The Government of Zarifa is ruled by a council of merchant princes, elected from the city's most influential families. This council ensures the city's prosperity through trade agreements and political alliances. However, beneath this veneer of cooperation, rivalries simmer, and secret alliances shift like sands.
The Council of Winds is composed of seven members, each a leader of one of the city's most powerful merchant families. These families have accumulated their wealth and influence through generations of trade, exploration, and, occasionally, piracy. Membership on the council is hereditary, though a family can lose its seat if it becomes bankrupt or loses its influence over trade.
While the seats are hereditary, the process of selecting the head of each family to sit on the council involves intricate family politics. Succession disputes are common, often resolved through alliances, marriages, or, in rare cases, more clandestine methods.
Each council member oversees a specific aspect of Zarifa's governance and economy, such as trade, defense, foreign affairs, treasury, infrastructure, magical affairs, and public order. They work together to ensure the city's prosperity, security, and the maintenance of its vital trade routes. However, their personal and family interests often influence their decisions, leading to a delicate balance of power within the council.
The Council of Winds is characterized by a constant jockeying for power and influence among its members. Alliances are formed and betrayed, and decisions often result from compromise or coercion rather than consensus. The council's effectiveness in governance thus fluctuates based on the current dynamics among its members.
Outside of the council, the merchant guilds wield significant influence in Zarifa. While they do not have direct seats on the council, they can lobby and bribe council members to enact policies in their favor. The guilds' power comes from their control over specific industries and trades, making them indispensable to the city's economy and, by extension, its rulers.
Zarifa's strategic position also makes it a target for foreign powers seeking to influence its politics. Espionage and diplomacy are tools frequently employed by neighboring states and empires to sway council decisions. The council members themselves are not above using foreign agents to their advantage, adding another layer of complexity to the city's political landscape.
Rumors persist of a Shadow Council a group of influential figures from the underworld, retired politicians, and powerful sorcerers who operate behind the scenes. This group is said to influence decisions through more covert means, ensuring that the city's policies also serve their interests. Whether this group truly exists or is merely a conspiracy theory remains a topic of hushed debate in the taverns and salons of Zarifa.