Xerolco/Code

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CODE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF XEROLCO


PREAMBLE

In recognition that our nobles deserve a strong realm to call home and in which to worship our Lord, that the purpose of government is to provide protection and pride for its people, and that the former governments of these lands were violating the trust placed in them by their people to uphold these truths, it is necessary to correct this injustice by establishing a strong and centralized government of the Alteptl of Xerolco in the promised lands of Fwuvoghor.

ARTICLE I

A: This Code of Governance set forth the powers and limitations that bind the government of the Xerolco. There shall be no law passed that is in conflict with this Code just as this Code may not conflict with the Constitution. This Code cannot be amended except by a two-thirds majority of the Obsidian Consortium or a three-fourths majority of the citizens of Xerolco. Amendment proposals may only be initiated by a consors imperii.

B: In all votes, abstentions will be discarded in the final tally, except for the case of amendments to either the Constitution or the Code in which they shall be considered as votes against the proposed changes. Their results shall be made public.

ARTICLE II

A: The Obsidian Consortium shall be composed of the Theocracy's regional lords and governors as well as the priests of Xerotl who have become citizens of the realm. It shall compose the general administrative body of the government, and its members will be referred to as Consortis Imperii (Consors Imperii when singular).

B: It may also have special members. Foreign powers who may be entitled to one seat to be filled by one of their diplomats, upon the Tlatoani Xerotl's approval, as long as they do the same. A three quarters approval is needed to add any person or realm to this list, and no family or realm can use this clause in order to have more than one member on the Consortium. At no given time may the share of foreigners in the Obsidian Consortium exceed the set limit of 15%.

C: The Consortium shall pass civil and criminal laws, approve changes in official diplomatic relations, create and organize a National Militia for the protection of the Theocracy from foreign invasion, and create and organize an Economic Policy to levy taxes and distribute revenues as necessary to fund the expenses and prosperity of the Theocracy. All questions before the Consortium shall be decided by a majority vote of the Consortis Imperii. It will be the duty of the Tlatoani Xerotl sign and archive these documents.

D: A knight of the realm shall be elected at the beginning of each month, or whenever the position is vacant, by the lords of the realm, each having a vote equal to the number of vassals they have in addition to themselves, to direct the politics of the realm and represent it in diplomatic affairs in accordance with the teachings of the Lord. He shall be granted the title of Tlatoani Xerotl.

E: A knight of the realm shall be appointed by the Tlatoani Xerotl, with the approval of a majority of the Consortium, to direct the Inquisition in accordance with the laws and declarations of the Consortium. He shall be granted the title of High Inquisitor.

F: A knight of the realm shall be elected at the beginning of each month, or whenever the position is vacant, by the lords of the realm, each having a vote equal to the number of vassals they have in addition to themselves, to direct the Ordo Militaris in accordance with the laws and declarations of the Consortium. He shall be granted the title of High Marshal.

G: A knight of the realm shall be elected at the beginning of each month, or whenever the position is vacant, by the lords of the realm, each having a vote equal to the number of vassals they have in addition to themselves, to direct the Treasury in accordance with the laws and declarations of the Consortium. He shall be granted the title of High Administrator.

H: These four members of the council will be granted the title of governors and will not receive an additional vote in the Consortium if they had some from elsewhere. However, those who are both priests and governors will keep the votes of each. Each voting session will last no less than 12 hours and no longer than a week, unless it is extended. The vote is extendable for up to five days by either the Tlatioani Xerotl or the High Inquisitor. If 50% of the consortium has already voted on any given issue and there is over two days left before the vote comes to an end, the Tlatioani Xerotl has the power to change the end date to two days after their announcement.

ARTICLE III

Each of the four governors, as others with positions of power, will have his duties and rules he will have to follow in order to keep their titles. All nobles are expected to know their rights and duties, and therefore, by accepting any form of promotion, are assumed to have agreed to abide by all articles of the Constitution and the Code. Being representatives of the realm, they are also expected to live exemplar lives, and follow the tenants of the Lord as follows:

  • Live for the Lord
  • Protect the establishments of the Lord
  • Oppose those who would oppose the Lord
  • Oppose those who would attack the Followers
  • Live for Strength
  • Live for Obedience
  • Live for Loyalty
  • Defend and live by your Word
  • Embrace the virtues of the Lord: Loyalty, Virtue, Honesty, Respect, Courage, Dedication, Initiative, Strength, Piousness, Zeal
  • Place the lives and interests of your peers above your own

