A copy of this
code with definitions shall be kept with each noble district’s official copy of
the laws.
Thou shalt respect the weak, and thou shalt
constitute thyself the defender of them.
Most
persons, commoner and noble do work which is helpful to society, whether they
be slaying monsters, or staying behind to heal the warriors who do, whether
they are protecting our borders, or staying home to make weapons for those who
do. One must protect the weak from physical or verbal attack.
Thou shalt love the country in which thou hast sworn fealty.
Nobles
are in the service of the land, and of the people of the land. Nobles are
expected to protect the integrity of their respective noble court. While we
must respect those of other lands, and may be called upon to defend them in
times of need, one must love their own land first, and ensure the safety of
their own country before that of others. It would be inappropriate to send all
of one’s troops to defend a neighboring land, leaving none to defend your own.
It is inappropriate to send food to another land, if people were starving in
your own. The rest of the Code of Chivalry prevents this from being taken to
excess.
Thou shalt not recoil before thine
enemy.
One
must not hesitate to defend their lands. This does not mean rushing into battle
without a plan. It would be a violation of this code to do absolutely nothing
to stop your enemy. When faced with attack, it shows more respect for this law,
and for your lands, to assemble forces and a plan and seek to effectively
defeat the enemy rather than to rush in and face certain defeat.
Thou shalt make war against evil without cessation.
Evil
is not to be tolerated. Doing things for the greater good is not synonymous
with choosing the lesser of two evils. To show tolerance to the smallest of
evils, will invite other evils. Nobles are to behave in a manner that is above
reproach at all times, and in all places.
Thou shalt scrupulously perform thy noble duties be they not
contrary to the laws of the land.
While
squires, as commoners, may not, in general, question the order of a noble,
nobles are responsible for their actions. Noble title is not a license to
commit crimes, nor is the management of lands to be used solely for personal
gain.
Thou shalt never lie and thou shalt
remain faithful to thy word.
A
noble must never lie. Not even to protect the most important secret. Silence is
acceptable. Lies are not. Do not swear an oath to protect someone if you
cannot. Do not swear fealty to someone if you cannot follow his or her orders.
Thou shalt be generous and thou shalt
give freely to everyone.
A
noble’s generosity is not limited to money. Nobles should be generous with
their time and energy, their knowledge, and their life. A noble should be
willing to lay down his or her life for the land, its people, or it’s liege.
Thou shalt strive to free those bound in the chains of slavery
and forever uphold the principles of freedom.
A
noble’s people must remain free of any bondage. It shall be the noble’s duty to
see to this in order to ensure the lasting bond between the liegeman and his
lord. Slavery shall forever be obnoxious to the noble heart.
Thou shalt be courteous and humble.
Most
people are deserving of respect. Those few that have earned your disrespect are
still deserving of basic courtesy. Being vindictive and rude is unbecoming of a
noble. Arrogance is unbecoming of a noble.
These tenets
of the Code of Chivalry shall be known to the heart of each noble of Izendorn.
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