The Law of Harren

[Tainga 521]

 

 

Issued the 267th Year of the Second Age by the office of the

HIGH CHANCELLOR

 

In the 131st year of the Second Age, beneath the steady hand of Tar-Númentar, the Kingdom of Númendil set its first laws to parchment. For 104 years they endured, until the guidance of Athaenis Vourkehardt, Hand of the Crown, and the sanctity of Tar-Carandir, they were renewed into the Laws of Harren. Yet time reshapes all things, and with the ascension of Tar-Zôrzagar and our rise into the High Kingdom of Idunia, those ancient statutes no longer mirror the people we have become. 

 

Thus I rise, no longer Hand but High Chancellor, and turn my quill toward a new codification of our realm’s laws: the Edictum Idunae. It is crafted to steady our peace, to call us to diligence, to invite virtue, and to demand honesty. 

 

These laws reach across all Idunia and may not be altered without counsel of the Harren Court, nor enacted without the final seal of our Tar and Tari. Any future additions shall be proclaimed through an Edictorium decree. 

The Structure of the Law

The laws of Idunia rests upon a tripartite foundation, each pillar shaped to uphold a different charge of the realm. Together they bind sovereign and citizen, soldier and steward, in an ordered harmony that preserves the Tar’s Peace. 

 

🟆 Rîthain (Crown law)

Matters of sovereignty, rulership, and the royal house.

🟆 Tîrthain (Guard law)

The keeping of peace, the duties of the watch, and the defense of the realm.

🟆 Fîrthain (Mortal law)

The rights, obligations, and everyday governance of the common folk. 

 

 

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Matters of Sovereignty, Blood, and the High Throne

 

Long before Idunia bore its name in full, the Laws of the Crown were but a thin thread. Only the line of succession was ever inked, and only the members of the Arthalionath were counted beneath the mantle of the Crown. All else was spoken case-by-case, shaped by the chivalric judgment of Tar-Númenetar.

 

But this simplicity could not weather the years. Under Tar-Caraneth, the Arthalionath line blossomed beyond measure. Children born in such numbers that the old customs could no longer bear their weight. Not every royal could wield the powers of the Crown, and so she issued a decree on princely authority: that Princes and Princesses held no inherent command unless the throne itself bestowed it. This principle later took firm root during the reign of Tar-Carandir, becoming part of the realm’s settled law. 

 

Now under Tar-Zôrzagar, these statutes are shaped anew. Within Rîthain, the Crown’s Law, the following articles stand and are herein set forth:

 

Section I. The Sovereign’s Authority

1.1 Powers Granted by Law to the Monarch

The Tar of Idunia, seated upon the White Throne, holds supreme authority over the realm. These prerogatives define and preserve the power, dignity, and burden of the Crown.

🟆 Authority Over Lands & Titles

◈ The Tar possesses full and unquestioned dominion over all lands, fiefs, and titles within the High Kingdom.

◈ The monarch may grant, revoke, elevate, or restore titles. 

 

🟆 Keeper of the Law

◈ The White Throne may dictate, enforce, or amend the laws of the realm at their discretion.

◈ Changes to Crown Law take effect upon proclamation, bearing the Royal Mark and seal. 

 

🟆 Steward of the Royal House

◈ The Tar is the sole authority permitted to approve legitimization, name an Heir Presumptive, or establish new cadet branches of the Arthalionath. 

◈ Matters of dynastic standing, ceremonial precedence, and royal lineage rest entirely with the Crown.

 

 

1.2 Abdication & Transfer of Power

A sovereign may voluntarily relinquish the throne, provided all acts are conducted in accordance with Crown Law and duly witnessed by the Harren Court.

🟆 Declaration Before the Court

◈ Abdication must be declared before the assembled Harren Court and properly witnessed.

 

🟆 Naming the Successor

◈ The departing monarch shall affirm the rightful heir as dictated by the laws of succession.

 

🟆 Finality of Renunciation

◈ Once abdicated, no sovereign may reclaim the throne unless granted unanimous consent by the Harren Court.

 

🟆 Passing of the Throne

◈ All seals, symbols, and authorities of the Crown transfer to the heir the moment abdication is accepted.

 

 

1.3 Sovereign Accountability

Even the Crown is not beyond the gaze of the law, for the stability of the realm demands that the monarch remain steadfast in virtue and untainted by shadow. When the ruler falters, safeguards older than the Kingdom itself ensure that Idunia endures. 

🟆 The Last Rite of Kings

◈ Should the reigning monarch fall—whether by weakness, coercion, or corruption—under the sway of the Forces of Darkness, the Knights of the Realm are bound by sacred charge to intervene.

◈ A monarch so tarnished must first be reclaimed and restored to the Light, should such redemption be possible.

◈ If salvation cannot be won, the Knights are commanded to raise their banners in rightful rebellion, overthrowing the fallen sovereign in favor of the rightful heir.

◈ Where succession stands uncertain, the High Chancellor shall assume the Crown.

◈ If both heir and High Chancellor are absent or unfit, regency shall go the line of succession instead.

◈ In this singular circumstance alone, regicide is not treason but duty. An ancient mandate woven into the founding of the Kingdom, preserving the realm from shadow when all other safeguards fail.

 

Section II. Succession & Inheritance

2.1 The Order of Inheritance

The Crown of Idunia shall pass according to the will of the Tar, who holds the sole authority to designate the heir. Should the designated heir die before ascending, the right of selection passes to the Tari, the royal consort, who shall then determine the next heir. This principle forms the foundation upon which all succession laws below are set.

🟆 Primary Designation by the Tar

◈ The Tar shall determine the heir to the throne, considering all living members of the royal bloodline
◈ The heir receives the full rights, titles, and dignities of the Crown upon the monarch’s death, abdication, or removal.

