The Overview
The Sovereign
The goal of this thread is to explain the role of the Kings and Queens of Rynmere, as well as to explain how the monarchy operates, and the function of a Royal Dynasty.
The Dynasty
Historically, the Royal Family typically carried the surname 'Andaris', and often 'Warrick', or 'Venora'. These three families ruled the Seven Duchies almost without exception, and carried their regal, royal names throughout the process. During this period in time, these ducal families were considered to be 'royal families', and were given exalted precedence in most matters of court. Much of the affairs of the Kingdom revolved around them, and as a result, the people of their Duchies tended to be wealthier and more prosperous.
Though this seemed to function adequately, it was typically a bitter system, often resented by the other Duchies - particularly the four Northern ones, who could never seem to acquire the reins of power. It was almost conspiratorial, that royal lines always fell through the three southern dynasties, conjoined in their desire to perpetuate their own influence over the Kingdom. Eventually, in Arc 473, this resulted in an all-out civil war between the four northern houses and the three southern, demanding independence if they should not be represented like the rest of the ducal provinces. The south won, unsurprisingly. But in the aftermath of the war, the system of royal dynasties changed. No longer would one House domineer all seven Duchies throughout their dynastic rule. Instead, though the ruler of Rynmere would always derive from one of the Seven families, they would forge their own symbolic dynasty - meant to represent all Seven. The sole capital of the Kingdom would be Andaris, rather than the often shifting amalgamation of cities in the south, and the Justicar would sit as the King and Queen's most revered adviser so that the Seven could speak their will to the ear of the King, in a manner that represents all.
As a result, when someone is chosen to become King or Queen from one of the Seven Houses as a result of the previous royal family going extinct, there are a few actions that must always take place. Firstly, they must be a legitimate child of one of these Seven, holding the blood of the Sacred within them. Secondly, they must renounce all claims to any titles they are in line for within their home Duchy; they cannot be a baron, Count or Duke. Third, they must forge their own symbolic House, choosing their own name and carrying a family line distinct from the House of their birth. With all of these conditions met, they are able to rule Rynmere. If they refuse, then they are cast aside.
Choosing A King
In the case of the previous Royal Family going extinct, a King or Queen is chosen from among the Seven Houses to rule the Kingdom. This can be anyone -- truly, anyone, among these families. A Duke, Count, Baron, Margrave... or even an unlanded cousin with no formal titles, though this is rare. Typically a King is chosen among Dukes or Counts, though with some notable exceptions throughout history. Once a list of candidates has been compiled, they are voted upon by the Council of Seven Dukes, and the candidate with the most votes is then selected to be presented to the Ancestor Gods. It is unknown exactly what occurs during this historical meeting, but those who leave the Royal Chambers after this seance are typically forever altered. They are bonded to the Justicar as their right hand and the Herald as their left, and are considered to be prepared to rule the Kingdom.
If they are not accepted by the Ancestor Gods, then they typically return home, shamed and of a broken mind. Forever doubting their own capabilities; forever mocked and jeered at beneath whispering breaths, and pressed beneath the heel of their failure.
But to the victors, then go the spoils. The Ancestor Gods elect their King, and all follow. There is no more peaceful time in the Kingdom than during the reign of a newly elected Monarch, as their legitimacy is granted not only by the Dukes, but by the Gods themselves. Upon being chosen, they craft their dynasty, and leave their old House immediately behind.
Inheritance
Unlike with other Houses, the Royal Family cannot adopt others into their family. Though they may utilize surrogacy to create heirs, they do not operate like the seven bloodlines; if the Royal Family cannot sustain itself without adoption, it will simply die off. Unlike with other Houses, the royal family does not follow primogeniture succession. Rather than choosing the eldest child to inherit titles (in most cases, at least), the reigning monarch determines their heir. This can be their eldest or youngest child, or any child in-between.
The other children of the King/Queen are married off, into other Houses, without exception. In the very rare scenario where a non-inheriting royal child reproduces with a non-noble in a legitimate marriage, these children will be members of the House from which the Royal Dynasty was founded. This means if the Founder of 'House Sprinklebottom' was originally named 'Bob Endor', the children of a child who did not successfully join another House will automatically be Endor, though they will likely be considered distant cousins and will not be heavily involved in the line of inheritance.
