The Grand Concord and the Senate of Peerage
The Grand Concord of Chalameria is the ultimate ruling body of the realm, yet it does not rule in isolation or from on high. Its authority is exercised through a vast and deliberate system centered in Maram, the capital city, where the Senate of Peerage convenes. To seek the Concord is first to enter this great senate: a council of nobles where the laws, moral principles, and future direction of Chalamerian society are debated openly. Here, the nobility argues, persuades, and contends within a formal forum of peerage, shaping the will of the realm long before it is ever made law.
Hidden among the assembled nobles sit the faceless members of the Grand Concord themselves. Drawn from the seven Orders, these individuals are selected through blind votes conducted within their respective Orders, ensuring that neither popularity nor outside influence can sway the outcome. Once chosen, the victor is discreetly notified by a mirror bird and guided along a concealed path to the Concord’s secret chamber, where their identity thereafter remains known only to their peers among the Concord. This anonymity serves as a powerful safeguard against coercion, corruption, and personal reprisal, preserving the integrity of the Concord’s deliberations.
No single member presides over the Concord, and no Order may dominate its proceedings. Each Order, regardless of its size or prominence, is granted a single and equal voice. This structure deliberately balances disparities among the Orders, preventing those with vast memberships from overwhelming smaller traditions while still demanding consensus to move the realm forward. In this way, every Concord member speaks with equal authority, embodying the values of their Order while weighing the diverse perspectives of the nobility below.
Debate within the Senate of Peerage is exhaustive by design. In the wake of catastrophe and fracture, the nobility itself has divided along three competing philosophies, each vying to define Chalameria’s future. These tensions are aired, challenged, and refined in open discourse until a consensus among the peerage is forged. Only then is that consensus carried upward to the Grand Concord. The Concord does not concern itself with daily governance, leaving administration to barons and local nobles, but it alone holds the authority to ratify consensus into binding law. All rulings are issued collectively and attributed not to individuals, but to the unified voice of “the Concord of Chalameria.”
This byzantine process is slow, intentional, and often burdensome, yet it preserves balance. The Orders retain their voice, the nobility retains agency, and no single ruler may impose their will unchecked. Though barons govern their lands and manage their people, they ultimately answer to the Grand Concord, ensuring that all of Chalameria operates under a unified and principled authority. In this way, the Concord stands both within and beyond the Senate: unseen yet ever-present, legitimizing the will of the peerage and safeguarding the destiny of the realm.
The Oaths of the Land.
The world of Chalameria thrives upon the foundation of a noble society, where the chivalric virtues—honesty, lawfulness, sobriety, love, service, duty, and honor—stand as guiding principles for all. Nobility here is not a birthright but a distinction that may be earned by anyone through deeds of selflessness and dedication to these virtues.
While nobles are regarded as the elites of society, they are not distant overlords. Unlike in many other realms, abusive nobles are rare in Chalameria. The bond between noble and commoner is built on mutual trust and respect. The people look to their nobles for leadership and protection, confident that those who bear the mantle of nobility have sacrificed and given of themselves to serve the greater good.
This system ensures a society that strives to be just and fair, where nobility is a reward for virtue rather than a title passed down through bloodlines alone. It inspires all to pursue greatness, knowing that through honorable action, they too may rise to noble ranks.
In Chalameria, nobility is not merely a status—it is a sacred mantle worn with pride, earned through service, honor, and devotion to the people.
In Chalameria, the LAW is built around respect for individual agency and the preservation of life. Though specific laws and punishments may differ across regions, certain fundamental principles are consistent throughout the land.
Bodily Harm: Actions that cause physical harm to another person are strictly unlawful.
Agency: Any action that removes or interferes with a person's free will or agency is considered unlawful.
Death and Resurrection: Causing another’s death or forcing them to undergo resurrection is deemed a grave offense and is unlawful.
Necromancy: The practice of necromancy, in all its forms, is strictly forbidden. This includes summoning or controlling the undead.
Summoning of Chaos: Summoning beings of chaos or any forces that disrupt the natural order is unlawful.
Banditry: Any form of theft, robbery, or banditry is illegal and considered a serious crime.