 

🟆 Death of the Designated Heir 

◈ Should the designated heir predecease the monarch or be otherwise unable to ascend, the Tari, the royal consort, shall choose a successor from among eligible royal blood, taking into account the welfare of the realm and continuity of the house.  

 

🟆 Absence of Issue and Undesignated Heir

◈ If the reigning monarch dies without issue and no heir has been designated by the Tar, the Harren Court shall convene to determine the next lawful heir. 

◈ The vote shall include all members of the Harren Court and the Knights of the Realm representing both noble and martial counsel.

 

🟆 Contested Succession

◈ If the vote produces a contest between exactly two candidates, those candidates shall resolve the matter through a duel similar to that of a Victors’ Justice.

◈ The victor of the duel shall be recognized as the lawful heir, and their succession shall be binding on the Court, the Knights, and the realm. 

 

🟆 Failure of the Designated Line

◈ If the line of the Tar’s designated heir fails entirely, the Tari’s choice is no longer viable, the Harren Court shall select the next heir from among the remaining royal bloodline, rather than relying strictly on birth order.

 

🟆 Failure of All Direct Arthalionath Lines

◈ Should no direct Arthalionath bloodline remain, the Crown passes to the closest surviving kin of the royal blood in order of degree, as determined by the Harren Court.

◈ The Harren Court shall investigate, certify, and proclaim the rightful heir, prioritizing legitimate descent and continuity of the royal house. 

 

 

2.2 Legitimacy of Birth

Only lawful or law-recognized offspring may inherit. No claim may rise from doubtful birth or unproven parentage. In this, the realm preserves the clarity and integrity of its royal line. 

🟆 Definition of Legitimacy

◈ A child is legitimate if born within a marriage recognized by Crown law. 

 

🟆  Paths to Legitimization

◈ A child born outside of marriage may be legitimized by:

◈ a royal writ issued by the reigning monarch, or

◈ a marriage of the parents occurring after birth, if validated by the Crown.

 

🟆  Rights Granted by Legitimization 

◈ Once legitimized, a child holds full succession rights unless explicitly restricted by decree.

 

🟆  Claims Excluded

◈ Secret children, unacknowledged offspring, or those born of forbidden unions hold no claim unless legitimized by decree. 

 

 

2.3 Adoption Into the Royal Line

Adoption is rare but permitted in extraordinary situations. Such acts require the Crown’s sanction to hold legal weight, and adoption alone may never displace the natural rights of blood heirs.  

🟆 Authority to Adopt

◈ Only the reigning monarch may adopt a child into the royal house. 

 

🟆 Status Granted by Adoption 

◈ Adoption creates full dynastic status, including eligibility for succession.

◈ However, adoption does not overwrite the claims of blood heirs.

 

🟆 Rank in Sucession

◈ Adopted heirs rank after all legitimate blood heirs of the reigning monarch but before collateral branches. 

 

 

2.4 Renunciation & Deferral of Claim

Any heir may surrender or set aside their place in the succession, whether permanently or for a time, provided the act is made in accordance with Crown law. 

🟆 Renunciation 

◈ Renunciation must be declared publicly before the Harren Court and sealed in writing.

◈ A renounced claim is final and cannot be reclaimed.

◈ The heir’s future children may be restored to the line only with the explicit permission of the reigning monarch. 

 

🟆 Deferral 

◈ Temporary deferral of claim is permitted for reasons of age, infirmity, religious vocation, or service abroad.
◈ Deferral does not alter the line of succession unless the heir dies without rescinding it.

 

 

2.5 Cadet Branches of the Royal House

The extended Arthalionath may inherit only under conditions set to safeguard the continuity and loyalty of the royal line.  

🟆 Place in Succession

◈ Cadet branches enter the line of succession only after the extinction of the main royal line.

 

🟆 Marriages Beyond the Realm 

◈ Members who wed into foreign crowns require royal approval to retain succession rights. 

 

🟆 Establishment of a Cadet Branch

◈  A new cadet branch requires approval of the reigning monarch.

 

 

2.6 Unusual or Disputed Successions

In cases where succession is unclear, contested, or requires interpretation, the law provides for the intervention of the Harren Court to preserve legitimacy and prevent disorder.

🟆 Role of the Harren Court 

◈  The Harren Court shall convene to interpret the law of succession. 

 

🟆 Naming an Heir Presumptive

◈  The reigning monarch may name an Heir Presumptive, but this appointment must follow the laws above and cannot contravene bloodright without cause. 

 

Section III. Regency & Minority Rule

3.1 Reasons for Regency

A regency may be instituted only to preserve the continuity and stability of the Crown. Its causes are strictly defined to prevent misuse of royal authority. 

🟆 Minority of the Heir 

◈ When the inheriting monarch is below the age of majority set by law.  

 

🟆 Incapacity 

◈ When the reigning monarch is rendered unable to rule by illness, injury, or enchantment recognized by the Harren Court. 

 

🟆 Absence 

◈ When the monarch is taken captive, lost beyond the realm, or unreachable for a period of time. 

 

🟆 Voluntary Temporary Withdrawal

◈ When the monarch chooses to step aside for healing, pilgrimage, or state-sanctioned duty.

 

No regency may be declared without the consensus of the Harren Court and an official proclamation sealed with the Royal Mark.

 

 

3.2 Order of Eligibility for Regent

When a Regent has not been named by the monarch, the lawful succession for Regency is as follows:

🟆 The Consort 

◈ Provided they are of sound mind and not in political conflict with the realm.

 

🟆 The Next Adult Heir 

◈ The eldest elibible heir in the line of succession who has reached the age of majority. 

 

🟆 The High Chancellor of Idunia

◈ When no suitable member of the royal bloodline is available.

