Pale Senate

The Pale Senate is a legislative and advisory body of the former Duchy, now Viscountry, of Whitereach. Formed when Whitereach was first conquered from the Dark Iron dwarves of Kohl'Modan, the Senate was meant to be a check on the power of the Thane and a conduit by which the diverse residents of Whitereach could voice their concerns and retain their rights.

Currently the Senate is divided into four major factions:
 * The Thane's Men - Composed of those closest to the ruling House of Hargrave, the Thane's Men are staunch supporters of the Thane and have historically composed the vast majority of the Thane's closest advisors, generals, and administrators.
 * The Conservatives - Nominally support the Thane. The Conservatives are by and far the largest faction in the Pale Senate and are above all known for one thing; the maintainence of the status quo and the continued prosperity of Whitereach.
 * The Gaer'dur - Known as the "Followers of Old" in the common tongue, the Gaer'dur faction is a relatively small group composed exclusively of hardline dwarven traditionalists who wish to maintain clear and defintive lines between human and dwarvenkind. Although they cannot do so openly, it is a generally held belief that the Gaer'dur, more specifically their de facto leader, Highlord Heljmar "Iron Hand" Stonehammer, believe that Whitereach would be better off under the leadership of the dwarven clans rather than the House of Hargrave.
 * The Artisan's Guild - Also a small faction, the Artisan's Guild represents the interests of the artisans of Whitereach. Included in the Senate for the first time by order of then Duke Harold Hargrave, the Artisan's are fiercly loyal to the ruling House of Hargrave and have become a growing power within the normally stale political atmosphere of Whitereach.