Kantra Territory
From Fantasy Novel
Authors note - The Kantra are supposed to be a blending of Klingon and Minbari races. These societies are themselves modeled after many others, specifically Japan and India (bushido and castes), so take note and try to blend them together. As this is supposed to be a warrior race, it should lean a bit more heavily toward a Klingon sensibility, but none the less, many more Minbari elements should be added to give this race a particular veil of mystery, wonder, intelligence and power.
Contents |
Early History
Founding of the Realm
Government and politics
The Kantra High Council is the supreme ruling body of the Kantra Empire. The council meets at the Great Hall of the First City of the Kantra Empire. The High Council is presided over by the Chancellor, and is composed of a faction-based cabinet. Members of the High Council are the leaders of each of the Great Houses - or the 9 parent families to which each small family has sworn fealty to, and the Chancellor is chosen as first among equals (or primus inter pares) among them.Once a Chancellor dies or abdicates, the Great House to which he belonged selects a new leader, who is appointed to the council, thus reasserting the nine and allowing a succession to take place.
The Chancellor sits in an elevated chair at the front of the room, and the other council members surround him in a semi-circle. A large Kantra insignia hangs on the wall at the front of the room, behind the council members.
The council directs the political, diplomatic, military, and internal matters of state. The Chancellor is empowered to enter into treaties on behalf of the council and the people, and has general executive power, although he is considered a primus inter pares subordinate to the Emperor. They also provide overall strategic direction on military matters, but in practice tactical and logistical matters are left to the battlefield commanders.
The council is also the final Court of Appeal, deciding matters pertaining to the various Kantra Houses. One example would be granting dispensation to allow a woman to rule over a house if her husband died in unusual circumstances and they had no sons. If one of the Houses falls and another makes a claim to the lands and property of the House, the council will judge the validity of the claim.
The council acts as all three branches of government - executive, legislative, and judicial. For crimes committed against the Empire, the council can judge the guilt of an individual Kantra and their entire family. If the Kantra is found guilty of a crime, they and their entire family will suffer the consequences of the crime. For example, treason causes the family to lose their honor for seven generations.
The members of the council serve at the pleasure of the Chancellor, who is able to dismiss council members if he deems it necessary. The Chancellor does not have the power to (directly) appoint replacements, that must be done by the Great House in question - and the dismissal of a council member may carry with it many other problems (internal dissent), so it rarely happens.
The means of choosing the Chancellor vary. One way would be challenging the Chancellor to a fight to the death. If the challenger was victorious, the old Chancellor would be dead, and the challenger would usually take the role of Chancellor for himself, or in rare cases bestow the role to another. If a Chancellor died of natural causes or not as a result of direct combat, an Arbiter of Succession would be named. The Arbiter would designate the strongest challengers, who would then fight each other to the death for the office.
Administrative subdivisions
Law
Kantra law may allow for trials in only limited instances as determined by political decision. The Kantra High Council may act as a court of final appeal, analogous to law lords, in deciding cases involving individuals and estates.
Much of the Kantra legal system revolves around personal honor. The ultimate punishment for a Kantra is discommendation, a process whereby a Kantra is symbolically stripped of their honor by the High Council, and their name can no longer be spoken. It is first revealed in the TNG episode "Sins of the Father," when Worf accepts such a fate to maintain unity within the Kantra Empire. Several references throughout the episode indicate that such a fate is considered worse than execution. Part of the ritual involves the High Council literally turning their backs on the disgraced individual. However, a Kantra's honor and good name may be unilaterally restored by the Chancellor of the High Council.
Unlike other legal systems, which hold only individuals responsible for their crimes, the Kantra legal system extends rewards and sanctions to family members, through the law of heredity:
- A son will share in the honors or crimes of his father.[43]
- If a family member commits treason, the family will be dishonored for seven generations.[39]
- A Kantra who allows himself to be captured in battle dishonours himself and his sons for three generations.[44]
- In a house with no single patriarch, but with two or more brothers, the elder brother speaks for the family.[43]
- If a Kantra is injured and no longer able to function as a warrior, he must perform the Heg'bat (ritual suicide) with the assistance of his eldest son.[45]
If a member of a house is killed dishonourably, another member of that house may claim the right of vengeance, allowing that house member to kill the murderer of their kin. This right supersedes even discommendation - in the TNG episode "Reunion," a discommendated Worf is allowed to challenge Duras, under the claim that Duras killed his mate, K'Ehleyr. Worf faces no legal sanctions after killing Duras - the Kantras consider the matter closed, even though Duras was one of the contenders to lead the Empire.
However, this does not extend to those killed honourably. An accidental death would pass disgrace onto the victim's family, but a death in personal combat would be honorable... and an honorable death needs no vengeance.
The right of vengeance can also be extended to family members of the accused. However, the wronged person has the right to spare the accused's life, though such a decision is highly unorthodox.
Kantras often mention the importance of honor, and a common criticism Kantras make of Silva is that they are a race "without honor." However, there are several incidents where not only individual Kantras, but the Kantra government itself is shown to act with questionable ethics. These problems are not limited to individuals, but have become systematic within the culture.
