Valerius Marcosi and the Code of Urban Law

This is an article on the History of Feyworld
Years: 670 NC to 700 NC
Age: The Third Age of Man
Continent: Duria
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The History of Neptaris
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The Great Civil War of Neptaris	The Imperial Conquest of Kamaros

Despite rumors to the contrary, mercenary captain Valerius Marcosi had not sold his sword to the Kingdom of Kamaria when he ended the Great Civil War. In fact, as soon as the last House surrendered, the Kamarian armies returned home, leaving only a small continent to assist Valerius in his plans. Valerius removed the throne of the Neptarch from Castle Zepharos and took it to the harbor, where he threw it from a ship into the sea with the people watching on in bewilderment. Valerius informed the people that he would assume the title Regnant of Neptaris and declared an end to the Great Civil War. The people were so rejoiced that they didn't even notice the grumblings of the Noble Houses and the clergy for Valerius' supposed vanity.

House Rimman, recognizing the anger and suspicion of the clergy and of the other Noble Houses, composed the Krios Bay Pact. This Pact was primarily formed to depose Valerius and return the city to its previous rulership. As a side note, it also detailed the selection of the new ruler of Neptaris and this section was written in such a manner to obscure the fact that only a noble of House Rimman could pass the qualifications. Even so, many of the Noble Houses joined the Pact with the full support of the clergy. House Rimman again prepared for war.

Valerius had expected this move, however, and knew how to break the Pact. He privately commissioned the Bishop of Aridnus, Justar II, to begin composing a set of laws based on those of the Republic of Zeth, far to the west. The Bishop realized that Valerius was intending to make Neptaris a democracy and spread the word to his fellow ecclesiasts. When Justar was made Archbishop in 671 NC, he immediately pulled the support of the clergy from the Pact and the remaining conspirators began marching on what was then known as Sanctus Hill. They succeeded in burning down the Pantheon before Valerius arrived with his troops. The armies of the Pact scattered, but not before Valerius discovered the House that had orchestrated the plan. Valerius himself killed the head of House Rimman in combat and exiled the rest of the House from the city upon pain of death. So many chose to remain, not believing Valerius was serious about the edict, that he had to double the number of his guard so that they could round up and execute those who didn't believe his edict. Over two-hundred members of House Rimman were hanged or beheaded by the summer of 675 NC, when the power of the nobles was permanently crippled.

In 675 NC, Valerius, Archbishop Justar II and various legal experts from Zeth had finally completed the Code of Urban Law (or the Valerian Code, as it would come to be known). When Valerius presented it to the people of the city and announced that he would step down as Regnant, most were so shocked they could not even riot. Over the next few months, Valerius had established the bureaucracy that would handle the first democratic vote in Neptaran history and on the first day of spring, 676 NC, the city held its first election. Even though Valerius himself was not on the ticket, his name was still written on almost 30% of the ballots. Valerius refused the honor and the three individuals who had the next highest votes became the first members of the Triumvirate, the ruling body Valerius had established to mirror the Senate of Zeth. The first members of the Triumvirate were Raelos Devag, a merchant; Gunther Strongsword, one of Valerius' lieutenants; and Tan Rizael, a popular minstrel in the city. Valerius retired to public life, never to be seen in Castle Zepharos again. When he died in 700 NC, he was given a funeral worthy of a Neptarch.