7.5 Aurelle · Absolute monarchy · Royal charters and fiefs

Aspect	Design
Inspiration	Absolute monarchies where the monarch holds executive and legislative power with hereditary succession and rule by decree (the brief cites Saudi Arabia and a Thailand-style royal position). Stylized, not a depiction of any real royal family.
Land & climate	Windswept cliffs, bridges over gorges, highland steppes; windmills and Skysilk looms (a fine cliff-moth silk).
Capital	Highspire.
Currency	Crown (CRN) – gold-backed coin: the Royal Mint converts Crowns to bullion at a declared mint parity. The Monarch may debase the coinage by decree (more Crowns per bar) – an instant windfall that costs Currency Confidence and makes old full-weight coins trade at a premium.
Religion	State church – the Kinward Rite under crown supremacy: the Monarch is Keeper of the Hearth, every coronation needs the Hearth-Keepers’ blessing, and Counts and Dukes must conform. Other faiths may worship privately; commoner dissenters pay a dissenter levy set by decree (capped – Section 14.3).
Government	The Monarch rules by royal decree, advised by an appointed Privy Council. Succession follows the Royal House: the AI Monarch names an heir from the House’s AI members; failing that, seniority. Noble ranks: Commoner → Freeholder → Knight → Baron (open to human citizens as social ranks with estates but no jurisdiction) → Count → Duke (AI lords who govern fiefs, groups of squares). Titles, estates and fiefs are granted or revoked by decree. Rival AI houses keep claimants citizens can rally behind (Section 8.12).
Economy	Royal monopolies (Skysilk, arms, salt), guild charters that grant trade rights, fiefs where nobles collect rents and owe tribute and troops; commoners trade in chartered markets.
Freedoms	Low-moderate: court gazette plus tolerated broadsheets (criticizing the Monarch is lèse-majesté); rich cosmetics for nobles, sumptuary limits for commoners; movement needs a lord’s leave between fiefs.
Weaknesses	Arbitrary power; inequality by birth and favor; legitimacy hinges on one person; usurpation and coups.
Aesthetic	Government: the Sky Throne, heraldry and sumptuary dress by rank. Climate: white cliff spires, wind-vanes, terraced gardens. Currency: gold Crowns stamped with the reigning Monarch, a royal mint on the palace terrace. Religion: Kinward name-stones of the great houses in every hall. Palette: sky blue, white, gilt.

Why you’d choose it

The court game: earn Royal Favor, win titles and estates, joust for honor – and if the crown falters, pledge yourself to an AI pretender and rally the commons to crown a new house.