Intermediate Law [Private, GM Peach]

[Tiyribi Andares]

Timestamp: Carmeylana, Third Cycle of Cryxatum, Winter.
Era X of the Age of the Darkening, Mageocracy of Julos the Mad.

OOC: Backing up the timestamp a bit so it makes sense with when Tiyr came here.

Typical morning life bustled throughout the city of Ethgan'tor as Tiyribi attempted to make her way through the crowded streets. Esh'lahier Elves, intermixed with a few Faeries, busied themselves with typical morning chores, examining merchants' carts and preparing for the coming brightening. It was a pleasant sight. Being among her own people again gave Tiyribi a sense of security, as if she belonged and wasn't an out-of-place oddity. There were no stares, no questioning glances, and, most of all, no suspicions. In Ethgan'tor, the Esh'lahier were Elves, descendants of the Ke'trala and children of the Archon Phedos. Their questionable past was forgotten with the prospect of a more admirable future. Here they could be respected as individuals and not judged on the basis of their pale skin. The truth of the story of the Elvish War was told and known to all inhabitants, and the Esh'lahier had little to fear from hateful lightborns or vengeful Vysstichi.

This morning, however, Tiyribi didn't mean to stare at the scenery or contemplate the true spirit of the Holy City. Earlier in the cycle, the pale Elf had arranged to begin another Law class, this one at the Intermediate level. It seemed like ages ago that Tiyribi had first been introduced to the Annarian Code and the basics of Allerian law while serving as an Alyssan Cadet in Midpoint. Tiyribi had grown to love the intricacies of the law and its power over the natural chaos that followed mortal beings. In her mind, the law represented everything that was good in Telath. It was Order and Justice. It gave each citizen a chance to make their own way through Telath without the prejudices of his peers. In a way, the Law kept flawed mortals from being just that; its regulations kept unhealthy desires and lusts in check in order to keep society running in its smooth and easy fashion.

A few more minutes passed before Tiyribi arrived at the appointed building, her violet eyes glancing over its edifice. It was built out of white marble, as every structure in Ethgan'tor was. In a way, the stone represented the Esh'lahier. It was cold, formal, and austere, but still held a delicate sophistication in its every shape. Perhaps the pale Elves' ancestors had seen the spirit in the stone as well and had chosen it for just that reason.

The front entrance opened easily as the Elf strode quickly into the main corridor, her gaze continually searching for the appropriate classroom. She hadn't met her teacher, but Tiyribi was certain the time would be pleasant, whether the teacher was or not. Esh'lahier tended to be demanding of their own, expecting perfection and the utmost of each student's capabilities. Perhaps the citizens of the City of the Esh'lahier nation would be different than their more rural cousins, but an Elf was an Elf, and, what was more, an Esh'lahier was an Esh'lahier.

Approaching the proper room, Tiyribi's fingers curled around the doorhandle as she pulled it toward her lithe body. Lessons would start today. She'd feel the aged parchment between her fingers and study even more deeply into the subtle nuances of the Code of Law. That Code dictated to every citizen what was acceptable and what was not as an outside guide to each person's own moral code. Some of the laws might not seem just, but then again, Justice wasn't always an abstract set of rules. Too often it was interlaced with power and authority rather than what was right and wrong. Tiyribi sighed audibly as the door continued to open. She quicky shut her thoughts away deep into her mind. Now wasn't the time for pondering. Now was the time for learning.

"Serale? Is anyone there?" the Esh'lahier called out, opting to use the Charismean greeting rather than the typical Esh'lahier. She'd probably be forced to speak in her native tongue during her lessons; it seemed to be expected of any pale Elf within their own Holy City. The slight fear of embarrassment still clung to Tiyribi's natural inclination to speak in her mother tongue. She knew well that her accent would sound foreign even within Ethgan'tor. Most wouldn't probably narrow the source to the Sherian society, but someone would eventually notice. They always did. Tiyribi shrugged once more as she pulled the door completely open and slipped into the room with typical Elvish stealth. "I've come for an Intermediate Law class. A thousand apologies if I've entered the wrong room, but I'm still new to the city."

[Peach]

It was a strange thing, indeed, to find one in love with the law. Especially when they belonged to a race such as Tiyribi's. The Esh'laheir weren't evil, for the main part, like their dark-skinned cousins. Yet they didn't mind a minor infraction of a few rules and regulations to further themselves. So, in a way, the young pale elf had chosen an odd place to receive her training in the ways of the Empire. A city who cared nothing for Empress or Mad Sorcerer, Aethercrown or Lylles, was liable to be slightly biased when it came to this particular skill. Yet, they were a wise race. Although not as old as the light elves in general, their life span stretched far. It was useful to know the ways of the Others, for children often ventured to and from the city in Pilgrimages of different sorts. Tiyribi was young enough to be considered experimental, and able to learn strange ways of justice, crime, and punishment. That she was so apt to do so was what made her special.

If not for the petty feuds, she may not have been so lucky. Yeranthas was willing to give their most skilled advisor in the way of the light born to teach the young woman, if only to save face. Rumors about their true intentions had begun to circulate throughout the marble buildings, causing the public to have a general and unannounced hatred for them. To dispel this, and regain any chance that they could have of becoming the Sun house, they would need to spread further knowledge of their almost non-existent kindness. Tiyribi was to be the starting point of this cycle. An intelligent girl who could bring up their status a miniscule amount with her knowledge. If she did gain a position with these newfound skills, simply learning that her success was due to the Yeranthas would be helpful, indeed. Perhaps she would never know of this... Or maybe she would guess at their intentions with mere intuition. Only time would tell.

Rae'nia was there, waiting for her newest pupil, when she slipped through the door. There would be no need to wait, on Tiyribi's part. The advisor was a woman of middling years, her four-hundreds perhaps, but this was quite hard to tell. She looked to be ageless, separate from the light-borns that could often be encountered on various travels. Her features were average for the elves, although still beautiful and refined in comparison to the Humans and other such races. Twilight-colored eyes rested over high cheekbones, glinting as sharply as a piece of flint. Her nose was thin, and her mouth shaped like a well-crafted cupid's bow. Her platinum hair was long, reaching just past her waist, and was positioned over the cowl of her priestess robes. They were white with silver trimmings, and were lengthy enough to pool about the floor and cover her hands. A subtle symbol or Orod, stitched in cream, adorned the front. "Welcome, welcome. You are in the right room, child." She motioned for Tiyribi to sit across from her and place her things on the ornate wooden desk.

