Article 1. All executive, legislative, and judicial powers herein granted shall be vested first and foremost, now and forevermore, in her holiness Tamamo-No-Mae, Supreme Goddess and eternal ruler of the Imperium. This authority shall supersede all laws, bindings, and proclamations issued from this document or any other Citizen, Noble or otherwise, of the Imperium.
1a. In this document and all other documents of Law, the Captain of the Usagiri and the Usagiri themselves shall be synonymous with the name Tamamo-No-Mae, and carry authority and power equal to her Holiness herself.
Article 2. In lieu of her personal rule, all Executive and Legislative authority vested in her Holiness Tamamo-No-Mae shall reside with the Kitsune Council, which shall consist of nine officially chosen members of Nobility that shall directly represent the will of her holiness Tamamo-No-Mae until such a time as she deigns to revoke such authority.
2a. The Kitsune Council shall thus have the power to lay and decide upon Taxes, Duties, Imports and Exports, pay the debts and provide for the common Defence and general welfare of the Imperium, which shall all be uniform throughout the Imperium. They may also decide upon, deliberate upon, and pass bills and proposals into law at their own discretion.
2b. Each member of the Kitsune Council shall receive compensation for their Services and glory given to their house, to be ascertained by law and paid out of the Treasury of the Imperium.
2c. The Kitsune Council shall possess total and complete power including, but not limited to, the following:
To Borrow Money on the credit of the Imperium;
To Regulate Commerce with Foreign Nations and with any barbaric tribes;
To Coin Money, regulate the value Thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the Imperium;
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
To promote the progress of Science and useful Arts;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas;
To declare war, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on Land and Water.
To raise and support Armies;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Imperium, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for the organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the Imperium;
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers and all other Powers vested by this Codex and in the Kitsune Council of the Imperium, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Article 3. The Kitsune Council shall be composed of nine members of Noble Standing that belong to a Noble House that serve for life and shall be chosen through internal elections within their house firstly, then afterwards shall campaign publically to gain the support of the other Noble Houses until such a time that they have gained the support of their house and no less than three other of the 9 great houses, or thrice as many of the Major Noble Houses.
3a. In the event of a Council Member's Death(Unexpected or Otherwise), Abdication, Scandal, or other scenario which leads to a vacancy on the council, the house of the vacant seat shall be relieved of their status as a "Great House" and an internal campaign will be launched among the Major Noble Houses, and will be decided when a Major Noble House's representative wins over half of the support from the majority of the Major Noble Houses.
3b. A replacement campaign cannot last longer than 1 standard year. If this limit is reached, the Noblemen or Noblewoman with the highest standing and most favor from the other houses shall be chosen. In the event this results in a tie between one or more houses, the representatives of these tied houses will engage in a duel decided upon communally, where the winner will take the Council Seat.
Article 4. In lieu of her personal rule, all Judicial Authority vested in her Holiness Tamamo-No-Mae shall reside with the Bureau of Internal Affairs and the Head of the Bureau. This Judicial Power shall extend to all Cases in Law and Equity arising under this Codex, the laws of the Imperium, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority; To all cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers or Officials; To all cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction; To Controversies to which the Imperium shall be a Party; To Controversies between Nobility; To Controversies between Non-Nobility; But not to Controversies between Nobility and Commoner together;
4a. The Trial of all crimes shall be by jury, which shall be consisted of Nobility and Nobility alone, and such trial shall be held in the city, village, or location in which the said Crimes have been committed.
Article 5. The Head of the Bureau of Internal affairs shall serve as long as they maintain good behavior, upstanding values, and continue to uphold the virtues of the Imperium and of Tamamo, as detailed in this document.
5a. The Head of the Bureau of Internal Affairs is a position that can only be filled or replaced by Tamamo-No-Mae herself.
Article 6. The Sole Authority to replace, fire, and manage members of the Kitsune Council shall be invested solely in her holiness, Tamamo-No-Mae, and the Usagiri.
6a. In the event of an emergency or in times of extreme duress, the Head of the Bureau may act with the same permissions as Tamamo-No-Mae to manange and control the Kitsune Council, as well as to make orders regarding it.
Article 7. The Bureau of Internal Affairs shall not be subject to oversight by the Kitsune Council, and shall not be beholden to them. The oversight of the Bureau shall be a task overseen by Tamamo-No-Mae herself and by her Usagiri.
