The council

Five ministers. Five answers.

When something big happens, the council meets and the clock stops. Each minister backs a different option, each option shows its price, and one is always free. Who you listen to shapes the island, and the ending.

A council meeting: Elder Rin, Mira Tolan and Bao Kester argue over the party split

Call-up for the Reef Guard: Dr. Ivo Sen, Mira Tolan and Sorin Mahl

A crisis: the mainland's water deal ends, and the council has to answer tonight

Minister · party and order

Elder Rin

The party's old guard. Rin keeps the branches loyal and the streets quiet, and reaches for the firm hand first: patrols, union law, emergency regulations.

“Varan took half our branches. They call us Valemark's men in new shirts.”
“Give in now and every union will be back next month.”
“Rebuild on high ground. The sea will come back for those kampongs.”

Minister · trade and the economy

Dr. Ivo Sen

The economist. Sen wants factories in Westmoor, cranes in the harbour and a finance hub in the towers, and he'll take foreign money to get them.

“He wants Westmoor factories in five years. Foreign money, foreign bosses, our workers.”
“Valemark sold our docks to Halvard. Their cranes, their crews, their prices.”
“Federal money builds forty schools. We can't build ten alone.”

Minister · housing, water and works

Bao Kester

The builder in the hard hat. Kester backs the Housing Trust, the dams and the docks, and wants every block mixed.

“Sixteen thousand people on the roofs of Kampong Mara. Our new flats aren't finished.”
“Mix every block. Hanlin, Selari, Tamari, Vessin on one stair.”
“Men with work don't march. Give the radicals jobs and they'll come back.”

Minister · communities and neighbours

Sorin Mahl

The bridge-builder. Mahl speaks for schools in two languages, shared festivals and careful friendships with the neighbours.

“Teach every child two languages. Their own, and one we all share.”
“If our children lose their tongues, they lose their grandparents.”
“Let them cross together. One bridge, one parade, all the lanterns.”

Counsel · the conscience

Mira Tolan

The voice at the end of the table asking what it will cost the people who don't get a vote tonight. Mira backs courts, councils, an ombudsman and a free press.

“Some were your friends at the union hall, Aren. Remember that.”
“If we look away now, every clerk learns what we will forgive.”
“You'd be taking sons and daughters who never asked for this.”

Around the table

Allies, rivals and neighbours

The Prime Minister: you

Aren Tolan

A union lawyer turned founding Prime Minister. Every decision in the game is his, which is to say yours.

“Twenty years tying this island to the mainland. Tonight the knot came undone.”

The opposition

Lio Varan

Leader of the People's Front, who took half the party's branches. He asks the questions you'd rather not answer.

“You gave them flats and took their voice. Who governs when you're gone?”

The mainland

Premier Haris Amarin

Premier of Sundara, which leads the Federation and holds the water.

“Nine million customers, Prime Minister. We only ask that Lantara be a good Sundaran state.”

The Visitor

Dr. Henrik Aalders

A foreign expert with a fast plan for factories, and strings attached.

“A swamp, a harbour, and thousands of young men out of work. That's a plan.”

The narrator

Anu Sarath

A railway worker's daughter from Tamari Yards, who grows up to build the island and tells its story.

“My father carried me out. I remember lanterns floating down the street.”

Follow one voice

In an advisor run you pick one minister and back their option every time. Win without breaking ranks to earn the Loyal Cabinet achievement.

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