It was rather difficult to pronounce the words of Charismean after all those years... If the dark elf had thought her Sherian accent bad, it was nothing compared to the Ethgan'torian one of her teacher. The syllables were sharp, some of them slightly guttural, with a sort of grace that only others of the dark kind could listen to without some feelings of discomfort at its strangeness. "My name is Rae'nia, I am a priestess of Orod, and the chief advisor of foreign affairs for the house Yeranthas." She sighed, disappointed at being required to relay that useless mouthful. Nothing, however, could be denied of her superiors... "I understand that you are to continue to Intermediate law training. Would you quickly tell me what you have learned in your basic studies?" Interlacing her fingers together, Rae'nia rested her elbows on the table and studied the self-proclaimed newcomer. She didn't look to be a fool... But one could never tell with those of her age.

[Tiyribi Andares]

OOC: Holy freaking cow, you're like...Superwoman.

It struck Tiyribi as odd that her new teacher hadn't switched to the Esh'lahier tongue, despite Tiyribi's earlier use of Charismean. The young Elf hadn't heard the Common Speech used within Ethgan'tor's walls, except, perhaps, from her own mouth. It was obvious that Rae'nia was as uncomfortable with her Charsimean as Tiyribi was with her Esh'lahier. Tiyribi smiled bemusedly as she fully entered the room, following her teacher's handmotions toward the indicated seat. It was obvious that, despite their shared heritage, student and teacher would have difficulty communicating throughout the duration of the class. By this time, it'd be awkward for Tiyribi to revert into Esh'lahier despite the fact it was painfully obvious that Rae'nia's Charismean was very rusty. It'd probably be more polite to allow the teacher to choose which language she wished to use, but perhaps Rae'nia thought Tiyribi had spoken Charismean out of habit. The young Elf shrugged as she slid into the seat, thoughts still racing. It'd be a rather difficult class, indeed.

A pale eyebrow arched as Rae'nia mentioned her rank as priestess of Orod. Tiyribi knew from old lore and her short time in the city that the Esh'lahier of Ethgan'tor were rather general in their worship of the Aetherian deities. The Tiri'yaana was evidence enough for that fact. Still, Tiyribi couldn't quell the growing feeling of admiration and respect for her teacher at the mention of Tiyribi's chosen Aetherian. It'd make sense, of course, that someone so advanced in the law would have dedicated her life to the God of Order and Logic. That alone meant more to Tiyribi than Rae'nia's association with House Yeranthas. Despite the continual nagging worry about languages, Tiyribi's initial discomfort began to dissipate. There was so much the younger Elf could learn from the elder, both in and out of the books of Law. All it required was a bit of attention...and, perhaps, a resolution of the ever-present barrier of communication.

The question about Tiyribi's previous law training required a great deal of thought. Nearly an entire Era had passed since the Esh'lahier had studied at the Lord Holland University in Midpoint. She had been introduced to the basics of Alleria's code of Laws, but the specific details remained a little fuzzy in her mind. Hopefully Rae'nia didn't expect a word-for-word recitation of the lessons. "I initially studied in Midpoint at the University there," she began. Tiyribi nervously twisted a strand of pale hair around her long index finger before weaving it behind her doubly-pointed ears. In a different place, Tiyribi would be terribly self-conscious about her notable appendage, but here fear had little place. "I studied through the tenets of the Annarian Code, mostly, and reviewed the various political positions within the Empire and their particular responsibilities. Of course, my professor was not of our blood, and the environment was decidedly secular." A corner of her thin mouth played upward in a fond smile as her mind returned to the memory of her first law professor. He had been a kind man and had genuinely encouraged her in her pursuit of self-improvement. If the first few minutes of her next Law class were any indication, Tiyribi'd have very fond memories of this teacher as well.

The half-smile disappeared as a sudden inspiration crossed her mind, setting Tiyribi into a thoughtful mood. Old words were brought in through her mind as the familiarity of her natural Esh'lahier tongue warmed her mouth as the sounds were formed. Her accent was thick and round, slurring the ends of each word. "Mistress Rae'nia, would you prefer I use the tongue of our people instead of the Common?" A part of her mind still acutely felt the embarrassment at her odd accent on her mother tongue, but Tiyribi thought it best to set her teacher at ease, at least to perhaps soften the younger Esh'lahier's initial impression.

[Peach]

Rae'nia chuckled amusedly as her student began to look slightly uncomfortable. Long a Mystic, she didn't need to pry into one's mind to read their basic thoughts... Connecting a facial expression, or body language, to the actual mind had long since become second nature. Unlike the other patrons of the Temple, followers of Orod commonly practiced a different sphere than Thaumaturgy, which only made sense. And logic was, indeed, what the Orodians were after. Tiyribi would have no need to worry, though. She wasn't forbidden, and was sometimes actually encouraged, to read the minds of students, but doing so with no reason went against her basic principles. Rae'nia stayed politely silent as her Esh'laherian pupil mused over what she wished, happy to do some quick thinking, herself. For without thought, there would be no Law. Again, something that the dark elves understood quite well, but did not necessarily follow.

She nodded as Tiyribi mentioned where her studies had last taken place. Enmoria had once housed a pale elven Legate, although that position was no more. Moranor had not known it, but Ethgan'tor kept close taps on himself and his family. They would not let their race be ashamed by an embarrassing House, as the light Elves and the Humans had been. So far, the Andares had kept in line. Quite a good thing for the girl within the holy city. "It isn't wrong to study with one of another race. It will give you a valuable viewpoint later on in life." A vague smile meandered across the Priestess' features as she remembered her first professor of the Annarian code. She had, as the one before her, traveled to different cities about the Empire after leaving her Vaen Darthien family. Of course, no personal things that she had done with the light elven man who taught her would be told to the innocent youth... "Well, your knowledge of the Annarian code will be exercised as we work through the Articles of Imperium."

