Welcome to the first of what will hopefully be several â,¬Å"historicalâ,¬Â documents for the Red Valor world! With these, I actually intend to write, from an in-character perspective, various important letters, proclamations, folios, and even small books (hopefully they stay small...) that have either helped shape the history of the Tare or seek to document it. I've started on â,¬Å"A Brief History of the Tareâ,¬Â (which is quickly morphing into its own beast), but am currently committed to â,¬Å"The Rhodon Papersâ,¬Â-- a series of letters, proclamations, and reports between the Council of Rhodon and those who oppose its periodic findings. For more information on the Council, its purpose, and where it's headed, simply look below.
(Please also recognize that Preliminary Findings is likely to be somewhat dry and the tenses occasionally confusing. It is written from a very withdrawn and â,¬Å"legalâ,¬Â standpoint and future installments of this series will vary from this tone to passionate dissent to everywhere in between)
[ic=Preliminary Findings]
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF THE COUNCIL OF RHODON
The Authority of This Council
In the ancient and perilous days that followed the collapse of the Kettonian Empire, it was in the mind of Laurentius II to establish safeguards to prevent our fledgling Empire from consuming itself in the same manner as his forefathers' beloved realm had done. Among the foresights of Laurentius II was that, should the noble Hyrivius blood be unable to produce an adequate heir to the Kettan Throne, it would be most advantageous to have a peaceful method of transiting power. As such, he constructed a charter for a great Council that would arbitrate the matter; enacted only in the Empire's darkest hours, this Council would examine the bloodlines and character of several potential heirs and determine which possessed the greatest claim to the throne.
This Council's authority was not without its own dangers, and Laurentius did well to preserve its integrity. Three distinct requirements and derivative authorities were to be met for the proclamations of this Council to be considered Imperial Law.
The initial call for a Council would therefore be in the authority of the Headmaster of the Kettan Military Academy, considered by Laurentius to be the most stable and permanent office in the Imperial government.
The Council of Rhodon has met this requirement. A proclamation by Headmaster Aberecht Dergardt has been offered as public proof of this achievement.
The second requirement as constructed by the decree of Laurentius is in regards to the selection of membership of the Council. The members of this council are to be nominated and confirmed by three separate individuals. The first of these was named as the Consul, an office traditionally reserved in our Imperial government for the leader of the most prominent noble house loyal in service to the Empire. The second was to be the highest-ranking general within the Kettan Military. The third and final officer who participate in the selection process was to be the highest-ranking priest of Krio-Rionisis, patriarch of the gods. None of these officers nor their immediate families were to be permitted membership on the Council to avoid the appearance of gross injustice.
The Council of Rhodon has met this requirement. The membership of this Council has been selected and affirmed by newly-appointed Consul Mohen Lorell (as the office had been abandoned in recent years, this appointment was both necessary and proper), as well as General Lanthos Ergoth, highest ranking officer of the Kettan Military, as well as Kelor Onevus, Highest Priest of Rionisis. A joint proclamation issued by these three has been offered as public proof of this achievement.
The final requirement as constructed by the decree of Laurentius is in regards to the open and public forum through which the Council must operate. All sessions of the Council were to be open to all citizens of the Empire to attend, assuming their civility and observance of the rules of courtesy. In addition, all documents and findings of the Council were to be published and circulated throughout the Empire for the benefit of citizens both near and far. This is to ensure the accuracy and fairness of the Council's publishings.
The Council of Rhodon has met this requirement at present. Offered as proof is this document, its supplements, and the open forum upon which it shall be read and discussed. If there is such a time as the Council of Rhodon fails to correspond with this ongoing requirement, it offers the Inspector-General of the Internal Policing Corps the authority to pursue a binding investigation to be conducted in public view.
The Council of Rhodon is by Imperial Law obligated to first offer the throne to any direct descendants of House Hyrivius and its scions, previously and currently (to the knowledge of its proceedings) believed to be extinct.
The Purpose of This Council
It is not within the scope or interest of this assembly to assume legislative, judicial, or executive authority over the wide-spanning Kettan Empire. The membership present is convened for the sole purpose of examining, in order, the bloodlines, morals, family history, accomplishments, associates, political adeptness, and military experience of a variety of claimants to the Imperial Throne. Through such, the Council aims to provide a reasonable pathway to the coronation of the appropriate heir to the Imperial Throne through debate, reason, research, and intuition. The Council of Rhodon is also salient that the legacy and legitimacy of the Empire rests upon this decision.
The Members of This Council
The following nine members have been elected and confirmed in service to the Council of Rhodon:
Sir Bruwar Kaurig, noted for helping the transition of Higoth after the Ergoth Offensive.
Lord Lawrence Edwin Hyrvus IV, noted for his family's prominence in the Empire.
Lord Legendel Alticore, noted for his governance of the province of Aarington.
Citizen Braddle Silverhair, noted for his inventions and insight while in service to the Empire.
Respected Kalak Giantspear, noted for brokering peace amongst the people of the North.
Mistress Istilia Celuria, noted for her historical and magical knowledge.
