Sanguis Sisterhood

The Nightsade of the Sanguis Sisterhood"

The Sanguis Sisterhood was the aristocratic legislature made up of mostly women with very few men who held titles within the Sanguis Peerage. They held power over the Sanguis Empire and where often also referred to as the High Council. The Sisterhood meets frequently to discuss important matters of state, particularly the defense of their territories. Each member of the Sisterhood is able to cast their vote on matters ranging from the introduction of laws to the levying of new taxes required to raise money for defense. Even if the final say comes from the three rules of the Sanguis Empire, The Nightsade Kamaira Crowbane, Selena Crowbane, and Kieran Crowbane.

### ***Realm Meetings***

On the first new Moon of each month, at dusk. (OOCly, Saturday of each week at around 9PM Est) Additional meeting might be called where necessary to address important matters of the realm.These meeting normally take place within the High-Fortress of Zariya, above the city of Theriya.

### ***Positions***

These are the main positions of the Sisterhood.

#### ***Voice of the Sisterhood - Lord/Lady Speaker***

The duties of the Lord/Lady Speaker include:

* -The organization of council meetings.
* -The management of the Sisterhood’s affairs.
* -The maintenance of order within the Sisterhood during meetings.

***Secretary of the Sisterhood - Lord/Lady Secretary***

Duties of the Lord/Lady Secretary include:

* -Recording the minutes of each meeting.
* -Furnishing a copy of the minutes when called upon to do so.

***+Regent's Representative - Lord/Lady Chancellor***

The Lord/lady Chancellor serves as a representative of the Three rulers of the Sanguis Empire within the Sisterhood, introducing materials and information on their behalf. The Lord/Lady Chancellor has no more privilege than any other member of the council.

### ***Rules/Code of Conduct***

1. No weapons shall be allowed inside the meeting.
2. Nobles participating in the meeting may bring one assistant.
3. All guardsmen, Knights and other soldiery must remain outside the council chambers.
4. Guards will be posted outside the door to ensure the safety of those Nobles participating.
5. Votes will be cast immediately by a show of hands when called for. There will be no silent vote, nor secret ballots.
6. If unable to attend, members of the House must notify the Lord/Lady Speaker in writing, no later than 48 hours before the date of the next meeting to designate a representative to vote in their stead.

### ***Authority***

The Sanguis Sisterhood was a legislative assembly with considerable authority second only to the Brood-Mother and the three rulers of the Sanguis Empire, theoretically. The Sisterhood would also serve as a regency council in the event the monarch was too young to rule, rather than a Lord-Regent be appointed as was the previous practice. Following the monarch's coming of age, the Sisterhoods maintained a considerable level of authority, able to pass laws, appoint ambassadors, declare war and settle internal disputes. The rulers of the Sanguis empire would have the power to override or veto any of the actions of the Sisterhood.

### ***Titles of Hereditary Sanguis Nobility Within the Sisterhood from highest to lowest.***

* **Emperor/ Empress**: The Emperor or Empress of the sanguis Empire were the supreme nobility and the sovereign of the Empire. Having command and authority over the entire Empire and all of its citizens, the monarch also had chief command over the Sanguis Army. In the event that a monarch ascended to the throne underage, a regent or regency council would be appointed by their surviving parent, older relative or themselves. Regents would rule in the name of the child monarch, exercising their authority and handling most affairs. Upon rising to the throne, the monarch would receive full authority once more but it was not uncommon for monarchs to appoint stewards or advisors to handle smaller affairs.

Emperor/ Empress were styled as Emperor/ Empress [X] or Emperor [X] of Sanguis and addressed as His/Her Majesty.

* **Prince or Princess:** The children or siblings of the Emperor or Emperess of Sanguis, Prince or Princess typically held minimal responsibilities until they possibly ascended to the throne. Typically the eldest child would be the heir to the throne, followed by their siblings according to their age. If none of the monarch's children were alive, the grandchildren of the monarch are next in line according to the age of each child and the order of their parents. This continues for all descendants of the monarch. In the event that the late monarch ha no children, the crown would pass to their next oldest sibling. If there were no living immediate family members, it then would move onto cousins and more distant relatives.

Princes were styled as Prince(ss) [X] or Prince [X] of Sanguis and addressed as His/Her Highness.

* **Duke or Duchess:** The most powerful of nobility, Dukes and Duchesses ruled over enormous plots of lands known as duchies. Dukes were less frequent in the Emperordom of the Empire of Sanguis due to the great amount of power they wielded. Duchies would almost always have smaller fiefdoms within usually organized into smaller counties and even baronies. Most duchies were found outside of the contemporary border of The Sanguis Empire or within the largest mountain valleys.

Dukes were styled as the Duke/Duchess [X] or Duke/Duchess [X] of [Y] and addressed as Your Grace.

* **Count or Countess:** Counts and Countesses typically ruled over larger plots of land called counties. Counties usually included numerous towns and possibly a city. Counties may have been divided into smaller baronies in some circumstances with the barons ruling over individual baronies and collectively reporting to a single Count or Countess. Counts exercised a considerable degree of power however they were less common than barons due to the treacherous terrain which made it difficult to organize baronies into larger counties. Many of the numerous valleys found throughout the Sanguis Mountains were once counties.

Counts were styled as the Count(ess) of [X] or Count(ess) [X] of [Y] and addressed as His/Her Excellency.

* **Viscount or Viscountess:** The least common of hereditary peerage, Viscounts typically held lands of equal size to baronies that were typically heavily populated or generally of greater importance. The domain of a Viscount was called a Viscounty and could not be sworn to a superior lord, meaning they couldn't be within a county and Viscounts swore loyalty directly to the Emperor. Viscounts exercised more power than barons but not nearly as much as Counts due to the limited size of their domain.

Viscounts were styled as the Viscount(ess) of [X] or Viscount(ess) [X] of [Y] and addressed as Viscount(ess) or My Lord/Lady.

* **Baron or Baroness:** The least powerful but most common of hereditary peerage, Barons would administer over small plots of land called baronies. Normally Barons would rule over no more than a small hamlet, a few farms and their own tower keep. Baronies were occasionally under the domain of a larger county, march or duchy. Thus, these barons sworn to a more powerful noble who were in turn sworn the Crown. Due to the small and mountainous nature of the Empire of Sanguis, independent baronies were much more prevalent than in the Empire as it would be difficult for mountain barons to be within a single domain when it would be impossible to easily traverse through them.

Barons were styled as the Baron(ess) of [X] or Baron(ess) [X] of [Y] and addressed as Baron(ess) [X] or My Lord/Lady.