Office of the Imperial Curia

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Infragris
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Office of the Imperial Curia

Post by Infragris »

This book is intended as a "faction book" for the Curia, similar to vanilla books for the Houses and Imperial factions. I'm not completely happy with this one, but it will do the trick and the contents can be rewritten once the Curia's role and significance is further clarified.

OFFICE OF THE IMPERIAL CURIA
Precantor Milus Varius

Of all the Emperor's many hands, the myriad branches of the Empire's governmental structure, the office of the Imperial Curia is perhaps the most misunderstood. The Curia, also known as the Courts of Administration, is the burdened mind of the Empire's bureaucracy -- the agents of the Elder Council's will, custodians of the Emperor's personal demesnes, wardens of the Red Treasury, and keepers of the great Concordian Archives, testament of provincial history.

As the Empire's administrative aristocracy, the Imperial Curia is part of the great Cyrodiilic peerage, as are the Colovari of the west and the Battlemage Hierophants of the east. While these noble titles are of equal value in the eyes of the Law, they are not awarded by virtue of blood or conquest, but for great and enduring service to the Empire: emblems of merit and duty, not of mere birth. Unlike the old aristocracy and their divisive strife, the Curia is an enlightened institution, seeking to renew the Empire's mandate and thereby -- at long last -- bringing civilization and order to the darkened heart of even the most backwards provinces.

The Colovari traditionalists often dismiss the Curia's servants as soulless bureaucrats, needling censors or avaricious tax collectors. The truth is that they fear the Curia, and what it represents. Their old traditions of martial nobility are obsolete, replaced by the central bureaucracy of a professional, meritocratic Legion force. The antiquated officer families struggle for relevancy, lashing out blindly at the civil Praetoriates which seek to impose order to the domains they have so long neglected.

The Nibenese merchant-princes and Battlemage nobility will tell you that the Curia is a repressive and authoritarian apparatus, used by the Empire to encumber trade and restrict citizen rights. The only aim of such complaints is to escape from the fair and equitable laws that prevent the abuse of their hereditary privileges -- such as the unethical entitlements of the Hierophants, their backwards necromantic traditions and dangerous arcane dealings.

Above all else, these nobles fear the censorate -- the Emperor's instrument of investigation and justice, which holds neglectful lords accountable for their misdeeds.

The esteemed scholar-officials of the Imperial Curia -- from the lowliest scribe to the high Exarchs themselves -- work tirelessly to ensure that the great and enduring Empire continues to function as it should, every day, without pause. We are ever in need of trustworthy and able personnel. If you are a capable and studious citizen, adept at reading and writing the common tongue, in possession of reasonable intelligence and an agility of mind and body, then do not hesitate to present yourself at a nearby Praetorium, Prefecture, of Consulate to undertake the Imperial exams.

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