A Matter to Succeed

[Zhola]

It is not without hesitation that I write you this new letter, fearful that I do not write quite enough, that I do not put into words here all that I have to say, because if the next days come to naught I think that words are all that will remain of and for me, and all that can save me if there is still salvation to be had. The assembly gathers soon for a final decision and enemies of our kin move ever closer to attaining what they believe to be their birthright, and our innevitable doom if they do so gain it. I do not covet the crown as they do so, I have become it's unwitting defender, not it's lusting wearer, and I only have stood forth to be the heir of our most noblest of kings because to not do so would be to doom not just my kin but all kin to tyranny, pestilence and all injustice that can be had in this world.

It has been told to me that, when the assembly gathers, I'll count many, of the kin of Belas, Astariu, Caranthir, many, besides me, and acclaim me they claim to be ready to do so. But I've grown weary of such promises from these kinsmen as it seems any of the support that had been sworn to the cause of our kin here has faltered. I have turned to the people of the haven for support but I believe they ache for bread and peace, not a new sovereign, and while my plight is not their own their's might soon be mine. Take the absence of news not as a good news but most likely as the announcer of ill news, and if you're not called to join me in the haven then do all that must be done as I would have surelly done too.

from Alein Mael's, a King's Collection of Letters, dated 1559 7th January
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Illness of the monarch solely makes the news, a sign of respect for one's health as a private issue, even when dealing with such a public figure, though visits to the hospital or a monarch's old age often led to rumours of the impeding changing of chairs in Londo. Lindír Avari's health or age were however not cause for concern, no longer a young man, not ever after he was acclaimed as the new sovereign of the androssi, but good health had accompanied him through his reign. Thus the matter of succession, and not just the matter of proginy, of which he had none, to him was not of immediate importance, perhaps having chosen to ignore it as a matter of pride, for he did not believe to be abandoning his position soon, or perhaps he truly believed that succession was a matter to be handled after his days, by those that in fact came to succeed him.

Having left no stated heir, and priedefully or willingly having never stated a clear word or wish on the matter, the matter of succession would indeed be left to his successors, however much sooner that he thought or wished so. As his personal aide and servant readied to wake him at the usual hours of the morning, as he opened the windows of the royal bedroom to let the morning sunshine in, he offered none of his usual replies to the usual words of encouragement to wake up, and a sense of dread filled the aide as they turned to the still figure in bed. Horror towards not seeing just their sovereign, but a kinsman and friend, in such a state.

" Medical team to the bedrom. " - the aide talked to his radio, connecting him to the palace's security - " Now. " - still in shock, he did not dare to move from his place, nor do anything much more than wait. Soon enough the words " The sovereign is deceased. " echoed through his radio.

 

[Zhola]

As the news of the sovereign's death made it through the royal corridors they soon reached the halls of the Mariám Palace, home to the Wyyss Nín, the Executive Council. The news hadn't gotten out yet, it had been decided that only after the executive council could decide on a route to follow would news of this untimely national loss be made public, and for now the number of people in the known had been limited to some of the palace's personnel, to the executive council and to the royal chargé d'affaires, who had been in charge of connective the executive council to the sovereign and had acted as their representative in daily matters should have they not been able to attend.

Immediatly the executive council convened for a special meeting. Its seven members had agreed on what was of most urgency to discuss at this point. The first order of business would be to nominate a royal proctor, one of the members of the council would act as the regent until such a time when a new sovereign could take their rightful place, and as such would not be expected to hold this position for very long, however, the proctor's role in chairing the assembly that would be tasked with deliberating on who would be the new sovereign. The proctor would be barred from being nominated to the sovereignship, nor would they be permitted to nominate anyone, but neither being king nor kingmaker was in the minds of many of the executive councilmembers.

