The Emperor's Oath
"Let this day be known as the first step along the road to glory for the Rhyliss Empire. Not just for humanity, but for all who would join their cause to mine and lend their strength. Order from chaos, and law from lawlessness."
While it is called the Emperor's Oath, it is not so much a sworn oath to a greater cause so much as a speech delivered to the first nine kingdoms brought to initially form the Rhyliss Empire. The first Emperor had invited multiple dignitaries from those kingdoms and any others who showed favorable intent or reactions, along with a few rivals, to discuss over a feast what his goals were. The speech was recorded by a few different individuals, among the guests and the court, then expanded on by the author. The Imperial Archivist currently has the oldest copy stored where none can view it, but many other copies have been made and are available to be read.
Historical Details
Background
During the first generations of the Rhyliss Empire there was a great amount of unrest concerning a warlord forcibly unifying many of the kingdoms and declaring the intent to continue so long as there was a will to do so. After the conquest of Trinthis, a number of envoys were dispatched to the Emperor. Othal Rhyliss weighed the discussions carefully, and finally decided to let all know what his intent was with these conquests. So it was he invited representatives from the conquered kingdoms and neighboring ones he knew were thinking they were next. He also sent invitations to the ten major holy orders in the region, as well as the elven Dawn Court. The gathering was held in the Great Hall of Swords, where a great expense and effort was made to be hospitable while still displaying the solidarity and resolve of the new empire.
Naturally, while each attendee was given to their own expectations, Othal surprised many by reading from a carefully prepared document to explain his motives and his perspective on the conquest. Shortly, however, he spoke from the heart and began making oaths to unite all of Erisdaire under his banner if it meant an end to various conflicts which had sprung up between the various kingdoms over minor grievances. He replied to no questions from the attendees as he made the oration, only specifying conquest would be visited on those who would seek military reaction and there would be diplomacy to handle those who wished a nonviolent union into the Empire.
Historically, the reaction was varied across the attendees, as was their belief in the sincerity of the oath. Even so, many reviewed the words spoken that day and came to conclusions on whether they should ready for war or pursue a peaceful path. As the first speech given with the full authority of the Emperor to foreign powers, it has been preserved even in the ancient form of diction which had existed then and only translated unofficially to modern parlance.
Naturally, while each attendee was given to their own expectations, Othal surprised many by reading from a carefully prepared document to explain his motives and his perspective on the conquest. Shortly, however, he spoke from the heart and began making oaths to unite all of Erisdaire under his banner if it meant an end to various conflicts which had sprung up between the various kingdoms over minor grievances. He replied to no questions from the attendees as he made the oration, only specifying conquest would be visited on those who would seek military reaction and there would be diplomacy to handle those who wished a nonviolent union into the Empire.
Historically, the reaction was varied across the attendees, as was their belief in the sincerity of the oath. Even so, many reviewed the words spoken that day and came to conclusions on whether they should ready for war or pursue a peaceful path. As the first speech given with the full authority of the Emperor to foreign powers, it has been preserved even in the ancient form of diction which had existed then and only translated unofficially to modern parlance.
History
The tome itself has gone under no revisions, only repeated transcription into newer mediums as time ate away at the old mediums' material. The original is kept in a small, special sealed stone vault, even as worn as it is by time; all updated writings are similarly entombed in stone and enchanted to dull the passage of time, save for the most recent one. It is almost always written on fine vellum with special ink, bound in leather, and placed where it can be viewed by the Archivists.
