Frogame 2

==State of Political Affairs==

==State of Political Affairs==

Though Ivalice is composed of five ducal provinces and one Grand Duchy, there are only three Dukes instated at present. The '''Patricians''', and to a lesser extent the '''Federalists,''' are interested in having the Dukedoms of Lionel and Limberry restored, with commensurate lesser titles portioned out appropriately. They have received some modest degree of support from the '''Parliamentarians,''' but the '''Monarchists''' have imposed a lack of serious debate on the issue, aided by the '''Lords-Spiritual,''' who wish to keep Limberry in the hands of the Church (and possibly restore the Church's rule of Lionel under a fourth Cardinal).

Though Ivalice is composed of five ducal provinces and one Grand Duchy, there are only three Dukes instated at present. The '''Patricians''', and to a lesser extent the '''Federalists,''' are interested in having the Dukedoms of Lionel and Limberry restored, with commensurate lesser titles portioned out appropriately. They have received some modest degree of support from the '''Parliamentarians,''' but the '''Monarchists''' have imposed a lack of serious debate on the issue, aided by the '''Lords-Spiritual,''' who wish to keep Limberry in the hands of the Church (and possibly restore the Church's rule of Lionel under a fourth Cardinal).

There are four major nations proximate to Ivalice: Romanda, an island nation and technological powerhouse with a strong navy; Valendia, a powerful and wealthy nation of intrigue with ties to the Church of Iocus; Kerwon, a wilder land rich in natural resources lying across the sea; and Ordalia, an ambitious military power with territory stretching into the far east. The '''Monarchists''' support diplomatic exchanges between Ivalice and these four nations, as well as cautious trade with Ordalia at the border and reasonably open trade with Kerwon's ports via the city of Warjilis. The '''Parliamentarians''' wish to open the Ordalian border fully (a position meeting resistance from Ordalia) as well as open dealings with Romanda and far Valendia. Both of these powers are willing to enter into trade negotiations. The '''Federalists''', meanwhile, seek to close the Ordalian border and create a naval embargo to separate Romanda, Ordalia and Valendia, fearing a future invasion and hoping the pre-emptive act will destroy any possible collusion between those countries. It is also rumored that they have an interest in conquering either Romanda or Kerwon.

There are four major nations proximate to Ivalice: Romanda, an island nation and technological powerhouse with a strong navy; Valendia, a powerful and wealthy nation of intrigue with ties to the Church of Iocus; Kerwon, a wilder land rich in natural resources lying across the sea; and Ordalia, an ambitious military power with territory stretching into the far east. The '''Monarchists''' support diplomatic exchanges between Ivalice and these four nations, as well as cautious trade with Ordalia at the border and reasonably open trade with Kerwon's ports via the city of Warjilis. The '''Parliamentarians''' wish to open the Ordalian border fully (a position meeting resistance from Ordalia) as well as open dealings with Romanda and far Valendia. Both of these powers are willing to enter into trade negotiations. The '''Federalists''', meanwhile, seek to close the Ordalian border and create a naval embargo to separate Romanda, Ordalia and Valendia, fearing a future invasion and hoping the pre-emptive act will destroy any possible collusion between those countries. It is also rumored that they have an interest in conquering either Romanda or Kerwon.

Separate but related to the issue of magic is the concerning behavior of the city of Gariland. Growing more and more independent and assertive, the Magic City has been making increasingly onerous demands on its province and Ivalice as a whole, sending out a fleet into Gallione's waters that monitors all ships traveling to and from Murond, planting spies in Dorter, Warjilis and Goug (some of which have been discovered), and demanding representation in Parliament and the Senate. Their Archmage, Norca Zantaire, has been called to account several times by Parliament, but each time has either ignored the summons or given them a disrespectful response. The '''Monarchists''' want to censure the city's lords and have Zantaire replaced, while the '''Federalists''' and the '''Lords-Spiritual''' want the city placed immediately under martial rule and ceded to the Knights and the Church for remediation. The '''Parliamentarians''' have also spoken out against the flippant Zantaire, but have deflected any pushes towards a punitive action, instead making minor concessions while attempting to negotiate for same.

Separate but related to the issue of magic is the concerning behavior of the city of Gariland. Growing more and more independent and assertive, the Magic City has been making increasingly onerous demands on its province and Ivalice as a whole, sending out a fleet into Gallione's waters that monitors all ships traveling to and from Murond, planting spies in Dorter, Warjilis and Goug (some of which have been discovered), and demanding representation in Parliament and the Senate. Their Archmage, Norca Zantaire, has been called to account several times by Parliament, but each time has either ignored the summons or given them a disrespectful response. The '''Monarchists''' want to censure the city's lords and have Zantaire replaced, while the '''Federalists''' and the '''Lords-Spiritual''' want the city placed immediately under martial rule and ceded to the Knights and the Church for remediation. The '''Parliamentarians''' have also spoken out against the flippant Zantaire, but have deflected any pushes towards a punitive action, instead making minor concessions while attempting to negotiate for same.

