THE SYLVAN COURTS | ON ELVEN NOBILITY

[Demonica 678]

 

T H E    S Y L V A N    C O U R T S

Issued by Princess Carnissëa Ílumrin, with Lady Nefeli Cerusil

7th of The Deep Cold, 281 of the Second Age.

INDOREII’OEM (ᴘʀᴇᴀᴍʙʟᴇ)

To govern without humility is to erode the very foundation laid forth by the High Prince. Caras Siol does not belong to the Lauriran, it is the Lauriran who are sworn to her people, and thus, let not the Lauriran of Caras Siol be measured by the magnitude of their estates or wealth, but the breadth of their prudence and guardianship, their nobility.

Lauriran are to shepherd cultural refinement, to rouse innovation, and traverse the gap of Noble and Low. They are entrusted with the care of land, kinship, and traditional preservation. They are vessels of strength, and pillars that sustain the significance of Caras Siol and her denizens. 

INDORII’NIUT (ᴅᴇꜰɪɴɪᴛɪᴏɴꜱ)

❖ Laurir, Noble

❖ Lauriran, Nobles

❖ elLaurir Talonnii, The Noble Houses

❖ elLeyuame Heial, The Sylvan Court

 

“Nobility is recorded as a mark borne through years of service rendered to land and sovereign, to custom, history, and the keeping of tradition. It is worn as an insignia of labour and obligation, set down by those who have given more than they have taken.

 

Such standing was never meant as a means to stand above others, but rather, arose from duty owed to the people and the lands that sustained them. Many have taken the style of aristocracy, buttressed by wealth and manors, yet few have left behind a ledger of deeds undertaken for the realm rather than the self. 

Titles endure in abundance, true reckonings remain scarce.

 

From this understanding, were the Sylvan Accords first committed to parchment, to introduce nobility anew.”

— Carnissëa Ílumrin, on Elven Nobility

 

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INDORII’HAEL (ᴀʀᴛɪᴄʟᴇꜱ)

oem (I). elLauriran Talonnii

A noble house is a lineage officially recognized by the Ílumrin crown, entrusted with land and charged with the guardianship of its domains throughout Cara Siol. Such houses hold dominion within the territories of Cauróst, bearing the authority to petition the creation of laws, to arbitrate disputes, and to speak for the Caurosi citizens before the High Council.

 

From this charge, follows the expectation of humility. The Lauriran are to know the worth of their name, yet remain mindful of the charity and restraint so often lost to authority. The citizens of the Princedom are to be regarded as kin, held in esteem, and treated with devoted regard despite their titles or lack thereof. In turn, the people are bound to hold their nobility in due respect and to appeal to the High Prince, in instances of unwarranted injustice.

Practices of violence or cruelty, lacking cause or justice, shall be judged by the appropriate ruling , with severity and may even result in the stripping of noble standing. Cordial conduct is expected between citizens and Lauriran alike. 

 

Before the pursuit of nobility, those of steeled heart must fulfill the following criteria:

 

ɪ. ᴘᴏꜱꜱᴇꜱꜱᴇꜱ ᴀ ᴍɪɴɪᴍᴜᴍ ᴏꜰ ꜰɪᴠᴇ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴄɪᴛɪᴢᴇɴꜱʜɪᴘ.

ɪɪ. ꜰʀᴇᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴀ ᴄʀɪᴍɪɴᴀʟ ʙᴀᴄᴋɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ.

ɪɪɪ. ᴏʙʟɪɢᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴜᴘʜᴏʟᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʀᴏᴍᴏᴛᴇ ᴄᴜʟᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ᴛᴇɴᴇᴛꜱ, ᴠᴀʟᴜᴇꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴜꜱᴛᴏᴍꜱ.

ɪᴠ. ʀᴇǫᴜɪʀᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴᴀɴɪᴍᴏᴜꜱ ᴇɴᴅᴏʀꜱᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪɢʜ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ ᴏʀ ʜɪɢʜ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴄɪʟ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴇʟɪɢɪʙʟᴇ. 

 

niut (II). Duties

Lords and Ladies of the most distinguished houses are chosen to sit within elLeyuame Heial, known also among the common tongue as the Sylvan Courts. These seats gather at the close of each month to advise and petition to the High Prince. From their deliberations flow matters of market, law, housing, and other affairs that shape the living order of Cauróst.

