Treaties

One of the signature mechanics of the Axioms Of Dominion diplomacy and political system is the Treaty. A treaty is a series of agreements signed on to by some set of characters. In each agreement one or more characters agree to provide something to one or more characters. A treaty will have many such agreements in it. Treaties gain force based on the number of parties involved and the time they are in force. The most common treaties are not permanent.

There is also a special kind of treaty called a charter, which establishes a government of a state. Early states existed without charters. Charters become more powerful the longer they are active. Without a charter a ruler make make many demands and the follow through will be based on military power and other factors. Under a charter the negative consequences of performing a prohibited action are increased. As more and more prohibited actions are performed the effect of the charter degrades, though this takes some time. The anger generated by such criminal activity is great and it brings the populace into the conversation. Populations are sort of ignorant or naive or idealist in a way and so violations of the "natural order" affect them more negatively. Other characters meanwhile have less respect for the system if it is in their way.

Charters may be modified over time to become more complex. The earliest and most common charters would be weaker. New agreements in a charter do not benefit as powerfully from the prestige associated with it.