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" ...Oh but the Imperial Spirit works in mysterious ways, and it is up to us (the Emperors) to interpret the words and acts of divinity. Knowing the future is a thing of divinity, but the present also allows us to take a closer look at what has come before, perhaps in new light. The obvious cases that come to the attention are those that came before, the Elven Empire and the Dwarven Empire (for the lack of a better description). Previous Emperors have always said (though not written in code law in creed) that the Elven Empire and the fall of the Dwarves were proof in validity for Unionism. It has come to our understanding however, that rather than proof, they were earlier versions of the divine destiny that awaits us. Rather than saying Elves and Dwarves are not part of the future, we believe they are in earnest. We hereby record it that the Elven Empire fell for worshipping a false goddess as well as hideous hedonism. We hereby record it that the Dwarven Empire fell for worshipping a false dogma as well as hideous greed. These Empires and indeed the people behind them, were earlier iterations of our great cause but put astray. Previous emperors bless them with the Spirit, were misconceived on the value of their presence at our sides in our journey to the sublime future. With the 11th Creed we hereby declare that Elves and Dwarves share complete union with the Humans, be it Ailor, Chienji or Qadir and forthright they shall be considered full citizens of the Empire and the Crown Isle… "
The above just a small piece of the larger 20 page book book titled "The Eleventh Creed of Unionism". For those who were unaware what a Creed was, a town crier would explain that the Creeds are the basic tenets of Unionism, and most Emperors write one or two during their lifetime. This was the first release from Emperor Alexander I, and it was a mighty shocking one. The Regalian Empire had fundamentally changed. Where as the Empire was predominantly Human, with the addition of the Elves and Dwarves within its borders now recognized as Citizens, the Empire grew by fourty percent overnight. The various Elves that had been subjugated, the servants, the slaves, they were now all regarded citizens.
The Creed implementation had wide ranging consequences for both state and religion. To name a few, in one fell stroke, the Emperor declared interracial marriage legal, allowed Elves and Dwarves to hold Imperial office and freed all Elven and Dwarven slaves within the Empire. This Creed implementation was to have far reaching consequences, as something as fundamental as this had not changed the Empire in many centuries. By the decision of the Emperor, the Regalian Empire had become the first "true" multiracial state within Aloria where at least more than one race was considered equal by law. But just because something is stated so in law, doesn't mean the people have to follow it.
There were immediate far reaching responses to the change, though the Emperor came prepared for many. The plantation owners in Daendroc were severely disgruntled as most of their slaves were freed, relying heavily on Elven slavery which was now illegal across the Empire. In Ellador, large quantities of Dwarves moved south into the colonies, those who had been sheltering themselves in camps to avoid becoming a second rank citizen in the colonies bolstered the population up north. In Regalia's Elven slums Elves took to the streets in celebration with music and laughter as they believed their misery and oppression had finally ended. The Etosian Church and the Vultar Pontificate were forced to accept it. When their diets convened, they were surrounded by Regalian soldiers "for their own protection". It was clear to the Pontiff and Patriarch that the Emperor was prepared to enforce his creed by force if need be, and they accepted the Creed as law.
Von Treppewitz, a loyal Lord Commander had already been aware of the Emperor's plans and positioned his troops accordingly to the highest risk sectors. Particularly in the Human slums of the Imperial city, riots broke out as the lower peasants demanded they be cared for before the Elves. The Army corps and generals initially took a reserved stance, but the Emperor had convinced them of the merit of his idea as the new Creed passing allowed them to recruit tens of thousands of Elves into the army on a draft. Drafts could previously be avoided by Elves as only first rank citizens could be drafted. In Ithania, the Ithanians were delighted for the sake of the Elves. After all, many Elves had prestigious positions in Ithania, and much of the Ithanian culture was intertwined with the Elves who never left after the collapse of their Empire. They reviled the nasty culture less Dwarves however, and lodged official complaints against the laws, not the Creed.
