AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic - [IC] Reports issued by the Hand of the Duchess

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The following reports are sent to:
- Treaty Members (Barak Runedar, Kohlingen, the Shrine, Wharftown)
- Amian States (Bendir Dale, Cordor, Guldorand, Winya Ravena, Uhm)
- News Papers (Andrew Fryar, Bill Hurst)

A single public copy is posted in each of the following territories of:
- Treaty Members (Barak Runedar, Kohlingen, the Shrine, Wharftown)
- Former Treaty Members (Winya Ravena)

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The first results of the ongoing investigations into the financial affairs, the domestic affairs and the foreign affairs of the Commonwealth are being issued by the Office of the Hand of the Duchess.

Copies of the reports, ledgers and documents may be requested by established News Papers, local amian states and treaty members. A single copy of the specific files will then be provided within a tenday.

Those with established press credentials and official standing in the governments of the amian isle and member states of the Treaty of Light may request the opportunity to examine the original reports, ledgers and documents these results are based on. If so granted, the examination will be only permitted if the security precautions to safeguard these documents are accepted and fully adhered to.

Requests may be filed with the Office of the Hand of the Duchess.

Ser Robert of Caris,
Hand of the Duchess

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Office of the Hand of the Duchess
Investigation into the financial affairs of the Commonwealth

At the date of the ducal intervention, the debt was determined to be at a minimum of -38.000.000 gold pieces. While the treasury of the Commonwealth was illegally filled with confiscated property, the relocation of government funds into private funds, the gross mismanagement of finances and the private expenses covered by government funds exhausted the treasury, in addition to the relocation of funds to the local Arcanum Cell. This was determined by analyzing the confiscated ledgers of the Ministry of Finance.

Confiscation of ducal and noble property was determined. Following the coup, the Ministry of Finance in cooperation with the Ministry of Law saw to an extensive list of foreclosures, repossessions due to truancy in taxes, mortgages, and other financial factors of ducal and noble property. While never using the term of confiscation, in order to make it appear legally responsible.

These are clearly stipulated within the confiscated memos of the Ministry of Finance , confiscated Ledgers of the Ministry of Finance, and the confiscated documents of the Ministry of Law.

Numerous accounts of expenses being covered by government funding were determined. As the ledgers of the Ministry of Finance show, these are widespread, and most systemic within the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Magic. Mister Bill Hurst has been a particularly persistent offender, using government funds to cover the personal expenses of expensive meals and dinners.

The direct relocation of government funds into private accounts is another widespread and systemic symptom of the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Finance. The circle of government clerks and officials around Penn E. Pincer have done so extensively. The greatest amount of misappropriation was committed by Jay Edgar Mover and those clerks and officials around him. Enormous gaps in the ledgers of the Ministry and Finance and other funding mysteriously disappearing have shown this has been common practice by the Commonwealth Government.

The gross mismanagement of government funds has also been uncovered and well-established through the ledgers of the Ministry of Finance. In addition to the criminal relocation of government funds into private accounts, there have been a great deal of other accounting errors attributed to incompetence. There are numerous records that show funds mysteriously disappearing, as well as other accounting errors. It was revealed that especially the tenure of Penn E. Pincer was grossly mismanaged.

It was uncovered through the confiscated ledgers of the local Arcanum Cell, that the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Finance had been involved in providing it with additional funds. Jay Edgar Mover has been directly tied to these transactions.

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Office of the Hand of the Duchess
Investigation into the foreign affairs of the Commonwealth

It has been determined through the confiscated documents of the Ministry of Law, that the Commonwealth of Cordor has indeed employed Murder Squads as intelligence has first reported to us two years prior. These highly trained and capable groups were sent out with the orders to locate Duchess Eileen d'Cordor and Princess Lanie d'Cordor in order to assassinate them. In the case of the princess, a kidnapping in order to blackmail the ducal loyalists into submission with her life was preferred, though lethal methods remained welcomed if it were not possible to do so.

