A Patent is a legal document that assigns rights and privileges to individuals. It might confer a Noble Title or the right to Exclusive Trade (among other things) and is normally issued by the ruling monarch. However, the right to issue some patents may be delegated to lower ranking nobles or officials.

A Charter is a legal document that defines a set of rights and responsibilities for the administration for and individual administrator or group.

This important document marks a turning point in the history of Brevoy, and is the first attempt to limit the power of the throne. Issued in 4715, it declares that the ruler is 'The Regent' instead of King, and limits his authority over the Nobles of Brevoy. It also sets a broad policy that the regent should follow.

The Regent’s Charter.

Duke Noleski Surtova of Port Ice will act as the Regent of Brevoy. The Brevoy Council of Peers will consist of the Dukes of Greyhaven, Silverhall, Winterbreak, Eagle’s Roost and Stoneclimb.

• The Regent will be responsible for the day to day management and administration of Brevoy, and retains overall responsibility for the defence of The Realm.
• The Regent will not collect taxes from the other noble houses or independent cities, he will derive his income from the lands surrounding New Stetven and the major roads across Brevoy.
• No Noble, Viscount, Governor or Lord Mayor shall be removed from their holdings, without the express consent of the Council of Peers.
• No Noble, Viscount, Governor or Lord Mayor shall be punished for their part in the ‘so called’ civil war. Those disagreements have been resolved by this charter.
• A new noble condition, Marcher Lord, is created. As with other nobles, Marcher Lords may not be taxed by the Regent, nor can their holdings be taken from them, without express permission from the Council of Peers.
• All Viscounts, Governors and Lord Mayors will be required to encourage and support the establishment of Marcher Lordships around the borders of Brevoy.

• The following titles and rights are confirmed.
  • Lady Jamandi Aldori is awarded the dormant title of Count of Rostland, and the commensurate lands. These will be held in perpetuity.
  • Lord Henry leMaistre becomes Baron Gates, based on his holdings at Newgate, Eastgate and Westgate, in the province of Midmarch. These lands and titles to be held in perpetuity.
  • Baroness Rogarvia-Green becomes Viscount Skywatch.
  • Baron Gates becomes Viscount Midmarch.
  • Restov, and its traditional lands, is confirmed as an Independent City
  • Tusk, and its surrounding land, is awarded the status of Independent City.

The Noble Council of Brevoy is charged with oversight of the grant and removal of patents and charters across Brevoy. The Council will consists of:

• The Duke of Greyhaven
• The Duke of Silverhall
• The Duke of Winterbreak
• The Duke of Eagle’s Roost
• The Duke of Stoneclimb.

The council will appoint a King of Arms to be responsible for recording the grant and removal of patents and charters, as well as the coats of arms used by the various houses and institutions.

Addendum

No patent or charter may be removed without the express permission of The Council Greater Patents and Charters, may only be granted with the express permission of The Council. These include:

• Dukedoms (Dukes) (At the gift of the council)
• Counties (Counts) (At the gift of the council)
• Provinces (Viscount or Governor) (At the gift of the council, Viscount normally requires Barony)
• Baronies (Baron) (At the gift of the council, normally requires land and 15 Defence Points )
• Independent City (Right to appoint Lord Mayor) (At the gift of the council, requires City Status)
• Independent Town (Right to appoint Mayor) (At the gift of the council, requires Town Status)
• Charters or patents that have a national effect.

Lesser Patents and Charters may be granted by Nobles and Administrators, on behalf of the Council, according to certain conditions. These include:

• Lord – (requires land and must commit 10 Defence points to Brevoy)
• Lord Dominus – (must commit 5 Defence points to Brevoy)
• March-Lord – (requires land and must commit 1 Defence points to Brevoy)
• Charters or patents that have a regional effect (the region for which the awarding Noble or Administrator is responsible).

Hereditary titles must have the source of the defence points and their location listed in the patent. Loss or removal of those defence points will be a just reason for removal of the patent and title.

Lifetime Patents should be awarded sparingly and for purposes recognised as ‘of value’ to the region or Brevoy as a whole. These include

• Lord
• Lord-Dominus

This example below is an example of the Provincial Charter that will be issued to a local Viscount or Governor. The first section is standard and applied to all Provincial Charters. It is followed by clauses that are specific to the province.

The Midmarch Charter

This Charter appoints Henry leMaistre as Viscount Midmarch. The Viscount has the following duties, Rights and Responsibilities. To administer the province on a day-to-day basis.

• The province will be free of National Taxes
• The Viscount may only be removed from office with the express consent of both the Noble Council and the Regent.
• The Viscount is required to provide adequate defences for the province. (Min 10 defence points)
• The Viscount will muster the province’s troops, when required by both the Noble Council and the Regent.
• The Viscount is entitled to collect taxes from the major roads and businesses in the province.
• The Viscount is required to encourage and support the development of March-Lordships in the undeveloped and unclaimed areas close to the province.
• The Viscount will respect the boundaries of the adjoining charter holders.

• Viscount leMaistre is required to build a line of fortifications to defend the South Rostland Road.
• The province will not expand to the north or encroach on the land around the South Rostland Road.
• The province will not expand to the south, except to consolidate its current borders. This land should be used for the encouragement of March-Lordships.
• The province may expand to the west, as far as the East Sellen River.
• The province will not expand to the east, or incorporate any part of the Tors of Levenies.

A standard charter issued to all Independent Settlements - although towns appoint Mayors, rather than Lord Mayors. This example is for the City of Tusk, although Brundeston and Restov have similar charters.

City Charter (Tusk)

This charter grants the City of Tusk the right to appoint its own Lord Mayor who will be responsible for the City and its lands.

• The Lord Mayor will administer the city on a day to day basis.
• The city will be free of National Taxes
• The Lord Mayor may only be removed from office by the people of the city, or with the express consent of both the Noble Council and the Regent.
• The Lord Mayor is required to provide adequate defences for the city. (Min 10 defence points)
• The Lord Mayor will muster the city’s troops, when required by both the Noble Council and the Regent.
• The Lord Mayor is entitled to collect taxes from the roads and businesses in the city.
• The Lord Mayor is required to encourage and support the development of March-Lordships in the undeveloped and unclaimed areas close to the city.
• The city will respect the boundaries of the adjoining charter holders.

The City of Tusk is granted control of lands adjacent to the city. (7 hex donut)

This example below is an example of the March-Hold Charter that will be issued to any person who claims new land on behalf of Brevoy, who will become a March-Lord. The first section is standard and applied to all March-Holds. It is followed by clauses that are specific to the March-Hold. March-Lords may then follow the promotion route of Dominus, Lord, Baron - without falling under the authority of a higher ranking noble/aristocrat. Barons Drelev and Varn of Vin (Maegar Varn of Varnhold's father) are examples of this.

The Old Keep Charter

This Charter appoints Zelona Veralia as March-Lord of The Old Keep. The March-Lord has the following duties, Rights and Responsibilities.

• To administer the March-Hold on a day-to-day basis.
• The March-Hold will be free of National Taxes
• The March-Lord may only be removed from office with the express consent of both the Noble Council and the Regent.
• The March-Lord is entitled to collect taxes from the major roads and businesses in the March-Hold.
• The March-Lord is required to provide adequate defences for the province. (Min 1 defence points)
• The March-Lord is required to patrol their March-Hold and notify local Charter Holders of incursions.
• The March-Lord will muster the province’s troops, when required by both the Noble Council and the Regent.
• The March-Lord is required to encourage and support the development of March-Lordships in the undeveloped and unclaimed areas close to the province.
• The March-Lord will respect the boundaries of the adjoining charter holders.