 

🟆 The Eldest Knight

◈ The Eldest Knight chosen by unanimous consent of the Harren Court in rare emergencies. 

 

No person outside of the royal bloodline may serve as Regent unless explicitly permitted by law. 

 

 

3.3 Authority of the Regent

The Regent acts as the Crown’s temporary authority during the monarch’s minority, incapacity, or absence. Powers and limitations are defined to preserve the sovereignty and integrity of the White Throne.

🟆 Powers of the Regent 

◈ The Regent may enforce laws, command the guard, and sign writs in the monarch’s name.

◈ The Regent may oversee diplomacy, representing the Crown in negotiations, but may not finalize treaties without the approval of the Harren Court. 

 

🟆 Limits of Authority 

◈ The Regent may NOT:

◈ alter succession,

◈ declare foreign war,

◈ grant or revoke royal titles,

◈ and pass new Crown Laws.

 

🟆 Accountability 

◈ All actions of the Regent must be recorded in the Book of Regency, reviewed upon the monarch’s return.

 

 

3.4 End of Regency

The conclusion of a regency marks the restoration of the monarch’s full authority. Procedures ensure continuity, accountability, and lawful transition of power.

🟆 Minority of the Monarch

◈ Upon reaching the age of majority the young monarch must be ceremonially affirmed by the Harren Court.

 

🟆 Recovery from Incapacity

◈ Should the monarch recover from incapacity, an ordained priest of the True Faith and the Head Physician of the Royal Capital must affirm their sound mind.

 

🟆 Return from Absence 

◈ In cases of absence, the monarch must return and present themselves before the Throne and the Harren Court.

 

🟆 Duties of the Former Regent 

◈ The former Regent must surrender all royal seals and powers and present a full accounting of their governance.

 

Section IV. Royal Titles, Styles & Status

4.1 Who May Bear Royal Titles

Royal titles are granted and regulated by the Crown to preserve hierarchy, succession, and the dignity of the White Throne.

🟆 The Sovereign

◈ The title Tar, meaning King or Queen, is held solely by the reigning monarch.

 

🟆 The Heir Apparent

◈ The recognized successor bears the style Crown Prince or Crown Princess of Idunia

 

🟆 Children of the Monarch

◈ Royal children may hold the titles Prince or Princess, though such dignity carries no authority unless explicitly granted.

 

🟆 Extended Arthalionath

◈ Kin beyond the monarch’s immediate household may receive courtesy titles, but not princely rank unless restored by decree of the Crown. 

 

 

4.2 Removal or Suspension of Titles

The Crown retains authority to remove or suspend titles granted under its sovereignty. 

🟆 Causes for Removal

◈ Treason.

◈ Abandonment of the realm.

◈ Refusal of duty.

◈ Grave misconduct unbecoming of the Crown.

 

🟆 Process of Removal

◈ Removal occurs by formal declaration of the monarch,

◈ Notice is to be delivered to the Harren Court.

 

🟆 Suspension & Restoration

◈ Suspended titles may be restored through service, repentance, or by the sovereign’s will.

 

🟆 Consequences of Removal

◈ One stripped of title loses all royal privileges, immunities, and claims, yet may keep their birthright name unless formally disinherited. 

 

 

4.3 Titles of Consorts

The titles and standing of royal consorts are defined to preserve the dignity of the Crown while distinguishing the scope of authority granted to them.

🟆 Royal Consort

◈ A lawful spouse of the reigning monarch bears the title Tari, King or Queen Consort. 

 

🟆 Authority of the Consort

◈ Consorts exercise no sovereign power unless expressly elevated by the monarch to equal standing.

 

🟆 Status After the Monarch’s Death

◈ Upon the monarch’s passing, the consort assumes the title Dowager unless they remarry.

 

Section V. Disinheritance & Forfeiture

5.1 Grounds for Disinheritance

Disinheritance may be invoked when a member of the royal line commits acts that endanger the Crown, the realm, or the Arthalionath lineage. Specific grounds are as follows:

🟆 High Treason

◈ Betrayal against the sovereign, the realm, or the Arthalionath line.

 

🟆 Abandonment of Duty

◈ Forsaking sworn oaths or shirking obligations without just cause.

 

🟆 Oathbreaking

◈ Violations of royal vows or sacred compacts tied to the throne.

 

🟆 Dishonor to the Crown

◈ Heinous crimes, corruption, or actions that threaten the stability of Idunia.

 

🟆 Renunciation

◈ A voluntary surrender of claim in writing before the Crown. 

 

 

5.2 Procedure of Disinheritance

Disinheritance defines the sovereign’s authority to remove succession rights from a member of the royal line. 

🟆 Royal Determination

◈ The sovereign alone determines whether cause for disinheritance exists.

◈ A formal Royal Decree of Removal is issued, bearing the sovereign’s seal and naming the royal whose rights are revoked.

 

🟆 Process & Finality

◈ A hearing may be granted at the Crown’s pleasure, but it is not required.

◈ Once declared, the act of disinheritance is immediate, irrevocable, and beyond contestation by any council, noble, or court. 

◈ The royal’s name is stricken from the Line of Succession and recorded as such.  

 

 

5.3 Degrees of Forfeiture

Forfeiture defines the Crown’s authority to restrict rights, titles, and privileges of those who violate their obligations. The form of forfeiture depends on the severity and nature of the offense. 

🟆 Full Forfeiture

◈ Removes all succession rights for the individual and their direct descendants. 

 

🟆 Partial Forfeiture

◈ Certain privileges, such as titles, lands, or offices, are stripped, while the individual may remain in the line of succession.

 

🟆 Conditional Forfeiture

◈ Rights, titles, or privileges are suspended until an oath is fulfilled, penance is completed, or service is rendered to the realm.