 

Citizens are permitted, and oft encouraged, to bring forward commendation or complaint regarding the Lauriran directly before the High Prince. Though all members of the Sylvan Courts are appointed by His Highness and His High Council, the voice of the people is said to guide each selection. A Laurir thus named may accept the charge or refuse it by right of their station.

 

The Saneyir of the Sylvan Courts is appointed under the authority of the High Prince and serves as keeper of the people’s voices. Their office remains open to the citizens of Cauróst, who may bring forth grievances and petitions at all times, rather than burdening matters of less importance to the High Prince. These concerns are gathered and carried into the monthly council, where the Saneyir ensures that no matter of weight is lost to silence. 

 

• An election is held at the appointment of the High Prince and his council, wherein three Lauriran, regardless of standing within their houses, may be named as candidates to preside over the Sylvan Courts. 
• The citizens are then called upon to inscribe the names of three Lauriran they deem fit to serve as their voice, chosen only from the list of running candidates. 
• These writings are gathered and accounted for under the oversight of the High Prince.
• From this, the High Prince, or his council, confirms the appointment of those deemed most fit to serve. 

 

hael (III). Ownership and Rights 

All lands held by a Noble house may be forfeit upon the committing of grave offenses, from theft to acts of coercion or in the rare cases, murder, should such judgement be affirmed by His Highness, the High Prince, and his respective kin. The Lauriran are bound to preserve their granted domains in good order, free of neglect and injustice.

 

Within their holdings, Noble houses retain authority over conduct and governance. Trespass, damage, or impropriety upon Lauriran lands is held in ill regard and may be met with sanction or summons before the High Prince. Within their lands, the word of a Lord or Lady is to be respected, so long as it is in accordance with The Ivory Edict. All laws of Caras Siol extend to its vassals, who may not raise laws of their own beyond matters of internal currency, though stewards may be appointed to oversee daily affairs, martial and legal authority remains with the Crown.

 

elLaurir Talonnii are encouraged to host regular gatherings and entertainments upon their estates. It is customary for wards of lesser birth to be taken under their care, both as education and stewardship, their conduct reflecting upon the house that raised them. In turn, such wards may bring activity and standing to their patron’s name, forming ties between ranks.

 

The privileges of Laurirans vary by station, some houses of Nobility distinguished more vehemently than others. A typical Laurir has but a quartet of privileges that mustn’t be misused or ill-treated;  

 

❖ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴇɴᴄᴇ

Lauriran possess the right to private audience with the High Prince and High Council, directly and without public intermediation as an opportunity to voice their woes, concerns, or social proposals.

 

❖ ᴀᴅᴠɪsᴏʀʏ ᴘʀɪᴠɪʟᴇɢᴇs

Lauriran may, at the will of the High Prince or High Council, be summoned to the courts of the Ivory Crown as consultants on matters of politics, law, and so on.

 

❖ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴏғ ʀᴇᴛɪɴᴜᴇ
Lauriran may request a personal escort or guard of the Caurósian military for the preservation of any lands or protection of persons, with authorization from the Annilir.

 

❖ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴏғ ᴅᴇꜰᴇɴꜱᴇ

Lauriran may, in reasonable means, preserve themselves in the face of violence and vitriol, levying minor punishments such as lashings and temporary internment. 

 

vailu (IV). Inheritance

When a noble house arises, its lands and holdings pass to a single heir, chosen by the ruling patriarch or matriarch. The continuity of blood is to be preserved, and it is customary for noble lines to contract marriages within their own standing, avoiding lesser unions to safeguard the integrity of their lineage. The dignity of a house rests upon the conduct of its kin, and heirs are therefore raised and trained with strict discipline, from a young age so that error and disgrace may be avoided. 

 

A noble family may petition an audience with the high council, and therefore, the High Prince to contest the leadership of its own lineage, should cause be deemed sufficient. Where an heir proves unfit in duty or decorum, if such claims are found sound, intervention may follow. A patriarch or matriarch is expected to guide kin through times of strain without failure. 

Should they prove incapable, removal of their station is permitted under a public, or private, trial.

 

kulin (V). Attire

Nobility typically dress lavishly, adorned by many gems and bangles– nothing is considered too much or too little. Flowing dresses, bound by a bodice or enwreathed by beads amid a gilded chain. Many adorn armour of shimmering plate, or others languish in modest hues of faded greenery; the likeness of attire varies by family and is commended by the High Prince. 

