Political System

The power structure in Endros is a ruthless, transactional system of corporate feudalism; a patchwork of tiny kingdoms where nobility is purchased from the Gods, granting one legal rights, protections, and authority to rule. These laws were specifically designed to appease Kratos, the Orc God of Conquest, and his close ally Valkyrie, the Ogre God of Battle, the two most important War Gods responsible for resisting the demonic invasion against humanity's last refuge.

Nobility

Nobility is not a birthright in Endros; it is purchased from the Gods for 200 gold at the Skywood Palace. Nobles receive a "Title of Nobility," granting them a divine mandate to govern, conquer, tax citizens, and rule their domain as they see fit. Most citizens have little to no legal protections other than those afforded by their Lords. In many regions they can often be killed or enslaved without legal ramifications.

Nobles are referred to as "Lord" or "Lady." They are authorized to own and govern territories up to the size of a town or large district, but cities usually have too much competition to control this much. They can create and enforce their own laws, within the bounds of the Universal Laws. Nobles with no territory or little wealth often serve as vassals to more powerful nobles.

Understanding the Titles of Nobility

The Titles of Nobility were designed as a means to control Kratos. After the demonic invasion, Lexica knew that Kratos's lust for conquest needed to be redirected at the demonic forces rather than the last of humanity's survivors. By having nobles officially declare tribute to Kratos in exchange for status and protection under his authority, Kratos's ambitions to conquer the civil territories were successfully mitigated.

Kratos approved the Titles of Nobility on the condition it adopted his mannerisms. All nobility must keep their power through their own strength, or fall to those who can seize their power. Nobles tend to be ruthless and capable, often coming from powerful adventuring families. Nobles are formally registered and sealed through Concordia, the Goddess of Pacts, at her palace in Skywood. Payment is then collected and redistributed to the necessary parties.

This system keeps Kratos and Valkyrie aligned with humanity's interests and Endros's defense properly funded. However, it has also given rise to a unique, corporate-like feudal system where political power is achieved through a never-ending cycle of shady politics, violence, tense alliances, and shadow wars. Houses with enough power can bend or ignore other nobles' laws, whereas others may be unable to meaningfully retaliate.

Royalty

Royalty is purchased for 1000 gold, and offers greater power than nobility. Royalty is addressed as "Prince" or "Princess." Even within the Universal Laws, they are effectively above the law. They possess greater political leverage in City Parliament, can govern territory up to the size of a city, and have greater status and protections within the Universal Laws.

Enforcer

Enforcers are above-the-law agents that can police the public, often without consequence or oversight. They possess a number of legal advantages:

• Possess the same legal protections as nobility.
• Citizens must obey any lawful order from an enforcer or be subject to immediate arrest or criminal charges.
• Immune to all citywide laws, including curfews, weapon permits, identification, invasion of privacy and property, etc.
• Immune to any local jurisdiction laws (noble territory) that interfere with their special authority.
• Authorized to make arrests and imprison citizens that have committed criminal actions.
• Authorized to freely investigate, detain, and interrogate citizens.
• Authorized to use violence against citizens in exchange for covering the costs of healing.
• Permitted to purchase, possess, and wield Aethertech weapons.
• Permitted to use a certain dress code and enforcement symbols to identify them. Both are optional.

Within their designated jurisdiction (the noble territory they're assigned to), an enforcer's power is nearly absolute. However, enforcing laws in the jurisdiction of unallied noble houses can cause significant political tensions. Minor acts of enforcement may be overlooked if it doesn't disrupt the local house's interests and isn't a recurring pattern, but unwelcome enforcers can invite significant retaliation. Enforcers can be used for intimidation and leverage in political negotiations by noble houses powerful enough to bully others without concern.

An Enforcer Permit costs 50 gold and is purchased through the House of Maidens. Only a noble may purchase an Enforcer's Permit. Upon purchase, the permit is signed by one noble and one enforcer. The enforcer's authority and jurisdiction are directly tied to the noble assigned to their permit. A noble cannot be an enforcer, but they can employ as many enforcers as they desire.

Enforcers lose their enforcement status and special authority within any warzone outside of their jurisdiction. Enforcers must obey Universal Laws, except those that interfere with the rightful pursuit of justice. If found guilty of committing criminal acts not protected by their station, they may lose their license or be criminally prosecuted, subject to an audit by the Archivist's Guild.

