The following is a mundane dream (or rather a train of thought). It is not public information and is posted only for narrative purposes.

[!]

The woman had left, and the father was forced to remain. She had told him of a black Phylactery, unearthed upon the new Continent, and he was unable to purge worry from his thirty three minds.

"Am I not like you?" The Madman asked to no-one. And, as always, no-one answered:

"Not. . . Enough. . ."

"Of course," was all that came in reply. The Madman thought to the tale of his predecessor, shared not so simply but through grimoire, and sermon, and vision, and death. Though the Madman did not see his predecessor in his thought, but rather himself. 

The Madman had walked a thousand miles from Aegis, leaving the battleground behind for his own battle. He knew in his heart that he could match any Aenguldaemon, but perhaps he could not best them. It did not matter, for he raised his Kingdom and ruled it fairly, kindly, godlessly. The day came, some years after his true ascent, where his adoration was undone. The Nemesis had battled with him, and the struggle lasted only a moment. They were locked, together, in a stark black Throne.

"I am not so unlike you," he argued then. "Were you not locked away, as I was? Were you not made to rule from your Seat, like I? Are you not... Forgotten?" The Madman raged in his mind but his words were measured. Surely he were not inadequate; not after each and every success. "Am I not like you?"

"Not. . . Enough. . ."

"So mote it be."

The Madman considered on, the story already out of order. The nameless Wraith was not born to be a king. He was not born as the nameless Wraith at all, but forged. Made to serve his higher purpose by the hands of others. A mutable and altered soul, far from the will of the so-called Gods and so far from the debased weakness of Man made Dark no longer. The Madman, seeing another as himself, was granted strength and then made to wrestle eternally with another in his resting place.

"Surely we are the same," he spoke again. "Like you, I am uncursed. My demise was in forty years, so what effect does limited nature have?" - "Like you, I am unblessed. I have never stepped into the Seven Skies and I never will." A wind passed, swirling around the forgotten kingdom and its nameless monarch. "And were you not made to house the Wraithsoul, and conjoined to the Aenguldaemon against your intent? What is the Greatgeist if not the modern Wraithsoul, and what is the Horror if not the Soulless Aengul?" He allowed his words to process, before asking yet again: "Am I not like you?"

"Not. . . Enough. . ."

"Doubtless."

There was little else for the Madman to call upon, except for their shared purpose. He did not need this story because he knew it in his heart; he could not exist without it.

"Did you not wield Strife? The sword shattered yet whole? And did you not lead your people with love, a more powerful tool than any weapon?" He begged, pleading his final essences. "I have led your virtue with blade against the Aenguls' shields. I have honored my people, praising them as they did me."

It occurred to him, then. The Difference. The Madman sought permit, pleading with his own vision of the Lord who was not there. He must no longer chase his dreams but instead make them. Finally, changed, his question came.

"Will I be like you?"

"You. . . May. . . Be."

And the woman returned to her Father, and he awoke. He did not speak about his dream, but hers. And the wise Lord was sated.

[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NClqPtQ0YpQ ]

Two men march into the city of Mordhelm of the sovereign state of Devirad, unaccompanied by any form of guard or protective fellowship. Leading the two was the bearing the title of First Judge of Xion; Alduous of Thume, and at his flank followed Sataric, the second to be named Judge of the Godless Way. Atop the steps leading to the the theatre they came to stand, and from his belt Judge Alduous extracted a worn scroll. The pair stood in silence as they awaited a sum of the populace to gather.

Once a mass had gathered, the First Judge unfurled the scroll and cleared his throat; the sound harsh and metallic, with the voice that followed gripped with a grim, coarse tone. Alduous’ words pierced the air and reached across the city center, bidding all to hear:

“By the honor of the Old Lords, the Heralds of the Denominations, and with the authority invested in the Judges of Xion, the venerable Kingdom of Devirad is hereby charged with the following transgressions:

Kinglessness - the monarch’s absence, and thus the hierarchy’s unraveling,

Subversion - the unordained presence of individuals in office that are unfit for government of the people,

Disorder - the lack of a willing and secure protectorate force, occupied by the serpentine and the power-hungry,

Dishonor - as displayed by the “Magister” known as Selrik of House Wick and the falsely proclaimed Captain of the Xionist Organized Guard, who refused a duel with an ordained Royal Lordsguard upon his slandering of the King and his lack of commitment to Xionism,

Betrayal - as displayed by the imposter Selrik of House Wick for his attempted assassination of the Lordsguard, Ser Abdiel of Ipos,

Chaos - for the allowance of violence to occur in the streets unchecked and uncharged, putting the people at risk, and therein allowing the Old Dark to take hold,

Disunity - derived from Deviradaens placing bounties upon their very own countrymen,

Fractition  - derived from the obscure rivalry poised between covenants housed within Devirad, and covenants beyond Devirad that invade to support the subversive agents within it,

And Stagnation - for allowing the evils present in the Abyss to fester here without regard, or effort by the governing body to fix the breakdown of systemic rule.

The three Judges of Xion have strained to determine the most suitable option to take in regard to curing Devirad's ailments. We have surveyed every street, every building, every doctrine, every office; we have searched for the king in the city, in the mountains, in the fields and in the graves, to no avail; we have taken witness to the illness that has taken hold here. It piles up behind this kingdom's walls like a tumor, sapping all life and bodily integrity from this great nation. And like all sicknesses, it is in fire that a cure is gained."

Alduous falls silent for a moment as he rolled the parchment back up before taking hold of it with both hands. They shook stiffly as seconds came to pass, before he simply tore the document in two, and then cast it into the crowd that gathered. His voice boomed from his helmet in a terrible expression of fury, his right hand lifting to curl into a plated fist as his tone ripped across the innards of the city for all to hear:

"It is not by the hand of our enemies that has led to this downfall, by the ones charged with instilling order and prosperity in this Godless nation! It was not Godslaves and morally-posturing puppets that had brought Devirad to the brink of ruination, but MEN! Agents of the Old Dark have wound up into this lightless realm like serpents, seeking to spread their poison to all they touch! And only now do the slaves of Aengudaemons and long-gone Creators come to snap at our heels, knowing they could only strike when weakness and debauchery has inflicted our ken!

ENOUGH!" The First Judge bellows jarringly, "Judgement has come for Devirad, and it dictates that all must be cleansed by FIRE! Every snake wound into its bleak corners, every traitor, every careless fool, every agent of the Old Dark will meet their end as primordial flame falls upon their heads and singes their flesh until it is dust, and grinds their bones into fragments! The Canonists of the Anathema may come, but all they will find is smoldering ashes and the steel of those who cast it upon this city! The Aengulites may come, but they shall be struck down with a fury never before seen with a might so terrible that echoes of anguish will scream forward into future generations of their ill-minded kind, and drive them into madness!"

Both of his hands lifted, as though to regard both the crowd standing before the Judges and the crumbling cityscape itself.

[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alTQiC6hhGc ]

"A Temple of Xion will rise here to last the ages, with the Heralds of the Primeval Way to be granted the seat they deserved, but never given, in the failed state we stand within! The Judges will stand guard upon its walls until the end of days, and they will not subside in their duty until the last Aengudaemonic slave has been reduced to soot and dust! Integrity will be restored, coveted by the Temple of Xion, and should our chance to achieve greatness upon this earth be stricken by those we know as the eternal enemy, then we will fall upon this broken world with such TERRIBLE CONVICTION that the Abyss itself will rise up and seek to consume the very sky!"

