The Sovereigns

The Sovereigns are the three (originally; later changed to four) leaders in charge of running Basilisk. They are made up of one Nobel Sovereign, and two other Sovereigns (later changed to three other Sovereigns). At least one of the Sovereigns is required to be a blood descendant of the previous Sovereigns that are to be taken over by. In Season 7, one of the most fundamental foundations of Basilisk is rewritten when the current Sovereigns decide to lead as a group of four, as opposed to the traditional three.

**The Establishing Sovereigns**

The Establishing Sovereigns - who were the founders of Basilisk and the first three Sovereigns - were Neo Knight, Sadie Romero, and Alto Reeves - who was the Nobel Sovereign. They reigned for 20 years and decided to establish a rule that no Sovereign could have leadership for a period longer than 20 years to avoid a dangerous rise of power or authority from taking place.

**The Succeeding Sovereigns**

The three Sovereigns (commonly referred to as the Succeeding Sovereigns) who took over for the original three are Joren Pilot, Harriet Reeves, and Eryx Riverly. Of them, Eryx Riverly is selected as the Nobel Sovereign. The blood descendant is Harriet Reeves whose father was Alto Reeves. With only two years left of her reign as Sovereign, Harriet Reeves was killed whilst protecting the perimetres from an unprovoked attacked by several members of Basilisk's enemy clan, Blood Riders. Harriet's Nominated - Elijah Scout - resumed her place for the final two years.

**The Current Sovereigns**

The Current Sovereigns of Basilisk (introduced as Sovereigns in Season 1) are Sol Riverly, Dreea Taven, and Kodiak Zora. Sol Riverly is the Nobel Sovereign and also the blood descendant of previous Sovereign, Eryx Riverly (who was also the Nobel Sovereign). Atlantis Beckett temporarily stepped up as a blood descendant (via Eryx Riverly) and became a Sovereign when her half-sister, Nobel Sovereign Sol Riverly was missing and presumed dead. However, upon Sol's return to Basilisk, Atlantis rightfully stepped down and passed leadership back over to Sol.

When Sol later on makes herself a sacrifice to save the entirety of Basilisk (Season 5), she is taken by enemy clan The City of Targo and is absent for nine months (and once again, presumed dead by majority of Basilisk although, several people within camp - including Sovereign Dreea and Sovereign Kodiak - know the truth about her disappearance). As her departure from Basilisk is believed to be indefinite, Sovereign Dreea and Sovereign Kodiak take quick action to fulfil Sol's position as Nobel Sovereign before Basilisk becomes weakened or vulnerable due to their loss of a leader. They turn to the person who Sol decided as her Nominated to resume her position: this person is Wynn Bell. Despite Wynn dealing with an abundance of losses at the time he is asked to step up as Sovereign - including the loss of his brother who died a few days before Sol was taken, he agrees to become a Sovereign, however, he *refuses* to take the title of Nobel Sovereign. Wynn and Kodiak agree to pass the title onto Dreea, but she also refuses to acknowledge the title for herself, and so the trio reject the establishment of an official Nobel Sovereign and simply continue their leadership without one (a first in Basilisk's history).

When the three Sovereigns develop a plan to head into The City of Targo and rescue Sol Riverly, they are forced into breaking one of Basilisk's most sacred rules - which is to never take all three Sovereigns out of camp unless survival is dependant upon it. To further this complication, the three Sovereigns also form an alliance with Basilisk's longest-standing enemy clan, Blood Riders. However, their mission proves successful and a few weeks later, they return to Basilisk with their Nobel Sovereign and try to understand what their plans are moving forward. Former Sovereign Joren Pilot eventually approaches the four of them (Sol, Dreea, Kodiak and Wynn) and encourages them to have the difficult conversation between them regarding who is and who is no longer a Sovereign (particularly, in regards to Wynn and Sol). Given that Sol's decision to leave was based on the knowledge that she could ensure the survival of *all* of Basilisk, everyone is insistent that she resumes her role as Nobel Sovereign however, no one is satisfied with the alternative option which would mean that Wynn is no longer a Sovereign. Instead, the Sovereigns decide to rewrite the most fundamental rule of Basilisk an instate that there be *four* Sovereigns in leadership, as opposed to three. This is a rule that they create not only for their reign, but for all future Sovereigns who come after them.

