Imperial Laws and Imperial Courts are byzantine, archaic, immoral and with no foundational governing philosophy applied to them. The only thing they’re not is outright contradictory, although that cos from the sheer mundane generalities they clothe themselves in. I have begun the arduous task of actually studying Imperial law, so far, I have co across more than a thousand different laws which detail “upholding morality”, “breaching of good character” or “engaging in antisocial behaviour”.
I think there a maybe a hundred individuals on this world who would be able to make such a claim, I am one of them: Arascus has based the Empire off the Tyrannies, that is obvious. Case-law in the Empire is only used for the benefits of the state, the ruling guideline states clearly that judges should make decisions for the “Enforcing of justice in accordance with the spirit of the Empire.” This mysterious ‘spirit of the Empire’, and I write in mocking tone for effect, is a hypocritical thing, for it is self-serving and self-sacrificial, it is honest and it is cunning, it is a protector and it is aggressive.
Imperial law is a farce. I f the Imperial Code was simplified to a single law: “The state has the authority to apply whatever restrictions it deems upon an individual, in perpetuity”, then the only effective change in the Empire would be the financial costs of saving on printing paper for lawbooks.
Nevertheless, I now have to give credit to Arascus, the individual and not the Emperor. It is undeniable that the man has an eye for talent. The Empire, as it exists, revolves around him. The courts of the Empire are able to forward judgent a higher court, and then the line ends with a case falling upon Arascus’ desk and appointnts to judge are likewise bestowed by him. It no doubts pains every idealist and political theorist, but the judicial system is not corrupt nor inefficient.
And yet, Imperial Courts (I.C.) are beloved in the Empire as upholders of the cunning Imperial morality: Karl Estinbeck was a corrupt Doschian Bureaucrat. The man enriched himself with governnt contracts, bought out villages and beca a monopolistic landlord. He also was a genius, local Doschian courts could not find a single breach of their own laws. The I.C. of Hallin found the man guilty of a morality breach for having a mistress, he died in a penal division on the beaches of Rilia. Monsieur Henri Terreux, in Rancais, was an insurgent artist who purposefully made visually repulsive pieces. What intent he had to continue was finished when the I.C. of Aris fined him with “assault on the senses” and imposed a day’s fine for each person who would travel to the court to claim they had been ‘assaulted’. The public entered a punitive frenzy, close to a million signatories were taken in total. There are thousands of these cases in the Empire, each one is publicized, each one is cheered that so great injustice against the common man has been cleared.
And thus, we get to the heart of Imperial law. Arascus is a people-person first, not a system builder. Anyone who has spent ti with the man understands this intuitively. Arascus has built a terrible system, but he has it staffed by the best Arda has to offer.
- Excerpt from “Imperial Bureaucracy Review, First Edition”, written by Goddess Maisara, of Order.
The day had passed as a blur. It had began on the mountainside, once again getting drunk off the Fer budget. Fortia had nuzzled into whiskey glasses, laughed at Fer’s jokes, fell back onto the grass as she admired the sunshine, and they all talked of what would happen once the war was over. Fer was adamant that they needed to build their hos in the Erdely mountains, or as far as the Land of Gods went, so that they could be neighbours since Erdely was Fer’s province. And they would go drinking and brawl and shoot fireworks and watch deer frolic in the woods. It was a terribly picturesque scene, and it was the sort of thing that Fortia could only imagine in excitent at what it would feel like to simply have nothing to do.
But then Malam had sent Fer the news of Kht’s falling and Fer had made calls and they had to sober up quickly. And now, they were on an Imperial bullet train, speeding southwards through Rilia to Tremali’s estate and the location of the current CSC conference being held. Outside, the world was a blur, Fortia was fascinated by the sheer wonder of the machinery. The train was huge, it had to be to fit Of Peace, Of Order and Of Beasthood on board with headroom to spare, but it was still a marvel that sothing so large could travel so fast. “I’m surprised you didn’t get us to walk it.” Maisara said.
Whop! And a valley shot past them. And then a village! The only thing that Fortia’s eyes could find any focus in was the horizon and the sky, now shifting blue to grey as they neared where yet unreclaid Ashen Skies lay over Rilia.
