Palace of the Courts (Achysia)

The Palace of the Courts, also known as the Palace of the Constitution, sometimes also referred to as the Imperial Court, is the seat of the Imperial Courts of Achysia, and one of the most visited touristic destinations in the Achysian capital of Vathora. Its construction was started in 1885 by Achysian Emperor Zaeron in order to mark the 10th celebration of the Day of the Constitution, and to serve as the new seat of the Imperial Courts after the 1465 Revolution had permanently damaged the old Palace of the Councils. The Palace was meant to serve as a symbol and a rallying cry for Achysia's constitution and newly founded democratic institutions, and to surpass older monuments such as the Temple of the Divine Wisdom. It was was one of the costliest building projects of the century, with large numbers of workers being brought from Achysia's colonies in order to help. The project was hugely controversial due to the extravagance of the design, which used countless precious stones and important quantities of gold, and as such, it was often compared to the overambitious creations of the Elyrian emperors of old, and it was opposed by several of the major political parties of the age. Despite their opposition, the Palace was eventually completed in 1494 and was inaugurated with a lavish three-day celebration in the entire city of Vathora.

The reunited Imperial Courts had their first session in the palace on the 10th of Frostwane 1495, but the Palace quickly gained a negative reputation due to the attempted assassination of Chancellor Varoyos Akronom. Less then 10 years after its inauguration, the First Great war begun, and it brought with it the end of democratic rule and the establishment of a military dictatorship, which rendered the Courts powerless. In the short restoration of constitutional rule between 1509 and 1512, the Palace became associated with the perceived arrogance of the councilors and representatives that met in it, and blood was shed on its stairs during the Autocratic Coup of 1512.

The Palace essentially remained empty until in 1534 despite various ideas proposed by Autocratic leaders, and it was a battleground during the Alyal Coup of 1534, when paramilitary Sentinels occupied it during the Revolt of the Bloody Roses. The role played by the Palace during the battle earned it a renewed reputation, and it served as the seat of the Courts of the Republic during the shot lived Second Achysian Republic, once again becoming a symbol of constitutional rule and democracy. Ever since the 1545 Restoration, it has served as the seat of the Imperial Courts.