The Feathered One is the president of Wavecrest. He is elected from among the mayors of the bigger towns and cities in the archipelago.
When the volcano gods are displeased and the regular sacrifices run out or are insufficient, the Feathered One is supposed to be offered to the volcano gods to appease them. This has not happened for over 50 years now.
When Melika wanted to use a sacrifice of the Feathered One as a tool in her plans, the party intervened and set up a fake kidnapping by the Lintha pirates to foil her plans and save his position.