Neither Ni'Tir or Xi'tir agree to an age restriction. Both voicing that such a ruling would lead to more disastrous restrictions. Such as and not limited to race, religion and even class/profession.
They speak from the perspective that the current lords are mostly human and they're laws may not survive more then a generation..
Tatiana lets the age restriction suggestion die on the table. "Let's leave the decision of leader to the wisdom of the council of barons," she foreshadows future votes and changes.
"Yes, the division of land seems to be a good issue to discuss when Seraph returns, hopefully with Anando. Potentially, the Stag Lord's lands can be parceled out, but we really need an equatable method to settle the baronial estates that King Rupert envisioned."
Ti'Itza looks for the speaker before having to rise from his chair to finally spot Anando. He tilts his head curiously at him, nods in acknowledgment and sits back down without a word.
<"Their customs for Chief's are strange...">
Tepti shoulder bumps Ti'Itza and shakes her head, interrupting his words before he said something offensive. She hoped that they did not understand their language...
"Welcome, Anando. I'm happy you came. Please have a seat at your place. We've been discussing the kingdom going forward and were about to start discussing further affairs that would be better discussed with your input. Janus, would you please brief Anando on what has been agreed to so far?"
Ni'Tir nods respectfully as Anando comes into the chamber, Xi'Tir ignores him as was expected...
"Glad you could join us Baron Veresisi. We have much to discuss."
His primary focus was making sure Anando understood how his role was just important as the others gathered around the table. So Danath took the time to ensure they got Anando up to speed and lets Janus explain his points again.
"Good to see you, Baron Veresisi. Here is what we have worked out so far."
Janus promptly explains everything to Anando.
"Most of us seem to be in agreement with this plan, but we figure that you should have a say as well. You have been a keystone of the Kingdom's success after all, and there might be something important that we missed."
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Anando, breaking character, smiles shyly.
"Thank you, Baroness Tatiana, and thank you all. I am deeply thankful that you choose to entrust me with such a privilege, and I swear fealty to the Kingdom of Sloboda, and Queen Venetia."
He sits, and after hearing your ideas, he comments.
"When King Rupert and I made the draft from the foundinglaws of the kingdom he choose to base in the Six River Freedoms, the law of this land. If you recall what I wrote in that parchment, you see the influence on it."
he stands and start to recite:
"I, King Rupert the First of Sloboda, recognizes the following rights from his peers, the barons of his land, now and forever.
1. All the people in the land shall be free, in action, word, travel, religion and thought. Slavery is forbidden. Only an act against others will be punishable as a crime, and only if condemned by a judge. Nor talk nor ideals can be a crime in itself. Each person possessions are to be preserved unless ordered by a judge.
2. An Oath is sacred. What you say is your bond, and you will be make responsible of it.
3. Each baron, and the King, will be granted a territory, and within that territory his authority will be uncontested, and can enact his own laws and customs, as long as don't restrict the liberty of their subjects or the breaking of oaths. Each baron is the ultimate judge in his territories, and can delegate that capacity in whoever he wants. A baron that breaks the law can be judged, and condemned, by a majority of a jury of all the other barons and the King. A King that breaks the law can be judged, and condemned, by a majority of a jury of all the barons.
4. Each baron will obey the orders of the King, unless they contradict the first two articles. Each baron will cooperate with the others, and with the King, in the defense and protection of all the subjects of the Kingdom.
5. Each baron will choose his own rules of succession. The King will be selected, when needed, by a majority of votes of the barons. A King can be deposed if a majority of the barons vote for it.
6. Each decree of the King can be revoked if the majority of the barons vote against it.
7. All the resources granted by Brevoy to colonize the Stolen Lands belong to Sloboda, and will be used as the King and the Barons see fit. The don't belong to any one person."
He sits again.
"To found a kingdom not on a name, or a book of laws, but to found it on freedoms and rights. And Build from that foundation. That was our idea."
He starts to shake with emotion while talking, and a tear falls from his eye.
"He is not here to talk anymore, but I can talk for him. Don't forget his ideals. don't forget him."
"Anando, until such point that she absolves her right to be so or this council decides that she is no longer, Tatiana is your Queen, and you will address her as such, to do otherwise would be treason."
Janus looks around the room.
