HEIÐRSLÖG RAUÐTRÚAR | THE LAWS OF HONOR | IAÁ 594

[_Elrith_ 4525]

Spoiler

 

 

Heiðrslög Rauðtrúar

THE LAWS OF HONOR

Issued by High Keeper Sissel Freysdóttir av Ruric, on the 4th of SVENSMÁNAÐR, IAÁ 594, AGE OF DRAGONFYRE

 

 

PREAMBLE

Long have the people of the Kingdom of Norland always strived towards the virtues of honor, as burdened by our Allfather unto us. Thus, the realm has always had distinct social cues & rules regarding the behavior of our people. However, such was never truly given permanence until the High Keeper Alisa Camian, now Paragon, dutifully wrote the ‘Codes of Honor’ into the Norlandic Code of Law during the reign of King Halvar. So it is that this work is truly inspired by the writings of a great Paragon of our past, who dedicated much of her life to scholarly works & the codification of many unwritten rules.

 

This new, Heiðrslög Rauðtrúar, The Laws of Honor, had been primarily the work of the late High Keeper Ellenore Eiriksdóttir. However, like many of her writings & projects, such had remained unfinished & never publicized. Now, due to the works of High Warden Soren & the High Keeper Sissel, this document comes into being.

 

AND SO IT SHALL BE, BY THE WILL OF THE FATHER,

as Master of the Order of the First Flame, High Keeper of the Red Faith & the Flame Imperishable, I,

Sissel Freysdóttir av Ruric,

henceforth declare it is bid that any man’s or woman’s honor should only be judged by words spoken, deeds done, & duels taken, that judging anyone’s honor upon any other pretense is of folly & is, in of itself, dishonor upon one’s own person. That the rights of one considered in honor are above those of the considered in dishonor, & that to be in a state of dishonor is to lose the privileges those in-honor have.

 

Thus it is that those in dishonor lose the following, & are named thus, thrall:

• The right to appeal to the High King or High Keeper during the Eldrhird.
• The right to invoke a duel.
• The loss of titles, claims, & any respect held by virtue of them.
• The loss of the rights afforded to freemen of the Realm.

 

Should one find themselves struck into a place of dishonor, deemed by a Keeper, then it is paramount that they seek atonement for their crimes. Such atonement is held within the jurisdiction of a Keeper, & the task laid before the one in dishonor should be one which fits their crime. Those who repeatedly stain themselves in dishonor may further receive higher punishment by the High Hearth in accordance with their deeds

 

Thus it is that the dishonorable may be punished as follows:

• Undertake a penitent deed. A singular action or ordeal that may take place in a moment or over the course of several days.
• Undertake a penitent quest. A journey or mission of atonement that may take the course of several months or years.
• Temporary expulsion from the city that hosts the High Hearth.
• Banishment from the realm of Norland.

 

CONTENTS

1. THE HONOR IN WORD
2. THE HONOR IN DEED
3. THE HONOR IN DUEL

 

 

THE HONOR IN WORD

Let it be known that the pursuit of honor in word is a virtuous endeavor, set by the principles of our Allfather & the traditions of the Norlandic peoples. It is by word which truth & righteousness may be conveyed.

 

Thus, let it be scribed in this Law of Honor that:

Verily, one must speak what is in his heart & let his words be a true reflection of his intentions. One shall deal in neither deceit nor fraud; have deception not shroud your true purpose. Honesty in word is more noble than feigned empathy; do not pass truthfulness for a facade of kindness. To this righteous end, one shall abide by the following:

 

• One shall never tempt nor commit himself to forgery, for such is deceit in nature.
• One shall never tempt nor commit himself to deception through a false visage. Cast away the cloak of deceit & walk proudly as one of our Allfather’s faithful.
• One shall never tempt nor commit himself to speaking falsities. It is declared that a spoken pledge is a sacred bond, and one’s word shall not be spoken lightly, for once uttered, it is by Faith you must endeavor to see such through. To speak & not act in accordance with one’s oaths is a transgression against our Allfather.

