the 1215th CHANTING

[(The) Herald]

` o p e n i n g
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The rebuilt Agora was still dusty and rough, with some scaffolding still visible where damage had been repaired. It gave the place an unofficial feel, though the air was as tense as ever.

Where the signs of recent work did not touch, the amphitheatre-like courtyard felt old and sombre, the stones dull and red in the last touches of sunset. Flames flickered in lanterns, disturbed by the vestiges of summer breezes. Colder times were coming.

At the Agora's sides, guards opened heavy doors to let in those who were to raise their voices in this meeting. Off in the distance, a trumpet sounded the beginning of the Chanting.

c u r r e n t l y
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the current LORD PREMIER is
OCTAVIAN MARCUS CEILUS
who is a devout member of the
VIKARE CLAN

Katherine Eucharis of Salom has been nominated against him

the chanting has TWO DAYS left
and will end at the closing of
AUGUST SIXTH

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To the general assembly and forum of the Chanting:

As a representative of Salommite desert caravans, I attend this meeting to protest the recent tax increases against the common merchants of Himaryn. While the current Lord Premier Octavian Ceilus claims the taxes are for the barbarian front, we the people have neither heard nor witnessed any news or tabloids about the status of the Barbarian War.

The times of the Empire are poor and famished. The common farmer, merchant, and artisan--Salom and Cruori alike--cannot afford these burdens on our barely self-sustaining existences. There has not been word of a barbarian attack in Chantings, thus, I raise the motion that if our borders not be in immediate threat of invasion, we should reduce taxes for the military and instead encourage economic development and the repair our already-decaying infrastructure.

History has shown us that the Vikare Clan has no care for the people of Himaryn, and have little interest in anything but bloodshed and war. Unless a noble Vikare soul (and I confess, there are some who are righteous) can prove this assumption wrong by coming to the stand, I call all Salommites and Cruori forth band together and nominate a non-Vikare against the current tyrant, Lord Premier Octavian Marcus Ceilus.

I will wholeheartedly give my support to any non-Vikare who will challenge the present Lord Premier.

Sincerely,

Castel Virga
Salom Clan
Independent Representative of the Desert Caravan Guild of Nairsov


- - -
ooc;; by the way, IH members, don't be afraid to... "add details" if it makes your character sound legit with what they're talking about. For example, we don't really mind if you say that a month ago, a fire in Hashira killed 10 Cruori. Just take the details and run with it. It's sort of like improv. :3 Just dpn't get too carried away with ridiculous things. ;)

[*StormyHeart*]

I Katherine fortis Curantis Eucharis of the Salom clan nominate myself to be the next Premier.

I have chosen myself as a nominee because i think i could make a difference for us who are middle-class citizens. I of the Salom clan feel it is unfair that the Vikare clan has a lot more benefits than those who are of lesser value. The amount of taxes given to us are an outrage, we deserve more. I heard a rumour that somebody wanted to kill to Emporer, and my secret intel gave me a chance to act fast think fast and slay the one who wanted to murder the Emporer.

I think the reason i should be Premier is that I care about those higher and lesser than me, i would give my life for any living soul which deserves it. i would make the taxes reasonable for all, I stick to the rules of the country and i fight for freedom. Observe the Rich and give to the poor.

FREEDOM FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED.
VOTE KATHERINE FORTIS CURANTIS EUCHARIS FOR YOUR NEXT PREMIER.
I FIGHT FOR YOU.

Sincerely,

Katherine Eucharis
Daughter of the Panthera Ancestry

[<<WHISper>>]

[bg=E3A869][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=border,0,true] To all of those who might be present at this, the 1215th Chanting: I, Kamii Shinto Kitsune, have come here today with the intention to protest the recent fluctuation in taxes as well as the overall inaction of my empire. I am a devout citizen of the empire of Himaryn and me and my family have paid taxes to the harshest extremes all our lives and we cannot go on like this any longer. We are mere merchants, we live off of the lands for the most part and the increase in taxes has made it impossible for my family to survive without alternative measures which we would much rather not even be considering were we not in this precarious predicament. I demand that our current Lord Premier Octavian Ceilus lower the tax rates to a reasonable amount – if he so denies my request I will fully stand behind Katherine fortis Curantis Eucharis and offer her my vote to take his place. Further my family has been attacked by barbarians more than twice this chanting, something that could have been avoided if out Lord Premier had been observant in his strategies and plans. It occurs to me that less effort is being put in weekly to secre our borders and Barbarians are slipping through more often. As previously stated, I demand that something be done about this. As of now I offer up my full vote to Katherine fortis Curantis Eucharis in the hopes that order will be restored to my land and to my family.

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To the general assembly and particularly those who stand against the Emperor and current Lord Premier:

As a member of the Vikare Clan, I protest these unfair accusations of our current Lord Premier. Members of the Salom Clan, I do not believe you have the right to say the taxes go to waste on the Barbarian Front. Our soldiers—Vikare, Salom, and Cruori alike—are dying out in the Barbarian lands defending our borders and securing our food sources. The battle is harsh, and as a former fighter who has seen bloodshed, the inevitable truth is that our armies struggle in poor times just as much as we citizens do.

