The Pirate Accords of 1217

Standing up for, and being willing to die for what is right is what Paladins do.
I'm not calling you a hero, but you have the inner workings of one. That's something, right?

-Leon

Cade, I know we haven't drank much together, but that might change.
*takes another swig from the bottle in his left hand, and continues writing*
You obviously have some very good intentions with your scribbles, there's a road we travel needs more paving stones.
Fortune has a few good points, and she wants to show you one of those points up close!
Like the Priest said, semantics, you have to be more creative if you want not to get in trouble with words.
For example! why not make it a CHURCH! worship the sea and then you could be the PIRATE POPE! and that would be just a creative tit... or maybe Pontif Pirate?!
your members could be wayward sailors for example, and your captains pirate priests!
you wanted a discussion worth having.... there you go... why not!?
*finishes the bottle and goes of looking for another one*

My input on Pirates is in line with Law, Cade. Acts of Piracy are often accompanied by the Death sentence in most civilized places. Don't think me sympathetic, my village was razed to the ground by men such as you process to be. Even had I not had that experience, your notion is illegal if you intend on conducting your ship as a Pirate. Either change how you present these Accords, or turn yourself over to the Guard to save them time, and yourself the trouble of fleeing.

I'll not add more to these notes. I leave this at, my opinion remains my own, separate from the Church. However, as the Church operates according to Kingdom Law, I expect officially they will take your efforts with a very dim view.

This actually raises quite an important legal question. I have examined the laws of Travance, and found none against piracy; which is important for the following reason:

The sea, unless I have become quite mistaken somehow, is not under the territory of any nation or land or king. Moreover, unless I am quite mistaken indeed, Travance does not enforce punishment for Kormyrian laws broken outside of Kormyre, unless it is in the case of aiding and abetting an enemy of the kingdom or barony or province. Further, imposing punishment without authority is quite illegal. Many slaveowners in nations with legal slavery have entered Travance, either without their slaves or having freed their slaves, and received no retribution, for this very reason.

The following question is NOT intended to pass judgment on Cade or any others discussing these accords, but rather, to discuss the legality of Piracy as I am about to define it:
If piracy is the act of accumulating wealth by taking it, by force, by ships at sea and using one's on ship and crew, under what law is this illegal?
If a pirate attacks a Navy ship, then clearly that pirate is an enemy of Kormyre and to aid him in doing so would be treasonous and make him subject to a Major Punishment as laid out by the laws of Travance. However, to attack a foreign ship, or even a civilian ship running regular business that is not related to the ordinary operation of the Kingdom (transporting gold from one nation to another, for instance), would not break any Kormyrian laws.

This is an enormous flaw in the legal system, because any men and women who regularly attacks foreign ships, who may be friends of Kormyrian traders and be of great importance to the Kormyrian economy, or even men and women who attack Kormyrian citizens in neutral waters, are NOT subject to the justice of Kormyre - and are, in fact, PROTECTED from retribution from the wronged parties within the boarders of Travance.

How should this be addressed? This appears to be an issue of vital importance.

I will be copying this message and sending it to any nobility who has jurisdiction in these matters, but who should that be? Baron Sylas? Count Winterdark? The King?

Mistress Fortune Demeanor,

Besmirching a noble is no petty offense, and in fact is to be taken very seriously in these lands, as something specifically prohibited in the law. Forgive my second posting. The way this challenge has been handled, mostly on the part of the challenged, has been a display of avoidance, as you have pointed out. The conduct of the challenged simply built up my worse humors. The next acts were to be taken by the challenged, but it seems he has turned down your challenge. He should recognize however that he must now issue a public statement corroborating your observed breach of honor. I look forward to his acknowledgment and confession.

Cade,

Glad to hear that you've possibly settled that second dispute out of the arena, and spared the lives of yourself (and your crew), but I would strongly suggest you also directly address the other, considering at one point the person your Challenger is defending was one you called friend, and one who called you friend. Or does that hold no value to you? Regardless, you are obligated to respond in earnest, at the very latest by the time she has reasserted her claim with the support of a noble.

--Mantel

Apparently my questions regarding the Articles and what does or does not constitute piracy have yet to be answered. I feel as though this might be my fault, I think I missed the question and answer portion of the discussion and came in during the "challenge the crew of the night harrier to combat." portion.