While Oremis as a whole (nominally) answers to the Bascan monarchy, it is first and foremost ruled by House Volaans, whose family head is called the Duke of Volaans (Or., el dúka de Voláns). They are direct legitimate descendants of Reimundo di Volaans, known in history as “the Architect of Oremis.” Prior to his arrival Oremis was a loosely-drawn territory of covens and voidborn who happened to live in the same area.
Volaans was the son of a well-connected military family from the west who wanted to make his name from out of the shadows of his family, especially his older brother. A wizard who felt emboldened and empowered by the natural magic of his surroundings, Reimundo married a witch from one of the extant Oremisian covens and decided to make his home there. When the threat of southern invasion loomed again, Volaans, whose father had been a general, made himself indispensible to the Oremeños by sharing tactics and strategies with a martially inexperienced assortment of witches, healers, and erstwhile soldiers. To military historians, this marks the formation of what would become the blueprint for Oremis’ transformation into the most powerful iteration of the Church militant in the region.
For the Oremisian victory, Reimundo di Volaans was honoured as a hero. As a result for his decisive win in the Battle of the Taliár, he was unanimously chosen by a council of elders and archwitches to lead the new, burgeoning city into its bright future. Known as the “duca di Volaans” in his home county, Volaans continued to use his title in Basca and fashioned Oremis into a dutchy as soon as he was recognised. When Oremis was later incorporated into the Kingdom of Basca, the uniting monarch allowed it to keep its ducal status, so long as Oremis swore fealty to the crown and paid tribute to the throne.
Across the North, Oremis is known to be under the rule of el bízre de Auremys, or “the Viceroy of Oremis” — a title that was bestowed upon the Duke of Volaans by the monarch, who sat in far-away Castíl. Native Oremeños do not use or recognise this title, and have only ever acknowledged the head of their city as el dúka.
House Volaans continues to rule over the city today, though their power has become severely limited due to House Edenveil’s rise to power.
Reimundo di Volaans honoured the council of elders and archwitches that named him the city’s leader by establishing la Conseixar de Maïestres. The Council of Elders did not have political power, per se, but served in a similar capacity to their functions in their covens: as sage advisers who could help Volaans steer Oremis into further flourishing prosperity.
Today as it was at its foundation, the Council seats remain appointed by the duke, but are also hereditary. That is, a duke may keep his predecessor’s choice of councilmembers, or elect an entirely new council upon his ascension to the title; however, only direct descendants of the first twelve councilmembers may sit in the council.
Though the Council does not have actual legal jurisdiction in Oremis, it is considered impractical to ignore their counsel, and most dukes have abided by Council rulings; as the Council is chosen from some of Oremis’ oldest covens, they are, more often than not, commonly in communion with the desires of the city at large, especially its magical population. More defiant or purportedly self-sustaining dukes who found themselves at odds with Council opinion also found themselves against popular opinion, which proved difficult in gaining support for laws or campaigns when the time came.
The Council is not a consistently sitting body. In certain eras, years could pass before a duke calls the Council to session. However, a councillor is always a councillor, regardless of whether or not they have been called to a council session following their appointment. The Council convenes at Castíxo San Burgón, where they are housed until the session is adjourned by the duke. Only the duke may convene a council session, but in times of war or in case of another extreme necessity when the duke is incapacitated, his heir and then his spouse — in that order — may also call on the council.
In order of primacy, the twelve Council families and the covens from which they descend are:
Aujena Descended from the Coven of Aujena.
Burgón Descended from the Coven of Burgón.
Imorandi Descended from the Coven of Ymorandi.
Buendïa Descended from the Coven of Buendïa.
Coronado Descended from the Coven of Azavras.
Fernandez Descended from the Coven of Xhaen.
Irremenza Descended from the Coven of Mezad.
Orosaia Descended from the Coven of Orosaia.
Edava Descended from the Coven of Edava.
Ibarra Descended from the Coven of Belçeira.
Saracena Descended from the Coven of Saracena.
House Saracena are a relatively new addition to the Conseixar. Prior to the extinction of family, House Mondexar had a seat upon the Council of Elders, and in fact, its last male member, Afonso Mondexar, had a hand in assisting the duke at the time to choose the next family to take their place. The family’s legacy lives on, however, as House Edenveil, following the marriage of Afonso’s daughter Isabela to the future Demas I, are their cognatic descendants.