Imperial Decrees

Imperial Decrees

The Imperial Oath

I swear in the hearing of the Gods that I will rule the Empire, fairly and freely, to the best of my ability, for the Good of the Empire. I will obey Holy Law, and make only such decrees as are fitting within Holy Law. I will command the military to the furtherance of the Empire, and I will hold the Empire, the state
and the imperial property in good stead for those that come after me. This is my solemn oath.

1st Imperial Decree: The Enablement of Senate

It is hereby decreed that a Senate shall be formed from representatives of the people, to advise the Emperor and facilitate the efficient governing of the people. That Senate is free to decide its own Constitution, and to make such Declarations as are appropriate to further the governance of the people, subject to the Imperial Decrees, and the Law of the Gods. The state will meet the costs of the Senators in the discharge of the duties of Senate, and an appropriate Senator’s stipend will be paid.

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1st Imperial Decree –
1st Amendment:
The Enablement of the External Senate

It is decreed that an External Senate shall be formed from representatives of the people who are citizens of the External Empire, to advise the Regens and facilitate the efficient governing of the people in those lands. That Senate is free to decide its own Constitution, and to make such Declarations as are appropriate to further the governance of the people, subject to the Imperial Decrees, and the Law of the Gods. The state will meet the costs of the Senators in the discharge of the duties of Senate, but no other income will be paid.

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2nd Imperial Decree:
The Enablement of Guilds

It is decreed that Guilds shall be formed to administer the professions and crafts. Any citizen who trades, or performs services for financial reward shall be required to join the Guild which regulates his trade or profession. Guilds shall be responsible for ensuring the quality of services and the training of craftsmen and professionals. Citizens who wish to join more than one Guild must declare which one is their Principle Guild Membership, and this shall designate their Profession. Guilds may charge a Levy to their members, to meet the costs which arise from the discharge of their functions.

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2nd Imperial Decree –
1st Amendment: Empowerment of the Guild of Law

The Guild of Law is empowered as the custodians of the Law in the Empire. It is their duty to record all Holy, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Law, and to advise the state, the military and the citizenry of the current state of the Law on any matter.

If a person chooses not to represent himself when he is called into question on a matter of Law, then members of the Guild of Law are the only other persons who may represent them, without equal liability in the question.

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2nd Imperial Decree –
2nd Amendment: Empowerment of the Guild of Magic

The Guild of Magic is empowered as the custodians of magic in the Empire, whether sorcery, witchcraft, ritual, or any other variety of arcane process. It is their duty to Licence and regulate the practice of magic, the training of magic, and to ensure the protection of the citizens of the Empire from abuse by users of Magic.

The Guild Council is decreed to be the ultimate arbiter of all questions relating to magic, responsible directly to the Imperial Throne for the conduct of its business. The Guild will be pleased to form its ruling council of ten Master members of the Guild, selected by the Guild. In addition, recognising the weight of Holy Law which governs the use and practice of magic, the Temple of Medea is invited to send a Learned Priest to sit on Council, and the Emperor reserves the right to sit on this Council, or to send an Imperial Judge as his deputy as the 12th member of the council. The Council will elect from among its body a Guild Master, who will be termed the Archmage.

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2nd Imperial Decree –
3rd Amendment: Empowerment of the Guild of Pilots

The Empire, in recognition of the invaluable and unique service which is offered by the those gifted initiates of the Temple of Alastyr, decrees the formation of the Guild of Pilots. This Guild is granted leave to operate its business without any restriction or regulation from any other body, and the Empire records its grateful thanks to the Divine Alastyr for his continued patronage of this Great Work.

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2nd Imperial Decree –
4th Amendment: Empowerment of the Guild of Mothers

The Empire, in recognition of the growing need for military recruits, empowers the formation of the Guild of Mothers. All those women for whom the process of childbirth is an agreeable and desirable state, are encouraged to follow this career path, the fruits of which will be welcomed as wards of the Empire.

Only women who are free citizens may join this Guild. However, children born by members of this Guild, undertaking the discharge of their guild activities may not be classed as children of adultery, and no crime of adultery ever takes place where the duly licensed and authorised activities of this Guld are concerned.

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3rd Imperial Decree:
Debtors to Society

The Divine Roland has Spoken, and the Imperial Throne duly Decrees that any person who is guilty of a crime is a debtor to society. If their debt cannot be paid through the forfeit of life, goods or property, or by flogging, then they will be sentenced into slavery until their debt to society is paid.

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3rd Imperial Decree –
1st Amendment: Absolution of Debt Through Service

Any debtor to society may volunteer to discharge their debt by joining the military, if the military will have them.

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4th Imperial Decree –
86th Revision: The Levy of Personal Taxes

All citizens must take their share of responsibility for the costs of the running of the Empire, and the maintenance of the military. To this end, citizens must pay 15% of all monies they earn to the state as a Tax. This Tax is levied prior to the deduction of any costs or expenses that may have arisen during the earning. Citizens are required to keep accurate records of all their financial transactions for 10 years, in order that their Taxes may be fairly assessed, and any errors in Taxation which are found through scrutiny must be corrected immediately.

