OF LAW AND REASON

[Caranthir_ 2533]

Issued by The Crown

In the year of our Lord, 1947

 

 

 

_________________________

 

“ 

THE WHEELS THAT HOLD THE CHARIOT OF AAUN UPRIGHT,

 

                                                  King Charles I, 1912   ”

_________________________

 

THE CABINET

The Cabinet is made up of senior members of government. It comprises Secretaries of State - ‘the Great offices’ - and Directorates of the Civil Service chosen by the Chancellor. They are collectively responsible for the actions, successes, and failures of government. Individual sections of the government, otherwise ‘departments’, are responsible for bringing their agenda to Cabinet meetings, and for putting government policy into practice. 

 

THE CHANCELLERY

The Lord Chancellor 

His Excellency, Fernand de Lewes

@Mattiii

III CHANCELLOR

1939 – Present

 

The Chancellor is the senior lawyer of the realm and—traditionally—the right hand of the sovereign. In recent memory the Lord Chancellor serves to manage the courts of justice and as a personal agent of His Majesty. Since the Command for Reforms, the Chancellor has once again become the leader of His Majesty’s Government, appointed as a result of whomsoever His Majesty believes commands the confidence of the country, and is ultimately responsible for the policy and decisions of the government.

 

As leader of the government, the Chancellor currently chooses the Directorates of the cabinet and oversees most of its operations. The Chancellor is also Secretary of State for the Union and may act in the exercise of any functions of the government to ensure that it is acting on behalf of the entire country. Whilst the Secretary of State shares in the formal duties of the other Great Offices, convention dictates that functional responsibilities are left in the hands of the relevant Secretary.

 

The Chancellery itself is appointed by the sitting Chancellor as close personal advisors and reflects the ebb-and-flow of the political dynamic and, consequently, government policy.

 

Vice-Chancellor

The Vice-Chancellor is the primary assistant of the Chancellor and is delegated all tasks that the Chancellor deems necessary for the presence of high Royal authority, but cannot personally be present for. In the event of the incapacitation of the sitting Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor assumes all authority of the office.

His Excellency, Emilio Varoche @Enlightenment

 

Master of the Rolls

Traditionally granted to the Grand Peer as a mark of the Crown’s continued support of the Royal Diet, the Master of the Rolls is charged with the keeping of the noble lists, the reporting of the activities of the Diet, and the granting of coats of arms to the worthy.

His Highness, Heinrich II von Alstreim @Olox_

 

Master of Augmentations

Responsible for funding the purchase of royal general lands and its distribution to tenants, its usage, its ownership.

His Excellency, Fernand de Lewes @Mattiii

 

Master of Chanceries

The traditional caretaker and royal steward of chanceries, or knightly lodges, the Master of Chanceries keeps the royal histories of the kingdom’s knightly membership and gentry families.

Mister Walter Vanderrecht @LithiumSedai

 

DIRECTORATE OF THE CAPITAL

Lord Mayor of Whitespire

The Lord Mayor of Whitespire ensures the planning, application, and delivery of municipal agendas and ordinances, prioritising the growth of the city and legislating with the City Council and formally representing it at local events.

Sir Godric ap Easworth @ImmortalShadowZ

 

THE ROYAL TREASURY
The Lord Seneschal

His Excellency, Mithius Dalma

@Jonificus

III LORD SENESCHAL

1947 – Present

 

The Treasury is the country’s primary economic and financial department. It maintains public spending, legislates for taxes, and sets a course of direction for the economic agenda. The Treasury works with other arms of the government to ensure that the financial system is achieving strong and sustainable growth, reducing reliance on land taxation and rebalancing the government’s revenues, spending taxpayers’ money with prudence, creating a stronger national bank, increasing employment, and increasing productivity. With these goals in mind, the Treasury ensures the competitiveness of the economy, ready to deliver for local communities.

 

The Lord Seneschal, as Secretary of State of the Treasury, has strategic oversight on fiscal and monetary policy. They ensure that the department's business is being done with value for money and advise the Cabinet on the economic agenda.

 

Crown Comptroller

The Crown Comptrollers are members of the treasury tasked with the recording of revenues and royal accounts, working across government to ensure efficiency and value for money in public expenditure.

His Lordship, Siegmund von Reuss @Timer

 

DIRECTORATE OF CROWN REVENUES

Director-General of Crown Revenues

The Directorate is responsible for public expenditure, including spending reviews and planning. It directs capital investment, infrastructure spending and indirect taxes to raise funds through means other than ground rent. Part of the job of the Directorate is ensuring a fair but firm trading policy, maximising profit from national resources and administering customs on international companies.

