White Spire Consulate
Overview:
Foriedy is governed by a council of the most powerful trade organizations on the Island. The council consists of 10 seats, each taken by the head of one of the trade houses. According to council bylaw, additional seats cannot be created and therefore trade organizations will fight for a position on the council. Direct combat is not allowed, as it is not in the Island’s best interest. Instead the council seeks to promote trade and growth by giving seats to the highest contributors to the Vault of Sacrifice.
The Consulate is responsible for overseeing the people of the Island and maintaining trade. They determine the laws and dictate day to day policies. Citizens of the Island that hope to present issues or concerns before the Consulate must first request to be heard by the Seat of a House under which they have sworn allegiance. That Seat Holder is then responsible for bringing an issue before the Consulate to be voted on. In special cases an individual may petition the Consulate directly in order to present an issue, but they are not required to see anyone outside of a Resoral Poll.
Consulate Seats
For another trade house to gain a seat, an existing house would have to lose it. Alternately, the council may vote another house out if that house has committed crimes against the Island. Failure to contribute to the Vault of Sacrifice will cause a house to lose their seat as well. Losing a seat on the council removes a trade house from power, and they will need to align themselves with one of the Seat Houses or risk further status demotion. It is possible for a trade house to lose all rights on Foriedy depending on the cause for the loss of the seat.
Each Seat is granted a single vote in the Council, making it necessary to create alliances and work together to make sure that a house’s interests are kept at the forefront. All trade regulation, laws, and position appointments are made by the Council.
The Resoral Poll
To best grasp the needs of the people on Foriedy the Consulate instituted the Resoral Poll. The Poll is conducted three times per year, beginning on the first day of the month in Greentide, Sunreign, and Gray Cloud. It lasts 2 weeks, during which the citizens of Foriedy are encouraged to vote on and provide opinions on issues that the Consulate is addressing. Citizens are also encouraged to sit in on the White Spire’s Consul Hall meetings so that they might better grasp the pressures and needs of their home.
Common issues include taxation, trade restrictions or easements, and general concerns regarding the status of the Vault of Sacrifice. Voters must be Licensed Traders, or they must be able to prove Citizenship on the Island. Citizenship is granted to those who have lived on Foreidy for 8 or more years and is proven by taking a grueling written exam designed to weed out all but the most learned individuals. Women and men are treated equally in regard to the vote so long as they have been proven by the test or hold a Trader’s License.
By request during the Resoral Poll individuals may publicly present ideas or concerns before the Consulate Seats. This can be a vital opportunity for opening dialog regarding new issues and policies, or it can be political suicide for the presenter. Directly demeaning or praising a specific House before the public is a good way to make quick friends or ruthless enemies. The Consulate Houses typically expect participants to uphold the ideals of the Houses they are aligned with.
Consulate Roster:
Myranda Corvosa of Great House Corvosa.
Zephom Veil of Great House Xemnon.
Markus Telraed III of Great House Telraed.
Lharana Aldemon of Trade House Aldemon.
Warren “the Eyeless” of Trade House Morgan.
Gel-Krugas Adderhand of Trade House Ahn Zeis.
Burt Malcom of Trade House Malcom.
Mortimer Folswell of Trade House Folswell.
Pavel "The Many Blade" of Trade House Sol.
Fvott Diemeda del Raddenheim Uhnt Behrust of Trade House Diemeda.