Second Diet of Saltstone

Not to be confused with the First Diet of Saltstone of 1540.

The Second Diet of Saltstone was an Imperial diet held in the fortress of Saltstone over the controversy surrounding the Storming of Kraken's Watch during the House of Vanir's celebrations of Saint Edmond's Day by Duke Alexander. The ruling which came from the diet became the Pacta Conventa, which gave Imperial permission for a controlled, supervising internal conflict, and also laid out specific guidelines and restrictions for either faction of the war, with both sides agreeing to stay loyal to the Empire despite the results of the conflict. The diet was overseen by Emperor John II on the 7th of the First Seed, 1559.

Background

Under the cover of darkness, Duke Alexander had ordered Courlander men to storm the keep of Kraken's Watch during the House of Vanir's celebrations of Saint Edmond's day, which were also a celebration of Lord Britannus's peaceful reclamation of the keep from Duke Alexander. Infuriated by Duke Alexander's acts, Lord Britannus, alongside Duke John of Carnatia and Lord Peter Barbanov, formed the Carnatian League. The League consisted of the martial, fiscal, and diplomatic forces of the Duchy of Carnatia, the Hetmanate of Krajia, and the Barony of Kraken's Watch.

Pacta Conventa

The Pacta Conventa was released by Emperor John II on the same day of 7th of the First Seed, with oversight by Ser Maric Vimmark and Prince Henry Joseph of Furnestock. Within the Pacta Conventa were laid out the strict guidelines that both factions within the conflict would have to follow, namely:

• Neither party may call upon foreign or domestic born freeriders or mercenaries, those soldiers with no allegiance except the pay of coin, for martial, fiscal, or diplomatic assistance.
• Neither party may call upon the arcane or Ibleeic powers, those which are inhuman and contradictory to our world, for martial, fiscal, or diplomatic assistance.
• Neither party may call upon the Elven estates, specifically the Dominion of Malin, for martial, fiscal, or diplomatic assistance.
• Neither party may call upon foreign lords, even with regard to the sacred bond of marriage, for martial, fiscal, or diplomatic assistance.
• Both parties may call upon domestic lords sworn directly to the Imperial State, only if with regard to the sacred bond of marriages between the Houses, for martial, fiscal, or diplomatic assistance.
• Neither party may call upon vassal lords of lords, even with regard to the sacred bond of marriage, for martial, fiscal, or diplomatic assistance.
• Upon the Duchy of Courland party, only those lords with sacred marriage to the House of Staunton may be called upon for martial, fiscal or diplomatic assistance.
• Upon the Carnatian League party, only those lords with sacred marriage to the House of Vanir may be called upon for martial, fiscal, or diplomatic assistance.
• Upon the Duchy of Courland party, lords with sacred marriage to any vassal house of the Duchy of Courland may not be called upon for martial, fiscal, or diplomatic assistance.
• Upon the Carnatian League party, lords with sacred marriage to any of the coalition members, specifically the House of Barbovic, House of Kovachev, and the Hetman of Krajia, or any vassal house of the Duchy of Carnatia, Barony of Kraken’s Watch, or the Hetmanate of Krajia may not be called upon for martial, fiscal, or diplomatic assistance.

Many lords, including the Emperor himself, were present at the creation of the Pacta Conventa, though only two representatives of each side signed it, including:

• His Grace the Lord Paramount Fiske Vanir of the Carnatian League
• His Grace the Duke Alexander of Courland