 

 

THE HONOR IN DEED

Let it be known that the pursuit of honor in deed is a virtuous endeavor, set by the principles of our Allfather & the traditions of the Norlandic peoples. It is by deed which character & righteousness may be shown.

 

Thus, let it be scribed in this Law of Honor that:

Verily, one must conduct himself in a manner befitting of his station, with integrity & self-respect. He shall keep his own dignity, & he must not commit himself to undermining the dignity of others. To this righteous end, one shall abide by the following:

 

• One shall always engage with his brethren on equal terms, for honor is found in fairness.
• One shall neither bow nor kneel to man or beast, nor shall he demand such submission of others. Only will we submit ourselves to our Allfather.
• One shall never bear his blade against any man unarmed, nor against any child or elder; unless otherwise directly provoked. For a sheathed blade is an act of trust, and give unto others the trust that you would ask of them.
  • In dispute, provocation will be determined by the presiding Keeper or relevant authority.
• One shall live by his word. He will commit himself to any sacred oath & any vow he might profess & hold himself to the same values he would expect of others. Hypocrisy shall find no refuge in the hearts of the righteous.
• One shall not bring harm to any man he would invite into his home, nor to any man that had given him invitation. As to extend the hand of welcome & break such is the doing of a Heartlander.

 

 

THE HONOR IN DUEL

Let it be known that the pursuit of honor in duel is a virtuous endeavor, set by the principles of the Father and the traditions of the Norlandic peoples. It is by duel which we might rectify any slight upon one’s honor.

 

Thus, let it be scribed in this Law of Honor that:

Verily, should one feel as if he had his honor unjustly insulted or stripped from him, he may challenge the assailant to honorable combat. Such duels may only be invoked if discussion and legal proceedings cannot bring peace between the involved parties. The following proscriptions shall apply to every honorable duel, and any violation of these written orders shall be considered a breach of honor. To this righteous end, he shall abide by the following:

 

• One shall never invoke the honorable duel to settle common disputes.
• To purposefully maim a man in an honor duel shall be considered battery.
• One shall never kill a man in honorable combat, for such will be considered murder of intent. Our Allfather asks His children to settle their disputes in a manner befitting man, not beast.
  • Duels to the death may only be invoked in the gravest circumstances, should both parties consent, & that a Keeper believes such appropriate.
• Verily, to deny a rightfully-made challenge is to accept defeat and the loss of the dispute, & one shall abide by the consequences of their own actions, & of such pertaining to said loss. Furthermore, there is no reason, apart from physical disability, that one may cite to justify denying a rightfully-made challenge.
• Championship may be declared by either party in a duel. However, declaring championship allows both parties to select at their choice, a champion. Thusly, championship may only be declared within reasonability that one party is incapable of properly accepting the challenge, at distinction of a Keeper, such as crippleness or being martially unfit.

 

AND SO IT SHALL BE, BY THE WILL OF OUR ALLFATHER,

HER EMINENCE, Sissel Freysdóttir av Ruric,

Master of the Order of the First Flame, High Keeper of the Red Faith & the Flame Imperishable

 

HIS MAJESTY, Haraldr Edvardsson av Ruric,

High King of Norland & High Chieftain of the House of Ruric, Blood of the Herald & Lord of the Ashwood Throne, Jarl Verdrgrad & Prince of the Dreadlands, Protector of the Highlanders

 

Scribed by,

Acolyte Emaria Eldrsdóttir

 

[Qaz_The_Great 1394]

Kynric looks upon the codes laid before him.

 

     "This is the way."

[goh_Alexander 28]

Alexandr reads through the codex, squinting at some lines, nodding at others, sighing by the end.

 

"A lot of effort for people to not hate without reason."

[FenrisTyr1998 22]

Vitharr grasps at the missive, taking a light leasure read. His hand reached to carass across his stubble, An inquisative gaze towards each word. Several nods of approval and husked hums.