The strength of the Dark slowly swells across Ivalice, and even though the populace is unaware of the shadows beyond the corners of their eyes, monsters test the fringes of civilization and seek to push inwards. Keeping the wild and evil things at bay are the holy Palings erected by the priests of Glabados, but these require constant upkeep and seem far too small to protect all of Ivalice. The Church has demanded more influence in exchange for widening the coverage of their Palings, and the threat of the barriers' removal keeps all nobles on edge. The '''Monarchists''' wish to keep the Church at its present strength, reinforcing the Palings at the heart of civilization and relying on the Knights to protect the outskirts. The '''Federalists''' believe that a stronger Church is a stronger people, and oppose any central mandate from Lesalia on this issue, preferring that each state take charge of the safety of its lands by whatever means it must. The '''Parliamentarians''' are undecided on this issue, contrasting their desire for a consolidated and independent Senate with the need to keep the people safe without the ever-present Knights.

The strength of the Dark slowly swells across Ivalice, and even though the populace is unaware of the shadows beyond the corners of their eyes, monsters test the fringes of civilization and seek to push inwards. Keeping the wild and evil things at bay are the holy Palings erected by the priests of Glabados, but these require constant upkeep and seem far too small to protect all of Ivalice. The Church has demanded more influence in exchange for widening the coverage of their Palings, and the threat of the barriers' removal keeps all nobles on edge. The '''Monarchists''' wish to keep the Church at its present strength, reinforcing the Palings at the heart of civilization and relying on the Knights to protect the outskirts. The '''Federalists''' believe that a stronger Church is a stronger people, and oppose any central mandate from Lesalia on this issue, preferring that each state take charge of the safety of its lands by whatever means it must. The '''Parliamentarians''' are undecided on this issue, contrasting their desire for a consolidated and independent Senate with the need to keep the people safe without the ever-present Knights.

The Blue Moon Rebellion emerged as a rallying banner for unrest a few months back down in Lionel, contesting the power of the Knighthoods and decrying the burdens of consumption and taxation the Orders impose on the people. While their strikes so far have been against bastions of the Orders' strength (such as Zaland), it is feared that allowing this internal conflict to swell will draw the opportunistic and the unscrupulous out to take advantage of the lawlessness. The '''Parliamentarians''' sympathize with the rebels' plight and look towards a reduction in the Orders' reserve strength as an appeasement tactic until negotiations can be made. The '''Federalists''' believe that Parliament should butt out and let each province and its Order deal with the rebels as it sees fit. The '''Monarchists''' are not in favor of negotiations, and until such time as the rebellion acts against civilian targets and interests, they hold that the Orders should be instructed to treat rebels as normal criminals.

The Blue Moon Rebellion emerged as a rallying banner for unrest a few months back down in Lionel, contesting the power of the Knighthoods and decrying the burdens of consumption and taxation the Orders impose on the people. While their strikes so far have been against bastions of the Orders' strength (such as Zaland), it is feared that allowing this internal conflict to swell will draw the opportunistic and the unscrupulous out to take advantage of the lawlessness. The '''Parliamentarians''' sympathize with the rebels' plight and look towards a reduction in the Orders' reserve strength as an appeasement tactic until negotiations can be made. The '''Federalists''' believe that Parliament should butt out and let each province and its Order deal with the rebels as it sees fit. The '''Monarchists''' are not in favor of negotiations, and until such time as the rebellion acts against civilian targets and interests, they hold that the Orders should be instructed to treat rebels as normal criminals.

The nobles of Parliament are themselves constrained to grant hereditary titles and succession rights to legitimate blood descendants, confirmed by the Church and from a union sanctified by the Church. They seek to extend similar, though more binding, rules to the monarch himself (who in theory obeys them in any event) which would allow Parliament to demand a full Validation of any potential successor to the throne of Ivalice. The criteria they wish to utilize are quite stringent. Though Lannast and the '''Monarchists''' supported the Act that authorized Validation in exchange for votes on another matter, they are now concerned with reducing the severity of the Validation hearings. However, they are opposed by both the '''Parliamentarians''' and the '''Federalists,''' as the former drafted the Act and the latter feel it does not go far enough.

The nobles of Parliament are themselves constrained to grant hereditary titles and succession rights to legitimate blood descendants, confirmed by the Church and from a union sanctified by the Church. They seek to extend similar, though more binding, rules to the monarch himself (who in theory obeys them in any event) which would allow Parliament to demand a full Validation of any potential successor to the throne of Ivalice. The criteria they wish to utilize are quite stringent. Though Lannast and the '''Monarchists''' supported the Act that authorized Validation in exchange for votes on another matter, they are now concerned with reducing the severity of the Validation hearings. However, they are opposed by both the '''Parliamentarians''' and the '''Federalists,''' as the former drafted the Act and the latter feel it does not go far enough.

The Knightly Orders are each based in a single province, with the exception of Lesalia's Order of the Crescent (the core of the armies of Ivalice), and have jurisdiction and operating rights only within their own province, save when given special dispensation via Writ of Passage or equivalent document. The '''Federalists''' want Parliament to authorize the drawing-up of Writs of Jurisdiction, which would allow Knights of any Order concerned full jurisdiction in other provinces over a matter originating in their own. Both the '''Parliamentarians''' and the '''Monarchists''' are opposed.

The Knightly Orders are each based in a single province, with the exception of Lesalia's Order of the Crescent (the core of the armies of Ivalice), and have jurisdiction and operating rights only within their own province, save when given special dispensation via Writ of Passage or equivalent document. The '''Federalists''' want Parliament to authorize the drawing-up of Writs of Jurisdiction, which would allow Knights of any Order concerned full jurisdiction in other provinces over a matter originating in their own. Both the '''Parliamentarians''' and the '''Monarchists''' are opposed.