Because of this rule, ***the four Sovereigns of Basilisk*** **are Nobel Sovereign Sol Riverly, Sovereign Dreea Taven, Sovereign Kodiak Zora, and Sovereign Wynn Bell**.

**The Upcoming Sovereigns**

The Upcoming Sovereigns of Basilisk (11 years after the epilogue in Season 10) are Isobel Kady Zora, Harlow Blackwood, Eden Riverly Bell, and Veer Bell. Isobel Kady Zora is the Nobel Sovereign. She, along with Sovereign Eden, are both blood descendants (of Kodiak Zora, Sol Riverly, and Wynn Bell (although Izzy isn't related to Kodiak by blood, she is his child which is accepted under the term "blood descendant"). After a tragic event, Sovereign Veer Bell is killed when she sacrifices her life to save Izzy, Harlow, and Eden. Following her death, her duties are passed down to her Nominated - her younger twin-brother, Atlas. He eventually resumes his sister's place as a Sovereign of Basilisk.

**Qualifiers to Become Sovereign**

At the halfway point of the current Sovereigns' command (10 years), a small group of individuals are long-listed to become Sovereigns. This list consists of 20 people who show serious potential and dedication, and are selected by the judgement of the Sovereigns, officials, and skill leaders within Basilisk. 5 years later, this group is "short-listed" and narrowed down to 9 individuals who are in the running to become a Sovereign (those who are not short-listed are officially out of the running). 1 year before the current Sovereigns are to be replaced, the next three (traditionally; *now four*) Sovereigns are finalised and announced in a ceremony in front of Basilisk. During the last year of their training, the upcoming Sovereigns face a series of trials and tests and are observed for the majority of every day passing as the current Sovereigns decide which of them is to become the Nobel Sovereign.

**The Nobel Sovereign**

The Nobel Sovereign is announced at a ceremony known as The Decider which is the same ceremony where the baton of authority is officially passed down onto the new Sovereigns. Prior to this night, there is a rehearsal of The Decider and each of the *upcoming* Sovereigns is mentored by one of the *current* Sovereigns which involves an acceptance speech, a pitch (of why they should be the Nobel), and a self reflection of their progress in the past year and how it predicts their growth and success as a Nobel Sovereign.

Whilst the Nobel Sovereign works alongside the other Sovereigns, their position holds a fraction more authority than the other two (Sovereign - 30%, Sovereign - 30%, Nobel Sovereign - 40%). If the (three) Sovereigns are unable to collectively agree on a decision, then the Nobel Sovereign is allowed to overrule and have the dominant and deciding vote.

**Nominated Sovereign**

Each Sovereign is required to have what is called a "Nominated" - someone who will resume their position as Sovereign in the instance that they are killed before the end of their reign, or are unable to fulfil or complete their duties as a Sovereign. If a Nominated were to step up as a Sovereign, this could allow a break to the rule of a blood descendant (for example, if the person they are resuming Sovereign duties for is the blood descendant).

**Sovereign Privilegs**

By being a Sovereign, there are numerous privileges and benefits offered, including the most notable and desired reward: residence in the Sovereigns' Quarters. Sovereigns also get unlimited access to rations (as well as being able to get their food at any point in the day, rather than having to wait for the scheduled morning and evening servings). They have full access to the weapon room and any weapons they may desire; "newer", indoor plumbing; access to the vehicles; priority in the medic tent; constant access to leave camp, and a vast range of other advantages.

**Sovereign Bond**

Due to the intense training that is required to become a Sovereign, many of those who were long-listed and short-listed develop close, intimate relationships with the people they are training with. Typically, they create a family bond and it is said that the bond between the Sovereigns is a bond like no other ("closer than family").

* Sol, Dreea, and Kodiak

Sol, Dreea and Kodiak have grown up with each other for their entire lives and were all long-listed, short-listed, and chosen as the three finalists together. Because of this, by the time they began their reign as Sovereigns, they already had their deep, unbreakable bond with each other established that usually develops over the few first years of the Sovereigns' leadership.

Sol Riverly was conditioned by her father from as early as she could walk to follow in his footsteps and become a Sovereign. Even before she was old enough to begin the training classes that Basilisk offer to all its' residents, she was taught by her father how to hold, use, and manoeuvre several weapons and well as basic defence moves. Because of this advantage, Sol was the top of most of her classes within her first year of training. She has dedicated her entire life to becoming a Sovereign and has never wanted anything else for herself.

