Code of Honor [Archive] - Wizards Community

Code of Honor [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Radijs
12-06-06, 09:35 PM I'm going to play a LN swordsage and I've been building a code of honor for him to uphold. I'd like your feedback.

1. Do not speak of the temple. Those who seek the way of the nine will find it. (special DM requirement)
2. Never act Rashly. Things are rarely what they seem to be.
3. Always fulfil your duties to the best of your ability.
4. Abstain from excess. Keep your mind as sharp as your blade, your body as balanced as your sword.
5. Do not succumb to idleness. A body that is not in motion will wither, a mind that is not used will lose its edge.
6. Obey your master. Everything in the world has its place know your own.
7. Stay true to your word. Lies lead to more lies and they bring chaos and confusion
8. Never desert your comrades or your brethren
9. Never withdraw an allegiance once granted
10. Never regret the past. Live to better yourself.
11. Be polite and well spoken.
theotherdraxen
12-07-06, 01:16 AM Nice code, I think all are solidly LN, except #10. That one just seems, IMO, kind of chaotic. A LN person might live their entire lives trying to make up for a past mistake. It just seems too flexible.
Deep Blue 9000
12-07-06, 05:19 AM Cool idea. I think I'll make a personal code like that for the next lawful character I play.
kelvinaw273
12-07-06, 09:03 AM I like it ... the polite, well spoken swordsman who can and will decapitate the prisoners without flinching if they are found guilty ....
Radijs
12-07-06, 10:44 AM The background for this character is that he spent a significant portion of his life as a novice and student in a temple for martial arts. (The sublime way in this case) From the flavour of the book of nine swords it shows that the master of the temple does not care about somebody being good or evil.
Looking at the swordsage I think it resembles the monk in many ways. A disciplined martial artist so I'm trying to build a code that will fit around this principle.
High Octane
12-07-06, 01:22 PM Excellant. Very lawful neutral. Duty and honor.
Orchomenos
12-07-06, 01:27 PM I would drop one, just to have 10 articles, so you can call it a Decalogue. 4 & 5 are pretty similar, you could drop one. Or as theotherdraxen said, #10 is a bit less Lawful. Although you could call this one the 11th, hidden article...
Radijs
12-07-06, 05:10 PM Okay drop #10.
I like the idea of a hidden article. But then it would be more interesting if I can up the total of the rest back up to 10.
Any suggestions?
theotherdraxen
12-07-06, 05:24 PM Well, if #10 is a hidden article, then aren't you left with just 10?
Radijs
12-07-06, 05:35 PM Sorry I wasn't clear.
#1 would be the hidden article and #10 would be dropped from the list entirely.
That leaves 9 visible ones and 1 invisble:

1. Never act Rashly. Things are rarely what they seem to be.
2. Always fulfil your duties to the best of your ability.
3. Abstain from excess. Keep your mind as sharp as your blade, your body as balanced as your sword.
4. Do not succumb to idleness. A body that is not in motion will wither, a mind that is not used will lose its edge.
5. Obey your master. Everything in the world has its place know your own.
6. Stay true to your word. Lies lead to more lies and they bring chaos and confusion
7. Never desert your comrades or your brethren
8. Never withdraw an allegiance once granted
9. Be polite and well spoken.

11. Do not speak of the temple. Those who seek the way of the nine will find it. (special DM requirement hidden)
theotherdraxen
12-07-06, 06:00 PM Respect the laws and traditions of your family/culture/religion?
Radijs
12-07-06, 06:04 PM Thats a good one.
I'm going to change it to respect the local laws and traditions. My character doesn't remember much from his family. Slave traders stole him away when he was still very young. So there's not much to respect from his family.
pmurray@bigpond.com
12-07-06, 10:51 PM I'm going to play a LN swordsage and I've been building a code of honor for him to uphold. I'd like your feedback.

Have a look at the geneva conventions - great stuff in that about how a lawful good warrior should behave. See also the conventions on law enforcement officers.
Toloran
12-07-06, 11:10 PM Sorry I wasn't clear.
#1 would be the hidden article and #10 would be dropped from the list entirely.
That leaves 9 visible ones and 1 invisble:

1. Never act Rashly. Things are rarely what they seem to be.
2. Always fulfil your duties to the best of your ability.
3. Abstain from excess. Keep your mind as sharp as your blade, your body as balanced as your sword.
4. Do not succumb to idleness. A body that is not in motion will wither, a mind that is not used will lose its edge.
5. Obey your master. Everything in the world has its place know your own.
6. Stay true to your word. Lies lead to more lies and they bring chaos and confusion
7. Never desert your comrades or your brethren
8. Never withdraw an allegiance once granted
9. Be polite and well spoken.

