Kaymin's Law

**Kaymin's Law**, more formally known as Kaymin's Three Proclaimations, has formed the basis for the future governance of the Sarapo Imperium after the death of Supreme Imperator Kaymin. It laid the foundation for the rise of the Imperator Caste, and the High Council that would collectively govern after Kaymin's death.

### First Proclaimation

*"My death will come soon. On that day, all the privileges and burdens of leadership will fall on the shoulders of my heirs: The Imperator. Their successes shall be rewarded and their failures punished accordingly. The Imperator are all of my blood. They know what is expected of them and they know the penalty for failure." -* Kaymin the Supreme

Kaymin made clear, in his first proclamation, that he intended his descendants to rule the Imperium. The concept of blood right was a relatively new concept to Sarapo society. However, Kaymin was able to make persuasive arguments that his own offspring would all be painstakingly groomed for leadership and given the very finest educations. Thus led to the creation of a new caste in Sarapo society: The Imperator. This new nobility would be granted extensive rights and privileges in the Imperium.

### Second Proclaimation

"*The Imperator is the strategist and the Bellator is the tactician. An Imperator may decide if a battle should be fought, but only a Bellator may decide how a battle should be fought." -* Kaymin the Supreme

This proclamation further diminished the role of the Bellator in the Sarapo Imperium, making them subservient to the Imperator High Council. However, it did promise them tactical authority in times of war, although many in Bellator Tactical Command were unhappy with this proclamation. Up until the rise of Kaymin and the Imperium, the First Bellator had ruled over all previous governments as military dictators (with the notably exception of the Servitor-led Terraxi Technocratic Union). It is believed that this proclamation was made by Kaymin to appease the Terraxi, who had deep-seated resentment of the Bellator and did not ever again want to be ruled by them.

### Supreme Directive

*"The power I have wielded as Supreme Imperator was always intended to be a temporary measure. A means of structuring a new system of governance that would endure for all eternity. Upon my death, the title of Supreme Imperator will be abolished and rulership of the Imperium will be collectively decided by the Imperator High Council under the leadership of the First Imperator. Never again will the title of Supreme Imperator, or the supreme power it wielded, be held by any Sarapo in the Imperium. Any who lays claim to it, or supports a claim made by another, is a traitor to the Imperium and it is the sworn duty of any true Bellator to destroy them.*

Kaymin's third proclamation, the Supreme Directive, went into effect on the day of his death, much to the surprise of even the Imperator. It decreed that the title of Supreme Imperator be abolished and control of the Imperium would fall to a council of twelve: The Imperator High Council. This came as a surprise, even to the Imperator and most especially to his designated heir, Kayne, who hoped to succeed Kaymin as Supreme Imperator. It is believed that the reckless Kayne's own unsuitability to wield absolute power factored into Kaymin's Supreme Directive. However, others believe this directive illustrates the wisdom of Kaymin, who recognized the shortcomings of the Imperium governed by a single supreme leader. The Twelve members of the High Council did, however, effectively become mini-dictators in their own right, ruling over their own fiefdoms and spheres of influence within the Imperium. The First Imperator, limited though it was, remained an unassailable position where the incumbent could not be lawfully deposed and would hold power until the day of their death.