Citizen Koto Shugen, noted for his spirituality and neutrality.
Bishop Rannos Ostreman, noted for his prominence in the church of Rionisis.
Major Gavrel Broggen, noted for his illustrious military career in service to the Empire.
The Claimants as Presented
As of yet, there have been five claimants to the Imperial Throne that the Council of Rhodon has deemed to bear the appearance of reason.
These presented:
Maximelius Detrivan II, scion and heir to the estate of the recently deceased Emperor Maximelius Detrivan. Maximelius II's claim to the throne is based on the ascendancy of his father to the Imperial Throne, his ability to command and reason in times of war and peace, and the considerable support he has among members of the Kettan Military. Detractors of this claim have denied the legitimacy of Maximelius I's ascendancy, going so far as to count it as treason. As no Council was convened to approve Maximelius I as an appropriate heir, this dissent is notable.
Tristan Lavria IV, scion and heir to the estate of the eradicated Royal Family of Vestin. Tristan IV possesses tenuous blood ties to both the Thuroon and Hyrivius Houses, and his claim primarily rests on these ties. Detractors of this claim have stated that the Lavria House no longer possesses its charters or nobility due to the fall of the monarchy in Vestin (an action and resulting government never recognized by the Empire). The veracity of Tristan IV's claim is considered to be somewhat suspect by this Council but deemed worthy of examination.
Veovis Thuroon XVI, the purported missing heir to House Thuroon. As proclaimed by the Council of Ketaad in 635 RA, House Thuroon is the legitimate ruling family of the Kettan Empire and its heirs are considered to be the rightful successors to the House Hyrivius. Originally presumed dead by both Kolann Deovus and the Kettan people at large, Veovis is highly reclusive and extraordinarily insular. It is unknown whether he is a pretender or truly the proper heir to the Imperial House and the disbandment of House Thuroon's noble charter by Emperor Kolann I complicates matters. Although this Council will continue its examinations, it appears that Veovis XVI's claim will be nearly impossible to verify.
Kolann Deovus II, scion and heir to the ousted House Deovus. Kolann Deovus II has based his claim on the deeds and ascendancy of his father, Emperor Kolann I. In similar fashion to Maximelius after him, Kolann I was not affirmed by a Council and his claim to legitimacy is therefore suspect. Kolann II claims his father's deed of conquering Baltia as a worthy enough deed to supersede the ties of blood and tradition. Another matter complicating Kolann II's claim recently is his considerably poor health, and with no heirs or familial ties, it is unlikely Deovus would be able to establish a dynasty. The Council has considerable doubts as to the legitimacy of this claim but will respectfully investigate the matter.
Artorius Somonus, scion and heir to the minor House Somonus. Somonus' claim rests on the blood ties his father's family has to House Thuroon as well as his mother's ties to the House Lavria of Vestin. Considered a competent commander and a hero of the Maximelian Imperial War, Somonus is also the High Prophet of Sicloran and held in high regard in the majority of the Empire. Detractors of Somonus' claim have noted the minor role House Somonus has played since its inception and have criticized his supporters as promoting the son of a lesser House. Although this Council acknowledges that House Somonus does not possess supremacy in any sense, it is prepared to investigate Artorius' claim on its own warrant.
The Direction of This Council
The Council of Rhodon has presented justification of its authority by Imperial Law, the primary purpose of its institutions, the membership and notoriety of its members, and the readily apparent and reasonable claimants to the Imperial Throne. As such, this Council will continue to conduct public hearings and examine the evidence presented in hopes of determining the appropriate heir to the Imperial Throne of Ketta. The Council shall be accepting proposals, biographies, noble charters, and other documentation to arbitrate the legitimacy of the claimants and shall conduct questioning and investigation to further those means. Should this Council fail to accomplish this in a timely manner, it offers to reconvene at a date determined by the Inspector-General or face disbandment. OBEI OSTI ONOS.[/ic]
I wasn't sure if this was a content-only thread, but I guess you can delete it if you want to ;)
Anyway, I think it is a good idea. Enough that I might steal it (yoink). It gives me an idea to do something besides a quotation or short story for every introductory section of Kishar, which can become tedious.
So kudos on the idea.
When providing a dry legal document, perhaps a colloquial summary might help your readers. You succeed in creating the tone of a bureaucrat, which I assume was the goal.
Quote from: Phoenix KnightI wasn't sure if this was a content-only thread, but I guess you can delete it if you want to ;)
don't[/b] do content-only threads, and if I
really wanted to, I'd just lock the thread. Because I can do that. ;)
Thanks for your feedback, by the way. And for all you people that read it (or part of it) and didn't comment: That's okay, there's more on the way. ;)
QuoteAnyway, I think it is a good idea. Enough that I might steal it (yoink).
It gives me an idea to do something besides a quotation or short story for every introductory section of Kishar, which can become tedious.
So kudos on the idea.
When providing a dry legal document, perhaps a colloquial summary might help your readers. You succeed in creating the tone of a bureaucrat, which I assume was the goal.
[/quote]The Sicolorian Objection[/i]!
-ElDo