The Monarchy
"I pledge my Arm... For every Sword.
I pledge my Heart... For every House.
I pledge my Back... For every Burden.
And I pledge my Life... for Kin and Country."
-Oath of the King.
The governing body of Everwealth is by design a democratic monarchy, a King or Queen sits on the throne, the Valmore Royal Family at the helm since it's inception. While the Monarch is a product of hereditary election, the people of the Kingdom elect the Counts who enforce the King's laws, the Dukes and Duchesses who advise the Monarch on their behalf, the Judges to try them fairly, the Viscounts who appoint their Guard Captains and so on. These offices remain in the hand of the people to, ideally, abstain from corruption and make sure their needs are being met to the best of their rulers abilities. Unfortunately however, sometimes these officials who by threat of a stay in the Dungeon must be obeyed, may convince the King to enact new legislation that benefit themselves rather than their citizens, or take advantage of the immunity their status grants them to get away with too many horrid crimes to count. There are a good many though who are trying, desperately with what dwindling reach they may have, to make the kingdom a better place, try to enact just laws or better allocate taxes and resources, but these endangered species of altruists have a habit of being 'coerced' into silence by means of mysterious disappearance, or a grim reminder of the dangers of changing the status quo which has made powerful men quite comfortable. But by the Gods they are still trying, and it's the thought that counts...
Hierarchy:
- The King or Queen - Known colloquially as The Ram’s Head, the Monarch embodies the enduring strength and stubborn resolve of Everwealth. Their throne is adorned with gilded ram horns, symbolizing their role as the driving force of the kingdom. The Charging Banner, a flag depicting a ram's head facing forward against an orange and white checkerboard backdrop, flies over every castle, village, and battlefield of all who call Everwealth home. While their authority is absolute, the Crown’s weight is immense, and the loyalty of their subjects is tenuous at best. Many rulers bear the scars, both literal and metaphorical, of relentless political and physical battles to retain their power. The Monarch’s decrees are minted into Capra coins, each stamped with a ram’s horn on one side and a hoof on the other, a stark reminder of the kingdom’s laborious ascent and its precarious balance.
- The King’s Wizard - The King’s Wizard, often referred to as The Horned Sage, is the kingdom’s magickal steward, blending arcane mastery with political strategy. They are entrusted with not only defending Everwealth from magickal threats but also channeling the raw energies of the Arcane to fortify the kingdom’s might. Their quarters in the royal palace feature a tower crowned with a ram-shaped spire, a tribute to their role as the guiding horn in Everwealth’s charge. While they serve as the Monarch’s closest advisor, their position often attracts jealousy and suspicion, making their life a delicate balancing act of loyalty, secrecy, and survival.
- The Duchy - The Dukes and Duchesses, known collectively as The Horned Council, represent Everwealth’s far-flung territories, their debates as fierce and unyielding as a ram’s charge. The bi-monthly Summit of Arms takes place beneath a grand stone archway carved to resemble interlocked ram horns, symbolizing unity and conflict in equal measure. While their immunity grants them untouchable status, their infighting often spills into their territories, with entire villages crushed under the weight of their rivalries. Each member of the Duchy carries a ceremonial horned circlet, a badge of their station and a subtle reminder of their place beneath the Crown.
- The Marquess and Marchioness - Marquesses are often called Keepers of the Horns, as they act as custodians of their Duke or Duchess’s interests. Their role involves both the mundane, such as organizing festivals, and the dangerous, such as managing volatile disputes. Their allegiance to their superiors is symbolized by an ornamental ram’s horn brooch worn during courtly appearances. While they often enjoy the trappings of nobility, they are frequently caught in the crossfire of the Duchy’s schemes, making their survival as much a matter of wit as loyalty.
