present, in which case the Lord Regent chairs the meeting. If the king is a minor, then by default the appointed regent will act in place of the king on the council. 
The royal council meets at the Capital of the Four Kingdoms in Orysfort, in the White Tower.
== Composition ==
Members of the Royal Council are appointed and dismissed by the king, in theory as the king wills. In practice, of course, appointments or dismissals may have undesired political consequences which the king must consider.
The Royal Council consisted of seven non-hereditary positions when it was formed, but currently consists of nine non-hereditary positions. Long vacancies sometimes also occurred for one or more than one of these positions, i.e. during time of war, though this is considered undesirable, or when the Royal Council was reappointed, once during the Reign of King Foltest Royne in 160 CE and for a second time during the Reign of King Robett Royne in 182 CE.
* Lord Protector: the seat of the head of the state, which is the position of the king.
* Lord Regent: chairs the royal council, serves as the King's proxy during his absences. The position was invented by King Doran Hardman in 155 CE following his accession to the throne, suggested as a rather fancy title of the council; but the position was left vacant during the Reign of King Robett Royne.
* Lord of Coins: the kingdom's chief treasurer and bookkeeper.
* Lord of Spies: the kingdom's chief intelligence advisor, gathering information, both at home and abroad. The position was invented by Lord Regent George Byrch following the King's Two Failed Assassination Attempts in 155 and 157 CE respectively. The position was left vacant during the Reign of Kings Foltest.
* Lord of Laws: the kingdom's chief legal advisor, who also manages the Orysfort's dungeons and supervises law enforcement.
* Lord of Ships: the kingdom's chief sea captain, supervising the Royal Fleet and coordinating the kingdom's maritime defenses.
* Lord Commander of the Crownsguard: the kingdom's chief military advisor in regards to land-based warfare. While the king personally appoints knights to the Crownsguard at his whim, once chosen they are lifetime appointments, which cannot legally be removed. In theory, however, a king may demote the Lord Commander back to being a regular member, and elevate one of the other four Crownsguard to Lord Commander. The position was left vacant during the Reign of King Foltest.
* Lord Warden: the kingdom's chief governor, who manages the various Lord Bishops, who act as governors of the provinces of the kingdom. This position was invented by King Foltest after his succession. The position was left vacant during the Reign of King Alexander Royne.
* Lord Commander of Capital Guard: the position was invented by King Doran following his accession to the throne. The Lord Commander serves as the City Guard Commander of the Capital and attends the royal council meetings to report on conditions in the capital city. Osmund Trant is given an official seat on the council as one of his rewards for the role he played in the betrayal and arrest of Lord Franco Ashford, the king's uncle.
*Lord Confessor: the position was invented by King Foltest to bring law and order in the shadows. The position continued as part of the legal system of law and order.
If the regent of an underaged King does not already possess one of these positions, then they are included in the royal council as the "King's Proxy" and appointed Margrave.
During the Reign of King Doran, the Leader of the Capital's City Guard was given an official seat on the Royal Council who acted as the Castellan of the Royal Garrison in the capital. A formidable example is Ser Osmund Trant who played an important role during the Royal Rebellion in the Arrest of Lord Franco Ashford, for his reward he was appointed the City Guard Commander and given an official seat on the council. Another such example can be portrayed of Ser Davis of Pyne who was involved in the Arrest of Lord Walder Royne, the Crown's Advisor and Lord Warden following the Succession of King Alexander Royne. 
The council may on occasion extend invitations to other lords to occupy a seat on the council, despite there being no actual "office" for them to fill (serving as advisors who function as ministers without portfolio).
== Members ==
=== Under King Doran Hardman ===
The positions and members of the king's royal council under Doran Hardman included:
* Lord Regent:
** Lord George Byrch.
** Lord Rupert of Grymore.
* Lord of Coins:
** Lord Rupert of Grymore.
** Lord Dyke of Pyne.
* Lord of Spies:
** Emir Jahangir.
** Lord Tomwell Dustin.
* Mistress of Spies: Alysa of Al-Saan.
