THE ANCESTRAL LAW

[Clandom of Vistulia 160]

 

 Ancestral Laws of Vistulia

 

 

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A sacred scripture of laws from the Greater Clandom of Vistulia, transcribed by the late High Elder Casimir Vilchyc, published and revised on the 97th year of the reborn age by High Elder Gabriel Pasciak, and by his charge, Alfie Pasciak. This text would find itself widely spread throughout the Freemen of the Greater Clandom, its pages each carefully inked by hand in a deft script.
 

Table of Contents

 

I. Ancestral Runestone

II. Runestone of Life and Freedom

III. Runestone of War and Strength

IV. Runestone of Faith

V. Runestone of Magic

 

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I. Ancestral Runestone

 

Etched into the sacred runestones are the messages which shall guide the Greater Clandom of Vistulia as it is born anew in this era. With guidance from the ancestors of different tribes, seek the glory and pride which was long forgotten. Seek unison of those who still hold true to the ancestral ways of the highlands, to defend each other from the dangers that the world bears upon our scattered and shattered cultures, faiths, and kin. 

 

Adhere to the messages left for your kin, follow them to the best of your ability, ensure that whatever evil the world may hold shall be held back and will not spread within the lands of the united tribes.

 

May these runestones guide you through the darkest of times, may they provide the spark of light you need when doubt besets your mind, may clans unite under one banner, and together may they bring back the long forgotten path that descendants should follow.

 

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II. Runestone of Life and Freedom

 

It is the right of every Freeman of the Greater Clandom of Vistulia to live a good life; to choose their own path and their own ambitions in life, striving to achieve their plans and dreams. But do not forget the Ancestral path, in which the glory and pride of the Greater Clandom stands as equal to its own success - for united we are strongest, united we may reach the most, but divided, the Clandom shall fall and once again become but a gathering of foreign clans, without a united purpose or goal.

 

Right of Freemen

Each descendant that follows the path of the Ancestors and shows loyalty to the Greater Clandom can face a trial to become a Freeman. As a Freeman, one holds all of the rights from the Ancestral Laws, and with it they are seen as a part of the Greater Clandom, and are taken under the care of the High Elder.

 

Right of Exalting

Creatures and creations–made without wicked intent–that hold a will of their own, may be granted the right of exaltation by the High Elder or the Law Keeper. With it, they shall be recognized as Freemen and hold all of the rights that befall upon a normal Freeman.

 

Right of Freedom

The Right of Freedom falls not upon only the Freemen of the Greater Clandom, but upon all of the descendants of the realm. Every living being has the right to freedom and shall never be enslaved. It is an Ancestral blessing to live a free life, and Freemen shall value their freedom, as well as the freedom of others, above all. Holding prisoners who have wronged the Ancestral Law or fought wars against the Greater Clandom is considered just, but those taken prisoner shall never be extorted, whether for work or some other purposes.

 

Right of Choice

All Freemen have the right to choose on matters pertaining to their life; be that their clan allegiance, the profession they choose, the goals they strive to achieve, or anything else. One may call upon this right to deny the demands of another Freeman, however it may not be called upon if an oath placed by a given Freeman forces them to follow such demands.

 

Right of Oaths

Every Freeman may place an oath by their own choosing, according to the Right of Choice. While every Freeman will be expected to defend their land and people, joining the militaristic ranks of the Greater Clandom remains a matter of one’s free will, not to be tampered by force or demand. Every Freeman may also offer an oath to another Freeman, and such oaths shall be held as sacred, as long as they do not break the Ancestral Law.

 

Right of Kin

To form kin of one’s own–be that by culture, or by forming one’s own family–is a blessed right that shall not be denied to any Freeman. As long as a given kin adheres to the Ancestral Laws or follows the Elders Oath, they shall be recognized and may request at the Narada to be given a last name of their own choosing or one that the High Elder may deem fit for them.

 

Right of Home

To have a roof over their head is the right of every Freeman. No tax may be taken from such a house, nor any money needs to be paid for the acquisition of it, but with it comes the Duty of Affiliation. 