“We could most likely beat this train in a sprint.” Fer said. “But not a marathon and I think one and a half countries classifies as a marathon.”
“Well I can’t argue with that.” Maisara said. Stunning, a flock of birds was actually flying south. That was a wonder in itself. They were actually doing it. Fortia didn’t even know what to say. It wasn’t with overwhelming magic, it wasn’t with Allasaria’s power, it wasn’t so aweso singular feat of magic, it was raw industrial power. It was peace of the purest kind, the sort of replicable, scalable peace that could defeat anything. Maisara leaned back, Fer had not even them the change, apparently, an assistant would bring fresh clothes in a major station down the line but now, they were still in the light buttoned shirts besmirched with grass stains. Fer in her shorts, Fortia and Maisara in skirts. “So can you tell us now?” Maisara asked.
Whoop! And they shot through a tunnel. Fer’s eyes shined in the darkness for a mont. “Alright ladies.” She said. “You know it’s Kassandora already but let big teacher Fer give you a lesson in the Empire.”
“I can’t wait already.” Maisara said dryly. Fer chuckled at it, Fortia smiled. There had been a ti when the only person Maisara made jokes with was Fortia alone.
“Kassandora, we know this, is very smart.” Fer leaned forward and stood her finger up on the table. “Far too smart for her own good. Have you ever tried to argue with her?”
“Many tis.” Maisara said.
“Lots.” Fortia added.
“And have you ever beaten her in a debate?” Fer asked. The smile when her yellow eyes bounced off Fortia and Maisara was all the answer she needed. “Indeed, not many people have.” Fer leaned back, mighty proud of herself, hand coming to her chest. “I can say I am part of that small club which can actually argue with Kassandora, nevertheless, even I have to admit it’s a waste of ti.” Fortia could believe it, but she doubted that the debates looked like they did in a eting. It was most likely a cutthroat attack on character. And Fer’s claws were sharp in that field.
“Is it?” Fortia asked.
“The most you can force her to do is agree to disagree. Exhaust her basically.” Fer said. “No. I talked with Kavaa about this because she ca to this realisation but you two are my friends so I will simply tell you.” Fortia and Maisara shared a look that was almost awed. They were friends with Fer. She admitted it herself, unprompted, so easily that she didn’t even seem to realise what she just said. “Kassandora is smart and Kassandora is stubborn. Kassandora is also strong, relatively of course, compared to most Divines.”
“We’re friends?” Fortia asked.
“Of course.” Fer said. “There’s a kinship, is there not? The three Divines in this carriage are the only three Divines we’d have trouble killing.” Fortia blinked. Well, physically, that was true. “I say bears and tigers can’t be friends but if you had to assemble of team and you weren’t allowed to copy, you’d want a bear, a tiger and an elephant.”
Maisara blinked, then looked at Fortia and at Fer. “Do I even have to ask who’s the elephant?” She said.
“Well I like bears, so I’m the bear.” Fer cooed. “Fortia is bronze and tigers are orange so that’s basically the sa thing.” She smiled at Maisara. “Silver, grey? Is there that much of a difference?” Maisara exhaled and sighed.
“Alright, move on.” Maisara said.
“And so, people tend to forget that Divine hierarchy is ultimately a contest of strength. Kassandora is strong in the mind, of course, so she can out-argue most of us but what happens when soone simply puts their foot down and doesn’t follow orders?” Fer stared at them as if it was most obvious thing in the world. Well, it was. Both Fortia and Maisara led Divine Orders, a refusal to follow orders was treachery, treachery was an executable offense.
“So you’re the…” Fortia stared at Fer smiling. “Enforcer then?”
“No.” Fer said. “I am the big sister and the big sister is allowed to say no and swat a backside when a swatting is deserved.” She chuckled to herself. “Anassa can’t do it because Anassa is too hot-headed, Irinika is a last resort because she just descends into the argunt, Neneria gives up, Olephia doesn’t have the…” Fer fell silent for a mont and mid with her hands. “Presence, so to say. Baalka likewise, so it really is only .”
