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[mightofdemacia]

Hello hello BNW peeps, someone ICly brought up that the Swords should review Union's laws so they're actually known by all the new refugees, and the mods have said that we can submit some that they can approve to be "offical" for IC use and reference.

Granted I can do this alone, but that's hardly any fun and certainly not accepting input from the rest of you, so please, let's make some laws together! Keep in mind that for accuracy we do need some of the more ridiculous ones that don't make sense, and as such aren't necessarily enforced persay unless there is a sudden and great need.

So that we don't rehash things, currently known laws are the prohibition of murder, theft, assault(with or without a deadly weapon), and Pokémon abuse, but other than that, let's make a thing!

Also, for a lesser thing; do the Swords need actual ranks? I didn't really think so, but thinking about some personality types, they might refer to fellow members by (rank) (Surname) because they're just that stiff.

Comments

[makeitquick]

NOT IN THE SWORDS but if you do get ranks I'd like it on the record that Melaka's older sister who she doesn't talk to ever because of a falling out a few years ago is whatever the second from lowest rank is having been there a few years now. IF anyone wants to know her and/or know of Melaka though her.

I was going to put up a plotting thing about this but I felt silly to do it so I am piggybacking

[mightofdemacia]

Noted, if we do get defined ranks I'll make a note for you for your reference~

[ingoodhans]

This sounds super cool!

I've been thinking about the Swords thing too. Like, what equivalent should we base the ranks on? Generals, Lieutenants... I'm not super knowledgeable about this myself, but I agree that we should definitely come up with some kind of system.

[mightofdemacia]

Well, if we went by the U.S. armed forces, I say that we jokingly could use the formats for Guard(Nazy), Swords(Army) and Rangers(Air Force) perhaps with some modifications. Though I'm also fine with anything personally, including a made up structure as long as everyong agreed to it.

[ingoodhans]

That sounds about right! Haha, we could definitely go with that. I mean this is kinda psuedo-apocalyptic future so it makes enough sense to base it on those. For simplicity's sake, we might be able to just use the same one and combine it, kind of like in Attack on Titan where it's like, a Commander at the head and then whatever below... but as long as we write it down somewhere, it'd probably work no matter what.

[albertstyle]

Wow this would be really really amazingly cool! I think ranks would be an awesome system for all of us and maybe we could get something put on the organization page about said rank, year they joined, ect.

You're awesome for bringing this up!

[ordnungsliebe]

HAHA YEAH Ingrid is definitely the type to refer to others by rank... She was probably just going to refer to everyone more experienced than her as "sir" without some kind of actual system in place, so!! idk I don't know if I have anything to contribute, other than that I approve of this idea.

[footprints_on_your_face]

I'm all for ranks, I think that'll make things fun and also give people a sense of accomplishment when they move up in them.

As for laws, we need to have ridiculous and outdated ones that were possibly a good idea at one time but are now just insane, like everything on this list.

wow i hope any of this is coherent

[revolutionista]

Is Satsuki the reason for that last thought

As for the laws, I'm definitely up for thinking up some! I'll try looking into it tomorrow, when it's not like midnight. I wonder if Union has laws for refugees and such, though, considering it's been thought for a long time that they're the only human settlement around. Though at the same time I could see some laws being established way back when Union was only starting to come around and there was still hope there were people in outlying areas who'd come to the city. And maybe over the years there were people from outside Union, sometimes, who'd come to settle in there, so the laws were kept and maybe even developed a little. I don't know much about immigration laws, but there are probably some restrictions, right? And a probation period, or something. Spend a year or so without committing crimes and you're officially a citizen of Union. Also some sort of integration program/a city tour? To get the new people acquainted with the place and the culture.

I think to think up some of the old ridiculous laws we'd need to know more about the past of Union and what the society used to be like (since iirc a lot of old weird laws are based on nobility privileges and such?). Also just a few notes/guesses: property law probably isn't as developed in Union, seeing as the government/the city apparently owns most buildings and land and most shopping centers and such are not founded by individual enterpreneurs. Criminal law probably also generalizes things, since I don't think it has a high crime rate in general and the moral/religional values (the Savior's teachings) play a pretty big role, so there's no need to develop the system much.

I think one of the old ridiculous laws could have to do with clothes/uniforms. Like, what if the Council members actually have to wear strange intricate robes, maybe with religious undertones. Maybe there's a sort of uniform for everyone. Given how much value is placed upon the strict system of profession division, I wouldn't be surprised if there was actually a sort of dress code. Which everyone eventually came to abandon because it's not practical, and probably only had the point of making a declaration that you are, for example, a Smith.

Ok that's it for now, I can't think of anything much yet. I'll comment again when I'm more awake.

Re: the ranks, I think I remember Void mentioning Swords can be loosely based on the US Navy? So we can probably base the rank system on theirs. Also, on a relevant topic, do we have a uniform for the Swords and other organizations? I imagine the police force would need one to be recognized everywhere. Also, what about weapons, is there some kind of a standard there too? Or is it more of a "grab what you have" system?

