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The Imperial Family is the extended court of Kade family members, both Imperial and non-Imperial Kades who gravitate around the center of power, the Emperor of Regalia. Each Court member has their own agenda, likes and dislikes, and may join or publicly oppose a Noble Faction in the Assembly for their policies. Generally speaking, Several Kades are mascots (or leading members) of Court Factions, while others have no overt loyalty, but may still be interacted with in Progressions and bestow benefits indirectly to those they favor. House Kade has many more members than are visible here, but these are the only active actors at Court or in some way relevant to Court life. Many other Princes and Princesses not mentioned are minors.
The Emperor
The Emperor is the titular and divine ruler of all of the Regalian Empire. The Imperial seat is currently decided on elective basis, though the Emperor has chosen to keep his choice a secret.
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Emperor Alexander the First
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Emperor Alexander is a man of portly presence that has been Emperor for nine years now, with a single year interruption while Cedromar was Emperor. Emperor Alexander's reign is seen as one of competence yet opulence, intellectual ambition yet military decline, and enlightened centrism, yet a degradation of the power of the clergy. Emperor Alexander is generally looked upon favorably by the people, who believe he genuinely adores the people much like his predecessor Justinian II, but unlike Justinian II, Alexander has very little actual power and rules mostly as Emperor by consent than Decree, careful not to annoy or disgruntle the Nobility too much. Emperor Alexander enjoys the position of the sagely mediator, choosing never to lean to heavily into one ideology or the other, and remaining as a mentor of sorts with wise words of encouragements for those who break through to the inner courts. Emperor Alexander is completely above Court Faction politics, though the Court Factions whispering into his ears and showcasing him their favorites, does eventually get through to him, resulting in him granting favorable Court appointments to those favored by Factions. | |
The Princes and Princesses
The Princes and Princesses are those eligible to pass the Imperial Throne through their progeny, and are referred to as Your Imperial Highness. By Imperial Law, all Princes and Princesses are numbered, with 1st being the first in line to the succession, and further numbers being further removed from the throne. These numbers are merely for display nowadays however, as the Empire is now elective and thus the Emperor chooses a new heir to take the throne upon his death, as divined by the Everwatcher, who decided that it needed to choose its next Vessel instead of letting fate determine the heir. Women cannot become Empress of Regalia, however they can pass the right to inherit through to any male descendants they may have.
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1st Prince Reynaud
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Prince Reynaud (oldest son of the Emperor) is a lithe and lanky Prince who is known as both the basket case example of how not to raise one's children, becoming immensely self indulging and taking everything for granted, and the Empire's best diplomat. Prince Reynaud has the uncanny ability to get into good graces at any foreign court, dazzling them with opulence and revelries, and putting the best qualities of Regalia on display. On the flipside, Reynaud is also known to actively plot against the designs of his father the Emperor, wishing instead that the Emperor would re-instate male-primogeniture so that he would once again become the uncontested heir to the Imperial Throne, and the next Emperor. Prince Reynaud is currently married to Princess Madileine, his cousin of the Ivrae family.
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2nd Prince Frederick
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Prince Frederick (second son of the Emperor) is a beastly Urlan, that even before his Urlification was a square-jawed Knight who might as well have been used as the poster boy of the good obedient Knight. Despite his pro-Knight and pro-Military leanings, Frederick has always been loyal to his older brother Reynaud, believing in his birth right, yet also believing that the civil government ought to be replaced with a Military Junta. Prince Frederick is one of few words and little judgement, exemplifying the perfect example of how to be a good Viridian Paladin of the Viridian Knight Order. Prince Frederick is currently unmarried, and has taken a Knightly vow of Celibacy.
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3rd Prince Raymond
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Prince Raymond (third son of the Emperor) is a debonair Prince that doubles as the black sheep of the family due to his interesting views on progressive ideals and the future of the Empire. Raymond specifically combats the idea of noble corruption and autocratic idleness, believing the Empire's nobility have become lazy and self indulgent, forgetting the duties of the Feudal Contract. Raymond is often misunderstood to be a Jacobin, which he is not. He rather believes in using the threat of republicanism to call the Nobles back in line, and curb Noble privilege while putting checks in place to prevent them from slipping up. Raymond is currently unmarried, and has shown no interest in being married any time soon, though is also known to have (had) several partners.