With a heavy exhalation, the First Judge lowered his hands, speaking further in conclusion of the announcement.

"We do not fear Gods. We do not fear Churches. We do not fear serpents. We fear the Old Dark.

And we are by the fire forsaken."

The First Seed and night’s eve of the Grand Harvest, 1636

After the first public trial of Devirad, First Judge Alduous’s words rang in the broke down streets of Mordhelm.  Well after the words were spoken, their pressure could be heard weighing down the silence of a decaying city.

"What say you in response to this determination?"

—

—

Second Judge Sataric of Devirad walked through the unmanned gates.  They had begun to callous in rust for years of unused.  The iron groaned beneath the pressure of the rainy winds.  Water cascaded from rooftops onto the streets; it pooled from the moss-covered fountain from its absence of maintenance.  Vines draped down the mighty walls as for some ironic homage to its architects.  They expected the city to last forever—everyone did.

As the rains washed away the newest traces of dredge that built upon it.  The city had come to life, aware of its sins as it tried to cleanse itself.  The gusts of winds howling through the damp alleys and across the cracked pavement was its voice.  It was in pain, agony; there the city stood weeping as its pitiful state was but a shadow of the promise it once held.  What had become of Devirad?  The promised land, the Bastion of the Godless: it is naught but rubble.

The Second Judge stood in solemn contemplation as he stared at the empty crossroads.  His eyes peered to the King’s Manor, where he soon made his way to.  Moss had creeped up upon the door, sealing it shut.  Letters, some recent, lie dampened, crumpled, as the rains dissolved the message they once held: words meant for the king that now drained into the sewers.  Sataric placed his gauntlet to the door, then leaned forward as he placed his ear to the wooden entryway.

The silence spoke louder than the rains.  Compared to the howling wind, its song was deafening.  A cacophonous discord of an absent King, mentor—a friend—rang true in his ears.  It was as if, for a moment, the Second Judge had hoped to be wrong of the truth the city would have to face.

His soaked bronzed armor rattled through the melodic rainfall as he approached the theatre.  Sataric turns once more in quiet contemplation.  He faced the entrance, the gate. There he stood above the fountain, in the quiet streets of a rotting city.

The armored figure’s fist rattled as he clenched his fist.  It shook.  He shook.  Devirad shook.  The city that once was his true north now lies as a cesspit for violence, backstabbing, and debauchery.  Where his grief took shaped, anger formed.  Where hope once lay, scorn filled.

The figure pivoted on the slick surface.  He did not want to face the city or what had become of it.  His visage aimed itself to the entrance of the theatre.  A poster remained nailed into the brick.  Most of its text had faded, but the man already knew what it said.  A calling beckoning. A memory of a now dead man.

Where the sadness formed, hope broke through.

Where the anger formed, inspiration struck.

Where the hatred formed, resolve pierced its veil.

Once more, the man turned.  His fist no longer trembled.  His body no longer buckled. The city no longer wept.

From his visage, a hollow, reverberating sound pierced the silence.  He knew not if any still resided here—this city of the Damned—though he spoke anyways, if not to anyone but himself.

“Devirad, I speak not to you now as a Judge of Xion, but as a man who called this once his home,” he prefaced.

“These walls were meant to stand stall to the maleficar that threatened us.  This gate to protect our people.  These homes to shelter our kinsman.  This theatre to teach our Doctrine.  The clinic to heal our wounded.  And the streets to stand with our fellow Man.”

Sataric raised his plated fist into the air as well as his voice, if not to do anything else but challenge the nature of the rain falling itself.

“The King is dead!” The man thundered, looking around for any who dare challenged his proclamation, “This city is dead!”

“But I dispel the notion that our hopes are dead.  I dispel this notion that the Way is dead.  As I speak, clerical tyrants, Ascended scum, treacherous filth, and Canonist dogs conspire to eradicate our Way. The Way of the Old Lords before us.”

The armored man retrieved a thick bound tome from being tucked away in his chest piece.  He thrust it high: its dark leather cover emblazoned with a four-part heraldry on its face dripped with water from the rain it now was held to.

“We shall not fear the damnation of aengulic minions.  We do not fear the droning of actionless Canonist heathens.  We shall not fear the unseen knives from those we once spilled blood for.”

Sataric exclaimed loudly as he quoted the adage of the Old Lords,“We fear the Old Dark.”

The Second Judge took a knee, looking to the stone pavement.  He lowers the Good Book as he placed it back into its home beneath his armor. Sataric rested his gauntlet on the rain-glistened floor, and drug his metal fingers through the thin layer of silt.  His voice restrained itself; the words taking on a grim, foreboding tone.

“It has been decided Devirad shall be judged,” he spoke to the ground softly, yet firmly, like a father to his son.

“I wonder, what say you in the determination of morrow’s wake?”

"A CURE FOR BLINDNESS

Bring your blind before the blue man in Mordhelm; New Devirad; New Veris. Ask for Cosi. The blind will be cured."

And without a word more, a signature, a stamp, a seal, writ of authority or any other marking the papers are about, loose or pinned, all reading the same in similar loose penmanship.

Perfect Potions 

(Name WIP)

15 Luxana Ave, New Devirad (Mordhelm) 

Great potions for low prices! 

Personal orders taken.

Smoke Whispers: 50 minas.

Potion of Drake's Tail: 10 minas.

Greater Blood Soup: 10 minas. 

Potion of Alabaster Leaf: 10 minas.

All of the above is sold in my shop in Devirad! The extended potion list include Alchemist's Fire and potions I can't fit on my shelves. Ask about it!

Send a bird to Diligence Culligan ((Anonymous_Potato)) with questions!

[Bulletins would be plastered around the city of Mordhelm; this one is attached the the bulletin board]

We have done it, brothers and sisters.  Mordhelm stands proud and her people with it.  Xionism reigns free within its walls—but now is not the time for hoarding our beliefs safely behind these walls. 

There is tragedy among us, Decendants of Man.  Many perish never truly knowing the Way.  Damnation awaits them, for they did not choose to be enslaved at birth to the false patrons.

To all interested in sharing the ways, there is a Calling.  Heed this as a warning, the road ahead could be treacherous.  The Way may be full of peril, and there will most certainly be resistance.

We press on in the face of danger.  We press on in the wake of prejudice.  We press on in the torment of hatred.  For this is the burden we bear to save others the lies and Damnation that awaits them.

The time is nigh to answer the Call, for the bell tolls and Xionism beckons.

[At the bottom of the parchment there is a finer, more detailed statement]

As declared by King Malineer, the Xionist Nasir has been instructed to recruit those interested in becoming the Hand of Xion to spread the Ways.  The only requirement for this task is a basic understanding of Xionism and devotion to its ways.  Violence will not be tolerated on missions, unless in cases of self defense, and escorts will be supplied for peacekeeping and the protection of the missionary on sanctioned mission trips.  Any interested in becoming a missionary should speak to Nasir ((IGN: Dardonas)) in Mordhelm.

The Royal Office Act, 1632

Issued and Confirmed by His Royal Majesty, Malineer Dralguna, 16th Of the First Seed, 1632.