 To receive housing, one must request it from the High Elder or Vodirej. Their responsibility is to provide a home for the given Freeman. If none are befitting or available at the time, they shall offer an alternative, and inform the Freeman when a suitable housing next becomes available.

 

Duty of Righteousness

All Freemen have the duty to follow Ancestral Laws. To go against these laws is a sin against the very Ancestors and against all other Freemen. Every Freeman has the responsibility to protect the Greater Clandom from failure, and adhering to the Ancestral Laws stands as the most prominent way to aid the High Elder, as well the clans.

 

Duty of the Oathkeeper

To place an oath out of free will is a great show of trust and loyalty, be that to one of the clans, groups, or to another Freeman. And to break such, especially without prior request to be relieved of it, is a sin of the worst sort according to the Ancestral Law.

 

Word given by a Freeman should always be seen as the most sacred of things. To tarnish such trust in the word of a Freeman is a disgrace upon the entirety of the Clandom and shall not be taken lightly. There are only a handful of situations where Oath Breaking may not be punished.

 

Duty of Affiliation

To use one's rights as a Freeman is to consider oneself a man or woman of the Greater Clandom. With such, one should never doubt their affiliation, and stand proud as a Freeman of the Greater Clandom. To be a Freeman is to aid the Greater Clandom in both times of need and in times of peace. To be a Freeman is to not only own a house, but to be present in tending the very land your home sits upon, granted to you as a right of your own.

 

To disregard the Duty of Affiliation is to forfeit one’s rights as a Freeman–be that housing, or any of the other associated privileges of said title. A Freeman is allowed to travel the world freely as they wish, but they must still maintain standing amongst the community, whether it be the attendance of the Naradas, tending to their own slice of land, or adhering to their own duties among the Greater Clandom.

 

Duty of Loyalty

To be granted the rights of a Freeman means to be loyal to the Greater Clandom. If an individual’s loyalty lies beyond the regions of the Greater Clandom, they should not pursue the blessing of Freemen. Whether that be in everyday life, or in times of war, the well-being of the Greater Clandom should take priority over most other matters.

 

Sin of the Greedy

To seek wealth is a human thing - it brings security, comfort, as well as power and status amongst many. But, when greed takes over one's mind and causes them to stumble so low as to steal from other descendants, rob one of their hard-earned coin, or to lie and deceive others for self-gain–this, alongside many more acts of avarice, shall be seen as falling to the sin of greed, for which one may be punished or put to trial. 

 

Sin of the Wrathful

To defend oneself is a blessed right. To fight against those who are of evil nature and aim to harm the Greater Clandom is a righteous duty. But, to fall for one’s own wrath and cause harm to another of the Freemen is one of the greatest sins. To kill another over personal quarrels, rather than present them to those gathered at the Narada is seen as a grave crime. To be guided by hate, and to risk the entirety of the Greater Clandom is amongst the worst of the sins.

 

Sin of a Deceiver

Amongst all of the traits that a Freeman should hold, oath-keeping, and truthfulness are the most renowned. To stand by one’s oaths, even when one’s life is at stake, is the greatest pride one can bring to themselves, to their clan, and to the Ancestors. But to deceive, lie, or shatter the oaths a Freeman has sworn is the greatest dishonour and a sin against the Ancestors–for the name of a liar shall pass down onto their child, and the name of a liar shall be made the responsibility of their father. May the worth of a word spoken by a Freeman of the Greater Clandom never leave doubt to all who receive it.

 

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III. Runestone of War and Strength

 

There exist three truths that will always exist in this world: War, Nature, and Death. The Greater Clandom will be forced to face the first of these truths, war, many times. May the guidance of the Ancestors bring peace of mind to the troubled, and may their word lead Clandom and the Freemen to a blessed victory in battle.

 

Right of Safety

All Freemen have the right to protect themselves and the Greater Clandom–the right to feel safe whilst living in the Ancestral Lands, and to let their lives flourish without fearing each minute for their own well-being.

