Mar 11, 2017 7:36 pm
The Civilized Code of Honor is practiced by most nobles, magistrates, government officials, ecclesiastic communities, and some military orders, soldiers, and warriors from the civilized lands.
It is quite common throughout the Yuoric lands, in both the Nadrilian West and the Marke Lands of the Andra Peninsula. Other regions in which it has considerable frequency is Kortella, Pylos, and Esosan. Many of the long-running noble lines of Voldruva practice it, though few of the commoners do. In the East, it is less frequent, though possibly used by some individuals or organizations in Sarcera and Nuuth Seeta.
A character with a civilized code of honor will:
Respect alliances with other honorable civilized characters. He may also respect alliances with honorable barbaric characters but this is not required.
Respect an alliance with a dishonorable civilized character until that character breaks the alliance.
Offer his allegiance to any leader who might be regarded as a legitimate authority, or to a greater cause of some kind; once he grants his allegiance, the character must be utterly loyal, so long as his leader or cause remains honorable and loyal to him in return. Note that a character with a civilized code of honor need not necessarily retain an allegiance that was always intended to be temporary, such as a mercenary contract, after the conditions are fulfilled.
If seriously insulted, demand a formal duel at the next suitable opportunity. Honor may also be satisfied with sincere and profuse apologies, at the discretion of the insulted party.
Protect those weaker than himself, if such protection is formally requested and if the person requesting protection is highborn.
Obey the laws of his homeland and co-operate with lawful authorities in other lands wherever possible, unless at war with those lands. This applies even if such behavior would be to the detriment of his friends or allies.
Have no in-principle objection to slavery, being willing to keep or free slaves as suits his purposes.
Respect religious authorities.
If religious, make war upon the enemies of his religion without showing mercy or offering quarter.
A character with a civilized code of honor will not:
Break the law of the land, unless he has formally thrown in his lot with an organized and (in his opinion) legitimate force of rebels.
Slay an honorable foe who offers a ransom or throws himself on the character’s mercy, unless ordered to do so by a legitimate authority. Even in the latter case, if the character believes that such an order indicates that the authority is no longer legitimate, he may find justification to avoid killing the foe, so long as he immediately attempts to remove the illegitimate authority from power; this may involve something along the lines of the rebellion mentioned above.
Slay a dishonorable foe of noble birth who offers a ransom or throws himself on the character’s mercy, unless ordered to do so by a legitimate authority.
Knowingly work for a dishonorable employer.
Attack peasants or ordinary civilians and tradesmen, unless those folk have openly rebelled against a lawful authority.
It is quite common throughout the Yuoric lands, in both the Nadrilian West and the Marke Lands of the Andra Peninsula. Other regions in which it has considerable frequency is Kortella, Pylos, and Esosan. Many of the long-running noble lines of Voldruva practice it, though few of the commoners do. In the East, it is less frequent, though possibly used by some individuals or organizations in Sarcera and Nuuth Seeta.
A character with a civilized code of honor will:
Respect alliances with other honorable civilized characters. He may also respect alliances with honorable barbaric characters but this is not required.
Respect an alliance with a dishonorable civilized character until that character breaks the alliance.
Offer his allegiance to any leader who might be regarded as a legitimate authority, or to a greater cause of some kind; once he grants his allegiance, the character must be utterly loyal, so long as his leader or cause remains honorable and loyal to him in return. Note that a character with a civilized code of honor need not necessarily retain an allegiance that was always intended to be temporary, such as a mercenary contract, after the conditions are fulfilled.
If seriously insulted, demand a formal duel at the next suitable opportunity. Honor may also be satisfied with sincere and profuse apologies, at the discretion of the insulted party.
Protect those weaker than himself, if such protection is formally requested and if the person requesting protection is highborn.
Obey the laws of his homeland and co-operate with lawful authorities in other lands wherever possible, unless at war with those lands. This applies even if such behavior would be to the detriment of his friends or allies.
Have no in-principle objection to slavery, being willing to keep or free slaves as suits his purposes.
Respect religious authorities.
If religious, make war upon the enemies of his religion without showing mercy or offering quarter.
A character with a civilized code of honor will not:
Break the law of the land, unless he has formally thrown in his lot with an organized and (in his opinion) legitimate force of rebels.
Slay an honorable foe who offers a ransom or throws himself on the character’s mercy, unless ordered to do so by a legitimate authority. Even in the latter case, if the character believes that such an order indicates that the authority is no longer legitimate, he may find justification to avoid killing the foe, so long as he immediately attempts to remove the illegitimate authority from power; this may involve something along the lines of the rebellion mentioned above.
Slay a dishonorable foe of noble birth who offers a ransom or throws himself on the character’s mercy, unless ordered to do so by a legitimate authority.
Knowingly work for a dishonorable employer.
Attack peasants or ordinary civilians and tradesmen, unless those folk have openly rebelled against a lawful authority.