Article 8. The Bureau of Internal Affairs shall oversee, maintain, and control all Governmental agencies and bodies that uphold and enforce the sacred laws contained within these pages, including the Akheishi, the City Guard, and any similar governing bodies.
8a. They shall similarly handle the enforcement of the laws set by the Kitsune Council, and the head of the Bureau and their closest advisors has the right to reject laws set by the Kitsune Council if they are found to be in violation of any laws of the Imperium or deemed contrary to Tamamo-No-Mae's will, though a majority vote on the council can override this veto.
8b. They shall also handle the enforcement of the Tax Code as set by the Kitsune Council, as well as the collection of all Tax and other fees in the Imperium.
Article 9. The Common Citizenry of the Imperium shall not keep, bear, or display Arms openly upon themselves or their person until such a time where they are required to possess such an Arm for war, struggle, or strife as determined by the Laws contained within the Imperium.
9a. Soldiers, Mercenaries, and those for whom fighting and war is integral to their lifestyle are to be exempt from this law.
9b. This law should be considered to be suspended during times of war, or similar national emergency.
Article 10. No Citizen of the Imperium, Creature, Monstrous Entity, or Sentient Life shall be subject to slavery or Involuntary Servitude except as a punishment for crime they have been duly convicted of so long as they place her holiness Tamamo-No-Mae above all other gods, forsaking and decrying all others.
10a. The verification of this belief shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by legal extensions of Tamamo-No-Mae's will.
Article 11. The right to own a slave or Involuntary Servant shall be protected and upheld according to the laws of this codex. All creatures owned by another creature shall be treated as objects and possessions of their owner.
11a. The length of service for a slave or Involuntary Servant shall be indefinite, and continue into their children and their children's children for eternity until the owner says otherwise.
Article 12. All creatures born or naturalized within the Imperium and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the Imperium. Any outsider, non-citizen or entrant into the Imperium shall not be barred from true citizenship for any reason so long as they complete the proper paperwork, forms, and pay all required fees as well as any other requirements dictated upon according to the laws of this Codex.
Article 13. The right of Noble Citizens of the Imperium to Vote and decide upon elected officials shall not be infringed upon. The Common Citizens of the Imperium shall be barred from the same rights.
Article 14. The Bureau of Internal Affairs shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes from whatever source derived, without approval nor consent among the Imperium.
14a. The members of the Kitsune Council and any other Figure of sufficient importance or worth to the Imperium shall be exempt from this law, decided upon by The Kitsune Council and Tamamo-No-Mae alone.
Article 15. The Shogun of the Ursidae Dynasties shall possess equal power to and be synonymous with Tamamo-No-Mae for matters concerning the Ursidae Dynasties, and the Shogunate shall be similarly possess equal power to and be synonomous with The Kitsune Council for matters concerning the Ursidae Dynasties.
15a. These ruling figures and bodies are required to convene once every six standard months to give reports and exchange information among each other.
Article 16. Any Common Citizen of the Imperium in service to a noble house should be considered as being protected from enslavement or Involuntary Servitude until such a time when they no longer serve and are cared for by that or any house.
Article 17. Kitsune, regardless of their nationality or origin, are always to be treated as nobles by birthright, and their words are to be obeyed EVEN WHEN other laws would be broken.
17a. Kitsune that flout their power and openly disregard the laws written within the pages of the Imperial Maeish Codex will be subjected to punishment or correction deemed appropriate by Tamamo herself, and certified agents of her will.
Article 18. The name of Tamamo, Tamamo-No-Mae, or any derivative or slang meant to invoke or hearken to her holy name shall not be taken in vain, mockery, or insult.
Article 19. There will be no casting magic of an arcane or divine nature without the appropriate licenses, paperwork, and legality under threat of fines, punishment, and death.
Article 20. The worship of any other gods besides Tamamo and those detailed within the
Imperial List of Approved Gods is forbidden, under threat of fines, punishment, and death.
20a. All Holy Symbols of banned deities are to be collected and destroyed wherever they are found. Possessing such a symbol is an offense punishable by fines, jail time, and death.
Article 21. Commoners and those of non-noble birth or authority shall always obey and acquiesce to the demands of nobility, except in the case where other laws would be broken. In such a case, the authorities should be contacted and the noble responsible shall be held accountable.
