Kyros’ laws are numerous, and it is the duty of Fatebinders to interpret them in their judgments. Some laws are absolute, some are contradictory, and some are both absolute and contradictory. Fatebinders spend many years learning Kyros’ laws, the judgments handed down by previous generations of Binders, and the times when Kyros punished a Fatebinder for overstepping with their judgments.
Notably, not all are equal before the law. Those who have not accepted Kyros' Peace are exempt from protections offered by Kyros' laws. And of those who did, Archons operate on a level far above petty mortals and the only infractions they may be punished for are sedition, incompetence, war crimes, and the hoarding of forbidden knowledge.[1] However, the sentence for being found guilty of such a transgression is commensurate with their position: Death, delivered by the Court headsman, Bleden Mark.[2]
Examples
- Kyros’ Peace: All who bow to me shall be under my aegis. Loyalty is freedom from hunger, hostility, and hopelessness.[3]
- Kyros' Peace guarantees all willing supplicants under the Overlord's authority a place in her world. A corollary is that Your life is not yours to discard, the Overlord has plans for you.
- Overlord's Right of Destruction: Only Kyros may destroy a loyal vassal. All will die; it is a question of when, not if. Trust the Overlord with the measure of your skein, and it will be glorious from the first moment to the last.[3]
- The law states that only Kyros can destroy her subjects. The right can be delegated, forming the basis of the chain of command. The higher one sits in the power structure, the more leeway they have, with Archons formally empowered with the right to destroy in Kyros' name.
- The Archon's Privilege: The Archons carry my will, each in their own custom, all for my glory. Serve the Archons as you would serve the Overlord, but serve the Overlord first. [3]
- A simple formulation that allows for decentralizing rule. Each Archon is granted authority to create and rule their own fiefdoms as they see fit, provided they follow the Overlord's basic law. Together with the Right of Destruction, the Privilege forms the basis of Archon authority.
- Overlord's Right of Adjudication: If two sworn vassals shall come to an irreconcilable conflict, only the Overlord may adjudicate right from wrong, the living from the dead. [3]
- The right of Adjudication is the foundation of the justice system in the Empire. Adjudication is the process of determining legal fault as per Kyros' laws, basing on the enormous body of legal codes that underlie the Empire. As with the Right of Destruction, the Right of Adjudication is delegated to individual Archons who handle the enforcement of justice. The most significant of these Archons is Tunon, the Archon of Justice, who further delegates investigation and settling minor disputes to his Court, the Fatebinders.
- The Oldwalls are forbidden, as are their contents and their denizens.[4]
- The law is self-explanatory. The official wording expands on the topic: Do not remove the trappings of the Oldwalls (possession shall be proof of trespass), nor evoke the imagery from within (endanger not your kin by tempting the Oldwalls’ denizens). Cross the Oldwalls only where Kyros has sculpted the landscape to permit easy passage.[3] In short: Owning any item from the Oldwalls is considered trespass, regardless of how it came into your possession. Don't depict anything from the Oldwalls. Pass only where she has sculpted the landscape to permit traverse. [3]
- Note that Fatebinder Myothis speculates that the wording is deliberate: As the Spires are conduits of magical power and likely source of the Overlord's power, Kyros designated the Oldwalls as forbidden, knowing full well that what is forbidden attracts attention - and what is permitted does not.
- The Magician’s Folly: Those who work the powers of magic must do so with Kyros’ explicit blessing. If, in the conduct of the Overlord’s will, a mage inadvertently causes harm due to the unknowable perils of magic, the mage shall not be held liable if the magic was used for the glory of the Overlord.[3]
- Practitioners of the arcane arts must be sanctioned by one of Kyros' guilds, such as the Blood Chanters or Forge-Bound. Rogue magicians with a tenuous grasp of unknown powers will not be tolerated. A sanctioned mage whose spellcasting causes damage to life or property is lawfully deemed innocent. As long as they practiced their art in the service of Kyros, all is forgiven. Members of schools absorbed by sanctioned guilds automatically become sanctioned members. Eg. if the Tidecasters are absorbed by the Scarlet Chorus, Eb automatically becomes a Blood Chanter ex lege.
- Quota and Sharing: The harvest blooms and blights by the will of Kyros. In times of lean, you will be fed. In times of wealth, you will feed others. To oppose this balance is to starve your neighbor, and such thieves shall forfeit their labors.[3]
- This law is a sizable category unto itself, serving many needs at once - trade and tax being only two examples. The broadest intent of the law is to empower Kyros' subjects to care for their neighbor and expect care in return. In trade, a merchant's right to peddle their wares is defined by permits granted annually. The regional authority has the right to decide if a merchant sells cabbage one year and sandals the next. Anyone breaking through their restrictions is subject to immediate forfeiture of all assets. Note that sales in the "immediate circle" are exempt from the law, creating an enormous gray area - which only serves the Overlord's interests, as she can restrict the growth of individual wealth and power by manipulating trade permits.
- Forbidden Knowledge: Kyros herself sets the standards of what can and cannot be known.
- The Overlord's Name is Not Yours to Use The Overlord's name is not yours to give - whether to progeny, product, location or abstraction. Slander of the Overlord is punishable by death.
- There is only one Kyros, and her name is safeguarded. No one may say Kyros and have it obfuscated by a second meaning. Neither will her name be associated to trivialities. A gambler will not attribute his fortune to 'Kyros' luck,' or his misfortune to 'Kyros' scorn.' Such an association lowers the Overlord in the public estimate, and is rightly considered slander most foul.
- Notably, any vow or expression made using Kyros’ name is a binding legal contract. Breaking such a vow is punishable by death.
Right of appeal
A Fatebinder’s judgment, once made, is final. There is no right of appeal. That does not mean a Fatebinder can make any decisions they want, without fear of consequence or reprisal. If someone is powerful enough, or the favorite of an Archon, they can demand audience with the Archon of Justice. Tunon will never completely overrule a Fatebinder’s decision. Doing so would undermine the rule of law and the integrity of the Fatebinders. However, if Tunon decides that a Binder has stepped beyond the limits of Kyros’ law, he will order their immediate execution.
References
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