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6th Prince Thomas
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Prince Thomas is the Emperor's oldest brother, and his Knight sworn protector. Prince Thomas is a large framed man who has made name and many medals to his reputation in the various wars, spanning from the Crystant War to the most recent conflicts of the Empire. Prince Thomas is a man of few words, but he is known to be plagued by his actions on the warfront, suffering from the so-called "Knight's Disease", a form of post traumatic stress that has caused him to seek refuge in alcohol and women. Prince Thomas's was once married to a member of the Lovegood Family, however she was assassinated by Slizzar revanchists. Since then, he has had numerous mistresses quite publicly, though currently has none.
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9th Prince Dominic
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Prince Dominic is the Emperor's second oldest brother, a somewhat hunched and unassuming man who chooses to be unseen in public engagements. Dominic was once trained to become a Viridian Knight, but the murder of his mother Liliane Ivrae-Kade at the hands of Slizzar revanchists pushed him into another direction. Rumors circulate that Dominic Kade has some relation to the Black Order, the secretive Regalian state police that aims to remain unseen and unknown. As such, most court attendants consider him a spy for Alexander, and one who is fanatically loyal to the Emperor at that. Prince Dominic is unmarried and has never had relations.
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10th Prince Cedromar
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Prince Cedromar is the Emperor's third oldest brother, a broad shouldered manlet who is also known as the Dragon Prince, the Prince Marshal, or the Dragonblood. Prince Cedromar doubles as the Imperial Dragon, capable of becoming the Imperial Dragon and bestowing benefit to the Regalian Army in battle, though being known to be extremely fickle and unreliable in doing so. Prince Cedromar has a cult in Regalia that worships him, however he seems to be disinterested in having their worship and is largely pro-Unionist. Prince Cedromar is an open homosexual who has been married before, though his marriages have since been declared void due to a legal loophole. Cedromar is not known to currently have any relations.
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1st Princess Noor
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Princess Noor is Thomas's oldest daughter, and thus the first Princess of the Empire. Noor is a somewhat anti-courtly Kade, who takes effort to break rules of conduct even in light of the Emperor's discipline. Her rebellious attitude has meant she lives largely cut off from Imperial finances, having her own smithing business in a small Anglian town and surviving of a small manor with a few guards and friendly house staff. Noor's athleticism is well known in the local area, being a frequent participant in archery competitions benefiting from her smithing physique. She rejects showing up personally to the Imperial Court, and has been seen very little in Regalia.
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2nd Princess Juliana
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Princess Juliana is Noor's younger sister and thus Thomas's second daughter. Juliana in opposition to her older sister Noor did very specifically take a Court presence and has faithfully supported the Emperor in absence of her siblings and father. Princess Juliana eventually joined the Villiers-Eclaire Knights, and acts as a strong Vigilant-Knight at the Imperial Court, being the only Knight permitted to guard the Imperial Palace alongside the Imperial Guard. She is one of the few Knights permitted into the inner courts of the Palace, taking her Knightly services directly to the Kade family and having exclusive access to the Emperor, who despite his senior years, seems to enjoy her presence. Princess Juliana is unmarried, but is a known lesbian who currently does not have any relations.
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3rd Princess Amalia
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Princess Amalia is Cedromar's twin-sister and thus third Princess of the Empire. She is currently married to Marshal Claus von Treppewitz, Duke of Treppeweitz, and has several children with him. Her children do not bear the Kade name, however she does, a point that has always annoyed her. Princess Amalia is a good house wife in the Wirtem style, however also takes a pro-active role in public life to encourage house wives to come out from behind their large gallery windows and curtains and speak out against the debauchery and debasing of the Ithanian court culture.
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The Titular Princes and Princesses
The Titular Princes and Princesses are Imperial-Royal by relation to the Emperor, but cannot claim direct descent from the Imperial Vessel (who through blood, was Liliane Ivrae-Kade). As a result, they are Princes and Princesses by law, but are excluded from the inheritance line, therefor not having a title (such as 4th Princess). They still wield considerable power in the Kade Family itself and should not be considered any less important than the Princes and Princesses of Imperial Blood.