After giving Tiyribi a pitying and understanding glance, Rae'nia continued. "There are... Quite a few of them, as I'm sure you already know." Well, even so, this class was quite essential for anyone leaning towards the foray of politics. No Law classes after this one would be required, either, for it counted as Advanced as well as Intermediate. The Esh'laheir shook her head as her student slipped into their home tongue, although not in disagreement. Quite relieved for the change, she began to speak fluently in Dark Elven. "It matters not to me. Whichever you find easier to learn in, I will speak. Although I am old, it doesn't mean that I have forgotten everything yet." Her tone was decidedly playful, making it obvious that she didn't wish to chide Tiyribi for being unsure of which language to speak. Rae'nia made note of the woman's accent, and began to wonder from which province she came. It was obviously light in nature, not the sharp and clipped way in which most of her kind spoke. "We could even use light elven if you wish..." The Priestess laughed at her attempt of the Lightling's tongue, which had been completely, and almost mockingly, butchered. She never had much use for it, and therefore that certain language had long gone unpracticed.

"But back to what we came for. I don't see any reason that we shouldn't start immediately. You've already been 'unbound', in sorts, to Law." She held out a piece of paper upon which the first parts of the Articles were written. Rae'nia had intentionally picked out a copy written in Esh'laherian. It would be insulting to Tiyribi to assume that she only read in Common, even if it were true. Underneath each article was, conveniently, a translation into Charismean. This was what had helped the Orod worshipper to become literate in both tongues, back when she was a small girl.

Title I ~ Preamble

ARTICLE 1
Declaration of Imperium
"We, the Allerian People, do hereby submit ourselves to and entrust our destinies before Emperor Constantine and Empress Michelle, the Sovereign Monarchs of the Allerian Empire, and to them defer our freedoms and liberties in exchange for security and safety before the Sacred Three."

ARTICLE 2
Proclamation of the Empire
"We, Emperor Constantine and Empress Michelle, Sovereign Monarchs of the Allerian Empire, do hereby promulgate these Articles of Imperium, in order to constitute the legitimate authority and sovereign integrity of the Allerian Empire. The Articles of Imperium, from this date, 9 Kalendryas of the Year 9259, for all perpetuity, shall remain eternally binding, and shall serve as the Organic Law of the Realm. No prince, potentate or constituency shall have the power to defy these articles, nor shall any provision be made which contracts the authority vested within this constitution. We so ordain and proclaim it, by the Sacred Three."

Title II ~ Power of Imperium

ARTICLE 3
Sovereignty
Section 1: Alleria constitutes itself into an imperial state of law which advocates Law, Order and Justice as the superior values of its legal order.
Section 2: National sovereignty belongs to the gods, who recognize and imbue a sovereign monarch as their lieutenant.
Section 3: The political form of the Allerian State is the Imperial Monarchy.

ARTICLE 4
Origin of Imperium
Section 1: The Nation of the Allerian People, and all sovereign lands and territorial possessions, protectorates past present and future, and any administrates thereof, is proclaimed the Allerian Empire, or Imperium Allerianum. The Allerian Empire shall exist in all perpetuity and be indissoluble. The Sovereign Integrity of the Allerian Empire, and of the powers that guide it, shall be known as the Imperium.
Section 2: Any lands or islands that are formed or that may appear in Alleria's territorial waters, in whole or in part, shall form an irrevocable part of the national territory of the Empire.
Section 3: The territory of the Empire extends into the atmosphere above the lands and waters. This territory is sacred and inviolable. It shall not be ceded, reduced or broken up. This territory is claimed, occupied and administered by right of history and shall never be abandoned.

After the pale elf had finished, Rae'nia gave her a copy of the Annarian code in the same format as the first paper, and continued on with the lesson. "I believe that the first Title and its two Articles are self-explanatory. In them, the people of the Empire completely lay themselves at the feet of the Monarchs, and said Royalty completely submit their power to it underneath the gaze of their Lord Ioannes." There was a touch of bitter irony in her voice, although the elf kept her feelings for the articles in check. They were broken so often by the very people who had sworn to them, that they seemed less powerful than ever before. "Now, excluding the Preamble if you wish to do so, how do these two Articles coincide with the Annarian code? And are any of them commonly, or have been at a monumental time in history, broken?"

ooc: Not really, just trying to cram in as many posts as possible before *shudder* school starts in two days ):

[Tiyribi Andares]

Lavender eyes brightened with amusement as Tiyribi reacted to her teacher's jest, setting her intiial discomfort away. The younger Elf hadn't understood every word of the Light Elvish question, but enough of the meaning came through to complete the joke. Despite her position as a priestess of the God of Logic, Rae'nia seemed to exude a genuine aura of kindness and compassion. Of course, the Orodites didn't exactly exclude such generous emotions, but they also weren't known for their compassion for others. They tended to be a bit cold and unfeeling, taking everything in life analytically. The exaltation of the mind seemed to leave very little room for emotional warmth. Perhaps, to welcome more citizens into the patronage of Orod, the robes of the priesthood required each member to reach out to her fellows, despite the teachings of the Church. It didn't make much sense, but it was the best solution Tiyribi could come to from her current train of thought.

Tiyribi's pale fingers met with the proferred parchment from Rae'nia, her eyes immediately settling on the well-scripted words. Indeed, she had been 'unbound' into the realm of Law. The young Esh'lahier had just tapped the surface of the inner workings of the world of Order by studying the very basest foundation: The Annarian Code. Now Rae'nia was offering the Articles of the Imperium to continue Tiyribi's full initiation into Politics. A small smile crossed her pale features as Tiyribi placed the parchment gently on the tabletop in front of her, smoothing its lines with her palms. She glanced quickly at her teacher before disappearing in the world of the Articles' words, carefully reading and studying each line. Tiyribi had, as any good Allerian citizen, heard of the Articles of the Imperium before, but she hadn't actually read them before. The names of the past crown heads were almost strange to read. Now, all popular talk was of the insurgent Empress Audrey and the Mage Julos. Tiyribi idly wondered how many different Emperors Rae'nia had lived under, then quickly returned her attention to reading the complete Articles.