 

Right of Arms

To bear a weapon upon oneself is a primal right which none may deny, as long as the weapon itself is not of a cursed or outlawed origin. Yet, one may not pull the weapon out and hold it freely; instead drawing it only when one’s well-being–or the well-being of other Freemen–is endangered.

 

Right of Combat

If both sides of a quarrel wish to brawl with one another in the streets, in the arena, or elsewhere, it shall not be denied; solving arguments by fist or by word is equal in value and leads to the same path of forgiveness. Yet - you may not use weapons, nor intend to kill each other. Such actions may be granted only by the Right of Blood.

 

Right of Blood

If the wronged side feels that the grievance is large enough that forgiveness is not possible, they may bring the matter before the High Elder during Narada; presenting their case, offering a reason for single combat, and setting terms of such is a granted right.

 

Yet, High Elder and the Law Keeper have the final vote whether to grant blessing of the single combat. They will always propose an alternative solution that shan’t involve violence, but if they deem the wrong-doing to be unforgivable, then they may also grant their blessing for combat, set the date and location of the duel, establish the rules that the duel must adhere to, and ask for Ancestral overwatch.

 

To fail to show up to an agreed single combat is seen as a crime against the Ancestors and shall be judged accordingly by the High Elder or the Law Keeper.

 

Duty of Obedience

During times of peace and times of war, those among the Greater Clandom’s military force are granted with a blessed right of giving orders. Those who were oathed into the warband act as a guard force and as a standing army. Having to face dangers that the world may bear first hand, they are granted the right of giving orders to the Freemen, as to ensure their safety and well being.

 

To defy the orders of the highest ranked Freeman in a given situation is a sin against the Ancestors and may be pursued as a crime.

 

Duty of Defense

In times of war, all Freemen should be ready to defend the Greater Clandom. They should be ready at all times to defend the lands from raids and the dangers that may come with war, and on the day of the battle, all Freemen shall join together and support the defence. Only together will all of the clans survive, only together shall a victory be achieved.

 

Duty of Preparation

Faced with dangers of the world, hostilities of other parties, and much more, all Freemen ought to ensure that they are ready for possible combat. To bear arms, to hold armour, to have knowledge of fight, it is all seen as a common right and common duty of the Freemen, for the Greater Clandom is built upon the strength of the Highlanders.

 

Sin of Wicked War Tools

It is outlawed within the Greater Clandom to possess weapons, armour, or any other tool that comes from a wicked origin; whether crafted by a sinful user of the Arcane, or constructed from metal that is inherently seen as tainted and wicked. Amongst the outlawed materials are Azhlsteel, Boomsteel, Demonsteel, Thanhium, Dracanium, and those other materials that share the same wicked qualities as those mentioned.

 

If such equipment is even held by a given person within the Greater Clandom, they shall be detained and have the wicked tool taken away, so that it may be destroyed.

 

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 IV. Runestone of Faith

 

Right of Faith

Every Freeman has the right to believe in whichever faith that they choose for themselves, as long as such is not seen as sinful, or demands the conversion of others. To pursue the faith that befits one’s mind and soul is a sacred privilege which shall not be taken away from those who abide by the Ancestral Law.

 

Right of Celebration

To hold festivities of one’s faith is a right for all of the Freeman and kin. To celebrate the gods of their own and ask for their blessing is a sacred right that shall be upheld throughout the lands of the Greater Clandom. It is imperative, though, to make sure that the festivities thrown shall not go against the Ancestral Laws, nor will they send harm upon other Freemen, descendants, or nature.

 

Right of Burial

Every Freeman has the right to be buried in accordance with their faith or tradition. Only those who have wronged the Ancestral Law severely enough to be stripped of their Freemanship and branded as shamed by the Ancestors shall be buried with nei their proper path, yet still with full honours as the body is returned to nature.

 

Right of Seerhood

A Freeman has the right to become a seer of their given faith and to act as a conduit between the realm of the living and the realm of the gods. They may offer guidance to those who ask for it, and act as support to those who truly need it.