Furthermore, there have been numerous accounts of hostile acts against other states. Among these accounts is an internal personal memo of Penn E. Pincer in regard to his work in order to secure a third party to conduct violent acts against and sow discord between the member states of the Treaty of Light through a third party. The purpose of this was to weaken the potential enemies of the Commonwealth, and to move their focus away from Cordor. While the third party goes unmentioned, the internal memo strongly suggests this third party was the Necropolis of Tarkuul.

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Office of the Hand of the Duchess
Investigation into the domestic affairs of the Commonwealth

The records of the Ministry of Law prove that those with the right contacts were free of the threat of civil and criminal prosecution. Several individuals, among them clerks and government officials, as well as their families and friends, were granted favorable plea bargains and non-disclosure agreements. The accused often times only had to pay a single copper to cover the agreement of the plea bargain. These trials and plea bargains were furthermore conducted behind closed doors, with no access of the public.

The records of the Ministry of Law concerning the trial of the local Arcanum Cell confirm the suspicion that the trial was nothing more than a farce. Evidence against the arcanum was thrown out and suppressed by the court. The Commonwealth also accepted and processed improperly filed and clearly faked citizenship papers of the arcanum members.

Supporting the records confiscated from the local Arcanum Cell, the documents of the Ministry of Law confirm that those who were deemed to be troublesome to the Commonwealth were placed into the custody of the Arcanum without trial. Especially those who were suspected to have a chance to gain a favorable verdict when properly tried, where dealt through these unlawful detainments.

That the Commonwealth knew of the secret prison of the Arcanum and even had individuals detained by them has been established. The involvement of the Commonwealth however extended well beyond that. The records of the Ministry of Law show that after being stripped of his position as Guard Captain, mister Yance was granted the position of Warden of the secret prison. Numerous orders going to and from him prove he was still actively employed by the Commonwealth, while unofficially so.

Documents of the Ministry of Magic have also confirmed that it was behind the casting of the 'blood boiling' spell on the day of the ducal cordorian intervention. Outlined within these documents is that the purpose was to have the blood of the people of Cordor “boil”, rendering them “hot blooded”, and thus far more prone to violence and acts of blind aggression. It was outlined that minor annoyances would manifest as outright anger.

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Office of the Hand of the Duchess
Investigation into the abdication of Duke Montgommery d'Cordor

As to the question of whether Sir Mark Dorne, Captain of the Law Knights, and Collin Reyes planned and orchestrated the coup: after examining the evidence and testimony we have affirmed their guilt. Dissatisfied with the ducal decision of his Grace Duke Montgommery d'Cordor to absolve Lieutenant Galverson of the civil charges of Prejudiced Violation of the Tolerance Policy levied against him, as well as the ducal degree to enforce a banishment of those of Lolthlite faith, Sir Mark Dorne began to organize a coup with his Law Knights.

The testimony of Evetal Savannah, lieutenant of the Cordorian Scouting Division, speaks both to the aforementioned motive and the premeditation and preparations undertaken by Sir Mark Dorne to enact the criminal coup. The first step taken to enable the coup was to ensure that the Duke's own intelligence apparatus, the Scouting Division, would not warn his Grace of his preparations. By order of Sir Mark Dorne, the Scouting Division was no longer to report directly to his Grace, but instead issue its reports through the Office of the Captain of the Law Knights. Following this, Sir Mark Dorne issued the order to the Scouting Division to spy upon the members of the Ducal Cabinet.

Furthermore, the Scouting Division was informed by Sir Mark Dorne that demands would be presented to his Grace by Sir Mark Dorne. The demands, as shared with the Scouting Division, were to enact more control over the reckless adventurers of the city and to authorize Sir Mark Dorne and his division of Law Knights to conduct regular patrols. The Scouting Division were ordered by Sir Mark Dorne to secure the Ducal Palace in case his Grace was not amendable to the demands. The day that they were ordered to secure the Ducal Palace coincided with the same day that His Grace abdicated his rulership. The order was issued by Sir Mark Dorne two tendays prior to the day of the Duke's abdication.