11. Do not speak of the temple. Those who seek the way of the nine will find it. (special DM requirement hidden)

I think you want to keep the total number of rules (visible and invisible) to exactly nine: Nine Swords, Nine Codes. This will be a great roleplaying point since there will only be 8 visible ones and occasionally a player (or NPC) will wonder why you only have 8.
pmurray@bigpond.com
12-07-06, 11:20 PM A lot of this is not relevant to D&D (it concerns war between states) ... but its a good general giude for how a LG warrior behaves. In theory.

On Torture:
All acts of torture are offences under criminal law. The same shall apply to an attempt to commit torture and to an act by any person which constitutes complicity or participation in torture.
No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat or war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.
An order from a superior officer or a public authority may not be invoked as a justification of torture.
No party shall expel, return ("refouler") or extradite a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture.

On treatment of prisoners of war:

Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.

To this end the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons:

Violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
Taking of hostages;
Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment;
The passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples.

The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for.
Prisoners of war are in the hands of the enemy Power, but not of the individuals or military units who have captured them.
Prisoners of war may only be transferred by the Detaining Power to a Power which is a party to the Convention and after the Detaining Power has satisfied itself of the willingness and ability of such transferee Power to apply the Convention.
Nevertheless if that Power fails to carry out the provisions of the Convention in any important respect, the Power by whom the prisoners of war were transferred shall, upon being notified by the Protecting Power, take effective measures to correct the situation or shall request the return of the prisoners of war. Such requests must be complied with.
Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated.
In particular, no prisoner of war may be subjected to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments of any kind.
Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity.
Measures of reprisal against prisoners of war are prohibited.
Prisoners of war are entitled in all circumstances to respect for their persons and their honour.
Women shall be treated with all the regard due to their sex and shall in all cases benefit by treatment as favourable as that granted to men.
Sums of money carried by prisoners of war may not be taken away from them except by order of an officer, and after the amount and particulars of the owner have been recorded in a special register and an itemized receipt has been given.
The Detaining Power may withdraw articles of value from prisoners of war only for reasons of security; when such articles are withdrawn, the procedure laid down for sums of money impounded shall apply.

There's a heap more. See http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/91.htm

On the conduct of law enforcement officers:

Law enforcement officials shall at all times fulfil the duty imposed upon them by law, by serving the community and by protecting all persons against illegal acts, consistent with the high degree of responsibility required by their profession.
In the performance of their duty, law enforcement officials shall respect and protect human dignity and maintain and uphold the human rights of all persons.
Law enforcement officials may use force only when strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of their duty.
Matters of a confidential nature in the possession of law enforcement officials shall be kept confidential , unless the performance of duty or the needs of justice strictly require otherwise.
No law enforcement official may inflict, instigate or tolerate any act of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, nor may any law enforcement official invoke superior orders or exceptional circumstances such as a state of war or a threat of war, a threat to national security, internal political instability or any other public emergency as a justification of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment .
Law enforcement officials shall ensure the full protection of the health of persons in their custody and, in particular, shall take immediate action to secure medical attention whenever required.
Law enforcement officials shall not commit any act of corruption. They shall also rigorously oppose and combat all such acts.
Law enforcement officials who have reason to believe that a violation of the present Code has occurred or is about to occur shall report the matter to their superior authorities and, where necessary, to other appropriate authorities or organs vested with reviewing or remedial power.

On the treatment of civilians:

Protected persons are entitled, in all circumstances, to respect for their persons, their honour, their family rights, their religious convictions and practices, and their manners and customs. They shall at all times be humanely treated, and shall be protected especially against all acts of violence or threats thereof and against insults and public curiosity.
Women shall be especially protected against any attack on their honour, in particular against rape, enforced prostitution, or any form of indecent assault.
Without prejudice to the provisions relating to their state of health, age and sex, all protected persons shall be treated with the same consideration by the Party to the conflict in whose power they are, without any adverse distinction based, in particular, on race, religion or political opinion.
However, the Parties to the conflict may take such measures of control and security in regard to protected persons as may be necessary as a result of the war.
The presence of a protected person may not be used to render certain points or areas immune from military operations.
No physical or moral coercion shall be exercised against protected persons, in particular to obtain information from them or from third parties.
The High Contracting Parties specifically agree that each of them is prohibited from taking any measure of such a character as to cause the physical suffering or extermination of protected persons in their hands. This prohibition applies not only to murder, torture, corporal punishment, mutilation and medical or scientific experiments not necessitated by the medical treatment of a protected person but also to any other measures of brutality whether applied by civilian or military agents.
No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.
Pillage is prohibited.
Reprisals against protected persons and their property are prohibited.
The taking of hostages is prohibited.