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Princess Aliandre
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Aliandre Kade is an aging aunt of the Emperor, being the oldest sister of the Emperor's father Moriarty Kade. Aliandre Kade is a shadow tactician who has had a long military record acting as Marshal, though never actually issuing orders herself, rather using her husband Henry Viraine as a proxy to hand her orders down to the soldiers and circumvent the bar on female Marshals. Besides her military work, Aliandre has always been an austere economist, believing the Empire's finances have degraded and declined because of lack of reforms. Aliandre remains married to Henry Viraine, and has several children who invariably all became Imperial Guards. Aliandre Kade is often cited to be the "most important woman in the Empire save the absent Empress", due to her sheer political weight at Court and her venerable experience.
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Princess Shelia Manon
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Princess Shelia Manon is (according to conservatives) the Archdemoness at Court due to her pro-Magic leanings and progressive ideals. Shelia Manon is the younger aunt of the Emperor, being the younger sister of Aliandre Kade, and her polar opposite. While Aliandre stands for stability and austerity, Shelia Manon stands for radicalism and contrarianism. She is a known collector of Magical Artifacts and Court Mages, even running a kind of underground railroad to help Mages escape the Azure Order when it was still active and persecuting them. Shelia Manon is a short woman who was never married, but has two legalized bastards that are nontheless given title in House Kade.
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Prince Justinian
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Prince Justinian is a brick of a man and the second younger brother of Moriarty Kade, thus an uncle of the Emperor and the leader of the Thousand Blades Monastery Knights of Anglia, an unofficial Knights-Order that takes in only retiring Kade warriors and loyalists, forming a unique group of religiously inclined Knights that put their life on the line for the Emperor. Justinian is known as the Kade family's most pious member, practically speaking in passages from the Creed to respond to all those who he deems to be unfaithful and unspiritual, or downright blasphemous. Justinian is also a rude and crude man, avoiding the Imperial Court to do his service and penance as a warrior monk. Justinian is unmarried and has taken a vow of Celibacy a long time ago when entering the Thousand Blades Monastery.
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Princess Glorianna
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Glorianna Kade is perhaps one of the oldest Kades still living, of advanced age. She is the youngest sister of Morgannan Kade, who was the wife of Norn Kade, and the grandmother of the current Emperor Alexander I. Glorianna is considered an arch-purist at the Imperial Court. She once had many children, but over the decades of the Empire's troubling times during the Ranger Crisis, the Pessimism, the Undead plague of the 80's, and the Chrysant War, she watched all of her children and grandchildren die, most of them because of Magical accidents or attacks. Having radicalized against magic ever since, she is considered more hateful to the Occult than Prince Justinian is, not on religious basis, but because of her intense grief at the loss of nearly her entire direct descendance.
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Prince William Friso
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Prince William Friso or Willem Friso depending on the spelling, is one of the many Kade Arch-Celates of Anglia, one who wields considerable support from the local population on account of his soft words and compassionate character. William Friso is not known to be as pious as Justinian, but as his brother and thus uncle of the Emperor (who is yet younger than the Emperor), wields considerable power among the clergy, even of other non-doctrine denominations. William Friso is known to have a kind and forgiving attitude to the Occult and Aberrant, supporting the Emperor in his pro-control ideology towards the Occult, and often acting as his stamp for religious consent. William Friso took a vow of Celibacy when he became a Celate, though has broken it several times with relations of which he currently has none. William Friso is generally above Court Politics, but does support Justinian and the Holy Court Faction.
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Prince Henry
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Prince Henry is the youngest child of Princess Shelia Manon, and thus a Nephew of the Emperor. Prince Henry is the only Old Gods or otherwise Pagan member of House Kade which is otherwise predominantly Unionist. He holds great personal favor towards the Velheim people, spending most of his time in Drixagh and immersing himself in Old Gods and Velheim lore. Prince Henry is known as an adventurer and debaucher alike, taking the fruits from life that he pleases, and getting caught up in tavern brawls with those who don't know his true identity. He often works with his older sister Princess Ariane. Prince Henry is unmarried and known to like both sexes, though has no current relations.