Several copies are made by scribes in a year, often given to newly appointed Governors or other high positions as a gift on their ascension. As this gift is usually a token, it is accompanied with other gifts as the current Emperor sees fit. Copies on papyrus scrolls have been made for nobility to own, yet this is done at great expense as only properly authorized scribes are permitted to work from the current copy. The gnomes invented a printing press, and once offered to see about making copies, yet the more traditionalist Archivists have always refused the offer. Unofficial copies, however, have been made; other attendees had records of the speech, and had written down commentaries for their masters or for posterity. One of the well-known versions is an elvish tome of thin mithril slates inscribed with the analysis of the speech and the impressions of the first Emperor, not entirely glowing praise at the time, while having later annotations added as more conquest and acquisitions were made during the lifetime of Othal Rhyliss the Conqueror. A lesser-known, often considered apocryphal, copy is said to exist in draconic and to be passed around the older dragon bloodlines; as there were no known dragons who attended, and it was written in the sense of someone who had witnessed it, many claim this is enough to throw doubt on the veracity. Others who are learned, or otherwise well cognizant of the nature of dragons, are not so sure.
Several copies are made by scribes in a year, often given to newly appointed Governors or other high positions as a gift on their ascension. As this gift is usually a token, it is accompanied with other gifts as the current Emperor sees fit. Copies on papyrus scrolls have been made for nobility to own, yet this is done at great expense as only properly authorized scribes are permitted to work from the current copy. The gnomes invented a printing press, and once offered to see about making copies, yet the more traditionalist Archivists have always refused the offer. Unofficial copies, however, have been made; other attendees had records of the speech, and had written down commentaries for their masters or for posterity. One of the well-known versions is an elvish tome of thin mithril slates inscribed with the analysis of the speech and the impressions of the first Emperor, not entirely glowing praise at the time, while having later annotations added as more conquest and acquisitions were made during the lifetime of Othal Rhyliss the Conqueror. A lesser-known, often considered apocryphal, copy is said to exist in draconic and to be passed around the older dragon bloodlines; as there were no known dragons who attended, and it was written in the sense of someone who had witnessed it, many claim this is enough to throw doubt on the veracity. Others who are learned, or otherwise well cognizant of the nature of dragons, are not so sure.
Public Reaction
History shows the representatives of the Nine Kingdoms which had formed the Rhyliss Empire in the early years showed great support for the oath and the Emperor. A few kingdoms, who had no standing army to compete with Othal's forces, responded by seeking integration over the course of a few years. Others who thought themselves strong enough to resist declared war, but waited for the Conqueror to make the first move. Still others who were nearby tried to launch an attack across the border and were soundly defeated before becoming the next targets of conquest.
Dwarven clan lords who were present cited it to their people as an omen there might be a great amount of upheaval in the next few generations and almost uniformly the clan halls wound up closing their gates to weather the chaos they feared would come. The Dawn Court appointed an ambassador, formally recognizing the Empire as a new power and at the same time always cautioning patience and restraint in the conquest.
Current era reactions to the Oath run from quiet veneration in Imperial subjects to derision over it being outdated and a sentiment for a chaotic period in the world in other parts of the world.
Dwarven clan lords who were present cited it to their people as an omen there might be a great amount of upheaval in the next few generations and almost uniformly the clan halls wound up closing their gates to weather the chaos they feared would come. The Dawn Court appointed an ambassador, formally recognizing the Empire as a new power and at the same time always cautioning patience and restraint in the conquest.
Current era reactions to the Oath run from quiet veneration in Imperial subjects to derision over it being outdated and a sentiment for a chaotic period in the world in other parts of the world.
Legacy
The Oath is one of the few things which has remained relevant, at least in the realm of politics, from the time period it was given. Excerpts of the Oath are often inscribed in stone monuments in Eva Valoria or other Imperial cities, usually selected as relevant or fitting by the artists who were involved in the work. The phrase "Order from Chaos" was, for a time, inscribed on Rhyliss' coins until the more favorable "In the Emperor's Name" was used. A few warlords in the past who thought themselves charismatic enough to follow in the footsteps of Othal the Conqueror and try rebuttals; while there were many who could muster up the poise and choose their words with care and effect, few could match the presence and conviction of the origin. Current statesfolk will often offer similar statements as they see fit, but almost always are compared derisively to the first Emperor as "trying to repeat history instead of making it".
Type
Text, Legislative
Medium
Vellum / Skin
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