Small Council

The Small Council of Skyss, also known as the Keeper's Council, is the primate administrative body responsible for the day-to-day governance and executive oversight of the Kingdom of Skyss. Composed of senior civil servants and high-ranking officials, the council manages the realm's logistics, intelligence, and resources, providing essential support to King Thirfinn. While the Council of Electors handles broad constitutional matters such as succession, the Small Council focuses on the detailed administration required to maintain the kingdom's peace and prosperity.

The council convenes within the King's Palace in Kronstadt, specifically in the birch-panelled Small Council room. Members are seated in nine ornately carved, high-backed chairs arranged around a polished wood table. The sessions are typically chaired by the Clerk of the Privy, who manages the agenda and coordinates the various departments represented at the table .

The council’s remit encompasses several critical domains:

• Intelligence Gathering: The Secretary of the Board of Trade provides the council with high-level briefings on international trade flows and geopolitical shifts, such as the Cottalemnese crisis of 774 AM.
• Judicial Record-Keeping: Through the Keeper of the Rolls, the council monitors sentencing trends and maintains the legal precedents established by the King's Justices.
• Logistics and Infrastructure: The Keeper of the Dockyard ensures that the Skyssian naval patterns and shipbuilding schedules are maintained to support maritime hegemony.
• Exchequer and Treasury: Financial oversight and the management of the royal archives are handled by the Keeper of the Cloth and the Keeper of the Treasures.

The council is frequently tasked with selecting and preparing ceremonial items for foreign dignitaries, a process that reflects the state's interest in standardisation and soft power. In 774 AM, the council deliberated on gifts for the wedding of King Alasdair V of Dael Riata, considering rare items from the King's Treasures such as:

• The Travel Bureau: A fine example of travel furniture with secret compartments, captured by the Navy from the Queen of Bernicia.
• Bjorn Arneson's State Sword: A naval masterpiece featuring a mother of pearl handle and gold inlays.
• Queen Flora’s Crown: A sapphire-set circlet containing “Jorunn’s eye,” an amulet used for scrying.

The following table lists the main offices of the Small Council and the individuals holding these posts as of 774 AM:

• King Thirfinn: The elective monarch who oversees the council.

• King's Palace: The seat of the council's authority.
• Kronstadt: The administrative heart of the kingdom.
• House of Justice: The department recorded and overseen by the Keeper of the Rolls.