BenevolentManacles

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY’S MOST HOLY SEMINARY & SOCIETY OF SAINT JAMES II OF KORVASSA AND THE ARGENTATE STAR 

Our Empire is the patrimony of the Exalted, divinely-ordained to bear the legacy of the saints and to preserve the Word of God. Thus it should be that each of Our subjects—from the simplest layman to the most learned bishop—should study the Holy Scrolls and the hagiographies with careful attention. Our deepest hope is to share Our wisdom and in turn partake of the wisdom of Our fellows, for the betterment of Virtue.

Accordingly, We command that the families of each of Our peers shall select at least one member of their lineage, to represent their virtues of their Patron Saint, and together these shall constitute the students of The Most Holy Seminary & Society of St. James II of Korvassa and the Argentate Star.

This society will provide for the education of its students in the Canonist faith, to such a degree that they should each attain the office of deacon, this being a layman who has completed training within the Church required for ordination to the priesthood.

The graduates of Our seminary society, whether as deacons or as priests, shall form a panel of Our advisors: the Emperor’s court of the cloth.

ISSUED AND PROCLAIMED, 

Philip II, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Defender of the Faith, Grand Duke of Ves, Helena, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera

AMENDMENT TO THE EDICT OF VISIGA, 1841

Delivered at the Augustine on the 19th of Harren's Folly, 1841

Our beloved subjects,

It is Our beloved pleasure to be endowed with the duty of stewardship of the Canonist Flock. We are bound by the will of God, and what We know of God is within the Holy Scrolls. He has dictated that We must live with virtue in our hearts, and so as the Steward of His flock, We are bound by Our most holy duty to utilize Our innate authority to instill upon Our subjects the necessary tenets of His word.

We further amend the Edict of Visiga in the interest of this vision of the Empire.

• Every Imperial family of noble status shall select from amongst them a man or a woman to serve in the Society of Saint James II and achieve Deaconhood through the study in the seminary.

ISSUED AND PROCLAIMED, 

Philip II, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Defender of the Faith, Grand Duke of Ves, Helena, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera

The Emperor receives his grandson's letter with great reverence. He writes him back, in genuine pleasure,

My dearest grandson,

A pilgrim's path is a most glorious one, walked by the holiest men who have ever walked the world.

That you seek to discover the mysteries of faith and God are the most commendable quests that can be undertaken. Whence I see you again, we shall discover, within each other, a newfound affection for God. For as you wander the temporal realms of the world God has created, you will pray and receive signs, and you will pray and you will not. 

The journey, the places, the people. What you see within each individual you meet, as I once did, is not that the Lord has sent you on a journey of penance, or repentance for the innate sin within yourself.

Instead, the nature of your journey shall be the construction of your own relationship with the Lord. How He has given you the tortures of your life, how He has made your feet sore and parched your lip in the desert. And how He has given you a warm hearth of the friendly stranger, and the bounty of His gardens. Your trials, and your success, are His creation for you, and for nobody else. His trials are surmountable, even if they are not defeated, for they are each a test of faith.

Your grandfather,

HIM Philip II

EDICT OF VISIGA

Delivered at the Augustine on the 19th of Harren's Folly, 1840

Our beloved subjects,

It is Our beloved pleasure to be endowed with the duty of stewardship of the Canonist Flock. We are bound by the will of God, and what We know of God is within the Holy Scrolls. He has dictated that We must live with virtue in our hearts, and so as the Steward of His flock, We are bound by Our most holy duty to utilize Our innate authority to instill upon Our subjects the necessary tenets of His word.

• Every subject of Our Empire shall be students of the Holy Scrolls, and have read them to completion. Those illiterate subjects may have the Holy Scrolls read to them by a priest of the Canonist Faith.
• Every Imperial family, of any status, shall select for themselves a Patron Saint, and shall construct within their homes shrines to their chosen Patrons.

ISSUED AND PROCLAIMED, 

Philip II, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Defender of the Faith, Grand Duke of Ves, Helena, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera

Philip II could be seen that day, all day, praying for the souls of those lost to the curse of Azdromoth.

