Icons are divine entities that have been charged by the goddess, Emina, to deal out ideals to the ones who have earned them, they are like their managers.
Each icon represents a specific ideal that can be embraced by a sovereign ruler, which grants them the ideals power.
Emina decides allows sovereigns to chose, and once they have chosen, she sends her icons to grant these ideals, and manage them, or even take them away if neccesary.
The icons don't usually interact with humans, as this is something Emina prefers to do personally.
They are Eminas most powerful servants, and they reside with her in her realm, the heavens.
There are seven icons, each with its own unique power and conditions for granting them, they are named for the ideal they represent, and they do not take their names lightly, and neither should you.
Ideal
When a ruler gains independence, they are summoned into a vision by Emina, for when a king claims a crown, it is a magical thing, royalty brings power, and that power can be claimed in the form of an ideal.
This ideal will guide the ruler and his or her people.
Each ideal is different and they all serve a different function, making different types of kings.
The vision they receive transports them into Emina's realm, each vision is unique, but it is always in a massive library with vast winding hallways.
They will hear a voice, the voice of Emina herself.
The words she says to them arent as important as what they mean, and they might be different for each sovereign.
What they mean is that they have to choose an icon, an ideal to follow.
When an ideal is chosen the ruler is sent back to the human world, finding that no time has passed there.
Loss of Ideals
There are four ways to lose an ideal, the most simple is by dying, but to lose an ideal during life, is to be digraced with no hope for redemption.
One way in which this might happens is to be subjugated, to kneel in front of another, or even to pay taxes, or tribute to a superior ruler.
Another is to be fully annexed, and lose all land and subjects, although as long as there are people calling you king, and willing to fight for you, there remains hope, and the ideal will keep supporting you.
The last, and most disgracefull manner to lose an ideal, is for it to be taken from you for the reason that you went against it, to lose an ideal by abandoning its virtues, and forgetting why you chose it in the first place, to bite the hand that feeds and to spit in the face of Emina, and the icon that led you to power.
When this happens, the icon will retract their patronage, and the ruler will lose all power and respect, such a thing can even lead to the divine gift of sainthood being retracted.
Icons
Order
This is the ideal of control and internal peace, it grants rulers the power to enforce control and crush dissent.
It is strengthened by stability, the domination over one's subjects, and the maintaining of internal peace, the lack of any of these will hurt this ideal.
Justice
The ideal of the law, it grants the ruler the ability to police and enforce the law, whatever it may be, as well as fight corruption.
it is strengthened by lawfulness and a strong sense of justice, and is weakened by a lack of these, especially with growing corruption.
Honor
The ideal of fairness, honesty and courage
it grants the ability to inspire the troops, and lead them to battle.
It is strengthened by courage and honor, and it is hurt by dishonesty and dishonorable actions, not only from the ruler, but also from their subordinates.
Balance
The ideal of symbiosis. it strives to find the middle ground, both in matters of governing policies, and in how to treat nature, desiring to live in harmony with the natural world while still thriving and growing as a civilization.
It grants the ruler the ability to get the most out of their land and resources.
It is strengthened by respect and compromise, but especially the finding of the path of least resistance, the middle ground that doesn't swing too far towards any extreme, but instead chooses to balance between them.
It is hurt by wasteful action, or extremist stances, especially from the rulers themselves, but also from those they govern.
Strength
The ideal of victory, it lays great importance on the army and quality over quantity.
It grants the ruler supreme combat abilities, not only on the battlefield, but also as a commander and general.
It is strengthened by military competence and the securing of victory, winning battles and strength.
It is hurt by weakness and incompetence.
Liberty
The ideal of independence and freedom.
It values the freedom and liberty of the layman as much as that of local rulers.
it grants the sovereign the power to keep all vassals happy and content, allowing them to rule even the furthest and most distant of territories.
It is strengthened by decentralized systems, many local rulers with great levels of independence, and the respecting of the peoples personal freedoms.
It is hurt by tyranny or too much authoritarianism, from the ruler of one of their direct subjects.
Chaos
The ideal of anarchy.
The only authority you deserve is that which is given freely, you may conquer lands and drive others away, but you may not demand the loyalty of free people, you may not enslave or subjugate others.
This ideal grants the sovereign ruler great combat prowess, and virtue in battle and as a ruler, which extends to all who follow them, those who come willingly and of their own accord.
It is strengthened by the lack of government and the freedom of the people, and it is hurt by the enforcement of any kind of subject relation beyond what is necessary for a functioning army,
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