- Count and Countess - Counts, often referred to as Wardens of the Ram, govern the kingdom’s cities and larger territories. Their titles carry the heavy expectation of protecting Everwealth’s heartlands, and many wear cloaks fastened with ram horn clasps as a sign of their office. They command local guards and oversee the collection of Capra coins, often enriching themselves in the process. While they enjoy lives of relative luxury, their isolation from the Duchy’s direct protection leaves them vulnerable to revolts and conspiracies.
- Viscount and Viscountess/Governor - Viscounts, known colloquially as The Hoofbearers, serve as the Count’s proxies in distant towns and villages. Their authority is a double-edged sword: while they manage local disputes and resources, they are the first to bear the brunt of uprisings or famine. Many Viscounts take their title literally, wearing boots adorned with hoof-shaped metalwork as a symbol of their connection to the land. Their dual role as enforcers and adjudicators often places them in morally fraught positions, with some abusing their power to terrifying effect.
- Baron and Baroness - Barons, sometimes mockingly referred to as The Hornless Lords, derive their power not from the Crown but from their wealth and influence. They are often heads of sprawling trade networks or owners of vast estates, their fortunes built on the labor of Everwealth’s struggling masses. Despite their unofficial status in the hierarchy, many Barons wield considerable sway, their coin greasing the wheels of justice and governance alike. The more ambitious among them commission their own banners, often featuring variations of the ram’s imagery to suggest a connection to the throne.
- Knights - Knights, called The Ram’s Charge when referred to collectively, represent the kingdom’s ideal of courage and sacrifice. Their armor is often adorned with ram motifs, from horn-shaped pauldrons to helms crowned with curling designs. Though their titles are earned through acts of heroism, some knights tarnish their honor by using their status to exploit the very people they swore to protect. Despite this, the presence of a knight is often enough to inspire hope, or fear, in equal measure, depending on their reputation.
- Lords and Ladies - Lords and Ladies, referred to informally as The Lesser Horns, occupy a broad and varied tier within the hierarchy. Their titles may stem from lineage, wealth, or fame, but their influence is often dictated by proximity to power. Those closest to the Crown or Duchy enjoy lavish lives, while the more distant nobility often languish in obscurity. Many lesser Lords adopt ram symbology in their heraldry to reinforce their allegiance, or aspirations, to the throne.
- High Justiciar - Known as The Horn of Judgment, the High Justiciar is tasked with interpreting and enforcing the kingdom’s laws. Their rulings are delivered from a raised platform adorned with ram motifs, symbolizing the Crown’s impartiality. Despite their lofty position, the High Justiciar is often caught in the web of the Duchy’s machinations, their decisions shaped as much by political pressure as by the law itself.
- Chamberlain of the Crown - The Chamberlain, often referred to as The Keeper of the Hoard, oversees the Crown’s treasury and daily operations. Their position, while critical, is fraught with danger, as their proximity to the kingdom’s wealth makes them a target for bribery, blackmail, and assassination. The Chamberlain’s ledger, bound in ram-leather, is said to hold secrets that could topple entire noble houses if revealed.
- Captain-General of the Armies - Known as The Ram’s Vanguard, the Captain-General leads Everwealth’s forces with ruthless efficiency. Their command is symbolized by a great war banner depicting a charging ram, carried into every battle. While their loyalty is sworn to the Monarch, many Captain-Generals have been known to act independently, their ambitions threatening to rival the Crown itself.
- Keeper of Lore - The Keeper of Lore, referred to as The Horned Archivist, guards the kingdom’s history and forbidden knowledge. Their archives, carved into the shape of a great ram’s head, house texts and artifacts that could reshape the kingdom, or destroy it. While officially neutral, the Keeper often finds themselves drawn into political intrigue, their knowledge coveted by all.
- Herald of Arms - Known as The Ram’s Bleat, the Herald delivers the Monarch’s decrees with unyielding authority. Their presence often precedes significant events, from declarations of war to announcements of taxation. The Herald’s staff, capped with a carved ram’s head, is a symbol of their office and a stark reminder of the Crown’s reach.
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