Following the State Councillor’s decisions, the world around them would react to their far reaching commands. No matter how insignificant, small decisions could lead to major changes or unforeseen outcomes. The first one such predictable outcome would be the response of the locals of the Old Gods District, both in the renaming of the district to that of a controversial Supreme Reverend, and the demolition of the Old Gods Temple. Immediately upon the announced destruction of the temple, passive protest commenced in the district. Citizens would either barricade the ways in and out of the district, or obstruct the movement of government officials and workers around the site. This passive resistance was obviously met with an increase in Bluesteel presence, which only further aggravated the attitude of the locals, mostly Old Gods worshippers who found themselves protected under the confessions of Melennar, but also Empire conservatives who argued that the decaying temple remains a testament to the Empire’s ability to supplant other things, and to subject and conquer. Their fear was that with the destruction of tangible monuments to the superiority of Unionism, the people would grow complacent and fall back into idolatry. With the conservative noises rumbling and the Old Gods citizens becoming aggravated, the social situation was heating up to a boiling point. Right now, all the disenfranchised were looking for was a champion to stand behind, a great house of old faiths or cultures to be their face and voice. Would they find such a champion, or would their cause extinguish and disappear in obscurity and forgottenness? The Tenpenny Act for Banking had a similar disruptive response, largely to the economy. Entirely as expected, the bankers drew the ire of the lawmakers by simply compensating their losses by driving up the interest rates for loans. The unfortunate result of this was that many loans defaulted, even in the first few weeks after the implementation. The banks collectively shored up their losses while also enforcing a more rigorous security system through Plug-Loansharking, a new practice engaged in by thugs who use violence to enforce a bank’s loans. The Regalian law enforcement experienced a sharp increase of almost 40% in violent encounters, an increase of 20% in arson and theft and a staggering increase of 30% in manslaughter cases over financial troubles. This rise in criminal conduct was severely concerning to the Empire’s lawmakers, causing them to raise protests to the Bluesteel Order. The Bluesteel Order was now liable to decide who it would blame: The Banks for immorally raising the interest rates, the Plug-Loansharkers for their violent tactics, or the City Council for enforcing this tax. The Ecclesiastical Tenpenny Act had an entirely different result. Perhaps it would come as no surprise to many, but the Sancella exposed several seething levels of corruption as soon as the central government tried to tax its income. The response was not uniform, rather, local Reverencies responded differently to the sudden taxation of church property, but the vast majority of it was not good. The primarily wealthy monasteries and Ecclesiatical lands changed their tax scheme by demanding un-taxable services. One particular Reverency for example charged the local forge guild in free man-hours to produce golden edifices, instead of the usual gold payments which would be taxable by the state. Other Reverencies started hiding profits from the state, appealing to Canon law that protects the financial ledgers of the church from civilian or military insight, while others yet declared that all their incomes were not incomes at all, but donations, and as such, could not be taxed. In the end, the bureaucracy estimated that less than five percent of the clergy actually complied with the Tenpenny Act, meaning the entire tax system for the clergy was gripe with corruption and graft. This presented further problems when the bureaucracy was made aware that it did not have the authority to hold the Sancella accountable for ill due payments of taxation, largely because the Sancella falls under the Imperial Seat, a sovereign state separate and superseding the Regalian Empire and City. Finally, the Crown Prince announced that the Lawmaker of the Bluesteel Order could no longer continue his duties as both Grand Chancellor and Lawmaker, and as such, all Noble Families were called forth to vote for a replacement. The Proceedings were to be made fairly simple. Any Noble Family who owns at least one title of Count and above can opt-in to the voting procedure, and in two weeks time, cast their vote on their favored family to hold the office of Lawmaker. The Family with the highest number of votes would win, allowing them to pick a Lawmaker from among their members. The Crown Prince put no further restrictions on the election, bar from the fact that it should not be someone who is already on the State Council, or an Imperial Advisor. The official entry date for families to opt-in to voting commenced this very day. Any family that wishes to opt-in for voting should say so by sending a letter to the crown (on this thread) to sign up to the voting. Each family is entitled to one single vote after sign up, which will be cast on the 24th of March. Signing up to the vote will continue until the 17th of March. The Lawmaker has far reaching powers in the ability to make laws on the fly without oversight from either the State Council or the Bluesteel Order. This basically means that the Lawmaker has the full capacity to make anything legal or illegal simply by writing it into Law. As such, the Crown Prince urged the nobility who are going to vote, to vote conscientiously and with tact, and not just vote for their allies just because.
I will be doing my civic duty by voting for the best possible candidate for Lawmaker. I will also be running for Lawmaker and voting for myself. Yours in absolute fairness, Dr. Fong Lord of the Rim Isles
To His Grand Imperial Holiness, As a man of the military, a man of Nobility but most importantly a man of the people, I feel it my duty to run for the position of Law Maker for this vast Empire. All the best, Count Nathaniel William Bigge of Norswick Captain of Commission for the Regalian Navy
A neatly sealed letter arrives shortly after the declaration. "To the Court Attendant of His Most Imperial Holiness, House Montagarde would be most honored to have a vote in the upcoming election. Charles Montagarde, State Councilman and Count of Brestais."
To the Proceeding Steward to His Imperial Holiness, House Ravenstad would like to formally request a vote in regards to the impending election of Lawmaker. Spirit's Blessings, I remain Rodolphe III Ravenstad High Lord of the Hinterlands Count of Michellons Logistics Councilman of the State Council Logistics Commander
To His Most Imperial Holiness. I write this letter as an official proof of my candidature to the position of lawmaker. My qualifications are my excelent understanding of the law by study, and my practical use of it by ruling nobility lands. For more qualifications I do have as well many years of guard work and my current position as captain in the Bluesteel Order. May the next lawmaker be the most qualified. I do as well vote for House Sinclair. Signed, Jannik Sinclair, Patriarch Of House Sinclair, Count Of Tyrai, Grand Duke Consort Of Lutherstadt, Field Kommandant Of The Regalian Navy.