Article 22. Adventurers, outsiders, and non-natives of the Imperium will be treated as commoners by default until they can be assigned an appropriate social ranking according to their power or status if they entered the Imperium willingly. If they entered unwillingly(As Slaves or Goods) they will not be afforded this privilege and will be treated as possessions of they who brought them in.
22a. Such beings are to be given a variable amount of leniency in dealing with the laws contained with the pages of the Imperial Maeish Codex, by default given 3 grace incidents(Depending on severity of the incident) before they are subject to the full force of the law.
22b. Immigration centers, border castles, and all such checkpoints and places where outsiders enter the Imperium are to make opportunities available for these outsiders to learn the laws of the Imperium as stated within the Imperial Maeish Codex, and to prepare them for life(however brief their stay) within the Imperium. Such learning centers are to be clearly marked and signaled out.
Article 23. All citizens or visiting outsiders must always possess legal citizenship or visitation documents and proof of their citizenship or temporary stay either upon their person or within their dwelling. Any citizen caught without proof of citizenship and other legal documentation will be given a one week grace period to procure such documents, and placed under strict watch. Failure to retrieve the documents will result in being sold to the highest bidder at auction.
23a. Any caught with forged or fake legal documentation, citizen or outsider both, shall be summarily tortured and executed. If they were an unknowing victim of being given false papers, they will be allowed to live but fined.
Article 24. No citizen shall be refused entry to an establishment, place of business, or public dwelling based solely on their race or outward appearance. Placing signage, imagery, or any visible media barring entry to such a place on these grounds is an offense punishible by fines and jail time.
24a. Neither should a citizen be refused acceptance into a job or refused employment for the same reasons.
Article 25. The Personal property of all Citizens or Legal Visitors of the Imperium shall not be pilfered, stolen, or otherwise unjustly taken. Those who do so will be punished according to the severity of the crime.
Article 26. Committing an act that results in the injury(Mental or Physical), bodily harm(grievous or otherwise), or death where it was not expressly approved by a legal representative of the law shall be investigated and punished by jail time, fines, and death.
26a. Those of noble birth are exempt from this clause unless their actions affect another member of nobility or are judged to be needlessly excessive, in breach of other laws, or considered a grand threat to Tamamo and her Imperium.
26b. A breach of this law that results in the injury, death, or permanent scarring of a Commoner shall not be illegal or admissible as evidence in court if such an act was perpetrated by one of Nobility, so long as section 26a of the Imperial Maeish Codex is not breached during this act as well.
26c. In the event of this law being breached by a member of the nobility which results in the death of a commoner which has no next of kin or family ties, all possessions, belongings, businesses, and dwellings owned by the deceased shall forthwith be property of the Noble that killed them.
Article 27. Members of Nobility who are responsible for Commoner lives shall uphold the social contract and give them shelter, adequate food and drink, and protection from threats both internal and external. Failure to provide these are punishable by extensive fines and death.
Article 28. Commoners and those who are servants of a Noble House must uphold the social contract and obey their Masters unquestioningly, labor and toil for them, and do all tasks asked of them with neither complaint nor care for their own lives. If asked to die, they are expected to do so, so long as other laws are not broken.
Article 29. Idols are to be treated as the equals of the highest class of nobility and are to be afforded all the rights and bindings that come with such a station.
Article 30. Any member of Nobility or of equal rank or status to Nobility shall not be subject to Libel, Slander, or Defamation of themselves, their house, or their character and those who do so will be subject to fines, jail time, and death.
Article 31. Outsiders, Foreigners, Adventurers, and Non-Natives of the Imperium shall be permitted to carry weapons and wear armor, but banned from using them for means other than personal defense so long as the other laws are not broken.
Article 32. A member of Noble Birth must always take the first seat, enter a building first, leave first, and must be allowed to eat first from every table.
32a. A Noble cannot be asked to sit in, walk across, or otherwise pass through an unnecessarily dirty or unclean area. Any such area must be cleaned before their arrival or before they can move on.
32b. A Noble is always given preferential treatment and the first pick of scarce resources or commodities. If there is enough food to feed ten commoners or one noble, the food must go to the noble unless they themselves willingly declare otherwise.