As outlined in the sworn testimony of Lord Augir Goldberg, a detachment of Law Knights seized and secured the ducal mint, a rightful property of Lord Augir Goldberg. They have done so without just cause being presented at the time of seizure, and instead made use of their right to deliver just cause up to forty hours post action. Before these forty hours passed, his Grace abdicated the throne.

Given the vital nature of the ducal mint in regard to the economy and trade of the city, this action strongly suggests premeditation of a coup when examined in the context of the actions that occurred both before and after.

The testimony of Evetal Savannah, lieutenant of the Scouting Division attests that Sir Mark Dorne had several meetings with Collin Reyes prior to the abdication. Johnathin Leohnard attests that one hour before the announcement of His Grace's abdication, he witnessed Sir Mark Dorne and Collin Reyes enter the ducal chambers, where His Grace had been residing, together.

As to the question of the coup's justification and the assumption thereof that Duke Montgommery d'Cordor was deserving of removal by the people for crimes of tyrannical despotism: it is the finding of this office that such has not occurred. To meet the qualifications his Grace would have needed to forfeit his divine right to rule through violations to the noblesse oblique.

Neither have we found credible cases that suggest that his Grace was a tyrant, while instead we have found numerous credible cases that speak to his benevolence, fairness and leniency towards his people. This is supported by the judicial ruling of late Justice Hector L. Carton on the 1st of Ches 1377DR, formally exonerating His Grace of all crimes against his people.

While this ruling does not hold the legitimacy of a recognized court, being a branch of the illegitimate treasonous provisional government, we feel that the exoneration of his Grace by a jury consisting fully of those of common birth, under a judge that willingly serves a government guilty of treason, attests to the lack of any credible evidence against him.

In the morning of the 18th of Nightal, a joint statement of the Hand of the Duke, the Herald of the Duke and House Valis of Kohlingen is released. While those sent to the officials of Barak Runedar, Bendir Dale, Ceyren's Mill, Cormyr, Cordor, Endir's Point, Howness, Kohlingen, Nes'ek, the Oakmist Vale, Ostland, the Shrine, Wharftown, Wiltun, Uhm and the States of the Lord Alliance are bound in a fine leather covering and printed in high quality, the mass production that follows is not.

It is evident that what ever print is releasing them, is overburdened by the quantity and this statement has been rushed due to the threat to the region. At times words are smudged as the ink had not yet fully dried, before the pages were bound together. Others have not been properly bound or the pages were not printed on straight. Stacks upon stacks are handed to well compensated merchants, the cart services and ship captains for distrubtion for all across the region. The focus of distrubtion appear to be the settlements of Amia, and most prominently, Cordor.

On the evening of the 15th of Nightal, as Lieutennant Aurelius has so dilligently informed you, I have indeed addressed the gathered members of the Commonwealth Tribunal and Council. Those with me, refered by him as my attendants, were my squire John of Gars and Sir Tuomas Valo of Kohlingen. The meeting pertained the following matters:

- Assurance that the Duchy is not in the process of preparing or planning to reclaim the City of Cordor. This was felt necessary to do, due to the rumors that have circulated since the return of his Grace, Duke Montgommery d'Cordor, that suggested otherwise.

- Assurance that the Duchy's first and foremost endeavor is to continue to safeguard the people of Cordor and deal with the threat of Collin Reyes and the Arcanum. The Duchy has in light of this offered military assistance and building materials for defenses, should Amn continue to threathen the people of Cordor.

In addition, information regarding this threat was presented to the Commonwealth Tribunal and Council, and questions in it's regards awnsered. They were further more informed of our intent to release the now made public statement pertaining the history and threat of the Arcanum and Collin Reyes, to improve the capabilities of the region to stand against it.

A draft of the statement was requested, and delievered on the morning of the next day to the beforementioned officials. While it was asked what our plans for the future of Cordor are, our awnser is simple; To ensure it has a future. All else can and will need to wait until the sons and daughters of Cordor are safe.

Ser Robert Henry Richard of Caris
Hand of the Duke

[IC] Reports issued by the Hand of the Duchess

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