To (insert name) I Request for my family to have a vote in this election. Count Johnathan Birkwood of The Winterwoods, Viridian First Sargeant, Patriarch of House Birkwood.
To the Court of the Emperor, House Brosseau would like to have a vote. Count Jean-Philippe Victoire Brosseau Patriarch of House Brosseau Count of Clourenze
To the Crown, House Vauclain would appreciate having a vote towards this election. Spirit blessings, Count Leonzio Vauclain, Imperial Moderator
To the Crown, Holy Crown Prince of Regalia, House Drache wishes to have a vote in electing the Law Maker. <insert other superfluous Drache writing> Glory to the Empire, Dietrich Drache Duke of Greunwald Patriarch of House Drache
To The Crown Prince Of Crown City, I wish to see my family were to have a vote. That is all. Count Maxwell Ta'ren Ex-Inquisitor Shield Brother of the Vigilant Shield (A long list of self-given unimportant titles would fill the rest of the page.)
To the Steward of His Imperial Majesty, House Merveldt requests for an election vote. Adhemar Carolus Merveldt Count of Merveldt-Kotzau
To the Crown Prince, House Valdemar would like to have a vote in the upcoming election. Count Eirik "Einhenjar", Valdemar
Addressed to the imperial court & etc. House Wodenstaff requests a vote in the upcoming election. Spirit preserve, Johann Wodenstaff Margrave of Galletia Logistics councilman
To the Imperial Court of Regalia, House Speziale requests a vote in this election. Long live the Empire, Count Frederick Speziale of Wüvenshratz
To the Imperial Crown Prince, House Úlfurtönn would like to have a vote in the election. Týrök Úlfurtönn, Count of Gleipnir
To the Imperial Court of Regalia, House Valeur would request a vote in the coming election. Spirit Bless, Victoria Valeur Countess de Levallouire Matriarch of House Valeur
To the Imperial Court House de Baccarod requests a vote in the upcoming election Gaston de Baccarod Count of Tárragóna Patriarch of House de Baccarod High Steward of House de Baccarod banks Chamberlain-Regent of House de Baccarod-Vernier
To the Crown, House Heinrich would request a vote in the upcoming election. Spirit preserve, Freya Heinrich, Duchess of Lutherstadt Matriarch of House Heinrich
To the Imperial Court, House de Santigo requests a vote in the near approaching election. Thank you. Alvaro de Santigo, Count of Santigo.
To the Imperial Court, House Bigge are no longer running for the Law Maker position, hence we wish to vote in the upcoming election. All the best,Count Nathaniel William Bigge of NorswickCaptain of Commission for the Regalian Navy
To the Imperial Court, House Kourtikios requests a vote in the upcoming election. Spirit's Blessings, Basileios Kourtkios Count of Agryokastron
To the Imperial Court, House Rosendahl humbly requests a vote in the upcoming election. Best wishes, Jamie Rosendahl Count of Swynmont
To the offices of His Imperial Holiness, The House Black humbly requests a vote in the upcoming election for Lawmaker. Spirit bless, Christopher Black Grand Lord of Narlas [titles] in Navy Financial Councilman Grandmaster of the Open Ocean Merchant Guild Advisor to the Regalian Jingoist Lobby
To the Imperial Court, House Waldgrave wishes to have a vote in the upcoming election. Spirit Bless, Jonathan Waldgrave Count of Waldburg
To the offices of the Crown, The House Typhonus requests a vote for the upcoming election for the Law Maker's seat. By the Spirit's grace, Ulric Adelhard Typhonus Assorted titles
To the Imperial Court, House Gyldish requests permission to vote in the upcoming election. Spirit's Blessings, Reddulf Gyldish Duke of Rulfaerdamme
To his most benevolent Imperial Highness, As Patriarch of House Venanzi, I would very much so be in gratitude if we were allowed a vote in the upcoming election for the office of Lawmaker. With the utmost of respect, Pellegrino Giaccherini Venanzi, Patriarch of House Venanzi, Count of Alabano.
To the the Imperial Crown Prince of Regalia, The Levarie House requests the ability to vote for the upcoming election. Countess of Louveciennes. Inheritor of Levarie Luxe et Herbes
To the Imperial Court, House Merlo wishes to place our vote in the coming election for lawmaker. Spirit bless, Ysabelle dei Merlo
To the Imperial Court, House Banastre wishes to have a vote in the upcoming election. Spirit Bless, Henry Banastre Count of Turolia
To the prestigious Imperial Court, I would like to be able to vote for the next lawmaker, Marcel Banastre Count of Thurany.
The following families have been entered for voting: Fong Valeur de Santigo Magnus Ulfurtönn Wodenstaff Speziale Valdemar Helethium Ta'ren Merveldt Sinclair Birkwood Brosseau Vauclain Drache Baccarod Heinrich Bigge Kourtkios Rosendahl Waldgrave Black Typhonus Gyldish Venanzi Levarie Merlo Banastre Ravenstad Montagarde This means there will be 31 votes. The voting procedure will follow rounds of eligibility. The first round will be a free ballot and anyone can be voted for. If someone achieves 16 votes or more, they will instantly achieve victory. If no contestant reaches 16 votes, the top 4 contestants will pass to the second voting round, after which the largest amount of votes will declare the winner regardless of minimum requirement. The voting booth will be prepared underneath the Tavern, near the entrance. The vote righted families must submit one signed book and quill with their person of choice. Duplicate votes will be declared invalid.