"It seems to me that there is one thing we need to establish right now. Who is going to be our next Monarch? As she said to us all, Her Majesty took the throne under the assumption that she would be serving as Regent for someone. If she does not want to be Queen, then we should not force her. However, I now see Neji's point. No one seems to be offering to take her place."
Janus taps his writing stick against his chin.
"However, we should also consider that she has been regarded as the undisputed Queen of the Kingdom for as long as it has existed. While it has only been six months, Queen Tatiana has done more for these previously Stolen Lands than anyone else in recent memory. To the people, she orchestrated the events that killed the Stag Lord and freed them from his tyranny. It happened so quickly that it is almost surreal. Replacing this great heroine right now with someone who is essentially a total stranger to them would be highly problematic."
Janus sighs and messages his temples.
"It would ruin everything that King Rupert put in place for us."
Janus closes his eyes and begins thinking.
"I propose a period of transition. Queen Tatiana reigns for a while longer while Sloboda gets used to the Survivors. After some time has passed and the people get to know Her Majesty's successor, the first transition can happen. This will serve as the example for our future leadership rotations. When people look back on changes in power, this will be what serves as the defining moment. If it happens peacefully, if it happens with finesse, then I can see people accepting it."
Janus opens his eyes and scans the room.
"We just need to agree to a candidate for successor, and one keeps coming to my mind at least. Venetia, in the event that Her Majesty were to step down and a major were to vote for you as per our agreements, would you accept the Monarchy?"
"If that is the decision decided upon by this council then I will support that decision and accept the position and responsibility."
Ti'Itza had finally had his fill, for the first time in his long years he was full. <"No Challenges, just talking. It hurts my head to listen... But if there willing to help I can bare it. The honorless need to be removed...">
Tepti nods to her companion and leans back in the somewhat uncomfortable chair, it was pinching her tail in all the wrong ways. <"To restore the tribe to greatness is all. Perhaps we can learn their ways...">
<"Perhaps but with less..."> He grunts as Tepti cracks him in the ribs again. He rumbles with light laughter at his companion weak attacks and receives a threatening growl in response to his mocking her...
In the common tongue he speaks. "I wish not to decide your Chieftain, I will watch for now."
Janus nods at Venetia and Ti'Itza's remarks before turning his head to Tatiana. Her word will be among the most important for the transition period plan.
"What do you say, Your Majesty?"
"As everyone knows, I have had no desire to be a Majesty," Tatiana replies, "However, the kingdom needed leadership. A planned transition period sounds reasonable. Do you have a time frame in mind?"
"As much as I agree that she would be a fine sovereign, General Seraph renounced her claim to the throne for the time being," Janus respectfully reminds Maria. He turns back to Tatiana. "As for the transition period, I was thinking the rest of the year at least. However, it might be a bit longer."
Neji whispers to her fiance, "You've been awfully quiet. Everything okay?"
Xi'Tir waves her hand dismissively. "Rupert said to have Venetia become da Queen so my vote is with her den..." She was quiet on the fact that she too would have gone for Seraph, but merely out of the fact she knows Seraph's leadership over Venetia.
Ni'Tir joined her sister. "Rupert died ta see us h're today. So I will follow his wish as well..."
She raises a finger though. "However, we need ta rally the people behind her if this is to succeed, perhaps a Two ta t'ree month period so that she can meet da people of Slobada. Dis town is small it should be simple mon..."
Kiritta continues to become more and more disinterested with the political jousting and discussion.
Why can't this just be logically decided. It would save so much time and headaches.
When it gets to discussing a replacement for Tatiana, she sighs.
Why don't we see how the people respond to Venetia and the rest of the new arrivals. They may love her, or they may hate her. There is no reason to decide today who will succeed Tatiana. We continue forward as you all have to date. Together we continue to make this land safe. We secure the borders with the Kobolds. If there are undead, we destroy them. Any other lands, we shall deal with.
The people will see that all of us are here to fight for this land. I only say that we make sure any successor be of the same mind as us. That they have supported and fought for this land. A leader demonstrating any less would look like a puppet, something that would not breed confidence in the government.
Ni'Tir ruybs her temples, Kiritta's logic was correct hence why she had suggested a transition period of a few months. "Den lets decide on where we go next. Dem Undead need ta be put ta rest thats for sure, as dey through off the balance of nature..."
"I agree with Kiritta on this. Lets leave this to rest and return to this vote in a month while taking the chance to integrate with the citizens. Cooperation is born through understanding."