In assurance with the uprise of the governmental structure of our most orderly state, we do henceforth publish the Royal Office Act, an act wherein the denizens of our ilk or those yonder our borders may gander at the inner-functionality of our just Kingdom. For peace and for a stable future.

The following seats are henceforth recognised as, with their respective law backed by His Royal Majesty, and must be adhered to when traversing our just realm:

The Seat of the Monarch

1. The Responsibility to ensure the wellbeing and safety of the Realm

2. The Duty to Serve diligently and wisely

3. The Power of Absolute Authority, to override the Senate’s decisions, replace members of the Council, banish, execute, or enforce his will as he so pleases.

4. To be addressed as “Your Majesty”

Incumbent: Malineer Dralguna (Shelyn)

The Office of High Executor

1. The Responsibility for Carrying out the Will of the King

2. The Responsibility of Carrying out International Diplomacy

3. The Duty of Overseeing the Law and Punishment

4. The Power to Act as Regent in the King’s Absence

5. The Power to Sentence an individual for crimes.

6. The Power to Appoint officials to the duty of Magistrate

7. To be addressed as “Your Excellency”

Incumbent: Friedrich (Langschewt)

The Office of the First Steward

1. Responsibility to maintain the Finances of the Realm

2. The Responsibility to Institute a Proper and Fair Tax Code

3. The Duty of Collecting taxes

4. The Power to appoint Stewards of the Realm.

5. The Power to Evict Residents and Vassals

6. To be addressed as “Your Excellency”

Incumbent: Lux Hedwynn (Chihiros)

The Office of Marshal

1. The Responsibility of the Defense of the Realm

2. The Responsibility of Commanding the Banners of the Realm

3. The Duty to Raise the Banner in the Realm’s defense

4. The Power to Appoint wartime commanders

5. The power to try Officers and Soldiers in a military Tribunal

6. To be addressed as “Your Excellency”

Incumbent: Vacant

The Office of the Hands

1. The Responsibility to Advise on Theological Matters

2. The Duty to Ensure Piety of the Realm

3. The Power to Mediate on Clerical Disputes

4. The Power to appoint Missionaries

5. To be addressed as “Your Excellency”

Incumbents: Morrigan Dralguna, Yldrathir, Abdiel Ipos

The Office of Sanitation and Cleanliness

1. The Duty to Clean up

2. The Power to Clean a Mess

3. The Responsibility of the Cleanliness of the City

4. The Responsibility of the Sewers

5. The Power to Appoint Three (3) Cleaners

6. To be addressed as “Your Excellency”

Incumbent: Vacant

The Office of Senator

1. The Responsibility to represent a demographic of the population, such as Spectral Beings, Blood Mages, etc

2. The Duty to approve or deny proposed law

3. The Power to Elect the Monarch when the time comes one must be selected

4. They are elected by popular vote of their chosen demographic, which they must also be a member of.

5. Three (3) Seats are free to be held by any citizens whom are non-assosciated with a demographic which hold a seat.

6. To be addressed as “Sir,” or  “Madam”

We recognize that one individual cannot do everything their job entails on their own, and thus some offices have been granted the power to appoint others to offices which are described below.

Magistrate

1. The Responsibility to act as arbiter of the law

2. The Duty to interpret the law

3. The Duty to determine guilt and innocence

4. The Power to summon one for trial

5. The Power to sentence on for crimes

Steward

1. The Responsibility of Housing

2. The Duty of managing taxes and property costs

3. The Power to evict inactive and unlawful tenants

4. The Power to fine residents and property owners for unlawful modifications and vandalism of property separate of any legal fines for said crime.

Missionary

1. The Responsibility to spread Xionism

2. The Duty to uphold the integrity of the Faith abroad

3. The Duty to offer succor and aid to Xionists and Mortals alike

4. The Duty to oppose the Godslaves and any of the minions

Cleaner

1. The Responsibility to clean messes

2. The Duty to keep the city clean

3. The Power to clean up any mess with legal writ

NARN AL'VEEGATI ZU'BLOVAK

His Royal Majesty, Malineer of the House Dralguna, First of his Name, King of Devirad, the Forlorn and the Cursed Men, preceptor of the Old Dark, and protector of the Xionist realm.

The Honorable Senate of Devirad

(Credit to Tsuyose for formatting the post)

The Dasyra Clinic

Overview

The Dasyra clinic has now officially opened within the newly rebuilt city of Mordhelm, located where the old nation of Veris once dwelled. The clinic is looking for  able staff. The clinic serves not only as a place of healing, but also an institute for medical and surgical research where we can expand our knowledge of the body. It is crucial for doctors and healers to know of the body in depth so that we can save lives from the clutches of death.

Our services

The clinic offers a range of services for all who needs such, as along as both patients and visitors show respect in return. All services are free but are expected not to be abused.

~ Injury treatment ~

Any wounds you may have, from the simple to the most fatal, can easily be tended with professionalism and care.

~ Health checks ~

 Got concerns regarding your health? Need a diagnosis on any potential health issues on the body? We offer such for all.

~ Medical Advice ~

 Need advice on how to keep healthy? Talk to one of the doctors at the counter for any advice that you may need!

~ Apprenticeship ~

Want to become a doctor under the clinic?

We offer apprenticeships in Basic Healing, Advanced Healing, or Alchemical Healing where you will be taught how to heal in these areas. You can choose from only one, to all three to learn about.

Ranks

~ Chief Doctor ~

The owner and leading doctor of the clinic, they keep the clinic organised and allow the recruitment of new doctors within the clinic. They handle the paperwork and any businesses involved with the clinic.

~Master Doctors~

 Doctors who are capable of taking on apprentices and teaching healing to them. A Master Doctor must hold years of experience in Basic and Advanced Healing, as well as basic understanding of alchemical healing, to be able to teach.

~Doctors~

 The main body of the clinic who tend to those wounded and in dire need of help. A Doctor must hold at least a good amount of experience in one, two, or all of the following areas: Basic Healing, Advanced Healing, and Alchemical Healing.

~Apprentices~

Students under the Master Doctors who are learning either Basic, Advanced, and/or Alchemical Healing. They cannot treat patients unless given permission by a Doctor or a Master Doctor, but they can assist the higher ups by obtaining equipment or assisting in healing.

~List of Doctors~

Surgical Demonstrations

A unique and special service that the clinic offers are Surgical Demonstrations that are open to the public when the doctors are to practice surgery upon a dead body. These showings allow for the general public to see the talents and practices that a doctor must have, as well as allowing the public to learn more about their bodies and how to keep them healthy.

Observers are asked to remain completely silent as the doctors work on the body, and must only ask questions when the doctor leading the operation allows them to. We give you the right to see what occurs behind the operation doors - please show us respect and silence as we perform our work.

BE WARNED - These showings are not for young children and for those with faint hearts when it comes to gore. If you are underaged and you sneak in, you will be kicked out. If you purposefully disrupt or cause trouble within the Observation Room, you will be banned from further Demonstrations.

Note: The bodies used in Surgical Demonstrations have been patients who, before dying, allow the clinic to use their bodies for the sake of medical research and to educate future healers on how to treat wounds. Any bodies used in the Surgical Demonstrations will be resealed and tended to, before being sent to friends and family for proper burial.

The bodies shown have not been purposefully murdered or slaughtered by the clinic for the sake of medical research.