The second order of business was to determine a schedule for moarning and for the convening of the grand council that would elect a new sovereign. If the executive council decided on a too short moarning period this would be seen as a disrespect to the deceased sovereign, while a too prolonged moarning period would keep the nation and its people it limbo for far too long. A balance had to be found, one that neither upsetted the population because they either seemed to be rushing to install their favourite as sovereign, nor would they want to seem as if they were playing kings themselves and prolonged the convening of the assembly. While at first glance the schedule seemed a simple decision, it could weight much on the confidence the country had on the executive council to handle such matters.

 

[Zhola]

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The Mariám Palace, Executive Quarter of Londo
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Valentin Wryn took upon himself to chair this special meeting. He was the most senior membero the Executive Council, not just in age but in time of service, not only in the council itself but also in public office overall, be it in the Siénad, be it in royal offices of Lindír's predecessor, and while his colleagues were not always in agreement with him, such was the nature of politics, he was highly respected by them and an highly revered official, as the people were taken by his austere and respectful appearance and attitudes, a religious man, but not dogmatically so, slim and with ever more sparse white hair, never appearing unshaved, and having a record of dedication to his country, unsullied by charges of opportunism, demagoguery or corruption.

" Colleagues, this meeting, brought about by the loss of our nation's sovereign, is of most importance. Our decision must be swift and it must be unanimous, so I appeal to all of you to put aside any political interests as this council's voice must appear unisound, if not be so, so that we can instill stability rather than demand it. " - Valentin took a second to see if his openning words had taken hold of his colleagues - " If no others have any openning words to say then I'd like to move the meeting to the first matter of business, that of the selection of the proctor. "

" I nominate the honourable councilmember Valentin Wryn. " - Anduin Bale, a man much younger than Valentin, a rising star in national politics and one with a very uncommon story of sucess in politics, he was the only of the seven councilmembers to not be a clan kinsman. Even if the majority of androssi were much like him, not affiliated to any clan, and he wasn't the first member of the executive council to not be a kinsman, in truth there were many like him currently sat in the Siénad, but the clans were still deeply entrenched in politics and for someone so young and with no clan affiliation to make it into the council was surelly a very special occasion. As an ever younger member of the Siénad he had taken to often making the causes of the dispossed his own, championing land and housing reform, though more controversial causes earned him the accusations of being a republican, populist, socialist and unpatriotic.

While it could be said that Valentin Wryn represented the establishment, the Moderates of the Siénad, Bale represented the radicals and reformists, the Intrasigents, and that often put him them at odds. It had done so when Bale was still a member of the Siénad and Valentin was already the most senior member of the Executive Council, but it continued to do so when they became colleagues. Despite that disagreement which nearly reached animosity, which both argued was strictly professional, Bale's nomination of Valentin was not meant in a mocking or deriding manner, and it wasn't taken so. It was true, afterall, Bale had often stated that he had a kind of reverence for the man who had dedicated his life to public office.

" He is afterall the most experienced of the council and the best equipped to deal with any issues that might occur during the convening to elect a new sovereign. " - before Valentin could respond another councilmember added - "Certainly the least controversial candidate to be proctor at a time when, as he himself said, this council must be unisound and be a source of stability. " - another councilmember added. Valentin finally had his turn to speak again - " If no other of those present here wish to make a nomination then I motion we vote by show of hands. Yes? " - all those present replied in agreement - " Then, all those in favour of nominating Councilmember Valentin Wryn as Proctor raise your hands. " - and again, all those present replied in agreement, this time with their hands, though, before Valentin could make it official a councilmember interjected - " Perhaps in the spirit of unanimity the honourable Valentin Wryn would raise his hand too? "

 

[Zhola]

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With the proctor's election secured the most contentious matter for the executive council was perhaps past them, without any contentiousness at all. The newly selected proctor however brought a new proposal to consideration before advancing to the sencond matter of business - " I again thank my colleagues for the trust they have deposited in me and for the great privilege, and responsibility, they have granted me. If I may, again, I remind you all of the necessity for the executive council to not only speak of stability and service to the nation but also demonstrate those virtues in these trying times, and it is with that goal in mind that I propose that all those present vow to not only not participate in the upcoming electoral conclave, which I understand I personally have already relinquished my right to do so by accepting the role of proctor, but also to not in any attempt to intervene or sway the decision of the conclave. I understand that most of those present here would have an opportunity to participate in the conclave, but this is not a partisan affair but rather a national one, so I insist that his vow bet taken and be announced along with this council's public statement on the sovereign's death. "

