Council of Calion

The Council of Calion is an between the High Elves, the Wind Dwarves, the Bree-Folk, and the Forodren Gwaith. It was established on February 28th 2020.

## History

Since the dawn of the server the free peoples of Middle-Earth had been effectively split into 3 groups: the Dwarves in the Dwarven Council, the Elves in the Mallorn Council, and Men in the Unions of Númenor, and later the Coalition of Dawn. These alliances were united under the banner of the White Council, but over the course of 2019 both the Coalition of Dawn and the White Council collapsed. Simultaneously the Wind-Dwarves and the High-Elves gradually grew away from their respective alliances due to being more involved in the wars of Middle-Earth than their peers. As a result, on February 28th 2020, the High-Elves. Wind-Dwarves, Arnor (a former Coalition member), and Bree (a new faction keen to gain allies in Middle Earth) founded the Council of Calion at the urging of *Goldbar22*.

Under *Prof\_Aronnax* and *TimothySean*, former Coalition of Dawn members Gondor and Dol Amroth joined the Council on July 7th 2020 and the Council unofficially backed Dwarven rebels throughout the Erebor Civil War as a result of their close ties to the Wind-Dwarves. This put the Council of Calion into conflict with the Dwarven Council, effectively splintering the unity of the Free People factions for the next half year and as a result, the council decided to expand. The Hobbits were effectively a neutral faction, the Northmen factions of Middle-Earth were estranged from the Wind-Dwarves, and the remaining elven factions were content with their place in the Mallorn Council, so the Forodren Gwaith was invited and became the 7th faction of the council on October 22nd 2020.

On January 18th 2021 the Eastern Empire launched the Eastern Empire-Gondor war against Gondor and Calion rallied to Gondor's defense. The war ended uneasily on March 23rd 2021 but on that same day, JJofJ announced that he was establishing a separatist movement in Arnor known as Forrovannor. The Council of Calion supported Arnor in the conflict but it was rumored that the Forodren Gwaith was backing Forrovannor, causing a major dispute within the Council. War later almost broke out on July 2nd 2021 between the Forodren Gwaith and Rohan as a result of arguments between Forodren and Rohirric members, the latter of which had never joined Calion due to disputes between Goldbar22 of the Winds and HarrMac of Rohan. This further turned Arnor, Gondor, and Dol Amroth against the rest of the Council. The Wind-Dwarves, High-Elves, and Bree desperately sought to hold the alliance together.

As a result of these conflicts, *Aartpaard* of Arnor announced they were leaving the Council of Calion on August 21st 2021. Shortly thereafter on October 19th 2021, *scarykiwi* announced Gondor and Dol Amroth's withdrawal from the Council seeing the declining situation as irreversible. The Hobbits later joined the council following the establishment of the Brandywine Union between Bree and the Shire on January 5th 2022.

With the withdrawal of the powerhouse of Greater Gondor, the Council lacked the activity and strength to remain the central alliance in Free People politics. While Calion still exists today, it remains little more than a glorified defense pact between its membership factions.

### Structure

Members of all factions may discuss matters in the council of common folk, however no votes occur here. Faction leaders may invite as many members as they would like to discuss more sensitive matters in the nobles court. While many matters are discussed here, there are no votes here. One leader from each faction plus an heir if they choose has access to the fellowship of kings, where the most sensitive matters are discussed. This is where all votes take place, though heirs may not vote, only 1 leader per faction.

### Terms

The terms all members of the council agreed to are as follows:

- Mutual NaP among all members.

- Mutual Defensive Pact among all members.

- Mutual Offensive Pact renewed every 3 months

- Mutual Trader access for Capital cities. (Done either by Gate access through the Council of Calion Fellowship, or by a shared waypoint inside the trader rooms).

- All Members will be invited to the Council of Calion Fellowship, With map locs turned off.

- Seasonal Calion Parties, with the locations going around each factions capitals.

### Membership

Factions can gain membership through a majority vote of all faction leaders. There are currently 5 member factions, so it takes 3 factions to agree to add a new faction. The new faction leader must also agree to and enforce the terms of the council.

### Leadership

The current leaders of the council of Calion are:

Orneno from the High Elven Kingdom

Rogue121 from the Dwarves of the Mountains of the Wind

Palarandrusk from the Bree-Folk of Breeland

Wollibo from the Hobbits of the Shire

WilliemL and TheHoodedMaiden from Forodren Gwaith