 

Section VI. Royal Household & Legal Administration

6.1 Authority Over the Royal Household

The Royal Household exists as the living instrument of the Crown, charged with sustaining the dignity, security, and daily function of the White Throne.

🟆 Family Appointment & Dismissal

◈ The Crown appoints, dismisses, and disciplines all members of the royal household.

 

🟆 Nature of Service

◈ Roles within the household exist by royal favor, not permanence.

 

🟆 Chain of Command

◈ All court functionaries act under the sovereign’s direct authority. 

 

 

6.2 Appointment of Royal Offices

The great offices of Idunia serve at the pleasure of the Crown, each entrusted with a portion of the realm’s governance. Their charge lasts only so long as the sovereign’s confidence endures.

🟆 Royal Selection

◈ The Crown selects all high offices of the realm, including:

◈ The High Chancellor

◈ The Sword of Owyn

◈ The High Diplomat

◈ The High Treasurer

◈ Lesser offices may be nominated by these officials but require royal assent to take form. 

 

🟆 Appointment & Dismissal

◈ Appointments hold until resignation, dismissal, death, or the sovereign’s will.

 

 

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Matters of the Guard, Oaths, and Lawkeeping

 

In the earliest ages of our law, under Tar-Númenetar and Tar-Caraneth, little guidance was given to those who bore the shield of the realm. No statutes marked their duties, no procedures shaped their judgments. Lost in the fog of uncertainty, our Host of Idunia carried every question to the Tar and the high offices, seeking clarity where none yet existed. 

 

This changed beneath Tar-Carandir’s steady hand. The knights of Númendil were charged to serve as magistrates, and justice turned toward penance. Each punishment was crafted not to break the offender, but to guide them back toward virtue. 

 

Now, once more, the law is renewed. Under the wisdom of Tar-Zôrzagar, the governance of our guardians evolves again, shaped to meet the needs of the Host of Idunia, our Knights, and the people they serve. 

 

Section I. Authority of the Guard

1.1 Jurisdiction and Command

The Host of Idunia stands as the vigilant shield of Idunia, entrusted to keep order where the Crown’s light does not always reach. Their charge is ancient, their duty unbroken: to safeguard the realm and those who dwell within it.

🟆 The Mandate of the Crown

◈ The Host of Idunia and the Knights of Idunia hold their charge from the High Crown itself.

◈ Their duty is threefold: to shield the innocent, uphold the Tar’s Peace, and answer all threats that stir within the realm. 

◈ In all civil matters, their authority equals that of a magistrate in the field. 

 

🟆 Reach of Their Power

◈ The guard may act upon all lands under Idunia’s banner: its roads, wilds, borders, and vassals sworn to the White Throne.  

◈ When crisis rises, invasion, demonic incursion, their jurisdiction extends automatically to any site of danger without need for writ or summons.

◈ Within holy sites, ancestral halls, and noble keeps, the Guard must still declare their office upon entry unless the peril is immediate and lives depend upon swiftness. 

 

🟆 Boundaries of the Mandate

◈ The Guard may detain, disarm, investigate, and protect—but may not judge, save in matters where no magistrate is reachable and delay would cost lives.

◈ They may not confiscate property except as evidence or to prevent harm. All such possessions must be logged and returned unless deemed contraband by law.

◈ They may not compel confessions by threat, torment, or magical coercion. Truth must come freely or through lawful inquiry. 

 

🟆 Oathbound Conduct

◈ A guard who acts in malice, greed, or cruelty forfeits the Tar’s Peace and may be stripped of rank upon inquiry. 

 

🟆 Cooperation with Nobles, Clergy & Orders

◈ Nobles may call upon the Guard for protection, but may not command them contrary to Crown Law. 

◈ Clergy may request aid in sacred matters. In turn, the Guard must show due reverence to the recognized faith of the realm. 

 

🟆 The Tar's Peace

◈ Any who raise blade, spell, or riot against the innocent, the Crown, or the peace of the realm place themselves beneath the Guard’s immediate authority. 

 

🟆 Accountability & Record

◈ Every detention, use of force, and significant action must be reported to a Gwaithron within one day's turning, save in times of war. 

◈ False reporting, destruction of record, or concealment of action is treated as dereliction.

 

Section II. Relations with the Knights of Idunia

2.1 The Bond Between Sword and Shield

The Knights of Idunia and the Host of Idunia stand as twin pillars of the realm. One the sword of sacred authority, the other the shield of daily order. Harmony between them preserves the Tar’s Peace. 

🟆 The Knight-Magistrate

◈ Every Knight of Idunia is, by oath and royal decree, a magistrate of the realm, empowered to interpret and enact the law where disorder rises. 

◈ A Knight’s word carries the weight of the Crown unless directly contradicted by the Tar, the High Chancellor, or the Sword of Owyn.

 

🟆 Deference of the Host of Idunia

◈ Members of the Host of Idunia must defer to a Knight’s judgment when both stand witness to an incident or active investigation.

◈ Open defiance of a Knight is treated as insubordination unless the command directly violates Crown Law or the sanctity of life. 

◈ In civil disputes, petty theft, minor assault, or local disturbances, the Guard retains primary jurisdiction unless escalation warrants Knightly intervention.

 

🟆 A Knight’s Sentencing

◈ Knights may issue penance, fines, or corrective tasks on the spot, provided the punishment aligns with Tîrthain and Fîrthain and does not exceed what the Crown reserves for itself. 

◈ In cases of severe crime, such as treason, a Knight may detain the accused for royal judgment but may not carry out execution without the explicit approval of the Sovereign, the High Chancellor, the Sword of Owyn, the Knight Commander, or the High Justiciar.

 

🟆 Knightly Office

◈ Impersonation of a Knight is a grave crime, warranting immediate detainment. 