Deception of Officials: Providing false information to an appointed representative of Chalameria is unlawful.
Unlawful Detainment: Detaining someone without their consent or legal justification is unlawful.
Failure to Assist: It is unlawful to refuse aid when specifically called upon by an appointed representative of Chalameria.
These laws are central to maintaining peace and justice in Chalameria, and violators are dealt with accordingly.
Self-Defense and Defense of Others
Actions otherwise deemed unlawful may be excused when undertaken in reasonable self-defense or in the defense of another, provided the following conditions are met:
Imminent Threat: The harm, loss of agency, unlawful detainment, or other crime must be immediate and unavoidable without action.
Proportional Response: The force or magic used in defense must be proportionate to the threat faced. Under no circumstance can the result of proportional response violate the established social norms or laws of Chalameria.
Necessity: The act must be the only reasonable means to preserve one’s life, freedom, or the safety of another.
Aftermath: Once the threat has ended, continued aggression or unlawful actions are no longer protected by this clause. This clause does not excuse acts of vengeance, cruelty, or premeditated harm under the guise of self-defense.
The burden of proof rests upon the defender to show necessity and proportionality in their actions.
The Virtues of Chalameria
In Chalameria, we hold steadfast to the chivalric virtues that guide our conduct and define our society. Respect, courtesy, and truthfulness are the cornerstones upon which we interact with one another, particularly when in the presence of visiting nobility. These individuals embody traditions and wisdom from lands far and wide, and it is both our honor and duty to show them the reverence they are due. As you engage with guests from across Fortanis, approach each encounter as an opportunity to learn. Observe how others navigate matters of manners and etiquette, and you may gain insight into their values and customs. Such experiences not only enrich your understanding of the world but also strengthen the bonds between our communities.
To be respectful is to embody the very virtues that elevate our land.
To be courteous is to honor not just others, but yourself.
To be true is to walk the path of integrity, ensuring you never feel lost, no matter the circumstance.
Let these virtues guide you, and you will find growth in every interaction.
Social Taboos
In Chalameria, certain practices are universally condemned, not merely by law but by the weight of cultural expectation and moral responsibility. Among the gravest social taboos are Amnesia, Charm, and Enslavement, for these magics and manipulations strike at the very heart of personhood.
Amnesia strips away one’s memories, unraveling identity and severing the bonds of trust built through shared history. To erase someone’s past is to deny them their foundation, leaving them vulnerable and diminished.
Charm bypasses consent, bending the will of another to serve one’s own desires. While it may appear subtle or harmless, it is in truth an insidious theft of choice, a violation of the sacred right to decide one’s own path.
Enslavement represents the most flagrant assault on autonomy, reducing a living being to nothing more than a tool. To enslave another is to strip them of dignity, voice, and self-determination—an affront to the principles upon which Chalamerian society stands.
Because these acts rob a person of their agency and free will, they are not only unlawful but also considered deeply shameful. Those who engage in such practices find themselves distrusted, ostracized, and condemned by peers and strangers alike. Even whispers of association with these taboos are enough to stain reputations and fracture communities. To honor the spirit of Chalameria, one must recognize that true strength comes not from domination, but from respect, collaboration, and the freedom to choose. These are in-game social taboos and moral conundrums. As a player, you always retain full agency in your choices. If you choose to use Amnesia or Charm effects, you are free to do so; however, your character may face in-game suspicion, ostracization, or other consequences for engaging in such practices.
The Prohibition of Forbidden Magics
Yet let none mistake our civility for weakness. Some paths are so vile that they are not merely shunned, but utterly forbidden. Chief among these is necromancy, for it strikes at the very heart of freedom and life itself. To wield such power is to rob a soul of its natural course, binding it to corruption and despair. Necromancy is not simply taboo—it is outlawed in Chalameria without exception. No justification, no desperation, and no claim of necessity can cleanse its stain. It is a treacherous art that corrupts both victim and wielder, twisting them away from all that is noble. To practice necromancy is to abandon morality itself. Such acts are never excused—only condemned. Those who embrace it can expect to be vilified, hunted, and punished by society, for necromancy defiles both the living and the dead and has no place in Chalameria.