“What about Malam?” Maisara asked.
“Malam and Kassandora get along too well.” Fer said. “So they shouldn’t work together.”
“What logic is that?”
“Malam conceived of Operation Ratsweeper, Kassandora of Continent Cracking. Malam won’t stop Kassandora, she’ll just…” Fer trailed off again and made a slithering movent. “You know, like a snake. She’ll just ssss her way into sothing worse.” Maisara collapsed onto the table and Fortia burst out in laughter.
“What?!” Fortia said. “So what? Of Beasthood is the sister that gets sent in to say no? Since when are you a rock?”
“Well animals don’t do war.”
“Ants do.” Maisara said.
“They’re insects.” Fer replied smugly.
“Is that not an animal?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.” Fer said smugly, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. Maisara’s spine bent even further as she gave up on the argunt and just closed her eyes. Whoop! And a small town shot past them through the window. A blur of yellow sandstone. Fortia saw it though, Mai definitely missed it but Fer had just given the lesson right now. No. No because she just said so and because she was Fer and there was no on this world who would enter a brawl with Fer.
“That’s how you handle it.” Fortia said in awe. What a way to teach. Truly incredible.
Fer smiled in pride. “That is indeed how it is handled, I knew you’d get it.”
“What is what?” Maisara asked. “Get what?”
“This ti, I’ll demonstrate, you’ll be there.” Fer said. “Kassandora will know, she’ll give you dirty looks, you ignore them. You don’t taunt, you don’t smile, you just look, you just watch and if I give you permission, you get to one day do the job.” Fer smiled, then leaned forward, putting her head to the table to mirror Maisara’s defeated posture. “But you will do it to a higher than , or I will ring big sister Irinika to give you a swatting.”
Maisara’s silver eyes stared into Fer’s yellow ones. Fortia pursed her lips, Irinika wasn’t so bad but that was when… Well, it was when Kassandora told Irinika to work with Fortia. Of Peace didn’t want to know what it would be like on the inside of that pitch-black darkness when it was aggressive. “So what do we do?”
“You stand there and you say no and if she tries to walk past you or continue giving orders, you lift Kassie up like a little doll and then you carry her out of there. And she’ll kick and scream and she’ll summon that magic sword of hers to fall on your head.” Fortia’s eyes went wide.
“Excuse ?”
“That’s how you do it.” Fer said. The ears on top of her head jumped. “More or less.” She laughed. “Sothing like that. It’s better to always clear the room first.”
“So you an we fight just fight her until she gives up?” Maisara asked. Fortia put her hand on Maisara’s shoulder.
“I don’t think it’s so clear cut.” Fortia said.
“Well of course not.” Fer said. “She may get all embarrassed for being scolded and just co along nicely this ti since you’re there but I don’t think so.” Then ca a stretch and a sigh. “But there’s rules to it. Rules you have to follow because dad trusted to watch over you, so I’m your boss. I’m big sister Fer.” She chuckled.
“I’m not calling you that.” Maisara said.
“As much as I wish everyone did, no one does.” Fer chuckled to herself again. “Rule one, very important, you do not make Kassandora cry.”
“How am I supposed to do that?” Maisara said. Fortia understood it imdiately though.
“You an don’t be an to her.” Fer nodded.
“That’s why they made you leader of the White Pantheon armies.” Fer said. “No, she can cry, I don’t mind if she does, but you’re not to be an to her.”
“How am I going to do that?” Maisara asked.
“Basically just say no and…” Fortia trailed off. Actually, why was Maisara even having an issue with this? Maisara didn’t bully, not that often anyway. “Just be yourself Fortia. Just don’t say anything.”
“Oh.” Maisara said. “Yeah, I can do that.” She finally pulled up from the table. Fer stayed on it, those big yellow eyes looking up at Fortia and Maisara, her ears jumped.
“Rule two, very important, you don’t talk bad about my sister. Only family is allowed to do that.” Fer said. “That’s it. My two very important rules. Follow them pretty please. You won’t like it if you don’t.”
“Doesn’t Kavaa speak badly of Kass though?” Fortia sighed, that was a completely different thing.