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5th Imperial Decree:
The Formation of Companies

In order that Groups of Citizens may band together in joint ventures of business, the Empire recognises the formation of Companies. A Company is recognised as a single entity in Law, operated by its owners and those whom its owners employ for that purpose. The Company is liable for actions undertaken by its employees or owners when those actions were taken on the Companies behalf. When an illegal act is undertaken on behalf of a Company, both the individual undertaking the act, and the Company are equally liable.

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5th Imperial Decree –
1st Amendment: The Levy of Taxes on Company Employees

If citizens are employed by a company, that company shall be responsible for collecting the Taxes from the salaries of its employees, and paying those monies to the State. Records must be kept for 10 years, in order for inspections to be made. Any errors in this taxation must be corrected immediately.

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6th Imperial Decree:
Ennoblement of the Aristocracy

The Wife of the Emperor is granted the rank Empress within the Empire. This rank to include an income of one half of the Imperial Income (0.05% of Taxes) from the state. The Empress is a military position, and will serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with a military rank equivalence to the other members of that body. Adultery by the Empress is a crime of Treason against the Emperor.

The children of the Gods are to be granted the rank of Honoured Prince or Honoured Princess within the Empire. This rank to include an income of one quarter the Imperial personal income (0.025% of Taxes) from the state. Further, any spouses of the aristocrat are accorded the title of Prince or Princess, and are free citizens, rather than dependants for as long as the marriage lasts.

The Grandchildren of the Gods are to be granted the rank of Honoured Duke or Honoured Duchess within the Empire. This rank to include an income of one eighth the Imperial personal income (0.0125%) from the state. Further, any spouses of the aristocrat are to be accorded the title Duke or Duchess, and are free citizens, rather than dependants for as long as the marriage lasts.

The Imperial Throne may, at such appropriate times, grant unto persons of great distinction the rank of Earl within the Empire. This rank to include the Title Honoured Lord or Honoured Lady, and an income of one twentieth of the Imperial personal income (0.005%) from the state. This rank and income is granted in perpetuity to the estate of the Lord. Further, any spouses are accorded the title Lord or Lady, and are free citizens, rather than dependants for as long as the marriage lasts.

The Imperial Throne may, at such appropriate times, grant unto persons of distinction the rank of Baron within the Empire. This rank to include the Title Honoured Marquis or Honoured Marquise, and an income of one fiftieth of the Imperial personal income (0.002%) from the state. This rank and income is granted in perpetuity to the estate of the Baron. Further, any spouses are accorded the title Marquis or Marquise, and are free citizens, rather than dependants for as long as the marriage lasts.

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6th Imperial Decree –
1st Amendment: The appointment of the Regens of the External Empire

The Imperial Throne hereby decrees that all lands falling within the Empire which lie in the Outside shall fall under the direct rule of a Regens, appointed by the Emperor, and subject only to the Emperor in all matters regarding the governance of those lands. The Regens will serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff as an additional Field Marshall.

The External Empire will be financially separate from the Empire, and the Regens of the External Empire shall be entitled to collect and administer all taxes due by Imperial subjects in those lands, and shall be responsible for the payment for all matters that fall to the Imperial Government in the External Empire. The payment of any artistocratic stipends for artistocrats who spend more than half on their year (as determined by the clocks in Eboracum) on the Outside, shall be the responsibility of the External Empire.

The position of Regens is second only to the Emperor throughout the Empire, and is of higher aristocracy than all other Honoured ranks.

The Wife of the Regens is granted the rank of Regensia within the Empire. This rank to include an income of one half of the Regens Income (0.05% of External Taxes) from the state. The Regensia is a military position, and will serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with a military rank equivalence to the other members of that body. Adultery by the Regensia is a crime of Treason against the Regens.

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7th Imperial Decree:
The Imperial Income

The Empire will pay to the person of the Emperor an annual income of not less than one thousandth (0.1%) of all Taxes raised in the province of Britannia in that year. The state will also meet all costs to the Emperor arising out of the process of Government, and from the discharge of the official duties of the Emperor. The Emperor will meet the costs of personal staff and of the running of the Imperial Palaces in Eboracum, Londinium, Edinburgh, and Dublin from his personal income.

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7th Imperial Decree –
1st Amendment:
The Income of the Regens

The External Empire will pay to the person of the Regens an annual income of not less than one thousandth (0.1%) of all Taxes raised in the province of Casablanca in that year. The state will also meet all costs to the Regens arising out of the process of Government of the External Empire, and from the discharge of the official duties of the Regens. The Regens will meet the costs of personal staff and of the running of the Imperial Palace in Casablanca from his personal income.

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8th Imperial Decree:
Appointment of Ministers

The Emperor shall, from time to time, appoint such Ministers as he feels necessary, from the membership of Senate, or other such individuals as he sees fit, to discharge specific functions of Government. The Ministers will be responsible firstly to the Emperor, and secondly to Senate for the discharge of these appointed duties. Once appointed, these ministers will continue to serve at the pleasure of the Emperor. Salaries will be paid to Ministers, as decided by the Emperor, that they may focus their whole efforts on the functions of their office.

