Lhomarrian Politics and Laws
The Lhomarrian people base their political state, and their laws, upon thousands of years of precedents, edicts, and agreements. At the very base of their body politic is the Codex of Tylios, named after the young emperor who, after his tyrannical father, Galhossian, was executed following a civil war, signed the new political arrangement into law. It was signed in BC 8377 - the original copy of this document still in existence, safe in the vault of the Imperial Palace in Calimnis. The Codex explicitly delegated all of the executive powers of the state between the emperor and the ten regional princes. This was done both to restrain future emperors from taking total control, and to eliminate confusion that could result in another civil war.
Before the rise of Galhossian, there was an unspoken agreement, evolved over the centuries, between these two executive bodies. The princes were largely responsible for domestic affairs, while the emperor (or empress) saw to external affairs of state, and reigned as the symbolic head of government. This arrangement was re-asserted, but this time on paper, where no one could question it. As the centuries passed, and new areas of political authority were needed, the Codex has been consulted in order to find out which executive body should have jurisdiction.
As it stands right now, the ten regional princes have control over the powers of tax collection, domestic production of trading goods, the training and command of soldiers, and administering justice. The emperor has control over conducting relations with outside nations, setting the tax rate, assenting to new legislation, providing last appeal in legal cases, declaring war, approving the appointment of public officials, raising people to the nobility, administering the capital city through a mayor, and drafting legislation. In the case of the drafting of legislation, a panel of experts is normally summoned by the emperor to act upon his ideas, usually combined with suggestions from the princes. As mentioned above, however, the ruler may also draft his or her own legislation - though this is rare.
The Princes and Other Nobles:
Although the princes have responsibility for many domestic issues, functionaries and bureaucrats often do most of the work of administering policies and laws. For the average prince, most of the day is taken up by touring the province and talking with the commoners - and providing a travelling court of law. When this is not going on, a prince is often meeting with the emperor, or other princes, in order to decide on major issues of the day; or supervising soldiers or leading them in training exercises. Basically, the princes’ role is to ensure that all is quiet on the domestic front, while the ruler concerns him or herself with the affairs of state.
As with other members of nobility, the princes derive their power from their bloodlines - from those men who were chosen around BC 8600 by emperor Santhalis for their bravery and loyalty to be his personal assistants, who would rule in his stead in the countryside. Along with the princes and their families, there are other nobles in Selhomarr. As mentioned above, the ruler has the power to appoint commoners to the nobility. This is invariably to the rank of "Lord" or "Lady", and the title conferred in hereditary. Such an event is very rare, and is often the occasion for public celebration. The main reason why this is done is to recognize the great service an individual has done for Selhomarr, or to the ruler him or herself. This practice also helps the regional princes, as this provides new noble families for their children to marry into. As it stands right now, there are about 200 lords and ladies scattered across the nation.
Unlike the princes, the lords and ladies have no special powers under the Codex, and are considered common citizens, aside from the fact that they are titled and may marry into a prince’s family. A prince is, however, free to delegate authority to a lord or lady, subject to the ruler’s approval. Currently, many lords and ladies are given the authority to act as judges in legal cases, where the prince in question does not have the time to do so. These minor nobles do have one important responsibility, though. In times of war, they are required to assist the prince in assembling the military forces of the province, as well as provide suitable commanders, if none are otherwise available from among the professional soldiers.
The Political System:
With this information in mind, one can easily classify the nation of Selhomarr as a federal state, with a constitutional monarch at its head. The empire is divided into ten provinces, each ruled by a prince, who in turn delegates part of his authority to local lords and ladies, but both directly deal with the populace. The capital city, Calimnis, is directly ruled by the emperor or empress through the mayor. The only region that is outside this structure is the Ilarnnian Autonomous Region, which has all the trappings of an independent state without statehood. All portions of the empire, including the Ilarnnian region, share common foreign and trade policies, a common currency, a common army and navy, and a common legal system.
