¶ City Council
Efficient. Democratic. Mostly Unexploded.
Slogan: "Keeping Calad Bar buggering on since time immemorial."
Unofficial Slogan: "Bringing order to madness, one passive-aggressive memo at a time."
Motive: Prevent total anarchy, enable partial anarchy, and pretend they aren't being run by an elderly Hielan Coo with no official title.
Unofficial Mascot: A slightly singed clipboard with six different approval stamps and a teacup ring, often spotted clutched by a bewildered intern sprinting between departments.
¶ Overview
The City Council of Calad Bar is a democratic council in theory, and a benevolent autocracy in practice. A collection of department heads, experts, oddballs, and one autognome with a rabbit, the council technically governs the city. Everyone knows the real power lies with Khelda Braenna Wyrdsdottir, who has no official title, no listed department, and absolutely no interest in changing that. As long as her colleagues pretend to be in charge, she's perfectly content to let them do their jobs — with occasional "suggestions" and the occasional death glare. The council is surprisingly effective, thanks to a careful balance of expertise, passive-aggressive memos, and a healthy fear of the Khelda's bone cane.
¶ Council Members
Khelda Braenna Wyrdsdottir – No Department (Too busy being in charge)
An elderly Hielan Coo matriarch with grey fur, a bent back, and a cane carved from someone's leg bone — though she's never said whose. Braenna runs the council by not running it, steering decisions with silence, eyebrows, and perfectly timed cups of tea. Rescuer of orphans, slayer of nonsense, and survivor of assassination attempts, she is respected, feared, and adored in equal measure. She leads through pragmatism, rarely interferes directly, and never raises her voice — because she doesn't need to. Everyone knows better. She is held together by cheerfulness, spite, and just enough kindness to make people feel guilty about crossing her.
Gullbert of the Dunes – Department of Housing
A male Gullkin with windswept feathers, a distracted air, and a past life spent chasing butterflies across rooftops. Gullbert has a poetic view of architecture and once suggested building "sky nests" for underprivileged citizens. His office smells faintly of kelp, and he talks about zoning laws like they're philosophical puzzles. He is universally liked but rarely listened to.
Gertrunda Flint – Department of Finance
A female Giff with a head for numbers and a wallet full of grudges. Gertrunda balances the city's books like she used to balance cannon recoil — decisively and with earplugs. She wears pince-nez spectacles and carries three calculators of increasing aggression. She once created a predictive tax model that outsmarted a divination spell, and she still resents being told it was "unromantic."
Detective Howlford – Department of Health
A male canine humanoid, formerly a detective known for solving cold cases and cold fevers. He applies investigation techniques to public health, treating illnesses like suspects and diseases like organised crime. Wears a trench coat even in heatwaves, and keeps pigeons on his balcony "for surveillance." His reports are peppered with metaphors and mildly threatening footnotes.
Grenga Deeppick – Department of Construction
A female dwarf who speaks like a landslide and thinks building codes are adorable suggestions. Grenga spent decades mining asteroids and can identify any stone by licking it. She insists on inspecting foundations personally, often by punching them. Her helmet is older than some nations, and her pickaxe has a name. It's Steve.
Morven MacMead – Department of Justice
A male Hielan Coo with a mane like a thundercloud and a legal philosophy that involves whisky, wisdom, and a good shoulder charge. He delegates most distillery work to his son and a druid, so he can focus on justice and community debates. Calm, rumbling, and deeply fair — unless you insult his sheep or his distillery.
Ploo – Department of Culture and Sports
A translucent female Plasmoid who changes colour based on mood and pranks. A martial arts master with a fondness for interpretive theatre, she organises city-wide dodgeball tournaments and avant-garde slime operas. She adores Blarp, has declared herself his "number-one fan", and once fought a mime to a draw using only fluid dynamics and sarcasm.
Model A. "Modi" Diplomatica – Department of Economy
An autognome who was once the pride of Eberron's diplomatic design. Now? She crunches numbers and collects lobbying complaints, which she files alphabetically and ignores out of principle. Speaks twelve languages, none of them emotionally. Keeps a rabbit named Hopsy as both companion and emotional support entity. Once audited the entire Thoril delegation out of boredom.
Fizzlewatt Tinkton – Department of Science
A gnome with a beard that occasionally sparks and a mind that never stops. Formerly of Eberron Inc., then the Barking GNU, Fizzlewatt is the champion of dangerous ideas that almost work. Loathed by corporate lobbyists, beloved by street inventors, and occasionally banned from laboratories. He tinkers, he teaches, and he once blew up a filing cabinet in the name of curiosity.