The Sunday Scratch | Issue #7

[Ocularum]

ASSEMBLY RECAP: MAY 11, 309
by Rusul Davison penned May 12th, 309

TOPIC ONE
Raised by Duke Alastair Mac Conall.

PROPOSAL: Allow Solsithar Kathar to serve the State.

RESOLUTION: 7 in favor. 0 invalid. 9 against. Motion defeated.

TOPIC TWO
Raised by Duke Cro-Maarx Vyzal.

PROPOSAL: Make the use of Qatil powered Clockwork illegal in the Archipelago.

RESOLUTION: 0 votes in favor. 2 votes invalid. 16 votes against. Motion defeated.

TOPIC THREE
Raised by Grand Duke Abelhard Petrou.

INQUIRY: I'd inquire as to whether the Violet Order has the right to detain people who violated a Crown Law, and then turn them over to the Imperial Guard. Specifically in regards to illegal occultism which rejects the Emperors domain over the world. Specifically, Crown Law 3.

BUREAUCRATIC INPUT FROM BARON VON BISPINGEN: Imperial Crown Law is still meant to be enforced by the guard, yes. The guards must investigate and arrest, but after the arrest, call in the Imperial Guard and hand over all investigation data and the prisoner.

TOPIC FOUR
Raised by Lady Maria Solisti.

After complaining of her failing health and its many complications, Lady Solisti put forth a targeted proposal on behalf of Duke Valentino Solisti. Following questioning from the assembled Peerage, Lady Solisti collapsed in a fit and was escorted from the Assembly Hall by Ser Howland of the Black Crow.

PROPOSAL: On behalf of Duke Valentino Solisti, (abolish) denounce the position of Whistledown.

RESOLUTION: Proposal rescinded by Duke Valento Solisti.

AN IMPERIAL INJUNCTION
Raised by Bureaucrat Baron von Bispingen.

PROPOSAL: I have a signed request from First Crown Prince Reynaud Kade, 7th Prince Valdis Kade, 9th Prince Dominic Kade and Second Princess Amalia von-Treppewitz-Kade for an injunction on the Regent appointment within the framework of the Imperial city. What this means is that, the signatories request that the Assembly recognizes that the Crown Regent has abandoned the capital to campaign a pointless crusade in the north, and left the city without its imperial regent and reign.

The signatories request that the Assembly provide an injunction so that the Imperial Regent is not outright removed, however that creates a vacancy for an Imperial Regent specifically for the Capital and the Archipelago. So that Prince Raymond may continue to act as Regent for the lands outside of the Archipelago, and the Nobility may elect a new Region from the Imperial Stock for the Empire's heartlands.

The legality of the request is... dubious. But since the Nobility also lobbied for the first appointment, it seems within legal boundaries for the chamber which represents the Crown to be able to acquiesce to this request. The third Prince Raymond Kade is currently campaigning militarily in Ellador to combat the Isldar menace. He has provided very little communication, and is doing so on resources and military supplies from House Kade, as opposed to the state.

The proposed division puts one regent in control of the capital and Archipelago, and another on all lands outside of it.

RESOLUTION: 12 in favor, 4 against. Motion carried, the Crown Regent is deposed for the authority of the Capital and the Archipelago. We will likely receive a response from the Crown Regent in a week when he is appraised. The Ekhein will be contacted tomorrow.

TOPIC FOUR
Raised by Grand Duchess Sivrid Sorenvik.

PROPOSAL: Ban the sending of lobbyists and leave this in the hands of the Ekhein.

Option One: Ban Lobbying Entirely.
Option Two: Ban only Non-Noble Lobbyists.
Option Three: Do nothing.​

RESOLUTION: 4 In favor of complete ban, 2 in favor of partial ban, 10 in favor of no change. Clandestine elements and non-nobles retain access to the lobbying of the Regency.

TOPIC FIVE
Raised by Duke Valentino Solisti.

PROPOSAL: Make all assembly votes public, so we can better identify where support lies.

RESOLUTION: Proposal rescinded.

REMARK FROM THE BUREAUCRACY
The anonymous votes were dictated by the Emperor not to remove politics, because politics are always a thing. They were made so that voting members, when not constrained by political arrangements, may make peace with their vote in their own mind. Versus say, a family that is expected to vote conservatively, while the ruler wishes to vote liberally.