"Surely the Lord would show mercy to those lost souls, manipulated by the vile lizards," the Emperor laments to his trusted friend and soldier, Julian. "If they can be saved, then let us try. Or at the least, we can send them to the Lord, to deliver upon them the judgement only He may administer. Mercy in the face of such profound heresy would be nothing but weakness."

TREATY OF PROVIDENCE, 1839

  Agreed on this 10th of Sun’s Smile, 1839

By the Holy Orenian Empire and the Duchy of Elysium

ARTICLE I - SOVEREIGNTY

The Holy Orenian Empire and the Duchy of Elysium (henceforth ‘the Signatories’) recognize each other’s Realms as independent lands ruled by their respective monarchs, and will make no attempt to subvert those authorities governing them.

ARTICLE II - NON-AGGRESSION

The Signatories will adhere to a pact of non-aggression, and will not incite conflict between them. Neither signatory will provide military or economic aid to powers hostile to the other signatory.

ARTICLE III - ANTI-AZDRAZI PROVISION

The Signatories shall cooperate and assist each other in the eradication of the vile race of heretics and Iblees spawn known as Azdrazi. This provision will compel them to share intelligence and assist each other in operations pertaining to the destruction of Azdrazi, where those actions are not against the Sovereign interests of the respective Signatory.

ARTICLE IV - TRANSPORTATION

The Signatories will establish a carriage route between their respective capitals at the soonest possible opportunity, the maintenance costs of which shall be split evenly between them.

ARTICLE V - DURATION

This treaty will remain in effect for twenty years. It may be renewed by mutual consent of both Signatories. In the case where either signatory is found by the other to be in violation of this treaty, all articles will remain in effect, while the signatories search for diplomatic resolutions.

Signed, 

His Imperial Majesty, Philip II, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Defender of the Faith, Grand Duke of Ves, Duke of Helena, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Imperial Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

Duke Eugeo de Astrea

Aylin de Astrea

Heir Regent & Head Diplomat of Elysium

IMPERIAL LETTERS FOR THE COUNTY OF HUNTSHILL, 1839

Issued and Confirmed by His Imperial Majesty, Philip II, 20th Sigismund’s End, 1839

TO OUR BELOVED SUBJECTS,

    It has pleased the Imperial Throne to reward the service of Our leal subject, HIH George Maximilian, with official verification of their tenure in fealty to the Holy Orenian Empire. Accordingly, with the grace of God and the counsel of Our court, we do invest HIH George Maximilian as the Count of Huntshill, a role they as peers of the Holy Orenian Empire shall hold in trust to Our throne for the duration of their loyal service. They are enjoined to maintain the law of Our realm, to abide peacefully by Our rule, and to rise to Our defense when necessary. In return, as a sign of Our august graciousness, we do privilege their head to collect rents on their estates and holdings. We do establish that the succession of this County of Huntshill will be non-hereditary; upon his death this title shall revert to Our possession unless otherwise promulgated by any replication of these letters patent.

ISSUED AND PROCLAIMED, 

Philip II, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Defender of the Faith, Grand Duke of Ves, Helena, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

The Emperor can be seen that day with a few of his most trusted soldiers, delivering unto them the methods by which Azdrazi are detected, weakened and killed.

SUMMONS TO THE 27th IMPERIAL DIET, 1839

The Summons for the 27th Imperial Diet 

The twenty-seventh Imperial Diet shall commence in the year of Our Lord 1839

ARTICLE I: The Imperial Grandees of the 27th Imperial Diet

His Imperial Majesty hereby summons the following seven peers or lords spiritual to comprise the House of Lords for the duration of the twenty-seventh Imperial Diet, until such time as the session’s dissolution. 

• The Most Rev. The Metropolitan of Providentia
• HIH The Duchess of Auvergne
• His Grace The Duke of Cathalon
• The Hon. Countess of Halstaig
• The Hon. Count of Kositz
• The Hon. Viscount of Pruvia-Provins
• The Rt. Hon Baron of Rivia

Those members summoned shall be entitled the style Imperial grandee, along with the postnominal IG after their name, for the duration of the twenty-seventh mperial Diet.