◈ Any threat made against a Knight is a threat against the Tar's Peace. 

 

🟆 The Right of Inquiry

◈ Knights may review Guard reports, witness statements, and evidence in any case where they choose to intervene.

◈ The Guard must provide full transparency, save for information sealed by the Crown.

 

🟆 When the Knight is at Fault

◈ Should a Knight abuse their power, act unjustly, or inflict harm without cause, the Guard may detain them, but only to hold, never to judge.

◈ Any accusation against a Knight is brought directly before the Crown, the High Chancellor, the Sword of Owyn, or the Knight Commander.

 

Section III. Penances, Fines & Corrective Measures

3.1 Authority to Issue Penance

The right to levy penance rests with those entrusted to guard the realm’s peace. Each act of judgment must be measured, just, and bound to the restoration of order. 

🟆 Minor Judgments of the Host

◈ The Host of Idunia may impose minor penances for petty or moderate offenses, addressing disturbances that require swift correction.

 

🟆 Magisterial Judgments of the Knights

◈ Knights, as magistrates, may issue greater penances involving extended service, oaths of conduct, or restitution to the wronged.

◈ All grave or capital crimes must be deferred to the Crown. 

 

 

3.2 The Principles of Penance

Punishment within Idunia serves to reform, restore, and return the offender to the path of virtue. Penance is not humiliation, rather, it is a structured return to order. Harshness is reserved only for crimes that endanger life, the Crown, or the realm.

🟆 Service to the Realm

◈ Tasks that mend what was damaged include: cleaning public spaces, repairing guard barracks or temples, assisting with community labor, and similar acts that tangibly restore the peace.

 

🟆 Restorative Amends

◈ Personal Amends as acts that heal the bond between offender and offended such as: formal apologies, restoring damaged property, replacing stolen goods, symbolic acts of reconciliation. 

 

🟆 Guided Instruction

◈ Supervised Instruction for those who act in ignorance, not malice such as: lessons in law and conduct, working under a Guard or Knight’s supervision, or the study of sacred teachings.

 

🟆 Financial Fines

◈ Mina may be taken as compensation when labor cannot heal the harm.

◈ Exploitative or excessive fines are forbidden. 

 

 

3.3 Limits of Punishment & the Widening Path of Correction

Discipline must never descend into cruelty, nor stray beyond what the law permits. When failure persists, escalation follows, but always under the Crown’s measured eye. 

🟆 Prohibited Punishments

◈ Cruelty, torture, humiliation, or maiming are strictly forbidden.

◈ Guards and Knights may not strip an offender of home, family, or trade without the direct judgement of the Crown. 

 

🟆 Escalation of Penance

◈ If an offender fails or refuses to complete their penance, they may be issued a stricter burden, or—if defiance continues—detained for royal review.

◈ Repeat offenders may face doubled penance or increased supervision. 

 

 

3.4 Stewardship of Discipline Within the Host

Penance within the Host of Idunia carries a higher burden, for those who bear the Crown’s charge must embody its light. Their conduct shapes the realm’s peace, and thus their correction must be measured, just, and unwavering. When a sworn defender falters, discipline serves not to shame them, but to restore the honor entrusted to their station. 

🟆 Penance for the Host of Idunia

◈ When a member of the Host of Idunia commits a minor breach—disrespect, disorderly conduct, neglect of duty—they receive penance equal or greater than that given to citizens. 

◈ Major offenses (corruption, cruelty, abuse of authority) are referred directly to the Knights and commanders of the Host of Idunia. 

 

🟆 The Spirit of the Law

◈ Penance should lead the wrongdoer back toward the light, not cast them deeper into shadow.

◈  Every punishment should offer a road home.

 

Section IV. The Tar's Peace

4.1 The Nature and Keeping of the Peace

The Tar's Peace is the state of harmony, safety, and rightful order upheld in all lands under the Crown or vassal. Any act that disturbs this tranquility, threatens innocent life, or disrupts communal harmony is a breach of the Peace and subject to penalty under Guard Law.  

🟆 Acts Considered Breaches of the Peace

◈ Violent disturbance such as brawling, drunken aggression, reckless use of weapons, or assault or threats of bodily harm.

◈ Armed or hostile display such as marching through towns with unsheathed weapons, intimidating citizens with armor or arms, or brandishing weapons during disputes.

 

🟆 Crimes Against Peace Officers

◈ Striking, threatening, or obstructing a Guard or Knight during active duty is a grave offense.

◈ Impeding medical aid, rescue, or lawful detainment elevates the charge to a severe breach of the Peace.

 

🟆 Ceremonial and Sacred Peace

◈ During coronations, funerals, feasts, temple rites, and royal audiences, the Tar’s Peace is heightened. 

◈ Any disturbance at such events is treated with doubled severity, and offenders are removed from the grounds at once. 

 

🟆 Responsibility of Travelers and Foreigners

◈ Visitors are bound to the Peace as strictly as citizens.

◈ Foreign Knights, warriors, or armed escorts must announce themselves at the gates, peacebond their weapons, and keep their arms sheathed within the city.

 

🟆 Restoration of the Peace

◈ Property damaged in the breach is noted for later restitution under Section III.

◈ The Host shall not leave a scene until the Peace is visibly restored. 

 

Section V. Matters of Sorcery, Monsters, and the Unholy

5.1 The Laws of the Unholy

Matters of sorcery, cursed beings, and profaned powers fall under the Guard’s charge. Any creature or force that twists the natural order, imperils mortal life, or draws upon forbidden power is deemed Unholy and subject to strict oversight.

 

🟆 Monsters, Cursed Beings, and Abominable Creatures

◈ Any creature born of corruption, dark enchantment, or curse falls under this section. 

◈ Citizens must report sightings immediately to the Guard. Failure to report such creatures is itself a punishable neglect. 

