The Council of Freehaven
Politics and intrigue
The politics of Freehold are complex, far more so
than the simple system of governance would imply. The
forty-five member council is responsible for setting
tariffs, maintaining roads and ensuring the readiness
of the militia against outsiders. Membership is
proportionate by race, with each race responsible for
sending its own representatives.
Citizens are entitled to one vote for each member
their race has on the council. For instance, humans
gain nine votes each. Voters may divvy up their votes
however they wish, from one vote for each of nine
candidates to all the votes for one. Seats are
assigned to whoever gets the most total votes. As a
result, it is possible for someone with a small but
fanatical following to harness enough votes to get a
seat.
One third of the Council is up for election in any
given year.
What follows is a list of the current council
membership:
Seat Race Representative Factions (see below)
1 H Macree Dunath Divider, Rampart,
Colonial, Centrist,
Elite, Expansion,
Fiscal
2 H Hessah Feelan Egalitary, Unitary,
Preserver
3 H Trey Regas Divider, Preserver
4 H Kaya Fordwrath Egalitary, Rampart
5 H Jeremiah Oddswain Divider, Unitary,
Expansion
6 H Jakal Mayer Elitist, Unitary,
Preserver, Fiscal
Centrist
7 H Tonan Dunath Egalitary, Unitary,
Preserver
8 H Gerod Forgetongue Egalitary, Rampart,
Fiscal, Centrist
9 H Hes Seera Elitist, Divder,
Unitary, Rampart,
Mancer
10 D Golath-Mak Makain Unitary, Rampart,
Centrist
11 D Derva-Ton Shakh Egalitary, Expansion
12 D Werth-Nen Danmar-Con Divider, Unitary,
Rampart, Fiscal
13 D Regna-Men Tood Egalitary, Ram, Fisc
14 D Terva-Von Peth Egal, Ram
15 D Dorga-Lak Mirka-Sen Div, Exp, Fisc,
Cent
16 D Renta the Unshorn Egal, Ram, Pres
17 D Kaleth-Lak Rong Egal, Unite, Cent
18 D Gerrot-Pen Sievva-Ton Div, Unite, Fisc
19 E Elliarrd Moonshadow Egal, Pres
20 E Tialsha Brightrain Egal, Exp, Ram, Pres
21 E Wennerre Farsight Div, Col
22 E Sinthea Binder Egal, Pres, Mancer
23 E Ashoona Warder Div, Pres
24 E Preasseth Hearthstone Div, Fisc
25 E Lissenth Fireheart Div, Ram
26 E Eerlia Walker Egal, Pres
27 E Mallanno Goldeneye Elite, Unite, Fisc,
Col, Cent
28 G Driggor Firewater Div
29 G Sint Bellyburst Div, Cent
30 G Klik Backstrike Egal, Ram
31 G Allek Shrewdeal Elite, Fisc
32 G Tannakk Moneybags Elite, Fisc
33 G Phlit Direrider Div, Unite, Exp, Ram
34 G Willet Farseeker Egal, Pres
35 G Quint Exp, Pres
36 G Likkap Manywife Unite, Cent
37 K Talek Gent Egal, Unite, Fisc
38 K Prek Filla Unite, Ram, Exp, Fisc, Col
39 K Thilka Ren Div, Elite, Unite,
Ram, Pres
40 N Trinka Manet Egal, Pres
41 N Winnat Brighan Egal, Pres
42 N Selt Feetrop Elite, Unite, Fisc
43 O Axga the Seawise Ram, Col, Cent
44 R Sizz'zz Mao'ter Div, Exp, Fisc,
Mancer, Col
45 L Glibupplug Egal, Ram, Pres
Factions in Freehold
There are several political factions in Freehold, and
the voting system almost guarantees that most will have at
least one representative on the council. Indeed, many of
the factions are single-issue, and thus most Council
members belong to more than one group.
Simply belonging to the same faction does not necessarily
mean that two members will vote the same way. For
instance, many Divisionists are simply racists using an
ideology of "cultural preservation" to cover their real
motives. Others truly believe that some degree of
enclaving is needed to prevent a loss of uniqueness and
diversity. The former subgroup often proposes legislation
that would favor just one race (their own). The latter
will oppose such measures on ethical grounds.
Likewise, not all persons espousing a philosophy actually
believe in it. Many are hypocrites, while some have an
ulterior motive. There may even be a case or two of
blackmail.
The factions are detailed below. Included in the
descriptions are possible motives, and likely supporters.
