The Code of Comport

I. Definitions and Principles

A. The Code of Comport is the collection of the rules of etiquette and participation that govern the interactions between the residents of Edlhus

B. They are created and maintained by the Patriarch, with the advice of the Bishops

C. They are the basis for awarding and deducting House Points

D. They guide the regional Role Play

II. House Points

A. House Points are awarded and deducted from each Great House by the Patriarch based on his application and interpretation of the Code of Comport

B. House Points may be awarded or deducted as a result of any action within Edlhus of a House as a whole or of an individual member of a House

C. The Patriarch will maintain a public Ledger of House Points

D. House Points are a major determiner of Precedence

E. Each Great House starts with zero House Points when it joins Edlhus

F. The Patriarch may reconsider the awarding or deducting of certain House Points at his discretion

G. At the beginning of each month, House Points are reset to zero, however the Patriarch will also keep a record of cumulative
House Points for each of the Houses.

H. Cumulative House Points will be used if needed to break ties in determining eligibility to stand for election to Imperator or for
purposes of Precedence.

III. Precedence

A. Houses

1. The Imperator’s House is always the House of First Precedence
2. The Patriarch’s House is always the House of Second Precedence
3. The Precedence of all of the other Great Houses is determined by their House Point total and is updated monthly
4. Lesser Houses, those that have been in existence for less than a year, always rank below the lowest ranked Great House

B. Individuals

1. An individual’s Precedence is determined by their own House, according to its own rules, with several caveats
a. The Imperator is always ranked first in their House
b. The Patriarch is always ranked first in their House
c. An individual’s Precedence may never rise above that of its House or sink below that of its House
2. An individual who is not a member of a House, but maintains a World Assembly nation in Edlhus and endorses the Imperator, has a Precedence just below that of the lowest ranked Great House
3. An individual who is not a member of a House and does not maintain a World Assembly nation in Edlhus that is endorsing the Imperator has the lowest Precedence
4. All Houses are required to maintain a current ranking of their members, even if everyone in a House is considered to be of the same rank, on file with the Patriarch

C. Order of Precedence

In descending Order of Precedence these are: Imperator, Patriarch, a member of the Imperator’s House, a member of the Patriarch’s House, the Chancellor of the Great Houses, members of the Great Houses by House Points, Bishop, a member of a Lesser House or a Knight/Dame (these are of equal Precedence), Freemen, everyone else

IV. Titles and Forms of Address

A. The monarch, executive, and World Assembly Delegate of Edlhus

1. Title: Imperator
2. Form of address: Your/His/Her/Their Majesty
3. When an Imperator leaves office, they are entitled to precede whatever title they currently hold with Venerable.

B. The Founder of Edlhus

1. Title: Patriarch
2. Form of address: Your/His Eminence

C. The Head of any other Great House may use the styling of High before their usual title and form of address, such as High Landgraf and Her High Ladyship

D. The Chancellor of the Great Houses

1. Title: Lord/Lady/Noble Chancellor
2. Form of address: My/The Lord/Lady/Noble Chancellor

E. A member of the Imperator’s House

1. Title: Prince/Princess/Principe
2. Form of address form one of higher or equal Precedence: Prince/Princess/Principe
3. Form of address from one of lower Precedence: Your/His/Her/Their Highness

F. A member of the Patriarch’s House

1. Title: Duke/Duchess/Duca
2. Form of address from one of higher or equal Precedence: Duke/Duchess/Duca
3. Form of address from one of lower Precedence: Your/His/Her/Their Grace

G. A member of the House of Third Precedence

1. Title: Marquis/Marchioness/Marchese
2. Form of address from one of higher or equal Precedence: Marquis/Marchioness/Marchese
3. Form of address from one of lower Precedence: Your/His/Her/Their Lordship/Ladyship

H. A member of the House of Fourth Precedence

1. Title: Count/Countess/Conte
2. Form of address from one of higher or equal Precedence: Count/Countess/Conte
3. Form of address from one of lower Precedence: Your/His/Her/Their Lordship/Ladyship

I. A member of the House of Fifth Precedence

1. Title: Baron/Baroness/Barone
2. Form of address from one of higher or equal Precedence: Baron/Baroness/Barone
3. Form of address from one of lower Precedence: Your/His/Her/Their Lordship/Ladyship

J. A member of any other Great House

1. Title: Landgraf/Landgrafin/Patrizio
2. Form of address from one of higher or equal Precedence: Landgraf/Landgrafin/Patrizio
3. Form of address from one of lower Precedence: Your/His/Her/Their Lordship/Ladyship

K. A Bishop

1. Title: Bishop
2. Form of address from the Imperator or the Patriarch: Bishop
3. Form of address from all others: Your/His/Her/Their Excellency

L. A member of a Lesser House

1. Title: Burggraf/Burggrafin/Noble
2. Form of address from one of higher or equal Precedence: Burggraf/Burggrafin/Noble
3. Form of address from one of lower Precedence: Sir/Ma’am

M. An individual who is not a member of a House, but maintains a World Assembly nation in Edlhus and endorses the Imperator

1. Title: Knight/Dame
2. Form of address: Sir/Dame

N. A foreign ambassador

1. Title: Lord/Lady Ambassador
2. Form of address: Lord/Lady Ambassador

V. Lauds
These are the good deeds and exemplary behaviors that may result in the awarding of House Points

A. Minor Lauds
Those actions awarded with 1-5 House Points

1. Being a good neighbor
2. Participation in a regional event
3. Placing in a contest
4. Actively participating in a department
5. Promoting the region appropriately
6. Maintaining a WA nation in the region and endorsing the Imperator
7. Recommendation of the Imperator
8. Recommendation of the Great Houses

B. Major Lauds
Those actions awarded with 6-20 House Points

1. Leading a department
2. Serving as a Bishop
3. Planning and executing an event
4. Innovating
5. Recommendation of the Imperator
6. Recommendation of the Great Houses

VI. Censures
These are the missteps and unacceptable behaviors that may result in the deduction of House Points

A. Minor Censures
Those actions resulting in a deduction of 1-5 House Points

1. Rudeness
2. Not using proper form of address
3. Being OOC in an IC area
4. Spam
5. Removing a WA nation from the region without good cause
6. Unendorsing the Imperator
7. Sentence recommendation of a trying Patriarch or Bishop
8. Recommendation of the Imperator
9. Recommendation of the Great Houses

B. Major Censures
Those actions resulting in a deduction of 6-20 House Points

1. Trolling
2. Flamebaiting
3. Posting non-PG13 content
4. Leaking information from a closed area or direct message
5. Sentence recommendation of a trying Patriarch or Bishop
6. Recommendation of the Imperator
7. Recommendation of the Great Houses

VII. Amendments
Only the Patriarch may alter, subtract, or add to the Code of Comport. However, any change proposed may be vetoed by a unanimous vote of all of the Bishops