" Understanding that this would in no way hinder my participation in the conclave, I support the vow. " - Bale added with snark, with everyone well aware that he would have no intervention in the conclave no matter if the vow was taken or not - " The councilmember Bale would be mistaken to say he would not be hindered by this vow. " - Valentin added - " The councilmember would have still been permitted to make public statements about the upcoming conclave, wether they be in support or in opposition of any nominee, or wether it would be a statement of general denigration of the conclave. I hope that this does not in any way alter the councilmember's support for the proposal. " - Bale simply nodded, he would not be target of accusations of opportunism, though certainly one of his colleagues in Siénad would fufill his quota.

" It is my understanding that none of those present would humour any intentions of nominating themselves, or accepting any nomination on someone else's part, I would even contend that we should not be presenting nominations at the conclave, but barring ourselves from voting as lawful representatives of our kin is a break from traditions and rights that have been held by all kinsmen since times imemorial. " - Clavyis Kryze, head of the Kryze clan and the second most senior member of the Executive Council, voiced his concern as he probably would be the one to lose the most by agreeing with the vow, for, while he did not lie that he had no intention of becoming sovereign himself, he did not think of the idea of supporting a kinsman in the conclave with the same disdain Valentin seemed to have for it.

Another voice rose from one the chairs assembled before the proctor could intervene, this time from a young woman - " If you must, it'll be your choice to not take this vow of non-intervention, while it'll be the choice of the remaining councilmember's to take such a vow, and when the public statement is released along with the names of those that agreed to take the vow you might take the choice to reconsider a bit too late. " - Clavyis embarrasingly replied - " I believe we all agreed that any decision should be taken unanimously. I believe so, your excellency, the honourable member Wryn? " - Valentin Wryn was surprised by the quick response from the councilmember, he thought that only Bale, who seemed to hardly restrain his smile, would have been able to interject in such a manner" The councilmember is most right, she is most right, if this would not be an unanimous decision by the council then it may well be taken as a personal choice of each councilmember. " - Clavyis would rather agree to taking a backseat in the conclave than agree to have the his own reputation and the reputation of his kin tarnished by being the only to not take the vow, and as such, when the time came to, he too rose his hand in support.

 

[Zhola]

Finally they could move on to the less contentious, but no less important, affair on the agenda of the special meeting. That was to be the scheduling of the mourning period and for the convening of the electoral assembly to elect a new sovereign. Unfortunately for the executive council there were not many good examples to draw from to plan the electoral conclave, the last time a sovereign had to be selected in such a manner was in 1775 and the country was without an head of state for three months while the conclave convened and deliberated on a new sovereign, and as such it was certainly not an example to follow as the council hoped to avoid long succession entanglements.

The schedule decided by the executive council took into account the mourning period, the arrival of the member of the electoral conclave and the convening and election of a new sovereign. The mourning period would last three days and would end with a funeral procession starting at the royal residence and ending in Manné's park in Londo, where all androssi monarchs since the 17th century have been buried, and the following day the electoral assembly would convene, and would deliberate on the sovereign's sucesscion for no longer than a week, as Proctor Valentin Wryn had determined.

Lindír Avari's death had been declared at 07:33. News of the sovereign's death had reached the executive council soon after, and their meeting had started at 08:12. It was 12:42 when the executive council's meeting came to an end and soon after an official statement was released.

" Today is a most saddening day to our nation. Our sovereign, Líndir Avari, has, sadly, peacefully died of natural causes, having been found by the royal palace personnel's today morning at 7AM.

