Imperial Decree 200

Imperial Decree #200: A New Feudal System For Shireroth

Issued by Kaiser Yarad I

On this day, Morsday the 14th of Vanchauslurk, upon which we celebrate the birth of Istvanistan and that of our most cherished and beloved (disclaimer) citizen, Scott Alexander of Yardistan (but really Hyperborea), it is hereby decreed:

- That the new feudal system is hereby in place in accordance with the following proposal:

Fiefdoms and Nobles:

a) Fiefdoms of Shireroth shall consist of Counties, Baronies, Duchies and Thanedoms, as described in the following sections. b) Nobles of Shireroth shall consist of the Minor Nobility, the Lesser Nobility, and the Greater Nobility, as described in the following sections.

Lesser Nobility and Commoners:

a) At entry level into Shireroth, citizens will be granted the rank of Commoner. b) Once a new citizen proves themselves as a citizen in Shireroth, they will be granted the rank of Count by the Kaiser. c) Counts shall be considered members of the Minor Nobility, and as such cannot vote in the Landsraad. d) Minor Nobility shall each be granted a plot of land by the Kaiser, known as a County.

Greater Nobility:

a) The Lesser Nobility of Shireroth shall consist of Barons and Dukes. b) A Baron shall be a Count of Shireroth who, in contract with at least one other Count, up to a maximum of three other Counts, is granted the authority to rule over the Counties constituent to the contract. Zir rule shall be deemed a Barony. c) A Duke shall be a Baron of Shireroth who, in contract with at least one other Baron, is granted the authority to rule over the Baronies, Counties, and Manors constituent to the contract or a Count who, in contract with at least four other Counts, is granted the authority to rule over the Baronies and Counties constituent to the contract. Zir rule shall be deemed a Duchy.

Landsraad Votes:

a) The Landsraad shall consist of the Lesser Nobility of Shireroth b) A non-subservient Baron receives one vote for each County within Zir fiefdom (including zir own County) and one extra vote for owning the title of Baron. This is to a maximum of five votes per independent Baron. c) A Duke receives one vote for every County within zir Duchy, one vote for every subservient Barony within zir Duchy (not counting zir own), an extra two votes for being a Duke, and also receives the pre-alliance votes of zir subservient Barons. These last votes may be leased or gifted back to the subservient Baron according to the contract written up between the two Nobles upon allying. d) Counts are not permitted to speak unless authority is granted because of a position of theirs such as Minister.

Marriage and Joint Nobility

a) Joint Nobility shall be established with the contractual Marriage of Nobles. b) Nobles who share Joint Nobility may act as Nobles of each others' Fiefdoms, with restrictions as defined within their Marriage contract.

- That the Imperial Charter be changed by the Kaiser to conform with these new changes.

- That a new forum called the Noble Commons be created to fulfill the purpose of an arena for intra-nobility alliances, dalliances, communication and as a place for unallied Counts to hang out in.

- That all existing fiefdoms have three days to provide an alliance contract either to the Noble Commons, or face forced dissolution by the Kaiser.

- That all unclaimed land (ie. a land that does not have a Count ruling it within three days) will be subsumed into the Shirelands, and therefore become the demesne of the Kaiser, to be allotted to Counts as the Kaiser wishes.

- That the most current edition of the Map of Shireroth as compiled by Lord Bill of Antya, Imperial Cartographer, will be used in determining the amount of territory available for allotment to new Counties, and the votes that fiefdoms may receive.

- That this is not the end. Watch for the storm.

By my hand,

His Niftiness, Yarad, First of the Name, Kaiser of Shireroth, Protector of Comstokia, Overlord of the Duchies of Brookshire, Kildare and Yardistan, Thane of the Shirelands, Keeper of the Apollo Legacy, Grand Master of the Orders of the Dragon, Griffin, Phoenix, and Chimera, Wielder of Vengeance, Count of Shirekeep, Knight of the Sunburst, Kampioen of Shireroth, Recipient of the Grand Collar of the Nishan i-Rastakhiz, Knight Companion of the Most Magnificent Imperial Order of the Sovereign Viking Crown, Lieutenant of Blackrock, Prince of Hvalafell Scion of Kalir, and Lord of the Golden Mango Throne.