Gothic Law (Membership, Code of Conduct and IC Regional Law)

The Laws of Gholgoth
Regional Membership and Code of Conduct for the Nationstates Region of Gholgoth

Code of Conduct
This Code of Conduct applies to all players interacting with Gholgoth either gameside, on the nationstates forums, and in our Discord server.

• Conversations about politics in relation to current events are prohibited save for specifically marked channels. However, discussing history, philosophy, economics, and theology is an intrinsic part of NS world building. Therefore, the line being drawn requires nuance. The dividing fissure will focus on people delving into contemporary issues effectively.

• Gothic Moderators have the right to kick users who are spamming, engaging in a tirade against another user, or knowingly inflaming tensions.

• Users who return and continue the same behavior can be banned from the Gothic Discord server for 24 or 48 hours.

• All users are encouraged to contact a Gothic moderator in the event that they are receiving hostile or harassing messages from another person on the server. Persons found engaging in such behavior can expect warnings, temporary bans, and access to the server denied entirely depending on the severity of the incident.

• Individuals who ignore Gothic moderator instructions can be kicked and temporarily banned

• All content must be safe for work which essentially means no sexually explicit posts and keeping language to reasonable levels. Gothic moderators have the final judgment in these matters.

• Do not seek to wantonly belittle, demean, or insult other users.

• Try your best to keep certain discussions to their relevant channels.

• A large number of members have their own channels and they are generally allowed to set the allowed topics.

• If the above is unclear, just know that if you are an a-hole we will ban you without hesitation.

Enforcability:

• Moderators generally collaborate before making a decision. However, each moderator has the right to ban a user from the server to resolve an immediate problem.

• For the Gholgoth discord server, violations of these rules will result in moderator actions (from kicking from the server to outright bans) at the discretion of the moderators.

• In extreme cases, Gothic moderators will report users to Discord and will take any and all active measures to bar their participation in the Nationstates community.

• On gameside, violations will result in players being reported to nationstates moderation.

• Gothic moderators reserve the right to preemptively ban a player from the discord server if violations of norms are observed in other nationstates roleplaying regions.

Disagreements:
There may be times when players disagree and get heated. While these may not be outright violations of the Code of Conduct, moderators may mute players or place them in an isolated channel for a cooling off period.

Discord Membership

• Membership to the Discord server is restricted to active or recently active nationstates members. Players must confirm their nation name on gameside before being allowed to see channels.

• Trusted nations that are not in the Gothic region will be given a Dresnalard (Outsider) role on the server with access to most channels and the ability to post images. Promotion to this role must be approved by the moderation team.

• Nations within the region are given a Gothic Lord role with access to all channels.

• Moderators will be added in order to maintain positive control of the server at all times. Moderators can add a member via majority vote of the current moderators. Moderators must be members of the Gholgoth region gameside.

Membership in the Gholgoth Region

• Active members are defined as players with an active nation in the Gholgoth region and have been approved for membership by a vote of current members. In character, this is defined as the Gothic Council. Active members must maintain a nation in the region on gameside.

• Inactive members are defined as players who have a nation in Gholgoth that has ceased to exist due to inactivity gameside. Inactive members may become active members with no penalty by simply resurrecting their nation and moving back to the region.

• Active members have the right to vote on new members as well as any resolution brought before the Gothic Council in character. Active members may make a claim for territory on the Gothic Map through the Regional Cartographer.

• World Assembly membership is optional, but nations are encouraged to have a WA member nation endorse the delegate for gameside regional security.

• If a player leaves the Gothic region, their membership and their territorial claims are forfeit. Moving a puppet nation to the region is sufficient to maintain membership, but that nation must inform the Gothic Council.

• Players may resign their membership at any time by posting to the RMB or Discord and leaving the region. If a player resigns from the region, they must reapply to become a member.

Voting Procedure for New Members or Resolutions

• An active member may nominate any active nation for membership. This nomination must be seconded by another active member.

• Once seconded, a moderator will open the vote for one week. Voting will take place on Discord using a poll and all active members are eligible to vote. Members may vote YES, NO, or PRESENT.

• To become a member, a candidate either needs A) The majority of active membership to vote yes or B) A simple majority of those voting after the vote closes.

• Example: If there are 20 active members a candidate needs 11 members voting yes.

• Example: If after a week, there are 8 yes votes and 2 no votes and 4 voting present.. The candidate is granted membership.

• An active member may propose a resolution. This nomination must be seconded by another active member.

• Once seconded, a moderator will open the vote for one week. Voting will take place on Discord using a poll and all active members are eligible to vote. Members may vote YES, NO, or PRESENT.

• To pass a resolution, a resolution either needs A) The majority of active membership to vote yes or B) A simple majority of those voting after the vote closes.

• Example: If there are 20 active members a resolution needs 11 members voting yes.

