Imperial Evil

A letter to all peoples of North Ludwag:
By Cormac O’Lennon

Personal Foreword
My ancestors were Centralian refugees from the continent of Trepheon, and for long have I studied the ways of my people and the function of power and the divine in our world. I have done my part in the struggle against the divine, joining the Recondites in the twenty-fifth year of my life and fighting on a lake of ice against the forces of Eran and Cherog. By publishing this paper- and by distributing it to the people of North Ludwag- I may very well forfeit my life. Nonetheless, I swore an oath long ago, sanctified by the earth and the consecration of my own will. May the enemy know that death will not be my enemy- I will once more turn to soil and earth, as did my ancestors, as will all that is and will be. In the pursuit of justice, no life is lost in vain.
Introduction
Since the end of the reign of the divine, the world has changed significantly. Not only do we now live without the cruelty of the gods and their misled servants, but the vacuum has resulted in a departure from other distractions and indicated a shift in the political topography of Ludwag. Stripped of immaterial and spiritual fancy, mortal men look to further their own devices with eyes free of the stigmas associated with divine restraint.
Indeed, we have advanced- but precious few have felt the tremendous weight lifted from their shoulders. The only men who are free are the conquerors- kings, killers, and all the banners sworn to them. Latteras has declared itself the Monic Empire, coercing surrender from the Nix under pain of death, absorbing the weak and vulnerable Nova Dormia beneath their banner prior to their dissolution- since these events, hundreds of Nixian peasantry have died in revolt before achieving freedom, and assembly of the people is all but forgotten as the Empire slaughters its dissident subjects.
Let it not be said that this evil is exclusive to the Monic Empire. In the west, Aridam, too, looks to expand its power- after the crippling blow to their once hegemonic Sun Cult, Aridam now sees fit to expand. Seeking to restore the cruel ancient empire of Pyros, they seek to reclaim that which their ancestors conquered by fire and blood. They now lay claim to the once-independent nation of Meridia and the Ludwagian Academy of Magic. Their emperor has publicly declared intent on continuing their expansion.
It remains clear that, amongst the turmoil of North Ludwag, these two great imperial powers will inevitably come into conflict with one another. We have seen the fruits of this reality borne unquestionably; Aridam and Latteras, ancestral enemies, and the latter occupies territory which the ancient empire of Pyros once lay claim to. Ultimately, those who suffer most from conflict between the two will, as always, be the common people. The same common people who reside in toil and destitution, at the whims of men who preside over them by virtue of their blood. The same common people who fought to keep their nations free, only to be silenced in death away from the eyes of their comrades.
I urge all righteous soldiers of Ludwag to consider that which they fight and whom they serve in the coming time; to scrutinize your commanders, consider your enemies, and act as men of justice. Do not sell your soul and sword to kings who treat you as cattle, but fight to end the eternal evil of war and material greed. If you are a man whose sword belongs to an empire, I encourage you to break ranks and subvert their actions.
We cannot be allowed to slip once more into complacency; to allow the death of the gods to dull our senses to earthly tyranny. Presented here is a list of notable grievances:
Commoners’ Grievances
A. Latteras

• Edicts and Legal Representation

1. Claim to Edicts: It is known that Emmerich’s edicts are the chief legal document among the aristocracy; however, as is, only those of gentle birth and noble blood are permitted to claim edicts against one another. Thus, it is effectively impossible to enforce Edict 5, which is to prevent extortion of subjects by their liege lords.
2. Jury Participation: Such rights as claimed in the edicts belong only to the nobility; in turn, only nobility make up the jury when claimants come to trial. In light of this, not only must commoners and village councils be allowed to claim edicts, but they must also participate in the juries where these matters are concerned.

