The Laws of War

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The Laws of War are a collection of rules generally accepted throughout the known world for conducting international conflict. Most of them are generally accepted primarily because Rodana insists on it. Nations, such as the orcs, that refuse to follow them are treated as pariahs and may be subject to reprisal from the massive Rodanese military.

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Privateers and Letters of Marque

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From time to time a nation at war with another nation augments its official navy with vessels belonging to private individuals -- often when they lack the wherewithal to expand their navies via the state's coffers. They issue Letters of Marque and Reprisal, authorizing private shipowners to attack ships of the opposing nation. They do not authorize attacks on any other shipping.

The significant advantage such a letter gives to a privateer is that, if captured, captain and crew must be treated as prisoners of war and not pirates -- though they'll lose their ships, and may have to wait for a prisoner exchange or ransom before they're released. Pirates are viewed as enemies of all nations, subject to capture and execution by anyone.

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Treaty Regarding the Laws of War

All major seafaring nations have a "Treaty Regarding the Laws of War" with the Heavenly Empire of Rodan requiring their captains, both military and privateer, to adhere to the Laws of War. The treaty with Andaron reads as follows.

Treaty Acknowledging the Submission of the High Kingdom of Andaron to the Laws of War as Mandated by Heaven

Whereas Heaven abhors Wanton Slaughter of all kinds, and

Whereas the Nations of the World by their nature are unable to avoid Conflict,

Hereby the High Kingdom of Andaron attests and affirms the necessity of submitting to the Laws of War as outlined in this Most Solemn Treaty.

1. Terminology. In this Treaty, these terms shall have their accompanying meanings.

   1. Nation, unmodified by adjective, shall refer to the High Kingdom of Andaron.

   2. Sovereign shall refer to the current Ruler of the Nation or their successor, be they a Person or Group of People.

   3. Captain shall include any officer of the Navy of the Nation having charge of any armed ship.

   4. Captain shall include any officer with a Letter of Marque and Reprisal granted by the Sovereign.

   5. Crew shall include any Person under the authority of the Captain.

   6. Child of Heaven shall include any Person under the authority of the Mandate of Heaven, known to foreigners as the Empire of Rodan.

   7. Signatory Nation shall include any polity with a current and up-to-date Treaty of the Laws of War with the Mandate of Heaven.

   8. Court shall include any judge or magistrate of the Mandate of Heaven, or of any Signatory Nation.

   9. Deadly Conflict shall include any action that a reasonable person should understand to risk death to the any Person that is the object of said action, save only those actions serving as lawful punishments for crimes not explicitly listed by this Treaty.

   10. Weapons of Wanton Destruction are any magical effect, alchemical concoction, or biological agent with the potential to cause lethal damage that can target any area larger than that occupied by four creatures of the general size of an average Child of Heaven.

2. Enforcement.

   1. The Captain shall be responsible, on peril of their life, for the enforcement of these Laws upon the Crew.

   2. The Crew shall be responsible, on peril of slavery or of their life, for obedience to these Laws.

   3. Any order from the Captain or any delegate, in opposition to these Laws, is illegal and without force or effect.

   4. Rebellion against such illegal orders shall not constitute mutiny under the laws of the Nation, and no reprisal for such rebellion shall be effected.

   5. Any Child of Heaven having knowledge of violations of these Laws is entitled and enjoined to subdue and incarcerate the perpetrators, pending trial by an authorized Court.

3. Deadly Conflict

   1. In any deadly conflict, all Persons shall strive to maim rather than kill, wound rather than maim, subdue rather than wound, and cause to surrender rather than subdue.

   2. No Person shall target any noncombatant with intention to kill, maim, or wound.

   3. No Person shall target any Person or Group of Persons with any Weapon of Wanton Destruction.

4. Weapons of Wanton Destruction

   1. Weapons of wanton destruction shall include, but not be limited to, the spells known as Fireball, Lightning Bolt, Cloudkill, and closely similar effects under different names.

   2. Weapons of Wanton Destruction may be targeted only at

      1. structures known not to harbour more than two Persons, said persons reasonably believed to be combatants.

      2. structures such as the walls of a fortified location, or the hull of a ship, that under the circumstances can be reasonably believed to be effective in protecting nearby Persons from death.

   3. No Person shall intentionally shield any legitimate military target with noncombatants.

5. Verification

   1. Any Child of Heaven in possession of a Mandate of Enforcement shall have the right at any time to board any Vessel of the Nation for the purpose of investigating potential violations of the Laws of Heaven.

   2. All Persons shall cooperate fully in said investigations.

   3. Cooperation shall include but not be limited to submission to a Spell of Intention to Speak Truthfully.

   4. No being other than a Child of Heaven shall own or operate any class of Vessel comparable to, or superior in combat ability to, those known as Theurgeme.

6. Treatment of Prisoners of War

   1. Humanoid prisoners of war shall be housed in space no smaller than that sufficient to stretch out their full length in a resting position, or to sit up without bending the neck.

   2. Non-humanoid prisoners of war shall be housed in conditions as similar to those of section 6a as is permitted by their anatomy.

   3. Prisoners of war shall be fed no less than half the rations of an able seaperson of the Nation.

7. Parole

   1. A prisoner of war may be asked to give their parole before being granted more than the minimal treatment outlined in Section 6.

   2. Prisoners of war who have refused to give their parole may be bound and gagged.

   3. Prisoners of war who have given their parole shall not be bound or gagged

   4. Prisoners whose parole included a promise not to attempt escape shall be permitted exercise of duration no less than four standard candles per day.

   5. Parole shall consist of solemn promises to obey any or all of the following conditions.

   6. Not to use any magical skills or abilities while a prisoner.

   7. Not to attempt any antagonistic acts against their jailors or other captors.

   8. Not to attempt to escape.

   9. The breaking of parole is an offense against Heaven.