His Excellency, Mithius Dalma

@Jonificus

 

DIRECTORATE OF LAND REVENUES

Receiver-General

The Receiver-General, with certain knowledge of economics and accounting and the ability to remain calm in challenging circumstances, is entrusted with examining the accounts of the country’s land revenues, visiting landholding subjects outside the City of Whitespire to offer specialist advice about tax, considering and applying taxation law to cases, and being the physical collector of taxation from those who owe the Crown.

Her Highness, Adeline Johanna of Aaun

@Marshi

 

THE CLEMENTINE COURT

The Lady Chamberlain

Her Highness, Augusta Charlotte of Aaun

@Axelu

IV LADY CHAMBERLAIN

1940 – Present

 

The Chamberlain is responsible for the overseeing and management of the Royal Household, Palace, and Court. As the most senior official in the Royal Household, the Chamberlain is not only an enforcer of courtly etiquette and expectation, but a figure that shall serve as a channel of communication between the Sovereign, Privy Council, and Royal Diet. 

 

Majordomo

The Majordomo maintains household order, overseeing staff, court finances, and room allocation. While essential, they yield to the Queen and Chamberlain in daily court affairs. 

Ms. Adelheid Varoche @Cubicita

 

Grand Reveller

The Grand Reveller plans and directs entertainment throughout the Kingdom by working alongside key figures of Aaunic Society. The functions of the Reveller include, but are not limited to, the management of the Aaunic Reifenia, and overseeing production at the Plane Theatre.

Ms. Amelia de Lewes @ydegirl

 

THE CITY WATCH

The Lord Captain of the Watch

His Excellency, Ser Leopold Haverlock 

@CuteSebby

I CAPTAIN I DIRECTOR-GENERAL

1947 – Present

 

The City Watch is at the heart of the justice system. As Director-General for Justice, the Captain of the Watch protects and advances the principles of justice and the rule of law. The City Watch works with the other constituent parts of government to bring the principles of justice for everyone in the country. It works to ensure that offenders are arrested, convicted, and that sentences are served. 

 

Adjutant of the Watch

The Adjutant is primarily responsible for assisting the Captain of the Watch and serving as their second in command.

Ser Leutwin Barclay @alien_mc

 

Magistrates

The Magistrate is a trusted, often senior, member of the community responsible for the safeguarding and supervision of the rule of law.

His Lordship, Emilio Varoche @Enlightenment

 

THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE

The High Commissioner

His Excellency, Johannes van Aert

@Nectorist

II HIGH COMMISSIONER

1947 – Present

 

The High Commissioner of the Diplomatic Service is the Crown’s chief emissary, the man or woman given the task travelling abroad under His Majesty’s banner to build Aaun’s international reputation and foreign relations, of drafting treaties and pacts, and keeping His Majesty personally apprised of world events.

 

The High Commissioner, named for the procurement of letters of credence for Crown Ambassadors, occupies one of the great offices of Aaun as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The High Commissioner has overall responsibility for delivering the Crown’s foreign policy objectives and for strategic oversight of the Service.

 

Crown Ambassador

Crown Ambassadors are those empowered by the Crown to conduct peaceful diplomacy on the realm’s behalf; they are charged with journeying abroad and improving relations with their foreign counterparts, as well as attending international events on His Majesty’s behalf.

His Lordship, Richard Stassion @Optimus420

His Lordship, Johannes von Alstreim @Balthasar

Her Ladyship, Amelya van Aert @bickando

His Eminence, Cardinal Arnaud @Sander

 

DIRECTORATE OF RECORDS AND ARCHIVES

Director-General of Records and Archives

Her Excellency, Saskia van Aert

@JoanOfArc

I DIRECTOR-GENERAL

1947 – Present

 

The Director-General has strategic oversight over their Directorates business, and attends Cabinet at the pleasure of the Chancellor. The Directorate collects the histories of Aaun and the notable families of the realm and compiles them into chronicles. They are a powerful cultural unit, maintaining the archives containing all previous acts, decrees, and other writings of importance to the heritage of the country. 

 

Chief of Revision

The Chief articulates the legal and ideological basis for the formation and existence of the Aaunic realm, working on a close inter-governmental basis to achieve a consistency of ideology and a coherence of the national narrative. 

Ms. Nathalie Rouselle @Amyy

 

Curator-General of Records and Archives

The Curator-General - formerly ‘High Curator’ and once attached to the Clementine Court - acquires, maintains, and promotes cultural heritage objects; the Curator-General works in conjunction with the Housing and Development Directorate to manage cultural properties of the government, driving engagement with the national story, and maintaining the national archives for consultation, research, and future study.