 

Noble rank and duty are visually represented by exquisite laurels, meticulously and custom crafted by the Ivory Crown's artisans. These symbols denote both an individual's status and their specific role within the noble hierarchy. 

 

Jewelry and charms may be fashioned by citizens and nobles alike, however, circlets and crowns worn without right or title are subject to scrutiny, as imitation of royal likeness. Head-dress and adornments such as bands of cloth, headwears of steel, or others of that fashion, are deemed acceptable, so long as they do not bear likeness to crown or diadem. Those pieces would remain the sole province of the royal family.

 

❖ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴀɢᴄʀᴏᴡɴ

For the High Prince

 

❖ ʙʀᴏɴᴢᴇ

For the Royal Family

 

❖ ꜱɪʟᴠᴇʀ

For the esteemed High Council

 

❖ ɢᴏʟᴅ

For the Lauriran

 

These fanciful laurels are scrupulously crafted to suit each wearer, varying in looks and gemstones in consideration of their labors to Cauróst.

 

banih (VI). Address

It is held as proper custom within Caras Siol that the Lauriran be addressed by the styles of Lord and Lady. Lesser forms of address, in the name of hubris, are taken as discourteous and as an affront to the High Prince, and are known to invite quiet scorn upon those who fail to employ them.

 

❖ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴏᴘʀɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴠᴇʀʙᴀʟ ᴀᴅᴅʀᴇss

[My, your] Lady[ship], Lord[ship]. Depending on influence and regality, [Serene] Lady, Lord.

 

“You have my attention.”

nae ito kae suliian

 

“You have my service.”

nae ito kae tilruer

 

“Of course, my [serene] Lord/Lady.”

ti, nae’leh [leyu] Laurir

 

❖ ɢᴇsᴛᴜʀᴇs ᴏғ ʀᴇsᴘᴇᴄᴛ

The lowering of the chin, bend of the torso or curtsying,

Palm over the forehead, then offered outwards.

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Thus are the customs of the Princedom of Cauróst set forth under the authority of the High Prince, Galahad Ílumrin, that a new order be maintained within Caras Siol, and may it endure without fracture.

 

Signed,

Galahad Ílumrin

High Prince of Cauróst, Prince of Malinor & Eldest Son of Húrin Ilumrin

Carnissëa Ílumrin

Princess of Cauróst, & Eldest Daughter of Rúmil Ilumrin

 

 

Spoiler

big thank you to my queen @hopeyfor wording most of the articles 🙏

 

[KeiaTypeBeat 3277]

A particular 'aheral read the notice diligently. A light smile stretched across her lips, settling into a smirk. A hand fell to her lap as she felt the fabric of her jet-black dress, index and thumb rubbing back and forth faster and faster as her eyes scanned down the length of the page. 

 

After finishing her reading, the 'aheral's smile settled to one of contemplation, serviceably hiding the excitement she felt in her chest as plots began to form within her mind. 

 

She looked to Ruby, and in the privacy and sanctuary of her home, she allowed her reservations to collapse. She excitedly began bouncing in her chair.

 

"Mum's goin' t' be happy t' hear o' this!" She pushed her feet against her desk, toppling her chair over so it and the woman sitting atop it landed on their back. She raised the missive high, staring at it with baited anticipation. She squealed with euphoria as she let her fantasies take her.  

[Tav 4336]

Cloaked beneath a night sky sat Prince Túrin  alongside his beloved; it was her idea to enjoy the outdoor scenery–said his reclusiveness stained his eyes. One palm took her own, while the other hoisted the order penned by his dear kin. He felt offended for playing no part; but then again, they were far more advanced in the basics of law and court matters than he. 

 

“Hrm,” - “I did not think Carnissëa capable.” He remarked, undoubtedly impressed, yet far too stubborn to give his sister a ten.

 

[Maeth 53]

With calm eyes the Initiate scan over the missive. Her smile grows larger finally putting substance to her title of Laurir to Caras Siol. Her eyes close remembering the day of the ceremony held in her honor, she thinks fondly of those present and those souls she has touched since that fateful day

"I carry my debt on my shoulders to these people, my stance of compassion will not change, nor will my duty. Till my breath leaves me." 
 

Edited April 23 by Maeth