The Executive Council has recently concluded a special meeting and has decided to hold a mourning period will be declared for the next three days, at the end of which the funeral ceremony of the deceased sovereign shall take place in Londo.

The Executive Council has further decided to appoint councilmember Valentin Wrynn as Proctor, who will supervise the electoral conclave that will select the new sovereign of our nation, as sovereign Líndir Avari left no appointed heir to succeed him. The conclave is set to convene after the conclusion of the mourning period.

The Executive Council further announces that all of its members will rescind their right to participate in the electoral conclave as electors and that they have vowed, in the interest of stability and in respect of the sanctity of the conclave and the safeguard of our nation's sovereign interests, that they shall have no public or private intervention in the election of the new sovereign. "

 

[Zhola]

In the days to come Lindír Avari's death would be mourned and his life celebrated, however the truth was that history would most likely remember him most for what his passed was marked by. His ascenscion to the position of sovereign had been uneventful, and equally uneventful had been his tenure, having succeeded his father, who unlike Lindír had elected to appoint an heir, and his subsequent reign was a stable one, perhaps cut too short before the nation could be truly engulfed in the last of the world's crisis for his reign to be remembered rather than just recorded on a long list of androssi sovereigns.

The Avari line was not as profilic as many other lines of androssi sovereigns but it had been able to take advantage of political turmoil at the end of the 19th century. Since the last election of a sovereign in 1755 that both the nation and the clans wanted to avoid engulfing the nation in turmoil, as the convention of 1755 was not a peaceful one, having not only left the country without a sovereign for a long time but also having taken the nation into the brink civil war, though, thankfully, not only did the convention result in the election of a sovereign but also in the agreement that would avoid both discord and the need for the tumultous procedures of electing a sovereign, as the main parties contending for the throne at the time made a power-sharing agreement that would result in a sovereign being succeeded by a sovereign of the other clan, thus guaranteeing succession, stability and power sharing between the most power brokering clans. However in 1894, Clavyis Mael, on his deathbed, appointed a member of the Avari family to succeed him instead of respecting of the rotation that had been agreed with the Caranthe, Mael and Astaru clans. His reasoning was that he believed he would be the last of his line to ascend to the throne, as he had no direct heirs and the remaining members of the Mael clan were distant relatives with no support and no standing, which meant they'd be sidelined by the other two clans.

The Avari, a sealander clan hailing from Londo Carastene, were not a particularly powerful or important clan, and they would not have been expected to have ruled the country for so long as their ascenscion to the throne wouldn't be without trouble, and when Clavyis Mael died his wishes to see the Avari family succeed him were respected as the 1775 accords had no constitutional standing and had merely been an informal agreement of power-sharing, all it took was for one dead monarch to not respect to have it turn into tatters, as, instead of unitying under the power-sharing agreement the Caranthe and Astaru clans instead each attempted to rally forces to defend their own claim to the throne, however, this only served to weaken their attempt at ousting the new Avari monarch in a country already weary of conflict, as with divided loyalties the interest in defending the 1775 power sharing agreement simply dissipated from the many other clans, and with governmental forces remaining loyal to the constitutional order the civil war that the country seemed on the brink at the time never came to be and the Caranthe and Astaru clans were soon forgiven.

Now with the new conclave to elect a sovereign all three have a new chance to bring their claim to the sovereignship of the nation, though in true they are unlikely to have a chance. While the new line of the Mael clan inherited Clavyis lands it did not inherit his, or his ancestors, support in the capital, and they have been relegated to an secondary clan whose days of power are long past them. Much the same should be said for the Astaru, perhaps moreso, as the Astaru's days of glory were much more brief than the ancient Mael clan, and they too have been forgotten for much more than some lines on an history book. The Caranthe however emerged as perhaps one of the most traditionalist clans, leaving behind their immediate interest in becoming sovereigns of Andros and instead shifting to the confederalist stance of defending the election of all sovereigns, as was practice during the medieval confederation of Andros.