ISIMIIRIAN CHURCH LAWS:
OF LORDS AND LAY PRIESTS:
According to Isimiirian Law, any priest or noble can make unto themselves a court and act as judge jury and executioner if no other court is readily available. This means that a travelling Lord or priest who witnesses a crime can sentence and punish the criminals.
Thus, if Lady Ti'eshia were traveling with her retinue, she could stop a barfight in the name of the Queen, mete out judgement and punish any involved on the spot. She could do this by law as long as the offenders are not property of another local Lord or of rank in a Lord's Army.
Thus, if she witnessed a barfight and stopped it in the name of the queen, but three of the men were in Lord Carrack's army and one of the three was a Knight, she could dispense judgement to the freemen but would have to take the knight and his soldiers to Lord Carrack for proper judgement.
A Priest has similar powers though they are always one step less powerful than a Knight, Lord, or Noble of equal level. Thus, if 2, 5th level knights and a fifth level priest witnessed a crime, the knights would have more authority. If the two knight could not reach a decision then the priest might be asked to be the tiebreaker or the knights might duel for the right to dispense judgement with the winner being seen as the rightful arbiter.
However, in the even of a tie, an equal level Whelm Knight or Whelm Priest always outranks anyone in a group, unless the other member his a higher social status. Whelm knights speak with the authority of the queen and Whelm himself.
ROYAL (Queen, Duke, Baron)
NOBLE (High Lord, Lord)
KNIGHT (Ser, Sera, Dame)
PRIEST (Whelm, Erelaine, Obroth)
ROYAL (Queen, Duke, Baron)
NOBLE (High Lord, Lord)
KNIGHT (Ser, Sera, Dame)
PRIEST (Whelm, Erelaine, Obroth)
NOTE:
Remember all Whelm knights and priests are the 1st born sons of nobility so in many places they might have a greater social status than the Lord of the domain they've entered. Thus, a Whelm Priest might have the ability to override the Landed Lord's judgement. This is of course used rarely as it besmirches the honor of the Landed Noble and could start a war.
Occasionally, if the queen chooses to remove a Lord from his holding legally, she'll send a Whelm Knight of equal or higher social status to a Lord's Domain and the Lord will be commanded to leave his own Demesne!
Remember all Whelm knights and priests are the 1st born sons of nobility so in many places they might have a greater social status than the Lord of the domain they've entered. Thus, a Whelm Priest might have the ability to override the Landed Lord's judgement. This is of course used rarely as it besmirches the honor of the Landed Noble and could start a war.
Occasionally, if the queen chooses to remove a Lord from his holding legally, she'll send a Whelm Knight of equal or higher social status to a Lord's Domain and the Lord will be commanded to leave his own Demesne!
OF THE GODS AND THEIR PROVINCES:
Each of the Isimiirian gods has a priesthood. These priesthood often are concerned with the taskings of their God's Domains. The people of Isimiir have learned that different priests operate differently in matter of law. Some examples:
WHELM:
The King of Gods rules absolutely and Whelm Knights are always first amongst equals. They are Lawyers of the highest degree and they speak both with the authority of the Queen and of Whelm Himself.
Whelmites are stone-faced dispensers of justice known for having harsh but fair rulings. For favoring the nobles over a commoner in disputes, and for always enforcing the rigidity of the Feudal system. In all cases, Whelm Knights act Lawful Neutral when dispensing justice. They know both Traditional and Enlightened codes of Law and the forms of punishment.
When at war, Whelm Knights and Priests act as Officers, giving orders and then awaiting the results. They are fluent in the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) and know it's laws and bylaws.
* Master of Law and is a Lawyer par excellence
WHELM:
The King of Gods rules absolutely and Whelm Knights are always first amongst equals. They are Lawyers of the highest degree and they speak both with the authority of the Queen and of Whelm Himself.
Whelmites are stone-faced dispensers of justice known for having harsh but fair rulings. For favoring the nobles over a commoner in disputes, and for always enforcing the rigidity of the Feudal system. In all cases, Whelm Knights act Lawful Neutral when dispensing justice. They know both Traditional and Enlightened codes of Law and the forms of punishment.
When at war, Whelm Knights and Priests act as Officers, giving orders and then awaiting the results. They are fluent in the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) and know it's laws and bylaws.