 

Yet, the seer shall never seek to convert other kinsmen against their will, whether by ploy of scheming, manipulation, or by open questioning. To each faith is their own, to each right of the choice shall never be stripped.

 

Duty of Restraint

Faith shall never hold power over the actions and decisions within the Greater Clandom when it comes to the matters of all the clans and all the Freemen. It shall be the gentle warmth that helps those who are lost or confused, it shall be the pillar of support for the frail and hurt, but it shall never be used as a sword against another, nor shall it ever be used as a reason for hatred.

 

May all who sit at the table during the Narada know that only the Ancestors shall be seen as the guides to the path ahead. May everyone's Ancestors be the reason for mutual festivities and understanding of one another. Different languages,  cultures and faith shall not hinder the union of those under the Greater Clandom; in the end, all shall be done to bring pride to the Ancestors of all.

 

Duty of Respect

Despite the differences held between various clans and families, it is the duty of each and every Freeman to not let these differences hinder unity; or, at the very least, it is the duty of every Freeman to tolerate others. Respect for thy fellow man shall bestow us a blessed path; speaking as one for the betterment of the Greater Clandom, and partaking in mutual work for the pride of the Ancestors, shall bind those of the Greater Clandom together.

 

Sin of the Harmful

No faith that strives to harm another descendent, for any purpose, shall ever hold a place in the Greater Clandom. Nor will any faith that seeks to ruin nature hold a place in the Greater Clandom. Nor any faith which bestows its blessing upon the broken paths that bring sin into the realm, and wrong the Ancestral Law.

 

Sin of the Tainted

No faith that follows the paths of the tainted and wicked–or worships creatures of evil–shall ever hold a place in the Greater Clandom. Nor any faith which seeks to corrupt the minds and souls of its believers or other descendants.

 

Sin of the Undying

No faith that strives to bring wretched immortality into this world, whether it be by the act of prolonging one’s life, or by reverting faith and raising one to a state of undeath, shall ever hold a place in the Greater Clandom. To face death–to face Ancestral judgement–is the sacred duty of every Freeman.

 

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V. Runestone of Magic

 

Permitted Arcana

Permitted Arcana are those which do not come from wicked origins, those which do not seek to create things of evil nature, and those which cannot be used to harm another Freeman within the lands of the Greater Clandom.

 

List of the Permitted Arcana:

Housemagery

Bardmancy

Golemancy

Animii (In Restricted Form)

Druidism (In Restricted Form)

Paladinism (In Restricted Form)

Alchemy (In Restricted Form)

 

Restricted Arcana

Restricted Arcana are those which do not come from wicked origins, and those which do not seek to create things of evil nature, but can be used to harm descendants or creatures of various forms. These Arcana may only be used by the Greater Magi.

 

List of the Restricted Arcana:

Animii (Unrestricted)

Druidism (Unrestricted)

Paladinism (Unrestricted)

Alchemy (Unrestricted)

Shamanism (Restricted)

 

Forbidden Arcana

Forbidden Arcana are those which may be hard to come by, difficult to decipher, or come from an unknown origin. Before any of these Arcana are allowed within the Greater Clandom, the Magi Overseer shall convene with the High Elder and Elders of the clans. Together, they shall decide if these Arcana adhere to the Ancestral Laws, or if they are deemed wicked. If the arcana is found wrong, yet not evil by nature, they shall simply remain forbidden and unused by any Magi.

 

List of the Forbidden Arcana:
Shamanism (Unrestricted)

 

Sinful Arcana

Sinful Arcana are those which come from wicked origin, those which seek to create things of evil nature, and those which are used solely for the harm of descendants. Too many in these realms have suffered by the hands of abhorrent magic that originates from wicked, twisted paths. Too many in these realms have been sentenced to witness the deaths or injuries of others by these ungodly acts. It is by the Ancestral Law that all these Arcana are forever scorned and outlawed.