Resting her elbow on the table below, Tiyribi cradled the side of her face within her palm, settling it slightly tilted to the side. As she finished her reading, her amethyst eyes turned slowly to Rae'nia's features as her teacher began explaining the beginning parts of the Articles. As Rae'nia concluded with her question, Tiyribi's gaze returned to the parchment, running down each of the four Articles again. Her knowledge of the Annarian Code was a little fuzzy, while her knowledge of the Empire's history was even worse. The young pale Elf's face crossed with a half-smile as she fought to draw up any helpful memories from her mind. Her hand dropped, extending her index finger to trace the progress of her eyes along the words. "How do they coincide with the Annarian Code?" Tiyribi repeated questionably, the Esh'lahier words falling off her tongue with comfortable familiarity. Rae'nia's earlier jest had set her student at ease in many realms, including her initial self-consciousness. It'd be good to practise, anyway. She hadn't many opportunities to use her mother tongue in the world outside.

The index finger stopped at the first line underneath the third Article, pointing at a set of words toward the end. "Here," Tiyribi indicated, "The Third Article states that Alleria 'advocates Law, Order, and Justice as the superior values of its legal order'. The Annarian Code says much the same, in 'The Sacred Three shall be thine primacy'. It was the first tenet of the Code, much as this is the first Section of the Articles." Her finger migrated up a few more lines into the Preamble. "Here, in the first Article, the Declaration of the Imperium, the citizens of the Empire swear to submit themselves to the authority of the Emperor and Empress. The Annarian Code also states that the citizens of the Empire have a responsibility to the Crown to swear fealty to it and its set government in return for the protection and guidance offered by the Crown." A slight smile of bemusement crossed Tiyribi's face as her finger withdrew, her mind turning to what some were calling the "Imperial Crisis". The self-appointed Emperor Julos did little to protect his citizens; that much was obvious from his treatment of the city of Prime. Audrey de Lylles still seemed too foreign to be considered any paragon of virtue, either. Her efforts seemed supremely concentrated on winning the throne. Perhaps, with the change of time, the weight of responsibility to the Empire had changed as well.

It seemed Tiyribi's current train of thought ran along Rae'nia's second question exactly. The young dark Elf's smile turned genuine as she glanced down at the Articles once more, searching for a proper answer. There were unestimable times the Articles had been broken. The history of the Empire wasn't without its faults. "Many of the Articles are commonly broken, Mistress," Tiyribi began, her eyes still locked onto the words. "Here, in the Preamble, the citizens of the Empire release their freedoms and liberties for safety and security from the Crown. At this time, however, 'safety and security' have been forgotten with the encroachment of the Xet and the war between Audrey and Julos." Tiyribi's smile fell from her pale face as her finger traced further down the parchment, moving into the second title. "Law, Order, and Justice aren't always the 'superior values of the legal order'. More often money, greed, and power are. Officials are corrupted by bribery and their own lusts. They don't seek to encourage justice, but only their own interests."

"Here," the Esh'lahier began again, scanning further down the Articles, "While the Gods might own the national sovereignty, the nation doesn't always respect that fact. Later, it mentions that the Allerian Empire is indissoluble, but recently Jaedaxia of Carmelyn Province and Frigid River of Lauryl have ceeded from the Empire to form their own separate states with little response from the Empire. Obviously the lands of the Empire do not exist in perpetuity." Tiyribi smiled ruefully as she returned her gaze to her teacher, folding her hands carefully in front of her chest. "I'm afraid I've talked mostly about present events. My knowledge of history is limited, at best. I'm afraid I can't pinpoint any specific time in history the Articles have been broken, although I'm sure they have quite often. It seems to be the common practise of the Allerian government." A shrug curled Tiyribi's thin shoulders as her gaze intensified, waiting eagerly for her teacher's response.

[Peach]

Tiyribi was correct in thinking that many Orodites, especially those dedicated to serving the God, were more interested in logic than feeling. Rae'nia was an exception to this widely general rule. She was intelligent, yet her thoughts were more quick than mulling, allowing for her to show emotion in between her times of study. To her, all the world was a school, not just the books that many of her fellow Priests and Priestesses confined themselves to. As she met knew people, the dark elf gained knowledge of their customs, and analyzed them as she saw fit. A different approach than many followers had, but an effective one none the less. The Church definitely didn't encourage its patrons of knowledge to reach out to others... If they felt a calling to serve, they would come. Forcing and ungifted one to learn only created falsities, and profaned the name of Orod and the thought that he had given to the sentient races. Recruitment would be left to the more... Light-hearted deities of the Bright Temple.

Settling back in her chair and folding her hands on her lap, Rae'nia listened to the careful explanations of the pale elven girl. Well, she could pick up the painfully obvious portions of the Laws and connect them quite well to the Code. There wouldn't be much training required in this until they arrived upon the more complex and subtle portions of the Articles. "I believe that you're right, Miss Andares. It seems that one of the most important laws, to the Empire, is complete submission to the current ruler along with the Pantheon of Aetheria." Power was distributed in a mildly democratic way to the Thanes and the positions beneath them, but when one thought about it, those people could easily be overruled. Although it gave the illusion of being mighty, they were just puppets of the highest powers... Then, one could also say that of the Emperor. Alleria was special in its control spilling forth from the actual heavens, instead of mortals walking the surface of Telath.

"Indeed, while Audrey and Julos are locked in struggle, they have quite forgotten the needs of their Empire." Rae'nia sighed, feeling slightly sorry for the people toiling underneath them. Ethgan'tor was a fitting escape from their arguments and wars, none of which followed the paths of righteousness. "Yes, the secessions are a demonstration of the avoidance of law. Audrey sought to 'correct' Jaedaxia's ways, yet practically ignored Frigid River when it annexed from the Empire in her name." The corners of the priestess' mouth twitched upwards as she commented dryly. "Still, others are breaking the law, as well, by siding with Julos. Vers, for example, hasn't left the Empire, but they are technically not serving who they promised to in the Articles." Rae'nia shook her head in dismissal as the student apologized for her lack of historical knowledge. It didn't matter much anymore, whether one knew of times past or not. They were largely ignored by almost everyone on Telath, as the future was always the much more promising time. "Now, for a while, the Articles will continue in a vein that doesn't prompt much discussion. You can scan over these quickly, and ask any questions if you wish." Written neatly on the next piece of yellowing parchment was the following:

ARTICLE 5
The Sacred Three

The Allerian Empire shall be guided for all eternity by the Sacred Three Virtues, as ordained by Diana, Goddess of Aetheria, Mother of the Allerian Nation. The Sacred Three Virtues shall be recognized as Law, Order and Justice. Any agent of the Allerian Empire that pursues the Sacred Three shall have its legitimate Imperium placed beyond question.