A bunch more stuff at http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/92.htm .
theotherdraxen
12-07-06, 11:27 PM But his swordsage is Lawful Neutral, not Lawful Good.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Radijs 12-06-06, 09:35 PM	I'm going to play a LN swordsage and I've been building a code of honor for him to uphold. I'd like your feedback. 1. Do not speak of the temple. Those who seek the way of the nine will find it. (special DM requirement) 2. Never act Rashly. Things are rarely what they seem to be. 3. Always fulfil your duties to the best of your ability. 4. Abstain from excess. Keep your mind as sharp as your blade, your body as balanced as your sword. 5. Do not succumb to idleness. A body that is not in motion will wither, a mind that is not used will lose its edge. 6. Obey your master. Everything in the world has its place know your own. 7. Stay true to your word. Lies lead to more lies and they bring chaos and confusion 8. Never desert your comrades or your brethren 9. Never withdraw an allegiance once granted 10. Never regret the past. Live to better yourself. 11. Be polite and well spoken.
theotherdraxen 12-07-06, 01:16 AM	Nice code, I think all are solidly LN, except #10. That one just seems, IMO, kind of chaotic. A LN person might live their entire lives trying to make up for a past mistake. It just seems too flexible.
Deep Blue 9000 12-07-06, 05:19 AM	Cool idea. I think I'll make a personal code like that for the next lawful character I play.
kelvinaw273 12-07-06, 09:03 AM	I like it ... the polite, well spoken swordsman who can and will decapitate the prisoners without flinching if they are found guilty ....
Radijs 12-07-06, 10:44 AM	The background for this character is that he spent a significant portion of his life as a novice and student in a temple for martial arts. (The sublime way in this case) From the flavour of the book of nine swords it shows that the master of the temple does not care about somebody being good or evil. Looking at the swordsage I think it resembles the monk in many ways. A disciplined martial artist so I'm trying to build a code that will fit around this principle.
High Octane 12-07-06, 01:22 PM	Excellant. Very lawful neutral. Duty and honor.
Orchomenos 12-07-06, 01:27 PM	I would drop one, just to have 10 articles, so you can call it a Decalogue. 4 & 5 are pretty similar, you could drop one. Or as theotherdraxen said, #10 is a bit less Lawful. Although you could call this one the 11th, hidden article...
Radijs 12-07-06, 05:10 PM	Okay drop #10. I like the idea of a hidden article. But then it would be more interesting if I can up the total of the rest back up to 10. Any suggestions?
theotherdraxen 12-07-06, 05:24 PM	Well, if #10 is a hidden article, then aren't you left with just 10?
Radijs 12-07-06, 05:35 PM	Sorry I wasn't clear. #1 would be the hidden article and #10 would be dropped from the list entirely. That leaves 9 visible ones and 1 invisble: 1. Never act Rashly. Things are rarely what they seem to be. 2. Always fulfil your duties to the best of your ability. 3. Abstain from excess. Keep your mind as sharp as your blade, your body as balanced as your sword. 4. Do not succumb to idleness. A body that is not in motion will wither, a mind that is not used will lose its edge. 5. Obey your master. Everything in the world has its place know your own. 6. Stay true to your word. Lies lead to more lies and they bring chaos and confusion 7. Never desert your comrades or your brethren 8. Never withdraw an allegiance once granted 9. Be polite and well spoken. 11. Do not speak of the temple. Those who seek the way of the nine will find it. (special DM requirement hidden)
theotherdraxen 12-07-06, 06:00 PM	Respect the laws and traditions of your family/culture/religion?
Radijs 12-07-06, 06:04 PM	Thats a good one. I'm going to change it to respect the local laws and traditions. My character doesn't remember much from his family. Slave traders stole him away when he was still very young. So there's not much to respect from his family.
pmurray@bigpond.com 12-07-06, 10:51 PM	I'm going to play a LN swordsage and I've been building a code of honor for him to uphold. I'd like your feedback. Have a look at the geneva conventions - great stuff in that about how a lawful good warrior should behave. See also the conventions on law enforcement officers.
Toloran 12-07-06, 11:10 PM	Sorry I wasn't clear. #1 would be the hidden article and #10 would be dropped from the list entirely. That leaves 9 visible ones and 1 invisble: 1. Never act Rashly. Things are rarely what they seem to be. 2. Always fulfil your duties to the best of your ability. 3. Abstain from excess. Keep your mind as sharp as your blade, your body as balanced as your sword. 4. Do not succumb to idleness. A body that is not in motion will wither, a mind that is not used will lose its edge. 5. Obey your master. Everything in the world has its place know your own. 6. Stay true to your word. Lies lead to more lies and they bring chaos and confusion 7. Never desert your comrades or your brethren 8. Never withdraw an allegiance once granted 9. Be polite and well spoken. 11. Do not speak of the temple. Those who seek the way of the nine will find it. (special DM requirement hidden) I think you want to keep the total number of rules (visible and invisible) to exactly nine: Nine Swords, Nine Codes. This will be a great roleplaying point since there will only be 8 visible ones and occasionally a player (or NPC) will wonder why you only have 8.
