16 replies to this topic

[SConrad]

I've been wondering a little bit about the Council of Six. What are they? What do they do? Who are they? Etc.

[Ragnar]

This is taken from the 'Lands of Intrigue' book:

The mysterious, crepe-shrouded faces of the Council of Six inspire respect and fear in those who manage to gain an audience with this body. The anonymity of the six leaders was paramount to establish peace 30 years ago, but the Council, like the Lords of Waterdeep, soon found that order was best maintained when people don't know who they can kill, bribe, or manipulate (especially in Amn, where a handshake deal without a palmed coin is tantamount to an insult). The deception is now law, and to write or speak the name or reveal the identity of a Council member results in slow torture and death, usually before the eyes of the Council. Few ever see the inside of the drab, windowless, fortresslike Council House in Athkatla, an extremely old building dating from the days of the Shoon. Extensive dungeons and tunnels lie beneath it, leading all over the city and to estates in the countryside. The members of the Council from highest to lowest rank are the Meisarch, the Tessarch, the Namarch, the Iltarch, the Pommarch, and the Dahaunarch. Each rank's heir is the following rank, so the death of the Meisarch moves everyone up one rank, and a new Dahaunarch is elected to join the Council from the ranks of the powerful houses of Amn (though a new Dahaunarch is not always from Athkatla, which would surprise many an Amnian who believe this city to be the pinnacle of success). The Meisarch is the primary speaker for the Council and his seat is subtly perceived as the senior, leader's position. Still, despite the deference to the experience and craftiness of the Meisarch, each of the six has important roles to perform within the government, as noted below. Though the Council's membership has changed dramatically of late, Amn has only had 11 rulers in 30 years. Strong rule, steady trade, and peace supports the practices of the Council. The following are the past and present Council of Six members. Bear in mind that extraordinary measures are needed for anyone to ferret out the Six's identities. This information is provided for Dungeon Masters to establish hidden villains and plot threads.

. Meisarch Erlranther Alibakkar (LE hm F11):Though in his late 50s, the Meisarch still cuts an impressive figure (provided he tightens his belt sash to pull in his growing belly), just as he did when he was an active caravan organizer and fighting man. One of two original Council members to survive 30 years of rule, Erlranther rose from his initial rank as the first Namarch up to the Meisarch's seat.

. Tessarch Phaan Colwyvv (CE hm T5):One of two surviving members of the original Council of Six, the Tessarch.s cold and detached manner make him the hardest to predict or understand of any of the Council. He is the Council member who best knows (and least trusts) the current Iltarch, having worked with him when a Shadow Thief. As a youth, Phaan was a spy for the Shadow Thieves in Athkatla, and there gained a reputation for subtlety and clandestine
action; he was mockingly referred to as "Shar's Gallant" (after the evil goddess, Shar).

. Namarch Qar Jysstev (NE hm F0):The Namarch is currently the only Council figure fully embracing the ideal that the Council exists to keep trade moving in Amn. He hopes to manipulate the import strategies of Amn to move more trade through Eshpurta and north to Priapurl, rather than run it along the safer routes to the coast, since Maztican goods draw more profit at isolated cities.

. Iltarch Rhinnom Dannihyr (CE hm dual W4/T20):The Grandmaster of the Shadow Thieves has connived and tricked his way into not only being one of the rulers of Amn but also the leader of the only group the other rulers fear. This young, muscular, dashing figure has the looks and manners of a valorous hero despite his vile nature. His vanity forces him to keep himself magically young, so he seems to be about 30 when he is actually 132 years old.
. Pommarch Tyrda Q.Helvor (N hef W14):The first woman among the Council of Six, the newest Pommarch was "suggested" by the freshman Iltarch as a suitable candidate. Though she does not realize the extent of the manipulations, Tyrda does know that she is on the Council primarily to act as the government's control over the Cowled Wizards. The human-appearing Tyrda seems to be in her early 30s but, like the Iltarch, is decades older than that.

. Dahaunarch Pehllus Tanislove (CN hm C7.Lliira):The youngest Council member, Pehllus is a curiosity among his five associates. He is by far the best looking among the higher
family lords and Council members; his jet-black hair, kept in a tight braid, trails well past his shoulders, and his muscular form is clad in his church's usual skin-tight red and orange silks. The second unorthodox choice of the Council for membership, the young Pehllus had been a hedonistic party-goer and cleric of Lliira, funded by his family's gem mine north of Keczulla. With his marriage to the equally controversial "party-girl priestess" Vyma Gheldieg (NG hf C5L.Liira)

If you want any other information on them just say :thumb:

[SConrad]

So they're mostly evil?

Thanks Ragnar!

[BobTokyo]

Worth noting that the BGII Council is probably not the same as the "Official" council. In the official game the Cowled Wizards are not part of the city government, and magic items are not sold on every corner.

[Feanor]

magic items are not sold on every corner.

Ehhh... what do you mean, Bob ? There is a restriction for selling magic items in Athkatla ?

