KosherZombie

@yopplwasupxxxdoes this mean we can finally have our pistol duel. Two years in the making 

((Great post. I love the effort you put in talking about the development and changes throughout history!!))

His Imperial Majesty, John VIII, affixes his signature to the bottom of this document. He looks across the table at the Silver delegation. "Let Us usher in a new era of security and military might with the signing of this document. That none shall senselessly threaten Our peace and Our cultures again."

SUMMONS TO THE 24th IMPERIAL DIET, 1816

The Summons for the 24th Imperial Diet 

The twenty-fourth Imperial Diet shall commence in the year of Our Lord 1816

ARTICLE I: The House of Lords for the 24th 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-fourth Imperial Diet, until such time as the session’s dissolution. 

1. HIH The Duke of Crestfall
2. HIH The Countess of Rosemoor
3. His Grace The Duke of Sunholdt
4. His Grace The Duke of Cathalon
5. The Most Rev. The Metropolitan of Providentia
6. The Rt. Hon The Count of Kositz
7. The Hon. The Viscount of Azor

Those members summoned to comprise the House of Lords shall be entitled to the style of Imperial grandee, along with the postnominal IG after their name, for the duration of the twenty-fourth Imperial Diet.

ARTICLE II: The House of Commons for the 24th Imperial Diet 

His Imperial Majesty hereby summons the following members of the House of Commons to the twenty-fourth Imperial Diet, the house’s composition being made by the results of the national election with these elected members comprising the chamber until such time as the session’s dissolution:

1. BOURDON, Robert, of Right-Bank District.
2. BRACKISH, Godfric, of Right-Bank District.
3. BRIARWOOD, Rhys, of Western District.
4. DE ROSIUS, Valent, of Providence District.
5. D’AMATO-ORLOV, Anton, of Providence District.
6. FALCONE, Cosimo, of Northern District.
7. GALBRAITH, Charles, of Providence District.
8. KOMNENOS, Henrik, of Providence District.
9. O’ROURKE, Jane, of Western District.
10. O’ROURKE, Patrick, of Right-Bank District.
11. TEUFEL, Fredrick, of Providence District.
12. VIMMARK-ROUSSARD, Vladislav, of Providence District.

Those members summoned to comprise the House of Commons shall be entitled to the style of Representative for the duration of the twenty-fourth Imperial Diet.

ISSUED AND PROCLAIMED, 

John VIII, 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, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

9th of Horren's Calling 1816.

BE IT KNOWN that THE CROWN, upon the recommendation of Its advisors, has deemed fit to grant Its assent to the NAPIER DIGNITY ACT 1812, the GRAY AMENDMENTS of 1815, the TRANSPARENT LAW ACT of 1813, the PERSONHOOD PATHWAY ACT of 1812, and the JEOPARDY AMENDMENT of 1815, passed in the 23rd  Imperial Diet by the HOUSE OF COMMONS, and shall enact the aforementioned Bills as Law throughout the Realm.

Delivered at Augustine,

John VIII, by the grace of GOD Holy Orenian Emperor, forever August, King of Renatus, Curon, Salvus, and Seventis, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Adria, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

Dissolution of the 23rd Imperial Diet

10th of Harren's Folly, 1815.

His Imperial Majesty does see fit to dissolve the twenty third Imperial Diet.

With this dissolution, His Imperial Majesty commands the members of the twenty third Imperial Diet to return home to their constituencies until such time as the assembly is summoned to sit again. 

ISSUED AND PROCLAIMED, 

John VIII, 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, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

EDICT OF RENZFELD

12th of Godfrey's Triumph, 1815

An edict privileging the issue of HIH The Count of Renzfeld as imperial princes.

To Our Beloved Subjects,

We have ascended to this imperial office unmarried and intend to remain so, having proclaimed that if He is willing and We are able, Our celibacy will be consecrated unto God. Thus We expect that His Imperial Highness The Duke of Crestfall shall remain Our heir presumptive, and accordingly, his eldest son His Imperial Highness The Count of Renzfeld is second in the line of succession to Our throne. Respecting this, We privilege his legitimate issue to be entitled as imperial princes, as if they were Our own grandchildren.

Delivered at Augustine.

12th of Godfrey's Triumph, 1815

ARTICLE I. ON THE PRINCELY RANK

That for so long as His Imperial Majesty John VIII has no legitimate issue, the legitimate issue of HIH The Count of Renzfeld, will bear the rank of an imperial prince or princess and the styling of Imperial Highness, as appropriate.