This makes the votes not from the intellect and will of the voter, but rather of the zeitgeist and expectation that is cast upon them. As the only person that sees the votes right now under punishment of death to reveal, I see plenty of you voting in truth to your conscience that you would not, if the votes were open ballots. That is the stance of the Bureaucracy, explaining why the Emperor chose this style of voting.

I cannot reveal the ballots as they are secret. But I also cannot dismiss a request from the peerage on the voting ballot, as they are considered bona fide the will of the Emperor represented. So... if a noble were to write "Please publish my vote". "I would have no option but to include this into the actual tally.

ASSEMBLY RECAP: MAY 24, 309
by Rusul Davison penned May 25th, 309

The May 24th Assembly saw the introduction of new blood but was surprisingly devoid of interruption or lengthy debate, and ended a mere hour and a half after beginning. It saw the proposed introduction of several blight related measures, and an explanation of the Trade House of Kade's operating principles.

TOPIC ONE
Raised by Duchess Amelina Peirgarten.

PROPOSAL: Establish a fund by the government for the purpose of assisting Duchies affected by the blight and those also experiencing lockdown. This is to prevent those regions who have put forth the lockdown from lifting their lockdown by pressure of their local lords as well as assisting those whose economies are now crippled by the lockdown of neighboring regions.

RESOLUTION: Proposal rescinded after discussion of the State's significant debt.

TOPIC TWO
Raised by Duke Florian Peirgarten.

PROPOSAL: Implement a trade union between the affected regions throughout the duration of the Blight.

RESOLUTION: Proposal rescinded.

REMARK FROM THE BUREAUCRACY
Supplied by Baron von Bispingen.

The Bureaucracy objects. Free trade between inter-state regions beyond the scope of local barter-trade would undercut the entire state controlled mercantile economy and slide a level of regional independence the Emperor will not be fond of.

TOPIC THREE
Raised by Sol Laenrell Avalleia.

PROPOSAL: I would like to propose that in lieu of any other solution at the moment, the State enters into dialogue with the Kade House of Trade to discuss the protection of the Anglian grain yield. The House of Trade knows best, but surely due to the importance of the Anglian grain shipments and the vast size of Anglia, it is possible that state coffers or resources could lend aid in tightening controls, increasing security, dissuading subversion, and checking shipping.

RESOLUTION: Proposal rescinded.

REMARK FROM THE BUREAUCRACY
Supplied by Baron von Bispingen.

As we all know, all grain-type produce is a royal monopoly of House Kade, to facilitate that control, the House of Trade of House Kade exists that manages the transport and storage of all Grains of the Empire. While technically land owned by van Hal and Harhold and Bancroft, the tenant farmers on these fields still pay their yield dues to the Kade House of Trade, and the families are adequately paid in return for their management.

From the tenant farmers, the grains are split equally in constructions called Fyrds. Fyrds are cone-shaped brick and mortar buildings, like grain silos, that remain closed for the remainder of the wet seasons save for some ventilation shafts to prevent moist accumulation and mold forming on the Fyrds. These Fyrds exist to prevent blights from affecting whole harvests, by splitting up harvests into manageable piles per region. So that if one region is affected by blight, the Fyrd is simply torched and the problem goes away.

From the collection then, all grain is shipped to Graanpoort, Verrepoort and Handelspoort, the only three cities permitted to export grains from the entirety of Anglia. From there, Kade House of Trade ships bring their shipments of grain to the other regions as allotted by the state bureau of statistics, calculations based on population, while part of it is also shipped to the Empire's main storage on Store Isle.

There, a permanent 1 year backup supply of grain is maintained in case the entire grain supply is lost.

TOPIC FOUR
Raised by Duke Alastair Mac Conall.

PROPOSAL: A twenty percent increase on noble taxes within the Archipelago to help alleviate some of the Empire's troubles.

RESOLUTION: 10 In favor. 1 Invalid vote. 9 votes against. Duke Petrou asked for his yes vote to be published. The state budget will be projected to be slightly less in deficit. The Noble tax rate is now 30%.

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ADDITIONAL READING
The Undercity Bulletin Issue #02 | Regal Suggestion Issue #02 | A Guide to Creating In-Character Publications

I'll be taking a break from posting. Please take a look at the guide I made if you're interested in making your own newspaper, book, or what have you. The paper is not dead. It will resume when I have the energy to make more original content. If you want advertisements in the interim contact me.