Line #52 Main/RoyalDecree


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6	[[quoteright:340:[[TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/royal_decree1.jpg]]]]
7	[[caption-width-right:340:"By order of his royal majesty, [[VideoGame/ZeroWing all thy base are now belong to he]]!"]]
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14	->''"We have arrived, and it is now that we perform our charge. In fealty to the God-Emperor, our undying Lord, and by the grace of the Golden Throne, I declare Exterminatus upon the Imperial world of Typhon Primaris. I hereby sign the death warrant of an entire world, and consign a million souls to oblivion. May Imperial Justice account in all balance. The Emperor Protects."''
15	-->-- '''Ordo Malleus Fleet''', ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar II: Retribution''
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17	'''HEAR YE!! HEAR YE!!'''
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19	A formal and ritualized decree is a common device in fiction, used to add a sense of grandeur to otherwise simple proceedings. These often begin with a reference to the person(s) promulgating the decree, and might even [[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard spell out all the titles they hold]]. What follows is usually either a generally applicable instruction or a list of demands. In either case, the decree has the force of law.
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21	As the name of this trope suggests, such decrees are usually made by or in the name of a sovereign ruler. Rulers may utter their decrees personally (particularly when the decision is a reaction to a specific incident or discussion in their presence), often with a noticeable alteration of their voice. Alternatively, they may have it read out by someone specifically charged with the task.
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23	In some cases, a decree of this legally-binding sort is issued by a group of people, such as a regency council that governs in the name of a child or an incapacitated ruler. Other groups issuing such decrees include town councils of free cities and religious authorities of TheChurch (especially of the [[FantasticCatholicism fantastic variety]]).
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25	Can overlap with BalconySpeech.
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27	----
28	!!Examples:
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30	[[foldercontrol]]
31
32	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
33	* In ''Manga/DanceInTheVampireBund'', Mina Tepes, queen of the vampires, uses this to kill a lesser vampire.
34	[[/folder]]
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36	[[folder:Fan Works]]
37	* ''Fanfic/ThePiecesLieWhereTheyFell'': In chapter 25 of the sequel ''Picking Up the Pieces'', after Gentle Step's trial is over, King Well Banded issues one elevating Internal Affairs' Deputy Commissioner to the rank of Acting Commissioner, carrying out her former boss's duties while he's under investigation, and with the caveat that she'll be getting his job in full once he's officially found guilty.
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39	[[/folder]]
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41	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
42	* In Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'', the Duke gives one of these to start the search for Cinderella using the glass slipper. This means that the Prince will have to marry ''someone'' soon.
43	* ''WesternAnimation/SantaClausIsCominToTown'': Burgermeister Meisterburger makes a decree that outlaws Toymakers and toys in a {{Ruritania}}-like town. Because he's a jerkass (and in charge for some reason, which is strange given that he focuses all his attention on his rather silly rule rather than actually handling the affairs of his town).
44	* ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'': On returning from their honeymoon, newlyweds Shrek and Fiona are invited to the Kingdom of 'Far Far Away' to be received by Fiona's parents. The invitation is delivered with all the pomp and grandeur of a Royal Decree if not technically being one.
45	[[/folder]]
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47	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
48	* ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' (1939). The Wizard gives instructions to the people of the Emerald City just before he takes off in his balloon.
49	-->'''Wizard:''' And I hereby decree that until what time, if any, that I return, the Scarecrow, by virtue of his highly superior brains, shall rule in my stead, assisted by the Tin Man, by virtue of his magnificent heart, and the Lion, by virtue of his courage! Obey them as you would me!
50	* ''Film/{{Gullivers Travels\|2010}}'' features it in the first part.
51	* In ''Film/{{Nosferatu}}'' (1922), the town council decrees people are forbidden from transporting plague victims to the hospital to avoid spreading the disease. Since it's a silent film, a town crier is shown banging a drum, and the proclamation is shown on a TitleCard.
52	[[/folder]]
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54	[[folder:Literature]]
55	* In Creator/DavidEddings' ''Literature/TheElenium'' series, Sir Sparhawk presents a document to the Royal Council:
56	-->'''Sparhawk:''' It has the queen's signature on it and her personal seal.
57	-->[The document is later handed to Primate Annias.]
58	-->[The primate took the parchment in both hands as if he would tear it in two.]
59	-->"What's the penalty for destroying a royal decree, my Lord of Lenda?" Sparhawk asked mildly.
60	-->'''Earl of Lenda:''' Death.
61	* Kelson dictated terms to the Mearan Pretender in ''[[Literature/{{Deryni}} The King's Justice]]'' in one of these. Dhugal (who was related to her by marriage) entered Laas and read the decree to her and her advisors. He was frequently interrupted by questions from Caitrin and Judhael about the fates of their kin in the Mearan army.
