Imperial Letter of Rank

The Empire's vast legions employ thousands of men and women in its war machine, and to sign up for the legion is to sign up for thirty years fighting for the Emperor. When a soldier has completed their time however, they receive a modest pension and also an Imperial Letter of Rank, signifying that they have done their time in the Emperor's service and are given five acres of land to be their property.
The Letter also nullifies the Imperial tattoo every legionnaire receives, as the tattoo will cause pain and discomfort to those who desert or betray the legions. Should tax collectors or magistrates question the presence of a small keep or farmstead in an isolated plot of land, the letter serves to deter their inquiries, as such a blessing is viewed as sacred. The compact is over, and the Emperor- a god in flesh- has delivered this letter to the legionnaire. Though personally exempt from taxes, more retired legionnaires pool their resources through marriage or other agreements and often come to be lords and ladies over small villages in the hinterlands. Despite the not-inconsiderable turnover rate in the legions, many legionnaires survive to retirement, and some wags darkly joke that the Empire expands its borders only to have somewhere for its soldiers to go when they're done.
Because of it's religious significance, most recipients display the Letter as a protective device within their homes, often facing the main entryway or prominently in a main hall. It is believed to bring good fortune and also to repel the undead or others who would seek to do harm, and on a more practical level most retirees can count on local garrisons of legionnaires for support. Though few aspire to the convoluted politics of the Empire in their leisure time, most retirees enjoy being petty nobility of a sort, and the harsh life of the legions leaves many less than benevolent. Peasant uprisings are common enough that garrisons are put in place for a reason, after all.