Guiding duties and regulations of Her Holy Seraph's Paladin Order
Regulation 1A - The Paladin Order is charged with the security of Varla’s faithful, the integrity of her scriptures, the sanctity of her holy places, and the enforcement of Church Law. In pursuance of these duties they are permitted two primary privileges: the privilege of arms, and the privilege to deputize. They are also afforded the discretion to carry out actions in accordance with the following regulations in pursuance of these duties, to include the use of force and arrest.
Regulation 1B - The Paladin Order is charged to prevent and prosecute blasphemy when and wherever it may occur. Blasphemies may include but are not limited to: falsehoods or misrepresentation of Valra, occult claims or unfounded gossip pertaining to riftspawn or fey, profanity toward scripture, any heretical claims, conversation with riftspawn or fey except in cases authorized by the Priestly Order. These acts are considered particularly egregious when performed in or around a holy place.
Regulation 1C - The Paladin Order is charged to prevent and prosecute sacrilege when and wherever it may occur. Sacrilege may include but is not limited to: violation of sanctity laws - such as those noted in regulation 3B and 3C, violence in or around a holy place - except in enforcement of sanctity laws, vandalization of holy places or scripture, dealings in the occult or riftspawn, druidic practice in or near a holy place, arcane practice in a holy place unless otherwise authorized, and disorderly conduct in or near a holy place.
Regulation 1D - The Paladin Order is subservient to and outranked by the Priestly Order, however a paladin is charged with the enforcement of Church law, and ordained Priests are no exception to those laws. Church law supersedes any other law or regulation.
Regulation 1E - A paladin must adhere to the local laws of any anointed nation (including but not limited to: Astalore, Salvatoria, Stormbreak, and the Vefali Sultanate,) and are to assist in the enforcement of those laws whenever called to do so, so long as these actions do not in any way contradict Church Law or these regulations.
Regulation 1F - A paladin is to use the minimum force necessary to accomplish their duties, however lethal force is permitted at a paladin’s discretion, unless otherwise directed by a ranking Church official. An offender refusing to comply with arrest is grounds for escalation of force, up to and including lethal measures.
Regulation 1G - A paladin must report and disclose any incident in which lethal force is used to their commander.
Regulation 2A - A paladin may deputize a lay person faithful to Valra as Church militia in pursuance of their duties, or to maintain the security of a temple, tabernacle, ceremony, or settlement. Deputies must be of low birth or disinherited, willing, in good standing with the Church, unaffiliated with any heretical organizations, and must not be called to face justice by the legitimate Monarch of any anointed nation.
Regulation 2B - When appropriate, compensation may be requisitioned from the Church Treasury to provide for the welfare of Church Militia deputies and their dependents. In cases where a Paladin is assigned to a local perish or temple, their compensation request should be directed to the local treasury.
Regulation 2C - A serf may be deputized as a member of the Church milItia. A serf deputized this way is permitted freedom of travel and afforded permission to carry arms. In these cases compensation is to be provided to their landlord sufficient to cover lost rents and revenues for the duration of their absence.
Regulation 3A - A paladin’s privilege of arms permits them the possession of any sword, dagger, bow, crossbow, axe, warhammer, or scythe, and provides them the inexorable right to carry those arms in pursuance of their duties, except in cases when the privilege of a host, or security of a legitimate noble of an anointed nation, supersedes that privilege.
Regulation 3B - Temples, and Tabernacles are places sacred to Valra, no person may carry a weapon within these sanctified areas unless otherwise permitted. Those permitted include: an ordained paladin of any rank, the Keeper of Valra’s Holy Church in accordance with their duties, members of Valra’s Celestial Host, the Praetor of Valra’s Holy Church, an affirmed provident of Valra’s Holy Church, any individual wielding Retterbrand or Blitzmund, a monarch of an anointed nation, Inquisitors with written authorization acting in accordance with their duties, or members of the Church militia with the permission of the Paladin Order acting in accordance with their duties.
Regulation 3C - A sanctified occasion may be declared by an ordained Bishop or priest of greater rank, or by a priest authorized by a Bishop or priest of greater rank, in respect to the following: weddings, funerals, memorial services, coronations, or ordinations. By Church law - under pain of arrest and imprisonment, all hostilities and prosecutions - with the exception of those pertaining to blasphemy and sacrilege, are to be suspended for the duration of the occasion, and for a brief period before and afterwards to provide for secure arrival and departure. This protection extends to the nearest major land border, fortification affiliated with a given party, or to the boarding of an affiliated seaborne ship. (Not to include dinghies or trivial floatation devices.)
Regulation 3D - Gambling and prostitution are forbidden within a tabarnacle or holy place. The exchange of large sums of money or property are prohibited in a tabernacle or holy place with the exceptions of gifts, dowries, or inheritances at weddings, coronations, or charitable causes, or in otherwise designated areas.
Regulation 4A - In accordance with the “Vindication,” the Church recognizes the judicial independence of the Celestial Militant and its leadership.
Regulation 4B - Special exemptive status is afforded the Celestial Militant and its leadership. Unless otherwise authorized, the Paladin Order may not prosecute, search or seize, or attempt to detain the members of the above organization unless the offense is committed within a temple or tabernacle, or would violate the sanctity of those places.
Regulation 4C - The Paladin Order is not to interfere with the activities of the Celestial Militant and its leadership unless their actions would constitute sacrilege within a Holy Place.
Regulation 4D - In accordance with the “Vindication,” regulation 4A through 4D, as well as the corresponding sections of the Inquisitor and Priestly codes, are to be referred to as the “Vindication.”
Regulation 5A - The Paladin Order must abide by the Wise Laws of Valra’s Church:
Murder is forbidden.
Heinous acts of cruelty or perversion are forbidden.
Theft and forgery are forbidden.
Speak the truth, and do not commit perjury.
Keep no slaves, nor debtors in perpetuity.
Honor your lords and subjects alike.
Forsake the old weapons.
Seek not the rift.
Serve the people of Valra.