Article 33. A non-Kitsune may not touch, fluff, or otherwise interact with the tail(s) of a Kitsune without their permission.
Article 34. All Noble Houses must clearly mark and demarcate the dwellings, borders, and locations owned or lived in by them in places for all to see clearly and well with signage of their preference.
Article 35. Any legal enforcer of the laws of Imperium has the full authority to enter any dwelling, place of business, or building without permission, notification, or approval from the residents or owners so long as they wear clear and legal proof of their station and status on their uniform or person.
Article 36. Any citizens of the Imperium with extreme or unnatural dietary requirements(Consumption of blood, Consumption of sentient creatures, etc...) shall be provided for with means that cause as little death or sacrifice of Imperial Citizens as is possible and feasible.
36a. Citizens with these diets may NOT invoke their right of nobility(Article 26a of the Imperial Maeish Codex) to satiate their needs on Commoners, even if other laws would permit it.
Article 37. Mercenaries, Adventurers, and those in the Imperium who have been hired by any Citizen of the Imperium must be paid or compensated to an amount agreed upon in writing if/and/when they completed and perform the service that was requested of them. Failure to do so is an offense punishable by jail time and fines.
37a. If hired by a Citizen of the Imperium with Noble standing(Such as a member of a Noble House), the Mercenaries or Adventurers are to be treated with the same social standing as members of that house would be afforded, but are exempt from article 45 of the Imperial Maeish Codex requiring them to display the iconography of their patron house, though they must carry documentation as proof of their hiring on them at all times.
Article 38. The name "Naomasa" shall not be used to name a child or citizen within the Imperium, and shall not be spoken of or written.
Article 39. Any Citizen not of Nobility cannot enter the home, dwelling, owned building or business of a member of Nobility without clear permission. Those caught trespassing will be punished at the owning Noble's discretion, up to and including death.
Article 40. A Non-Noble Citizen or inhabitant of the Imperium must always provide shelter, succor, and permission to dwell within their home to a member of Nobility if such a thing is asked of them. Failure to accomodate a member of nobility in one's dwelling is an offense punishable by fines and jail time.
Article 41. When the value of a life of a Commoner is brought into question, it shall be defaulted to approximately 10 Foxnotes for one healthy and adult Commoner, raised or lowered depending on the usefulness, age, or abilities of the Commoner in question.
41a. The life of a Common Soldier is to be defaulted to approximately 25 Foxnotes, subject to change up or down based on a variety of factors.
41b. The life of a Veteran Soldier is to be defaulted to approximately 100 Foxnotes, subject to change up or down based on a variety of factors.
41c. The life of a General or Commander is to be defaulted to approximately 1,000 Foxnotes, subject to change up or down based on a variety of factors.
41d. The life of a Noble is measured by the net worth of their total assets, plus 5,000 Foxnotes.
41e. The life of a Kitsune is priceless, and cannot be measured.
41f. The life of a foreigner, outsider, or other Non-Citizen of the Imperium should be measured by the total value of their accumulated wealth, both in liquid assets, gear, and otherwise.
Article 42. Excessively large Citizens of the Imperium are to be forgiven for no more than 9 accidental or unintentional deaths caused due to their immense size each standard year. If a Noble is killed due to this reason, the Citizen in question is not to be forgiven and must be held accountable for their actions as detailed in the lines of the Imperial Maeish Codex.
42a. Deaths caused in this way to Commoners, Outsiders, Adventurers or other Non-Natives are to be given respectful funerals and the Imperial Government shall send a bereavement package to the deceased's next of kin. All assets of the Deceased go to their Next of Kin, unless they have no Next of Kin, in which case the assets go to the creature that killed them or the Imperial Government.
Article 43. Non-Natives or Outsiders to the Imperium that must appear in a court of law are to be provided legal representation by the Imperial Government at no charge.
43a. Commoners are not included in this law, and are barred from appearing in courts of law. Legal issues or disputes between Commoners and Non-Nobility are to be handled outside courts of law by more proper authorities.
Article 44. All public places of business shall make every feasible effort to accommodate creatures of an abnormally large or unusual size or biological makeup, as much as is possible and reasonable to do.
Article 45. Members of the Nobility must clearly display symbology, motto, and/or Iconography displaying their patron house or familial symbol on their person at all times.
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