Rules

If you wish to apply to the clinic as a doctor or an apprentice, please contact Dr. Azariah Dasyra (TheClassyBritish) for further details and an arranged interview. Dontations to the clinic are extremely welcomed and appreciated.

Have a wonderful day!

~How to find us~

Take the Asul boat and go right to the dock to the Veris boat. Take the boat and then walk into the city square - go left and it's right next to the gateway into the resident district.

As the descendants wandered through their cities, a melting pot of excitement and loud noises would reach their ears.. It seemed like a big amount of people had gathered around a herald, clothed in grey , desperately calling out for the attention of all.

“Hear thee, hear thee, descendants of the four brothers! The kingdom of Devirad is calling out to all the playwrights that grace the soils of these realms to join together in a battle of writing! All may participate and all will be considered equally!”

The Crowds stirred in enjoyment, shifting their heads to one another in wonder of who might participate and who might win before the herald pursued his speech

“The being whose play is selected as the best of all shall be rewarded with the sum of two thousand shiny minas and the promise of seeing his or her own play go into production! The second best will receive one thousand minas and have his or her play maybe go into production and then the next best will receive five hundred minas. The winning play will be put into production at the hands of the The Devirad Theatre Company. A chance one can simply not pass out on! Send in your submissions to the Devirad Theatre Company Secretary together with your name

The Herald would leave behind a large amount of pocket sized posters for everyone to carry along and spread the news.

He felt a presence looming over him for the past twenty years. Encroaching, ever so slightly, with every day passed, he knew what he felt would soon be upon him; and so he ran. Abdiel Ipos, the Ashkeeper, the “Lord-Commander” and Hand of War as King Malineer Dralguna of Devirad had proclaimed him, left all behind with the very keen, nearly maddening awareness that his demise would soon come and snuff the precious flame he clung to life away. The ancient Dark Elf had his fair share of running in life - once, he served the God of Ruin, and when his plots came to a most bitterly ironic degradation, he ran. Once, he stood among the first of the Gravelords as a terrible and wretchedly powerful Wraith, and when he could not bear to suffer its vice anylonger, he ran from it. When he recorded the scriptures of Xion from a flame that could speak like a man, and then spread it across the mortal world, he ran again, knowing others would seek him out in an effort to destroy the truths he had forged upon old paper with ink.

But he couldn’t run from this. It was a chase that reflected a deep and long-time kinship- a children’s game of ‘tag’, soiled by the righteous demand for brotherly bloodshed. It anchored his soul in vicious determination, driving him to leave everything at the one hope he would survive, but his years of deceit and wretchedness caught up with him in the form of a man. A relative. A cousin. A brother, bearing Dragonsblood.

They stood over the precipice of the Abyss that churned endlessly below in its perpetual suffering. His hunter, by the name of Adeodatus Ipos, once Akal, stood some distance afar clad in armor that denoted some ancient Oren knight’s adornments; and within his hands were held a shield and a blade, blessed by the God of Sunlight above, Xan. Adeodatus was prepared- for from his father he inherited the same boundless intellect and sharp wit as the dear cousin he had been searching for for the past half-century. But so was Abdiel, as he always was, even when standing upon the edge of the great and terrible maw that he made an oath to preach of until his dying days.

Clasping a light, steel sabre in the false metal left hand of his, Abdiel kept his stance idle as he faced his cousin. “Finally here,” He breathed out, his face without the helmet that matched his accursed Ashkeeper’s armor. “It took you… too long, but you came. I’ve been waiting, Akal. Waiting for this day ever since I saw it in the stars, and now I finally know they did not lie to me.” Adeodatus, too, lacked a helmet; and whereas his long hair was tied back neatly to reveal his scarred, but undirtied face, his kin afar was unkept and grime-laden; his tresses a mess, marked with gray that streaked through the black as though he suffered the curse of Humans, his face bearing the ratty, developing beard of a foul transient. Abdiel’s one eye was pinned unblinkingly upon his bloodsharer, yet alike Adeodatus, his countenance was calm and stoic in the face of certain doom. He was ready for the end, it seemed.

“It doesn’t matter how long I took to find you, Abdiel. I knew from the day you crawled to my homestead like a jabbering dog, entrenched in the practicees of a Fel God, that I would have to find you again…

I shouldn’t have let you leave me that day. I let you… sprout to tumor on this world, Abdiel. I shouldn’t have let you leave.. I shouldn’t have…”

“But you did. That’s my mark upon you, cousin,” The scarred Dark Elf droned fiercely in response, breaking the image of calm he kept up all this time. “Or should I say… brother?”

Adeodatus’ face contorted into an expression of hot, smoldering rage as though the statement of kinship taunted at something deep within him. Suddenly, he rushed forward, longsword raised high in the air with kiteshield held over his face before he swung the blade down with unrelenting might and speed. Yet-- despite the erosion on his body, the betrayal of the flesh brought upon by all manner of arcane, Abdiel raised the leftward, false arm attached to him, and parried the assault with ease; quickly stepping to the side. Words had ceased as they phased into their rite of bloodshed; both moving with swift skill, with sharp duress, with parallel ferocity. The clash of blades resounded through the empty valley, where no one could take witness or adhere to them, for no one was left to help either side. Neither of them needed help, nor did they deserve it. And no one deserved to interrupt.

But Abdiel was not as capable of his dear cousin. Often did his stance slip, his strikes miss; and though that bastardized, phantom-pain addled arm of his bore no sense of exhaustion or wear, the rest of his body did. That black art, that Necromancy he had clung to for ages finally betrayed him, stabbing him in the back with frail bones, softened flesh and failing muscle. He was nothing, here, and their battle only delayed the inevitable. But one strike proved Abdiel bore some luck; a swift cut to Adeodatus’ sword-arm, and the longsword was dropped upon the dead, bewitched earth. Growling in frustration, the Iposian knight threw his shield to the side and suddenly converged upon Abdiel with something he could not match- strength.

The sabre was deftly smacked from his false hand before another gauntlet rushed forward to bash him in the face, sending him reeling backward. He stared Adeodatus in the face with brief shock- as though he stared into a distorted mirror. His cousin’s one eye, other having been taken from him with the empty socket covered with an eyepatch, was filled with tremendous rage; and his own one eye, with the other having been taken by a treacherous bloodmage and left covered only by the eyelid, was flush with growing mania and deranged acceptance. Having lost his composure and focus in this brief moment of maddening awareness, Abdiel let Adeodatus take hold of him by the shoulder plates, gripping them with an unmatched and unbridled hold. He seethed his breaths through bared teeth that only parted to utter words laced with a fury only the most scorned of men could utter:
 

“No more!”

He released Abdiel, and then struck him in the face again, sending him stumbling backwards and ever-closer to the cliff’s edge that dipped down into the deep Abyss. In a fumbling rush, the ancient Necromancer withdrew his own curved dagger, determined to leave a mark before his certain departure. His cousin’s words forced a twisted smile onto his lips as Adeodatus continued to speak, having rushed close enough to send another unavoidable strike to his barely protected sternum.

“All the people I murdered… by letting you live.”