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Prince Constantine
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Prince Constantine is Prince Maximillian's youngest son (oldest brother of Moriarty Kade) and thus a nephew of the Emperor. Constantine was born among siblings who all chased military fortunes, though he chose to become a diplomat instead, eventually gaining the reputation as the Emperor's silver tongue (if one were to consider Reynaud his golden tongue). Constantine was instrumental in Tuillerand's diplomatic game of chess in establishing the Crown Alliance of Regalia between the Allar, Asha, and Ailor, but has since also held important posts in Nordskag, Ellador, and Ithania as ambassador. Constantine is also an avid art collector, is unmarried, and has had no known relations.
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Prince Francis
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Prince Francis is Maximillian Kade's oldest son, thus being the oldest brother of both Taldemarr and Constantine. Francis is the zany inventor of House Kade, specializing particularly in the field of Magic-Technics (such as the Arken Vessel that he reverse engineered), but also Aquatech (such as the more recent invention of the submersible vehicle). Francis is immensely idiosyncratic, known to be rude and crude, downright cruel even to his own family, and often attempting to avoid any social contact. Prince Francis is unmarried and everyone is sure that he absolutely hates the idea of even physically touching someone else, never having had any relations.
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Non-Family Courtiers
The Imperial Family is usually surrounded by a whole host Non-Family Courtiers. These individuals possess some sort of function at the Imperial Court, and can also be interacted with through Progressions, and may occasionally also show up during Events. The vast majority of the Courtiers are just sychophants, but the few exceptional members are mentioned below, each with their own specialty.
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Viscountess Milena Cadieux du Lierre
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Lady Milena Cadieux du Lierre, Viscountess of Centre-Vixe, is a non-Family Courtier with particular skills that exists within the Imperial Court. Milena Cadieux du Lierre is the manager of the unofficial but highly esteemed Court d'Amour, which is a court-à-court that exists on a separate layer from the Imperial Court. She exists as the nexus for all relationship gossip, matchmaking and paramour-caroussing, though only at Court. As such, when anyone has an eye on a member of the Imperial Family or the Imperial Court, they always present to Milena Cadieux first, who appraises them, and informs them which members of Court might be interested in them if any at all. She also always acts as a discreet liaison between the members of court and their favorites outside of it. Milena frequently hovers around the court ladies, and particularly Shelia-Manon Kade. | |
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Iron-Duke Ryker Lampero
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Iron-Duke Ryker Lampero is the ruler of the formidable Vultarin Hegemony, a large stretch of Dukelands in the south of the Regalian Archipelago covering multiple Duchies and spheres of influence. Ryker is a wrothful beast of a man who is sometimes also referred to as the Imperial watchdog, because of his habit of threatening anyone who brings warfare to the Regalian Archipelago. He is chiefly the backer of what the Court calls the "Iron Peace", which bars the Nobility from attacking each other. The Iron-Duke himself is also a Silven, and has deep connections with the Occult and the Imperial Family, usually being a nexus for strong warriors who make a name as his champions and liberated Occult alike. The Iron-Duke frequently hovers around the Emperor at court as his unofficial speaking watchdog, as Imperial guards do not speak. | |
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Ëssela-Neveï Vivana Avalleia
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Vivana Fëallora Avalleia Bel Ant Avalla-Loseia, often shortened to just Vivana Avalleia, is the Ëssela-Neveïa (Mist Shield) of Solleria. This position grants her the representative of all the Myst Wardens of Solleria, a prestigious military unit across Solleria that exists beyond borders and operates independently from the Dukes. Additionally, she also has a micro-court of her own of Altalar specialists and historians, having both deep connections with some of the rulers in the resurgent Allorn Empire, and a vast wealth of information on Altalar history and customs. She frequently acts as Altalar liaison at court, or informant of Altalar special interests, usually stick somewhere in the background of ongoing events. | |
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Lord Protector Parzival Ravenstad
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Lord Protector Parzival Ravenstad is one of the few survivors of the Viridian destruction during the Deathling Crisis, and remained a staunch Knight even after the reforms. Lord Protector Parzival nominally rules the Lordship of Ravenstad, the titular city where his family hails from, however he is more commonly seen at Court. Much like the Lord-Protector Dietrich von Drachenburg, Parzival Ravenstad is in the unique position to universally liked and respected by all the Knightly Orders, and even beyond that in the Military. Lord Protector Parzival always has a finger dipped in each army, and knows well what the status of their morale and inner thoughts are. Lord Protector Parzival is frequently found among Prince Willem Friso Kade and Prince Justinian Kade. He also really likes Reindeer. | |