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9th Imperial Decree:
Appointment of Judges

The Emperor shall, from time to time as he feels necessary, appoint judges from the Learned Masters of the Guild of Law, to hear matters of Law on the Emperor’s behalf. These Judges shall be empowered to hand down judgements with the authority of the Emperor. An income shall be paid to Judges, to be decided by Senate, and all costs arising from the discharge of their duties will be met by the state. While serving as an Imperial Judge, a lawyer may not undertake any other paid work of any kind. They may however, receive income from estates, or assets.

The liability for cost in the placing of a question before an Imperial Judge shall be decided by the Judge as part of his deliberations. When the Military bring a question relating to an issue of Crime by an individual or Company, the plaintiff is the state, and the individual or Company is the defendant.

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9th Imperial Decree –
1st Amendment: Appointment of a Court of Appeal

The Emperor instructs the Senate to nominate five Imperial Judges to constitute a Court of Appeal. The Judgements of any Imperial Judge may be referred to this Court of Appeal by any of the interested parties, or by the Guild of Law, or by the Imperial Office, and the Court of Appeal, by simple majority, may uphold, vary, reverse, or set aside the Judgement in question. The distribution of the expenses of running this Court are to be decided on a case by case basis, by the Court. If a Judgement is upheld by this Court, any penalties, damages or liabilities from the Judgement are to be at least doubled by this Court.

When the Court of Appeal meets to hear a question, all its members must be present. No deputies may be appointed. If a member of the court is unable to continue to serve in the court through continuing ill health, he must retire from the court, and a new member must be appointed.

The court of appeal shall elect from its own body a leader, who shall become Guild Master of the Guild of Lawyers, called the Master of Law. All members of the Court of Appeal shall automatically become members of the Council of the Guild of Lawyers, in addition to such other members as the Guild shall select.

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9th Imperial Decree –
2nd Amendment: Appeal to the Emperor

When a question has been heard by the Court of Appeal, the Decision of that Court may be brought to the attention of the Emperor. If the decision of the Court is upheld by the Emperor, the appellant will be taken into Slavery for a minimum of 5 years, as punishment for contemptuously wasting the Emperor’s time.

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10th Imperial Decree –
1st Revision: Administration of the Military

The Emperor is the Supreme Commander of all branches of the Military. The Administration of the Military shall be the Responsibility of the General Staff of the Army, and the Admiralty of the Navy. Generals and Admirals will be appointed by the Imperial Throne, on the recommendation of the existing Generals and Admirals. All other ranks and appointments shall be the responsibility of the General Staff or the Admiralty as appropriate.

Two Senior Generals shall be selected by the General Staff and a Two Senior Admirals by the Admiralty to form the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who report directly to the Emperor. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are jointly the second point of command of all branches of the military, and are appointed for life. Upon the inability of the Emperor to discharge his duties as Supreme Commander,  temporarily or permanently, the Joint Chiefs must act in unanimity to vary any order, procedure or undertaking which is currently in existence.

While the Emperor and subsequent Emperors may well issue a Will and Testament indicating their wishes as to who may succeed them, the Joint Chiefs in Unanimity have the right to vary this Will, for the Good of the Empire, and send a different candidate to Senate for ratification. Senate may, on a 75% vote, refuse that candidate. Otherwise, the new Emperor is appointed.

The Joint Chiefs in Unanimity, may declare to the Senate that the Emperor is unfit to continue to rule, and if the Senate upholds this declaration, then the Emperor will be executed, witnessed by the entire General Staff, the entire Admiralty, and the entire Senate, and a new Emperor appointed. If the Senate does not uphold the declaration, the Joint Chiefs of Staff will be executed, witnessed by those listed previously, and new Joint Chiefs appointed.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff shall nominate from among the General Staff and the Admiralty a Judge Advocate General, who upon confirmation by the Imperial Throne, shall be responsible for, and Administer all matters of Law within the Military, for as long as he is able to continue to undertake that duty. He shall decide on the constitution and procedures of Courts Martial, the scales on
penalties and infringements, and the appointments of his deputies. The only Appeal against the rulings of the Judge Advocate General is to the Imperial Throne.

The costs of the Military are to be met by the state. Rates of pay and remuneration are to be decided by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the disposal of captured monies, assets and slaves is to be by procedures decided by the Joint Chiefs, with the provision that 50% of all captured material is the property of the state.

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11th Imperial Decree:
The Levy of Company Taxes

All Companies must keep accurate complete records of all income and expenditure they undertake, and annually they will pay taxes at the level of 15% on the profits showing at the end of the annual period. The Senate will from time to time vary and modify the regulations regarding which expenses can be legitimately set against the income for a company. Money paid out of a company to its owners, while no longer being present to count as profit, does form income for the owners, on which they must pay personal taxes upon receipt. Records must be kept for 10 years, to allow scrutiny to take place, and any taxation errors will be collected as part of the next annual assessment due.

