Imperial Senate

The Imperial Senate is a governing and advisory body within Iriden. It is the most enduring institution in human history on Vireth, established within the first days of ancient Tareklena and its republic. It survived the early upheavals of the republican period, the fall of the republic in 325, the collapse of the Teluna Empire in 1060, and the most recent Infernal Invasion of 1373-1426.

Through the early republican period the senate was the driving force of policy and societal progression, with senators and citizens taking active roles in their government. As the republic grew and aged, the passion of the senate began

to wane and the interest of the citizenry cooled, resulting in growing corruption and lethargy within the senators. With the overthrow of the republic by Tarekles I Teluna in 325 the senate was reorganized, its most corrupt members removed and exiled, and the interest of its citizens stoked into a consistent burn once again. During the reign of Tarekles II the senate was further reorganized with anti-corruption laws and mandatory attendance instated. Participation in local and national government was encouraged within the citizenry, seen as a civic and personal duty almost on level with military service.

The strength of the Imperial Senate would continue until the War of the Oathbreakers, when the fracturing of the Imperial Teluna family itself caused the empire as a whole to fall apart. The senate maintained only sporadic influence, protecting the capital of Iriden and some major cities through-out the empire from the weakest contenders for the throne and local warlords. With the rise of Tarekles III and the defeat of his rivals the senate regained its former status and a direct influence on the imperial throne. The choice of succession would remain in the hands of the reigning emperor, but should the question of inheritance fall outside of that purview, such as in the death of a chosen successor at the same time, then the senate would begin its selection. This would prevent a succession crisis from occurring again even to the present day.

With the reign of Volcatia I power shifted from the Senate to the hands of the Regnum Caelorum, the senate losing much of its prestige and influence within the imperial family. Maintaining what power it could through the War of False Gods, the senate became little more than a city council protecting the former capital to the best of its abilities until the crowning of Aldric. Under the reign of the Aldricsen monarchy Iriden and its senate calmed, more capable of defending itself against the predations of exterior powers, and soon growing in size as it recaptured surrounding lands. The senate held its place of power over the governance of Iriden, becoming more parliamentary than senatorial as it balanced against the weight of the monarch. With time and the loss of its emperor the senate fell to the same position its republican counterpart had, and the popularity of its members waned in the eyes of its citizens.

Through the post-imperial era the senate maintained its status as an Imperial power, awaiting the return of the Teluna dynasty. For over three hundred years the senate has waited, and with the rise of Lord General Lucius Sergius within the newly dubbed Bastion of Iriden the senate may not hold power for much longer. An invasion from hell, the rise of an autocrat beyond the power of a monarch, and the genocide of mortal kind within Vireth have all been weathered by the senate, but as they look to the horizon for an emperor to save them they may find themselves devoured by the waves alone.