Privy Council

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A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation on how to exercise their executive authority, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on affairs of state.

There also existed a Privy Council in Tortall. It had the power to pass laws in the third century in the Human Era and Gershom of Haryse, the Lord Provost, had enemies in the council who permanently tried to infringe his powers. Thus they passed a law in 245 HE making it more difficult to use truthspells for interrogation, forcing the Provost's Guard to use torture instead. Accordig to Beka, Lord Gershom would also need the council's approval to "mount an operation in Port Caynn" and in her reckoning it would take him days to get said approval.