Tyr/subpage More Culture

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Further Tyrean Culture Marriage Prior to 365 A. G., Tyr’s take on marriage was more conservative. Unions were typically arranged by the families of the two parties, taking the role of a political contract more than anything else. Given the importance of maintaining noble lines, pre- and extra-marital relations were frowned upon, and illegitimate children (and their mothers) often shunned by society. After the Great Plague, the repopulation of Tyr become crucial, and standards for marriage and child-bearing were relaxed. The idea that a child was somehow less important for being born out of wedlock was no longer viable, and the word 'bastard' soon dropped out of normal use. The disbanding of the nobility also contributed to more lax marriage practices, as the preservation of bloodlines became less important. In the century and a half since the plague, opinions have returned to center. Today, many of the wealthier and more powerful families still arrange marriages between their children like corporate mergers, and for daughters of those high-society families to give birth outside of marriage or elope with a craftsman is still something of a scandal. It is tradition for a suitor of any lady of Tyr to approach the father and request the daughters hand in marriage and the blessings of the parents. Dissolving a marital union is while frowned upon a rare occurance, in the majority of cases, a matter of the husband and wife in question coming to an agreement with the accumulated wealth being equally divided. Where one party does not agree, the case may be brought before a City Magistrate. Royal Marriage When the heir to the throne reaches marriagable age, it is tradition to invite a number of suitable candidates to Tyrandel. These suitors come from Tyr and other countries of Ikol, so that the heir can choose between them. Since the plague, if the heir has already found a spouse on their own, and this person is deemed suitable by the royal family, the selection process can be avoided. The actual marriage must be accepted by the Monarch and the Royal Council. Once the Monarch approves of the match, then an engagement is officially announced. The betrothal period typically lasts between four to six months. The time frame is dependent on how fast ships can get to the most distant country with the news and still allow the invited guests time to prepare and to travel to Tyr in time for the wedding. A non-heir prince or princess of Tyr may wed any citizen of Tyr or a foreign nation (of the opposite gender), provided that the monarch and the Royal Councils approve. If the spouse is a citizen of Tyr, the prince or princess would retain his or her title, but their spouse and any offspring would not be titled. If the spouse is foreign and the couple decide to remain in Tyr, the foreign bride or groom must renounce fealty to his/her home country, give up any title they might have held there, and swear allegiance to Tyr and its monarch. The prince or princess would retain his or her title, and the spouse and any offspring would not be titled. Homosexuality Same sex unions, whilst may exist, are not spoken of or condoned. When the plague decimated Tyr's population the need for children to re-populate Tyr had a side result of same sex unions being severely stigmatized. That negative stigma lives on today. Law Tyr has a complex system of law that has only in the last century or two been codified. There is also a much older tradition of common law, which still influences many matters and ways of thinking and doing business. In more remote parts of Tyr, this older code may still hold sway. Legal Practices Contracts are always signed by both parties, and counter-signed by two independent witnesses on each side. This process is known as certification, and is one of the corner-stones of Tyr’s contractual law. International Agreements must bear the signature of the Monarch and the Minister of International Relations. Criminal offenses, other than treason or crimes committed in another country, are brought to justice in the province where the criminal act was committed. Petty crimes such as simple assault, public intoxication, public lewdness, petty theft, breaking the peace and the like typically receive what amounts to days of public service. More grievous crimes such as aggravated assault are tried in the major city of the province. Serious crimes may be punished with life imprisonment or enslavement in the mines. A penalty of death is only given for treason, murder, rape, pedophilia and piracy. The death sentence is beheading and is carried out either privately or in public depending on the crime. In some cases, the victim or victim's family has the option of being the executioner. For piracy, the punishment is death by hanging, almost always conducted publically. Slavery is generally frowned upon as incompatible with Tyr culture and philosophy. Those with Tyrean citizenship are legally protected from being sold into slavery unless convicted of heinous crimes. While the slave trade is mostly out-lawed, there are exceptions. For example, in times of war, Tyr will kill 10 and enslave 50 citizens of any nation to spill the blood of Tyrean citizen. Information of value to visitors may be that only the appointed peacekeepers (police) and officers of Tyr’s Armed Forces may carry un-bonded weapons in Tyrandel. Upon arrival in the port, a customs officer will peace-bond any bladed weapon a visitor wishes to carry. The penalty for breaking the silver wire used (except when it can be proven to have been in defense of self or others) is severe. Dueling The practice of dueling deserves a special mention. A duel may be called for by any citizen above the age of fifteen. A foreigner may also do so, as long as he, or she, is aware that the challenge is fought under Tyrean dueling protocols. A challenge must always be given in public, with two or more witnesses present. The challenged party is allowed to select the type of weapon used, while the challenger picks the time. A minimum of twelve hours is mandated between the time the challenge is issues and the time the duel is to be fought. This to give both parties the chance to rest, and set their affairs in order, and to reconsider their commitment to the duel. At the appointed time, the parties will appear at the designated place, usually one of two duelling grounds in the old garden of the castle in Tyrandel (as it is between the society rakes in the city that most duels occur). Each party must be accompanied by two seconds. The duel will be overseen by a impartial arbitrator who will also judge the outcome. Before the duel may commence, the officer will formally ask whether the issue can be settled in peace. If the answer is no, the challenge will be fought. There are tree types of challenges. The first, most common and strongly recommended, is fought to first blood. The second until one party yields, and the third to death. For anyone considering the last option, it might be wise to remember that neither combatant may leave the field until one is dead, and that yielding the field prematurely will be met with lethal force by the guards assigned to all such duels.