ARTICLE 6
Imperial Capital

The Allerian Empire shall have its sole imperial capital at Alleria Prime. All agents of Imperium shall have offices, office proxies, or other places of official business, in the imperial capital.

ARTICLE 7
National Flag

The National Flag of the Allerian Empire, serving as the Imperial Flag of Alleria, is the black and red horizontal bicolor, adopted by Queen Diana in the Year 8250. The black represents the Imperium, the Government and its Supreme Authority; the red represents the Sacred Three and its Eternal Power. The flag shall have the image of a golden crown at its exact center so long as a monarch sits upon the Throne of Eternity. The flag is to be flown inverted during times of declared war or emergency.

ARTICLE 8
National Language

The sole historic and national language of the entire Allerian People is the Allerian language, as the tongue spoken by the Ancient Allerians. The Imperium, and any Government which acts under its authority, may conduct their affairs in such language as they shall determine. All official documents purported as indicative of Imperium shall be formally presented in the national language and, alternatively, in the Common Tongue.

ARTICLE 9
Coat of Arms

The Coat of Arms of the Allerian Empire shall be the sole official symbol of the Allerian Empire, the Imperium, and any Government which acts under its authority. The Coat of Arms is thus emblazoned: "Azure, billity or, a lion rampant of the same, armed and langued gules, crowned with a coronet of two pearls between three leaves, a sword argent with hilt or, thrusted upwards, in its right hand claw seven arrows argent with heads or, tied in a garb with ribbon or, in its left hand claw. The Alleria Imperial Crown resting on the ledge of the shield, supported by two lions rampant or, armed and langued gules, placed above a ribbon azure, with the word ALLERIA in gold lettering. The whole placed above a royal mantling purple trimmed or, lined ermine, tied back at the corners with gold tassled cords and issuing from a domed canopy of the same, surmounted by the Alleria Imperial Crown."

ARTICLE 10
National Anthem

The National Anthem of the Allerian Empire is "The Imperial March", as composed by High Queen Melody du Lauryl. (Amended 9511)

ARTICLE 10
National Motto

The National Motto of the Allerian Empire is "Lex Ordo Iustitiaque", translated as "Law, Order and Justice."

ARTICLE 11
Money

The monetary unit of the Allerian Empire is the "Crown", and its derivative coin, the "Silver". No other currencies may be issued in the Allerian Empire, as provided by law.

ARTICLE 12
Factions

Section 1: Unions, leagues, and other associations of artisans and trade craftsmen, owning their own practice, contribute to qualities and standards for commerce. Their creation and the exercise of their activity are free within the observance of these articles and the laws.

Section 2: Guilds of Adventurers contribute to the defense and protection of their interests. Their creation and the exercise of their activity are free within the observance of these articles and the laws.

Section 3: Houses of Nobility, and other such organized families, contribute to the defense and protection of certain social or cultural interests. Their creation and the exercise of their activity are free within the observance of these articles and the laws.

Section 4: No faction of political interest conspiring in opposition to the sovereignty of the Allerian Empire shall be permitted or tolerated.

ARTICLE 13
The Armed Forces

Section 1: The Armed Forces, constituting the Imperial Army, the Imperial Navy, and any other branch of military or martial power directly subordinated to the Imperium, have as their mission the guarantee of the sovereignty and independence of Alleria, the defense of its territorial integrity and the imperial order.

Section 2: An organic law will regulate the basis of military organization in conformity with the principles of the articles herein.

"But tell me one thing before we move on to Article Three... Why, do you think, is there an Annarian Code along with the Articles of Imperium?" She'd received many different answers in her times of teacher, and quite a few students couldn't even provide one. At times, they seemed to be one and the same, simply reiterating each other uselessly to the future generations. Was it simply because one was written before the other? Or was there further meaning? Rae'nia raised her eyebrows in a quizzical look, awaiting her pupil's lofty response.

[Tiyribi Andares]

Eyes brightened while mouth smiled as a wave of pride washed through Tiyribi's veins, her ears still listening intently to her teacher's responses to the younger Elf's previous observations. A slight color rose to her alabaster cheeks, forcing Tiyribi to dip her head quickly toward the table top before her. Long fingers played around the edges of the parchment, curling them up before returning them to their original position. Of course, Rae'nia hadn't been as gushingly approving as her previous law professor had, but the elder Esh'lahier had reinforced Tiyribi's observations rather than contradicting them. Of course, with age Elves gained uncanny abilities to hide their true feelings behind a facade. Esh'lahier might have been more susceptible to emotions than their lightborn cousins, but that still didn't take away from their natural propriety. Rae'nia's words could have been simply polite, but she seemed too kind and genuine to put on false pretenses. Then again, one could never be sure when the dark Elven blood would run to the surface of an Esh'lahier.

The pale Elf woman's gaze turned from first parchment to second, breraking only to glance quickly at her teacher for instruction. Her head nodded slightly at Rae'nia's assessment of the next set of Articles before allowing her attention to turn completely to the paper in front of her. Lavender orbs began to scan the paper from left to right, her mind registering each Esh'lahier word with ease. At first examination, Tiyribi quickly realised what Rae'nia had meant by saying the next set required little discussion. It seemed the ancients had a way for repeating themselves, and often repeating the obvious. Strands of white hair shivered as Tiyribi unconsciously shook her head, her eyes locked onto the prominent mention of Diana in the top Article. Allerians, mostly Humans and the other lesser races, had a strange fascination with the exalted mortal Goddess. Tiyribi had heard the story of Diana's supposed miraculous rescue of the Empire many times, but her feeling of disgust hadn't changed. The Goddess was an upstart, grasping at a realm that ought to be reserved for the Gods and not some elevated Ancient Allerian. Tiyribi sighed. Her finger dropped onto the parchment to trace each word, drawing her attention back to the matter at hand.

This particular section of the Articles read like a quick fact sheet on every important element of the Allerian Empire. It named Alleria Prime as its capital, described the national flag and other artistic elements, and set the accepted national language. To anyone raised within the boundaries of the Empire, these facts would have been drilled into them from an early age. Tiyribi had seen the standards bearing the Imperial Crest; she had fingered the traditional golden crown in her leather purse more times than she could count. A slight raise of her eyebrow signed her annoyance at the repetition of what she already knew well, but she trudged through the reading. The young Elf had no intention of disappointing her teacher out of lack of effort. She'd do enough of that from her lack of pertinent knowledge.