ISSUED AND PROCLAIMED, 

John VIII, 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, Novellen and Lorraine, Baron of Renzfeld, Protector of the Heartlanders, Highlanders, and Farfolk, etcetera.

"Father, thank you, for all that you have left with me." The man looks out over the Augustine, lifts his head, and paces forth.

John Charles sat at his father's bedside, with a glass of Medeira wine in his hands. He lifted the glass, helping the Emperor take small gulps. The Imperial family and cabinet gathered close, faces pale and resolved. Somber physicians stood in the corners of the room, exchanging hushed whispers about the fate of the Crown.

"I do not know what to say to you," John spoke.

"You have said enough," the sovereign replied.

Fevered heat emanated from the Emperor. When John looked next, his father had fallen to a troubled sleep. That evening, John returned to the gardens, where he walked, and walked, and walked. His brother, the Duke of Crestfall, joined him there eventually. They spoke of their childhood. Good memories, from their youth, their family, their parents. Eventually, they spoke of the inevitable.

"I am afraid," the Regent confided in his brother.

After a long silence, Crestfall responded, "Good. Be sick to your stomach. It will be no different than our parents, and our grandfather."

"You are right, your grace. Fifty-six years I have been groomed and prepared. I am ready. Our country is ready."

@BenevolentManacles @Hunwald

The Lady Governor of the Augustine Palace, Anna Henrietta, places the missive upon the desk of the heir to Oren, John Charles. He scans it over and sets it down with a solemn sigh.

“How unfortunate,” he says. “The states of Almaris seem far more concerned with war and hatred than diplomacy and civilization. It seems only those who have earned the ire of our fellow descendants have realized that there may be a better way; one of peace, prosperity, and trade. The Foreign Office shall always be open to those states and peoples that would prefer collaboration and friendship to bloodshed. We will defend our way of life, and we shall protect our people and friends, but we will never succumb to pressures and threats. I truly believe a world order where we uphold good morals and relations between states is achievable, but it can only be accomplished if we do it together.”

He concludes with a quiet prayer from the canonist scrolls. “And Horen calls forth Godfrey and Malin, and speaks unto them ‘Lo, in your days you were each tempted with pride, and the world suffered. For Malin, you ruled beyond your days, and Godfrey, beyond your virtue. And by God’s will, I redeem you of your failures, and send you to work peace upon it.”

John Charles watches the Baron of Helvets bleed out on the ground. He grimaces at the sight of his dying friend. The Prince's thoughts swirled about. Why would you do this? What did you really think would come of your actions? You could have been so much more. So many dead, and yet nothing learned. When will our people move away from this sour cycle? He crosses the Lorraine over his chest. "May god have the mercy we could not."

The elderly prince gave the body one last look, before turning away. There was so much left to be done.

Good video, not a vassal

23rd Imperial Diet, House of Lords
 

The 23rd House of Lords convenes with the following Peers appointed as Imperial Grandees.

His Imperial Highness Prince John Charles, The Duke of Helena

Her Imperial Highness Princess, Elizabeth Anne, The Countess of Rosemoor

His Grace, Peter D'Arkent, The Duke of Sunholdt
His Beatitude Bram Cardinal Providentia, The Metropolitan of Providence
The Right Honorable Eric Othaman, The Viscount of Valles

The Right Honorable Iskander Basrid, The Count of Susa

The Right Honorable Richard Foltest, The Baron of Helvets
 

Among the Grandees, Duke Helena shall stand as Speaker of the House of Lords having been elected amongst his peers with a vote of 5 in favor.

[!] The newly elected Lord Speaker rises from his seat “As is tradition, at the promulgation of every diet, each lord must recite the ancient Nauzican Oath of fealty to the Crown in order to sit.”

“I swear to be true to the Emperor and the realm and not to maintain silence about any evil that I may know which is being contemplated against them. I swear to work tirelessly to the betterment of the Empire and the Orenian people that comprise it. I swear also not to eat or drink with traitors and not to have anything in common with them, and always to defend the honor of the gentlemen I serve. This I swear by the Holy Scrolls.”

At the conclusion of the oath, the Duke of Helena laid forth the proceeding business of the House.

 

John Charles bows his head to conceal his scowl. He looks to the Lady Governess of the Augustine,  Anna Henrietta. "I pity the family of this traitor. The once great House de Falstaff, 'besmirched' by the actions of a foolish generation."