This was going to be an important factor for many. To protest the Creed was equal to heresy to Unionism, upon which the penalty of death lay. However, the Creed had the immediate result that it legalized a large variety of laws and removed various ones that had been in place. Surprisingly enough, the hardcore conservative devout Unionists accepted the Creed as the absolute word of their God Emperor. After all, Unionism is in such a way that those devout believers knew that their personal regrets or disapproval of the Creed was simply just a shortcoming of their own imperfection, and their distance to the Imperial Spirit. Truly, it was actually those who had more "loose" understandings of Unionism who posed a problem in accepting the validity of this Creed. Either way, the Creed was generally positively received, though in some social circles not much changed.
The Emperor formally changed for the first time what it meant to be Human. As opposed to the narrow view of Emperors before, who believed Humans were simply the pink skinned Ailor who came from Ceardia, this Emperor believed anyone willing to lay down their lives and at least resemble the proto-Human, was in fact, a Humanum, a term coined for the first time. He deemed the beast races too far from the Humanum, and in fact Humanum in "purgatory" for failing to adhere to the tenets of Unionism. Still, the term "Human" became worthless except for a categorical view of racial descendance, instead of a word that divided Empires and peoples in the past.
Many of the noble houses retained their Elven servants, in many cases these servants even wished it as they had a better life there than in the slums. Those who might soon have to share their feudal power with Elves and Dwarves continued to harbor a culture of superiority to them. After all, just because the Law stated they were now legal citizens, didn't automatically mean everyone had to be nice, and that racism was defeated overnight. Nobody could truly honestly say it was a step in the right direction, or a step in a bad direction. It was certainly a step, but in what direction remained to be seen.
The following laws had been repealed or passed:
The above just a small piece of the larger 20 page book book titled "The Eleventh Creed of Unionism". For those who were unaware what a Creed was, a town crier would explain that the Creeds are the basic tenets of Unionism, and most Emperors write one or two during their lifetime. This was the first release from Emperor Alexander I, and it was a mighty shocking one. The Regalian Empire had fundamentally changed. Where as the Empire was predominantly Human, with the addition of the Elves and Dwarves within its borders now recognized as Citizens, the Empire grew by fourty percent overnight. The various Elves that had been subjugated, the servants, the slaves, they were now all regarded citizens.
The Creed implementation had wide ranging consequences for both state and religion. To name a few, in one fell stroke, the Emperor declared interracial marriage legal, allowed Elves and Dwarves to hold Imperial office and freed all Elven and Dwarven slaves within the Empire. This Creed implementation was to have far reaching consequences, as something as fundamental as this had not changed the Empire in many centuries. By the decision of the Emperor, the Regalian Empire had become the first "true" multiracial state within Aloria where at least more than one race was considered equal by law. But just because something is stated so in law, doesn't mean the people have to follow it.
There were immediate far reaching responses to the change, though the Emperor came prepared for many. The plantation owners in Daendroc were severely disgruntled as most of their slaves were freed, relying heavily on Elven slavery which was now illegal across the Empire. In Ellador, large quantities of Dwarves moved south into the colonies, those who had been sheltering themselves in camps to avoid becoming a second rank citizen in the colonies bolstered the population up north. In Regalia's Elven slums Elves took to the streets in celebration with music and laughter as they believed their misery and oppression had finally ended. The Etosian Church and the Vultar Pontificate were forced to accept it. When their diets convened, they were surrounded by Regalian soldiers "for their own protection". It was clear to the Pontiff and Patriarch that the Emperor was prepared to enforce his creed by force if need be, and they accepted the Creed as law.