* Master of Law and is a Lawyer par excellence
* Knows Traditional, Enlightened, and UCMJ Laws fluently
* Outranks anyone not of greater social status and is considered 'first amongst equals'.
* Outranks anyone not of greater social status and is considered 'first amongst equals'.
* Harsh but fair justice
* Enforces Feudal society's rules
ERELAINE:
* Enforces Feudal society's rules
ERELAINE:
Erelaine is a complex goddess as she is older and predates the other Isimiirian gods by centuries before she was captured by Whelm and made into his bride. She is both still the fearsome ancient hunter goddess of old and the genteel diplomat in the halls of power. She favors women over men in her judgement and she is capable of immense trickery and subtlety when collecting evidence.
In the forests, Erelaine Huntresses are well-regarded by the Forest Folk, Erelaine loves druids and Rangers, Fey, flora, and fauna and is often the arbiter between Druid Circles and Civilized Towns. Her word carries weight with Free Rangers, Druids, Scouts, and Foresters and if she holds court amongst them, they bow to her judgement. Her sentences are swift and often brutal as she follows the old ways. A Rapist might be castrated on the spot, a thief have his hand removed, and a traitor lose both eyes and tongue. Though they worship Erelaine, these huntresses rarely enter the court and when they do are likely to kick up their feet on the table and let their wolves eat from the same plate.
* Respected by Druids, Rangers, Fey, and other woodland beings
* Arbiters between Civilization and Wilderness
* Rough Justice
* Skilled in Woodland Logic
In the bedroom, the Erelaine Maiden arbitrates marriage laws, counsels fighting spouses, and even arbitrates divorces. She can magically influence the birth of a child or prevent such births, she teaches women to cook and be obedient wives while at the same time protecting them from abusive spouses. In this form, the Erelaine maid is her most popular as she helps the common woman with her life. Practitioners of this Erelaine aspect are concerned with the gentle arts and generally aren't adventuresome but they are the law when it comes to marital problems, domestic abuse, and childcare.
* Defender of Families
* Passionate defender of Women and Children
* Performs rituals like Marriage and Divorce
* Abused or Neglected children are taken by the Priestesses and if a girl are brought into the Priesthood, if a boy are given to Free Rangers
* Can assign punishments for household and communities for things like Gossip, Adultery, and Domestic Abuse
* Respected by Druids, Rangers, Fey, and other woodland beings
* Arbiters between Civilization and Wilderness
* Rough Justice
* Skilled in Woodland Logic
In the bedroom, the Erelaine Maiden arbitrates marriage laws, counsels fighting spouses, and even arbitrates divorces. She can magically influence the birth of a child or prevent such births, she teaches women to cook and be obedient wives while at the same time protecting them from abusive spouses. In this form, the Erelaine maid is her most popular as she helps the common woman with her life. Practitioners of this Erelaine aspect are concerned with the gentle arts and generally aren't adventuresome but they are the law when it comes to marital problems, domestic abuse, and childcare.
* Defender of Families
* Passionate defender of Women and Children
* Performs rituals like Marriage and Divorce
* Abused or Neglected children are taken by the Priestesses and if a girl are brought into the Priesthood, if a boy are given to Free Rangers
* Can assign punishments for household and communities for things like Gossip, Adultery, and Domestic Abuse
The Erelaine Courtesean is a political devil, shewing off most of her Huntress nature, she is an elegant noble who crosses her legs elegantly, knows which fork spoon and knife are at what position, can run a state dinner with an hour's notice, and can run an entire keep for years if her husband is off to battle. In all ways the Erelaine Priestess is the 2nd in command of a keep and can plan a war counsel as easily as she can make a Creme Brule. What these priestesses really do though, is gather information on visitors and use it for her lord's advantage. These trained spies know how to watch for assassins, spies, and plots against the crown, they collect evidence and know how to make legal cases against illegal activities. One should know that every time a visiting Lord sleeps with the chambermaid, that maid is soon reporting the pillowtalk to her mistress, that every guard, foot servant, and knight is in his Mistresses employ. A common Phrase in Isimiir is that "The Lady Runs the Keep and the Lord just lives there."
Though an Erelaine Courtesean can't out rule a Whelm husband, she contributes every rumor, every tidbit of gossip, and every indiscretion to her Lord before he makes his edict. In cases where the Lord is gone (Such as Lady Walsingham) she runs the Lordship with an Iron Fist and is the final judge, jury, and executioner of all things in her realm.