"I see few of us having issues integrating with them, I will spend time in town tonight myself and at least focus on the laborers. From there it will work its way outward..." He regarded the map quietly, not liking the sounds of this Undead presence in the south and south east.
"Has any of the local inhabitants been asked about these lingering undead? Perhaps the Nomen?"
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Anando interjects too...
"Given your success dealing with the Stag Lord I say we can get ambitious, too. The way you defeat him will give us a respite from bandits and invaders, as they should see now that you are strong, and they fear might. That open us a chance to aggressive expansion I wouldn't have proposed before. Let me show you this."
He produces a map of all the Sellen river area.
"As you can see the best way to reach Brevoy is via the East Sellen River, from Mivon to New Stetven. One of the biggest trade routes in all this part of the world. And it is closed now. Boggards and bandits have closed it down for several years now, and Fort Drelev, at the middle of the way, is weak, incommunicated and unable to secure the river. If we can annex fort and the waterway, open it again, and secure the travel and commerce on the river, we could get an enormous trade benefit for the kingdom. That move would make us an important player in the River Kingdoms! We could rival even the Sellen river to Chesed commerce route. And, if you need a "moral" reason to do it, besides rescuing the trapped citizens of fort Drelev, it would open a better, and safest, route for the Crusaders to reach the Worldwound, and they sure need all the help they could get."
He points at Fort Drelev.
"The risk is really big. The payback huge. And not only for us. it would benefit all of Golarion!"
Seraph considers for a moment and nods in agreement with Kiritta. "I believe Venetia will be a fine ruler but with the recent shocks the citizens have suffered it would be best to hold off for a month and get them more amiable to the idea of a transition so soon after the nations inception." She didn't want to rush into a disastrous change, but Danath's suggestion had much merit. The Drunken ones teachings could definitely be utilized here. When Maria spoke up her heart stilled for a brief moment.
Seraph looks somewhat shocked when Maria presses for Seraph to take on the role of Queen and blushes ever so slightly when Janus compliments her. His reminder to Maria though shakes her out of her distracted thoughts and she focuses on what Danath was saying.
She gave no excuses though as Danath would scold her. "No, it is something I'd like to pursue, especially if we can somehow get their aid in this fight." The enemy of my enemy is my friend... But a pure alliance with the Nomen would be more desirable then using each other to eliminate a threat.
Danath nods as she leaves further discussion for the war table. "With the Stags fall we can accomplish much more, especially with all of you here. This is the strongest we've ever been and I am sure the people of Slobada and especially Trivium will come to realize how lucky they are."
Seraph and Danath shared a look before Seraph looked at the map Anando had. "The Worldwound... Perhaps this fort Drelev will be where I start my Barony then, as I would love to support the Crusade as much as I could." She couldn't help but see the possibility and she looked to Arv and Mulray. "Can I rely on you too in helping me in this endeavor?"
While waiting on their response she pats Anando on the shoulder. "Its good to have you here Baron, we will have much to discuss on this, however we need to secure our new borders here and despite our recent victory the dead are not so easily deterred."
Danath looks to the undead territory as Seraph speaks. "I hope to secure Lake Silverstep and some of the surrounding territory, primarily explore the mountains for resources. Once there is time I will work on an alliance with the Nomen and hopefully gain their aid."
He gives the girl his warmest smile as he regards her with his stormcloud colored eyes and he didn't hide how appreciative he was to know more about the Nomen's. "That is good to know, I appreciate the insight Milady... Elpida was it?"
He smiles broadly at her as he nods to her correcting him on the way her name was pronounced. "I will remember that Milady and your offer."
Ni and Xi exchange looks and fidget some as Fort Drelev is spoke of and hearing that Seraph wanted to establish her barony their made Xi'Tir's eyebrows rise in surprise. So far from the capital. What she t'inkin? Remembering the map her head nearly swam with how bad of a position Fort Drelev would be until she realized how much potential there would be for...
Combat.
She smiled then, seeming to have a glimpse as to what Seraph's plan was. Take the Fort, build it up, battle the Barbarian's, The Pitaxian's, the swampfolk and forge a kingdom that could rival all dem other baronies. Sneaky, sneaky... "My blade be with ya Flame General. Where ya go I will go mon."