Platinum Enforcement

Platinum Adventurers automatically receive enforcer status, which is authorized on behalf of the Adventurer's Guild. Their jurisdiction is all-encompassing, not bound to a single noble or territory. Platinum enforcers are usually only called upon to enforce matters of treason; the crimes that the Adventurer's Guild cares most about. All other crimes are usually left to standard enforcers.

City Parliament

Cities (and their extended region) share a set of common laws, determined by City Parliament. City Parliament handles major infrastructure developments or economic projects within a region, and dictates important legislative policies that affect its citizens.

City Parliament is run by the House of Maidens at the city Palace, city hall, or similar venue on the 10th of each month at noon. In keeping with the ethos of Kratos and the brutal survivalism he espouses, these gatherings are less about reasoned debate and more about the relentless exercise of political will. Votes are dictated by sheer force of personality, political leverage, bribes, promises of favor, thinly veiled threats, military might, and any other tools at one's disposal. Though closed to the public, nobility can attend at their leisure and bring members of their retinues.

Lords may introduce new legislation once every six months, while Royals enjoy the privilege of doing so every three months. Any lord present receives one vote on any proposed legislation, while Royals receive two votes.

The Maidens presiding over Parliament ensure that all votes are recorded fairly. They are free to act as lobbyists or intermediaries at their own discretion. Votes are cast openly within the Parliament, ensuring all attendees are aware of the shifting alliances and betrayals. The public is left in the dark, privy only to the legislative outcomes.

Taxes

Nobles must pay a 35% tax to the Archivist's Guild on all wealth collected from their territory. The taxes are distributed to the Adventurer's Guild, Titan Order, Navy, and other major factions to ensure the continued survival and defense of Endros. Tax fraud is considered treason, punishable by brutal execution. Most nobles slightly overpay taxes to mitigate mistakes that could risk treason, making a show of their charitable contributions to the public.

Each noble house handles the assignment, collection, and enforcement of taxation differently for their subjects. Houses that lord over peasants and the lower class often impose higher taxes to maintain their power and infrastructure, while houses that control markets may lower certain taxes or tariffs to attract merchants and trade. Guilds may have beneficial arrangements, granting them monopolies on specific trades or crafts. Unauthorized guild activity may be punished by fines or expulsion. Tariffs may be placed on certain goods or luxury items entering or exiting an area or marketplace.

Shadow Mercenaries Mercs Merc

In a land of conquest, nobility rarely ascends to power by acting in good faith. Shadow Mercenaries serve as the hidden blades that shape the political undercurrents of Endros, selected for exceptional discretion and resourcefulness. Employed by ambitious nobles, influential corporations, and secret power brokers, these mercenaries execute covert missions from espionage and sabotage to high-stakes theft and assassination.

The deployment of Shadow Mercenaries carries few consequences. In practice, Shadow Mercenaries rarely violate the universal laws, such as overtly violent acts against nobles. Such actions could invite audit or intervention from the Adventurer's Guild. In particular, they would likely become the unfortunate scapegoats, not the ones who sent them. This creates a system of "acceptable subversion" that all parties navigate carefully, maintaining plausible deniability while utilizing these clandestine assets to their advantage.

Types of Shadow Mercenaries:

• Shadows: Standard cells, contracted directly by noble houses for politically motivated agendas.
• Ravens: Agents of Raveneye, organized by layers of separation. Entrusted with high-stakes operations.
• Nightwatch: Cells that fight corruption, destabilizing those who may otherwise rule unchecked.
• Spectres: Operatives specializing in corporate espionage, research, trade secrets, theft, and sabotage.

The Crucible

The Crucible is a high-risk contest between rivals where the losers are legally bound by divine mandate to forfeit their wagers to the victor. The wager can include assets, services, territorial claims, or even indentured servitude. Contests may include duels to first blood, death battles, games of tactical acumen, combat involving retinue or hired champions, and more. Kratos designed the system to promote a society that thrives on conquest, earning his favor through ambition.

Crucible contests are, by design, openly declared public spectacles. If the challenge is accepted, a Maiden will legally bind the involved parties to the wager. Most Crucible challenges are rejected, invoked by nobility as social attacks to demonstrate superiority or signal a rival's weakness.

Titania and the surrounding regions actively celebrate and participate in the Crucible as part of their culture. Challenges are common between rival houses, especially among the nobility, though they reject involvement from outsiders. Kratos and Valkyrie regularly observe the notable contests in the Titanian Coliseum.