Overview

The Council of Grain & Guard is the ruling body of Purskul, formed from the intersection of trade, agriculture, and martial strength. Established not by decree but by necessity, the Council emerged from generations of labor disputes, caravan raids, and noble neglect. Though Amn technically claims authority, Purskul answers to its own—and it is the Council that ensures grain moves, gates stay shut, and order remains.

Composed of caravan leaders, grain brokers, retired soldiers, and trade guild heads, the Council meets in the old granary keep at the city’s heart. There, amid ledger scrolls and maps of the Orc Road, they make decisions that shape the city’s future—whether doling out militia contracts, negotiating grain quotas, or managing tensions with Crimmor, Athkatla, and even Trademeet.

Structure and Leadership

The Council holds seven voting seats, divided evenly among Purskul’s two dominant spheres: Trade and Defense. The seventh “swing seat” belongs to a steward elected annually from among the city’s elders—usually a respected mediator, priest, or retired officer.

• Trade Seats: Held by grain consortium heads, auctioneers, and Dustyard Syndicate brokers. They control export quotas, trade licenses, and warehouse storage.
• Guard Seats: Occupied by former militia officers and commanders from companies like the Stonejaw Company. These members oversee security policy, justice enforcement, and mercenary contracts.
• The Steward: Currently Elarra Myntleaf, a silver-haired halfling and former Chauntean cleric. She often plays tie-breaker and conscience to the Council’s otherwise hard-nosed decisions.

While some whisper of bribery or favoritism behind closed doors, most Purskans view the Council as a stabilizing force—corruptible, perhaps, but local and accountable.

Goals and Influence

Internal Goals:

• Maintain control over city defense without relying on Athkatlan forces
• Regulate grain storage and exports to ensure winter survival and economic leverage
• Keep the peace between the halfling farmers and half-orc mercenaries, whose cultures often clash

External Goals:

• Secure recognition from larger merchant guilds without becoming beholden to them
• Undermine Crimmor’s bureaucratic grip on inland trade routes
• Bargain for better toll treatment from River Rat splinter groups or force a crackdown via mercenary diplomacy

The Council is pragmatic to its core—ideals rarely survive a bad harvest or a failed caravan. Still, their ambitions are not small. Many within the Council believe Purskul could become the primary grain hub of southern Amn, challenging Esmeltaran’s hold on official supply chains.

Relationships and Power Dynamics

Allied With:

• The Dustyard Syndicate – Though not always in lockstep, this trade confederation provides both coin and muscle to keep Purskul’s exports moving
• Stonejaw Company – Their half-orc leaders hold seats on the Council and ensure the gates remain secure
• The Temple of the Reaping Hand – Quietly supported as a stabilizing force for the farming population

Tensions With:

• The Thaeldorn (Crimmor) – Constant friction over trade inspections, tolls, and attempted enforcement of outside policy
• Athkatlan Noble Houses – Seen as parasites who ignored Purskul during its hardest years but now seek to “manage” its success
• Smaller Farming Collectives – Occasionally agitate for fairer prices or more voting representation on the Council

Practices and Reputation

The Council runs efficiently but unapologetically. Public meetings are rare—policy is hammered out behind doors and implemented with minimal notice. Those who thrive in Purskul know to adapt quickly and keep their ledgers clean.

Despite their rough edges, the Council has prevented riots, food shortages, and external takeovers for over three decades. In a region fraught with monsters, mercenaries, and meddling guilds, that’s more than most governments can claim.

Emblem

The Council’s seal is stamped on every official grain sack and caravan manifest:
A crossed stalk and spear behind a seven-spoked wagon wheel, rendered in copper on dyed canvas. This image is often branded into crates or flags flying from caravan leaders operating under Council charter.