Awesome video man

The Emperor's Sword

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The city of Providence buzzed with excitement throughout the day. Sharing their common purpose and resolve, men and women gathered that day from all corners of the Empire.  Subjects, soldiers, peers and civilians alike, stood together at the gates of Providence, ranging from the small town of Esbec to the southern mountains near Redenford. Officers of the Imperial State army hurried throughout the crowd, issuing red and blue flags to each attendee. By the early afternoon, the rays of the sun glistened on the assembled as each Orenian was outfitted. 

The General Peter d’Arkent, the Foreign Minister Peter Alexander d’Arkent, and Prince John Charles stood side by side beneath the gates, addressing the legion of Orenians. The General rendered a salute, carefully enclosing his fist, placing it over his heart as he straightened his frame. The Imperial Reds returned in unison, as they were addressed by His Imperial Majesty’s commander.

“Orenians!” The General’s voice boomed out over the throng. “Today we fight for the Emperor, to measure our capabilities to defend our country. As the Emperor’s Sword, we sharpen our fortitude! ” Banners of red and blue were erected amidst the crowd. 

The Prince spoke next: “Move to your banners and follow the captains to the rally point.”

The mass of Orenians rearranged themselves, locating their teams. “And March!” Ordered the General. The ground shook as the regiment of over eighty thousand marched down from the gates of Providence. The legions of red and blue formed up around their respective banners. The Prince, the General and the Minister beamed in pride as silence befell the crowd, awaiting their orders.
 

The Orenian forces shifted in anticipation. 

The Minister’s voice rang out once more. “Begin!”

The General and Captain Ruthern’s calls came in unison. “Charge! For Providence! For the Empire!” 

The air thundered. The bridge shuddered. The crowd exploded in a chorus. 

“For the empire!”

The lines of Orenians collided. The sound of steal on dulled steal rang with the fury and pride of thousands of civilians and soldiers alike. The skirmish continued throughout the day, fueled by the youthful Sun’s Smile from the sky.

The whetstone of labor and loyalty grinded the Emperor’s Sword ever sharper.

John Charles happily reads the flyer from chambers room in the Augustine. "Well done, Little Anna." He thinks of his nephew and soon to be niece-in-law. "I am so proud of you."

The crown prince approves.

John appears surprised. "What happened?"

When he received the letter, again, John was alone. A courier walked in, carrying a yellow envelope. John knew it was not good news. Whenever the couriers trudged in, silent and cold, it was not good news. He simply took the paper, and sat down. He unfolded it, and read the first paragraph. He read the note directed to him. The man had no reaction, not at first, at least. He simply stood up, and started walking. Courtiers would see him pacing around the Novellen Gardens. He was oblivious to their greetings. Oblivious to their calls. Some smiled, and tipped their hats or curtsied. Others knew what had happened, and expressed their condolences. Neither heard a reaction. He paced through the gardens, head bowed. Eventually, he found himself by the royal orchids. He stopped there, eyes fixed on the stems and dead flower blossoms at their feet. He stood there a long time. He didn't know how long. Minutes or hours didn't matter to him. Another fallen comrade. Another pulsing stem between his heart and his mind withered. "How much more will I endure?" He finally spoke. How many friends, comrades, teachers, parents, must I lose. He thought back to a sunny day in Novellen. He remembered Jahan's wrinkled smile. He remembered the Knight's mouth moving, another story. Another moral lesson. If only he'd listened. He saw his grandfather's face. He saw his mother's face. He saw Peter Amadeus, and Henry Marshal. His mouth tasted like blood. There was blood. He spit, red dousing the fallen flowers. He touched his lip. He'd bitten through the flesh. 

He walked home. That night, wails echoed through Trissingham.

John Charles was sitting alone in Trissingham when the news reached him. He had no words. Henry was the man who taught him what he fought for, the man who recruited him to the ISA. The man who trained him. While he sat there, alone, tears came to his eyes. When Peter Amadeus died, he’d taken up a sword. When his grandfather died, John hadn’t cried. When his mother died, John had held his head high, knowing what his people needed to see. When Henry died, he didn’t know who to blame. He didn’t know who to fight, he didn’t know what he had to do. Henry was a mentor, a soldier, a living embodiment of the soul of the nation. John had spoken to the old man, a few days before the election results had been published. Henry told him that he knew his life was nearing its end, but that he had unfinished work with the commons. Unfinished work. That is what John remembered now. He wiped away the tears, and moved to the window, looking out toward the cathedral. He saluted the Major.