 

List of the Sinful Arcana:

Voidal Magic
Necromancy

Azdrazi Magic

Blood Magic

All Magic seen universally as evil and corrupt

 

Right of Knowledge

Learning and knowing the righteous and uncorrupted paths of magic is treated as a right that all Freemen hold; whether it is simply to be familiar with these Arcana, or to pursue a path of unnatural powers for themselves. Similarly, Freemen bear a right to know of the outlawed Sinful Arcana. However, this knowledge shall only be kept as a way of understanding, identifying, and protecting the Greater Clandom from these wicked magics.

 

Right of Usage

Those amongst the Freemen who are recognized by the High Elder or the Magi Overseer as worthy of being awarded the title of Magi shall be allowed to use magic within the lands of the Greater Clandom, in accordance with the Ancestral Laws. These Freemen may pursue the paths of the Permitted Arcana as a Lower Magi. Once recognized and seen as trustworthy, they may apply to be granted the title of Greater Magi, which extends the Right of Usage to the Restricted Arcana. To become a Lesser Magi, one has to be of undoubted morality; one who does whatever may be best for the Greater Clandom, the Freemen, and those of the entire realm. Uncertainty and doubt may lead to one’s soul being easily corrupted by magic.

 

Right of Tutoring

Those amongst the Freemen who aspire to become a Magi bear the right to be guided through the weaving path of Arcana. After a Freeman partakes in the trial held by the Magi Overseer, they will be assigned a Greater Magi to watch over and guide them through the Arcana. The Greater Magi shall aid the Lesser Magi with all that is required, and assure that the Lesser Magi's morality stands strong. Only by the order of a Greater Magi may a Lesser Magi tap into the Restricted Arcana; however, the Greater Magi that allows this bears full responsibility over any situations that may arise.

 

Duty of Understanding

Those amongst the Freemen who pursue the paths of the Magi bear the sacred duty to fully understand the Arcana they wish to learn. They must fully understand the consequences, responsibilities, and restrictions of their actions. Failure to do these things shall be seen as irresponsible, and the Lesser Magi may be punished. These punishments are decreed by the Magi Overseer and High Elder. Being considered worthy to walk the path of the Magi is considered a reward of the highest order, yet this path holds far greater responsibility than most other professions.

 

Duty of Restraint

To be recognized as a Magi is among the greatest of honours. However, those who dedicate themselves to becoming Magi must show restraint. These Magi shall not use the magic they have learned carelessly throughout their life. These Arcana shall only be used for the betterment of other Freemen of the Greater Clandom. Furthermore, those who a Magi seeks to aid must agree to be aided by the use of magic as well -- An exception to this rule is a case of endangerment; if the life of a Freeman is jeopardised, a Magi shall use their magic at their own discretion. 

 

In battle, a Magi shall only use magic if ordered by the High Elder or his Council, or if the life of another Freeman depends on it. In order for a Magi to use magic freely during battle, they must seek a council with the High Elder or Magi Overseer, and obtain explicit privilege to do so.

 

Sin of Magi Madness

The use of magic within the Greater Clandom from a foreign mage is considered sinful, and shall not be taken lightly. Those who attempt the usage of Permitted or Restricted Arcana without having undergone the trial of the Magi shall only be issued a warning once. Repeated offenses shall result in a trial held by the High Elder and Magi Overseer.

 

Usage of Forbidden Arcana shall be met with the quick apprehension of the offending mage, and they will face a trial held by the High Elder and Magi Overseer.

 

Usage of Sinful Arcana is considered a crime of the highest degree, seen akin to the attempted murder of a Freeman. The offending mage shall be apprehended if feasible, but if the life of any Freeman is seen as endangered, the offending mage shall be seen as a threat and may be slain without further hesitation.

 

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Signed,

of Pasnia, High Elder and Tvorca of the Greater Clandom of Vistulia

Spoiler

Thank you @Wulfery for writing the vast majority of the post, and thank you @Thezi for slaving away to fix spelling errors and sentence flow.