[mightofdemacia]

maybe

I am sorry for getting back to this so late, but this is looking pretty good.

As for standard weapons, so far about 9/10ths of the Swords are...well, sword-wielders. If you do not have a weapon and wish for one I think we can issue a non-element standard side-arm style and length blade, but you are more than welcome to bring in your own. I also really like the suggestion for immigrants, and uniforms.

Right now, the Swords don't have an official uniform, so we'll need to find one, and yes I suppose we can adapt from the Navy.

[kaidont]

Idk if it'd fall under "assault," but can we have a strict stance on rape? Since, well, if Union focuses a lot on ~family~ it'd make sense to protect women's ability to build said family instead of ending up with sexual trauma and/or unwanted children that'd make it more difficult to marry/get a family. (ofc it doesn't happen only to women, but a strict stance would be profitatble to everyone)

And with Enlightened around who can have extra ways of coercion, it probably makes sense to have specific things for that too. Being protected in that way would make people feel safer regarding Enlightened, especially when many Enlightened come from noble families that already get free passes more easily. There'd be less resentment that way imo.

[mightofdemacia]

I really like these suggestions! I'm sorry for the late reply, but thank you so much for the input! These are perfect.

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

re: laws

"No use of weather-altering moves within Union." (though good luck proving that it wasn't natural weather)
"The use of Metronome within Union is strictly prohibited."
"It is not permitted to apply air freshener to a Pokémon." (yes, even the incredibly smelly ones)

re: ranks

I think all three groups should have them, though with different tones for each. For example:

Swords:
Trainee/Recruit
Constable/Officer 3rd class (patrol safest areas)
Constable/Officer 2nd class (general patrol)
Constable/Officer 1st class (patrol upper-class/important areas)
Captain (in charge of a squad)
Commissioner (in charge of a station/sector)
Commander (in charge of a department)
High Commander/Supreme Commander (in charge of the swords)

Rangers:
Trainee/Recruit
Ranger 3rd class (missions only within Verdant Forest)
Ranger 2nd class (missions anywhere within signal range)
Ranger 1st class (missions anywhere, even outside of signal range)
Captain (leads multi-person missions)
Commander (in charge of a department)
Executive Commander (in charge of the Rangers)

Guards:
Trainee/Recruit
Private (the grunts)
Sergeant (in charge of a group of guards)
Captain (in charge of a shift on a particular section of wall)
Lieutenant Commander (in charge of a section of wall)
Commander (in charge of a department)
Commander-General (in charge of the Guard)

In general, I feel like the Rangers should have a few very straightforward ranks (they seem like they'd have a fairly flat organization chart), the guards should have military-sounding ranks (or possibly nobler-sounding ones, like "Guardian", "Protector", "Vigilant"), and despite what I wrote above I feel like the Swords should have somewhat pretentious ranks (for example, "Rapier", "Sabre", "Claymore", "Justice-Keeper", "Guider of Proper Morals", "Guardian of Social Order", etc.), but that's a matter of taste.

re: uniforms

Swords: White with a cape and increasing amounts of gold braid as you increase in rank. Dramatic and rather impractical.

Rangers: Green, maybe green and brown, possibly with a camouflage-pattern cloak. I have the thought that the actual uniform isn't the best for field work but they don't mind too much what members wear unless it's a formal occasion; I think they'd be more interested in the work that gets done rather than how you look doing it.

Guards: Probably something military-style, maybe in black and gray, with the same attention to detail as the US Army.

Council: I like the idea above of the council having a traditional costume. Heavy, voluminous robes that can obviously be worn for nothing besides sitting and talking.

[bravenewmods]

I originally envisioned the Council to dress similarly to American justices, so use the Supreme Court as a general visual guide for them.

[bravenewmods]

Regarding the ranks: Basically the Rangers are most closely related to the American Air Force, the Guard is most closely related to the Army or National Guard, and the Swords of the Savior the Marine Corps.

In terms of thematic representation, Rangers draw inspiration from the D&D class that they share a name with as well as the actual Pokemon Rangers that appear in the games. They are meant to seem a freer group that still maintain order and discipline as per the military but have a lot of autonomy to do their jobs. The Guard draw inspiration from the Crab Clan from Legend of the Five Rings, they are steadfast and resolute protecting Union from everyone (but also generally seen as somewhat uncouth and low-class by everyone else). Guardsmen are typically thought of as solid and probably dependable, but also tend to be thought of as a bit brutish and stupid in some respects. They also get paid the least which reinforces the "low-class" image. The Swords of the Savior are based more on the Paladin/Templar/Inquisitor orders from various works of fiction. Usually high class and often seen as imperious and in some cases "above the law". Usually not terribly well liked by the commoners but also seen as higher class and nobler.