The Monarch
The role of a King is many. It is a tedious position, filled with the intrigue of court and the whispers and echoes of sycophants. There are many, many issues presented to the King on a daily basis. Not only do they directly administer the city of Andaris, but they handle most international trade affairs, directly preside over and monitor the Merchant Houses, and solve inter-House disputes between the Seven Families. They are also expected to act as a religious icon, perhaps even more radiant than the Herald and Justicar. Though the Herald acts as the Living Virtues of Rynlism, and the Justicar the Law and Decree of the Ancestor Gods, the King is the Sword, the Shield and the Crown. They are the defender of all things righteous - they are the pillar upon which the Kingdom is upheld.
To this effect, their authority is truly absolute. They can veto any decision made by the Council of Dukes, if they wish. They can force new laws through without convening in meetings, though they are expected to be beholden to the will of their Dukes on many matters, and typically do not exercise their utter authority without restraint. Though the King must measure their reputation among the Nobles, they do truly hold the Holy and Royal ability to act as they please, living a life almost akin to that of a God. The Monarch may demand to be wed to any member of any House, save for a currently reigning Duchess or Duke. They may provide amnesty to whoever they wish, for any crime. In fact, they may often commit any crime they wish, as well. There have been many occasions throughout history of the King or Queen murdering those within their court they believed to be disloyal. Though the public often expects some level of assurance of the validity of these actions, evidence provided is typically marginal.
To this effect, the Monarch may rule with great tyranny, or benevolence, or order, or liberty; Rynmere is often theirs to shape, and as long as they do not aggressively veer into ducal matters or perpetually act against the will of the Justicar and Herald, much of the Realm acts as their own entity to craft to the standards they set.
Resources
As mentioned in this thread, the King and Queen of Rynmere collect a percentage of all taxes within the Kingdom, directly into their royal coffers. Considering the Duchies typically fund their own projects, this is generally used to assist in developing the City of Andaris, as well as adding to their own Royal fleets, armies, treasuries and other forms of resources, including art, minerals, materials, artifacts, and any assorted number of things that the royal family may desire. The Herald and Justicar typically assist in serving their interests, so they may lean heavily into all of the Kingdom's ongoing affairs, holding a preeminent position within both the realm of Politics and the Faith. Generally they will have a numerous, well-trained army of superior strength to even the most militaristic Duchies such as Warrick and Krome, and a navy easily rivaling the Duchy of Venora, or Burhan. Being that they can additionally call upon the armies and navies of the Dukes and Margraves, this places the Crown always at the absolute top of institutional and militarized power.
Notes on the most recent King
Cassander RenaultCassander, the Current King of Rynmere, is said to derive from the Renault Dynasty. However, it is well known among nobles that he is not of the blood of the Seven, and is in fact a bastard from an affair held by his mother - who was married into House Renault - and a peasant man of Krome. When he was very young, his parents and legitimate siblings boarded a ship to tour the coastline of Old Sheor, exploring the ruins and mystical enigmas of the lost Kingdom. Cassander, being a bastard, was typically not invited to such occasions... as he was scorned and resented by his father, who viewed him as a symbol of lust and infidelity.
Unfortunately, due to the chaotic ether still permeating the old Kingdom, his family's ship was struck with an ethereal wind that scalded the flesh of everyone who boarded, inflicting them with magical-born illnesses, and diseases, in the form of mutative tumors that boiled across the surface of their skin. Their condition was quickly learned of, and though they were left stranded along the shoreline, a contingent of Seekers and Skyriders were sent to recover them - and potentially cure them of their magical afflictions.
But they could not, no matter their efforts, nor the work of their most skilled Grafters. The Renaults all died through time. The King lasted the longest, and for the remainder of his horrific final trials, he cursed and condemned his young son - before desperately naming him his heir. In doing so, he broke Royal Law, as a child with no blood of the Seven cannot rule the Kingdom.
But, perhaps fortuitously for the young Cassander and the House of Renault, the Kingdom was - at this time - undergoing the sweeping effects of a massive slave rebellion that had riled tens of thousands of slaves into open war with their ducal masters. Overwhelmed and overextended, the Dukes were altogether unprepared for a succession crisis, and the rivalries they held with one another threatened to throw the Kingdom into a civil war alongside the slave revolt. They decided, at this moment, that their ambitions were not worth the utter annihilation of Rynmere... and acknowledged Stephen Renault's illegitimate son, as per his final decree, as the King breathed his final breaths in the chaotic wasteland of Sheor.
Since then, Cassander had always worn two burdens - an utterly foul disposition towards magic, which has influenced much of his policy, and the shame of being the only Rynmeren King in history to not carry the blood of the Seven. It is said that he often hears the whispers of the Ancestor Gods in his sleep, deriding him for his peasant blood, and demanding him to step from the seat of the throne.