Finally her finger crossed the Thirteenth Article, stopping at its subtitle. Armed Forces. Quickly shutting away unpleasant memories, Tiyribi continued down the page, quickly scanning over the last few lines. Her eyes stopped at the second section and second word, forehead crossing with lack of understanding. The word translated itself into Charismean, then back into its original Esh'lahier with little comprehension from either tongue. Tiyribi turned questioningly to her teacher, finger pointed carefully at the unknown word. "Mistress Rae'nia, could you perhaps explain the word 'organic' to me?" Tiyribi asked, still in fluent Esh'lahier. "I'm afraid I'm not familiar with it, particularly in this context. What exactly is the Second Section of Article Thirteen trying to say about the Armed Forces?" The younger Elf turned the yellowed parchment toward her teacher, still indicating at the area she questioned.

Tiyribi's eyes fluttered thoughtfully as she listened to her teacher's next question. The young Esh'lahier funnelled every part of her mind into the process of recalling the complete Annarian Code to memory, tracing each word into her mind. Why was there an Annarian Code as well as the Articles of Imperium? Obviously the ancient minds thought it best to repeat the obvious until it somehow entered a student's brain. Tiyribi half-smiled, then shook her head, returning her thoughts to more serious avenues. "It seems that the Articles of the Imperium are more detailed, more complete," Tiyribi began, her eyes now opened and locked onto the set of Articles in front of her. "The Annarian Code was a simple guideline for proper decorum for an Allerian citizen. It addressed the way Allerian citizens ought to comport themselves and treat their government, their neighbors, and their possessions. The Articles are, obviously, much more detailed, and hold every small fact about the actual Allerian government in its pages. Rather than addressing the citizens directly, the Articles seem to describe the form of the government and what defines it, from what I've read. So...I suppose the Annarian Code addresses the citizens while the Articles address the government." Intent amethyst eyes turned to Rae'nia's pale features, eagerness traced on every feature of her face. Tiyribi knew her answer was a bit of a stretch, but, in her mind, it made sense. Now it only had to make sense in her teacher's.

[Peach]

Rae’nia simply blinked her steel-colored eyes as her student blushed with the pleasure of getting an answer right. She was used too training haughty young nobles, who always believed their word to be the correct one. Perhaps she had been misunderstanding Tiyribi’s intentions when the dark elf assumed that she was like all the rest. She hadn’t been so full of compliments as the girl’s last teacher because the priestess didn’t see fit to give many. The Esh’laheir was bright, yes, but Rae’nia was used to following the scriptures of Orod with people of high intelligence. If anything, Tiyribi’s common sense was more impressive than her more selective brain power. It gave a new way to look at the Articles and the Annarian code, without picking them apart overly much as had been done in the past. When one dwelled too deeply within the worlds of analogies and criticism, it was quite hard to see the answers dwelling on the surface once again. Yet another curse of the knowledge of such old age…

Judging by the position of Tiyribi’s eyes in relation to the paper, along with her response, Rae’nia surmised towards the conclusion. Not many Esh’laheir were too highly in favor for the warrior goddess. One could see it from the lack of visitors to her wing of the temple, and the general nonchalance when her name was mentioned. Unlike Ioannes, or even Haya, she failed to generate much of a response from the elder mortal races of the realm. It was interesting, indeed, that the girl wasn’t in favor to her. If she was making a gesture of disapproval, that is. Somehow, the Yeranthas doubted that her apt pupil had become upset over the colors of the flag or the state of the Allerian national anthem. Still, she did not mention the Allerian, and Rae’nia didn’t push it. Even if she hadn’t had a good philosophical discussion branching into that area for quite a long time… Sad, really, when one thought about who she was around all day. Yet, the followers of Orod were more likely to comment on the machinations of the Empire instead of the Heavens. That was the God’s territory, himself, not theirs.

“Organic, as you most likely know, means ‘from the earth’ out of this context. An organic crop, perhaps, isn’t diluted by means of Arcana or other unnatural things.” If Tiyribi had, indeed, been raised by the Eli’tha, then she would probably have her fair share of knowledge when it came to agriculture. Something that could be useful if one ever ventured to run a city… “In this particular instance, I believe that it means ‘to be run from within.’ Therefore, although the higher powers of the Empire generally watch over the armed forces, they need to be lead by lesser people such as Captains.” Rae’nia almost winced at the unclear language of her explanation. It was hard to relay something into simple words when it evaded concrete meaning, itself. “It also may tell us that all of these government-run armies must be loyal to the Crown. Ergo, rebel factions are not to be permitted by the Empress.” This particular instance in the Articles was one that students often found trouble with. The teacher had, herself, back in the day when she had first been learning.

Gray eyes sparkling, the Priestess nodded at her student’s words. She hadn’t approached the dual sets of laws from the direction in quite a long time, instead perusing the texts for a deeper meaning. Now that she thought about it again, though, Tiyribi’s idea seemed freshly simple. And amazingly right. “Yes, the nobles seem to let power get to their heads more easily than citizens, do they not? I would think that more detail would be required for them… Then again, not much has been expected lately from the people of the Empire.” The current leaders didn’t seem to care if the Annarian code was being followed, as long as the acts of criminals didn’t intervene with their careful plans. And now they would get to read about the positions of those very royals, themselves. Holding back a chuckle at the irony of the situation, Rae’nia placed the next rather stiffened piece of parchment in front of the younger pale elf. “You obviously appreciate the powers of discussion, Miss Andares. Why don’t you lead in your own way with questions and comments when you have finished?” This was a student that didn’t need to be tied down by the strictest of guidelines. It was time to set her free in the world of academics.

Title III ~ The Crown
ARTICLE 14
The Monarchy
The Allerian Empire shall have its Imperium monopolized exclusively by a Monarchy, invested by the Goddess Diana and Her Successors. The Sovereign Monarch of the Allerian Empire is the Emperor (or, if female, the Empress), serving as Head of State and Head of the Allerian Empire. The Emperor shall be styled as "His (or Her) Most Imperial Majesty" or "His (or Her) Imperial Majesty" in all circumstances.