• Example: If after a week, there are 8 yes votes and 2 no votes and 4 voting present.. The resolution passes.

In Character Rules (The Gothic Reforms)
The region of Gholgoth has its own regional treaty that establishes regional norms and governance structure. These are in character agreements, but players are not bound to them and may spurn them for narrative purposes as they wish.

Section A: The Gothic Praetors

Gothic Praetor are extralegal agents with diplomatic immunity accountable only to the Gothic Council and are charged with maintaining stability and security in the region. They are afforded diplomatic immunity and the right to enter any nation in Gholgoth as part of missions authorized by the Gothic Lords. Praetors are not trained, they are chosen by the Gothic Lords based on an individual’s service record, character, and trust.

Gothic Praetors serve at the pleasure of the Council and their status can be revoked at anytime. A Praetor Mission must have the approval of the Council before deployment. This is seen as a measure that’s above a sanction, but below a full military mobilization.

Praetor may act alone or assemble their own teams. They do not receive funding through the Council, but must raise their own funds. In practice, militaries of their home nations often provide salaries and equipment.

Praetors are only activated during times of declared crisis. Praetors may be inducted into the ranks at anytime, but the Gothic Council decides which Praetors to activate during a crisis. When the Lords declare a crisis over; the Praetor is deactivated. Praetors maintain their rank and resources in order to stay at a constant state of readiness.

The enactment of this reform would be as follows:

• Each Gothic Lord submits two names from their nation for consideration to become Praetors

• Initially, one Praetor per nation is selected.

• Upon a crisis, the Council may authorize a Praetor mission

• Whenever possible, a Praetor from a third party will be assigned

• Praetor would be granted offices in Gothic Embassies located in each nation.

• When deployed outside the region; they act with the authority of the region and not just their nation. This is a preferable option than mounting an invasion fleet or dealing with an invasion fleet.

Section B: The Executor of the Gothic Alliance

The Executor of the Gothic Alliance, traditionally, had always been the ruling member of the Dreadfire Dynasty of Automagfreek. The Freekish, and the Freekish alone, were the only nation in the whole of the region who could enforce their will over all others with the threat of force. Thus, the system - as simple as it was - worked. However, the Freekish have now fallen silent, and the Alliance has become decadent and unruly.

A new shepherd is needed to lead the flock, to serve as a voice and a face to rally behind when the Alliance is under threat.

The Executor of the Gothic Council is responsible for chairing the meetings of the Gothic Lords during emergency sessions and for executing the will of the Council. Upon arrival of the Lords at the designated time, the Lords will first vote to declare a crisis. If a crisis is declared, the Lords will nominate and elect one member to be the Executor. This Executor will serve for one year or until the majority of Lords declare the crisis over. Additionally, A vote of no confidence can be passed against the Executor through a two-thirds majority of the Lords, which will then convene an Emergency Session and elect a successor.

During meetings; the Executor does not vote nor argue for/against positions. The Executor is considered a neutral authority. This implies that Lords whose nations are directly involved in the crisis are not eligible for nomination.

During a Crisis; the Executor manages the operation of the Praetor program including mission assignments, routing intelligence reports, parameters, and briefing the other Lords.

Section C:The Gothic Capital: Pax Gothica, Dreadfire Isles

Currently, all Lords must meet in ULE City despite the absence of a Dreadfire.

The Skyans propose constructing a new city at the center of the region that would serve as the capital of the region. This city would be extranational territory - funded and managed by the designates of the Gothic Lords. Every nation in the region would have a mission district that would be the territory of their nation. At the center of this city would be the Dreadfire District - which would hold the offices of the Gothic Lords, the Council Chamber, and the Airport/Naval Ports.

Location & Geography
The location would be in the center of the region using the Dreadfire Isles created by Novacom during a previous conflict. The islands are small, being roughly 22 square miles. The central region runs through the center of the island, with square shaped districts being on either side. The airport is at the end of the island.

The Castellan of Pax Gothica
The Dreadfire District would be administered by the Castellan of Pax Gothica - An administrative agent appointed by the Gothic Council charged with maintaining the city, the Council Chambers, and ensuring the ability of the Gothic Lords to meet whenever they desire. The Castellan shall be provided a budget from each Gothic Lords in order to maintain the city including the hiring of staff and funding of infrastructure. A portion of this budget will come from sales tax charged by the various districts in Pax Gothica. Castellan’s serve a term of four years unless retired by the Council earlier.

Section D: Phelgethon, Gothica and Pandaemonium

Phelgethon and Pandaemonium are two fortresses that serve to coordinate regional forces from both external threats and to aid in the enforcement of actions mandated by the Gothic Council. They also serve as training facilities for Praetors.

Phelgethon will be located in Gholghant. The other deep within the Tartarus Mountains in Kylarnatia. Gothica would be located in the center at the Dreadfire Isles.

Amendments
These rules, both gameside and in-character, may be altered by passing a resolution.