The village is overseen by a council of elected people who have the honor and responsibility of seeing to the safety of the community. If a councilperson dies while in office, his or her spouse or closest living relative inherits the position. In one very rare case, a legal writ named a third party to inherit the seat. The village may protest the replacement and demand a vote to replace the individual, but this has never happened.
The current council members include:
Diao Li Xun is a tall, stately woman with graying hair and sharp black eyes. The matriarch of her family, she has seen years of feast and years of famine. Her husband of over six decades was none other than the mighty Ekin Son-Yeh, a man of legendary exploits. She sits on the council in his stead, a calm voice that does not often speak — except when emotions run high and a word of wisdom is needed. She is well known for her bear-claw pastries. The children of the town often gather at the back door of her bakery on weekends for little samples given out by Diao Li along with tasks to be completed. The bakery is always neat and tidy thanks to those children.
Master Namura served with Ekin Son-Yeh for many years before retiring to serve on the Council. Namura is a formidable adversary in any arena, be it on the dojo floor or in the council meetings. A scar runs along his left cheekbone. His light gray eyes are wary and carry a cunning light that earned him the nickname of Silver Fox. His wife is a gentle woman who is often seen in the fields just outside of the city, tending to the gardens that provide many of the fresh vegetables for Jenli. Together, they have provided Jenli with numerous sons, many daughters, and a large mass of grandchildren to honor the family name.
The youngest member of the council spends his free time in the Temple of Kalfyi San. Mukai San is a devout follower and extremely talented mage. He oversees the screening of young hopefuls who come to the temple seeking a higher education. His hair is lighter than average, and his eyes are a mismatched duo of green and blue. He was born in one of the outlying villages and was given to the temple at a young age by his parents. His whole life has been devoted to the honing of his talent. There are whispers that he could be the One to fulfill this generation's infusing of the Circle of the Nine.