Reduced to a stumbling mess, all Abdiel could do is laugh; doing so in such volume, with such hysterica, that he could not even breathe- but even still, with his face painted by his own blood that hided the bruises, he could still keep focus on the charging Adeodatus. That was his own bane-- he became too rash, and thus his maddened cousin caught him in a snare. Striking at the Paladin’s face with his false hand, the dagger he had just drawn was uselessly dropped to the ground as Adeodatus stumbled behind him before being gripped by his hair and then pulled downward with enough, surprising strength to force him onto his back. Abdiel clambered down upon him, pressing his living right hand upon the warrior’s shoulder as though he thought he had the strength to keep him down whereas Adeodatus was only truly upon the ground because of his daze. And then the cold, metal fingertips wrapped around the Paladin’s throat, and began to choke him; stealing away his air, before shortly after, he began to sap the very life from Adeodatus’ body. The Ipos choked and struggled beneath Abdiel as his cousin ripped from him the very essence that bid all things life, if only to give him the last bit of energy the Necromancer needed to survive.

“It’s finally here, isn't it?!” Abdiel bellowed as he stared down at Adeodatus with a gaze gripped with utter insanity, his entire facade of morality that his mission under Xionism finally free. “The moment we’ve been waiting for!” His cousin could not respond, he could not breathe, he could not move; his one eye closing tightly as he suffered, with fleeting thoughts darting through his head like arrows cutting through the air; flecks of the wretched belief that he was about to die.

But he would not. The stars did not say so.

Shakily raising his left gauntlet, he struck Abdiel across the face and broke his focus into a million pieces as the Necromancer toppled to the side with a broken nose that began to gush blood from the impact. They were both bloodied, worn, their bodies suffering-- and so the clash seemed to fade in its ferocity as all they could do is force themselves to stand.

But they kept fighting. One strike after another, as though they took turns; fists striking against faces, blood spilt by brethren, while the day churned on into dusk. The moon peeked over the horizon as they continued to strike each other down, while they both refused to take the knee of defeat.

It is said that the Iposians bear the blood of Dragons, passed down from their ancestor the First Lord Thrasamund. But it was also said, in his days, that Thrasamund struck a Drake down with his very hands-- and thus history repeated itself here. Like his progenitor before him, Adeodatus did not falter before his enemy that was laden was the afflictions of the deepest, darkest corruption. As the moonlight began to replace the sunlight, Abdiel was forced onto his knees as he went still from the final blow. Defeat was certain from the beginning, and he knew it. The madness gave way to the weight of clarity, forcing him back into the reality of his fall.

Falling forward, he held himself up by his living arm as the false one, made alive by the work of arcane, suddenly went limp at his side.

“Fi̧r͡e wil͏l.̡.. sp̷r͝ea҉d ͝a͜crosş ͞t͢he ̀w͡or͞l̸d́,͜” Abdiel groaned out coarsely, his eye half-open as he stared at the ground as he breathed uneven breaths. “Th͝e͏ G̀o̷ds̀ ͞will̷.͡.. ço͢ntinue ͢to...̴ ̕us̢e҉ our͢ wo̵r̢l͜d ͡l͏ike ̴a... pl̸aygr̸o͠ưn͢d̡…” With a deep, agonized groan, he began to shakily stand, raising his gaze to finally settle upon his cousin. His brother. “Thei͡r sins ͞w̷ill ̡go ͟un̵not̷ice͡d̵ ̡b̵y t҉hę ͟peo͘ple͘.͠.̛.͢ ̸and ͘the͜ la͜nd̸s t̸h̷ey w̷i̷ll̸ ͞k͡e͟ep s͡ear͜ch͢i̶ng fór… wi̷ll sto̡p ̵a̵ppȩarin̵g̴ ov͘er͞ ţh̷e ̷hoŗizo̶n.”

Adeodatus could not gather the willpower to speak, but instead just stared at his closest of kin. He already knew his victory was achieved. Perhaps the last thing he could give to the one who shared his blood were these words, and what unsettling revelation they bore.

“I'̨v̸e ́d̷r̀awn a̵.͢... pa͞r̶a͟l͠lél, ́Ak͡a͟l̶. ͢We͟'re͢ ̶j҉ust͜ ͟pieces o͏n a g̶a͝me boa̛rd.͠..̕ re͠pe̢a͘ting̛ ţhe s҉ame ̢thing̀ ̢th͘a͞t ́ha͝ppened ͞aģes͏ b̛e͠f̢o̡r͘e. ̛I̛ have͘.̴.̧. ̷f̧ina͘l͡ly͠ ̶realiz̵e̵d th͏e vener̢a͡b͠l̵e Namele͢s̷s͟ ̡Lo̵r̛d'̡s faţe... ͟a͢ǹd n̸o͞w li̷ke͡ h̛e͜ h҉ad,̢ ̀I͟ wil̀l҉... d͏i̷sapp̛ear͘.̡”

A wry, heartfelt smile drew across his split lips. It was genuine- the first true smile that came to him in years. In decades. He had a moment of recollection - of his wife, of his son. Abdiel always told himself everything he did, every tragedy he caused, every living soul made dying by his hand, was for their survival; for their prosperity and growth. He kept the distant belief that it was all a ruse, a falsity, in the back of his mind the whole time. All he knew now was that he’s fought for years because he was born to, and like all other men entrenched in a life riddled with bloodshed, he was just an animal. His cousin was an animal. His father was an animal. The Old Lords were animals. Xionism was a book written by a beast.

The old Necromancer began to stumble back, ever so closely to the Abyss’ edge. His eye widening at this, Adeodatus stumbled forward in turn, as though compelled by some strange desire to keep his cousin away from his fate, even if it meant to turn his entire conquest into a contridiction. The Paladin’s hand raised toward Abdiel as his mouth opened to speak, yet could not produce words.

“I w҉o͟n't ̨be҉ ҉r̸em͜em͡bere͘d ́a̕s ͟w̢ha̡t I̶'͝v̨e͡ b̧een. ̷I̛ do̸n͏'̸t w͜anţ ̧to b̕e r͏em͞e͡m͠ber͡e̸d.̵” A disheveled series of soft chuckles departed from the old Dark Elf as he held his side, the pained noise soon breaking into a bout of harsh coughing. His soles tickled the edge of the cliff, and before he willingly let himself tip backward without an inkling of apprehension, he uttered one last thing.

“W͟e.̸..̀ ̧aŕę ̵bo̸r̕n, b̢y t͡he da͞r҉k͡.̕..͡

͠Ma͘d͝e.̛.. ͘m͘èn... ̴by̛ ͞t͏he ͏da̴r̀k͢.͡.҉.̶

͡Únd͏o͠n̡e b͟y ҉t́h̡e dar̕ḱ.”

Adeodatus watched his brotherly cousin descend into the Abyss below; down, down, down, until he could not be seen, until the impact could not be heard. And as he stood there in the moonlight, he wondered if it was even worth it in the first place.

COMPENDIUM OF ASHEN LAW

The Code of Law, and Punishment be it Civil, Criminal, or Natural

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1. Foreward

2. Law, Punishment, and Procedure

3. Arcane Legislature

4. Criminal and Civil Procedure

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FOREWARD ON LAW AND ORDER

A society does not exist with the twin pillars of both Law and Order, so tied together one cannot speak without mentioned the other. With no Order the Law cannot be enforced and with no Law it is anarchy, chaos, the antithesis of a functioning and productive society and peoples, one which does safeguard and protect the innocent while delivering a swift vengeance against those who would trespass and upset the life of the citizenry.