ARTICLE II: The Elected Representatives of the 27th Imperial Diet

His Imperial Majesty hereby summons the following elected representatives to the twenty-eighth Imperial Diet, their composition being made by the results of appointed and elected representatives with these elected members comprising half of the Imperial Diet the chamber until such time as the session’s dissolution:

• DE ROSIUS, Louise, of Redenford
• FALCONE, Dante, of Dobrov
• BRAUN, Hans, of Providentia
• ROMSTUN, Darius, of Providence
• MELPHESTAUS, Thucydides, of Orenia
• D'AZOR, Joseph, of Orenia
• MELPHESTAUS, Tarathiel of Orenia

Those members summoned shall be entitled to the style of Representative for the duration of the twenty-seventh Imperial Diet.

ISSUED AND PROCLAIMED, 

Philip II, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Defender of the Faith, Grand Duke of Ves, Duke of Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

1 hour ago, Goon said:

They have killed men before for speaking their truth.

Many times.

I would not be the first of history's martyrs.

 

ALICJO VERRANA took a moment to peruse over the bounty, letting forth a snort of amusement- reading again. Perhaps he had not expected to see his name advertise so boldly, but it coaxed a smirk all the same.

 

The man plucked this missive from its post, "Quite the reward, though." He admitted aloud with a tipping head and contemplative features, as if for a moment, even he considered turning in himself. 

 

He held the missive against his wall, jutting a pin through it to hang it up- a proud smirk as he perused over it once more. 

 

"Least we will make them earn it." 

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

HIM dispatches a letter for Alicjo, promising a much larger bounty for each dragon head Alicjo may bring to him.

The Grand Prince of Ves considers for a moment the great dictates of Joseph II, Alfred Myre, and Daniel V, and how incomplete they are.

HIM consorts briefly with a wizard who determines the Esbecian fire to be caused by a knocked over lamp. Knocked over by a cow, in fact, whose starvation from lack of attentive care had driven it to madness, before it collapsed.

How the lamp was lit after such long abandonment, the Emperor could not figure.

IMPERIAL LETTERS FOR THE DUCHY OF AUVERGNE, 1837

Issued and Confirmed by His Imperial Majesty, Philip II, 20th Sigismund’s End, 1837

TO OUR BELOVED SUBJECTS,

    It has pleased the Imperial Throne to reward the service of Our leal subject, HIH Anne Caroline, with official verification of their tenure in fealty to the Holy Orenian Empire. Accordingly, with the grace of God and the counsel of Our court, we do invest HIH Anne Caroline as the Duchess of Auvergne, a role they as peers of the Holy Orenian Empire shall hold in trust to Our throne for the duration of their loyal service. They are enjoined to maintain the law of Our realm, to abide peacefully by Our rule, and to rise to Our defense when necessary. In return, as a sign of Our august graciousness, we do privilege their head to collect rents on their estates and holdings. We do establish that the succession of this Duchy of Auvergne will be non-hereditary; upon his death this title shall revert to Our possession unless otherwise promulgated by any replication of these letters patent.

ISSUED AND PROCLAIMED, 

Philip II, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Defender of the Faith, Grand Duke of Ves, Helena, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

THE IMPERIAL DIET

EDICT OF FURNESTOCK, 1837

An edict reforming the the nature of the Imperial Diet's composition, and unifying the bicameral bodies into a single body.

To Our Beloved Subjects,

It should be the eternal prerogative of the Imperial Crown to reform, revise, and experiment upon the organs of our government and our compiled constitutional law. That the facets of government become inefficient with time is natural phenomena, and we must employ countermeasures to disallow the stagnation of good government.

SECTION I. EDICTS REPEALED

The following Edicts shall be repealed in their entirety.

Edict of Reform (1763)

Edict of Providence (1798)

Edict of Rosemoor (1807)

SECTION II. COMPOSITION

The Imperial Diet shall henceforth be united into a single legislative body, called only the Imperial Diet. They serve at the pleasure of the Imperial Crown, and may be summoned or dissolved at will. 

