The Accord of year 2164 – Year of our Light
Instated upon the main island of Sothos and the Port of Dark Harbor.
All citizens and travelers through the Port of Dark Harbor are to be given these rights equally and without discrimination.
All Stand Equal
An equal share should be presented to all involved, regardless of station. Everyone that contributed their labors to an endeavor is entitled to a portion of any prize, treasure, or payout that results.
All that seek to dwell or conduct business within Dark Harbor shall be afforded the same protections under the Accord.
New Blood Shall Be Fostered
Newcomers to Dark Harbor should be uplifted and encouraged, so that the settlement grows. Those that seek to steal from new blood shall be branded upon the forehead, and their personal wealth forfeit to their victim.
The Right of Possession
All persons are entitled to the fruits of their labors. Depriving someone of their possessions through theft or destruction shall be answered.
Those that are found guilty of Theft by a Trial shall pay a sum no less than twice of what they took to the victim. Until that price is paid, the Thief shall be afforded no Rights of Possession.
Murder Shall Be Answered
Except when punishment must be meted out for breaching the Accord, none shall commit murder.
Those that are found guilty of Murder by a Trial shall be summarily executed, and their belongings forfeit to the family or crew of their victim.
The Right to Trial
All have the right to a Trial conducted by their fellows.
The aggrieved shall request a Trial from the Lord of the Island, who will nominate an Adjudicator to oversee the Trial. The Adjudicator shall ask questions of both parties involved in the dispute.
Each party shall choose an equal number of people to sit on the Jury, up to three each, and the Adjudicator shall choose a single person. Thus a Jury should be comprised of no less than three, and no more than seven.
After hearing the answers to all questions posed by the Adjudicator, each Jury member will make a secret vote. The Adjudicator will publicly tally the votes and carry out judgment.
Any may waive their Right to Trial by confessing their crimes to the public and summarily be found guilty. Should the Accused fail to present themselves to the Trial within a reasonable time, the Trial shall commence in their absence, with the Adjudicator nominating further members of the Jury.
The Right to Challenge
Any have a right to openly challenge another over a grievance, forgoing their Right to Trial. The Challenged may choose not to accept.
The Challenged chooses the weapons or method of a challenge.
The Challenger chooses the initial terms of losing, and the Challenged may add to the terms.
Death resulting from a trial of combat shall not be considered murder.
Results from a Challenge shall be considered final.
Traitorous Intent
Those that commit actions that are blatantly intended upon causing harm to the settlement, and it is judged thusly at a Trial, they shall be labeled as Traitor, their rights under the Accord shall be stripped.
Those that attack the settlement or those within shall be defended against, and their death shall not be considered Murder.
The Sovereignty of a Ship
While out to sea, the captain and crew of a ship shall hold their own counsel and rules. The Accord stretches only as far as the island is still within sight.
The Addendum of Year 2189 – Rise of New Lords
In time, all shall pass, and thus there needs to be a new Lord to oversee the settlement of Dark Harbor.
Upon the passing of a sitting Lord:
One shall lay public claim to the title of Lord, and must remain accessible to the settlement. Any may challenge the claim and call for a Vote.
The position of Lord will always fall under the Right of Challenge.
A sitting Lord may abdicate their position willingly at any time during their reign.