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12th Imperial Decree:
The Policing of the Empire

In addition to their duty in defence of the Empire from all threats external, the military are hereby appointed to police the Empire and its citizenry, defending it from the ravages of Crime. The  Military will be responsible for the investigation, pursuit, capture and examination of those suspected of crime, and for bringing such suspects to Trial. The Military are also hereby made responsible for the capture of escaped slaves.

The Emperor shall appoint to each Region or Province of the Empire a Governor, who will be his local deputy in matters of Military Command and a Commissioner who shall be his deputy in the matters of enforcement of the law.

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13th Imperial Decree:
The Census of the Empire

A census is hereby commanded of all persons living within the Empire, whether free or slave. From this point, all births, deaths, and marriages within the Empire are to be registered. All captive persons taken into slavery are to be registered. All foreign persons within the Empire as guests are to be registered.

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13th Imperial Decree
– 1st Amendment: The Identity of Persons

The Imperial Throne recognises the work done by the Guild of Magic, and the Temple of Medea, in the construction of the Identity spells, and decrees that all persons within the Empire to be identified, whether free or Slave, in perpetuity. The Empire notes that the fluidity possessed by descendants of the Gods does not deceive the identity system. Only the Gods themselves are immune from this decree

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14th Imperial Decree:
Capital Crimes

A person guilty of a capital crime forfeits their life. Executions are to be carried out under Military control. The Senate is empowered to declare other additional capital crimes. The right of the Gods to call for the forfeit of a person’s life, regardless of their being known to have committed a capital crime is acknowledged in holy law.

  • Murder is a capital crime.
  • For a slave to escape without proving abuse is a capital crime.
  • Treason is a capital crime.
  • Abuse of the powers of a Judge is a capital crime.
  • Abuse of powers by a military officer is a capital crime.

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14th Imperial Decree –
1st amendment:
Execution of Capital Criminals

A criminal convicted of a capital crime has forfeit their life, however the actual time and method of their execution is to be determined as part of their judgment. It is decreed to be legal for life-forfeit persons to have their lives sold at auction, such that the purchaser may keep or execute them at his own leisure, except that they must be identified as legally dead, and if found outside the property of their purchaser, not in the bonded custody of their purchaser, then any free citizen, soldier, or priest may enact the execution immediately. Only through direct appeal to the Emperor, or by the words of the Gods, may the life-forfeit have their lives returned to them.

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15th Imperial Decree:
The Crime of Incest

The Imperial Throne, having heard the words Spoken by the Twin Gods upon the execution of their third child, decrees that no man shall take to wife, or conceive a child with his grandmother, his mother, his mother’s sisters, his own sisters, his daughters, his brother’s or sister’s daughters, or his grand daughters. A man and woman who break this decree are guilty of Incest.

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16th Imperial Decree:
Gladiators

The Guild of Slavers is hereby Empowered to recruit and train slaves to fight for the entertainment of the Imperial Throne and the populace. These fights may be to the death, with no crime or penalty taking place. As incentive, any Gladiator who survives 25 victories in the arena, is deemed to have discharged their debts in full, regardless of what those debts were. Furthermore, that person is ordered to be inducted into the Military, having demonstrated exemplary combat ability.

Furthermore, the Military are hereby empowered to allow the execution of capital criminals to be conducted in such ways and means to allow the public to enjoy the spectacle of the deaths of enemies of the Empire, either by use of military personnel or by allowing Gladiators to have opportunity to exhibit their skills upon them. Executions under these circumstances do not count towards the 25 victories.

The highest ranking person to be present at the Arena of Gladiators at a Gladiatorial event is duly appointed as the Master of Ceremonies. If the crowd pleads to spare the life of a Gladiator, and it is granted by the Master of Ceremonies, then the victory is counted towards the winning Gladiator’s total. The fight is struck off the loser’s record, and his tally is unchanged.

The first combat, prior to the acceptance for training and sale of Gladiators, shall be against wild beasts, to determine the worth of a potential Gladiator. From that time until their 7th victory they fight in the Novice class. From the 7th to the 13th victory they fight in the Junior class. After the 13th victory, the Gladiator shall receive a mid-term flogging, until unconscious, for the entertainment of the masses. Bets may be placed on how many lashes it will take. They then fight in the Senior class until the 20th victory, when they reach the Master class.

A victor’s fee, agreed before the fight, paid by sponsors of the Gladiatorial event, and by stake money from the Gladiator owners, shall be divided 25% to the winning owner, 25% to the Arena owner, and 50% in trust for the Gladiator. Gladiators may bequeath their trusts in a Will and Testament, should they not survive to freedom. The revenue from the Arena gate and from any betting operations run at the event may in part contribute to the victor’s fee, as negotiated between the Gladiator owner, Arena owner, and any event sponsor. Taxes are not liable from an actual Gladiator’s trust, but all other parties receiving any commercial income or prize money from the running of Gladiatorial events are liable for taxes.

Every Gladiator must undertake a combat in the Arena at least once every three months. This does not include executions, or combats with opponents in a lower class. A fighter who wins a combat with an opponent in a higher class need not turn out again for six months.