Her Ladyship, Olenna Haverlock @MapleSunflower

 

DIRECTORATE OF HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT

Director-General of Housing and Development

Her Excellency, Marlene von Reuss

@zuziee

I DIRECTOR-GENERAL

1947 – Present

 

The Directorate of Housing and Development supports communities across the country to thrive. They are at the heart of the government’s commitment to accelerate all parts of the country. The Director-General has strategic oversight over the Directorate’s business, working with the Treasury to invest in local areas and drive growth. The Director-General leads the overall housing strategy of the country, and has a large remit over planning reform, application and delivery. The Director-General leads the Heartland Memorial Planning committee, a cross-government initiative to catalogue and display the histories of the Age of Conflict. 

 

Urban Officer

Urban officers help shape the way towns and cities develop, balancing the demand for space with the needs of the community. Urban officers work on projects to assess the effects of new roads, plan for houses, redesign urban spaces, develop parks, waterways and public sanitation. Officers develop local and national planning policies, prepare and make decisions about planning proposals and engage interest in the lived environment.

Mr. Roderick Temesch @MCVDK

 

Rural Officer

Rural officers survey, value, look after, and plan how land under the royal generality is used. Officers find creative ways to repurpose derelict buildings, and negotiate access to land with individuals or companies.

His Lordship, Fumetsu Renshin @Qizu

 

 

THE KING’S PRIVY CHAMBER

The Privy Chamber, alternatively known as His Majesty’s Personal Household, is made up of the private aides to the sovereign. They wait on the King in the royal apartments, as well as during various court activities, functions and entertainments. Those within often act as his chief advisors, and as a mark of favour the members of the Privy Chamber are empowered to act as the executors of the King's verbal commands.

 

The Principal Secretary to the King

His Highness, Heinrich II von Alstreim @Olox_

II PRINCIPAL SECRETARY

1947 – Present

 

The Principal Secretary is responsible for forwarding incoming letters to His Majesty and the Regency Council, particularly foreign correspondence, keeping the king’s purse, and, most importantly, overseeing the execution of His Majesty’s orders.

 

King’s Chamberlain

As the leader of the Clementine Court, so too is the Lord or Lady Chamberlain a natural member of His Majesty’s own Privy. In the more personal capacity of the King’s Chamberlain, they act as his advisor on the state and strategy of navigating the complex web of the realm’s internal nobility, such as its various cultures, and on ensuring the continuing morality of the court.

Her Highness, Augusta Charlotte @Axelu

 

Mistress of the Robes

The Mistress of the Robes personally attends upon His Majesty and is the manager of his household’s affairs. This includes deciding entry into the Privy Chamber and the allocation of grace and favours at royal events, along with handling miscellaneous issues on his behalf.

Her Ladyship, Amelya van Aert @bickando

 

Grooms of the Privy Chamber

The role of the Grooms of the Privy Chamber is of paramount trust and proximity to the Monarch. They act as the assistants and personal advisors to His Majesty, responsible for the cleanliness of the royal bedchamber and oftentimes serving as companions, offering entertainment and conversation. 

His Lordship, Johannes von Alstreim @Balthasar

The Hon., John Auguste d’Arkent @valecu

Mister Walter Vanderrecht @LithiumSedai

 

Equerries to the King

His equerries serve a slightly less personal role, handling the provisioning of horses and carriage transport for the sovereign. They too, however, have served as personal advisors and companions, especially abroad and on journeys otherwise.

 

THE HISTORY OF…

 

Even the tireless energy of those great Caroline counsellors, Varoche and Dalma, Gromach and Ivanovich, could scarcely keep pace with the daily routine of government. The council then contained the chief officers of state and of the household, and the entirety of the peerage. By the end of his reign there were about twenty-five counsellors. The size did not make for great efficiency, and members without official position rarely gave constant attention. Consequently, the business of government worked strictly on an ad hoc basis.

 

The Adrian Rebellion and subsequent exhaustion of the state meant that those great positions had become fixed and unchanging, which led to stifled productivity and paralysis of governing institutions. The Jacobean counsellors, most notably led by the Prince Henry before his untimely death, attempted to salvage this position by breaking off into committees, which gave preliminary consideration to matters particularly involving foreign affairs. By the end of James’s reign, the foreign affairs committee was discussing matters of state in no way related to foreign affairs and had achieved sufficient importance to be referred to as the inner circle. After the death of Prince Henry the circle became smaller still, and it is mostly certain that the primary writs of government and proclamations that came from the period between Henry’s death and James’s own were conducted by Dieuxmont, Merryweather, and Valence.