“No.” Fer said. “Kavaa never speaks badly of Kass.”
“We’ve both listened to her moan though.” Maisara said.
“Kavaa speaks because she needs to get it out and because she loves Kassandora and so when Kavaa says Kassandora is stupid, she actually ans that she is too stupid herself to work out how to deal with Kassie. It’s a very basic behaviour, animals do it to release stress all the ti.” Fer’s smile beca devilish. “But that is Kavaa and Kavaa is weak and emotional and overwheld. When Kavaa says Kassie is stupid, it ans one thing, when mighty Maisara says Kassie is stupid, it ans another entirely.”
Maisara blinked and crossed her arms. “Is that a complint or an insult?”
“You can talk badly about though.” Fer said. “Because we’re friends and because I’m pretty sure you have nothing bad to say about anyway.” Maisara opened her mouth to speak, held it for a second, then closed it. Fortia though seized the chance.
“You’re overbearing and you decide for other people.”
“Fufufu Fortia.” Fer chuckled. Through the window, a crop of trees shot by in a blur to once again reveal a field. Fortia raised an eyebrow and Fer flipped her palms up on the table. “What am I supposed to do about it?”
“I don’t really know.” Fortia said.
“Do you to say sorry?”
“No.” Fortia said. “It’s fine, you’re just overbearing.” She shrugged. “I don’t know, you wanted sothing bad said about you.”
“If that’s the worst you can co up with, then I’m a sinless saint.” Fer chuckled again. “This is how the family deals in these things, I get called in when soone is throwing a fit because I am tougher than the rest of them in all the ways that count. We keep it private, we don’t make spectacles, and no one knows its happening.”
“Just you?” Maisara asked.
“Well sotis Arascus.” Fer said. “And I’ve decided you two are fine doing it because you’re my friends, so that’s the reasoning.” Maisara sighed.
“I just don’t get you.” Maisara said. Fer just smiled at in return and finally sat up from the table. “You actually just solve problems like we did in the Pantheon?”
Fer threw the question back as Fortia sat and watched. “Isn’t that how most Divines solve problems?” Maybe Fer didn’t realise, but she was teaching here now too. The family, as Fortia had imagined, was not as picturesque as she had thought.
“Even Arascus?”
“Arascus is a kind and patient man.” For once, Fortia was sure this was the real Fer she was speaking to. This was the tone she used when she roared out taunts on Great War battlefields and when she hunted. “And dependable, reliable, honest enough and, most of all, loving. Absolutely loving. I was going to joke just now and say terribly loving but the love is genuine. I know.” Fer smiled to herself. “He is exactly the sort of father for children who never experienced such a joy imagine a father to be.” The yellow eyes passed over Maisara and Fortia again. “And I am the Goddess of Beasthood.”
“Oh.” Maisara said. Oh indeed.
Unfortunately, he’s sailing to the other side of the world right now. So no, if he were here, he could go, he would listen to Kassie cry and mope, she would feel better after it, and we’d sing as we make daisy circles together. So no, Kassie does not get the father treatnt, I cannot provide it. Kassie has her big sister, so that is what she will get. It’s her own fault.”
Maisara actually sounded as if she was disappointed. “I thought you were kinder than that.” Fortia didn’t know what the disappointnt was about, this was the Fer. This is exactly how she was. There was nothing that had been said which actually surprised her. In fact, it would have been crazier if Fer said she did actually manage to talk Kassandora down. And worse sowhat, because that proved it was a feat which could be done.
“Of Beasthood Maisara, Of Beasthood.” Her chuckle was closer to a growl.
“I…” Fortia began and treaded carefully. This was unsteady ground, she felt as if she walking into the bear’s cave with a torch, but since the conversation had drifted onto the personal, she could at least see what the cave hid. “Can I ask then, why do you follow him?”
“Because I love him.” Fer said without a hint of sha and a shrug. Maisara groaned and fell backwards onto her seat, Fer burst out in laughter. “Co on Mai! Even you aren’t allergic to feeling good!” Fortia saw the manoeuvre once, it was an even sharper control than Helenna displayed. The jokes would co in, the conversation would naturally steer back onto the safe.