Von Treppewitz, a loyal Lord Commander had already been aware of the Emperor's plans and positioned his troops accordingly to the highest risk sectors. Particularly in the Human slums of the Imperial city, riots broke out as the lower peasants demanded they be cared for before the Elves. The Army corps and generals initially took a reserved stance, but the Emperor had convinced them of the merit of his idea as the new Creed passing allowed them to recruit tens of thousands of Elves into the army on a draft. Drafts could previously be avoided by Elves as only first rank citizens could be drafted. In Ithania, the Ithanians were delighted for the sake of the Elves. After all, many Elves had prestigious positions in Ithania, and much of the Ithanian culture was intertwined with the Elves who never left after the collapse of their Empire. They reviled the nasty culture less Dwarves however, and lodged official complaints against the laws, not the Creed.
This was going to be an important factor for many. To protest the Creed was equal to heresy to Unionism, upon which the penalty of death lay. However, the Creed had the immediate result that it legalized a large variety of laws and removed various ones that had been in place. Surprisingly enough, the hardcore conservative devout Unionists accepted the Creed as the absolute word of their God Emperor. After all, Unionism is in such a way that those devout believers knew that their personal regrets or disapproval of the Creed was simply just a shortcoming of their own imperfection, and their distance to the Imperial Spirit. Truly, it was actually those who had more "loose" understandings of Unionism who posed a problem in accepting the validity of this Creed. Either way, the Creed was generally positively received, though in some social circles not much changed.
The Emperor formally changed for the first time what it meant to be Human. As opposed to the narrow view of Emperors before, who believed Humans were simply the pink skinned Ailor who came from Ceardia, this Emperor believed anyone willing to lay down their lives and at least resemble the proto-Human, was in fact, a Humanum, a term coined for the first time. He deemed the beast races too far from the Humanum, and in fact Humanum in "purgatory" for failing to adhere to the tenets of Unionism. Still, the term "Human" became worthless except for a categorical view of racial descendance, instead of a word that divided Empires and peoples in the past.
Many of the noble houses retained their Elven servants, in many cases these servants even wished it as they had a better life there than in the slums. Those who might soon have to share their feudal power with Elves and Dwarves continued to harbor a culture of superiority to them. After all, just because the Law stated they were now legal citizens, didn't automatically mean everyone had to be nice, and that racism was defeated overnight. Nobody could truly honestly say it was a step in the right direction, or a step in a bad direction. It was certainly a step, but in what direction remained to be seen.
The following laws had been repealed or passed:
- Elves and Dwarves can now stand trial and defend themselves in trial and accuse anyone to court.
- Elves and Dwarves can now marry with Humans and vise versa.
- Elves and Dwarves can now hold political office and title in the Regalian Empire, all the way up to Chancellor of the Empire.
- Elves and Dwarven half breeds with Humans are now considered full breed Humanum.
- Elves and Dwarves can now hold military positions in the Regalian Military, even leading ones.
- Elves and Dwarves may now own businesses and large properties in Regalia.
- Elves and Dwarves were now viable for feudal titles particularly in Daendroc.
- Elves and Dwarves could now be drafted into the Regalian Army to fight as the banners.
- Elves and Dwarves have basic rights protecting them from excessive harm and abusive violence.
- Elves and Dwarves now have the right to basic protection and assistance from the Regalian Empire.
- For Merchants: Your customer base just doubled. Take it from there.
- For Nobles: You are likely set in your old ways. Continue your old policy.
- For Devout Unionists: The Emperor's word is law. You should probably follow it.
- For Vultar Heretics: This Emperor may be a false Emperor. This Creed cannot be accepted until the Spirit is found.
- For Talar: The Oppression of the Elves has finally (presumably) come to an end. Take it from there.
- For Dwarves: Your people might actually survive and not go extinct in some backwater town or back alley. Maybe you can even convince the Regalians to take up arms against the Dakkar and reclaim the Deep Holds!
- For Commoners: It sort of depends how you've always felt about Elves. Remember this law doesn't make how people feel about Elves go away. It just makes them equal in the eyes of the law, nothing else.
- For Daendroquin: Oh damn. The things that oppressed your ancestors is now equal to you, and that's not even mentioning the constant warfare with guerrilla Elves in Daendroc costing Human lives. Take it from there.
So half humans half Elves and Dwarves are now first class citizens.