When Dreea Taven was six years old, she was outcasted by her parents who tried to leave Basilisk and find a new home across the DeadLands. Dreea, even at her young age, was loyal to her clan and refused to leave Basilisk. She remained living in her tent (which she formally shared with her parents) for the next two months on her own before the truth about her situation was discovered. Due to her friendship to her classmate and close competitor Sol Riverly, Eryx Riverly decided (with strong persuasion from Sol) to take Dreea in and help train her (as he believed the challenge she gave Sol was something that could benefit his daughter). Dreea then moved into the Sovereigns' Quarters and shared a room with Sol in the basement level , and she was also extended all of the same privileges Sol had (due to Eryx's position as Nobel Sovereign).

A few years later, Kodiak Zora - who was also in the long-list to become a Sovereign - experience a second tragedy within a short time period. After both of his parents were killed in a routine hunting trip to search for food, he was taken in by his aunt - Sonia Zora, who provided for him and resumed guardianship of him following his parents' deaths. However, months after they died, Sonia was also killed after a wound she had received in a fight against Blood Riders became infected. Orphaned and without any family left to care for him, Sol and Dreea - who were classmates of his and close friends - decided to take initiative upon themselves and take care of Kodiak. As Dreea is four years older than him, and Sol is three, they felt a protective instinct over their friend and understood they were capable of helping him. As Dreea had moved into Sol's room in the basement of the Quarters, they decided to do the same for Kodiak and snuck an unused bed out of one of the spare boarding rooms, and moved it into their room. None of them had a problem with this arrangement due to their unyielding closeness and found that the only "issue" was that they would often stay up late talking to each other from their beds but because they were all notably self-disciplined, they were always able to go to sleep at a reasonable time. When Eryx discovered that Kodiak was living in the Quarters uninvited, he was prepared to send him back to the tents until Sol and Dreea stopped him and delivered an impressive argument on Kodiak's benefit. When they helped Kodiak to demonstrate his skills and potential to Eryx, he agreed to allow Kodiak to stay in the Quarters like Dreea was able to, but informed Sol that she wasn't allowed to "bring in any more strays". Satisfied with the deal, Sol, Dreea, and Kodiak understood their loyalty to each other and from then on, were inseparable from each other. They spent their remaining period on the long-list training exclusively with each other and working extra-hours to master their skills and help each other become the best fighter and all-round future Sovereign they could be. By the time they were all short-listed, the three of them wholly acknowledged each other as a family with Sol and Dreea being the big-sister-figures, and Kodiak being seen as their little-brother. As they were short-listed, they were each granted their own room in one of the boarding rooms in the Quarters (as that is what they are reserved for) and Dreea and Kodiak moved out of Sol's room and into their own.

* Dreea, Kodiak, and Wynn

Wynn became a Sovereign at the conclusion of Season 5 when it was confirmed that Sol had left Basilisk and had sacrificed herself to their enemy - The City of Targo - to save them. He became the first Nominated Sovereign to come to power within Basilisk's history, and the first Sovereign to have not originated from Basilisk (ironically enough, Wynn was born in The City of Targo). Due to the circumstances around Sol's departure being the result of a failed plan from Wynn (and Aeryn), Wynn was suffering from immense guilt and shame in his best friend's absence (only days after his older brother, Ares, had been killed) and did not immediately step up to his role as a Sovereign. When Dreea, Kodiak and a small team from Basilisk caught up to him after learning about his and Sol's plans, they found Wynn to be in a catatonic state and carefully took him home to Basilisk where he recovered in the medic tent and eventually managed to find some comfort and talk to Aeryn where he learnt the full extent about being someone's Nominated.

When Wynn approached Kodiak and Dreea following his conversation with Aeryn, they confirmed that he was now a rightful Sovereign should he chose to accept the role and was informed by Kodiak that he and Dreea were willing to stand by him, give him the best training, knowledge, and everything else he needs if he accepted Sol's decision at him fulfilling his job as a Nominated. Wynn agreed to do it "for Sol" and spent the next several weeks receiving intense, elite training from Kodiak and Dreea which quickly brought him up to speed (along with his smart instincts, motivation, and prior experience on the ground).