Consilium Draco Cruentis

The Consilium of the Vermilion Dragon has ruled London's Awakened since the time of Richard the Lion-Hearted. It is one of the oldest standing Consilii in the world, rivaled only by those which stand in Rome, Kiev and Cairo. The closest ally of Consilium Draco Cruentus is Consilium Draco Niveus, the Alabaster Dragon Consilium of Wales.

Hierarch

The Hierarch, who always takes the Shadow Name of Draco Cruentus, sits the Solium Draconis, the Dragon-Chair of the London Consilium. This position is very much a kingship in the eyes of the London Consilium, and that of much of much of England's Awakened, as well. The Consilium is clear, however, that this kingship is not over the temporal body of England (that is the king's dominion), nor the spiritual body of England (that is the Archbishop of Canterbury's dominion).

Rather, the Draco Cruentus holds kingship over the magical body of England; though the Hierarchs of other British Consilii have not always regarded the magi of the Dragon-Seat as such, it has been more than a century since any Consilium failed to send a representative to the Consilium Draco Cruentus to bear his wisdom back to their home courts. The Hierarch bears artifact crown and scepter to reflect this. Upon being made Hierarch, a magus must remove himself from membership in his cabal, but generally appoints someone of his old cabal to the Council seat he is leaving.

• Draco Cruentus XIV, Hierarch of London. Silver Ladder, Obrimos.

Councilors

The four councilors of the Consilium Draco Cruentus sit in one of four Seats: the Solium Ungula (Seat of the Talon), Solium Visus (Seat of the Eye), the Solium Alae (Seat of the Wing) and the Solium Vox (Seat of the Voice). Each position bears an Atlantean artifact representative of their station.

• Areia, Solium Ungula. Adamantine Arrow, Acanthus, Lions of Charing Cross.
• Valens, Solium Visus. Guardians of the Veil, Obrimos, Sublime Lodge.
• Thoth, Solium Alae. Mysterium, Thyrsus, Seekers of the Cenacle.
• Lady Nox, Solium Vox. Silver Ladder, Moros, Order of Brigantia.

Pages

There are five Provosts of the Court of the Draco Cruentus, one for each of the Councilors, and a fifth for the Vermilion Dragon himself. They are referred to as the Pages.

• Njord, Hierarch's Page. Silver Ladder, Moros, Grail Society.
• Fermin, Solium Ungula Page; Adamantine Arrow, Thyrsus, Taurean Brotherhood.
• Basilisk, Solium Visus Page; Guardians of the Veil, Mastigos, Brothers of Colton.
• Bene Moriendi, Solium Alae Page; Mysterium, Moros, Monks of Highgate.
• Nehushtan, Solium Vox Page; Silver Ladder, Thyrsus, Grail Society.

Knights of the Vermilion Oath

The Knights of the Consilium Draco Cruentus are its Sentinels, men and women sworn to protect the Dragon-Throne and the Consilium as a whole. The Knights take something called the Vermilion Oath, the precise details of which are unknown, save that it grants them some measure of strange power; though, in all fairness, this may very well simply be legend.

There are five Knights of the Vermilion Oath at any given time: the Knight-General of the Order, and the four Master Knights. Each of the Knights of the Vermilion of Oath has the authority, in times of duress, to appoint a Knight-Sergeant, a Sentinel under his command. The Knights of the Vermilion Oath are expected to keep four candidates in mind and trained.

Traditionally, each of the Master Knights comes from one of the Orders, and are charged with overseeing the defenses of the city's Consilium as appropriate to his Order.

• Michael, Knight-General, the Dragon-Knight. The Dragon-Knight is said to swear another version of the Vermilion Oath that links him to the ancient magical power beneath London, the Vermilion Dragon and that, in a time where the sanctity of the Consilium is in danger, he may call upon it to defend the city, at the cost of his life and the lives of his Master Knights. Michael is part of the Order of Brigantia.
• Tulis, Knight of Talons. The Knight of Talons oversees the actual martial readiness and is generally the first one into a physical or magical confrontation. The Knight of Talons' traditional area of influence is the military. He bears an artifact sword as his regalia. Tulis is part of the Knights of Hyde.
• Goodman Dull, Knight of Eyes. The Knight of Eyes oversees the internal security of the Consilium and is considered the Hierarch's spymaster. The Knight of Eyes' traditional area of influence is the constabulary. He bears an artifact mask as his regalia. Goodman Dull is part of the Roseacrux Sodality.
• Aubregard, Knight of Wings. The Knight of Wings oversees the defense of magical artifacts and storehouses of knowledge and power, including the city's Hallows. The Knight of Wings' traditional area of influence is academia. He bears an artifact mantle as his regalia. Aubregard is part of the Snakemen.
• Alexander, Knight of Roars. The Knight of Roars oversees the defense of the city's power structures and Sleepwalker resources. The Knight of Roars' traditional area of influence is bureaucracy. He bears an artifact circlet as his regalia. Alexander is part of the Magic Circle.

Other Positions

The London Consilium maintains another handful of positions within its ranks, for awarding to loyal and valuable magi of the Lesser Cabals. These positions include:

• Herald: The Herald is the Master of Cabals, keeping track of the various dominions, fealties and resources of the cabals of the Consilium. He also keeps the List of Elder Cabals. The Herald is traditionally chosen from among the Silver Ladder, and changes hands every five years. The current Herald is Amergin, a member of the Magic Circle.
• Guardian: The de facto bodyguard of the Hierarch, the Guardian is expected to lay down his life in the defense of the Hierarch. He must be skilled in countermagic techniques and other protective magics. The Guardian is traditionally chosen from the Adamantine Arrows, and changes hands every five years (after which point the Hierarch grants a suitable reward for that time of service). The current Guardian is Tauromach, a member of the Taurean Brotherhood.
• Interfector: The torturer and executioner of the London Consilium, the Interfector is provided by the Guardians of the Veil from among one of their own. They remain masked and cloaked, and none touch their shadow. It is not know who the Interfector is.
• Archivist: The archivist records the doings of the Consilium Draco Cruentus in the Codex Cruentus, the Vermilion Codex, a powerful imbued item that has recorded the history of the Consilium since its inception. The role of Archivist changes hands every five years. The current Archivist is Brother Cassiodorus, a member of the Monks of Highgate.