On the fifteenth day of the fourth month, 307 AC, the families of the Altery Viceroyalties - territories of great wealth and significance on the very frontiers of the Empire - have come to an agreement deciding upon the greatly significant future of these regions. Recent events across the empire have proven the destructive nature conflict can bring to wherever it touches, and as such these great houses see it both fitting and necessary to protect our shared lands, interests and prosperity with the following agreement. The signatories of this pact agree that the Viceroyalty colonies under their collective rule shall remain demilitarised of any military presence upon their shores. No soldiers of any kind should be maintained in the region; including those of Pact signatories, any non-Pact members or other outside forces, or mercenary foot soldiers. Exceptions are able to be created to this with a unanimous agreement of the Pact members should a military deployment ever be requested, or seen as a necessity. This can only be done under extreme circumstances that pose a threat to the stability or prosperity of the Viceroyalties, and an according and precise response will be decided upon dependant on the situation. The singular natural exception is that, should an outside force ever invade the lands making up the colonial Viceroyalties, all members of the Pact are permitted to raise whatever military forces are seen as necessary to remove the threat posed, and shall work in conjunction militarily with one another until the security of the realms can be guaranteed. The signatories of the Pact shall refrain from maintaining independent naval forces within the waters of the Viceroyalties. Instead, an Viceroyal Naval Force - initially established under the Corneuille Truce between the houses of De Letoirneau and Delmotte - shall be expanded, permitting every member family to supply a maximum of two warships to the conjoined protection of the Altery regions as a whole. Every single member of the Altery Pact reserves the right to call a meeting of all of its members at any future time to discuss a matter of great importance should such arise. Matters include, but are not limited to: the discussion of any threats to the Altery realms and how to deal with such; the creation or adjustment of new terms to the Pact; or the adoption of a common stance or policy thereof by the members of the Pact, whether this be in military, financial or diplomatic affairs. Any family that holds a territorial possession legitimately granted within the Altery Viceroyalties - or in future, the Ardois Viceroyalties - is invited to and may apply to join the Pact should they wish to do so. A clear majority of existing Pact members must then agree to their inclusion and acceptance as a legitimate member. All stipulations of this treaty only apply within the colonial Viceregalities. The members of the Pact uphold no stipulations outside of these regions and those given by the treatise - however, in the eventuality relations should break down between two or more members of the Pact, it will not be dissolved, and is expected to be upheld even if warfare is occurring elsewhere. Signed, Lady Anastasie de Letoirneau Countess of Loiree-Bas Vicereine of Brassigny Lady Amelina Peirgarten Grand Duchess of Lorhauser Vicereine of Menneuve Lord Louis Delmotte Duke of Basta Viceroy of Sorel Lady Constanze du Brierust Countess of Maraisburke Vicereine of Silberive Lady Miriam von Duerr Baroness-Consort of Duerrstein Vicereine of Monteau
Miriam von Duerr sits at her desk, the morning's light pouring in from the great windows at her back. Her hand, delicately holding a quill, squeezes shut. The feather in her hand slumps down, snapped. Her hand shakes slightly, her gaze boring down at the missive before her, which told her every single one of her neighbors in Altery formed a pact without her. Suddenly, her voice rings out through the estate. "Joachim! Come here!"