* Master of Diplomacy, Etiquette, and Information Gathering
* Rules in her husband's absence
* Is her Husband's High Councilor
* Employs the staff and arranges their pay
* Last word on running the Keep
* Knowledgeable in Traditional and Enlightened Law
* The eyes and ears of her kingdom
* Viciously defends the rights of women and angrily attacks those who abuse them
* Rules in her husband's absence
* Is her Husband's High Councilor
* Employs the staff and arranges their pay
* Last word on running the Keep
* Knowledgeable in Traditional and Enlightened Law
* The eyes and ears of her kingdom
* Viciously defends the rights of women and angrily attacks those who abuse them
OBROTH:
Obroth is a professional soldier, a master of his craft and a lifelong scholar of war. If Obroth had a real life counterpart, he would be King Leonidas of Sparta mixed with the Paladins of the Knight's Templar. The Obroth Knights and Priests are taught only to win, live only by their honor, and can turn an entire battle by their mere presence alone. An Obroth Divani Knight is a dangerous whirlwind of steel in heavy armor with a heavy sword and has the sharp mind of the most canny general.
Since Obroth Knights live cloistered in their churches most of their lives, they rarely are seen away from the battlefield though Obroth does allow it's men to return him to be the head of the family or to run an estate if they are the only remaining sons, they live their entire life in the Church learning only the Gospel of War. In battle, a Whelm knight tells them what objectives to achieve and the Obroth Knight figures out how to make it happen. If a Whelm Knight is a General, the Obroth Knight is the Command Sergeant Major.
Obroth Knights live only by the UCMJ (The Uniform Code of Military Justice) and they dispense all justice only by these rules. An Obroth Knight who returns to his homeland invariably dispenses with the civilian and criminal systems of Isimiir and instead treats and trains the people how to work with a military mindset dispensing justice by the Code.
If a Whelm Knight is not present, the Obroth Knight or Priest automatically takes charge over any officer or Sergeant of his Level or Less. He automatically can read the chain of command and within a stone can be up to speed on all the developments of an army in the field just by reading the previous commander's notes. In any case, all lower ranking soldiers realize that his word is law.
* Full time warrior
* Lives in the Cloister with other knights
* Taught only the UCMJ and Chivalric Ideals
* Tactical Geniuses, Deadly Adversaries, Respected Commanders
* 2nd only to Whelm Knights on the Field in rank '2nd among Equals'
* Mostly encountered on the battlefield
* Full time warrior
* Lives in the Cloister with other knights
* Taught only the UCMJ and Chivalric Ideals
* Tactical Geniuses, Deadly Adversaries, Respected Commanders
* 2nd only to Whelm Knights on the Field in rank '2nd among Equals'
* Mostly encountered on the battlefield
ENCAUSTE:
Where Whelm and Obroth worry about grand justice and mass systems, the roving Encaustian Knight wanders nomadically throughout Isimiir on a path of his own choosing dispensing justice as he sees fit. Encaustian Knights are the fly in the ointment of the well run and lawful trending Feudal Nobility.
They enter Lordship, take a look around and carouse until they spot a right to be wronged. They will then dispense justice by Blood, and exit the field. If the Lordship itself is corrupt, they will work to undermine and topple the Lord. If the Lord is in the Right, the Encaustian Knight will defend the Lord until his Lordship is again stable.
Where Whelm and Obroth worry about grand justice and mass systems, the roving Encaustian Knight wanders nomadically throughout Isimiir on a path of his own choosing dispensing justice as he sees fit. Encaustian Knights are the fly in the ointment of the well run and lawful trending Feudal Nobility.
They enter Lordship, take a look around and carouse until they spot a right to be wronged. They will then dispense justice by Blood, and exit the field. If the Lordship itself is corrupt, they will work to undermine and topple the Lord. If the Lord is in the Right, the Encaustian Knight will defend the Lord until his Lordship is again stable.
Encaustian Knights cannot be banned from any Lordship, cannot be refused stabling or succor by any Knight, Lord, or Peasant. They are extremely knowledgeable in the Traditional Laws and also have their own set of Laws called the 'Tome of Blood' which can only be practiced by Encaustian Knights, is legal throughout the Realms, and supercedes any previous ruling. Encaustian Knights are considered the Lord's Lord and if they invoke the 'Tome of Blood' they can administer direct punishment on anyone up to the Lord himself!
