The @Industrial Council is the most powerful governmental body in @The Unified Kingdom of @Arcanum, effectively running the nation as a de facto oligarchy despite the country's official name suggesting a monarchy.
It is composed of influential human and gnome industrialists who seized power after the ousting of the constitutional monarch, leading to the establishment of a technologically advanced state.
The Council is particularly influential in Tarant, the capital city, where it controls key infrastructure and economic ventures.
@Edward Willoughsby, a wealthy gnome businessman and Chairman of the Tarantian Industrial Council, is a prominent figure within this body, overseeing major initiatives such as negotiations with Caladon for its potential annexation.
The Council's influence extends beyond politics into the economy and society, with gnomes holding a disproportionately large role in its leadership, although the Council includes humans as well.
This concentration of power has led to significant social stratification, with the industrial revolution deepening inequalities among races and social classes, especially in major urban centers like Tarant.
The Council's actions are not without controversy; a notable sidequest reveals a secret eugenics program involving the breeding of half-ogres for use as bodyguards, though this is attributed to a specific group within the Council rather than the entire gnome race.
The Council's control over technology and industry has also contributed to the decline of traditional magic and the marginalization of other fantasy races, reflecting historical themes of industrialization and social change.
The @Derian-Ka is the ancient Order of the Dead, a secret society formed by the disciples of the great necromancer @Kerghan following his banishment.
They are known for practicing the arts of @Necromantic Black and are associated with the symbol of a bird with a snake's head.
The order was established in the years after @Kerghan's banishment, with the earliest possible creation date being shortly after his death, as confirmed by Joachim's journal.
The @Derian-Ka are linked to the Ancient Temple, which is also known as the Temple of the Derian-Ka and is the home of the decaying form of Torian Kel, a former warrior for the order.
The @Derian-Ka had a complex relationship with the Molochean Hand, an assassins' guild that originated as their own assassins but later split due to doctrinal differences. The split occurred after the Hand's leader, Trellian, discovered the atrocities committed by @Kerghan and led a war against the @Derian-Ka, ultimately breaking their alliance.
A theory suggests the @Molochean Hand was formed by a collaboration between the @Derian-Ka and descendants of the survivors of the destroyed city of Vendigroth (@Vendigroth Ruins), who brought their advanced technology and shared a common enemy in @Arronax.
The @Molochean Hand adopted the ancient symbol of Vendigroth, distinguishing themselves from the @Derian-Ka's gryphon symbol.