The Lhomarrian Legal System:
As mentioned earlier, the Lhomarrians political and legal system is based largely upon precedent. In any legal case, attempts are always made to find records of a similar case, in order to provide a better perspective on how judgement should be carried out, if the recorded sentence in the precedent was deemed fair by both prosecution and defence. This does not mean that there are no hearings in court, or testimony; only that guidelines are always sought. Where this is not possible, then extra care is taken, as what is decided at that case may become tomorrow’s precedent.
In general, the Lhomarrian legal system classifies people according to different social classes, each having the same basic rights. At the lowest level are the citizens, who may own property, live wherever they wish, and keep the money they earn - less the amount taken in taxes. Being a citizen also entitles a person to vote for the administrators of their place of residence - often mayors or reeves. Both men and women can be citizens. Apart from this, though, there is no political franchise per se. Citizens also have a few fundamental freedoms - namely, the freedoms of expression, association, and privacy. These freedoms are, however, subject to the will of the ruler, and may be suspended when the need arises. Basically, citizens may say, write, or think whatever they want, meet with whomever they choose for whatever reason, and may conduct their lives without fear of supervision. All of these are, of course, subject to reason - it is illegal to publicly express support for the Outer Beings, for example, or to meet with revolutionaries.
Within the class of citizen are several gradations of prestige, defined by profession. Those involved in manual labour, such as farmers, fishermen, or miners, are at the bottom. Above them, in order of prestige, are smiths of various kinds, shopkeepers, soldiers, lawyers, scholars, politicians, explorers, and priests. One’s position on this scale determines how the public perceives that person - how sophisticated they are, their potential to advance themselves, how much they are respected, etc.; it does not confer any extra powers.
Above the citizens are the lords and ladies, as mentioned earlier. They do not have any extra powers, apart from those delegated from a prince. Above these nobles are the princes, whose powers, rights, and duties have been discussed earlier. Finally, at the top the scale of power is the ruler, whether it is an emperor or empress, the details of which have also been discussed earlier.
Unlike many other cultures, slavery does not officially exist in Lhomarrian society. Those captured in war are detained in prisons, but are otherwise treated well. Falling into debt, however, leads one into a legal nether region, where the one who owes must forfeit their wealth and non-essential assets. If not enough money is raised in this manner to pay off the debt, then the debtor is required to perform work for the creditor, at a rate of repayment equivalent to the salary that would be otherwise paid out. Technically, this is indentured servitude, though the debtor is still considered a citizen under the law, and still retains all of his or her rights.
Crime and Punishment:
The Lhomarrian legal system is not very strict when compared with those of other societies. The table below summarizes what is considered illegal, and what one can expect in terms of punishment. All Lhomarrians are considered equal before the law, even the emperor. This means that there is no lenient set of punishments for nobles - in Selhomarr, the law is the law, period.
Criminal Act |
Punishment |
Theft (1,000 alinni or less) |
Restitution of stolen property, 1 year in prison |
Theft (1,001 - 10,000 alinni) |
Restitution of stolen property, 5 years in prison |
Theft (over 10,000 alinni) |
Restitution of stolen property, 10 years in prison |
Publicly Denouncing Xeron |
Public Censure |
Publicly Denouncing the Ruler |
Public Censure |
Assault (non-lethal) |
20 lashes |
Sexual Assault |
50 lashes or 5 years in prison |
Attempting a Coup |
Exile or life in prison |
Manslaughter |
75 lashes or 7 years in prison |
Murder |
Death by Hanging or Exile for Life |
Worshipping an Outer Being |
Death by Hanging |
Worshipping Thanatos |
Death by Hanging |
This system of punishment is followed throughout Selhomarr, even in the Ilarnnian Autonomous Region. While, to an outsider, the execution of a person for worshipping the Outer Beings may seem harsh at first, they only need to learn of the history of the Lhomarrians in order to understand why the punishment is so severe. The Lhomarrians and Ilarnnians are aware that the machinations of the Outer Beings ultimately brought them to the Hollow World, and, they believe, destroyed their old world. They fear that such an event could happen again, and they feel the Outer Beings are listening, waiting for worshippers to give them strength. As a result, there is no room in their societies for those who would venerate these Beings, who would bring ruin onto everyone.
