IC Codes and Laws

[Edvald]

***For the intent of saving me much grief, your character is allowed and expected to know these rules upon their acceptance into Fjord.***.

edit 3/7: removed first portion of preliminary section.
edit 3/15: modified mating laws slightly
edit 6/4: removed witness required to become mates.
edit 6/12: OOC expectations and IC codes/laws merged into one thread. OOC Activity Rule #2 set to repeat in IC under new 'joining/leaving' section. Added missing inheritance rule to IC section.

OOC Expectations

General
-- Respect each other, respect the rules, respect the dream, respect the pack.
-- There is no OOC to IC. Offenders receive one warning, then OOC banishment from the pack.
-- Roleplay everything.
+ We, Riole and Pamper, reserve the right to alter anything about the Fjord pack from the present into the future.

Activity/Absences
+ We can not stress enough how important activity is. Role-play twice a week, preferably more!!
+ If you cannot meet the minimum role-play requirement, do not join. Thank you.
+ After 3 weeks of unexplained inactivity, your character is labelled as a deserter. After 5 weeks, your character is considered dead to the pack and KoS. Before then, your character may return with a valid IC (and OOC) excuse as to the unannounced absence and be accepted with a demotion from their previous rank, where they will work to reclaim their place.

IC Codes and Laws

Joining/Leaving
+ To join, speak ICly with any Fjord member to secure an audience with the Konungur and Drotning. There may or may not be a trial period.
-- Understand that Fjord is considered for life, but as they value freedom, those that respectfully request from Konungur and Drotning to leave will usually be granted to do so.
-- Those that leave Fjord unannounced will be labeled as deserters and KoS. This is one of the highest forms of treason one can commit against the pack.

General
+ Unlike in some other societies, all ranks are considered relatively equal.
-- Konungur and Drotning will fight, hunt, raid, play, lounge, and perform a great number of other activities right alongside any of their pack members, as will all other 'superior' ranks.
-- All pack members, besides thralls, have a say in pack matters most of the time. Konungur and Drotning reserve final say.
-- All members bring in recruits, but only Konungur and Drotning can accept them.
-- All members hunt, scout, fight, advise, babysit, etc.
-- Those unable to fight will not be able to ascend past the Goddi, possibly Karl, rank, unless they are Spámaddur or Saeringamanni.

+ Inheritance is not determined by birth.
-- Any child from any litter can be made Prinz and/or Prinzessa. If no children are fit, the Greifi and Greifa can be labeled as the successors.
-- In the event that the Konungur and Drotning should both die without choosing a successor, the pack automatically passes to the Greifi and Greifa, or to the Meistari if there are none.
-- In the event any of the above three should refuse or be empty, then the pack decides as a whole who should lead.

+ Follow the Code of Honor, avoid acts of Shame.
-- One dishonors themself through cowardice, breaking oaths, treachery, or killing of the innocent, defenseless, or kinsmen.
-- One is dishonored by others through effeminate insults, insults to the pack or one's family, physical disgrace, or receiving inappropriate gifts or compensation.
-- Dishonor must be repaired with vengeance in the form of a duel that goes until submission. If no one submits, it goes until death. One may also avenge themselves by killing a close relative of the offender (**The close relative must be male and above 2 years of age.)

+ Surround oneself in luck, trust one's fate, be rid of that which is unlucky.
-- A relic from a fallen enemy or ally/member is unlucky. A relic from a felled prey is lucky. A relic from a passed (not fallen) ally/member is lucky.
-- Fate: one's death is predetermined at their birth by the Fates (three otherwordly women). While everything may change between the birth date and death date, one will not die until this date. As such, brothers and sisters are expected to be fearless and bold in the face of danger, but not foolhardy.

+ Women and children are not to be harmed.
-- Despite male predominance, women hold great sway, sometimes a key element of inciting the men to action where they would otherwise be content to let the situation lie. Women that prove themselves have the potential to ascend high into the ranks, even to Meistari (although rare).
-- No one may make unwanted advances upon a woman. Such is a dishonor and instant retribution may be exercised by any observer (but only one, and please remember that killing kinsmen is also a dishonor).
-- Women reserve the right to defend themselves.
-- Kill a child, kill yourself.
-- Women and children must be offered the courtesy to leave during raids or acts of vengeance against another pack. Those that refuse are then treated as everyone else and the above rules no longer apply to them.

Mates/Breeding
+ Love interests are allowed from within Fjord or allied packs.
-- One wishing to court, and then later mate, with another must seek permission from the Konungur or Drotning first. To clarify, courting is considered the engagement period, while declaring life-long commitment to one another is considered marriage, or mating. To prevent 'insta-mating,' your characters need to remain courts for at least 2 weeks irl, after which point they may decide at their own discretion when to become mates.
-- One may request to breed outside of mateship, but it is not encouraged.
-- One husband, one wife, until death. No exceptions. Choose wisely.
-- If taken with an outsider, bring the matter to Konungur and Drotning.

+ Breeding opens during March/April/May, and August/September/October.
-- Konungur and Drotning must be expecting, currently rearing, or in agreement against a litter before requests to breed will be heard. One must seek permission to breed.
-- 6 pup maximum. Use your better judgement in deciding a number and male/female ratio, or feel free to utilize the dice system.
-- Having illegal pups will result in parents being demoted or labeled as temporary Thralls due to severe shame caused by direct defiance of a law and Konungur's/Drotning's word.

Preliminary Laws
+ When necessary, battles will be held.
-- Not just a small thing, but a huge event, held mostly for entertainment purposes. Allies are invited to observe and/or participate. During these events, challenges for ranks are accepted, members spar for fun or to prove their worth, and yearlings establish themselves within the hierarchy. All fights are to the pin during this event. Losing is not a dishonor. Let me make that clear. It simply means you lost the fight. This is also when duels over dishonor will be held, however, or at least the ones that do not occur on the spot.