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Grand Magistrate Dianne Black
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Grand Magistrate Dianne Black is not formally Noble (though she is of noble lineage), but she has accrued immense financial wealth and trade connections through her marriage with Christopher Black. She eventually eclipsed his control over the Merchant Guilds of Narlas, and is now the go-to person for all things trade and mercantile in the Empire. It is said that there is not a trade deal she does not know about, and she has a deep and complex understanding of the economy of the Empire, while also being deeply aware of the opinions and resentment of the free traders of the Empire at large. Grand Magistrate Dianne Black usually hovers around Aliandre Kade, on account of having political similarities with the Hiltfrontists. | |
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Bundeskanzler Ulrich Typhonus
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BundesKanzler Ulrich Typhonus was once the Archduke of Calemberg, but has since taken a more subtle background role as Bundeskanzler, a position unique to the highly urbanized environment of Calemberg. The Bundeskanzler position afford Ulrich Typhonus far reach in the greater Calemberg area, having the ear of all the wealthy aristocrat families not only of his native Wirtem lands, but also beyond. Ulrich Typhonus is the poster-figure for "old money", nobles who grew up with wealth, and sustain the old court styles and habits. As such, Ulrich Typhonus has the ear of the non-Noble wealthy upper classes, and can fund-raise like no-one else for causes which he finds agreeable. Still, Ulrich is mostly a conservative (with some pragmatic sensibilities) and as such leans in the same direction and presence as Lord Protector Parzival Ravenstad. | |
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Count Leufred du Briërust
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Count Leufred du Briërust was once the Duke of Maraisburcke, but relinquished control over the region after the mostly purist population became hostile to him and his Mage wife, eventually settling in the Imperial Palace while retaining some property on the edges of Tirgunn in Osteiermark. Count Leufred is mostly avoided by most of the Palace attendants on account of being Occult, but still has freedom of movement around the Palace, hovering particularly around the Princes. While it is not stated out in the open, the general belief held by those who visit the Imperial Court, is that he acts as a liaison and the eyes and ears of the Dragon aligned. Count Leufred is also a very active detractor from anyone Magical who tries to infiltrate the court. | |
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Mountain Duke Rodderick Howlester
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Mountain Duke Rodderick Howlester remains an active member of the Imperial Court, particularly busying himself with matter of legality, and championing the Empire's moves away from a chaotic feudal everything-goes society to one administered by rule of law. The Mountain Duke has generally also been seen as a voice of Peer choice, arguing against State mandated changes being forced on the Nobles, and trying to give them as much leeway as possible to ignore decrees from the central authority of the Empire. As such, the Mountain Duke is diametrically opposed to Typhonus and Ravenstad at Court, remaining a voice for decentralism versus their centralist views. He frequently mingles with Cadieux du Lierre's company, and the Emperor's sons. | |
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Arch-Consul Louis de Basteville
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Arch-Consul Louis de Basteville remains an active member of the Imperial Court, particularly busying himself with foreign diplomacy, and acting as an Imperial liaison to advise others on how to approach foreign states and foreign rulers, particularly Ithania. The Arch-Consul is generally also seen as a Pro-Crown division member, who does believe in absolute Monarchy, but would see the Empire split up into different Imperial Mandates led by different Kades. Louis de Basteville does not spend particularly much time with anyone else at court, and seems to dislike practically everyone else. Louis however spends a lot of time with Prince Cedromar in private, especially when Cordenia brings Antonius around. | |
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Lord Protector Dietrich von Drachenburg
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Lord Protector Dietrich von Drachenburg remains an active member of the Imperial Court, particularly busying himself with the occupation of Master of the Keep, which is a kind of secretary to the Emperor who acts as the most reliable way to contact him directly without navigating the maze of intrigue at court. The Master of the Keep is also responsible for guiding the Ministers to their relevant authority and occupational expectations, and executing direct decrees from the Emperor without the intervention of the bureaucracy. Lord Protector Dietrich von Drachenburg is often seen with Parzival Ravenstad, and Ulrich Typhonus, as the "Troika of Imperialism", the three old guard who support the Emperor's absolute control (even if it is yet to materialize). | |
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