Political Groups:
In any political system, various groups are formed of like-minded individuals who band together to advance their own views. Selhomarr is no exception, and the groups below are the ones that are the most active. Feel free to add your own groups to those listed. Each group is described in terms of their membership, who can join, what their essential beliefs are, and what they do in terms of activities.
Fist of Xeron
Members: Approximately 40,000.
Who can join: Any Lhomarrian or Ilarnnian who worships of Xeron. Cost is 50 alinni per year.
Beliefs: The Fist of Xeron is a radical movement composed of Lhomarrians and Ilarnnians who have become alarmed at the profusion of "outside ideas" within Selhomarr. The primary objects of dislike are worshippers of "false gods" - such as those who worship Diulanna or other Immortals - but anyone who follows non-traditional ideas or philosophies will also be blacklisted by this group. Lhomarrians who follow "the wrong path" are insulted whenever encountered, and efforts are made to persuade people in positions of authority, and people on the street, to ostracize them. Members believe that only by following Lhomarrian traditions to the letter, and by embracing Lhomarrian culture, will the favour of Xeron be gained. There is no room for "foreign" religions or ideas. All in all, a xenophobic, conservative group, but relatively non-violent.
Activities: Largely confined to haranguing people in the streets, insulting those more open to new ideas, and occasionally burning temples to other Immortals. Violence is discouraged.
Order of the Homebound
Members: Approximately 8,500.
Who can join: Any citizen of Selhomarr who worships Xeron. Cost is 250 alinni per year.
Beliefs: Members of the Order of the Homebound believe that certain principles of the teachings of the priests are flawed - that the realm on the outside of the Hollow World is the paradise of Xeron, and is reserved only for him and those he deems most virtuous. They believe that the "other side" is indeed a paradise, but that it is not closed to mortals; rather, Xeron has placed it like a prize, and only the purest people will survive the perilous journey to live with him in splendour. They hope to gain Xeron’s favour by proving their mettle - by staging a great pilgrimage to Xeron’s realm, where they will live for eternity. They see the priests’ warnings merely as an effort to keep this great destiny out of the reach of the masses. The great pilgrimage will commence once 10,000 people have sworn the oaths of secrecy and loyalty.
Activities: Most members discreetly seek out others who would be sympathetic to their cause. Meetings are clandestine and infrequent, and often concern progress reports on gathering supplies for the journey ahead. Should this group ever gain enough members, they would arrange to leave at a prearranged time, meeting in the southernmost region of the empire. From there they would sail south into the polar region. Any survivors would find themselves nowhere near any paradise, stuck in far southern Davania.
Warmaidens
Members: Approximately 87,000
Who can join:: Women who have chosen fighting as a profession. Cost is 100 alinni per year.
Beliefs: Members of the Warmaidens believe that women should also have the opportunity to serve the empire in the army or the navy, and not be forced to train themselves to a level where they will be accepted as having "proven themselves". The Warmaidens feel that too many aspiring warriors are put at needless risk by this outdated tradition, possibly robbing Selhomarr of tomorrow’s top military leaders. To this end, they have established academies in the countryside where women may go to learn the arts of war, taught by veteran female soldiers. Despite the large membership base, and the growing number of such academies, demand still outstrips supply, such that many young women are still forced to go out on their own to get the training they need.
Activities: Officially, the Warmaidens’ activities are illegal, as only men are allowed to enlist in the army or navy and receive basic training. The military, religious, and political leaders realize, though, that the Warmaidens are providing a valuable service - that of providing professional soldiers. In recent minor battles with the Antalians, units comprising Warmaidens, or those trained by them, performed at a much higher level, and sustained fewer casualties, than conventional forces.