(Stavuk Vyloresh)
The Imperial Council is the Emperor's ministers. They advise the Emperor and carry out his wishes. Or at least, that's what the law says. In practice, some Imperial Councils have in the past held absolute power when the Imperial throne was occupied by a small child or a mentally incompetent emperor. The present Emperor Cledman VI has been reasonably assertive of his power and has relegated the Imperial Council to its usual role of advisors and servants. However, the Emperor is quite old and getting senile. He also has a tendency to go on drinking and partying binges that last for weeks at a time while the affairs of the Empire are increasingly left to the Imperial Council.
Cledman VI
Zekresh Emperor
The Emperor usually attends meetings of the Imperial Council, but he is not a member of it. He is superior to the council.
There are technically six members of the Imperial Council, but only four who regularly show up for meetings. They have made up derogatory nicknames for each other which are given in Zekresh and in English.
The council members are:
Rabunya Cledman
Lord Chancellor (similar to a prime minister)
nickname: "Pracha Ovunesh" ("Idle Chatter")
Rabunya is the Emperor's uncle. Considering that the Emperor is 74 years old, it is truly phenomenal that he still has a living uncle, but he does. Rabunya is 87 years old. Rabunya clearly has the strongest claim to the succession to the throne, but due to his advanced age, it is doubtful if he will outlive the Emperor. If he does, his reign is sure to be quite short and the succession would then become an open question again. Rabunya has heirs who could succeed him if he became Emperor, but they are all strident members of the Reformist Faction which Rabunya created. Most Imperial officials, provincial governors and all the senior officers of the Imperial Army strenuously oppose the Reformists.
Rabunya has advocated many reforms over the years. Above all he wants to root out corruption. Unfortunately, his youthful idealism and vigor are long gone and his dreams of implementing reforms have mostly faded away. He still talks about various reform ideas, but he has only rarely been able to convince the Emperor or his father before him to carry them out. His talk of reform ends up being mostly just talk. This is why the Loyalists nicknamed him "Idle Chatter".
Asnalyva
Lord of the Exchequer
nickname: "Baylo" ("Dollars")
Asnalyva is a member of the Loyalist Faction. As Lord of the Exchequer, he has control over the Imperial Treasury. Possibly the most corrupt and wealthiest government official in the entire Empire. He is said to have more money than the Emperor himself, though that is probably an exaggeration.
Levorek Cledman
Councilor (no specific portfolio)
nickname: "A Vimmel" ("The Weasel")
Levorek is the primary leader of the Loyalist Faction at the Imperial Court. He is the Emperor's favorite nephew, but is the son of the Emperor's sister and arguably is banned from ascending to the throne by custom and Imperial decrees by previous Emperors that ban inheritance of the throne through a female family member. This problem can be solved if the Emperor will issue a decree naming Levorek as the heir to the throne. The Emperor has hinted that he might do this, but hasn't yet done it and could die unexpectedly any day without getting around to it. Levorek does everything he can to please the Emperor and preserve absolute authority for the Emperor. Levorek has a strong interest in military and political affairs, but no actual military experience. In politics, however, he is an expert.
Krulmuk
Field Marshall, Imperial Army
nickname: "Vastluchesh" ("Bloodlust")
Krulmuk is the commander of the Imperial Army. He rose rapidly through the ranks and distinguished himself in battle fighting barbarians in the overseas provinces. He firmly believes that a military commander must lead from the front. He is a member of the Loyalist Faction at the Imperial Court and he strongly advocates expanding the imperial frontier and crushing dissent by force. He seems to enjoy combat a little too much, which is how he got his nickname.
Valast
nickname: "A Tamlish" ("The Sailor")
Grand Admiral, Imperial Navy
Valast is the commander of the Imperial Navy and is surprisingly young to hold such responsibility. Though the rest of the fleet is often in disrepair, his flagship, "Goddess of the Sea" is maintained in perfect condition with a crew of the best sailors in the known world. He truly enjoys sailing and seamanship to the point where he spends as little time as possible on land. He is usually absent from meetings of the Imperial Council for this reason. He is a member of the Reformist Faction at the Imperial Court.
Baland
Councilor (no specific portfolio)
nickname: "A Nerstuk" ("The Traitor")
Baland is the only member of the Imperial Council who openly supports the separatist faction. He has been imprisoned in the dungeon of the Imperial Castle for this, but the Emperor apparently forgot to officially remove him from the council so technically he is still a member though he is imprisoned for treason. Baland is the only member of the Imperial Council who is not of Zekresh ancestry. He is a member of one of the Kikali tribes.
No comments:
Post a Comment