62	[[/folder]]
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64	[[folder: Mythology and Religion]]
65	* ''Literature/TheBible''
66	** In the ''Literature/BookOfEsther'', King Ahasuerus drunkenly requests that his wife, Queen Vashti, come to his party wearing her crown to show off her beauty.[[note]] Some say he meant ''only'' her crown.[[/note]] She refused the request, and he got mad. His advisors raised concerns that the women of the Persian Empire would rebel against their husbands and upset the social order, so they pressured him to divorce her and write a decree stating that the man is the head of the household. He complies, and sends his wife away. A few days later, he feels bad, but since there was no taking back a royal decree in the Persian Empire, there was nothing he could do. The advisors then take beautiful young virgins from all over the empire for him to choose as his next queen.
67	** In the ''Literature/BookOfDaniel'', King Darius' advisors try to get rid of Daniel by manipulating the king into issuing a decree that anyone who worships a god or man other than Darius must be [[FedToTheBeast thrown into the lions' den]]. As expected, Daniel is caught praying to the Hebrew God, and since Persian decrees are unalterable, there is nothing Darius can do about it. Fortunately, God prevents the lions from eating Daniel, and Darius [[HoistByHisOwnPetard has the advisors thrown in, instead]].
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70	[[folder:Tabletop RPG]]
71	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
72	** An early one shows up in Basic D&D adventure X3 ''Curse of Xanathon''. In the BackStory the Duke of Rhoona has issued several bizarre decrees, such as ordering that all taxes be paid in beer and that riders must face backwards on their horses. During the adventure the {{PC}}s witness the formal announcement of three decrees: (a) a declaration of war between Rhoona and the dwarven nation of Rockhome (b) combustible substances (e.g. lamp oil, candles and torches) cannot be burned at night and (c) all meat in the town can only be eaten by horses.
73	* In ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}'', the Emperor reserves the option to issue an Imperial Warrant which overrides normal law and custom and proclaims that the holder be treated as if he was the emperor within the parameters written on the warrant. Usually this is for special missions especially those that might require jackbooting a lot of {{Obstructive Bureaucrat}}s. For instance, during the Fifth Frontier War, the Archduke Norris used an Imperial Warrant to engage in a mass firing of incompetent admirals in the Imperial navy.
74	[[/folder]]
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76	[[folder:Theatre]]
77	* ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'': King George III's first song, "You'll Be Back", is arguably presented as one of these, starting with the last lines of "Farmer Refuted", where two redcoats appear and sing, "SILENCE! A message from the King! A message from the King! ''A message from the King!''" just before the king walks out on stage for his song.
78	[[/folder]]
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80	[[folder:Video Games]]
81	* The page quote comes the TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} game ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar 2: Retribution'', when a nameless Inquisitor invokes {{E\|arthShatteringKaboom}}xterminatus.
82	* Played for laughs in the [[VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss Jade's Story]] chapter of ''[[VideoGame/TalesSeries Tales of Fandom 2]]'', in which Emperor Peony wants to go out into the city to investigate a possible coup being plotted against him, but Jade and Guy (quite reasonably) won't let him. The solution? Imperial Decree declaring that Jade and Guy are to accompany him into the city, which is met with exasperated obedience. (Anise too, but technically Peony doesn't have authority over her, so she was just tagging along for fun.)
83	* In ''VideoGame/{{Tyranny}}'', Kyros the Overlord can declare Edicts that go beyond simple force of law into straight-up FantasticNuke territory. If Kyros issues an Edict, it ''will'' happen, whether it's turning an entire area to stone, engulfing it in fire, or simply killing everyone there. Usually there's a CurseEscapeClause to prevent or end the punishment by meeting some demand, which can sometimes be manipulated via ExactWords. [[spoiler: The player character also gains this power.]]
84	[[/folder]]
85
86	[[folder:Webcomics]]
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88	* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': Parodied. Tensaided gives a decree like this when Sarah [[MundaneMadeAwesome beats him in a card game]].
89	-->'''Tensaided:''' LET IT BE KNOWN TO ALL THAT SARAH BROWN HAS PROVEN HERSELF IN THE CARDSTOCK RING! ANY WHO WOULD DOUBT HER STATUS AS A GEEK, DOUBT NO MORE! SHE IS ONE OF US!
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91	[[/folder]]
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93	[[folder:Western Animation]]
94	* Just before the closing credits of the Australian cartoon series ''Arthur! and the Square Knights of the Round Table'', Arthur issues a royal decree that the audience tune in next time the drawbridge is down. ("...Prithee?")
95	* On ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'', King Julien issues a decree that anyone who touches the royal feet will be banished from the kingdom forever. None of the other animals take it seriously, except for poor Mort, to whom the decree was issued for in the first place. After much hijinks and a near-death experience, Julien "undecrees" the decree.
96	[[/folder]]
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Context Main / RoyalDecree