Role

Chapter 6

In ages past, Emperors have been soft. They have made the mistake of thinking
the laws of the spire above their own, willingly or not. Such interpretations
are wrong, and the fault is of those lesser Emperors who do not take the time
to consider Imperial Law thoroughly. I have made Council Members aware of
these errors, and as such the Law is only now for the first time in eons
actually being interpreted, and executed, as is demanded in Law Ten of the
Imperial Code.

Citizens of the Empire have not been made as keenly aware, because as
citizens it is your duty to simply obey the law and look to your Sect Leaders
for guidance in such matters. Any errors you make should be met with
punishment, and your success with rewards. This Edict concerns the citizens
of the Empire more than the Council. As they have been specific instructions,
and those instructions do not include educating the masses on what is plainly
written, those of you who are not council and are given an order by a council
member are to obey it unflinchingly. Should you think that an error has been
made, your recourse will be to address that council member and the Emperor
privately via missive to determine if a judgement should be made. But as the
law is written, you have no cause to disobey even for a moment. The weight of
judgement will not fall on you unless you do hesitate.

The masses need not be educated, and that includes Citizens as of this time.
Dominion and Order are not established through questioning in a time when
action is required, but they do allow civilized discourse when the time is
appropriate. If there is indeed an error, and you acted on the orders of a
superior, you should never suffer for the mistakes of your superiors.

Concerning warrants, I wish it to be known that a warrant means NOTHING in
the eyes of Imperial Law unless in the gaining of it you actually violated
said Law. The cases where this can happen are in reality extremely limited,
contrary to the popular erroneous belief. You may rid yourself of a warrant
on your own terms if you so desire, but NEVER negotiate with a Tribunal to
turn yourself in. To do so is a disgrace to our laws, though none is written
specifically to address the matter, our laws do not demand your death
needlessly. Should you die, it will be with purpose for the Empire.

Order does not mean Tribunal Law. Take time to read the Law of the Empire and
Sect Law carefully each day, more than the sect guardians require, and
educate yourself. One day you may become Council or even Emperor when I am
gone, and will need to have strong interpretations of your own. Order demands
it, citizens. The ignorant should be left underfoot, still wondering why. As
with the Shadow, the sect I ruled for decades, if our enemies do not know our
movements, we can not be defeated.