 

Above all, the counsellor of state has an unimpeachable sense of duty. This was James’s greatest contribution to his government. His Will became the most significant constitutional document in the state, and dictated a Regency Council to serve during the minority of his grandson. Each of these Executors alone held one-sixth the power of a king; together, they had near complete royal prerogative. In conjunction with creating legislation through Royal Edicts, James used his Will to ensure the clean transfer of power to his grandson Edmund.

 

By the end of James’s reign his Executors were prepared to take over the government of the state in absence of a central royal authority. All six shared the power of the great seal, and they quickly began to fill positions to entrench and enact their significant authority. The time had come to enlarge the sphere of government activity, and this required a more elaborate administrative machinery than had previously sufficed.

 

The development of the Regency Council necessitated new living arrangements for each of its members, and the Privy Chamber became their most private suite. The men and women who attended to this chamber provided intimate support and assistance to the members of the Council and the Heir Apparent. Over time, the individuals of the Privy Chamber would soon evolve into a group of trusted confidants, messengers, and administrators, responsible for carrying out the council’s daily operations. 

 

As the new King grew and became slowly more independent, his Regency Council became increasingly redundant. More and more decisions were made in the Privy Council, in Edmund’s attendance. The obscure distribution of political authority caused underlying tensions: in 1945 the Regency announced itself formally dissolved after many years of prorogation. The Queen Mother lost her position as governor of the King’s Person, and facing charges of disobedience she was put under house arrest. 

 

In 1947 Edmund’s political and constitutional authority had grown to its highest point, and with the careful supervision of his Regent, the Prince Merryweather, he sent his Command for Reforms to his Chancellor, Virdain, instructing him to form a government in his name. 

 

The Regency now gone, the Privy split into two distinctive organs of state: the close personal attendants on the one hand, who remained to attend on the King in the Privy Chambers, and the Cabinet of State on the other. This was an attempt to professionalise and formalise an historically mysterious class of governors. Where work was once centralised in the hands of few Crown appointments, departments took agency over putting government policy into practice. Baron de Lewes, who was already Chancellor, was put to work to form a government in the name of the King.

 

 

His Majesty's Privy Council welcomes all to apply to its new Apprenticeship Programme. This initiative is tailored for individuals with an interest in the government, military, courts, and diplomacy. The programme affords participants a comprehensive, firsthand exposure to these pivotal domains, fostering a profound comprehension of the nuanced intricacies inherent to our administrative apparatus.

 

Submit an application in the form below:

The Apprenticeship Programme

 

[Olox_ 4318]

Heinrich II Lothar smiled at the document, ready to serve the state for the years to come

[Mattiii 1663]

The Chancellor of Aaun, Fernand de Lewes smirked Savoyardly at his own portrait, thoroughly pleased with it. "Stunning, truly." He commented, tracing a finger along the frame.

[Crevel 7557]

Vylandris Vuln'ibar reads the document, intending to submit an application of his own. He would, however, be confused why the Dark Elf Lord Seneschal's portrait depicts a human with white skin. Despite this, he approves of the document and the government's efforts.

[Nectorist 12869]

Johanes van Aert and his fellow Sonlachians and Rivigrenzians celebrate him getting a new job. @bickando

[Sebbysc 744]

Ser Leopold smiled as he glanced over his name and portrait. "GOD bless they didn't make my nose too big!" And from there we went back to the busy, bureaucratic work that was stacked on his desk.

[bickando 3967]

6 minutes ago, Nectorist said:

Johanes van Aert and his fellow Sonlachians and Rivigrenzians celebrate him getting a new job. @bickando

 

Amelya van Aert is mostly relieved her friend the King was willing to take in her deadbeat dad and put him to work. Seeing him talking to himself the third time that week in """Rivigrenz""" had been worrying.

[Cubicita 640]

The Majordomo of the Clementine Court; Adelheid Mathilde Varoche, scanned over the missive, excited to finally be working within her home realm- and finally that her husband @Enlightenmentwas not simply digging and had a real job to support their household. "Thank God...."

[ImmortalShadowZ 1306]

The Veletz-Aaun Mayor would smile at the missive. "A great Mayorpire is forming!"

[Jonificus 2741]

Mithius Dalma is pleased with his whitewashed self, proud to continue the age old tradition of denying his existence to the history books.

[Optimus420 1926]

As the Margrave of Stassion sat in his study reading the missive, he nodded, and also begun preparing for his assignment as an Ambassador!

[valecu 2128]

John prepared to input his great advice as Groom of the Privy Chamber.