It is by nature the vagabond and selfish seek to skirt or abuse the Law, finding loopholes for the exploitation of their peers and benefit only of themselves. Such leeches on the society ought to be purged and provisions within the Law ought to guarantee their swift punishment is dealt with maximum severity, for there is not a greater crime than the exploitation of the Law, and the malicious degradation of an Order toiled for through blood and sweat.

When it becomes apparent the Law no longer provides ample support for Order and the justice of those it was designed to protect, it falls to the citizenry to ensure the law is amended to correct the wrongs, for if they will not protect themselves, they do not deserve protection. Even the sword and shield that are Law and Order will not look after a populace which will not ensure their own justice. It thus becomes imperative that each and every citizen be tasked with the civil duty to look after their friends, family and neighbors.

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LAW, PUNISHMENT, AND PROCEDURE

1. Punishment and Procedure

   1. On Offenses

      1. Offenses committed, in order to be considered legitimate, must be performed against one of the following partied within the jurisdiction of Devirad and her territories, else it falls to the sovereign of said land to enforce or not. Said parties are the following; person, property, state, the public, and inchoate.

   2. Crimes, save those of the highest order of treason against the state, shall be defined in the following way to better mete out justice and punishment against the proven guilty party

      1. The Third Degree, the least severe, an infraction

      2. The Second Degree, of moderate severity, a misdemeanor

      3. The First Degree, of the greatest severity, a felony

   3. Punishment for each degree of severity is listed and defined for easy reference and quick distribution with no question on what is fair and proper for any specific case and crime.

      1. Of the Third Degree, a fine of up to Two Thousand Mina, the removal of an entire finger, the removal of two rear teeth, removal of two toes on the same foot, ten years service to the state, four years in prison, branding upon the left buttock or left breast, a hexe or curse lasting no more than one year and a half.

      2. Of the Second Degree, a fine up to Fifteen Thousand Mina, thirty years service to the state, the removal of three fingers of one hand, the removal of the top front teeth and two rear teeth, the blinding of one eye, removal of five assorted toes (three on one, two on the other), branding upon the forehead, a hexe or curse to last no more than three years.

      3. Of the First Degree, a fine up to Sixty Five Thousand Mina, a lifetime in prison, a lifetime service to the state, complete removal of the right arm halfway up the forearm, blinding of both eyes, removal of the teeth and tongue, castration both root and stem if male, removal of both feet, removal of nipples via horse and chain, a hexe or curse lasting no more than fifteen years.

      4. Of the punishment concerning High Treason, the most heinous and severe of crimes, execution by any of the following; hanging, beheading, tar and feathering, burning alive, crucifixion, impaling, being pulled by two horses opposite each other, drawing and quartering, drowning, eaten alive by wild animals.

   4. In the event of a Criminal Trial, an offender is entitled to hire a legal representative which may be dismissed at any time by the defendant for failure to properly present them or incompetence. The defendant is responsible for all hiring fees. The presiding State appointed official may also dismiss said legal representative for contempt and charge them with such if appropriate.

   5. In a Civil Trial, the two parties are entitled to hire legal representatives which may be dismissed by the hiring parties for failure to properly represent them or incompetence. Said parties are responsible for any fees.

2. Injury against Person(s)

   1. Assault

      1. When an individual attacks or injures another which brings about no lasting injury, this is assault of the third degree, a misdemeanor

      2. When an individual attacks or injures another with lasting injury, or with a weapon, or magicks, this is assault of the second degree, a felony

      3. When an individual attacks or injures another with permanent damage, assault of the first degree, a felony

   2. Murder

      1. When an individual knowingly takes the life of another with no premeditation and as any reason a person might be coerced or incited to commit a fatal crime, this is murder of the third degree, a felony

      2. When an individual knowingly takes the life of another with no premedation, this is murder of the second degree, a felony

      3. When an individual knowingly takes the life of another with clear premeditation, this is murder of the first degree, a felony

   3. Manslaughter

      1. When an individual takes the life of another without intent or as the result of negligence, this is manslaughter, a misdemeanor

   4. Mutilation

      1. When an individual intentionally or negligently commits the disfigurement or removal of a single toe or finger of another, this is mutilation of the third degree, a misdemeanor

      2. When an individual intentionally or negligently commits the crippling or lasting disfigurement or removal of a multiple toes and/or fingers of another, this is mutilation of the second degree, a misdemeanor

      3. When an individual intentionally or negligently commits the dismemberment or permanent removal of a limb, organ, or appendage of another, this is mutilation of the first degree, a felony

   5. Torture

      1. When an individual, whom is not a sanctioned state official, willingly and knowingly commits acts of permanent or lasting damage to an individual for information or otherwise, this is torture of the second degree, a felony

      2. When an individual, whom is not a sanctioned state official, willingly and knowingly commits acts of permanent or incapacitating  damage to an individual, including acts described in the crime of first, and second degree mutilation for information or otherwise, this is torture of the first degree, a felony

   6. Kidnapping

      1. When an individual intentionally abducts, restrains, or confines another individual against their will without physical harm, or endangerment of the victim, this is kidnapping in the second degree, a misdemeanor.

      2. When an individual intentionally abducts, restrains, or confines another individual against their will with unintentional physical harm, or endangerment of the victim, this is kidnapping in the first degree, a felony

   7. Defamation

      1. When an individual knowingly spreads false information or construes about an individual, without intent to harm the reputation of that individual, this is defamation in the third degree, an infraction.

      2. When an individual knowingly spreads false information or construes about an individual, with intent to harm the reputation of that individual, this is defamation in the second degree, an infraction.

      3. When an individual knowingly spreads false information or construes about an individual, without intent to harm the reputation of that individual, using public space or printed letter, this is defamation in the first degree, a misdemeanor.

   8. Impersonation

      1. When an individual intentionally assumes the identity of another individual for any purpose except committing the crimes of high treason, this is impersonation in the second degree, a felony

      2. When an individual intentionally assumes the identity of another individual for the purpose of committing the crimes of high treason, this is impersonation in the first degree, and considered High Treason in itself

3. Crimes against Property

   1. Theft

      1. When an individual intentionally removes property without the consent of its owner, and this property totals up to five hundred minas in value, this is theft in the third degree, an infraction.

      2. When an individual intentionally removes property without the consent of its owner, and this property totals greater than five hundred mina, up to two thousand mina in value, this is theft in the second degree, a misdemeanor.

      3. When an individual intentionally removes property without the consent of its owner, and this property totals greater than two thousand mina, up to any amount of mina in value, this is theft in the first degree, a felony.

   2. Burglary

      1. When an individual unlawfully, and without consent of the owner, enters a property with the intent to commit a nonviolent crime, this is burglary of the second degree, a misdemeanor.

      2. When an individual unlawfully, and without consent of the owner, enters a property with the intent to commit a violent crime, this is burglary of the first degree, a felony.

   3. Banditry

      1. When  an individual intentionally deprives an owner of his moveable property through violent means or with promise of such, and this property totals up to one hundred fifty minas in value, this is banditry in the third degree, an infraction.

      2. When  an individual intentionally deprives an owner of his moveable property through violent means or with promise of such, and this property totals at least one hundred fifty minas, up to one thousand mina in value, this is banditry in the second degree, a misdemeanor.

      3. When  an individual intentionally deprives an owner of his moveable property through violent means or with promise of such, and this property totals at least one thousand minas, up to any amount of mina in value, this is banditry in the first degree, a felony.