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16th Imperial Decree
– 1st Amendment: Gladiators

If the debt of a gladiator is numerical, rather than a term, then if their proceeds held in trust from victorious combats reach the level to fully discharge the debt, they may opt to discharge that debt and be freed at that time, even if this occurs before the 25 victories.

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16th Imperial Decree: –
2nd amendment:
The Guild of Gladiators

The Imperial throne hereby decrees that those free persons of the Empire who yearn to fight for fame and glory, may undertake to become Professional Gladiators, and by this decree is the Guild of Gladiators Empowered.

Any Arena combat that takes place between Professional Gladiators, whatever the result, is without penalty or crime, providing all Arena rules and regulations are upheld throughout the proceedings.

Furthermore, The Guld of Gladiators is decreed to also be able to own, train and sponsor Gladiators, though all trading of Gladiators remains under the authority of the Guld of Slavers.

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16th Imperial Decree: –
External amendment:
Gladiators

The Regens of the External Empire hereby decrees that in the External Empire, the requirement for a gladiator to be inducted into military service after the completion of his victories is set aside.

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17th Imperial Decree:
The Festival of Reward

The Imperial Throne, having heard the words spoken by the Goddess Seline, decrees that the nearest weekend to the 18th of June shall be a Festival, when all civilian owners of slaves shall reverse rolls with their slaves from Dawn on the Saturday until Sunset on the Sunday.

Temple slaves are to be free of work on this Festival, and are to be served by other members of their temple throughout the Festival.

Military owned slaves are to be free of work on this Festival, and non-commissioned ranks, appointed by their officer owners are to serve them throughout the Festival.

Corporate owned slaves are to be free of work during this Festival, and citizens employed by their company are to serve them throughout the Festival.

Gladiators shall not fight during the Festival, and their owners and trainers are to serve them throughout the Festival.

After the conclusion of the Festival, no slave or Gladiator may be punished or in any way penalised for any actions or activities which take place during the Festival. This Festival is their Reward, and their justice, for their lot in society.

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18th Imperial Decree:
Consent and Penalty

The Imperial throne, having heard the words of the God/dess Morgan, that those who freely consent to the inclusion of acts of violence in their sexual activity should not be punished as criminals, thus decrees that in such cases of crimes against the person, if consent can be established as a fact, then no crime has taken place.

It is further decreed that Senate will debate this matter, and place such declarations as it desires into law to provide a formal framework for the interpretation of the words of the God/dess.

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19th Imperial Decree:
The Crime of Usury

The Imperial throne, having heard the words of the Divine Roland, decrees that any person who lends money for gain, be it financial, or of any other kind, commits the crime of Usury. This crime is punishable by forfeiture of all capital sums involved, and a minimum 10 years of slavery for both lender and borrower.

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20th Imperial Decree:
The Pardon of Nathan Helgram

The Imperial Throne does forthwith pardon Field Marshall Nathan Helgram of all crimes which he has previously committed against the Empire. Furthermore, in recognition of his kinship with the Gods, The Imperial Throne bestows upon Nathan Helgram the title of Honoured Duke, with the appropriate income to be paid to him by the Empire.

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21st Imperial
Decree: Rolls of Lineage

The Imperial throne, having recognised the ability of the Temple of Sian to determine the parentage of a child, thus decrees that Rolls of Lineage are to be kept by the Temple of Sian, and that the information in such Rolls should be provided in testimony if any question of Law arises which requires the truth of Lineage.

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22nd Imperial
Decree –
1st Revision: Blackened name of Swayvanna

The Imperial throne hereby noting the ascension of the First Lady of the Federation decrees that the name of Swayvanna is hereby blackened, due both to her position as an enemy of the Empire, and also to her chosen aspect of Deception. Worship of Swayvanna is hereby illegal, and any assets or lands used in her worship are hereby forfeit to the state. Entering the priesthood of Swayvanna is decreed a capital offence.

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23rd Imperial
Decree: Awards and Honours

The Imperial Throne here decrees that the following awards may be conferred either by the Imperial Throne, the Senate or the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

  • The Imperial Eagle (top military award)
  • The White Rose (top civilian award)
  • Distinguished Service Medal (military gallantry)
  • Imperial Service Medal (military or civilian)
  • The Red Rose (military wounded in service)

Each of these may exist with a bar for second award and a laurel for a third award. Similarly campaign service medals may be awarded by Senate or the Joint Chiefs of Staff for persons involved in specific campaigns.

