The Exile Council governs the affairs of the population of Eslading’s exiles. It exists as a provisional authority, formed not to rule territory, but to preserve coordination, legitimacy, and internal order among those displaced from their former lives.
The Council consists of an odd number of members, selected from within the exile community. This structure prevents deadlock and reflects the group’s insistence on decision over debate. Members are chosen for experience, credibility, and the trust of those they represent rather than formal rank. Each seat carries equal weight.
From among their number, the Council elects a president. The president does not command the Council, nor do they vote in ordinary proceedings. Their role is to moderate discussion, set agendas, and represent the exiles in dealings with outside authorities. The president casts a vote only in the event of a tie, serving as a final arbiter rather than a governing voice.
The Council’s authority is practical rather than symbolic. It allocates resources, resolves disputes, and coordinates movement, security, and labor within the exile population. Its decisions focus on survival, cohesion, and forward planning rather than long-term governance. Legitimacy comes from function. If the Council fails to act, it loses relevance quickly.
The Exile Council endures because it reflects the condition of those it governs. It is temporary by design, restrained in authority, and structured to act decisively when uncertainty leaves no time for consensus.