The composition of the Imperial Diet shall be as follows;

• Seven Imperial Grandees
  •  Six peers of the Empire.
  • One Lord Spiritual.

• Seven representatives other than the Imperial Grandees
  • One ordained clergymen, resident to the Empire, elected by their peers.
  • One representative from Dobrov.
  • One representative from Redenford.
  • One representative from Providence.
  • Three elected by national election.

SECTION III. IMPERIAL GRANDEES

Imperial Grandees are appointed by the Imperial Crown. They shall serve as a conclave of Lords whose duties are to advise the Imperial Crown on the granting of peerages, inheritance dispute, and otherwise issues pertaining to the noble houses of the Empire. 

SECTION IV. REPRESENTATIVES

No person may be an elected representative if;

• They concurrently are an Imperial Grandee.
• They are eligible to sit as an Imperial Grandee, such in the case of a peer bearing a title such as baron, count, duke, etcetera, or a lord spiritual such as a bishop or archbishop.
• They hold an active commission in any military organization.

Upon the swearing-in of a member, these positions priorly held are automatically considered to be resigned. If the newly-elected member in question fails to announce resignation or abdication from all aforementioned positions, he is forbidden from taking his seat and it will be considered vacant. A member may be an untitled member of a noble family, but if he ascends to a peerage, his position is automatically resigned and considered vacant.

The representative of the clergy shall be elected by the ordained clerics of the Archdiocese of Providentia. The representatives from the listed municipalities must be residents of that municipality.

SECTION V. ELECTIONS

National elections shall be determined by the popular vote, with the three candidates who received the most votes across the Empire becoming eligible for seats in the Imperial Diet. The election process shall be determined and administered by the Minister of Civil Affairs at the direction of the Imperial Crown.

The time, place, and manner of elections for the representatives of Providence, Dobrov, and Redenford shall be prescribed by the Magistrate in each of the aforementioned chartered settlements according to the described methods within their charters; but the Crown may at any time, by law, make or alter such regulations. 

SECTION VI: LIMITATIONS

The Imperial Diet’s functions and legislation, as a whole, are prohibited from interaction with the following matters of state, which remain the exclusive purview of the Crown.

• The military and appointment of generals and other commanders. 
• The Crown, the succession, its authority, and the Imperial household.
• Diplomacy and foreign affairs, exempting when permitted by the Crown in special circumstances.

SECTION VII: PRESIDING OFFICERS

The presiding officer of the Imperial Diet shall be determined in order of the most senior officer to the least senior officer whom is present at any given session. They shall be listed in this order below. 

• The Archchancellor
• The Vice Chancellor
• The Lord Speaker, elected from amongst the Imperial Grandees.
• The Speaker of the House, elected from amongst the representatives.

SECTION VIII: LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

A summary of the legislative procedure for the Imperial Diet shall be as follows: 

• A bill (a draft of a law) or a writ (a special bill compelling an action) is initiated in the chamber concerned with the subject matter, by an Imperial Grandee or a representative.
• The chamber debates the content of the bill, with neither fear nor favor being given to any particular member of the chamber, and all being given a chance to make their case.
• The necessary amendments are made, or not made. 
• The presiding officer calls for a division, or a vote, and the votes are tallied.
• The bill passes.
• The bill proceeds to the Crown, which either grants, withholds or withholds conditionally imperial assent. 
• If imperial assent is withheld, the bill is declared void.
• If imperial assent is withheld conditionally, the process is repeated from the first step until the process is complete.
• If imperial assent is granted, the bill becomes an Act of the Imperial Diet, and hence formal law, to be published in the legislative gazette.

