Official Palest Guide ((Palestry is a difficult IC relationship to maintain because it is a lifelong arrangement that requires consistent activity between the noble and palest. It isn’t something to take lightly, both IC and OOC. You should hold off on swearing an oath of palestry until you are absolutely sure both parties can bring sustainable Roleplay to the situation. If there is any doubt in the arrangement, simply keep the palest as a guard or servant.)) Legality: A palest is a lifelong companion to a noble legally recognized by the Regalian State who acts as a social and legal extension of the noble they are sworn to. Palests must swear an Oath of Palestry before the Lifeguard Executive for it to be recognized. Termination of palestry can only be done with the approval of the Lifeguard Executive, the Regalian Judiciary or the Lord Chancellor. An Oath of Palestry may only be terminated if it meets criterion set by the Lifeguard Executive, and is considered a last-resort option. Both palest and noble may be punished for dereliction of duties and obligations at the discretion of Lifeguard Executive. On Palestry: Palestry is the act of a noble and a “palest” swearing themselves to be one for life. The noble provides every expense for the palest, who is elevated to a status of eternal companionship. Palests most often fulfill a protectionary role, but many choose to serve their “charges,” or bound noble, as sagely mentors or shadow advisors. Palestry is not an occupational arrangement. Rather, it is a relational, and legal, obligation dictated by the Oath of Palestry, which a palest, who may be a commoner or noble, swears to the noble, and the noble swears to the palest. Palestry is a life-long commitment, and both the swearing and termination of an Oath of Palestry must be witnessed and approved by the Regalian Government. The palest is a direct extension of the noble, and vice-versa. For all intents and purposes, a palest is an adoptive member of a noble house who does not share the noble’s name, status or privilege. A palest may never backtalk or insult their noble charge in public, but their noble charge is expected to encourage the palest to weigh in on matters of import in both public and private life. A palest is not a silent and stationary guard and is expected to be an active, verbal participant in their charged noble’s life. The palest and the noble share the same reputation. A noble committing a high crime is equivalent to the palest committing the same crime, while a palest who burps before a procession of lords and ladies is seen as burping on the noble’s behalf. That being said, palests may accompany their attended noble throughout their day-to-day life but do not enjoy any of the privileges of nobility when not beside their charge. Conflict within an Oath of Palestry must be immediately reported to the Lifeguard Executive, who shall mediate the situation and find a solution. Termination of palestry is a last-resort option when all other efforts have been exhausted, and must be approved by the Lifeguard Executive or relevant parties. The Oath of Palestry: In the presence of the Lifeguard Executive, and three witnesses, a palest may swear themselves to the noble, and a noble may swear themselves to the palest, with the following oath: “From this moment, I swear on my life that I bind mine to yours, that we may offer one another protection, comfort, and wisdom. No strife between us will end this bond… [, provided additional terms]. I swear to uphold this oath before the eyes of those present and the Lifeguard Executive until the end of my days. Both noble and palest may present additional terms to the oath, which both must agree to for the contract to be binding. For example, if the palest is also a Ward of Fae, they may insist the noble support their efforts to return artifacts to the Fae Sepulchre. If the noble agrees to do so but then goes back on their word, the palest may have a case to terminate the palestry relationship, or pursue other legal recourse. Obligations of the noble: To offer a comfortable yet not excessive amount of food, water, shelter and clothing to the palest. To invest in the educational and professional development of the palest. To keep confidence with their palest, and involve said palest in business. Exception granted to confidential state business. To listen to and carefully consider the wisdom and advice of a palest. To report any violation of the Code of Palestry to the Lifeguard Executive. Obligations of the palest: To offer protection, mentorship and comfort to their noble charge at every turn. To satiate oneself yet not take advantage of their noble charge’s wealth. To adequately accompany their noble charge when said charge leaves the comfort of home. To keep no secret from their noble charge. To never speak against their noble charge in public, or undermine them in their public life. To report any violation of the Code of Palestry to the Lifeguard Executive. Rewards: Beyond the benefits of having a life-long loyal friend tethered to oneself as a noble, palests and their charges have opportunities to earn rewards: Emblems. Emblems are matching icons that represent a signatory aspect of the relationship between noble and palest. They encourage positive execution of the Oath of Palestry. For example, when a palest suffers a critical injury to protect the noble they are bound to, both the noble and palest may receive an “Emblem of Valor.” Emblems can be created by the Lifeguard Executive on the spot, no Emblem can be worn by the same pair of noble and palest and Emblems can be confiscated and re-distributed at any time. When a noble and a palest are granted an emblem, the palest must wear it in public, but the noble in question may choose to do so or not to do so. Other rewards will be announced as suggested by the peerage, Imperial Court or implemented by the Lifeguard Executive. Punishments: Probationary palestry: The noble and palest may not legally leave one another’s presence with the understanding they must resolve their differences before being allowed greater freedom of movement from one another. Enforceable by means of Violet Order shackles, which will be removed at night and replaced in the morning. Transference of palestry: A palest who acts out of line or repeatedly misbehaves may be temporarily transferred from one noble charge to another for “re-education” at the behest of the Lifeguard Executive. Dissolution of palestry: The Lifeguard Executive may dissolve any oath of palestry due to egregious public conduct at-will, with adequate reasoning provided. Barring of palestry: The Lifeguard Executive may pre-emptively deny requests to administer the Oath of Palestry to either a noble or a prospective palest due to past instances of conduct, such as criminal record, ill repute, oath-breaking or former violations of Oaths of Palestry. Other punishments as yet undetermined by the Lifeguard Executive. Legal causes for termination of palestry: The only way an Oath of Palestry may be terminated is with the explicit approval of the Lifeguard Executive, or the Regalian Judiciary or Lord Chancellor. The Lifeguard Executive recognizes the following reasons as adequate reasons for termination of palestry: Dereliction of prescribed duties with three instances of evidence (One witness counts as an instance of evidence). Violation of additional terms presented during the Oath of Palestry with three instances of evidence (One witness counts as an instance of evidence). MIA palestry or nobility ((One month lapsing since a noble or palest player’s last log-in on the server, or alternatively when a player states OOC they quit the server)) Clinical death of either noble or palest ((Resurrected characters are absolved of their oath in each subsequent life)). A simple majority vote within the noble assembly, or by order of the Defence Minister, or the Regalian Judiciary, or the Lord Chancellor, or the Emperor. The Lifeguard Executive may grant case-by-case exceptions to the rules for terminating palestry for unforeseen circumstances. ((This Google Doc link will be live-updated according to updates in palestry. Please refer to this document rather than this thread when seeking information: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i9mskXO9cdN2hMOiGnQcf8gFWZ73sGuwSPlwi06JNSQ/edit?usp=sharing))
