The Ebon Law

[Minuvas 3193]

 

The Ebon Law
All laws are in accordance with the Agreement of Ebonwood and The Imperial Code (TIC)

 

Premise of law & justice: Law in the Ebonwood is 'moral law';  black and white adherence to specific articles and sections is less important than the context and the reason of any action. A crime committed In the Ebonwood therefore is subject to critical thought both on guilt, the justifications for the action, and the severity of punishment for that action. Decisions are made, whether by a conclave of Elves or Councilors, or by the Princeps, on how Malin might determine such an issue.

 

Section one - Basic law

Punishment of the law is at the discretion of the Ethereal Councilor whose domain the crime is committed, enforcement of the punishment is determined by the Ethereal Councilor and their Sentinel forces. For punishment to occur across the Ebonwood, it must at a minimum summon the conclave. 

• The clipping of ears is an especially profane act, and is considered a hate crime of significant offense. Partaking in this practice shall result in extreme prejudice of the law.

Lawmaking & Justice

 Local laws are determined in the following manner

 

Principatus Crown.

• Decree or Edict (Called 'Revelations')
• The Princeps retain the ability to veto or remit any laws passed by the Ethereal Council or an Elven Conclave.
• Serves as the Supreme Justice of Law in matters of appeal within the Principatus.
• Is not subject to trial within the Principatus and answers only to the Imperial Crown in matters where they are suspect of criminal action

 Ethereal Councilors

• By Majority Decision of Ethereal Council (51%) may make revelations or veto/remit decisions of an Elven Conclave.

• By Super Majority Decision of Ethereal Council (75%) may revoke an edict passed by the Princeps

• May pass new laws within their territory.

• May not seize property or titles not within their realm/territory.

• May not impose death on any Ethereal Councilor.

• Any Ethereal Councilor is the Supreme Justice of their respective territory. Disputes between more than one Elven Lord/Lady, Community or Councilor are handled by a calling of at least three Ethereal Councilors to sit as judges.

Conclave of Ebonwood

• By Majority decision (51%) may make revelations, and pass legal judgment for crimes.
• May not impose punishment on an Ethereal Councilor or any Elven Lord/Lady.
• Any Gwaithor, Any Elven Lord/Lady, Any Councilor, and the Princeps may summon the conclave of Elves to discuss and vote on any issue within the Ebonwood.
• Any resident may request the summoning of the conclave.
• Only Gwaithors, Elven Lords/Ladies, and Ethereal Councilors may vote in an Elven Conclave.
• All Elves are afforded the right to speak and debate at the conclave, moderated by the senior member of the community.
• Only the Princeps may at his discretion afford honorary voting rights extended in extraordinary members outside of the Ebonwood community with the purpose of increasing the strength of Malin's decisions.

Fighting Pits, Honor Duels

• Two Citizens of the Principatus may resolve legal disputes between them either through Honor Duels or through the Ker fighting pits.

  • Fights to the death are highly discouraged; but are legal if both parties consent and the fight has the approval and supervision of at least one Elven Lord/Lady.

  • The immediate spouse, or closest living heir, shall be compensated by the winning party in the event of death during an honor duel. Compensation is determined by the local Ethereal Councilor in consultation with the bereaved family and local custom.

• Foreigners are not entitled to resolve legal disputes through Honor Duels of the Ker Fighting pits without approval from an Ethereal Councilor.

Section Two - The Preservation Laws

These laws reflect the Principatus's intent to preserve the natural world, in a practical manner, given its home to many diverse elven creeds and backgrounds.

• A preservation shall be established within Ebonwood with special privileges unique to the principatus.

  •  No harm can befall any individual or animal within the preserve. Hunting, Foraging, and fishing of any kind is outlawed within the preserve. A criminal who seeks refuge in the preserve may be subdued, but not killed within the preserve.

  • No structures may be built within the preserve.

  • No steel or metal is to be carried in the preserve.

  • No voidal magic is to be used in the preserve.

  • Bare feet are encouraged; but not required.

  • This preservation shall have no owner.

• The wanton and reckless destruction of nature is forbidden in Ebonwood.

• Any new construction in Ebonwood must make maximum effort to preserve the natural area. Trees can be relocated, but the “1 for 1” principle will be applied at a minimum. One tree cut should result in one tree replanted.

• Official Government buildings in the Capital shall not feature potted plants or tamed animals of any kind.

• Logging Camps and Mining Camps are strictly forbidden. Such structures currently in the Ebonwood are to be returned to nature immediately (Revelation of Bronze and Steel)

Section Three - Settlement & Elven Lord/Ladyship

• Gwaithor.  Any Citizen  may petition the Conclave or Ethereal Council to be granted land and a place to build within the Principatus and named Gwaithor of this property. Groups of less than three have their rights outlined in Section Four - Property Ownership.

  • Requirements:

    • 3+ Size Community

    • Have a specific Goal/Purpose for what you want to use property for

    • Must name one member of your Group as a Gwaithor, and one as a member of the Order of Malin.

  • Gwaithors May not:

    • Utilize  rights restricted solely to Elven Lords/Ladies & Councilors

  • Gwiathors May:

    • Own and manage land with no more than one building up to 25 x 25.

    • Secure their property

    • Vote in Elven Conclaves

    • Collect Tithes on their residents

 

• Elven Lord/Ladyship. Any Elf or Half-Elf may request to be elevated to the status of an Elven Lord/Lady.  Petitions for Lord/Ladyship are submitted to the Ethereal Council. Elven Lord/Ladyship is not hereditary.