Ni'Tir smiles as Danath continues to make friends, she sees the girls discomfort and can't help but remember her first meeting with the Silver Dragonmen and their charismatic leader.
Ti'itza watched quietly, now that he was satisfied he was learning, although this Danath appeared to be making a harem. He watched the girl turn a different shade and tilted his head curiously. He hadn't known they could turn so red....
"Small Destroyer... Ne-Ji." He rolls the strange words off his tongue as he gets the attention of the chicken leg wielding Gnome. "Is that one sick?" He points at the humble monk Elpida. "Or is it common to turn red like red rock snake when spoken too?"
Arv stands, beams... and bows to Seraph. "If you see the benefit in our assistance, we would be honored to join you." He gazes over the map - it now has greater interest. "Ha! This is all terribly exciting!" Arv slaps Mulray on the back - who shrugs and pours himself a drink.
Arv pushes his mug under the stream.
Unlike her companion Tepti takes note of the girls red appearance but was more focused on the one speaking to her. He did have a way of speaking that was oddly... Fascinating. However, like Ti'Itza she was focusing on learning the particular in's and out's of this Scaleless society and so far talking and plans were a large part.
No challenge for chiefdom, discussions on which enemies to fight, which tribes to make friend and finding places that were abandoned. How strange and yet so interesting. The talk of these Undead made her tilt her head. "What is Un-dead?"
Tepti's question catches Danaths attention and he ponders how best to handle the lizardfolk as he wasn't familiar with their kind. His hesitation was barely noticeable before he spoke. "A dead creature brought back to walk and attack the living. I am unsure as to how else to explain it."
Tepti nods at his explination, marveling for a moment at hisb unique eye color before responding with a word in her native tongue. <"Spirit Walker.">
"Thank you Anando for your wise counsel." Tatiana replies. "Fort Drelev sounds like an excellent strategic position. We must take that to make our kingdom rival Brevoy. On the other hand, we have several issues closer to home to address before extending our reach that far. Our new guests and now recognized barons need support to claim their barony." Tatiana nods to the two Lizardfolk. "Since they speak Draconic, we could take the opportunity to see if we can bring the neighboring kobolds within our kingdom."
She pauses for a few seconds, "The other main issue that we have is the neighboring undead. They appear to be our most immediate threat to the kingdom now that the Stag Lord has been dealt with. And defeating the undead would be a good way for Venetia to become known."
Arv takes a seat and retrieves his sketchbook. He begins doodling banners, tabards, and insignias. After a moment a thought occurs to him... he leans over to Mulray "My four thousand gold?..."
to which Mulray responds. "still got it."
Arv smiles and shakes his head - amazed and proud of his friend's loyalty. He slaps him on the back again before returning to his sketches.
"Then I can afford a few of the finer details..."
He murmurs to himself as he fills several pages with his doodled brainstorming...
"Silver Dragonflight... soo something talon, wing, or fiery... fire theme would be good with the red hair... and all this material from the red caps... Ha!"
"My god has given me powers to deal with the undead, though those powers are limited. And it would be wise to warm the community up to the idea of those of us who they do not know being part of their leaders and their community. It may also be wise for me to distance myself from Brevoy, how do our relations fare with Brevoy at this time?"
Tarina cannot determine who she is more jealous of, Danith for taking Elpida's attention or Elpida for taking Danith's, they are both so beautiful.
She shakes her head and turns herself back to the matters at hand however. "It occurs that we have several tasks that we need to do, bringing the kobolds in, dealing with the undead, and finding Alexandria. The undead are of course a high priority, but finding Alexandria should be high priority as well, I expect these things may need to be done simultaneously."
Arv approaches Danath with his sketchbook - with his bulk, unavoidably shouldering Elpida aside. "Elpida is it? Means Hope if I am not mistaken... well I hope you don't mind if I speak with Baron Orlovsky privately a moment."
"Since it would appear I am to be tasked with the protection of your second in command in your stead, I thought it would be rather good of you to take advantage of my talents... Send her off with something special, my boy."
Arv shows his initial ideas for crested banners - variations on the dragonflight theme... "If you care to contribute... their effects... well, can be quite remarkable."
"Yeah, Yeah. Alexis important but we ain't welcome in Brevoy mon. So we be needin' a quieter way ta find her. But say we take her, den dem Surtovans will be comin' here for our heads. Army ain't big enough take take dem yet..."