Artificial Court

The Artificial Court was the official ruling body of the Southron Isles prior to and following the ascention of the Godking Mandri.

Founding and Early Acts
Formally established during the Great Interregnum, the Southron Court (as it was initially known), was made up of democratically-elected figureheads from each island within the chain. Because the Court's charter did not how the figureheads were to be determined, beyond mandating that they be elected by the population of the island, the composition of the Court was varied, with members having wildly different terms, titles, and powers with respect to the laws on their home islands. Within the Court itself, all members were given equal voting power, though several attempts to establish a supreme position were made, all by a representitive of Xaq Island.

The Court was, theoretically, the controlling body of the Southron Isles as a whole, but their attempts to govern individual islands were minimal. They were responsible for settling disputes between islands and communicating with the rest of Amfal. The Southron Court was one of the few government entities during and after the Great Interregnum to be open about its desire and intent to secede from Amfal, though their attempts to do so were invariably diplomatic, despite the Southron Isles' notable naval force.

Transition to the Artificial Court
Few records exist concerning the acts of the Southron Court during and immediate after the Age of Ascensions, What is known, however, is that like so many other local governments, their power was stripped as House Tarres established its stranglehold throughout greater Amfal.

In order to preserve a civil relationship with the Southron Isles, Lord Tarres allowed the Court to remain as a puppet government. This new Court took a much more active role in the governing of the individual isles; among other things, they codified the process by which new Court members could be elected, and established that the Minister of Xaq would be the high minister of the Court.

As time wore on, the fiction that the Southron Isles were in any way independant of Amfal grew stretched; and Lord Tarres grew increasingly bold in flaunting his power over the proud Isles. It was here that the nickname "Artificial Court" became common. The members of the Court, spurred on by their islands or their own pride, once again spoke of seccession, this time making use of the might of the Southron navy.

Shortly after the birth of Princess Orithia, Tarres had the entire Southron Court executed, their bodies cast in bronze and dressed in robes hammered out of gold and silver, and the resulting statues placed back in the Court chambers. Officially was still the ruling body of the Isles; indeed, laws and ordinances "passed by the Artifical Court, unanimously" were found neatly written, tucked into the bronze hand of the high minister, with some regularity. The Artificial Court became a much larger part of daily life in the Isles, and soon nearly all legal disputes or trade agreements were required to be "overseen" by the bronze ministers, a constant reminder of who held the real power.

Dissolution
Like most governments in and about Amfal, the Artificial Court was officially dissolved following the ascension of the Godking Mandri.

Current State
Currently, the Artificial Court is once again the ruling body of the Southron Isles, although, in a nod to reason, its statue members have been joined by elected representatives of the islands. While many Southrons consider it foolish to be ruled, even in part, by artificial ministers, the statues serve as an example of the excesses of Amfal's past, and a reminder as to why the Southrons have elected to keep their distance from greater Amfal.

Articles Cited

 * House Tarres
 * The Great Interregnum
 * Xaq Island

This article was penned by Professor Estrin dan Maq