Fortia would not allow it. “Why do you not want to talk about him?” With Kass, it was one thing. Even though Fer had her rules, she gossiped all the ti about everyone. It was an odd sort of gossip, interesting definitely, but one where Fortia knew she just had to listen. But never about Arascus. Not a single bad word.
Fer’s ears jumped and her tone dropped. “You’re smart.” It was the single most terrifying thing the woman could have ever said.
“I know.” Fortia replied and Fer nodded. And for once, she had no reply. “You’re not going to answer , are you?”
“No.” Fer said. Maisara leaned away from Fortia and Fer, deeper into the corner of the carriage. “Co on Mai, we’re all friends here, friends can disagree.” Fer said lightly again.
Fortia released her breath. “I just wanted to know because I don’t why I follow him.”
“You do get swept up in the stream.” Fer said. “Is it because we’re building a grand world? Is it because there’s extinction out of the Empire? Is it because we’re old bags of bones and tired?” She shrugged. “I don’t know, but I know it’s better with him than without.”
“I know.” Fortia said. “I hate that.”
Fer burst out in laughter. “Fortia! Little girl! I’m the Goddess of Beasthood! The untad wilds! How do you think I feel?!” She slapped the table.
“She’s older than you.” Maisara said and Fer doubled over in laughter.
“You are actually funny.”
“I wasn’t joking.”
“That’s the best part!” Fer said as Maisara watched Fer regain control of herself. She had ntioned kinship before, that much was true. It wasn’t just because they were the Big Three. Fer must have gone just purely off her beastly intuition, but that intuition was right. They were actually made of similar matter. One last attempt then, more diplomatic this ti.
“When you joined him.” Fortia said. “Sorry for my curiosity.” A pre-emptive apology. “Why did you do it? Don’t be personal if you don’t want to.” Kassandora wouldn’t have frad that better. Fer sat in silence for a mont, thinking again. Fortia crossed her fingers under the desk that she could learn sothing at least.
“The short of it is that he bested in single combat.” Fer said.
“And the long of it?”
“The long of it is information very little people are privy to. Kassie shares her joining story because she whacks you over the head with it and it’s one of the few things that paint her in a sympathetic light. Malam likewise.” Fer’s smile grew even wider. She stared the two Goddesses across the table down. “Most of them are like that in fact, not mine though.” She giggled to herself. “Mine is a tale of stupidity so profound I have no way to salvage it, and I’m not desperate enough for affection to have to prostrate my history before you.”
“So you won’t tell us?” Maisara asked.
“Do I ask you why you joined?” Fer asked. Fortia blinked, she felt the shift in the atmosphere. The slight change in how Fer’s ears stood up. “No Maisara, I do not. Even though I know it’s shaful and I know that Malam was half-right when she said you bought your way in.”
Maisara went pale, stunned and looked down at herself. “It wasn’t like that.”
“No, but it was close enough.” Fer said slowly.
Fortia had to know. “How?”
“I sll emotion Fortia. I sll curiosity, I sll honesty, and I sll lies. Even on Divines, even on him. And I know he lied on the table in that first eting we all had, I slled your awe and your surprise and your submission and I knew he covered for you, and I know you two ca out of his room in tears.” Fer smiled. She tapped her nose. “Our stories are not so different. Arascus bested , Arascus bested you, that is why we all sll like cubs when he enters the room.”
It wasn’t an insult, it wasn’t even anything bad. Fortia in pure awe at what the woman just said. She had never t such a sensible, such a real creature before. There was a Fer in there and it was a mirror. She had her laughter, Fortia had her attempts at stoicism. Under that sat the huntress and then the strategist. And deeper in, there was Fer that was hidden from the world at large, and likewise, there was a Fortia that Fortia was scared to show even to herself. Maisara looked as if she was about to collapse. Fortia took it in the other way. She reached her hand over the table. “Fer, I didn’t know before, it annoyed when you decided we were friends but no. I’m glad to have you as a friend. Truly, you’re the best.”
“I know.” Fer said. “You too Forti, you were wasted on the Pantheon.”
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