 

🟆 Cursed Objects

◈ Objects bearing malice—cursed stones, hexed jewelry, corrupted tomes—must be surrendered at once to the Guard. 

◈ Hoarding, studying, or trafficking in such items is a grave offence.

 

🟆 Tests of Purity and Investigation

◈ When a person is suspected of corruption or sorcerous influence, the Guard may order a formal examination by magisters or clergy.

◈ Abuse of this authority, falsified accusations, or trials without cause are punishable under Section V. 

 

🟆 Aiding the Unnatural

◈ Sheltering darkspawn or concealing unholy rites is deemed betrayal of the realm.

◈ Punishments escalate with the magnitude of the danger abetted.

 

Section VI. Corruption, Treason, and Betrayal

6.1 Crimes Against the Host

Any act that compromises the integrity of the Guard, obstructs the defense of the realm, or violates sworn duty to the Crown is known as Guard-Treason. Such offenses strike at the very heart of Idunia’s protection and are met with the fullest severity. 

🟆 Corruption and Abuse of Authority

◈ Any sworn Guard or Knight who exploits their station for gain—through bribery, cruelty, coercion, or unjust judgment—commits corruption.

◈ Those found guilty may be demoted, stripped of rank, or subjected to further punishment as deemed just by the Crown or by the Sword of Owyn. 

◈ Those cast out from the Host have their named inscribed among the Dishonored and are barred from all future service. 

 

🟆 Oathbreaking and Chivalric Betrayal

◈ To forsake one’s sworn charge through cowardice, deliberate neglect, or dishonor is deemed oathbreaking.

◈ Knights who breach the Errant Knight’s Code through cruelty, desertion, or betrayal of their ward commit a violation of chivalric duty.

◈ Oathbreaking by a Knight shall be judged by the Crown and the Knight Commander, and may warrant the highest sentence such as death.

 

🟆 Treason Against the High Kingdom

◈ To conspire with enemies of Idunia, undermine the White Throne, or act in betrayal of the realm’s defense constitutes as treason. 

◈ The sharing of guarded knowledge, harboring of hostile forces, or the willful weakening of Idunia’s peace shall be treated as high treason. 

◈ All Knights and sworn Guards shall hold fealty to the Crown. To break this oath is treason in full.

 

🟆 Exile of the Faithless

◈ When mercy is granted, the offender is cast out beyond Idunia’s borders.

◈ Should they return, they shall be executed. 

 

🟆 The Last Sentence

◈ For acts that imperil the realm—collusion with darkspawn, deliberate weakening of the Host, or betrayal of the Crown’s command—the punishment is death, carried out swiftly to preserve the Tar’s Peace. 

 

 

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Matters of the People, rights, and everyday governance

 

One constant through each revision of our sacred laws has been the statutes that govern the lives of everyday citizens. With every renewal, definitions grew sharper, delineating acts deemed unlawful and the corresponding punishments for each. 

 

This practice began under the reign of Tar-Carandir, when I first set forth which penalties accompanied which transgressions, ranging from penance to death. Now, under the guidance of Tar-Zôrzagar, I extend these measures further, establishing a fuller spectrum of consequences: penance, fines, banishment, and execution. 

 

But that is not all, for the Fîrthain also safeguards the everyday rights of the people and shapes the authority of vassal leadership, refined now to better serve the needs of all within the realm.

 

Section 0. The Fairytale Law’s

0.1 Foundational Ethos

Before the mortal laws take effect, all who dwell in the High Kingdom are invited to uphold the Fairytale Law: a code of virtues and principles that fosters compassion, honor, hope, and community. While many of its precepts remain moral guidance rather than punishable crimes, they form the cultural backbone of Idunia’s identity and inform judicial temperance, mercy, and the spirit of  justice.

🟆 Principles of the Fairytale Law

◈ Never judge a book by its cover. Grant every person a chance before condemning them.

◈ Keep ones promises; honor one’s words and commitments.

◈ Aid those in need; kindness is strength, not a weakness.

◈ Exercise care with one’s wishes and decisions; think through consequences.

◈ Value inner virtue over outward appearance; judge by character rather than looks.

◈ Embrace honesty paired with compassion; speak the truth with empathy.

◈ Cultivate forgiveness, hope, and wonder; treat hardship as opportunity for growth and kindness as default. 

 

🟆 Role Within the Realm

◈ These principles are the moral foundation of civil life, guiding how communities treat each other, and how Guards, Knights, and the Crown temper justice.

◈ They are not strictly crimes if violated, unless the violation overlaps with a defined offense (e.g. deception leading to theft, cruelty leading to violence).

◈ Magistrates are encouraged to reference the Fairytale Laws when determining sentences, especially when applying restorative justice (Service to the Realm, Restorative Amends, Guided Instruction), to foster rehabilitation over mere punishment. 

 

Section I. Rights of the Citizens

1.1 The Sacred Shield of the People

All subjects of the High Kingdom are protected under the law, both from each other and from arbitrary action by authorities. The Crown, its Knights, and its officials exist to serve the peace and prosperity of the realm.

🟆 Protection of Life and Limb

◈ No citizen shall be harmed or deprived of life except in self-defense, defense of another, or by lawful sentence.

◈ Any act against the person outside these circumstances shall be adjudicated as Assault or Murder.

 

🟆 Property and Possessions

◈ Every subject retains ownership of good and land lawfully acquired.

◈ Theft, unlawful seizure, or willful damage to property shall be punished according to the Tirthain.

 

🟆 Religious Practice

◈ Subjects may worship freely, so long as such practice does not undermine the Crown or blaspheme the Church.

◈ Public insult to the faith or encouragement of prohibited faiths constitutes Blasphemy.