pmurray@bigpond.com 12-07-06, 11:20 PM	A lot of this is not relevant to D&D (it concerns war between states) ... but its a good general giude for how a LG warrior behaves. In theory. On Torture: All acts of torture are offences under criminal law. The same shall apply to an attempt to commit torture and to an act by any person which constitutes complicity or participation in torture. No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat or war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture. An order from a superior officer or a public authority may not be invoked as a justification of torture. No party shall expel, return ("refouler") or extradite a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture. On treatment of prisoners of war: Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria. To this end the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons: Violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture; Taking of hostages; Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment; The passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples. The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for. Prisoners of war are in the hands of the enemy Power, but not of the individuals or military units who have captured them. Prisoners of war may only be transferred by the Detaining Power to a Power which is a party to the Convention and after the Detaining Power has satisfied itself of the willingness and ability of such transferee Power to apply the Convention. Nevertheless if that Power fails to carry out the provisions of the Convention in any important respect, the Power by whom the prisoners of war were transferred shall, upon being notified by the Protecting Power, take effective measures to correct the situation or shall request the return of the prisoners of war. Such requests must be complied with. Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. In particular, no prisoner of war may be subjected to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments of any kind. Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity. Measures of reprisal against prisoners of war are prohibited. Prisoners of war are entitled in all circumstances to respect for their persons and their honour. Women shall be treated with all the regard due to their sex and shall in all cases benefit by treatment as favourable as that granted to men. Sums of money carried by prisoners of war may not be taken away from them except by order of an officer, and after the amount and particulars of the owner have been recorded in a special register and an itemized receipt has been given. The Detaining Power may withdraw articles of value from prisoners of war only for reasons of security; when such articles are withdrawn, the procedure laid down for sums of money impounded shall apply. There's a heap more. See http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/91.htm On the conduct of law enforcement officers: Law enforcement officials shall at all times fulfil the duty imposed upon them by law, by serving the community and by protecting all persons against illegal acts, consistent with the high degree of responsibility required by their profession. In the performance of their duty, law enforcement officials shall respect and protect human dignity and maintain and uphold the human rights of all persons. Law enforcement officials may use force only when strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of their duty. Matters of a confidential nature in the possession of law enforcement officials shall be kept confidential , unless the performance of duty or the needs of justice strictly require otherwise. No law enforcement official may inflict, instigate or tolerate any act of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, nor may any law enforcement official invoke superior orders or exceptional circumstances such as a state of war or a threat of war, a threat to national security, internal political instability or any other public emergency as a justification of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment . Law enforcement officials shall ensure the full protection of the health of persons in their custody and, in particular, shall take immediate action to secure medical attention whenever required. Law enforcement officials shall not commit any act of corruption. They shall also rigorously oppose and combat all such acts. Law enforcement officials who have reason to believe that a violation of the present Code has occurred or is about to occur shall report the matter to their superior authorities and, where necessary, to other appropriate authorities or organs vested with reviewing or remedial power. On the treatment of civilians: Protected persons are entitled, in all circumstances, to respect for their persons, their honour, their family rights, their religious convictions and practices, and their manners and customs. They shall at all times be humanely treated, and shall be protected especially against all acts of violence or threats thereof and against insults and public curiosity. Women shall be especially protected against any attack on their honour, in particular against rape, enforced prostitution, or any form of indecent assault. Without prejudice to the provisions relating to their state of health, age and sex, all protected persons shall be treated with the same consideration by the Party to the conflict in whose power they are, without any adverse distinction based, in particular, on race, religion or political opinion. However, the Parties to the conflict may take such measures of control and security in regard to protected persons as may be necessary as a result of the war. The presence of a protected person may not be used to render certain points or areas immune from military operations. No physical or moral coercion shall be exercised against protected persons, in particular to obtain information from them or from third parties. The High Contracting Parties specifically agree that each of them is prohibited from taking any measure of such a character as to cause the physical suffering or extermination of protected persons in their hands. This prohibition applies not only to murder, torture, corporal punishment, mutilation and medical or scientific experiments not necessitated by the medical treatment of a protected person but also to any other measures of brutality whether applied by civilian or military agents. No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited. Pillage is prohibited. Reprisals against protected persons and their property are prohibited. The taking of hostages is prohibited. A bunch more stuff at http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/92.htm .
theotherdraxen 12-07-06, 11:27 PM	But his swordsage is Lawful Neutral, not Lawful Good.