Principality of Aeternus

The Principality of Aeternus was a state in Abexilas during the immediate years following the arrival to Abexilas by the comet. Having never found a place to settle, the Aeternians remained a wandering people, with the Principality being a titular title for it's short lifespan.
=== History ===
==== Birth of The Aeternians ====
The group who would call themselves the Aeternians originate from a small group of drifters who had long sought for a place to call their home, having moved from town to town within Rathnir, and later Eldham. These people would eventually move to the city of Seahurst within the Duchy of Otello in Eldham, where they would find the time to build their homes and grow their community. It was during this time in Otello when two young Aeternians, ATJC and rice, were given an opportunity to build their own town, as members of a new state that was slowly forming in the chaotic region. The endeavor ultimately fell through, but it was here where the idea of an Aeternian people and homeland was first envisioned.
==== The Comet ====
Upon the discovery of the comet, and the doom that would await Eldham and all who stayed on it, the two Aeternians ATJC and rice decided that the settlement of Abexilas would provide the perfect opportunity to enact their plans and establish Aeternus as a state within the new world. They gathered and organized the Aeternians and with them they wrote the Constitution of Aeternus, the highest piece of Aeternian Law, which outlined the duties and responsibilities that their government would have. Upon the comet, the Aeternians held their first Election Gathering, and chose ATJC as the first ever Prince of Aeternus, Guardian of the Constitution, and Keeper of the Laws. Prince ATJC would then, as the first ever Edict of the Principality, appoint rice to the title of Councilor, a_sideoffries as the Warden, and gLchT as High Scribe.
It was also in these early days where Aeternus established its alliances with Rhodockia, Avaloria, The Petalic Demesne, and Kezias Eskabírei.
==== The Auxilium ====
Early in the days of Abexilas, many massive nations were claiming vast swaths of territory. The Pricipality of Aeternus, along with The Sovereign Commonwealth of Rhodockia, The Diarchy of Orbitalia-Coolantis, The Petalic Demesne, and The Kingdom of Kirras, fearing that they would all be conquered by their large neighbors banded together to found the Auxilium Alliance. This alliance was meant for smaller powers to band together to protect each other's independence and sovereignty from perceived "imperialists". The Auxilium would later grow to also include Kosica, Cornelium, Eirvotzka, and Avrio.
==== Conflict With Leyden ====
The chaos caused by the landing of the Comet on Abexilas resulted in the Aeternians being scattered across Abexilas. A great many were lost in this wandering, however, Prince ATJC knew that the Aeternians would still need a home, and so he began construction of a fortress for the Aeternians in Halinn, and opened negotiations with Leyden for the land. It was decided that Aeternus would join the larger Kingdom of Leyden as a town. Just as Aeternus and Leyden were about to come to an agreement, a shift in the local politics put Leyden in conflict with the Diarchy of Orbitalia-Coolantis, and war seemed to be on the horizon. Given a choice between betraying their allies, or loosing their new home, the remaining Aeternus government elected to withdraw from Leyden and seek land elsewhere rather than break their word to a close friend.
==== Exile To Yimmurali ====
After fleeing Leyden, and with no way of knowing if any of the Aeternians who had been missing since the comet came down survived, Prince ATJC brought the remaining stragglers to the lands of Yimmurali, where they then lived as mere citizens of the larger entity, and as his people slowly drifted apart, the aging ATJC formally dissolved the state.
=== The Constitution of Aeternus ===
The Constitution of Aeternus was the highest piece of Aeternian Law, which outlined the duties and responsibilities that their government had. It contained four sections.
==== Section 1: Legal Form ====
The first section of the outlined the proper way to write and interpret the constitution and all future legal documents, to establish consistency in Aeternian laws. Notably, by law, Aeternians would give priority to older laws, and laws written at the top of legal documents.
==== Section 2: The Four Rights ====
Aeternus granted its citizens four basic rights which would hold to always be true. These rights were called: The Right of Free Thought, which gave all citizens the irrevocable right to hold and share any thought or opinion they desired; The Right of Security, which meant that the government was required to protect its citizens from violence and extortion; The Right of Just Treatment, which guaranteed that all citizens of Aeternus must be equal before the law and treated fairly under it; and The Right of Self-Possession, which protected the Aeternians right to own themselves and their lawful property.
==== Section 3: The Prince/Princess ====
The head of the the Principality of Aeternus was it's monarch, the Prince or Princess of Aeternus. The Prince/Princess was in charge of appointing and overseeing the Royal Cabinet, writing and establishing new edicts, acting as judge in trials, upholding the Constitution of Aeternus, and leading the Aeternians. The Prince/Princess was elected by the citizens through a somewhat complicated election process. The Princess/Prince was chosen by election whenever the title was vacant, whether due to death or abdication of the former Princess/Prince. The election proceeded in the following way: Upon the title becoming vacant, the Royal Cabinet chose a time for the election of a new Princess/Prince, called the Election Gathering, and appointed one of their number who did not seek the title of Princess/Prince to act as the Speaker during the election process. All citizens of the Principality of Aeternus who wished to participate in the election had to come to the Election Gathering. The Speaker then commenced the Election Gathering, and asked the crowd “Who will claim the throne?” One member of the Election Gathering may then put forth their claim by stepping forward and saying “I claim the throne.” If none contended, that person was made the new Princess/Prince of Aeternus. However, any number of citizens may contend this by stepping forward and saying “I contend.” If any do, the claimant and the contenders may all make one speech to the people gathered there, then a vote is held where every citizen may vote for either the claimant, or one of the contenders. If a candidate gains the majority of the vote, they were made Princess/Prince. If none gain a majority. All candidates were disqualified from the current Election Gathering, and The Speaker restarted the process by asking the crowd “Who will claim the throne?” again, repeating until someone is chosen. If no one will claim the throne, or everyone was disqualified from being elected, the Speaker would choose the new Princess/Prince.
==== Section 4: The Royal Cabinet ====
Most day to day executive decisions were left in the hands of the Royal Cabinet, a group of officials appointed to ten different positions.
===== Councilor =====
The Councilor was responsible for advocating for the will of the people, as well as for gathering the concerns of the common citizens.
===== General =====
The General was the head of the armed forces of the Principality.
===== High Scribe =====
The High Scribe was the Principality’s foremost scholar and historian.
===== Grand Diplomat =====
The Grand Diplomat was in charge of overseeing all international relations.
===== Magister =====
The Magister was responsible for guiding the Principality in matters of high learning and magic.
===== Marshal =====
The Marshal was in charge of organizing patrols and enforcing the law in rural and wilderness regions.
===== Royal Champion =====
The greatest warrior of the Principality was typically granted the title of Royal Champion. The Royal Champion was the Princess/Prince’s personal sworn sword.
===== Spymaster =====
The spymaster was in charge of uncovering the Principality underworld and criminal elements, and spying on other nations.
===== Treasurer =====
The Treasurer was responsible for managing taxes and the Principality of Aeternus’ treasury.
===== Warden =====
The Warden was in charge of the nation’s defenses and keeping the peace within the city.