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24th Imperial
Decree: Military Command

In recognition of the immense importance of the position, the Imperial Throne herby decrees that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall be elevated to the new rank of Magister Militum,  assuming command of both the Army and the Navy, and shall answer to none but the Emperor. Upon his elevation, a further officer from the military service from which he came shall be promoted onto the Joint Chiefs, to ensure the two services remain equally represented on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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25th Imperial
Decree: Regarding Finance in the Empire

The Imperial Thone hereby makes the following decree to formalise the many differing rulings of Senate and Common Law:

The basics of Imperial Finance:

  • A financial transaction occurs when two financially recognised bodies undertake to exchange a sum of money for some service or tangible asset. Payment of monies may be in advance or in arrears, but unless otherwise specified in the undertaking, normal transactions must be completed within one month of the commencement.
  • If completion of a transaction is delayed beyond its agreed completion date, the creditor of the transaction may charge the debtor lateness fees of 5% per month, or more or less if specified in the initial undertaking, until the transaction is completed, or a financial judgement is successfully sought.
  • Where a transaction remains delayed for more than 6 months after its due date, the creditor may seek a financial judgement against the debtor. In this case, an Audit of the Debtor must take place, and if it is the professional view of the auditor that the debtor will not be able to complete the transaction, then the transaction will go to Court under a petition to declare the debtor insolvent. If, in the professional view of the Auditor, the debtor is able to complete the transaction, then a petition will go to court to require the immediate completion of the transaction with all late fees, professional audit fees and court fees. Failure to complete the transaction in this case results in automatic seizure of assets and services to the value of the completed transaction with all late fees and professional audit fees and court fees, and seizure fees.
  • Complex Transactions may be undertaken that involve staged exchanges of monies for services or tangible assets. In the case of such Complex Transactions, each agreed stage of the Complex Transaction is to be treated as an individual financial transaction in terms of completion dates, and late fees.

Financially recognised bodies within the Empire:

  • The Empire (Imperial Exchequer): Responsible for all Military expenses, Senate expenses, State expenses. This is administered by the Chancellor of the Imperial Exchequer, in whom Financial Responsibility ultimately rests. However this responsibility is deferred down through the chain of authority within the Imperial Government to the duly appointed individual who authorised the spending. Spending by the Imperial Exchequer must be authorised by a duly appointed free person be it military or citizen – if a slave authorises spending, then the authority actually comes from the direct owner of the slave. In the case of the actual Imperial Households, that authority rests in the Keeper of the Imperial Purse, an Imperial Appointment under the recommendation of the Chancellor of the Imperial Exchequer. Incurring a financial judgement against the Imperial Exchequer is an offence punishable by lifetime slavery for the responsible individual’s entire personal household and forfeiture of all an individual’s assets.
  • Temples: Each Deity has their own Temple, all of which are exempt from taxation. All property and moneys are held in common by the Temple, and are administered by the Temple authorities. Individual members of a Temple have no rights to own funds or properties. Financial Responsibility for debt reverts to the member(s) of the Temple that authorised the spending. Temples must be Audited annually, and if in the professional view of the Auditor, the Temple has excessive wealth for its needs, a petition may be made to Court requiring the Temple to reduce its wealth.
  • Guilds: These are non-profit organisations which exist to regulate crafts and professions, to set the prices that can be charged by crafts and professions, and to train individuals to undertake the crafts and professions, and as such are exempt from taxation. They are financed through the system of levies on their members, and they are administered by their elected officials. Financial Responsibility for debt rests in the elected officials of the Guild who authorised the spending, deferred to any duly appointed officials. Guilds must be Audited annually, and if in the professional view of the Auditor, the Guild has excessive wealth for its needs, a petition may be made to Court requiring the Guild to reduce its wealth.
  • Educational Establishments (Colleges and Schools): These are non-profit organisations which exist to provide education to children and adults, in academic and professional subjects. They can be established for general education or for a specific subject, and are regulated through the Temple of Teaching. They are financed by the charging of fees to the students who attend them, though in many cases these fees are in fact taken up by the Guild for whom the training is relevant, or the City, Town or Rural council for which the school is providing general education. Financial Responsibility for debt rests with the elected Governors of the school or college, deferred to any duly appointed officials. Educational Establishments must be Audited annually, and if in the view of the Auditor, the school or college has excessive wealth, then a petition may be made to the Temple of Teaching requiring the School or College to reduce its wealth.
  • City, Town, and Rural District Councils: These bodies are non-profit organisations formed as a result of the 10th, 12th and 13th Senate Declarations, to provide certain administrative services within residential areas in the Empire. Financial authority rests in the elected officials, but may be deferred to the duly appointed officials who authorised the spending. Councils must be Audited annually, and if in professional the opinion of the Auditor the Council has excessive wealth, then a petition may go to Court to have the excess returned to the populace who paid it. Similarly, if there is a need for expenditure that is beyond the means of the Council, the Council can petition the Imperial Exchequer for additional funds to meet the need, in advance of actually authorising the spending. Funds granted by the Exchequer must be used for the purpose they were petitioned, or returned to the Exchequer.
  • Wholly Owned Companies: A Wholly Owned Company is a body formed under the provisions of the 5th Imperial Decree where the entire body is owned by one single other financially recognised body. Administration of the Company is by its owner and those Employees appointed by its owner to do so. Financial responsibility for the Company rests with its owning body,
    though this may be deferred to certain employee(s) of the company depending on the outcome of any specific judgements against it. Wholly Owned Companies must be Audited annually, and are liable for company taxes as indicated in the 11th Imperial Decree. They are also liable to pay to the Imperial Exchequer all employee taxes collected under the 1st amendment to the 5th Imperial Decree. When funds are transferred from the company to its owning body, that transfer is counted as income for the owning body and may be liable to taxation. When funds are transferred to the Company from its owning body those funds are counted as investment, and are not liable to taxation.
  • Partnerships: A partnership is a Financial Organisation where a group of free individuals agree to pool their resources and trade together as one body, but with no other owners. Financial responsibility rests with the partners, in proportion to the terms of their partnership. Partnerships must be Audited annually, but the individual partners are taxed as individuals on the income they personally derive from the partnership.
  • Private Companies: A Private Company is a body formed under the provisions of the 5th Imperial Decree, comprising at least three shareholders, but where more than 50% of the company is still owned by a single other financially recognised body. Administration of the Company is by the majority shareholder, who is referred to as the chairman of the company and those employees appointed by the chairman to do so. Financial Responsibility rests with all the owners of the company, though this may be deferred to certain employee(s) of the company depending on the outcome of any specific judgements against it. Private Companies must be Audited annually, and are liable for company taxes as indicated in the 11th Imperial Decree. They are also liable to pay to the Empire all employee taxes collected under the 1st amendment to the 5th Imperial Decree. When dividends are paid from the company to any of its shareholders, those dividends are counted as income for the owning bodies and may be liable to taxation. Shares in the company may be traded through a professional broker as assets at a value  determined by the balance sheet of the company. Funds may be injected into the company by its shareholders, through the issuing of new shares, but unless all shareholders simultaneously inject a proportion of funds equal to their relative shareholding, then the relative distribution of their shareholding will be changed. If, during such a share issue, the proportion of shares that  the majority shareholder holds falls such that it is no longer greater than 50%, then the Company must convert to a Public Company, with the appropriate changes in Administration and responsibility.
  • Public Companies: Public Companies are companies where no single recognised financial body holds more than 50% of the shareholding. Administration of the company is by a board of directors, who must all be shareholders, and who are elected annually at a meeting of shareholders on the principle of one share one vote. There must always be an even number of directors,  at least 4 and no more than 16, with the number of directors also being decided at the shareholder’s meeting. Operating decisions of the board must be agreed by a simple majority, with the chairman of the board (elected at the shareholder’s meeting) having a casting vote in the event of a tie. Financial responsibility for the company rests with the board, though that may be deferred to certain employee(s) of the company depending on the outcome of any specific judgements against it. Public companies must be audited annually, and are liable for company taxes as in the 11th Decree as well as for the employee taxes collected under 1st amendment to the 5th Decree. When dividends are paid from the company to its shareholders, those dividends are counted as income for the shareholders and may be liable to taxation. Shares in the company may be traded on any Imperial Stock Market, at a value determined by the market, and their value may rise or fall in ways unrelated to the performance or asset value of the company. Investment in the company by the selling of new additional shares may take place at the instruction of the board, but this will potentially affect the proportions of shares held by existing shareholders, and may also affect the value of shares. In the event of a single financially recognised body attaining ownership of more than 50% of all shares in the company, the company ceases to be public and becomes a Private Company under the control of its majority shareholder, with the board of directors being dissolved.