* Roving Knights
* Their job is to destroy corruption
* Chaotic Good Laws
* Police the Realms but beholden to no Lord
* Can help to stabilize a Realm or bring down a Lord
* Have a Unique set of Laws that override even a Lord's Laws
* Cannot be refused Succor or Stabling
VALECE:
Valece is a dead God. He was killed during the God's War. He used to be the God of Travel and the Roads. Since his priests can no longer draw divine power from him, worshipers are rare. People still uphold some of his traditions though there is no longer a divine penalty or enforcement of those customs.
* Roving Knights
* Their job is to destroy corruption
* Chaotic Good Laws
* Police the Realms but beholden to no Lord
* Can help to stabilize a Realm or bring down a Lord
* Have a Unique set of Laws that override even a Lord's Laws
* Cannot be refused Succor or Stabling
VALECE:
Valece is a dead God. He was killed during the God's War. He used to be the God of Travel and the Roads. Since his priests can no longer draw divine power from him, worshipers are rare. People still uphold some of his traditions though there is no longer a divine penalty or enforcement of those customs.
THYMOS:
The antithesis of Whelm, Thymos organizes and defends the weak, the common, and the rabble. Most of the time, Thymos priests, monks, and lay worshipers work alongside the people in farms, labor camps, or feudal townships. They mend tools, aid with weather, heal the sick, tend to the cattle, and grow plants. Lords like them because happy Thymos Priests keep the land fertile, the peasants happy, and the taxes paid on time.
However, if the Lord is despotic or is badly running the estate they organize a revolt, the butter stops churning, the eggs stop hatching, the fields become fallow, and the men stop working. Eventually, the Lord either has to make concessions or he must crush the revolt.
When not leading rebellions, the Thymos adherent acts as a village leader and arbiter in disputes. He renders judgement between peasants and keeps problems at the lowest level, keeping petty crimes out of sight of the local administrations and keeping the sheriff off of a drunken husband's doorsteps. Where Erelaine protects the womenfolk, Thymos protects and defends the common man and woman but defers to Erelaine's judgement if the matter is marriage oriented. An easy way to think of things is that Thymos regulates a person's life outside the home and Erelaine rules all things in it.
* Defends the Poor
* Lawyer of the Poor
* Helps farmers
* Keeps disputes out of the authority's eyes.
* Regulates Daily Life
* Wise councilor of vilages
* Organizer of the people
* Leader of the Rebellion
* Defends the Poor
* Lawyer of the Poor
* Helps farmers
* Keeps disputes out of the authority's eyes.
* Regulates Daily Life
* Wise councilor of vilages
* Organizer of the people
* Leader of the Rebellion
TERELIM:
Terelim is the virginal goddess of Mercy. Such is her reputation that even monsters respect her and even at times they let her pass judgement on their issues. The most important part of her reputation is that she is fair, lenient, and tries to work things out non-violently. She doesn't always rule in favor of her group and she doesn't automatically dispense death sentences like Whelm Knights, or Obroth Knights, or worse yet, Wasagnaar.
Terelim is the virginal goddess of Mercy. Such is her reputation that even monsters respect her and even at times they let her pass judgement on their issues. The most important part of her reputation is that she is fair, lenient, and tries to work things out non-violently. She doesn't always rule in favor of her group and she doesn't automatically dispense death sentences like Whelm Knights, or Obroth Knights, or worse yet, Wasagnaar.
A Terelim Priestess, by her vary nature is merciful and always tries to find the best solution. Often she can soften sentences by Whelm Knights by defending the virtues of her client. She acts as the defense for the poor, underprivileged, and despondent. She will fight tirelessly against wrongful judgments. Whereas most Priests act as accusers, Terelim acts as the Defenders and takes the side of those accused.
* Roams the Land
* Dispenses Justice fairly and leniently
* Respected by most creatures, often left unmolested or at least treated respectfully by her enemies
* Can soften most sentences
* Acts as a Defender of the People
* Usually, takes one rank off any punishment meted out in Traditional, Enlightened, or Civil Law cases.
* Dispenses Justice fairly and leniently
* Respected by most creatures, often left unmolested or at least treated respectfully by her enemies
* Can soften most sentences
* Acts as a Defender of the People
* Usually, takes one rank off any punishment meted out in Traditional, Enlightened, or Civil Law cases.