A Cheerful City in Deadlock

[EtowTheSaltyCat 574]

A Cheerful City in Deadlock

184 of the Second Age

A missive written by Nicolas Wittenbach.

 

The Free City of Chambery is in a Deadlock! Or how its citizens now start to cheerfully call it, “The Maybe Free City of Chambery” Yes, our beloved City of Chambery-sur-Petra, one of the heartland's cultural hubs and favorite vacation place, is maybe not a Free City at all! Or at least that was what was claimed at the last Garmont assembly. It was argued during the Garmont Assembly that the Free city of Chambery lost its free City status 7 years ago when the Heartlandic Confederation formed! The main basis in that argument was that any Pact signed by Petra was made null and void. Very much made serious accusations even going as far as asking how we would address not being a free city anymore. Well granted we did not have time to really answer that question, as I, decided to leave garmont promptly at that time to attend other important things, an engagement dinner of two close friends! And after that meeting of the Advisory circle of the Royal Court, yes I have a rather busy schedule, being there for friends, serving the realm...  Although I admit I also did not really know what to say, being confronted by these things really out of nowhere, may have left a little angered but also unsure what to do about those claims. it is why it also took me some time to gather my thoughts about it and write them down in this missive.

 

But to answer your previous question, I will continue to endeavor to do everything possible to make sure the people who elected me are safe and happy whether as a Free City or any other type of arrangement, that is what I was elected for, to work for my beloved peoples. And the Happy people we are, are we a Free City still? Well that is for Monarchs to decide as we are a vassal under them and not the Garmont Assembly, what we are for sure is free spirited and will continue to be a place of culture, art, sciences, scholars and so much more! That is our beating heart. 

 

But these claims do have to be taken seriously, they are after all claims from a Peer of the realm made during the Garmont assembly. Perhaps though it was not realized how far reaching the consequences of those claims are… not just to how Chambery is now officially named in documents but really down to its fundamental functioning. The Chambery Charter was written to reflect the values of Chambery and is used as a basis on which its municipal administration is based! Doubting the very legality of the existence of the charter very much puts the whole existence of Chambery in question, its values and administration. 

 

That very charter gives us the right of political autonomy and to organize ourselves the way we need, it gives us the right to tax within municipal borders and even defines our own taxes to the realm! It very much defines everything and now it is not there anymore? It would mean Chamberian Municipal Administration would be very much in a deadlock! As it would not operate legally anymore, nor would we be allowed to still tax our citizens and with that loss of revenue how are we to pay for our Taxes to the realm! And even more so pay for our expenses, projects, and cultural events. The Conseill Municipal had even in its latest session decided to build a playground for the children, will the children now have to do without it? 

 

Now of course not that would be very stupid to do and irresponsible, no matter the accusation one has to think of the proper running of a city and the welfare of its citizens. And we will continue to operate with our Charter until said so otherwise by our monarchs, who we have of course contacted about the matter immediately. We will however stop taxing our peoples for the last and upcoming saints week, for one to thank our peoples for being great citizens and because they had to now endure this ordeal. We will of course still come after our commitment paying our vassal tax, I personally will cover them together with any expenses of the city. 

 

I can already say our Citizens will be excited to be freed of Taxes for a little while! A lovely gift for sure for great people. So here we are a City in some sort of deadlock, Free city? Maybe, perhaps. Free spirited though? That is unquestionable. No matter what our monarchs decide on the matter, we will continue to be your everlasting City of Chambery, a hub of culture, a home for scholars, a loyal vassal city.

 

Signed

The elected leader of the great and free spirited peoples of Chambery

Nicolas Wittenbach. 

 

[TaytoTot 1587]

Dame Monika scratches her head as she read the missive. "Vhat ein interesting zhing to publish. . ." She remarked

[JudgeTrudy 610]

Theodore furrows his brows as he reads over the lengthy missive. Once finished, he sighs and folds the papers in half. The man had watched the entire interaction at the Garmont Assembly, and at the time he'd considered telling the man next to him that Nicolas Wittenbach would be wise to keep his mouth closed as he waited for a Royal decree. He couldn't have known how right he was.

 

Now, tossing the folded missive into his fire, he lets out a Tsk. "I feel for the poor fellow, but goodness...these ramblings may give his people more trouble than they already have. May our glorious Queen and King remain merciful and wise in their upcoming decisions." he mutters as he warms his hands by the fire.

 

Later that night, the Deputy Speaker would pray for a peaceful, just, and joyous solution to the City of Chambery's dilemma.