   4. Vandalism

      1. When an individual unintentionally or through negligence defaces public or private property of a sum equaling one hundred and fifty mina, this is vandalism of the third degree, a misdemeanor.

      2. When an individual intentionally, unintentionally or through negligence defaces public or private property of a sum equaling at least one hundred and fifty mina, up to one thousand mina, this is vandalism of the second degree, a misdemeanor.

      3. When an individual intentionally, unintentionally or through negligence defaces public or private property of a sum equaling at least one thousand mina, up to a sum of ant amount of mina, this is vandalism of the first degree, a felony.

   5. Arson

      1. When an individual unintentionally or through negligence sets fire to property, worth any amount of mina, this is arson of the second degree, a misdemeanor

      2. When an individual intentionally sets fire to property worth any amount of mina, this is arson of the first degree, a felony.

   6. Fraud

      1. When an individual unintentionally or negligently fails to abide by the terms of a written or verbal contract, misleads regarding its terms, or fails to meet a deadline of said contract, this is Fraud of the second degree, a misdemeanor.

      2. When an individual intentionally or negligently fails to abide by the terms of a written or verbal contract, misleads regarding its terms, or fails to meet a deadline of said contract, this is Fraud of the first degree, a felony.

   7. Trespassing

      1. When an individual unlawfully and without consent of the owner enters a property considered private, this is trespassing, a misdemeanor.

4. Crimes against the State

   1. Treason

      1. Where an individual knowingly carries out an act of criminal insubordination  or disloyalty intended to subvert the authority of an agent of the state, or commits such an action with intention to harm the state, this shall be treason in the second degree or petty treason, a felony.

      2. Where an individual knowingly aids or abets enemies of the state, participates in armed conflict or espionage against the state, attempts or conspires to the usurpation of the government, or attempts or conspires to murder a member of the imperial government, this shall be treason in the first degree or high treason, punishable only by execution as listed.

   2. Sedition

      1. When an individual willing incites others to commit treason, or rebel against the state and its’ authority through verbal or written means, this shall be sedition, a felony.

   3. Obstruction

      1. When an individual intentionally or unintentionally through negligence prevents the state and its’ appointed officials from investigation, meting out justice, or apprehension of criminals and criminal activity, this is Obstruction, a felony

   4. Tax Evasion

      1. When an individual unintentionally or through negligence fails to pay the levied taxes to the state or any of its lawfully appointed and sanctioned officials, this is Tax Evasion in the second degree, a misdemeanor.

      2. When an individual intentionally fails to pay the levied taxes to the state or any of its lawfully appointed and sanctioned officials, this is Tax Evasion in the first degree, a felony.

   5. Absconding

      1. When an individual fails to surrender to state officials or willingly avoids such at the demanded time, this is absconding, a felony, and as such serves as immediate proof of guilt on all crimes charges and suspected of.

   6. Bribery

      1. When an individual offers a monetary or physical reward or payment for an act of dishonesty, this is bribery, a misdemeanor

   7. Extortion

      1. When an individual uses violence or threat of violence to persuade someone to act dishonestly or in a way they would otherwise act, give money, objects or rewards, this is extortion, a felony.

   8. Perjury

      1. When an individual intentionally withholds pertinent information during an interrogation from an official of the state, this is perjury of the second degree, a felony.

      2. When an individual intentionally withholds pertinent information during an oath testimony during the course of a trial, this is perjury of the first degree, a felony.

   9. Harmed Majesty

      1. When an individual, intentionally, unintentionally, or through simple negligence brings any harm about the Monarch or his family, it shall be Harmed Majesty, High Treason and and punishable only by execution as listed.

   10. State Homicide

       1. When an individual intentionally, unintentionally, or through simple negligence brings death upon a high official of the state, such as a member of parliament, or one of the King’s own advisors, it is State Homicide, a felony.

5. Crimes against the Public

   1. Contraband

      1. Where an individual knowingly possesses illegal substances, literature, or items, this shall be the crime of possession of contraband in the third degree, a misdemeanor.

      2. Where an individual knowingly sells, markets, purchases, or transfers ownership of illegal substances, literature, or items,  this shall be the crime of possession of contraband in the second degree, a felony.

      3. Where an individual knowingly manufactures illegal substances, literature, or items, this shall be the crime of possession of contraband in the first degree, a felony.

   2. Deviancy

      1. When an individual acts or performs in a manner deemed unacceptable by public standards of the norm, this is deviancy, a infraction

   3. Adulery

      1. When a married individual willingly and intentionally breaks the bonds of matrimony and fornicates with another, it is adultery, an infraction

   4. Consanguinity

      1. When an individual knowingly and intentionally fornicates with one’s close family, such as siblings, parents, or offspring, it is consanguinity, a felony.

   5. Concealment of Identity

      1. When ones intentionally hides their identity despite being ordered to reveal themselves by the authorities, it is concealment of identity, a misdemeanor.

   6. Disturbing the Peace

      1. When one intentionally or unintentionally through negligence, upsets the normalcy of the day through immoral, strange, or wild performances, this is disturbing the peace, a misdemeanor.

6. Inchoate Crimes

   1. Conspiracy

      1. When an individual knowingly shows intent to commit crime at any point in the future, it is conspiracy, a felony

   2. Incitement

      1. When an individual attempts to persuade or coerce an individual to commit a crime, this shall be incitement, a felony.

   3. Attempt

      1. When an individual tries to commit a crime but fails, the individual shall be given a mitigated punishment as to the punishment for actually committing said crime.

7. Crimes Maleficar

   1. Defining a Maleficar

      1. One whom is in service to a deity and is given unnatural powers for such.

      2. One who actively uses a deific magic.

      3. One who actively uses a spiritual or shamanistic magic.

      4. One who uses a magic to shape or alter nature.

   2. Aiding a Maleficar

      1. When an individual unintentionally or through negligence gives aid and succor within the border of the State, it is Aiding a Maleficar in the second degree, a felony

      2. When an individual intentionally or through negligence gives aid and succor within the border of the State, it is Aiding a Maleficar in the first degree, High Treason and and punishable only by execution as listed.

   3. Harboring a Maleficar

      1. When an individual unintentionally or through negligence brings a Maleficar into the borders of Devirad without intent to turn them over to authorities, is Harboring a Maleficar in the second degree, a felony.

      2. When an individual intentionally brings a Maleficar into the borders of Devirad without intent to turn them over to authorities, is Harboring a Maleficar in the second degree, High Treason and and punishable only by execution as listed.

   4. Deific Practice

      1. When an individual intentionally or through negligence casts or uses the spells and abilities, or uses objects of a deific origin such as the spells of a Paladin or Cleric, it is Deific Practice, a felony.

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AMENDMENTS TO THE LAW

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CRIMINAL AND CIVIL PROCEDURE

1. Civil Procedure

   1. When an individual finds quarrel or qualm with another, they shall notify the proper authority of said dispute. The aforementioned individual shall become the Plaintiff, while the latter comes the Defendant.

   2. The Plaintiff shall have their case reviewed by an appointed state official who is unbiased and uninvolved in the matter personally.

      1. Appropriate officials will be any members of Parliament or one appointed by the King himself for said duty or duties.

      2. An official can also be temporarily appointed by a member of Parliament in the event the King is not present.

      3. The King may appoint a permanent official to the Office of Justice, whose duty it shall be to preside over Civil Disputes.

