Governance of the Demesne
The Demesne is controlled by the two families of House Zabi, the main family Zabi and the branch family Seldon. The Grand Duke comes from one of the two families and the senior members of the House vote between them as to which heir will eventually take up the role of Grand Duke. While each Duke within the Demesne is responsible for the governance of his duchy the ruler of the Demesne is responsible for the Demesne as a whole. The current Grand Duke of the Zabi Demesne is Lord Degwin Zabi ((chipla)).
The Curia
The Dukes are assisted in their governance by the Curia, a partially elected body of advisers that has the right to propose changes in the legislation of the Demesne and to help guide the Counts in the formation of infrastructure within the counties of the Zabi Demesne. The Curia consists of three groups, the Counts, the Barons and the Tithings.
The Counts
The Counts as the administrators of their counties are automatically considered full members of the Curia. The role of the Counts is to look after the economic, infrastructural and social growth of the Demesne as a whole, and the advancement of their counties in particular.
The Barons
The Barons as defenders of the Demesne and representatives of the military are automatically considered full members of the Curia. The role of the Barons is to look after the safety and security of the Demesne as a whole, and of the areas around their stronghold in particular.
The Tithings
The Tithings are the representatives of the towns in the Zabi Demesne and every settlement that has a town hall and a town charter can send the town mayor to the Curia. Once the town reaches one hundred townsfolk (this includes NPCs) the town may elect an additional representative (on the same cycle as the Town Mayor) to send to the Curia. A third representative is added at 150 townsfolk with an additional representative every 50 townsfolk thereafter. All of the representatives from a town are referred to as that town’s Tithing. The duty of a town’s Tithing is to represent the interests of that town and its citizens to the Curia and to the Demesne as a whole. The Mayor of the town acts as the senior representative.
If a member of a Tithing is appointed as a Reeve a new member must be selected by the town.
Please note that any person appointed or elected to the Curia may send a representative to speak or vote in their stead
The Council
The Council is the body of governance empowered by the House Zabi to assist the Dukes in fulfilling administrative functions. Each Council member has a specific duty or set of duties. Council members are appointed by the Dukes from both the Curia and the general populace of the Demesne and are divided into three types Counts, Reeves and Officers. Unlike members of the Curia members of the Council (excepting the Counts) are paid a wage by the Duke to allow them to focus entirely upon their duties.
Counts
Counts may be appointed for their lifetime (or until they abdicate) to certain positions within the Council.
High Sheriff
The High Sheriff is responsible for the judiciary of the grand duchy. It is his duty to oversee the recruitment (and salaries) of magistrates and to maintain the legal integrity of trials within the Demesne.
Lord Regent
If either Duke is incapacitated or unable to rule effectively for a period of time he may appoint one of the Counts as Lord Regent for a set period of time. During this set period the Lord Regent has the same powers as the Duke.
Reeves
Reeves are members of the Council appointed from the Curia who serve for a 15 year ((two RL month)) term.
Reeve of the Court
The Reeve of the Court is responsible for the enforcement of the law within the Demesne and for the enforcement of the Dukes’ Proclamations. The Reeve of the Court is given a budget with which to assign ducal watchmen and guards to the settlements within the Demesne. (Note: These watchmen and guards are supplementary to whatever guards settlements provide for themselves.)
Reeve of the Curia
The Reeve of the Curia acts as moderator for the Curia, ensuring that standards are adhered to and that protocol is observed at all times. The Reeve of the Curia is responsible for tallying votes within the Curia and for reporting the Curia’s advice to the Counts and the Dukes in the rare occasions that they cannot attend. The Reeve of the Curia is also responsible for maintaining the heralds of the Demesne and is allocated a budget with which to do so.
Reeve of Excise
The Reeve of Excise is responsible for the collection of tax within the Demesne to be allocated by the Dukes. The Reeve of Excise is given a budget with which to hire tax collectors.
Reeve of Yields
The Reeve of Yields is responsible for assessing the resources of the Demesne and for maintaining the Curia and Council’s maps of the duchy and beyond. The Reeve of Yields has the further duty of representing the craftspeople of the Demesne to the Council.
Officers
Officers are members of the Council appointed from the general populace they serve indefinitely at the Counts’ pleasure.
Archbishop of Munzo
The Archbishop of Munzo is the advisor to the Council on religious affairs and is the de-facto senior most prelate in the Demesne. The Archbishop is responsible for certain religious rites within the Demesne, such as the weddings and funerals of the Counts and their families, blessing the new ruler when he is chosen and important religious festivals. While the official religion of the Demesne is the form of Qindred worshipped most often in Nirath the Demesne does not persecute other religions. (Note: This will likely change depending tribes etc, however the official religion of the Demesne will be the same as that of Nirath as a whole)
Officer of Festivals
The Officer of Festivals is responsible for encouraging artwork, music, writing and high craftsmanship to flourish throughout the Demesne. The Officer for Festivals is also responsible for the smooth running of several Zabi festivals held at important times throughout the ((RL Year)) and is given a budget to ensure this.
The Dukes.
The Dukes are the rulers of the Zabi Demesne and are responsible for setting the laws of the Demesne so that they do not conflict with the King's Law and for encouraging the growth, security and quality of life of all those who live within the Demesne. Each of the Dukes is broadly responsible for their own duchies though the Grand Duke looks out for the Demesne as a whole. The Dukes tax the Counts who then in turn tax the residents of their counties, this tax pays for infrastructural improvements, public works, and military security through the funding of Barons and Captains.