It is now the year of our lord 1220, and I shall inform my subjects of recent events.
First and foremost, my daughter Cecilia is finally married to one Stephen Allen, whom I have made Count of Brittany.
Lads, make sure your new brother-in-law is made welcome.
Our second piece of news is also good. My son and heir, Prince Rufus, has a lovely daughter by the name of Edyth.
Next, Robert's army is at the gates of Antwerp, all the necessary siege engines having been built. Currently there is no rush, as the garrison will starve before the time limit imposed by the Council of Nobles runs out. I await his recommendation on how to proceed.
Also, I will remind all my nobles that none of you have submitted build queues for your respective counties. Perhaps my insistence on a proper format has made you hesitant to trouble me at all, but I assure you I am more then capable of handling even the most general queues. And do not worry about money, over the last fifteen years you all have accumulated more than enough credit. As it stands this complacency is starting to affect your reputations, as the people of Nottingham now seem to think that Prince Rufus is religiously improper. This is not something that I want repeated, so all of you need to submit build queues as soon as you can.
Finally, as you are aware I am getting up in the years. With that in mind I am once again calling for your petitions so I can resubmit my own legistlation. If you yourselfs also want have something to say, make it known now or take it up with Rufus later.
Noble Charter Amendment 3.1
Where Section 4 previously read:
"4. The role of the four families - Dukes and Counts
4.1 There will be four families representing the four main branches of the family tree: Rufus, Curthose, Beauclerc, or (Cecilia’s husband’s).
4.2 All lands at the start of the game are crown lands. Lands conquered by Royal Armies and Counts belong to the crown; lands conquered by Dukes are added to their ducal demesne.
4.3 Dukes can then grant a settlement to a player, making him Count of that settlement. The settlements remain nominally within the relevant Duchy. There are no Counts at the start of the game.
4.4 Counts who are not the natural sons of a Duke (e.g. adoptees and sons in law) may be lose their titles at the whim of the Duke. They are referred to as bonded Counts and are expected to act according to the wishes of their Duke. Natural sons of a Duke may not lose their settlements - they are referred to as freehold Counts. Counts stripped of their title by Dukes may appeal to the King.
4.5 Dukes and Counts should name a successor, who will take over their titles and settlements when they die. If no successor is named, the oldest natural son inherits, (if none, oldest adopted son; if none again, then the oldest son-in-law)."
It shall be changed to read:
"4. The role of the families - Dukes and Counts
4.1 Magna Carta starts with one family, which branches off into seperate families as the game progresses.
4.2 Each family has a leader (referred to here after as a 'Patriarch'), defined as a Noble whose father (by blood, marriage, or adoption) is deceased. For each Patriarch there is a family, and everyone below the patriarch on the family tree is part of his family.
4.3 If a Patriarch has more then one settlement in his family he is a Duke. If not, he is a Count.
4.4 All lands at the start of the game are crown lands. Lands conquered by Patriarchs are added to their family, lands conquered by others become crown lands.
4.5 Dukes can then grant a settlement to a player, making him Count of that settlement. The settlements remain nominally within the relevant family. There will be no dukes until King William dies.
4.6 Counts who are not the natural sons of a Duke (e.g. adoptees and sons in law) may lose their titles at the whim of the Duke. They are referred to as bonded Counts and are expected to act according to the wishes of their Duke. Natural sons of a Duke may not lose their settlements - they are referred to as freehold Counts. Counts stripped of their title by Dukes may appeal to the King.
4.7 Dukes and Counts should name a successor, who will take over their titles and settlements when they die. If no successor is named, the oldest natural son inherits, (if none, oldest adopted son; if none again, then the oldest son-in-law)."
In addition, Section 5.3 will be changed from
"The King can allocate crown lands to barons, counts or Dukes.."
to
"The King can allocate crown lands to Patriarchs."