   3. A date and time shall be declared in which both Plaintiff and Defendant make their case in a setting open to the public for viewing. Failure to appear without notice and request for reschedule will result in the absent party losing the Dispute, along with a 150 Mina fine.

   4. In the result of a Civil Dispute, the Defendant can request trial by combat, in which they shall, in the presence of the Plaintiff and three witnesses, declare their intent for a trial by combat. The presiding official will be informed of such where he can approve or deny such as per the specifics of the Dispute.

      1. In a trial by combat, neither party will be allowed to kill the other.

      2. Any limbs, appendages, organs, and tissue damaged shall be fixed.

      3. Before combat takes place, the Plaintiff must clearly and plainly determine what he disputes and what he believes ought to be paid to settle such dispute.

         1. It is up to the appointed official to determine what the settlement should be.

2. Criminal Procedure

   1. When an individual violates the law and is apprehended by state authorities or turns themselves in, the rules of Criminal Procedure shall be effected.

      1. An individual who is awaiting a Criminal Trial shall be held by authorities, or may post bail, an amount determined by a state appointed Justice, or the presiding member of Parliament overseeing the case. It shall be returned to the Defendant upon their arrival to the trial.

      2. All trials of Criminal nature are against the State, or Public, with a representative of the state acting as Plaintiff.

      3. The Defendant is entitled to hire their own legal representative but is responsible for their fees and conduct, solely.

   2. During the proceedings of a trial, the Defendant is to be escorted under arms to the court, where they shall take turns addressing allegations laid upon them.

      1. The Defendant shall be read the charges against him, and will then declare if he is innocent or guilty.

         1. If declaring guilty, a sentence will be passed immediately

         2. If declaring innocent, the procedure outlined below will be as follows.

      2. The Defendant may call witnesses to confirm any alibis or to counter allegations made by the Plaintiff. These witnesses may remain anonymous until the events of the trial for safety.

      3. The Plaintiff may call witnesses to confirm any alibis or to counter allegations made by the Defendant. These witnesses may remain anonymous until the events of the trial for safety.

      4. The spouse of the Defendant and their children are not required to testify if asked to by a Plaintiff and persistent questioning of them by the Plaintiff about allegations and charges will render such charges dropped, and the legal representative of the Plaintiff fined up to five hundred mina.

      5. When either party has permission to speak, the opposing party is to remain silent until granted leave to speak. In the event the speaking party is skewing facts or attempting to sway with trial with anything other than fact, the opposing party may call for objection which the Justice will choose to approve or deny.

      6. In the event a party continues to disrupt the peace, in such a way they refuse to be silent when the Justice calls to order, or continually attempt to upset the orderly fashion of the court, they may be charged with contempt, resulting in a recess of the trial to be resumed on another day.

   3. When both the Defense and the Plaintiff have rested, and have declared such openly and on the record, it then falls to the overseeing official to reach a verdict, by it either guilty or innocent of the crimes charged upon the Defendant, and the appropriate punishments for each

In the name of Malineer of the House Dralguna, First of his Name, King of Devirad, the Forlorn and the Cursed Men, preceptor of the Old Dark, and protector of the Xionist realm, it is hereby charged that the Xionist Organized Guard is assembled under the purpose of vanguarding Xion and its people against who would do them harm or express their malice.

The Xionist Organized Guard

“Many of us are by the fire forsaken.”

Commanded by the venerable Lordsguard Knight-Captain, the Xionist Organized Guard, or the “XOG” for short, is the officiated protectorate military instituted by both the King and the Hand of Strife, Lord-Commander Abdiel Ipos. Those that join the XOG are given the duty to protect the citizenry, the interests and the lands rightfully claimed by the Kingdom of Devirad.

There are two official branches of the XOG based on the spiritual makeup of those that are inducted; the Warmblood Division, and the Coldblood Division. While the Warmblood Division is comprised of living, mortal citizens of Devirad, the Coldbloods act as their accursed or undying counterparts. Between them there is no differentiation; their roles and duty are the same, and through this they are united, but the Knight-Captain has right to appoint subcaptains of these Divisions in order to instill familiarity with the chain of command.

Hierarchy

Knight-Captain

As the commander of the XOG, the Knight-Captain is directly appointed by the Lord-Commander of the royal Lordsguard knighthood. The authority is therefore invested within the Knight-Captain to approve both Warmblood and Coldblood subcaptains and directly discuss with the Parliament, the Hand of Strife and the King regarding projects and higher-priority missions conducted by the Organized Guard. The Knight-Captain, furthermore, wields complete and total control over the entirety of the XOG; and because it is split into two branches, it is the Knight-Captain’s duty to act as a mediator alongside his two chosen subordinates should issues arise within the ranks of either.

Adjutant-Captain

An Adjutant-Captain may be assigned to either the Warmblood or Coldblood Divisions based on their spiritual makeup and their capacity to act as the direct subordinates of the Knight-Captain. An Adjutant-Captain of either division has the responsibility of receiving higher-priority orders from the Knight-Captain so that they may then relay them to their granted branch, and furthermore carries the role of issuing lesser-priority commands such as enacting patrols or assigning certain members of their respective division to specific tasks. Adjutant-Captains are expected to act as the superiors on the battlefield, acting among the soldiers of the Organized Guard, while the Knight-Captain acts as their valued and prime strategist and commander. As granted by the Knight-Captain, a Subcaptain has complete authority over their assigned division, and it is expected that every member of either division follows their orders. A Subcaptain also bears the responsibility of inducting members of the Organized Guard into their respective division, based on the spiritual designation of the given conscripts.

Xionist Guardsman

The Xionist Guardman comprise the bulk of the Organized Guard, and thus are subserviant to the commands of their designated Subcaptain and the Knight-Captain above them. Xionist Guardsmen are split into two divisions - the Warmbloods and the Coldbloods. While normal mortals, fit to become soldiers, are assigned to the Warmblood Division, ilk such as Morghuul, Darkstalkers, and other varied undead and accursed individuals are assigned as Coldbloods, and whether or not they made use of a Draught of Incite.

Guardsmen are often assigned to patrol and protect the city of Devirad and any land that the Kingdom may encompass, and also act as the primary military force fueled by the Deviradaen

“war machine”. Inducted Guardsmen are often granted the resources necessary to ensure the security of that which they protect, which includes steel weaponry, mail and plate armaments, rations and housing. They are also allotted some degree of payment beyond the housing they receive, which may differentiate between either Division. Warmbloods may receive Mina, for example, while Coldbloods may receive vials of liquified or condensed fragments of Lifeforce for their fueling.

Oathing

Unlike the Deviradaen Lordsguard knighthood, which revolves around induction that binds the worthy to the protection of the King for life, members of the XOG are not expected to remain within the Organized Guard eternally and thus their oath is abstinent of the honor-bound agreement to dismissal by permanent death, should betrayal be ensued. A Guardsman or their Subcaptains may be honorably or dishonorably discharged by the Knight-Captain based on the actions of certain Guardsmen, or their wish to depart from the protectorate order.

Uniformity

Each Subcaptain and member of either division is expected to respect the uniformity of the XOG and adorn the Organized Guards given armaments and sigils. As it stands, a Xionist Organized Guard or Subcaptain will be represented by the dark cloak and tabard, marked with the crest of the Black Sun of Xion.

credit to cameron watson