  • General requirements:

    • Community of 7+ for at least 30 days, all other requirements outlined in a Gwaithor Settlement

  • Lords/Ladies May:

    • Own and manage land with multiple buildings up to 50 x 50.

    • All of the rights afforded to Gwaithor Settlements.

    • Raise their own forces to secure their property, these forces must agree to name someone to the Order of Malin among them.

    • May invite other communities to live on their property and manage them as they see fit.

    • Pass laws not in conflict with the laws of the Principatus or the ORC.

    •  With approval of 2/3rds of the Ethereal Council, conduct an Honor-Conflict between two  Elven-Lords/Ladies to resolve a dispute within the Principatus.

    • May appoint 1x additional Gwaithor.

    • May execute the laws and punishment for all residents of the Ebonwood and foreigners who are not Elven-Lords/Ladies, Ethereal Councilors, Imperial or Foreign Nobility/Dignitaries. They may construct a throne room that identifies their status and enhance their ability to prosecute the law, but it shall be a humble room made of simple material.

    • May supervisor honor duels and duels to the death.

    • May appeal to engage in an 'Honor-War' with another community of the Ebonwood to resolve a dispute. 

  • Elven Lords/Ladies May Not:

    • Elevate individuals to Lord/Ladyship without consent of the Ethereal Lords.

    • Engage in foreign diplomacy or treaties outside of the Principatus

    • Execute any rights afforded to Ethereal Councilors

 

• Ethereal Councilors. Elven Lord/Lady, may petition the Princeps to be elevated to an Ethereal Councilor.  The Ethereal Council shall make a vote of recommendation to the Princeps to approve or deny this request. An Ethereal Councilor is named as an Elven Lady/Lord upon acceptance if appointed irregularly, and is granted all the rights listed above in addition to being granted those authorities granted to the Ethereal Council. Ethereal Councilors may lose their status at the discretion of the Princeps.

  • General Requirements:

    • 12+ Person Community

    • Atleast 1 + month demonstrated activity

    • Demonstrate significant contribution to the community

  • Ethereal Councilors May Not:

    • Elevate individuals to Elven Lord/Lady

  • Ethereal Councilors May:

    • Own and manage property up to 75 x 75 in size.

    • May appoint 1x additional Gwaithor (3x total)

    • All the rights afforded to Elven Lord/Lady ran settlements.

    • Will sit on the Ethereal Council and granted their own voting seat.

    • May conduct the prosecution of the law on their property and hold court within their realm for all residents and foreigners who are not also Ethereal Councilors or Imperial Nobility. They may construct a throne room in accordance with their status to execute this justice, it will be of a humble design with some allowance for extravagancy for their status. Keeping in mind that 'humility' is a key component of the five-instructions of Malin. The Princeps can direct an Ethereal Councilor to reduce the size of the throne room if it displays arrogance or a Kingly appearance.

 

Section Four- Property Ownership

• All Citizens are eligible to own property, and may use their property for any legal use as they see fit - to include Guilds, Businesses, Residencies, or a place of Worship.

• By owning property you agree to pay those tithes as deemed necessary by the Principatus or, if the subject of one of its domains or another property owner, the local rental rate.

• Any new construction must always contribute to the beautification of the area around it, either by adding new trees and groves or enhancing the natural stonework. Extreme effort shall be made to prevent the destruction of forestry, and in the worst case - new forestry shall be used to replace old one.

• Property shall be inherited in accordance with the local laws and customs of a community; in the absence of an established law, property shall be inherited by the eldest living relative of the previous property holder.

• Abandoned property and settlements shall revert to the control of the Ethereal Council.

• The ruins once known as “The Warden’s Tower” shall be designated a historic cultural site for the Eldari; it shall not be leased or sold to any individual, save for those who can prove their rightful lineage from its original owners. Elves of the Principatus hall make their best effort to make their trip to this site once in their lives to learn of their cultural history.

Section Five - Religion & Magic

 

Religion & Philosophy

• The practiced philosophy of the Ebonwood is "The Way of Malin"

• The Following religions are protected within the Principatus to practice. This list is not exhaustive.

  • Canonism

  • Aspectism

  • Ker Ancestralism

  • Wyvurn Worship

• The senior faith leaders of the religions may select from among them a ‘Tetrarch’, who shall sit upon the Ethereal Council as religious advisor to the Council. This position shall rotate every three Elven months or upon unanimous decision by the faiths.

• No Elf may spread faith beyond the borders of the Principatus to any other human realm on Almaris, other than Canonism.

• No Elf may willingly convert human citizens to any faith other than Canonism.

• Any Religions that consort with Demons, Dark Gods, or promote the use of Dark Magic are strictly forbidden.

• Religious orders are given reprieve from making oaths to the Princeps if it would violate their religious requirements. However they must agree to follow and respect the law of the Principatus. 

 

The Balance Laws (Malin's Revelation of elSeth)

• When voidal magic is utilized, it must be:
  •  Essential for individual defense.
  •  The minimum amount required for the necessary effect.
  •   Unallowed from harming any portion of the natural world.
• The sanctuary known as the Spire of Ilandria will permit the following exceptions within a 10-meter radius of any given outer wall to the structure:
  •   Voidal magic may be used freely so long as it does not corrupt — intentionally or otherwise — the natural world.
  •   Voidal constructs may be created within the structure with approval from the Conclave.
  •   These constructs must have any corruption cleansed at least once per Elven Week at the expense of the Gwaithor in charge of the structure.
  •   Any unauthorized or dangerous breach of the Balance Law by members of the Spire of Ilandria is grounds for the immediate dismantling of the structure with approval by the Princep.