Mandate of Excommunication
Equal to the famed 'black spot' of pirates, a Mandate of Excommunication is a notice given by the enigmatic leadership of the Marked Marskmen, officially and permanently ending the members association with the organization, by death. All members are required to recognize the Mandate; aiding the Excommunicated is liable to lead one to the same fate. The rewards offerred on such Mandates are so large that it becomes almost irresistable and impossible to ignore, especially among such profit driven members.
Purpose
An Excommunication Mandate is the principle means for ensuring adherence to the rules of the Marksmen, and that no member decides to go rogue, acting too far on their own recognizance. Because the organization is so decentralized and minimal in its leadership, it is necessary for members to police each other, violently, when the need arises. Once given, the subject of the mandate is forever barred from the organization, and for all intents and purposes, becomes the highest priority target in that area.
Document Structure
Clauses
A Mandate is usually broken into the following structure.
I. Identifying the person or persons being excommunicated. II. A clear explanation of the violations the excommunicated have made, with as much detail as possible
III. The principle locations the excommunicated have been associated with, and what Corporations are assumed to have ultimate responsibility.
IV. The reward given for those responsible for fulfilling the excommunication V. The expected requirements to satisfy as proof of fulfilling the contract
VI. The expected timeline to completion, and consequences should expectations not be met.
I. Identifying the person or persons being excommunicated. II. A clear explanation of the violations the excommunicated have made, with as much detail as possible
III. The principle locations the excommunicated have been associated with, and what Corporations are assumed to have ultimate responsibility.
IV. The reward given for those responsible for fulfilling the excommunication V. The expected requirements to satisfy as proof of fulfilling the contract
VI. The expected timeline to completion, and consequences should expectations not be met.
Legal status
These mandates confer no legal status in any nation in T'sara, and most Marksmen would be loath to reveal them to any authority figure. Such an act would be an admittence to plotting murder. Context and individual preferences offer some variation here, as some have given enough notice of a manhunt to magistrates or other ministers of justice to flush the excomunicated out, in order to resolve the order themselves.
Even in such cases, cooperation is limited. If someone other than a Marksman eliminates the target, noone receives the reward from the bounty.
Even in such cases, cooperation is limited. If someone other than a Marksman eliminates the target, noone receives the reward from the bounty.
Historical Details
History
The Marked Marskmen, being so secretive, are reluctant to share much of it's history, of both good and bad. As such, the full details of the first Excommunication Mandate are not clear.
What is generally understood to be true is that early in the organizations history, a Marksman had become enraptured by the political unrest of the local populace, and took measures into their own hands. They assassinated the King of that country, which not only brought alot of undue attention on the Marksmen, but erupted the nation into a revolution and series of civil wars that would carry on for over a century.
The evidence of the fallout of this independant action was immediate, and it was clear that the ramifications for this had to be swift and exacting. The local boss, not yet called Brokers, put out a bounty for the capture and killing of the assassin, to make an example out of them. The other members were extremely competitive with each other to capture them, and the reward, showing a successful proof of concept. Those who believe the Mandate works would contend that there's nothing that can be done to prevent those that are so committed from their actions, other than deploying swift and definitive justice to the transgressors.
What is generally understood to be true is that early in the organizations history, a Marksman had become enraptured by the political unrest of the local populace, and took measures into their own hands. They assassinated the King of that country, which not only brought alot of undue attention on the Marksmen, but erupted the nation into a revolution and series of civil wars that would carry on for over a century.
The evidence of the fallout of this independant action was immediate, and it was clear that the ramifications for this had to be swift and exacting. The local boss, not yet called Brokers, put out a bounty for the capture and killing of the assassin, to make an example out of them. The other members were extremely competitive with each other to capture them, and the reward, showing a successful proof of concept. Those who believe the Mandate works would contend that there's nothing that can be done to prevent those that are so committed from their actions, other than deploying swift and definitive justice to the transgressors.
Legacy
The Excommunication Mandate has been an effective, but not complete, measure in mitigating the behavior of the Marksmen, and punishing the violaters.
Marksmen who escape punishment completely, never being caught are exceedingly rare, which many would use as a means to declare the method a success. On the other hand, there are still cases where marksmen have taken matters into their own hands by assassinating someone that was not being targeted, or even by rescuing the target rather than eliminating them; seemingly understanding that the consequences of their actions were worthwhile.
Marksmen who escape punishment completely, never being caught are exceedingly rare, which many would use as a means to declare the method a success. On the other hand, there are still cases where marksmen have taken matters into their own hands by assassinating someone that was not being targeted, or even by rescuing the target rather than eliminating them; seemingly understanding that the consequences of their actions were worthwhile.
Medium
Paper
Signatories (Organizations)
Comments