The Ten

Long before the Incursions of Chaos, merchants, traders and sea captains had become Marienburg's real rulers. Having led the resistance to L'Anguille's occupation, they demanded a share of power, and they got it. Over time they accumulated more and more influence: first the barons were so in their debt that they could do little without prior approval, then they convinced the Emperor to place them in charge, and finally they told the Empire to "kiss the Chaos Moon". By the time of independence, the greatest among them had come to be known as the Merchant Houses, the Great Families, or simply the Ten.

The Directorate is the Executive Council of the Stadsraad, which meets in weekly sessions to make the major decisions affecting the Wasteland's affairs. Its meetings in the New Palace in Paleisbuurt are open to any citizen of Marienburg and its debates are a matter of public record. Decisions are made by a majority vote, with the Staadtholder voting in case of a tie. Its membership consists of the High Priests of Manaan, Verena, Shallya and Haendryk, the Rector of Baron Henryk's College and the heads of the ten wealthiest Merchant Houses. Its public image is of Marienburg's finest citizens working mightily in a dangerous world for the best interests of all the Wasteland's people.