[seanas]

it's not even remotely canon, i know, but i've always been struck by the way the governance of athkatla mirrored that of republican florence during the renaissance.

florence was run by a secretive group known as the 'council of lord priors', of whom there were nine. however, as decisions on it required a 2/3 majority, it was known as the council of six... the memebership of this council of six was confidential, and those who put the information about would be placed at the mercy of the police council, known as the Eight - whose methods were not nearly as nice as the cowled wizards (although they *did* believe in the power of exile, like the wizards clearly do...).

unlike the BGII Council of Six (and perhaps more interestingly), the florence council of lord priors and the eight were elected (selected by random from a pool of available citizens) for two-month terms of office. so: the exact membership of the 'six' and the eight was a closely guarded secret, but it was well known that persnage x had been a lord prios at some point, and was eligible to be so again, should his (male only membership of both) name be drawn out of the hat again. the eight (and their retinues) were the only people in florence allowed to bear arms without express permission. the lord priors were supprted by various advisory bodies and general assemblies, although ultimate authority resided with (and was wielded by) the lord priors.

eligiblity to be selected as a lord prior was open to more or less all males of sufficiently aristocratic families, after approval by one of the 'scrutiny' commissions, whose responsibility was to make sure that only suitable men (again, women weren't allowed formal membership of these bodies) were eligible to be selected for public office.

so, an oligarchy, sure, but a far more stable (and interesting and innovative) council than the autocracratic council of FR lore. [so what's the relationship? well, i reckon the council of six was lifted directly from renaissance florence, except that selctability went the way of the fest-halls...]

[Bane]

I guess that's why they allow a temple of Talos within the city, but then again how does Nalia become one? Also would the order of the radiant heart still serve them if they new this (Helmites would ).

[Feanor]

Order of the Radiant Heart does not serve them (I suppose it's about Council of the Six,right, Felstorm) at all. They could work together if they have the same purpose, but nothing more. The Order does not depend on any authority in Athkatla, it's an independent structure (just like the Templar Order in Middle Ages).

[NiGHTMARE]

In addition to what was detailed above, Pehllus Tanislove is a member of the Knights of the Shield, a group of mostly neutral aligned members which has a large amount of power and influence within both Amn and Tethyr.

However, the "mostly neutral" members don't include the Shield Council, the secret rulers of the Knights of the Shield (most lesser Knights don't even know they exist). In addition, even the majority of the Shield Council don't realize that their true leader is the evil god Gargauth.

Edited by NiGHTMARE, 10 August 2004 - 07:59 AM.

[Feanor]

In addition to what was detailed above, Pehllus Tanislove is a member of the Knights of the Shield, a group which has a large amount of power and influence within both Amn and Tethyr.

I remember such a character in BG2, but he was evil. How can he be a knight ?

[BobTokyo]

magic items are not sold on every corner.

Ehhh... what do you mean, Bob ? There is a restriction for selling magic items in Athkatla ?

Magic items are too common in BGII as compared to the official Forgotten Realms, especially in a place like Athkathla where magic is legally restricted.

The point of all of this is that the government and ecconomics of BGII's Athkathla are not the same as the official Athkathla; it's a home brew setting.

[Feanor]

Magic items are too common in BGII as compared to the official Forgotten Realms, especially in a place like Athkathla where magic is legally restricted.

And not only magic items. The rate of high-level encounters is just ridiculous, IMO. B)

[NiGHTMARE]

In addition to what was detailed above, Pehllus Tanislove is a member of the Knights of the Shield, a group which has a large amount of power and influence within both Amn and Tethyr.

I remember such a character in BG2, but he was evil. How can he be a knight ?

A knight isn't the same thing as a paladin, it's just a title rather than a profession. Anyone of any alignment, race or class could be a knight, depending on what god, government or person the order of knights served.

Edited by NiGHTMARE, 10 August 2004 - 08:08 AM.

[Bane]

So if Amn has a lot of evil leaders does that make it a generally evil nation (so why would they allow paladins etc to set up there), is the order of the radiant heart mainly based in Amn and how can those guys serving gargauth and not realising it must be pretty dumb.

Sorry for all the questions.

ps. what about Nalia, how can she become one of the council

[Andyr]

Garguath is meant to be incredibly cunning. I don't think it makes the nation Evil, just means the leaders are self - serving. As many people think of today's politicians.

[BobTokyo]

ps. what about Nalia, how can she become one of the council

1) It's not the same Council.

2) Nalia has more than enough power by herself to slaughter the Council and all of their personal troops by the end of TOB, and with her allies she could reduce Athkathla to a smoking ruin. I think they would see reason.

[Feanor]

So if Amn has a lot of evil leaders does that make it a generally evil nation

In general, if you are a leader, I don't think you can be completely good.

1) It's not the same Council.

Yep, the Amn leadership is quite different in BG2 than in official AD&D.

Edited by Feanor, 11 August 2004 - 12:41 AM.