ARTICLE 15
The Emperor
The person of the Emperor is inviolable and is not subject to responsibility. The Emperor exclusively wields the power of Imperium, and inherent to Imperium as a function of state, is granted certain powers, including: the right to issue edicts and proclamations, declare national holidays, grant titles of nobility, grant imperial charters of ownership of land, make periodic speeches and addresses from any place and to any audience, to veto bills or decrees, to issue Writs of Dissolution and Warrants of Prorogation for any organ of government, to grant pardons and commute sentences, to confer awards and decorations, to appoint or dismiss any and all agents or officials of the State, and to appoint or dismiss any and all agents or officials of the Realm. The Emperor shall know no limit of power, have exclusive right and privilege to wear the Imperial Crown, wield any symbols of State and Realm, sit upon the Throne of Eternity, and assume any other roles, responsibilities or functions that He may so deem fit.

ARTICLE 16
Title of the Emperor
The historic and official title of the Emperor of the Allerian Empire is:
"His (or Her) Most Imperial Majesty, Emperor ___________________ (name), by the Glory of Ioannes and the Grace of Diana, Emperor of the Allerian Empire and of all its Realms and Regions, High King of Alleria, Lord and Protector of Insula Coronae, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Guardian of the Commonwealth, Leader of the Alliance, Head of the Church of the Sacred Three, Defender of the Faith."

ARTICLE 17
The Empress or Imperial Consort
Whosoever shall be united in sacra matrimonia with the Emperor may, upon the Emperor's command, reign and rule as Empress along side. The Emperor may refuse to recognize as his peer and equal his spouse, and in such circumstances, she shall be styled "Her Imperial Highness", titled Imperial Consort; and, in the latter case, shall wield no Imperium, or be permitted to enjoy any office of privilege or duty or execute authority of any sort in the Allerian Empire.

ARTICLE 18
The Crown Prince
Any offspring that the Emperor and Empress produce shall be styled "His (or Her) Most Imperial Highness" or "His (or Her) Imperial Highness", titled Prince (or Princess). The eldest offspring produced from a coupling of the Emperor and Empress shall be styled "His Most Imperial Highness" or "His Imperial Highness", titled Crown Prince (or Crown Princess).

ARTICLE 19
The Imperial Family
Any persons and individuals related to the Emperor within two degrees shall be styled "His (or Her) Glorious Highness", titled Archduke (or Archduchess). Furthermore, said persons and individuals shall be prohibited from holding any office of duty or privilege wielding Imperium in the Allerian Empire. Finally, all said persons and individuals shall be collectively recognized as the Imperial Family and shall hold residence, along with the Emperor, on Insula Coronae.

ARTICLE 20
State of Intendancy
Upon the Emperor's temporary incapacitation, as determined by a physician previously designated as Imperial Physician by the Emperor, or disappearance not to exceed seven years, the Crown Prince (or Crown Princess) shall assume the throne as Intendant and declare a State of Intendancy, enjoying all powers and privileges of said office, until such a time as the Emperor regains capacity or dies.

ARTICLE 21
State of Regency
Upon the Emperor's death, as certified by a physician previously designated as Imperial Physician, or disappearance of the Emperor to exceed seven years, an Imperial Regent previously appointed by the Emperor shall assume the throne and declare a State of Regency, enjoying all powers and privileges of said office, and organize a Rite of Succession.

ARTICLE 22
Rite of Succession
When the Throne of Eternity is vacant, or when a State of Regency is declared, any and all persons may declare themselves Candidates to the Throne, and assemble on Insula Coronae no later than seven years following a declaration of a State of Regency, and perform a Rite of Succession, whereupon the Gods shall ordain a proper Successor to the Throne. Once a Successor to the Throne is named through the Rite of Succession, said successor shall be titled "His (or Her) Apparent Majesty" and titled Heir Apparent to the Throne of the Allerian Empire. A formal, official and public Coronation Ceremony shall be held, during which time the Heir Apparent shall be crowned, in a style and manner befitting tradition and posterity, and recognized as Emperor.

ARTICLE 23
Countersignature
No person shall have the authority to countersign, or assume responsibility, for actions of the Emperor, except in cases so ordained and explicitly expressed by the Emperor. All political authority therefore is derived from the Emperor, and all agents or officials of the State and of the Realm who claim legitimacy to power do so at the pleasure of the Emperor.

[Tiyribi Andares]

The amethyst eyes resettled onto the last line of the parchment as Rae'nia explained the word organic, bringing the younger Elf's attention along with it. Her teacher's explanation wasn't quite as satisfying as Tiyribi had originally hoped. It made sense, of course, that the lower-ranking officers within the Armed Forces would find themselves primarily responsible for the military's upkeep, as a greater percentage of soldiers were simple recruits and very few were Generals. It was doubtful any Emperor would have the desire nor the time to take personal interest in the lower workings of their army. The Crown seemed more content to simply call upon their strength to when a threat was felt, then allowed their armies to do generally as they pleased. Tiyribi had seen the general uninterest while serving in the Imperial Alyssans at Midpoint. While pledging loyalty to Empress de Lylles, the Alyssans simply continued to exist as they always had, completing the cycle of work, study, and practise with little interference from the Imperial government.

Tiyribi nodded solemnly at Rae'nia's criticism of both the nobility and the rulership, easily recognising the truth behind the elder Elf's claims. She, as a part of a politically-inclined noble house, had seen the corrupt machinations government officials were capable of. To her knowledge, Moranor hadn't ever participated in such practises, but a few of his acquaintances had left a bitter taste in Tiyribi's mouth. Too often they had tried to curry her favor with gifts or promises of power in order to call in her influence if they thought it necessary. Tiyribi found it distasteful; they simply had no sense of discretion. Esh'lahier society wasn't without its more devious nuances, but at least the Pale Elves knew how to properly plan political intrigue. The lesser races, like Humans and their ilk, thought shoving a purse of gold would earn a bid for a higher rank of nobility. An Esh'lahier, on the other hand, would make certain of it without paying unnecessary gold.