In the barren barbarian lands, our soldiers go unpaid, often without shipments of wood and water, starving in the bitter cold because poor economic times have gradually cut the support given to the military. The recent increases in taxes were intended to alleviate these dismal conditions experienced by our warriors, because even we Vikare recognize that soldiers cannot fight in such dismal situations. Cutting their aid now could undo 20 chantings of our work, and the barbarians would again be on our doorstep posed to invade our heartlands.

I beg the Salom Clan and others to think reasonably and spare some talcs for our country. While I (and others) understand that times are difficult for everyone, please understand that everything would be much worse if Barbarians pushed our armies back and began terrorizing the countryside.

Death should not and must not enter the borders of our country.

I put my support behind the current Lord Premier Octavian Marcus Ceilus.

I am however curious to hear what three policies both candidates (the current Lord Premier included) plan to enact/change should they come to power. I believe we attendees would be very interested in hearing what changes our candidates intend to make for our country.

Sincerely,

“Maali” Marethiesa Linnus Cain
House of Cain
Vikare Clan

[<<WHISper>>]

[bg=white][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=border,0,true] regular, speech, thoughts, other(s) To all those present: I second the claims and accusations of Marethiesa Linnus Cain. You Salommites do not know your place and neither do you know what you are speaking about. Your insolence and stupidity is clear in the way you speak. You Salommites throw accusations around like this is some kind of ball game when indeed you are poorly informed of what is really happening. The barbarians are indeed a real threat, albeit one that has been handled with misconceptions, but a threat nonetheless. Now is not the time to complain about the lot we have been given in life. If anything, now is the time to step up to the challenge and support our Kingdom and our troops. I do however concur in Marethiesa’s opinion to put my support behind our current Lord Premier but as of yet I have not laid a single eye on him and his deeds resemble that of night-time stories – fables. I hear many things and yet the proof of these stories is nowhere to be found. In fact, the only decree I have heard of, issued from the mouth of our Premier, was a decree concerning his precious fruits. Indeed that is something of little value in a time such as this and I believe his priorities are not in order. Thus, with all of this in mind and with the claims of the Salommites laid bare, I nominate myself, Arias Damon Vettias Demosthenes to take my place as our Lord Premier’s Personal Advisor and War Counselor - The First Praetor. In so doing I intend to set things right, strengthen our borders and build our armies to their full potential. Further I will lift our Empire from the ruins and decay it has fallen into on the backs of the Cruori, the shunned. We will restore this land to its former glory no matter what the cost. Sincerely and with the purest intent Arias Damon Vettias House of Demosthenes Vikare Clan

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To the assembly:

Lord Arias Damon Vettias Demosthenes makes a valid and convincing point.

I temporarily withhold my vote for the current Lord Premier Octavian Marcus Ceilus until he comes to the stand. I would like to hear a personal statement from him regarding the afore mentioned fruit shipments, and how he intends to lead our country in the coming three moons.

With the best intent,

“Maali” Marethiesa Linnus Cain
House of Cain
Vikare Clan

[(The) Herald]

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To the General Committee of the 1215th Chanting:

Many members will tell you that I have a biased view, and therefore very little of what I say should be listened to. I will not attempt to argue that I have a bias, if "bias" is what you call a deduction of the facts and acts made thereupon. With that said, I cannot keep my silence while such accusations are thrown around at this time in our history.

To say that the Vikare have no regard for Himaryn and its people cannot be further from the truth. What group would have more pride, more care, for its homeland than those who have called it home the longest? Who would be more apt to care for Himaryn and one's fatherland than those who know nothing but, whether in their own lives or in their family trees? I must admit that there are some Vikare individuals who wish to take advantage of their position, but the same can be said of any individual in any group. Greed and corruption are not exclusively the traits of the Vikare, just as justice and honor are not exclusively the traits of others.

I say not that the Vikare have lived in Himaryn the longest to make the insinuation that the Cruori or Salom are of "lesser value" than those of my clan. I say not that the Vikare have lived in Himaryn the longest to imply that the Vikare are inherently better individuals. I say it only as a point against an argument that I see as flawed, and against common sense.

Taxes are an necessary evil for the protection of the homeland. I can think of very few who actually enjoy the duty that taxation places on all of us. However, the danger that oppresses our farthest reaches is a much more oppressive weight to those who recognize it.

The movements and subtle changes in the military field are of very little interest to the common folk. What are considered major victories to those who know the outer reaches by heart, and are specifically trained in the art of militarism, are only small trifles to the commoner who is used to the battles of legend and heroism. It seems, thus, that spending our precious time discussing the military movements is wasteful, when social issues much more pressing to the common man can instead be hammered out.

And I feel that we should be very grateful that I can make such a statement, as, without the sacrifice of our soldiers, battles and war would be on the forefront of our minds. It pains me to have to levy such harsh taxation upon my people, but it would pain me more to lose civilians to barbarians, eager for us to let our guard down.

