High Council

The **High Council** is an advisory body of the King of Aqoris and institutes policy at his command. It usually consists of High Lords (thus "high") and the most important people of the realm, essentially forming the "government cabinet" of the Kingdom of Aqoris. Members are appointed and removed by the King at his will, although removal of Lords who are in high standing may lead to 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 Adviser to The King, as the name suggests, is the leading advisor to the King and serves as the king's proxy when he is not present, in which case the Adviser 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 High Council meets in the Winter Keep of Newcastle, in a room behind the Great Hall and the Bear Throne.

## Composition

Members of the High Council are appointed and dismissed by the king, as he wills. However, appointments or dismissals may have undesired political consequences which the king must consider.

The High Council usually consists of six non-hereditary positions. Long vacancies sometimes occur for one of these positions, i.e. during time of war or winter, though this is considered undesirable.

* Adviser to The King: chairs the High Council, acts as the King's first adviser and serves as his proxy when absent.
* Lord Chancellor: in charge of the realm's treasury and financial adviser.
* Lord Commander of The Bronze Cloaks: the realm's chief military advisor and adviser of intelligence, particularly in regards to land-based warfare. It is the only position which is an elected one as the nine members of the Bronze Cloaks who are appointed for life by the King nominate and vote for one of their own to be the Lord Commander until his death. A King could, in theory, demote the Lord Commander and elevate another knight but this is not known to have been done before.
* Master of Laws: the realm's chief legal advisor, who also manages the Winter Keep's dungeons called the Ice Cells, and supervises law enforcement.
* Lord Admiral: the realm's chief naval officer, commanding the Royal Fleet and coordinating the realm's maritime defences.
* High Curator: the Curator appointed to the Winter Keep and thus to the King and the realm. The High Curator is assigned The Board, not the king. However, some Kings have been known to request for a favoured curator to serve as High Curator such as the current High Curator Emerick who was requested by Kaegan III. The Curator can be excluded from attending meetings but he cannot be replaced which makes the position unique as it is the only one where the King can't remove the person.

Members of the High Council can occupy more than one position, although this is not a preferred thing to do. High Curator Emerick served as both High Curator and Adviser to The King during the reign of King Byrron II Boyce.

If the regent of an underage King does not already possess one of these positions, most likely Adviser to The King, then they are included in the High Council as the King's proxy.

The Constable of the City Watch is not a position in the High Council, however the Constable is allowed to attend some meetings to report on conditions in the capital city, when requested by either the Constable himself or the council.

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. They are considered as simple advisers in general and not in a certain field.

## Members

### Under Bradyn I Boyce

The positions and members of the king's High Council under Bradyn I Boyce, often called The Pious, before his death in the Summer Rebellion.

* The Adviser to The King
	+ High Adepton

* The Lord Chancellor
	+ Lord Chester Aerin

* The Lord Commander of the Bronze Cloaks
	+ Sir Harrion Rayne

* The Master of Laws
	+ Lord Marlon Collinner

* The Lord Admiral
	+ Lord Robert Draker
* Without Portfolio
	+ Prince Ronan Boyce

### Under Kaegan III Boyce

The positions and members of the king's High Council under Kaegan III Boyce, after he reinstated the council after his brother dissolved it, included:

* The Adviser to The King
	+ Lord Wyllam Rocke

* The Lord Chancellor
	+ Lord Dayron Durham

* The Lord Commander of the Bronze Cloaks
	+ Prince Cayle Boyce

* The Master of Laws
	+ Lord Lewys Farrest

* The Lord Admiral
	+ Lord Keren Perle

### Under Byrron II Boyce

The positions and members of the king's High Council under Byrron II Boyce included:

* The Adviser to The King
	+ Curator Emerick

* The Lord Chancellor
	+ Lord Dayron Durham
	+ Lord Artis Aerin

* The Lord Commander of the Bronze Cloaks
	+ Prince Cayle Boyce

* The Master of Laws
	+ Lord Lewys Farrest
	+ Lord Daltas Carlisle

* The Lord Admiral
	+ Lord Keren Perle

* The High Curator
	+ Curator Emerick

### Under Harlow I Boyce

The positions and members of the king's High Council under Harlow I Boyce, all but two disappeared alongside the King in The Anarchy, included:

* The Adviser to The King
	+ Prince Warren Boyce

* The Lord Chancellor
	+ Lord Rupert Ross

* The Lord Commander of the Bronze Cloaks
	+ Sir Mancel Graen

* The Master of Laws
	+ Lord Petre Tarbor

* The High Curator
	+ Curator Emerick

### Under Warren I Boyce

The positions and members of the king's High Council under Warren I Boyce, included:

* The Adviser to The King
	+ Lord Daltas Carlisle

* The Lord Chancellor
	+ Lord Anron Rocke
	+ Lord Ruban Ross

* The Lord Commander of the Bronze Cloaks
	+ Sir Andrew Carlisle

* The Master of Laws
	+ Lord Horslan Barrin
	+ Lord Lorgan Durham

* The Lord Admiral
	+ Lord Starlyn Boyce
	+ Lord Errick Tarbor

* The High Curator
	+ Curator Emerick