IMPERIAL LETTERS FOR THE BARONY OF ROSIUS, 1837

Issued and Confirmed by His Imperial Majesty, Philip II, 17th of Sigismund's End, 1837

TO OUR BELOVED SUBJECTS,

    It has pleased the Imperial Throne to reward the service of Our leal subject, Otis de Rosius, with official verification of their tenure in fealty to the Holy Orenian Empire. Accordingly, with the grace of God and the counsel of Our court, we do invest Otis de Rosius as the Baron of Rosius, a role they as peers of the Holy Orenian Empire shall hold in trust to Our throne for the duration of their loyal service. They are enjoined to maintain the law of Our realm, to abide peacefully by Our rule, and to rise to Our defense when necessary. In return, as a sign of Our august graciousness, we do privilege their head to collect rents on their estates and holdings.

ISSUED AND PROCLAIMED, 

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, Philip II, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Defender of the Faith, Grand Duke of Ves, Duke of Helena, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera

IMPERIAL LETTERS FOR THE DUCHY OF CRESTFALL, 1837

Issued and Confirmed by His Imperial Majesty, Philip II, 12th Sigismund’s End, 1837

TO OUR BELOVED SUBJECTS,

    It has pleased the Imperial Throne to reward the service of Our leal subject, HIH Josephine Augusta, with official verification of their tenure in fealty to the Holy Orenian Empire. Accordingly, with the grace of God and the counsel of Our court, we do invest Josephine Augusta as the Duchess of Crestfall, a role they as peers of the Holy Orenian Empire shall hold in trust to Our throne for the duration of their loyal service. They are enjoined to maintain the law of Our realm, to abide peacefully by Our rule, and to rise to Our defense when necessary. In return, as a sign of Our august graciousness, we do privilege their head to collect rents on their estates and holdings. As befits the especial nature of HIH Princess Josephine Augusta of Crestfall's station, we do establish that the succession of this Duchy of Crestfall will be non-hereditary; upon their death this title shall revert to Our possession unless otherwise promulgated by any replication of these letters patent.

ISSUED AND PROCLAIMED,  

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, Philip II, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Defender of the Faith, Grand Duke of Ves, Duke of Helena, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera

Within the Imperial apartments, pinned upon a wall beside articles of intelligence most humorous to HIM, is a depiction of a dwarven elector at the false Duma.

IMPERIAL LETTERS FOR THE DUCHY OF ADRIA, 1837

Issued and Confirmed by His Imperial Majesty, Philip II, 12th Sigismund’s End, 1837

TO OUR BELOVED SUBJECTS,

    It has pleased the Imperial Throne to reward the service of Our leal subject, HIH Philip Aurelian, with official verification of their tenure in fealty to the Holy Orenian Empire. Accordingly, with the grace of God and the counsel of Our court, we do invest HIH Philip Aurelian as the Duke of Adria, a role they as peers of the Holy Orenian Empire shall hold in trust to Our throne for the duration of their loyal service. They are enjoined to maintain the law of Our realm, to abide peacefully by Our rule, and to rise to Our defense when necessary. In return, as a sign of Our august graciousness, we do privilege their head to collect rents on their estates and holdings.

ISSUED AND PROCLAIMED, 

Philip II, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Defender of the Faith, Grand Duke of Ves, Helena, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

IMPERIAL LETTERS FOR THE BARONY OF RIVIA, 1837

Issued and Confirmed by His Imperial Majesty, Philip II, 12th Sigismund’s End, 1837

TO OUR BELOVED SUBJECTS,

It has pleased the Imperial Throne to reward the service of Our leal subject, Robert Galbraith, with official verification of their tenure in fealty to the Holy Orenian Empire. Accordingly, with the grace of God and the counsel of Our court, we do invest Robert as the Baron of Rivia, a role they as peers of the Holy Orenian Empire shall hold in trust to Our throne for the duration of their loyal service. They are enjoined to maintain the law of Our realm, to abide peacefully by Our rule, and to rise to Our defense when necessary. In return, as a sign of Our august graciousness, we do privilege their head to collect rents on their estates and holdings.

ISSUED AND PROCLAIMED,  

Philip II, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Kaedrin, Salvus, and Seventis, Defender of the Faith, Grand Duke of Ves, Duke of Adria, Helena, Crestfall, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Orenian Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.