The Obsidian Council

Each Dhe'nar settlement or outpost has its own system of government. Without exception, every settlement has a Highlord. The various other titles vary depending on the size and composition of the particular outpost. Most of these villages attempt to emulate the High Council of Sharath, with varying degrees of success. The Obsidian Tower, near the coastal town of Wehnimer's Landing, is no exception. The Obsidian Council rules the Tower with its own imitation of the government of Sharath.

The Obsidian Council is composed of 5 members: The Emissary, from the Temple Caste, The Essence, a Warlock, the Warlord, from the Warrior Caste, the Balance, which is a chair open to any Caste, and the Obsidian Highlord. The Highlord chairs the Council, and may be of any Caste. Each chair on the Council receives a vote on all matters, except the Highlord, who only votes in a tie. Each Council position has no set duration.

If a Dhe'nar wishes a seat on the Council, he/she makes their wishes known. If the Council approves the challenge, a time is set forth for the Decision of Fate. During this ritual, both the challenger and the chair-holder are locked inside a special room used only for the purpose of the Deciding.

No one knows what goes on inside the chamber. What is known, however, is that there are no disagreements when the Deciding is finished and the Chamber of Fate’s door is opened. The one who leaves the chamber alive is granted the seat. The Obsidian Highlord's seat on the council can also be won in this sort of challenge, the only difference being that the challenger must first hold one of the other seats on the Council.

The Obsidian Council also acts as a court for legal matters. Both plaintiff and defendant will appear before the assembled Council to plead their case. The accused is considered guilty unless proven innocent. Once a decision has been reached as to the guilt of the defendant, the Highlord will pass sentence upon them, which can range from a public lashing to banishment to death.

The position and power of the chair-holder differs with each Caste. In some cases, the chair-holder is merely a spokesperson for their Caste. It is not unheard of for the chair-holder to be the "leader" of the Caste, although this is infrequent at best.

Regardless of the various leaders within each Caste, the Obsidian Council is the foremost ruling party in Dhe'nar society. All decisions descending from this panel are as law, and are respected by the Dhe'nar society as a whole.

The only decisions the Obsidian Council does not participate in are those regarding breeding. Those decisions are left to the Temple Caste. They have not been challenged and the Obsidian Council has stated emphatically that it will not interfere with the priestesses’ managing of the bloodlines.

This system of government has been duplicated in every Dhe’nar settlement. However, the Highlord of Sharath will holds sway over all Dhe’nar. He and the Obsidian Council of Sharath are the ultimate, supreme authority of Dhe’nar law.

It is important to note that the Dhe’nar view government, as well any sort of politics, as a necessity. They fully remember the follies of the past and have designed their government to prevent any single caste from usurping the power structures and causing a second Fall.

The members of the Council receive no more respect, wealth, or recognition than they had before joining the Council once they do join. They are accorded, among the Dhe’nar, the exact same measures of respect they earned before attaining their Council seats.

The one exception to this is the Highlord. Although he does not receive any sort of recompense for his duties, he is the symbol of Dhe’nar power, the current pinnacle of Dhe’nari development. He is the king, governor, and role model to the entire Dhe’nar people.

One final note: Male and female Dhe’nar are equally likely to fill any seat on the Obsidian Council, even the seat of Highlord.