Government

Introduction

The government of Shifsville is best described as an "Enlightened Dictatorship". Whilst a council, exists 7 of its 12 members are appointed by the Iron Duke and the council is only there in an advisory capacity - although very rarely does the Duke overule its recommendations.
In the days and months after the Duke took over the town (See A Personal History of Shiftsville) he found it a strain to manage all the towns affairs. After a particularly bad winter solstice jump in 89PA he was ready to quit. As he wandered out of town on New Years Day 90PA he was met by an Native American Shaman. What passed between them that day only the two men know but the Duke returned that evening with a group of Wolfen, one of whom became his first advisor - indeed Zreb KjVyn still serves on the council as the Wolfen representative.The council as it exists today hasn't changed its composition for the last year and a half, but many of its members have been there since they were first appointed.
In February 91PA the Duke decided that the town needed an income and that something needed doing about the number of miscreants that still frequented the town causing trouble. At that time the Duke new a small band of mercenaries that regularly stayed in town. They were always under-manned and under-equipped but they had a growing reputation for being honest and getting the job done. He approached their then leader xxxxxxxxx and made him another of those not to be refused offers. Reluctantly xxxxxxx accepted, gaining a council seat, gaining a permanent base, and brining about the formation of Ironhand's Irregulars.
By 94PA the town had started to prosper again and was beginning to be a haven for all forms of DBees and outcasts, and controlling the growing number of magic practitioners was becoming a major headache. Zreb KjVyn knew of the resistance Dwarves had to magic and suggested that a Dwarf might be an ideal candidate to head up a magic control division in the fledgling police force. The Duke wasn't so sure and decided on a compromise he'd appoint two people to head up the dept, the Dwarf as suggested and the next mage that arrived in town that he 'felt' right about. Two days later Carna Swift (now Beddows) arrived in town and the Duke made her an offer she couldn't refuse. Carna became sole head after a rift incident in 98PA. A second Rift later that year would bring 'Charles' to the town.
The next appointees to the council were 'Pyracretes' and Philo Beddows in late 96 PA; Pyracretes because of his totally alien perspective and complete disinterest in any form of political power games, and Philo because of his unnatural understanding of Technology and Machines. 97PA saw the addition of three more members, the first, who having appointed herself decided a town Militia was required and that it required a representative, and the third as a result of growing pressure from the town's merchant community.
The last expansion of the council was in 100 PA, partly to celebrate the centenary and partly to balance the council and add a little more direction.

Council Members

	Name		Occupation		Responsibilities
	Iron Duke		Mutant Human Master Psionic Vagabond		Governer and Supreme Chief of Staff
	Beddows Carna		Mystic		Magic Control and Practice. Includes Magic Registration and Control, Infantry Support, Militia Support, Infrastructure Support.
	Beddows Philo		Operator		Engineering and Technology Development/Manufacture
	Cotterill Alan		Mercenary Soldier		Town Militia
	Pyracretes		Alien Robot Intelligence		Military Intelligence
	Crab Louise		Mutant Human Rogue Scholar		Cultural Development
	Charles		Ranger		Border Patrol & Counter Insurgency Chask Liason
	Laudry Felice		Cyber Knight		Criminal Justic Governer of Little Falls (As of Oct 101PA)
			Mercenary Elite RPA/Administrator		Irregulars Representative
	Zreb KjVyn		Ranger		Wolfen Representative
			Rogue Scientist		Dwarven Representative
					DBee Representative
			Merchant		Merchant Representative
			Merchant		Merchant Representative