 

🟆 Civil Unions and Inheritance

◈ Civil Union officiated by a Crown representative are legally binding.

◈ Those lawfully adopted into a Union inherit as natural-born children would.

 

Section II. Duties and Obligations

2.1 Loyalty to the Realm

Subjects owe obedience to lawful decrees, taxes, and the governance of the Crown. Acts of betrayal, including armed rebellion or aiding enemies, shall be treated as Treason.

🟆 Obedience to Law

◈ All decrees of the Crown and Tirthain must be observed.

◈ Ignorance of law does not exempt from responsibility, though Guided Instruction may be applied for acts done in innocence.

 

🟆 Contribution to the Realm

◈ Taxes and levies are obligations that sustain the High Kingdom.

◈ Refusal or evasion may result in Financial Fines or Service to the realm.

 

🟆 Duty to Peace

◈ Subjects must avoid acts that disrupt public order or threaten the safety of others.

◈ Violation may invoke Restorative Amends or community labor.

 

Section III. Cursed Children

3.1 Recognition of Cursed Children

Within the High Kingdom, certain individuals bear the mark of misfortune or circumstance beyond their choosing. These “Cursed Children” are recognized by the Crown as a protected class, deserving both oversight and safeguard. While their status grants them shelter under the law, it also carries obligations to the realm, ensuring that their lives contribute to the maintenance of peace, order, and the prosperity of Idunia.

🟆 Status of Cursed Children

◈ Individuals designated as “Cursed Children” within Idunia or other Crown-recognized territories are hereby recognized as a secondary class. 

◈ Harassment, discrimination, persecution, or deprivation of shelter, livelihood, or safety against any member of this class is forbidden and considered an offence against the Tar’s Peace. 

 

🟆 Marriage and Procreation Restriction

◈ Cursed Children are prohibited from entering into marriage or civil unions.

◈ Cursed Children are forbidden from bearing or siring children.

◈ Any unions or acts of procreation formed in defiance of this law are invalid under the Firthain.

 

🟆 Military Service

◈ All Cursed Children who are citizens of Idunia are required to serve in the military upon reaching the age of eligibility.

◈ Service is considered a civic duty and an extension of their protection, ensuring both contribution to the realm and proper supervision.

 

🟆 Limits and Revocation

◈ Protection may be withdrawn if a member abuses their status to commit crimes or to endanger the realm.

◈ The Crown reserves the right to modify, limit, or extend the conditions of protected status through future edict.  

 

Section IV. Alchemical Constructs

4.1 Edict of Alchemy

Within the High Kingdom the laws involving Alchemical Constructs, such as homunculi, are outlined thoroughly below.

🟆 Alchemical Royal Wits

◈ No construct is to pass independently into the Royal Capital of Alduun unless accompanied by its creator, maker, or guardian, who was control over it.

◈ Constructs may be granted a Writ of Leave and Sanction should they wish for independent travel within the High Kingdom. This may be granted at the discretion of the Master of Alchemy, or otherwise, the High Council.

◈ Constructs granted a Writ of Leave and Sanction must have such readily available within the Royal Capital and must display it when requested by an agent of the realm.

◈ Constructs in violation of this law may be denied entry, forcibly removed from the realm, detained, or otherwise submitted under lawful measures deemed necessary to expel or banish them.

◈ Constructs, especially those considered homonculae, shall be required to don and maintain suitable attire sufficient to conceal such artificed or inhuman deformities that may give rise to alarm or disturbance

Section V. Crimes, Violations, and Offense Tiers

5.1 Offense Tiers

All offenses are classified by their nature, intent, and impact upon people, property, faith, or the Crown.

🟆 Minor Offenses

◈ Acts that harm the realm or its people in limited scope, or stem from ignorance rather than malice. Punishments focus on education, restitution, and community service. 

 

🟆 Moderate Offenses

◈ Intentional acts causing tangible harm, threatening order, or showing reckless disregard for the law. Punishments may include guided instruction, restorative amends, fines, or temporary restriction of rights. 

 

🟆 Severe Offenses

◈ Grave acts that endanger life, the realm, the Crown, or sacred vows. Punishments may include execution, extended exile, or severe restriction, while still considered restorative principles when appropriate.

 

 

5.2 Crimes and Violations

Before the Crown are set the deeds which may disturb the peace, endanger the people, or unravel the order of the realm. Each offence is named, defined, and measured according to its gravity, that judgment may be rendered with clarity and without prejudice. What follows is the catalog of such violations, and the tier to which each is bound. 

🟆 Murder

◈ The unlawful killing outside of self-dense or defense of others.

◈ Murder constitutes as a Severe Offense.

◈ The punishment for murder results in execution, or service to the realm/restorative amends if mitigating circumstances exist.

 

🟆 Assault

◈ The willful harm inflicted on another outside of self-defense.

◈ Assault constitutes as a Moderate Offense. 

◈ The punishment for assault results in restorative amends, service to the realm, or financial fines. 

 

🟆 Theft

◈ The deprivation of another’s property or goods without consent.

◈ Theft constitutes as Minor-Moderate depending on value and intent. 

◈ The punishment for theft results in the return of property, financial fines, and restorative amends. 

 

🟆 Vandalism

◈ The damage done to the property of the Crown, Church, or citizens.

◈ Vandalism constitutes as Minor-Moderate depending. 

◈ The punishment for vandalism results in service to the realm, restorative amends, and financial fines. 

 

🟆 Blasphemy

◈ The public insult against God or promotion of prohibited faiths.

◈ Blasphemy constitutes as moderate-severe depending on intent and recurrence.

◈ The punishment for blasphemy results in public penance, financial fines, or divestment of titles for repeat offenses.

 

🟆 Sacrilege

◈ The desecration of Church property or holy icons.

