Council of the Enlightened

The **Council of the Enlightened** is the governing body that oversees Velhellyiah. Compromised of the most brilliant minds of the magical sciences, the Council guides the nation's overall goals. Their word is law and no charter, no organization, stands above them. They are the absolute authority over Velian society.

## Organization

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The Council was composed of thirteen seats in total. Twelve Archons with the High Archon acting as the overall leader. The Council would debate policy and the course of the nation until eventually a consensus was reached and the word was passed down to the Magistrates to see their will done. While the Council was originally intended to be the governing body of the nation, the individual desires of those who occupy it's seats tend to leave the Council fairly absent from government affairs. It's members more interested in furthering their own research and power than handling the busy-work of rulership. Something they often delegate to the Magistrates unless they see it as worthy of their time.

There is no official criteria for deciding who sits upon the Council. But over the generations a series of simple, but extraordinarily difficult tests have been devised to verify someone's worthiness. The culmination of these feats is to directly contest the person you are attempting to dethrone, to prove you are superior to them. These direct conflicts can take on a variety of forms depending on the skillsets of those involved. A powerful wizard may wish to duel their opponent in magical combat whereas a magitek inventor may opt for a contest to see who can build the most impressive machina. Should the challenger come out victorious they will take their place among the Council.

Given the stature of those sitting on the council, replacements very rarely muscle out the current rulers. In truth most appointees arrive there after a seat is left vacant. Their works acknowledged and an offer extended to join the Council. While it is not unheard of for mages to turn down the offer, it is done so exceedingly rarely with each denouncement going down in history with the impact such an act holds.

With their focus being on themselves the Council is rarely together at the Beacon in Vysoria. They spend most of their time scattered across the nation, each toiling away with whatever interests them to further themselves along their own paths. Only when needed will they congregate within Vysoria to properly lead the country.

## History

The Council of the Enlightened can trace it's roots back to the Suam Coup. With the restructuring of society and the government, Suam opted for a more direct form of governance with power resting in the hands of "Better men", the best men in fact. To keep the nation focused it couldn't give in to it's more base desires and allow power struggles and bigotry keep it tied down. So she opted to set up the Council of the Enlightened, twelve Archons of the arcane lead by the most powerful wizard the country had to offer.

Despite Naeun Suam leading the Coup she didn't remain the de-facto leader for long. Under her restructuring, she was hardly fit for the position. A competent mage in her own right she wasn't anywhere near enough to occupy any of the Council seats she'd set up. Something she knew full well when designing her system. Instead she helped the process of picking the best and brightest to fill the seats for the first time. She would go down in history as the Mother of modern-day Velhellyiah for it was her influence that shaped the nation into becoming what it is today.

With the Council filled Naeun retired, playing no more than an advisory role to help maintain the power she'd seized for her comrades. During her life she oversaw that the Council and her reforms worked as she had intended. Though after her passing there were times that threatened to unravel her work. But Velhellyiah pushed through those more turbulent periods with the Council performing as intended. Over the generations the power of the Council has not wavered, it's status of possessing the most powerful Mages gives it an incredible air of authority and respect. And while the Council has largely abandoned it's original duties in modern times, that trust and respect remains steadfast among the people.