Within the Empirical line, inheritance went historically by the eldest spehirikin offspring regardless of gender (though there was a preference towards the females taking the lead, as they were more likely to produce further spherikin heirs).
Since polygamy has always been an accepted part of life in Astasi, the law dictating ascendancy to the empire has always been granted to the eldest legitimate child of the first wife. Should one of the siblings from the same wife, or of later wives, wish to claim the crown, they would have to participate in a one-to-one duel. Since the legitimate successor was usually spehirikin, there weren’t many that would take such an opponent on. The ancient history of the Assassin’s Guild interwoven with the first engels of Vosundelr no doubt account for many uprisings being snuffed out before they go anywhere.
As less and less spehirkin were born into the empirical line, it eventually transitioned into inheritance through the eldest child – regardless of whether or not a spehikrin child was born into the family later. When the present Emperor took to the throne, he passed a law which made it so the first-born male would inherit the throne. So while Sefyra was his first born child – and also of spehirkin blood – she was passed over for the throne when Otso jr. was born fifteen years later.
Within the more general population, polygamy still happens, though is far less common; with most marriages being monogynous. Of all the areas of law within Elmadel , and of Astasi, the laws concerning marriage are of far greater importance to the residents.
Previous long standing laws regarding marriage: –
- A prenuptial contract would be written up and signed by all marital partners before a legal representative. This was important to avoiding any complications regarding inheritance, specifically when more than two people were married. Should further partners be taken, the contract would be adjusted appropriately before the appropriate witnesses.
- Partners who are not married into the family have no rights or claim to the family and its estate.
Several new laws were brought in ten years ago after a scandalous affair led to the two largest families of Elmadel resorted to open war in the streets and almost tipped the city in local war as a result of the various family’s entanglements with each other:
- All partners entering a marriage agreement must be previously un-married.
- One who has been divorced and separated from the original marital family may, under the discretion of the new marital family and legal representative take a new partner – so long as they have officially left the previous marital family and the severance was officially witnessed and signed off.
- One who has been widowed can take a new partner; again, so long as they have officially left the previous marital family and the severance was officially witnessed and signed off.
- Marital partners are limited to only four marital partners.
When it comes to the care and housing of children when dealing with divorce and/or re-marriage: –
- Both sons and daughters age twelve and under will stay with the mother
- Between the age of thirteen and fifteen, sons may go to stay with the father if they so chose
- At age eighteen, both daughters and sons are legally adults and have total autonomy over where they live.
- In the case of divorce due to infidelity, the offending party will lose all access to any offspring automatically.
A dowry is required from all marital partners to become a part of the family estate, with ten percent of the total wealth being claimed by the crown. Monitored by Deoliaeth; where land or property taken in by the crown is put to use for the residents of Elamdel in some way – usually a tenant agreement for an agreed amount of time.
While the specifics of the dowry are down to the agreement of those getting engaged, it is generally expected that the value would be around thirty percent of the individual’s wealth. Infidelity is massively frowned upon in all of Astasi, and especially so in Elmadel. While extra-marital partners are as much accepted as officialised marriages, these partners are usually only taken on at the consent and agreement of all involved.
Should someone seek a divorce due to infidelity, the offender will lose the entirety of the dowry, and oftentimes far more. They will also find themselves the absolute shame of the city for the rest of their lives and also lose all connections with their lineal family.
As there wasn’t a restriction on marital partners in the past, the steep cost of the dowry and the taxation served to both limit partners and provide a lucrative extra income to the state.
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A celebration which is unique to Elmadel is the “Unmaejong” celebration at a child’s first birthday. As well as the usual celebrations of life with any birthday, this one starts with the child being seated in front of various items, and the first item they reach for would signify the life path they will take:
- A brush – Artist
- A book – Scholar
- Money – Entrepreneur
- Jewellery – Artisan
- Wheat sheaths – Farmer
- (Seasonal) herbs – Healer
- Sea shell – Voyager
- Military insignia – a soldier
The terms for each item or only basic signifiers, with each individual item having much more interpretation than listed. It is an uncanny form of divination which seems to be 98% true with each child. The addition of the military insignia is a recent addition of the last twenty years, since a recognised military has come into existence.
Letter to the Metsaeri
The Path of the Sykan
Journal Entry (from M)
Notes
