As I understand it, Lord British ruled over the land as an individual monarch in the times of our forefathers, albeit one who was never formally crowned with a royal title nor deigned to start a royal line. In this role he was supported by a league of advisors and administrative staff. When he went mad and leapt into the void to be consumed in a fit of misguided heroism, having failed to father an heir or establish a successor, these advisors mounted a soft coup to prevent the orphaned nation from collapsing into civil war. They assumed leadership, created a council amongst themselves, and governed Britannia in a passable imitation of democracy until they were all wiped out by a deranged elf. Following Casca's brief and questionable reign, Queen Dawn took control of Britannia the old-fashioned way - by killing her opponent and declaring herself his successor, a time-honoured strategy - and proceeded to rule weakly and ineffectively until she, too, was slain.
Britannia struggled on like a chicken without a head until the abrupt reappearance of Blackthorn. Having enjoyed long notoriety as a historical villain of infernal proportions, he claimed that the entire thing had been a misunderstanding and was forgiven so readily by the compassionate Britannians that his self-declared ascension to the throne was met without so much as a murmur of discontent.
Blackthorn now enjoys the position of sole ruler. In the absence of any political opponents, claimants to the throne or significant anti-monarchical citizen groups, his authority is unchallenged and complete. Representatives of noble families within the community have been granted control over individual townships, in which role they have little power. It appears that these governors campaign for the right to fund their cities out of their own families' coffers. If this is true, the king has hit upon an admirable way to at once placate the rich and ostensibly powerful; fund the major cities of Britannia, preventing the worldwide economic slump that led to the semi-recent riots; lighten the pressure on the kingdom's budget; and drain the hoarded inheritance of some of the realm's oldest and wealthiest noble bloodlines, thus weakening them considerably.
Meanwhile, the actual dealings of Britannia are done in secret. Although the nation would appear to be a democracy due to the king's token gestures of meeting and speaking with his counsellors, it seems to me that Blackthorn holds an opaque, inscrutable and dangerous monopoly over his society. His advisors, if he has any, are unknown. His decisions are made without significant input from the public or the council. His grand plan for Britannia's future is a mystery. In actuality, he has complete and total control over a nation of which, until very recently, he was a sworn enemy.
Of course, I am not Britannian and cannot be expected to understand the governmental systems in place within your country. It seems absurd to think that a land as proud and storied as yours would have let itself deteriorate, meekly and without protest, into a dictatorship under the thumb of a legendary villain. Please be so kind as to correct my misconceptions about the current political state of Britannia. Assume, for the purpose of this exercise, that I am drunk and of limited understanding.
Britannia struggled on like a chicken without a head until the abrupt reappearance of Blackthorn. Having enjoyed long notoriety as a historical villain of infernal proportions, he claimed that the entire thing had been a misunderstanding and was forgiven so readily by the compassionate Britannians that his self-declared ascension to the throne was met without so much as a murmur of discontent.
Blackthorn now enjoys the position of sole ruler. In the absence of any political opponents, claimants to the throne or significant anti-monarchical citizen groups, his authority is unchallenged and complete. Representatives of noble families within the community have been granted control over individual townships, in which role they have little power. It appears that these governors campaign for the right to fund their cities out of their own families' coffers. If this is true, the king has hit upon an admirable way to at once placate the rich and ostensibly powerful; fund the major cities of Britannia, preventing the worldwide economic slump that led to the semi-recent riots; lighten the pressure on the kingdom's budget; and drain the hoarded inheritance of some of the realm's oldest and wealthiest noble bloodlines, thus weakening them considerably.
Meanwhile, the actual dealings of Britannia are done in secret. Although the nation would appear to be a democracy due to the king's token gestures of meeting and speaking with his counsellors, it seems to me that Blackthorn holds an opaque, inscrutable and dangerous monopoly over his society. His advisors, if he has any, are unknown. His decisions are made without significant input from the public or the council. His grand plan for Britannia's future is a mystery. In actuality, he has complete and total control over a nation of which, until very recently, he was a sworn enemy.
Of course, I am not Britannian and cannot be expected to understand the governmental systems in place within your country. It seems absurd to think that a land as proud and storied as yours would have let itself deteriorate, meekly and without protest, into a dictatorship under the thumb of a legendary villain. Please be so kind as to correct my misconceptions about the current political state of Britannia. Assume, for the purpose of this exercise, that I am drunk and of limited understanding.
