The Valdrean Empire

• Valdran, City of Law
• The Provinces
• Class Structure
• The Noble Houses
• Ministers of the Crown

Valdran, City of Law

SARAN, Goddess of Law, Demarcated the Valdrean Empire standing at the top of a hill on the shores of what is now Lake Zarak, just Anarwards (East) of the outflow of the River Alma. The point where She stood is now marked by a large diamond inset in the centre of a Sun of SARAN of gold plate. This is the legendary Sun Diamond, the most sacred point of the greatest Temple of SARAN in the World.

The City of Valdran radiates outwards from this point in the plan of a Sun of SARAN. It forms a perfect circle 15 miles in radius, intersected by the Southern end of Lake Zarak and its outflow into the River Alma. The main radial streets form the rays of the Sun. An inner circle of 5 miles radius forms the Sacred City, with the smaller part of the circle West of the Alma being the grounds of the Imperial Palace, and with the Citadel at its centre, enclosing and protecting the Temple of the Sun Diamond. The Arena and IDS HQ are respectively situated on small islands close to the lake shore of the Sacred City. At 10 miles out from the centre the next wall encloses the Old City, with the Temple of Heaven on Earth Site island just off the lake shore of the Western third. At 15 miles out from the centre the Outer Wall encloses the New City. The Circus is in the New City, on the left bank of the canalised Alma Navigation.

Access as of Right to the various areas of the City is restricted by Social Class: the Citadel to the Nobility, the Sacred City to the Nobility and Gentry, the Old City to Tradesmen and above, the New City to Peasantry and above. The Imperial Palace is the private property of the Emperor. The Noble Houses have their own eighths of the Inner Sacred City (As the Ninth House, the House of Heaven is based on the THE Site.).

The boundary of Valdran Province is marked by a ditch and a rampart 5 miles out from the City walls, forming the outer defences of the City. The area between these and the Outer Wall of the City is cleared and landscaped parkland. The land beyond is given over to agriculture for the support of the City.

The Provinces

See above map for locations.  Provincial capitals are stated in brackets.  Only those Provinces within the Demarcation of SARAN (as at the Year 2500) are listed.  All Provincial Governorships are Duellable, except those marked *, which are Imperial appointments.

1. Valdran (n/a)
2. Alma Province
3.  
4.  
5. Hapral Province (Hapral)
6. West Zarak Province
7.  
8.  
9.  
10. Kelno Province (Kelno)
11.  
12. Imperial Hunting Forest (none) *
13. East Zarak Province
14.  
15.  
16.  
17. Yarmen Province (Yarmena)
18. Iscar Province (Iscador)
19. Greenwoods Province (Dynor)
20.  
21. Omec Province
22.  
23.  
24.  
25.  
26.  
27.  
28.  
29.  
30.  
31. Taga Province
32.  
33.  
34. Northern Plains Province
35. Southern Plains Province
36. Melidor Province (Melidor)
37.  
38.  
39.  
40.  
41.  
42. Rilvar Province (Rilvar)
43. Gamart Province (Gamart)
44.  
45. Three Rivers Province (Zelvak)
46. Border Province (Border)
47. Torel Province (Torel)
48. West Post Military Area (West Post) *
49. High Yarmen Province (Geyorl)
50. Dafrack Province (Dafrack)
51. Gap Province (Kanaya)
52. Midro Province
53.  
54.  
55.  
56.  

Class Structure

Categories of Persons

Classes of Citizens (Legal Rights, Duties and Privileges):

I Nobility

II Gentry

III Professionals

IV Tradesmen

V Commoners

VI Peasantry

VII Prisoners and Slaves

Aliens (Legal Rights and Duties)

Persons who are not Citizens of the Valdrean Empire

Outlaws (totally outside the Laws of Valdrea):

1. Chaotics
2. Exiles
3. Enemies of the People
4. Orcs and Goblins

Nationality Law

Citizenship of the Valdrean Empire is acquired by Men of the Western Race (only) in any of the following ways [Class of Citizenship acquired in square brackets]:

1. Ius soli - birth within the Demarcation of SARAN (First and Second Empires) / Boundaries of the Empire (Third Empire) [VII if one parent of that Class / otherwise depends on place of birth]
2. Ius patri - birth to, or adoption by, a parent who is a Citizen of the Valdrean Empire [that of the lowest-ranking parent - NB if parents married, their Class will be the same]
3. Marriage - under Valdrean Law to a Citizen of the Valdrean Empire [that of the spouse - marriage to a person of higher Class increases one's class]
4. Naturalisation - by Grant of the Committee of Citizenship [as Granted]
5. Imprisonment - on arrest or sentence by Valdrean authorities [VII - decreases Class if a Citizen arrested]
6. Enslavement - on enslavement by a Citizen of the Valdrean Empire [VII - Citizens and Friendly Aliens (i.e. ones with whom the Empire is not at war) may not be enslaved]

The Noble Houses

(in order of Seniority, Champions as at 19 IX 2503)

I The Imperial House of Tarm

Founded: 1392

Colours: Gules & Or

Champion: Emperor Arril I (s. 11 I 2501), II Emperor, III Empire

II The Noble House of Aven

Founded: Oldest House - can trace itself back to Yr. 1000

Colours: Argent & Tenney

Champion: Marcus

III The Noble House of Normeikl

Founded: 2436 (successor to the Ancient House of Mastrin, founded 1375)

Colours: Gules & Azure (same as former colours of Mastrin)

Champion: Dakro

IV The Noble House of Bavenne

Founded: 1430

Colours: Vert & Azure

Champion: Lissir

V The Noble House of Carrilon

Founded: 1507

Colours: Vert & Or

Champion: Gerintal

VI The Noble House of Satril

Founded: 1508

Colours: Azure & Or

Champion: Tarsus

VII The Noble House of Jalaskir

Founded: 1557

Colours: Gules & Vert

Champion: Gaston, XV Earl of Carnad

VIII The Noble House of Gytrasan

Founded: 1956

Colours: Or & Purpure

Champion: Tindral

IX The Noble House of Heaven

Founded: 2501 - Youngest House

Colours: Azure & Sable

Champion: Kyarlin

Heraldic Colour Precedence (for dexter chief and sinister base quarters in Valdrean Arms): Gules, Vert, Azure, Or, Argent, Sable, Purpure, Tenney, Murrey

Ministers of the Crown

These are the Executive Officers of the Imperial Central Government, answerable directly to the Emperor, and being Privy Councillors ex officio.

Each Minister has one Second (a trusted adviser appointed by him) and a fixed number of Deputies, to whom he may delegate his duties.

All Ministerial Offices and Deputyships are Duellable. Under the reforms of the Third Empire, each of these offices may be challenged directly by any Noble Champion. Secondments are appointed offices, and are not Duellable.

Nobody may hold more than one Ministerial Office, Secondment or Deputyship at once, or have more than one challenge for a Ministerial Office or Deputyship outstanding at once. If a challenge is successful, the offices are therefore exchanged.

If a Ministerial Office falls vacant (e.g. by death outside a Duel), the Second succeeds. If a Deputyship falls vacant, the Second defends it against challengers, but will commonly make a formal concession (to himself if he wants the office, or to the winner of a series of duels between multiple challengers).

Offices under the Third Empire

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