Lex Octavia, 852 AUC

The Lex Octavia is the law obligating the Republic fleet to hunt The Thousand Sails. Like other Republic laws it is written in Bronze and posted on the Forum.

Purpose

The law was created as a response to the gathering of The Thousand Sails in 860 IC (848 AUC). The law was meant as a way to legitimize sustained military action against a group (the Thousand Sails) without formally declaring war on that group. This was a requirement since the Republic does not recognize Orcs as a sentient species, but rather as a "cunning animal".

Document Structure

Clauses

The document first defines what an "orc" is in relation to elves, and what rights they have and do not have. It then describes the threat presented to the Republic by the formation of the Thousand Sails. It then commands the Admiralty to put together forces for the purpose of destroying the Thousand Sails. In the law any ship commanded by an Orc, or with more than 30% of its crew composed of Orcs is defined as a ship of the Thousand Sails. The Law also details what is to be done with captured Orcs (execution), and none orcs found on Orchish ships. It also describes what is to be done with any seized goods, property or prizes.

Publication Status

The Law, like all written laws of the Republic, is written on bronze and displayed in the Forum in Axendria, for all to see.

Legal status

The Lex Octavia was proposed by the Tribune Nona Octavia and was presented to the People's Assembly, where it was overwhelmingly supported by the voters. The document is legally binding in the Republic and in its Sister Republics across the world. The law is still valid and actively enforced.

Historical Details

Background

The elves of the Republic entered the Material Plane from some other world in 9 IC. They were the remnants of a massive interplanar mercenary army, which had been involved in a battle between divine factions on the outer planes. The "Usurper Gods" whom had hired these elves had been defeated, and so the elves were forced to flee the wrath of the victors. By the time they arrived in Adar they had been homeless wanderers for years; a "Republic on Legs" and a exceedingly well armed one at that. 
The ships of this force made landfall on the Island of Evonia which at that time was the homeland of most of Adar's orcs. The elves, desperate to end their wanderings and finding a land inhabited by a people greatly inferior in magic, technology and organization, if greater in numbers, did not hesitate to use force to clear the land. The island's Orcish population were faced with a choice: Leave, or be killed. Most left, many died. The entire Orchish population were made refugees over the course of three years. 
Centuries later no orcish homeland existed. Most orcs lived under the rule of human kingdoms, unwanted and often persecuted. Many had taken to the sea. Hundreds of ships all across Adar were captained or crewed by orcs or half-orcs. In the 9th century many of these ships began to associated closely with each other. First as a sort of trading consortium, then for mutual protection and for occasional mercenary work. Finally this force, now known as the "Thousand Sails" gained a political purpose: the reclamation of a homeland for the orcish People. 
In the Republic this was reported in the public broadsheets. Fear gripped the Republic's population. Would a thousand orc ships bearing hundreds of thousands of bloodthirsty warriors land on Evonia's shores? Action was demanded. This was awkward for the elite. Eventually Nona Octavia one of the Tribunes of the People formulated a law which would allow the Republic to initiate a "military operation" instead of a war, since a declaration of war would have implicitly recognized the Orcs a people.

History

The Law at first only legitimized individual elven captains to destroy Orc ships they came across. However, after the occupation of the island of Daverus by the Thousand Sails, the law allowed the Republic to respond with extreme force. The entire island of Daverus was destroyed, justified with reference to the Lex Octavia. After this permanent hunting squadrons were commanded to hunt the Thosuand Sails. These squadrons remain to this day, although they have expanded their mandate since their creation. The law also allowed Republic magistrates to pressure foreign governments into denying orcish ships safe harbour, and into expelling or oppressing their Orcish populations.

Public Reaction

The public in the Republic enthusiastically greeted the law. Nona Octavia went on to win the Praetorship in 865 IC, then won the consulship in 875, 885 and 895 then winning the Censorship in 900. These electoral victories can largely be attributed to the immense prestige she won through the Lex Octavia. 
Outside the Republic the law is often seen as an example of Republic arrogance. However, since the orcs as a people enjoy little sympathy with most communities the actions of the elven fleet are rarely opposed. Sometimes it is even celebrated.
Among the orcs the law has been met with anger and despair. The law and subsequent actions by the Republic has largely destroyed any hope for the establishment of a state for the Orcish people. It has seen the sinking of many hundreds of ships with orcish crew or captains, and the deaths of tens of thousands over the last two and a half centuries.

Read the Document

Lex Octavia, 852 AUC

Excerpt from the Lex Octavia.

#1) On the Nature of Orcs: 
(...The Orc in some ways resemble the sentient species of this world. In size and physical strength they resemble the Goliaths. They stand upright, like most sentients. They even possess a rudimentary language of their own, and can replicate the language of sentients with passable proficiency. This should not deceive us into believing that they number among the sentient and intelligent species' of this world. At its core the Orc is an animal. A cunning animal, certainly. But an animal nevertheless. They are not truly self aware, nor do they possess a culture beyond the basic social dominance dynamics shared by many group predators. The Orcs are able to use simple tools, but so is the chimpanzee. The orc may mimic our language, but so may a parrot. Furthermore, violence is innate to the Orc. The power dynamic between orcs is settled though violence. The strongest male among any given group of orcs will inevitably lead the group, until his strength wanes, or a group of his rivals band together to dispose of him. As force is the only means of coercing them, and because they are not self aware, nor experience pain or suffering in the same manner as an elf, the use of force to compel orc individuals or groups is entirely justified. The use of force on orcs does not present a moral problem...)

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Type

Manuscript, Legal

Medium

Metal

Ratification Date

864 IC

Location

Axendria

Authors

• Nona Octavia

Signatories (Organizations)

• Evonian Republic