◈ Sacrilege constitutes as Moderate-Severe depending. 

◈ The punishment for sacrilege results in pilgrimage, service to others, or divestment of titles for repeat offenses.

 

🟆 Treason

◈ Acts harming the High Kingdom or aiding its enemies.

◈ Treason constitutes as a severe offense.

◈ The punishment for treason results in execution, exile, or severe restriction.

 

🟆 Oathbreaking

◈ The wilful violation of sacred vows.

◈ Oathbreaking constitutes as a severe offense.

◈ The punishment for oathbreaking results in execution, guided instruction, or service to the realm if mitigating. 

 

🟆 Sorcery

◈ The use of forbidden magic against the Crown, citizens, or the realm. 

◈ Sorcery constitutes as a Moderate-Severe offense depending.

◈ The punishment for sorcery results in guided instruction, exile, or execution for repeat offenses. 

 

🟆 Disobedience

◈ The actions undermining public order or minor violations of law. 

◈ Disobedience constitutes as a Minor-Moderate offense depending.

◈ The punishment for disobedience results in guided instruction, service to the realm, and financial fines.

 

🟆 Kinslaying

◈ The willful killing of a blood relative, including parents, siblings, children, or other direct kin.

Kinslaying is only considered permissible if the family member has been irrevocably transformed into Darkspawn or another incurable corruption, posing an unavoidable threat to the realm. 

◈ Kinslaying constitutes the gravest offense, surpassing murder in severity.

◈ The punishment for kinslaying is execution without reprieve, though in rare cases of extreme mitigating circumstance, lifelong service to the Crown or exile may be permitted at the Crown’s discretion.

◈ Any act of kinslaying is considered a direct offense against both family and the realm, dishonoring the lineage and invoking the full weight of the Tar’s Peace.

 

Section VI. Punishments and Redress

6.1 The Measure of Justice

Punishments aim to restore balance, heal bonds, and educate rather than solely to punish. 

🟆 Service to the Realm

◈ Tasks that mend what was damaged include: cleaning public spaces, repairing guard barracks or temples, assisting with community labor, and similar acts that tangibly restore the peace.

 

🟆 Restorative Amends

◈ Personal Amends as acts that heal the bond between offender and offended such as: formal apologies, restoring damaged property, replacing stolen goods, symbolic acts of reconciliation. 

 

🟆 Guided Instruction

◈ Supervised Instruction for those who act in ignorance, not malice such as: lessons in law and conduct, working under a Guard or Knight’s supervision, or the study of sacred teachings.

 

🟆 Financial Fines

◈ Mina may be taken as compensation when labor cannot heal the harm.

◈ Exploitative or excessive fines are forbidden. 

 

Section VII. Vassal and Local Governance

7.1 Duties of Vassal Leaders

Vassal rulers must uphold the Firthain, protecting their people and respecting the Crown’s authority. 

🟆 Local Administration

◈ Vassals may appoint officials to enforce law, collect taxes, and oversee public works.

◈ Officials must act in alignment with the Tirthain and Firthain, prioritizing fairness and justice.

 

🟆 Vassal Autonomy

◈ In matters of law, vassals may adhere to their own established customs and statutes, provided such laws sufficiently address the matter at hand.

◈ In the absence of applicable local law, the laws of the realm shall be observed and enforced.

 

🟆 Houses and Inheritance

◈ The recognized Houses of the realm shall have the right to dictate their own traditions of inheritance.

◈ Should a dispute of inheritance threaten the peace, it may be settled at the current monarch’s discretion.

 

🟆 Titles and Lineage

◈ Titles held by Adunian Houses or individuals shall only pass to those of Adunic blood, unless by express Royal assent.

◈ Titles of foreign origin may be granted or inherited freely, regardless of lineage. 

 

🟆 Conflict Resolution

◈ Disputes between vassals or subjects are first mediated locally. Unresolved issues may be appealed to the Crown or the High Chancellor.

 

Section VIII. Trials and Appeals

8.1 Ensuring Fair Judgment

All accused retain the right to be heard, to present evidence, and to appeal to higher authority. 

🟆 Due Process

◈ Accusations must be reviewed by at least two impartial authorities.

◈ Evidence and testimony must be weighed carefully. Guilt beyond doubt is required for severe penalties.

 

🟆 Trial by Combat

◈ Where evidence is insufficient and honor is in question, trial by combat may be invoked. 

◈ Divine favor is presumed to guide the righteous in these cases.

 

🟆 Appeals

◈ The accused may appeal to the High Chancellor or the Crown when justice is in doubt.

◈ Known guilt excludes appealment. Repeated offenses may escalate punishment.

 

 

BY ROYAL MANDATE AND WRIT OF THE CROWN

Signed,

HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, Tar-Zôrzagar Argelion Anorion Harren Arthalion, King of Númendil, High Lord of Idunia, Chief of the Númenedain and the Tribe of Harren, Defender of the Númenaranyë, Sovereign of Númenost, Knight of the Realm, Templar Justiciar of Saint Michael the Archangel, Slayer of the Gilded Queen, Master of the Sharadûn, Protector of the Adunians

HER DISTINGUISHED EXCELLENCY, Athaenis of the House Vourkehardt, High Chancellor of Idunia, Eternal Steward of the Númenaranyë, Warden of the Harren Court, Lawgiver of Harren, Mother of the Idunian Law, Founder of Grimday Day, Champion of the Lowland Grasp, The Lance of Idunia, Slayer of the Gilded Queen

 

 

 

[Two2the 365]

O' bureaucracy, my beloved... 

[Onnensr 1909]

Spoiler

IT'S TAINGA TIME

 

Spoiler

IT'S TAINGA TIME

 

[SimplySeo 6999]

approved

[ChainedDragons 1374]

+squints+