The Ten
The Ten was the name given to the ruling council of the Auroran Republic. The name is derived from the number of seats available on the council. The council mostly consisted of particularly powerful, reputable, and affluent mages throughout the majority of Aurora's history. Numerous investigations by independent bodies repeatedly demonstrated corruption, nepotism, and embezzlement within the council in its later years. After the Battle of the Trifecta, the Ten was reduced to a nominal capacity for ruling the Auroran people's, as their faith in the council waned after the catastrophic defeat at the hands of the Vesperans, who were, until that time, widely regarded as militarily inferior.
Starting in 513 AO, the Ten would see their influence steadily wane until the dissolution of the Auroran Republic in AO, and subsequent founding of the Commonwealth.