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.