Accepting the parchment carefully, Tiyribi smiled shyly at Rae'nia's new instructions before turning to privately study the next section of the Articles. Tiyribi's former law professor had been much more questioning. He had relied upon poking possible uncertainty into Tiyribi's conclusions to teach the Dark Elf the necessity of having backing evidence for each answer. The Orodite priestess took a different route, relying upon Tiyribi's own mind to create questions and points of discussion. From there Rae'nia would teach and complete whatever facts Tiyribi found herself lacking. The younger Esh'lahier should have expected it; individual study was an Esh'lahier thought. History had made the Pale Elves industrious and efficient in order to ensure their future survival. They rarely said more than what was needed and encouraged a tough self-reliance in their children, teaching them from early on to depend upon their own talents rather than expecting another's generosity. Tiyribi's childhood classes had been rife with such Esh'lahier ideals. It was only natural that adult classes would follow the same lines.

Inhaling sharply, Tiyribi turned to the parchment, tilting her head slightly to the side as she began to read. The next Title dealt with only the privileges and responsibilites that went with the Throne. The Dark Elf could only assume the Articles would address the other governmental wings later. The prominently-displayed name of the Goddess Diana caused another flip of the head before the Elf's gaze carried on, reading carefully over each line. It seemed that the position of Emperor was the closest thing to godhood that a mortal could aspire to on all of Telath. Their powers were unlimited; their wealth extended to the entirety of the Empire. According to the Articles, the Emperor stood beyond even the reaches of responsibility. A sense of idle ambition stirred within Tiyribi's soul at the mere thought of such limitless influence. Of course, such aspirations to the very throne were childish, but Tiyribi couldn't help her natural desire for greater power. A glance at her colorless skin set reality back into Tiyribi's senses. She'd have to settle for a lower position in government, obviously.

The student's attention continued to drop down the page, reciting each line into her mind. The Articles wrote the proper address for the Emperor, stated the titles for his family, and outlined solutions to a few scenarios. As Tiyribi's finger fell past the Twenty-First Article, the Elf paused, her thoughts swirling quickly over the words. The difference between the State of Intendancy and the State of Regency were obvious, but still struck the Esh'lahier as a bit strange. The Crown Prince held power if the Emperor was simply unable to rule while the Regent was responsible for finding a proper successor for the throne if the Emperor died or disappeared. The side of Tiyribi's lip carved up into her pale cheek, betraying the intensity of her inward thought. The young Elf clearly remembered a past conversation about the Aethercrown. Supposedly the sign of power held strong magic, blessed by the very Gods. Tiyribi had been told the Aethercrown always appeared upon the proper successor's head, leading the Elf to assume the Rite of Succession to relate directly to the Crown.

"Mistress Rae'nia," Tiyribi began as her eyes finished the parchment and raised to her teacher's face, "Apologies if I am wrong, but the Rite of Succession is related to the Aethercrown, is it not? I heard, though, that the Crown chooses the proper successor at the previous Emperor's death. Is this incorrect, or is the Rite simply for when an Emperor disappears for more than seven patterns?" The young Pale Elf glaced questioningly at her teacher before returning her finger to the parchment, dragging it up to the Twentieth Article. "And here, Mistress. It names the Crown Prince or Princess as the official responsible for the ruling of the Empire in the case of the current Emperor's incapacitation. I am assuming that when the current Emperor dies, however, and the Crown is passed to the new successor, the Crown Prince, and, in fact, all of the dead Emperor's family, are stripped of their title if related too distantly from the Apparent Emperor? Do the children of the past Emperor simply revert to any titles that their parents held otuside of their royalty?" Being thrust out of power wasn't a crime in Tiyribi's mind, and her questions weren't related to any sort of concern. It simply struck her as odd that the children of a former Emperor wouldn't attempt to continue their sphere of influence into the next reign as well. Perhaps an explanation had been made somewhere else, but the current set of Articles Tiyribi held in front of her held none.

[Peach]

One couldn’t expect much of Humans, especially of the political pedigree. Through experience, Tiyribi had readily learned this, and those myths that she had created in her mind would probably never be nullified. As she aged, they would grow, fed by more fodder that she could apply to her existing stack of evidence. And yet, she would need to eventually get used to it. There were people in the world that dealt underhandedly, shook another’s hand with their own while hiding a dagger behind their backs with the other. The Crown, in Rae’nia’s opinion, was a set of these sorts. They were no better than the Prefects, or the assistants of the Thanes, scurrying about in attempts to gain unearned allies. And, of course, being the mortal fools that once were, they ate eagerly out of the hand of the government. Any sort of position seemed to be a prize, as if they had been gifted beyond any and all material wealth. But, of course, Crowns still held sway. Those little pieces of gold could turn lovers upon each other, best friends into mortal enemies. They could purchase another’s death, or their life, if the owner so pleased.

Rae’nia was loathe to buy things with that modern-day currency. What had replaced civilized trade, the exchange or one useful, or perhaps simply beautiful, thing for another. When did one ever use a crown in their daily lives? Did they start fires? Did they feed the people? All that they did was allow them to starve, to fall into states of despair. They created classes, each more bitter than the rest about one thing or another. Perhaps, some day, they would all realize how little their wealth meant. That they had nothing to carry with them into the afterlife. What would happen to society, then? Murder, or rampage, some speculated. Odd, that without money, they were now reduced to do such things. It was the sole purpose for the Law as it was, and for that reason, Rae’nia opposed much of what was in the articles. Teaching them, and keeping a straight face about it, wasn’t one of her more favorite things. Only through brief escapes, when the students could convert themselves to a true belief, which many indeed did, was she at peace.

Tiyribi wasn’t an exception to the dark elven race. She looked at things from both angles, speculated and made the whole process more enjoyable. Perhaps, some day, she would be a good follower of Orod. Until then, it was wise to be content with her other, impulsive little gods. Ioannes… Law, order, and Justice. He was three, yet his actions always seemed to lead down a single path. The presumed god of many facets was actually, to the Priestess, the most simple and straightforward. One for those of little imagination, and unexpended intelligence. “Do you truly think that they would let something as small as a crown stand in their way? Even if it were an item of great power, as it appears to be in this instance…” The Esh’laheir smiled, letting her rather well-known piece of information sink into the younger woman’s head. “In actuality, the Crown has not picked its wearer in quite some time. We have the Lylles family to take that responsibility now.” She shrugged, and shook her head as she pondered. Many artifacts didn’t seem to have much power anymore. The magic was becoming more centralled around people, themselves, instead o