  • Non-Profit organisations: A non-profit organisation is a body  that is formed as a result of a petition to the Emperor, and is specifically charged with some purpose or function which fulfils a social or special interest need in the Empire. It is not subject to taxation, but it must collect personal taxes from any employees it has and pay them to the Imperial exchequer as in the 1st amendment to the 5th Decree. Administration of non-profit organisation is by a group of trustees who are elected by a free vote of any concerned citizens that choose to attend the annual meeting of the organisation, and the trustees cannot be employees of the organisation. The activities of the organisation are funded by monies which are gifted to the organisation by any individual or financially recognised body. Financial responsibility for the organisation rests with the trustees, and is not limited, though it may be deferred to certain employee(s) of the organisation depending on the outcome of any specific judgements against it. Non-profit organisations  must be Audited annually, and the results of the audit, along with a report on the activities of the company over that year must be submitted to the Imperial Exchequer. Money cannot be taken out of a non-profit organisation as dividends – all spending must either be on  administrative services or on the stated aims and activities of the company, and excessive wealth in the organisation may be subject to windfall taxation.
  • Banks: The Imperial Throne recognises the need for bodies to exist who’s duty is to secure the financial assets of other bodies, keep them in a safe manner, allow for the safe concluding of transactions involving large quantities of money and to provide security for the savings of the citizenry against the economics of the future. It is therefore decreed that in exception to the 19th Imperial Decree, by petition to the Imperial Throne, companies may be formed to fulfil the functions of Banking within the Empire, and that such companies may pay interest to their depositors at an annual value up to the determined rate of inflation without such interest being liable for taxation. Further interest, if paid, would be liable for taxation. It is decreed that banks may charge fees for undertaking their services. Banks are required to keep strict and accurate records of all their depositor’s accounts, and to keep strict records of their own finances, which are liable to be Audited at any time and frequency, at the instruction of the Imperial Exchequer. Banks may use the monies which they hold to undertake trade and investment, thus converting physical money into other assets, but must at any time be able to allow any depositor to withdraw up to ᴆ10,000 of their funds on a single day, and their entire deposit of funds within a week’s notice. Failure to be able to do this will render the bank insolvent. Profits derived from trading with deposited cash are to be used to fund interest payments, and the excess  above interest payments become income for the Bank, and are liable for Company Taxation. In regard of Administration and responsibility, a Bank is treated as treated as a Wholly Owned, Private or Public company, depending on the specifics of its ownership. Stock Markets: These are companies formed by petition to the Imperial Throne, that specifically undertake trading in the shares of other public companies, by determining the daily price of such shares, and handling buying or selling of such shares. In all instances a trade in shares of a public customer must either be a sale to or a sale from a Stock Market, and income for the Stock Market is derived from the difference in buying and selling prices, and from fees that may be charged for undertaking the transaction. Public Companies which do business anywhere on the Primal Realm must have their shares traded on the Eboracum Stock Market, and any public company which does business on multiple shadows must have it shares traded on the New Yorvik Stock Market, in addition to any other Stock Markets. Public Companies which do any business in the Outside must have their shares traded on the Casablanca Stock Market, in addition to any other Stock Markets. In regard to the Administration and Responsibility of Stock Markets, they are  companies to be treated as any other trading company.
  • Financial Professionals (auditors, brokers, fund managers etc.): Individuals who work in the Financial Industry, either as Bankers, stock market traders, accountants, professional fund managers, or other suchlike, have a greater responsibility in Finance than just for their own funds. They are therefore held to a greater accountability, and if another financially recognised  body becomes insolvent as a result of the activities of a Financial Professional, then that Financial Professional may, depending on the specific judgement of any individual cases, share some  or all of the responsibility and penalty for the insolvency.
  • Aristocrats: Aristocrats are individuals who have been granted a title by either the Emperor or by Senate, and who therefore become financially recognised individuals, regardless of what their state would otherwise be within the Empire (e.g. a Priest who becomes an Aristocrat becomes entitled to own property and assets outside of the control of his Temple). They are paid a  stipend from the Imperial Exchequer that is not liable to taxation. However, this is done as a vehicle to encourage the active flow of money within the Empire, through existence of more individuals with significant disposable funds available for spending. Therefore, it is Decreed that unless the gross spending of any aristocrat is at least two thirds the amount paid in stipend per year, the excess cash not spent be returned to the Imperial Exchequer at year-end. Aristocrats are entitled to have other income besides the Imperial stipend, upon which they must pay personal taxes, and which is not relevant for minimum spending limits. Aristocrats are responsible for their own finances, and are liable for any debts they incur. The Imperial stipend may be taken into account when Auditing the ability of an aristocrat to pay a debt, but if an Aristocrat becomes fully insolvent and is sold into slavery, the stipend is cancelled permanently.
  • Citizens: Free citizens are responsible for their own finances, and for the finances of all their dependants. They may own assets, property, and may trade their services to generate income for themselves and their dependants, which is liable for personal taxation.
  • Other Individuals: Dependants are recognised as being able to own assets, but not property. However, they fall under the responsibility of some other financially recognised body with regard to the undertaking of transactions, and the incurring of debts.
  • Trusts: A Trust is a financially recognised body where an accumulation of assets or property is administered by a group of trustees, on behalf of some other individual, who for whatever reason is temporarily unable in law to be financially recognised body. Examples of Trusts would be those for dependant widows, orphans or slaves, but this is not an exclusive list. The trustees are appointed by order of Court, and are Financially Responsible for debts incurred by the Trust, initially out of funds of the Trust, but if the Trust becomes insolvent, out of their own resources. It is the duty of trustees to accumulate wealth within the Trust, income for which is liable for taxation in all cases except slave trusts. Trustees may charge fees of the Trust for their services based on a percentage of growth of the Trust, Decreed at this time to be 1% per year.

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26th Imperial
Decree: The Ruling of the Empire

In Response to the 28th Declaration of Senate, the Imperial Throne Decrees that the will of the gods as originlly stated by the Divine Roland, that the Empire should be ruled by the people of the Empire, not the gods has now and forever should be the way the Empire is ruled. Thus is the Senate’s 28th Declaration set aside.

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27th Imperial
Decree: The Coin of the Realm

It is hereby decreed that the principle currency of the Empire shall be the Denarius – a coin manufactured at the Imperial Mint and comprising one ounce of Real Silver. The symbol for this currency shall be the ‘Ð’.

In order to permit the exchange of large quantities of money, a coin called the Aureus will be manufactured at the Imperial Mint, of one ounce weight, comprising 0.8 ounces of Real Silver and 0.2 ounces of Real Gold, and which will have a value of 25 Denarii.

These coins shall be manufactured to include Identity Magic, such that the validity of the coinage can be verified.

By this decree the bullion price of Real Gold is set, and fixed
at Ð200 per ounce, and the bullion price of Real Silver at Ð12 per
pound weight.