I am willing to listen to possible solutions, but myself and my advisers, along with the Emperor of Himaryn himself, have decided that this is the only way to fund your own protection.

I understand concerns that corruption had raised your taxes, but I implore those who are dubious of the situation of our Northern Front go there themselves. Perhaps, then, you will understand the plight that we have so graciously kept from your front doors.

Your Lord Premier:
Octavian Marcus Ceilus
House Ceilus of Vikare

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To all present:

I concede that the taxes that we pay are for a just cause, but wherefore does the pure Vikare remain exempt from all taxes? I bring to the attention of the assembly the following clause of Himaryn’s Bulletin Laws:

oo1. All Vikare who can prove through documentation, absolute purity of blood (no foreigner blood), are exempt from taxes.

I cannot imagine in any way how this class favoritism might be beneficial to our society or our military. The Vikare are among the wealthiest residents in Himaryn, and it makes virtually no sense why they should be free from the burden that strikes all of us. Hence, I retain my belief that the intrinsic politics of our country are aligned to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.

For the past 20 Chantings, Himaryn has been ruled by a Vikare Lord Premier, and no improvement has been seen in economic state of our society. Roads have gradually withered, land has become over-farmed, and vagabonds lurk the street. It is no longer safe to travel the Great East-West Road alone.

These are social issues that must be addressed, lest our country collapse from the inside rather than the outside.

It is my stance that the government make some sort of effort to solve these issues, and if the resources be lacking, the Vikare should bear an equal tax as the rest of us. If the current Lord Premier is unwilling to do so, I put all of my support behind the challenger, Katherine Fortis Curantis Eucharis of the Salom clan.

Sincerely,

Castel Virga
Salom Clan

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To the assembly:

I would like to confirm and finalize my support for the current Lord Premier, Octavian Marcus Ceilus of Vikare.

Sincerely,

“Maali” Marethiesa Linnus Cain
House of Cain
Vikare Clan

[<<WHISper>>]

To all members present

Just to sum up, I have to agree with Lord Arias and insist on voting AGAINST the current Lord Premier, Octavian Marcus Ceilus of Vikare. My vote instead belings to Katherine who i think will be a much better leader. Her heart is pure and she actually cares for her subjects more than some precious fruit. Further I am sure she will be correcting the tax problem by taxing Vikare evenly as any other clan memeber. This will make taxes bareable for all of us.

Sincerely and with only the best intent
Kamii Shintu
House of Kitsune merchants
Salom Clan

[Klaus]

[style=background-color:#fff; padding:0px 25px 15px 25px;]While I agree that taxes levied only against certain social strata is morally reprehensible, and that motives must certainly be questioned, I believe that inexperience can be just as, if not more, destructive than unfair taxes. I personally have never before heard of this new candidate, and am therefore more wary of her statements than those of an established politician, such as Premier Ceilus.

Ceilus has stated that suggestions and changes are welcome to be made, and I would rather take a chance on that than a chance on a face from nowhere.

I am sorry, even as a member of the Vikare I would like to see a candidate that treats all fairly, but I also do not want to blindly put Himaryn in inexperienced hands in an attempt for equality. I realize how important social change is, and I understand jumping at the chance, but I urge my fellow members to lend ear to caution.

I, Klaus Rosenzylch of Altarspire, put my vote behind Octavian Ceilus.

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Lord Arias Damon Vettias Demosthenes:

By withholding your vote for the current Lord Premier Octavian Ceilus, does that imply you are transferring your vote to the challenger Katherine Fortis Curantis Eucharis? Or do you mean to state you abstain from voting completely?

For clarification purposes,
Lord Emperor Nicar Cervus Aothello
Grand Ruler of all Himaryn

[<<WHISper>>]

[bg=white][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=border,0,true] regular, speech, thoughts, other(s) To all those present: I fear that I must apolofize for my irrational behavior earlier. Unfortunately politics and the wellbeing of my people are all too important to me and I have not been looking at this rathinally. I have to concur that our current Lord Premier is a known face and that all Vikare's know him better than Katherin fortis Curantis Eucharis. Indeed if he has promised to step up his game then I must admit that my vote now lies behind our current Lord Premier. Though I must say it would make me feel so much more at ease if I knew he had someone other than just our great emperor to be repoting to, someone with the best intentions of our people at heart. Thus my vote now formally lies with OCTAVIAN MARCUS CEILUS. Sincerely and with the purest intent Arias Damon Vettias House of Demosthenes Vikare Clan

[(The) Herald]

` c l o s i n g
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This Chanting is now considered closed. Staff will now weigh your arguments, count your votes, and proclaim the new Lord Premier soon.

We thank all of our delegates for making this General Committee of the 1215th Chanting a rousing success, and hope to see you all in attendance for the next session.

You may find exits to your left and right. Please follow the torches on the staircases to the nearest gate. This committee is now ADJOURNED.

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