How To Fulfil Your Virtuous Duty in Synod

A useful reference from the MONKS of PICKHAM, by Brother MARTIN ORCHARD.
As a Priest of the Synod, you are a Steward of VIRTUE. This is a basic guide to the Synod’s function and powers, suitable for new Synod members or as a swift reference. For finer details consult the Archives, or a Civil Servant.

### **Tribune of the Synod**

This title is usually shared by several Civil Servants at  any one time. The Tribune’s duty is to ensure the smooth running of the Synod’s business. They may veto any judgment thought to be  similar to an existing Judgement, harmful to the good standing of the Synod, or legally invalid. As of Summer 383YE, the office of Tribune is held by the Civil Servants Al, Kiersten, Leonardo and Teagan.

### **Right of Witness**

* You may enter official MILITARY COUNCIL, SENATE, CONCLAVE, or BOURSE meetings. This includes Grandmaster elections, regardless of  your Order.
* You may not interfere with or speak over the proceedings.

### **Clemency**

* You may plead Clemency for a criminal. They must plead GUILTY.
* If you can prove they took the only Virtuous action available to them, their sentence should be reduced or waived by the Magistrate.
* Best practice is to argue based on a single Virtue, and not to treat the case as a check-list.
* You should show the culprit “had their back to the wall”, and that to obey the law would have meant abandoning Virtue at that moment.

### **Sanctuary**

* If on Consecrated ground, you may grant a CITIZEN ONE HOUR of sanctuary from pursuit by the officers of the law.
* This is traditionally used to enable a Clemency case to be put together.
* You are legally responsible for their actions for the course of that hour.

### **Judgement**

* You may Raise ONE judgment per summit. Certain titles may grant specific extra judgements.
* You must name the power, target and Assembly used.
* You may vote on any Judgement raised by an Assembly you are a member of.
* Unless otherwise stated, Judgments require a LESSER Majority, where MORE votes are cast for than against.
* A GREATER Majority requires more than half of the Assembly’s total votes to have been cast FOR the Judgement.
* Voting on current motions closes at specific Scrutiny deadlines set by the Civil Service.
* You must pick a deadline for close of vote that is at least three hours away unless:
	+ You have a GREATER Majority of the Assembly physically present (Primacy).
	+ OR the Judgement requires a Greater Majority.

### **Appointment**

* Will be raised by a Tribune of the Synod if a Synod-Appointed Title is vacant and a Synod Priest requests an Appointment.

* Priests may vote for any name on the Judgement, or ask to have their own name added.

### **Change of Doctrine**

* Will change the official Doctrine of the Way of Virtue.
* Requires a GREATER majority of the GENERAL Assembly
* Foreign followers of the Way or similar practices may adopt this or reject this. They will not, however, ignore it.
* Failure to pass may be interpreted by Imperial Citizens as a rejection of the idea by the Synod.

### **Inquisition**

* You will have ONE HOUR in which to question an individual over their Virtue or lack thereof. Multiple individuals may be named if they share a Banner, Sect or Coven.
* The subject(s) may choose to leave at any point after the hour has passed.
* You must arrange a time with the target, and it must be REASONABLE.
* Choosing an implausible time is grounds for  an ABUSE OF POWERS case.
* Wilful failure to attend is SUBVERTING THE AGENCIES OF THE STATE.
* NATIONAL Assemblies may call only their Nation’s Citizens to Inquisition.
* Other Assemblies may call anyone, but VIRTUE assemblies should be mindful that the case relates to their Virtue.
* Any individual may only be called to Inquisition once per Summit. They are not obliged to attend further Inquisitions, but may choose to do so.
* You may escalate an Inquisition to a Sanction. The Tribune will raise this Judgement on your behalf, it does not count as a second Judgement for yourself.
* The Virtue Inquisitors and Imperial Inquisitor are responsible for ensuring Inquisition is used appropriately and for coordinating with the Magistrates and Militia.

### **Sanction**

* Used to publicise Virtue and punish Vice or Religious Crimes. Has four types:

#### **Vindication**

* The target is declared innocent of any accusations of unvirtuous acts that have been levelled against them. It may also be used to formally laud the subject.

#### **Penance**

* Penance is used where the assembly believes the subject to have engaged in both virtuous and unvirtuous behaviour. The Judgement should recommend how they should correct their unvirtuous behaviour.

#### **Castigation**

* A judgement of castigation indicates that the target is believed by the assembly to be guilty of unvirtuous deeds and nature and is formally rebuked for them.

#### **Condemnation**

* Condemnation is used where the assembly is satisfied that an individual is guilty of committing a religious crime.
* The priest who brought the motion of condemnation is responsible for ensuring that the magistrates are informed and the case is presented to them.

### **Mandate**

* Authorises a Priest to conduct large-scale preaching and Aura placing in response to an opportunity identified by Civil Servants.

### **Recognition**

* Names an individual as a Paragon or Exemplar.
* Requires a GREATER Majority in a VIRTUE Assembly and the GENERAL Assembly.
* Must identify the nominee, explicitly state whether they are a Paragon or an Exemplar and which signs of the paragon and exemplar they have met.

### **Revocation**

* Must name an individual and an Imperial title that they hold.
* Removes that individual from their Imperial Title position.

* VIRTUE  assemblies may revoke a position appointed by that assembly.
* NATIONAL assemblies may revoke national Senate, Synod or Military Council positions.
* The ASSEMBLY OF NINE may revoke any Imperial or national position in the Senate, Synod or Military Council, except the Throne.
* The General Assembly may revoke any Imperial or national position in the Senate, Synod or Military Council, including the Throne.

### **Rewarding**

* Grant a sum of money from the Virtue Fund to an individual.
* The judgement must specify an individual to be Rewarded and a sum to Reward them with.
* It is possible to proclaim the virtue of a group, and name one of them to receive the funds.
* The Synod cannot go into debt. If there are insufficient funds to pay the reward, the recipient is given all the funds currently held by the Synod.
* If multiple rewards are upheld at the same time then allocation starts with the earliest judgement raised until the Fund is empty or all endowments have been disbursed.

### **Statement of Principle**

* Publicly declares the Synod’s opinion on a subject. Is not binding.
* A Statement with a GREATER Majority will be widely communicated and may affect wider opinion across the Empire.

### **Veto**

* The Synod may Veto ONE Senate motion per Summit.
* Additionally it may Veto ANY Senate motion requiring a Constitutional Vote.
* Requires a Greater Majority of the General Assembly
* A Veto must be submitted at the same summit where the motion was passed, and before the start of the next Senate session.

### **Writ of Excommunication**

* The target immediately loses any Imperial title they currently hold.
* They may hold no other national or Imperial position.
* Ceremonies performed on them are exempt from any investigation.
* The Synod may claim any money the target possesses when the writ is delivered.
* Requires a Greater Majority of the General Assembly.

### **Assembly Membership**

All Synod Priests are Members of three assemblies:

#### **National Assembly:**

* Contains all Synod Priests of your Nation.
* A Statement of Principle with a GREATER Majority may influence Pilgrims of your Nation after the Summit.

#### **Virtue Assembly:**

* Contains all Synod Priests dedicated to that Virtue.
* The Assembly of the Way contains all Synod Priests who are undedicated.
* A Statement of Principle with a GREATER Majority will do little.

#### **General Assembly:**

* Contains all Synod Priests.
* A Statement of Principle with a GREATER Majority will be heard by followers of the Way in the Empire and perhaps beyond.

#### **The Assembly of Nine**

* consists of the eight Cardinals and the Throne.

* Each has one vote, the Throne may break a tie.
* Statements of Principle by them carry little weight in the wider world.