* Lord of Laws: Prince Harrion I Hardman.
* Lord of Ships: Emir Jahangir. 
* Lord Commander of the Crownsguard:
** Ser Albus Marshall.
** Ser Tomwell Marshall.
** Ser Ramsay Yellowbrook.
* Lord Commander of the Capital Guard: Ser Osmund Trant.
=== Under King Foltest Royne ===
The positions and members of the king's royal council under Foltest Royne included:
* Lord Regent:
** Lord Theodred Westernling.
** Prince Robett Royne.
* Lord of Coins: 
** Lord Dyke of Pyne.
** Lord Lyman Clark.
* Lord of Spies: (vacant)
*Lord of Laws:
** Lord Roderick Ashford.
** Prince Robett Royne.
** Lord Ambrose of Condon.
* Lord Admiral: Prince Walid Durrand.
* Lord Commander of the Crownsguard: (vacant)
* Lord Warden: Lord Roderick Ashford.
* Lord Commander of the Capital Guard:
** Prince Robett Royne.
**Ser Ramsay Yellowbrook.
**Ser Joffery Largent.
* Lord Confessor: Lord Archwyn of Altmore.
=== Under Queen Eloise Goldleaf ===
The positions and members of the queen's royal council under Eloise Goldleaf included:
* Lord Regent:
** Lord Willem Rosewood.
** Lord Randall Goldleaf.
** Countess Elara Fossoway.
* Lord of Coins: Lord Lyman Clark.
* Lord of Spies: Count Elid Durrand.
* Lord of Laws: Lord Mace Dustin.
* Lord Admiral: Count Elid Durrand.
* Lord Commander of the Crownsguard: Ser Austin Hayford.
* Lord Warden: Lord Randall Goldleaf.
* Lord Commander of the Capital Guard:
**Lord Jacob Rivers.
**Ser Humphrey of Fork.
=== Under King Robett Royne ===
The positions and members of the king's royal council under Robett Royne included:
* Lord Regent: (vacant)
* Lord of Coins:
** Lord Lyman Clark.
** Lord Leonard Ivanstar.
** Lord Anton of Pyne.
* Lord of Spies: (vacant)
* Lord of Laws: Lord Archwyn of Altmore.
* Lord Admiral:
** Prince Walid Durrand.
** Lord Roderick Ashford.
** Lord Albus Rodney.
* Lord Commander of the Crownsguard:
** Ser Samwell Dustin.
** Ser Boros Trant.
** Ser Brandon of Pyne.
** Lord Sirius Byrch.
* Lord Warden:
**Lord Roderick Ashford.
**Lord Walder Royne.
* Lord Commander of the Capital Guard:
** Ser Joffery Largent.
**Lord Roland Blount.
**Ser Eustace Blount.
**Lord Ryam Macewood.
** Ser Sirius Byrch.
** Lord Oswell Stafford.
* Lord Confessor:
**Lord Ryam Macewood.
**Lord Roland Blount.
=== Under King Alexander Royne ===
The positions and members of the king's royal council under Alexander Royne included:
* Lord Regent:
** Lord Walder Royne.
** Lord Oswell Stafford.
* Lord of Coins: Lord Anton of Pyne.
* Mistress of Spies: Lady Serene of Lys.
* Lord of Laws:
** Lord Archwyn of Altmore.
** Lord William Torbel.
** Lord Oswell Stafford.
* Lord Admiral:
** Lord Albus Rodney.
** Lord Eddward Costayne.
** Emir Quentyn of Dormund.
* Lord Commander of the Crownsguard:
** Lord Sirius Byrch.
** Ser Elvis Graycott.
** Ser Jason Olivewood.
* Lord Warden: (vacant)
* Lord Commander of the Capital Guard:
** Lord Oswell Stafford.
** Ser Davis of Pyne.
* Lord Confessor:
** Lord Roland Blount.
** Lord Francis Abbott.