Rael Kingdom: Government
Short and sweet is the motto of Lord Rael. There are exactly five divisions of the government of Rael, each regulating a section of public life, each run by an appointee directly chosen by Lord Rael, and each in an easily reached location.
The first and largest government branch is the Adamantium Guard. Housed in the same barracks as the Prantz guard had been for centuries, the Deep dwarves that patrol the streets do not mingle with the population of Prantz or the realm. Always, they return to their barracks after patrols. They are cold-hearted as the metal they so prize, but it has become clear that they (sometimes reluctantly) follow the laws set forth by their Lord without question. However, violence against surface dwarves is still common and often ignored unless a witness comes forward.
The Adamantium Guard patrols all areas of the realm where Lord Rael has asserted control, makes arrests, recites the laws of the land upon request, collects taxes in areas distant from the capital city or the forts, takes registration of mages and surface dwarves, and takes care of any uprisings or other small problems that the army does not need to be called out for. The guard is currently headed by Jack Pinky Smith, a bruiser from Prantz who won his way to the head of the organization by outthinking the Deep Lord's own guards.
Special mention goes to the All'ra. Personal guard to Lord Rael, sprinkled in with the standard Adamantium Guard, lurking in alleys and corners, everywhere and nowhere, these strange Deep dwarves are found in numbers anywhere the Lord goes and around his castle. They are uniformly hairless and beardless with ashen skin covered by dark gray shimmering tunics and pants, gazing impassively at the world with pale lavender eyes. If not for their oddly colored irises, they could be mistaken for statues. They seem able to disappear into thin air, even when watched, and can sneak like the pride of Branderback. All wear the mushroom pendants of Sulterio and most are assumed to be members of the Adamantium Brotherhood. But what distinguishes them the most is their remarkable resistance to the Al'Noth. The spells of mages and those of the clergy of various gods roll off their back like water off a duck. Add that to their frightening speed and the fact that they seem immune to illusion spells such as invisibility, and even the most powerful mage would likely cast only one spell in their presence: teleport. There does not appear to be any one Deep dwarf in charge of the All'ra, and they will make it clear if asked that the human has no say over them.
The second largest branch is the Lord's Taxation Office. This addition to castle Prantz is a plain dark stone building with 10 bays out front for queues. Livestock in one line, wagon goods in another, food goods in another, and so on. Each line is guarded by a dozen stoic, sour-faced Adamantium Guards and a few All'ra. The only tax on merchants is the Lord's Tax of 30 percent of goods made, grown, or raised, payable by quarter. Stiff, but with no monetary tax added, merchants are simply producing more to compensate. Taxation is in True only when a comparable amount of goods cannot be obtained, though it has been often wondered where so much food, cloth, livestock, pottery, and other saleable materials are going to.
A complete inventory of all active merchants was done after the city was taken, and businesses are added to the tax rolls when they open shop. Taxes are assessed and receipts handed out for proof of payment. Every fort in the realm is also set up to recover the Lord's Tax. There is no excuse not to pay; although, it is certain that most people fudge the amount they pay by underestimating their productivity or profits for a given year. For now, that seems to be less important than collecting the tax, but any suspiciously low assessment or cheating tip-off results in a visit from the All'ra and a complete search of the premises. In charge of the Lord's Taxation Office, is the Deep dwarf Kharva Aren Maulfist who was in Lord Rael's company when the city was taken. She is said to be female but no one is quite sure even when looking at her face-to-face.
All city maintenance and services fall under the simple moniker of Rael Works. The Works takes care of garbage, sewage, building repair, and roads'the Works takes care of them all. There are divisions within the Works but the bureaucracy isn't visible on the outside. Prisoner labor is routinely used, and many days groups of men and women can be seen, surrounded by Adamantium Guards and at least one or two All'ra, repairing a broken sewer line or laying brick to replace broken roads. The overall functions of the Works are the responsibility of Ella Morch, a female Deep dwarf who appeared in 1417 to assume the post.
If one is arrested for an infraction, the Voices of Justice would be consulted. The citadel of Rofirein governs trials, sentencing, and handles the paperwork for both ingoing prisoners and the rare outgoing reformed lawbreaker. Currently headed by their Honors Siann Urthon, Martyn Delanth, and Horton Hiramun, the citadel exists in a delicate balance with a ruler who appears to want the veneer of respectability with none of the actual restrictions. Still, the realm has exhibited relief that the law will be dealt fairly as the Rofireinites have earned a reputation for fair and impartial justice.
Trade and diplomacy both fall under the umbrella of the Treaties Office. This is the larger picture of the realm and is run directly by Lord Rael with a number of assistants and hand-picked envoys and diplomats. All have been versed in the rules of the realm and laws regarding trade. Currently, a diplomat is in Liwich and another in Succession Kingdom. Boyer rejected the request for a permanent diplomatic presence, and Sedera is making itself unavailable as well.
