War Codex

The War Codex is a collection of manuscripts that was written by throughout the history of the Northern Arm. The manuscripts were created by priestly scholars who had reflected on the application of Ushean religion.

Purpose

The War Codex was written to provide worldly leaders with concrete guidelines for warfare that could receive the blessing of Ush. These guidelines range from codes of conduct on the battlefield to the proper way to treat captives, and from theories about which reasons for war are justified to practical advice on peace negotiations.

Document Structure

Clauses

The War Codex is divided into the following sections:

• Nourishing Peace
• Preparing for War
• Valor and Leadership
• The Righteous Fighter
• Hostile Relations
• Chivalry and Negotiation
• Dividing the Spoils

Publication Status

The oldest known copy of the War Codex is currently held in the the Lord's Armoury in Arkos and is publicly accessible.

Legal status

The War Codex is a constitutional document for the Northern Church of Ush and therefore also foundational for the Fist of Ush. The Kingdom of Laeryll recognizes the divine and moral status of the document and Laeryllian laws have been greatly influenced by it.

Historical Details

Background

The War Codex originated soon after the War of the Sisters, an extended conflict on the Northern Arm that had led to great atrocities. This was a time when new political unions were formed, especially among the humans who had suffered greatly from Morsyana's reign, and when the power of older unions had shifted.

History

Ush, the god of war, valor, law and justice, inspired many tenets that related to just warfare. However, these tenets and the occasional remarks by Ushean oracles were often easily misunderstood by worldly leaders. In 43 LC, clergy of Ush from all corners of the Northern Arm and from The Porcupine gathered in Lloridan, Zhai, to formulate a clear guiding set of principles on behalf of their deity.
Their meeting only served as a demonstration of the problem, however, as theological differences between the different priests became clear. At the end of the event, the priests agreed that they would spend five years to think about and argue for their position, and meet again in Lloridan.
Five years later, in 48 LC, the clergy presented long treatised and held extended discussions. Ideas clashed and merged and slowly but surely, a set of ideas took shape that would evolve into the War Codex during the next decade. In 72 LC, the collective clergy from countless cults of Ush voted on a final text, that would become foundational for a new organization, the Northern Church of Ush, in which many cults, monasteries and other forms of Ushean religion would be represented.

Public Reaction

The public at large was mostly unaware of the formation of the War Codex, and those who knew about it were sceptical that one could make rules for war. The geopolitical players were concerned, not so much about the content of the War Codex, but about the idea that a religious organization that spanned the Northern Arm was being founded.

Legacy

The War Codex led to the foundation of the Northern Church of Ush, which in due time developed as a key political player, which united humans, elves, dwarves, and other species that revered Ush from across the Northern Arm. The War Codex serves a constitutional role in this organization and has had the effect of harmonizing many of the different religious factions dedicated to Ush.

Term

The War Codex is a living document, that is reconsidered every one hundred years in the Grand Temple of Justice in Lloridan, Zhai. During this centennial event, all the religious scholars that are members of the Northern Church of Ush meet for three months to debate theological issue and resolve ambiguities and differences in opinion. During the subsequent one hundred years, the document remains fixed.

Type

Text, Religious

Medium

Paper

Authoring Date

72 LC