Divisionist
This faction believes, for any number of reasons, that
the races mix too freely inside the city. They would like
to see racial enclaves established within each district,
thus preventing the erosion of cultures that can occur by
unrestricted mixing.
Often, members of this faction feel that their race
suffers in some way by being forced to associate with the
other races. For instance, most elven Divisionists
complain about the use of elven concubines by wealthy
humans.
Many priests of Race Totems espouse this philosophy.
Elitists
The unfailingly wealthy Elitists support further
divisions along economic lines, proposing that beggars be
banned from most areas of economic or political activity.
While there is not much sympathy for this viewpoint,
proponents occasionally score points by talking about the
Bloodgate riots that rippped through the city years ago,
when violence and looting claimed almost five hundred
lives.
The elitists have strong support from the Temple of
Tufrone.
Egalitarians
These proponents of equality oppose both Divisionist and
Elitist policies. Furthermore, they would like to see more
support given to the poorer districts. Some would also
like to see the council apportionment system changed, to
give more voice to smaller racial concentrations.
Naturally, the Temple of Vegfiro is an ardent supporter
of this viewpoint. Public sympathy is high for this
faction, and they currently comprise the single most
heavily-represented faction on the Council.
More radical members of this party have even proposed
eliminating the Districts, or at least tearing down the
walls dividing the city's interior. These extremists do
not share the level of support given to their moderate
brethern.
Unitarians
The Unitarians desire an end to the district-by-district
lawmaking that has caused so much trouble for those
battling the various criminal organizations. They want a
single, unified militia for the entire city.
The Temple of Trocept is a vocal supporter of this group.
Expansionists
This faction wants Freehaven develop militarily so that
it can begin to take control of the surrounding territory,
particularly the woods to the west and the farmlands to the
south.
This group is definitely a "strange bedfellows"
alliance, as many of the members have decidedly different
ideas about how control should be acquired, and what should
be done with it.
Ramparts
Another faction supporting a strong military, especially
a large naval force, Ramparts are interested in defending
the city, rather than expanding territorial control.
In particular, they advocate hunting down the various
outlaw and pirate bands that strike at the traders who
travel so frequently through the area, and setting up
patrols on the roads and sea routes.
Preservers
The environmentally-minded Preservers seek to stop any
activity that they see as overly harmful to the
various ecosystems surrounding Freehaven.
In particular, they fight to keep laws against polluting
the harbor on the books, and oppose any attempts at gaining
dominion over the western forests, which they feel would
encourage increased logging.
Priests of Ruffalonna are heavily involved in this
effort, and receive a lot of support from the Children of
the Unicorn.
Fiscals
Fiscals support increased trade as the best way to
improve the city's condition. They seek lower tariffs,
better trade agreements, and other concessions to the
merchants and traders of Freehold.
More extreme members would also like to see bans on the
few contraband substances lifted, as well as fewer
restrictions on fraudulent business practices. The most
extreme wing of the faction (which has never gained more
than a single seat on the Council) seeks the abolishment of
the ban on the slave trade.
Again, this effort is strongly supported by followers of
Tufrone.
Mancers
This faction argues that the current restrictions on the
schools of Necromancy and Conjuration are too strict and
arbitrary. They have repeatedly pressed for greater
freedom for Wizards, on the grounds of "intellectual
freedom".
While small in number, the support they garner from the
city's magically adept population makes them hard to
completely ignore. Furthermore, this is one of the few
factions to receive the support of the Temples of both
Thilg and Symeter.
Centrists
Centrists want the entire council system of government
replaced with a more powerful, smaller ruling body,
possibly a single ruler. This group has a number of
supporters, but is less effective than its size would
indicate, due to differences in motives and ideas about
what form the replacement government should take.
Colonials
Having failed to learn from their own history, the
Colonials would like to see Freehaven as the central power
of a new empire. While most have no objections to seizing
the territory around the city, they also advocate sending
explorers to claim lands currently unoccupied.
Moderates of this faction would seek uninhabited islands
and regions of Chiar. Extreme Colonials, however, would
actually seek to invade territories currently considered
autonomous.
Preemptives
This faction believes that it is only a matter of time
before Icescha Fae's emporer decides to try and retake the
city. They argue that the best hope for preventing this
lies in attacking Icescha Fae first.
This faction has a highly unstable base of support, and
its size is usully in direct proportion to the strength of
language found in Imperial decrees about the "renegade
colony of Warmwater".
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