• Infringements of Life and Property

1. Intrusion and Seizure: In order for a man to be secure in his own resources and confident to work, he must be allowed a certain level of privacy. For common folk, there is no such provision; indeed, under Reinfell law, “property is able to be freely searched by Reinfell soldiers at any time in any public place on Reinfell land. Any homes or other establishments may be searched / raided if warranted.” Within such searches, soldiers cannot be trusted with the possessions of those folk who cannot resist their heavy armaments. They may hence be robbed blind by knights and soldiers, filling the purses of their landlords.
2. Extortionate Taxation and Trade: Inordinate taxes are regularly levied upon the common folk of Latteras, with the bounty of excess harvests diminished by the nobility’s corruptible hands, with which they feed their armies and trade away goods. The revenue from trading away these goods is seldom reflected in the poverty of their people. Moreover, the tools and items used by peasants to produce such goods- forges, grindstones, tools, cattle, mills- are claimed under the ownership of Houses and noble persons, despite the fact that they are maintained and used by peasantry.
3. Murder and Poverty: In recent times, the establishment has become increasingly violent against the common people. The Black Friday Massacre illustrates the urgency of the matter, as Jim and his fellow martyrs are slaughtered in the streets under the misleading pretense of food to alleviate the people’s suffering. It would not be inaccurate to say that the kings of men and their knights stand with murderous intent between each worker and his bread.

B. Aridam

• Legal Representation

1. Representation: As it stands, the governance of Aridam is withheld amongst the emperor and his cabinet. However, contrary to the ideal of the ancient Pyrosi Republic, the common folk possess no say in the appointments or conduct of this cabinet.

• Foreign Relations Indictments

1. Indictment of Expansionism: Under threat of military conquest, the government of Aridam has thus conscripted the lives of the laboring class to enforce its mandates and threaten the livelihoods of its neighbors. In doing so, it mongers war and represses the political participation of those who would be free.

In lieu of these intolerable infringements, I hereby propose several tenets of action.
Demands and Advocacy
A. Herein is presented with a list of demands and extrapolated propositions:

1. THE WARMONGERS CHARLES LATTERN (ALSO KNOWN AS “VESTAL”), AND DOMINI LUCIUS AEP ARIUS, should immediately renounce all titles of nobility and primogeniture, abdicate rulership and recycle all royal symbols and artifacts, including but not limited to crowns and thrones.
2. ALL IMPERIAL TITLES OF NOBILITY; THE ARIUS REGII, HOUSEHOLDS OF AMIRAULT, REINFELL, FLOUR, LATTERN, ASSORTED KNIGHTS, AND ALL OTHER PETTY TITLES should be immediately renounced - this includes noble rights of primogeniture - abdicate political power, and cede ownership of the following properties to local communities: agriculturally viable land in excess of 6 hectares, industrially tenable land including those used for quarries and mining, machinery and tools used in the production of goods IF these items are already communally used, monetary possessions in excess of 10 crowns, and weapons and armaments which exceed the number of persons in a given family.
3. IMPERIAL LAW - EMMERICH’S EDICTS AND ALL OTHER BOUNDS OF LEGAL RIGHTS should undergo revision and be extended to ALL CITIZENS.
4. ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS, including but not limited to: PRISONERS OF WAR, NIXIAN REBELS, and those serving CHARGES OF SEDITION should be immediately released.
5. All PYROSI and MONIC IMPERIAL TERRITORIES should hold a POPULAR REFERENDUM, to determine the question of SECESSION, by MAJORITY RULE. The validity and peaceful conduct of this referendum MUST NOT BE INFRINGED UPON by IMPERIAL AUTHORITY.

B. Accompanying these demands are various advocacies concerning workers, nation-states, and associated actors:

1. IN THE EVENT OF IMPERIAL FAILURE TO UPHOLD COMPLIANCE TO DEMANDS:
2. WORKERS, PEASANTS AND SERFS in LATTERAS should immediately ARM and ORGANIZE FOR REVOLT, CEASE PAYING FEUDAL TAXES, SEIZE ALL MEANS OF PRODUCTION, and DEPOSE or KILL their LANDLORDS.
3. All RIGHTEOUS SOLDIERS should immediately defect.
4. THE TERRITORIES OF MERIDIUS AND THE LATTERAS ACADEMY OF MAGIC should hold a DOMESTIC REFERENDUM, the results of which will determine whether to SECEDE from the Aridian Empire.