ARTICLE IV

The Inquisition of Xerolco shall be composed of the dukes, infiltrators, and priests of the realm, and shall be lead by the High Inquisitor, in order to enforce the laws and policies adopted by the Obsidian Consortium. The Tlatoani Xerotl shall have a seat in the Inquisition as spectator, but will not have a vote unless granted so by another position. Inquisitors shall judge all proceedings of the Inquisition, in accordance with the laws of the Theocracy. Priests and infiltrators who are not dukes are only admissible to act as Inquisitors if they have held either profession for at least 7 consecutive days prior to a hearing. All inquisitors shall vote on an equal basis. It shall be the duty of the High Inquisitor to sign the verdicts, and of the Tlatoani Xerotl to archive them. Inquisitors have an amount of time to vote as decided by the High Inquisitor, though the Tlatoani Xerotl may extend the voting for up to five days. No voting session may be shorter than 12 hours or longer than a week, unless extended by the Tlatoani Xerotl. If 50% of the inquisition has already voted on any given trial and there is over two days left before the trial comes to an end, the High Inquisitor has the power to change the end date to two days after their announcement.

ARTICLE V

A: The Ordo Militaris shall be composed of the sponsors of the realm's armies, their Marshals, and Second-in-Commands and shall be lead by the High Marshal, in order to protect and organize the military forces of the realm and assure a clear chain of command and military hierarchy.

B: It is the duty of the High Marshal to assign the objectives of the armies and to assure the cohesion of their activities. While it shall be his duty to assign objectives and to counsel his marshals, he shall not have direct authority over their soldiers, and it shall be up to the marshals themselves to see to it that the objectives are fulfilled, assuming responsibility over deployments and battle formations. The Seconds-in-Command are to assume authority over their army whenever their marshal is unavailable, and shall work with him to increase the efficiency of the army. It is the duty of the sponsor to replace inefficient marshals or Second-in-Commands with more experienced ones when the need arises.

C: In addition to this, it shall be the sponsor's responsibility to see to it that his military staff properly archives the activities of the army within reasonable delay for the realm to access and analyze.

ARTICLE VI

The Theocracy of Xerolco shall host of one or more churches, cults, or other religious orders. They shall all accept the Dark Lord Xerotl, patron of Xerolco. Particular cases are as follows:

  • The Blood Cult, which has adopted what remained of the original Church of Teros, shall be accepted for as long as they promote the Dark Lord.
  • Eretzism shall be treated in Xerolco as the Blood Cult is treated in Enweil.
  • All faiths who do not accept the Dark Lord Xerotl shall be forbidden from entering and practising in Xerolco.

ARTICLE VII

The lands of Xerolco shall be administered into duchies and regions by dukes and lords. When a region lordship becomes vacant, any citizen of the realm may present himself for the title before the Obsidian Consortium as long as he agrees to fulfil the duties it implies. These are, among others, keeping his region under control and loyal to the realm as well as participating in the Obsidian Consortium himself. The Obsidian Consortium shall vote for who they believe most fit for the title, and the noble with the most votes shall be made lord or duke. The vote shall run for three days, starting either when the lordship becomes vacant or before, if it is known that the lordship will become available and the Tlatoani Xerotl initiates the voting earlier.

DEFINITIONS

  • Code: This given document.
  • Consors Imperii (Consortis Imperii when plural): A member of the Obsidian Consortium.
  • Consortium: Political gathering that decides upon the politics (laws and diplomacy) of the realm.
  • Constitution: The Constitution of Xerolco.
  • Governors: The ruler, the judge, the general, and the banker.
  • High Administrator: Treasurer of Xerotl, he is the banker.
  • High Inquisitor: Defender of Xerotl, he is the judge.
  • High Marshal: Vanguard of Xerotl, he is the general.
  • Imperial Legislation: Common law which only requires a simple majority to pass. Must respect the Code and the Constitution.
  • Inquisition: Judicial gathering that enforces the laws of the realm, as legislated by the Obsidian Consortium.
  • Inquisitor: A member of the Inquisition.
  • Lord, or Dark Lord: Titles of the god Xerotl, patron of Xerolco, and only god whose worship is allowed.
  • Ordo Militaris: Military council
  • Tlatoani Xerotl: Speaker of Xerotl, he is the ruler.
  • Unfit for duty: Neither able or willing to perform his rights and duties, either by his own fault or following a judgement by the Inquisition.
  • Xerolco: Place of Xerotl, the realm which this document concerns.
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