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It has
come up several times that The Order of the Roc should have a code of chivalry
to follow. Historically these codes have varied from order to order and
knight to knight and I feel that in modern times a code is very personal.
Rather than teach students a list of key words and catch phrases I have
decided to write this, my own personal code, which should serve any student
well until they are experienced enough to tailor it to their own personality
and needs.
The sections of this code are in order of importance. If two precepts of the code conflict, which will occasionally happen, the knight or student should follow the precept that is listed first. 1. Loyalty Loyalty is the most important part of chivalry. The rules of chivalry can not be obeyed blindly or they will twist like a snake in the hand. If one is loyal to the code it will serve him well. The first loyalty is to your duty. This can mean different things to different knights, but whatever you feel is your duty must come before all other concerns. The one duty that all modern knights share is the protection of the helpless. Even with the modern police force and legal system there are people who are not protected. Our first duty is to protect these people, whatever the danger. We must especially remember this when we are facing an adversary that can not be taken down with a sword. The second loyalty is to those that you love and who love you whether they be family, friends or any other relationship. These are the people who will support you when you are weak and ready to fall. The third loyalty is to the code of chivalry, whether it is the code I am putting down here or your own personal version. The fourth loyalty is to your order. In our case this is the Order of the Roc, but this also applies to any other orders you belong to, such as a church or religion. 2. Nobility To be noble is not to be superior to anyone. Nobility is a bearing that is easiest to attain when you treat every living thing with respect. You have a code that you follow. This code ensures that you will never be inferior to another. It also ensures that you will never be superior. Every person, from beggar to CEO is your equal. Every living thing from ant to horse is your equal. Truly treat them as such and you will be seen as noble. Show self control at all times. Losing control to your base emotions such as anger and fear not only makes you look bad to those who see you but also gives those emotions a control over you. Nobody respects a man who is raving from anger. Protect the helpless, whether they are deserving of it or not. All have their own voice and all voices should be heard. Administer justice. In the modern world this can, and usually should, be accomplished by informing the police or authorities. Still, there is sometimes a difference between what is legal and what is right. In the end you must answer to your own moral code. Revenge is not justice, although they are easy to confuse. Be careful in your applications. Respect proper authority, it will make your job much easier. This also applies to following the law of the land wherever possible. Take into account the desire and self respect of those who you wish to help. Do not offer help where it is not wanted. Doing so saps your energy while building resentment against you from those very same people you are insisting on helping. 3. Pacifism You might have a hard time seeing why this is important in the code of a warrior. It was not historically found in western chivalry, but is more important than ever in a modern code. Simply put once you resort to violence there are no other alternatives. You can not expect your opponent to be reasonable. You can not expect him to listen to you. You can not expect outside observers to see you as a defender instead of an aggressor. You can not expect the law to support you. You can never expect any of these things ever again. Violence is absolutely the last resort. Once violence occurs there are only a few responses. Attack, retreat, defend, fortify, parlay, surrender or die. This is the order that most people will react in. However, you should always assume the response that is the worst for you. The knight should, as a general guide, respond in the following order; parlay, defend, fortify, retreat, attack, surrender or die. You must not always respond to violence with violence, even though most people will. Declaring peace is an excellent way to really confuse and frighten your enemy. Mercy is nobility. As a final note your definition of violence should not be restricted to physical violence. Instead violence is any way of making somebody do something against their will (black mail, threats, court orders) or taking something away from someone that they are not willing to part with (theft, graft, confidence games). Obviously it is not appropriate to respond to all forms of violence. You don’t defend a speeder from a police officer writing him a ticket. Use this definition to choose your own actions, not to judge the actions of others. 4. Valor Fear is the worst enemy you have. You must face your fears or you will fail as a knight and as a person. You will eventually have to fight enemies stronger than yourself. Revel in this; face it with courage. Not only will it impress observers; it may very well intimidate your enemy and give you the edge you need to succeed. Fighting without a reason is useless and may be dangerous. You should only fight when there is a cause, such as defending the weak. Martial training is an excellent discipline; this should not be confused with true fighting. 5. Honor The knight can fight many injustices in the world but in the end the greatest fight is to lead by example. All of the good that you do can be wiped away in a moment’s dishonor. Remember respect for all life. Deal fairly with all that you meet. Always keep your word of honor, your promises and your pledges. Never betray a confidence or a friend. Avoid lying and cheating when possible. Never attack the helpless except to defend others and even then only if absolutely necessary. You are a trained fighter, any who are not are helpless compared to you. Treat others fairly and fight by the concepts of fair play. Give all others the chance to treat you with honor. However, if an opponent fights you without honor then you are no longer bound to fight fairly against him. To attempt such makes your very strengths into weaknesses. 6. Courtesy Always treat others with respect, even your enemies. In the end all are your equals. Exhibit manners. Be polite, attentive and kindly. Other Codes of Chivalry A Modern Code of Chivalry
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