Consilium Charter

The Charter is the local laws of a Consilium.

Charter of 2025: Opening statement

• After the abolishment of the previous charter knowledge of the lex, the guiding principles of tradition and the ability to cohesively organise went with it. The charter is not a document revived or enforced with tyrannical ideals but to reinstate the guidance of our processors, to enlighten the wisdom of the Lex Magica and to facilitate effective operations of the acknowledged mages of the river city Consilium, otherwise known as the Consilium of Sacramento.

• A mage must hold one year of continuous acknowledgement before suggesting changes to the Lex that will be approved or declined by the hierarch. The hierarch has final say on such matters but if wanting to mage changes themselves is expected to seek guidance and advice from the councillors before doing so.

Acknowledgements

• The duty of acknowledging new mages must occur swiftly and without unreasonable barriers. To perform the duty of acknowledgement the mage performing the task must themselves be acknowledged by the River city Consilium.

Whose responsibility

The responsibility for the handling of new or returning mages in the River city Consilium falls in the following order:

• Path Councillor,
• Path provost (if applicable)
• Head of order (if applicable)
• Other member of path or order.
• Other available councillor or Consilium official (If applicable)
• Other acknowledged mage of the Consilium

How its done

• The mage performing the acknowledgement is responsible for a basic vetting of the mage seeking acknowledgement. The exact degree and method is left to the mage in question.

Coercion, bribery, intimidation or similar tactics are not acceptable when conducting an acknowledgement. Use of magic, mind reading, fate bound oaths or other supernatural elements are not acceptable methods of conducting an acknowledgement.

• Refusal to answer relevant questions when asked can be grounds for acknowledgement to be refused.
• Sample questions:

(These are not definitive or prescriptive merely a guide for those who feel les confident in performing the acknowledgement process).

• What is your order?
• What is your path?
• Do bring or know of anything that comes with or follows you, is associated to you and so on, that could endanger the circle, its members or secrecy? (answering yes is not grounds to be refused acknowledgement)
• In the event it becomes necessary are you willing to fight to defend the circle, Consilium, and its members.
• (A personality disagreement is not grounds to refuse acknowledgement)
• (A mage bring trouble with them is not grounds to refuse acknowledgement providing the mage is 1. Honest about the situation. 2. Is not fleeing capture or retribution for breaches of secrecy or the Lex Magica.)

Appointments and removals

Path

• Councillor: Chosen to represent the path and advise the hierarch on decisions and matters, a councillor is responsible for handling acknowledgements for members of their path and enforcing the expectations and punishments if levied against members of their path. A path councillor is chosen by a gathering of three or more mages of that path. How they come to the decision is to be decided by those of each path respectively, it is advised but not required that each path keeps notes of its own methods. If less then three mages of a pat hare present then the chosen mage will serve as interim councillor with all the same duties and responsibilities but when numbers allow a formal decision must be made by those of the relevant path. This is to encourage those in such interim positions to conduct themselves with wisdom even with a low membership of their path as the reputation they build for themselves will still hold weight.
• If numbers drop below three a chosen councillor does not loose their position as it is not in their duties to force mages to remain in the city of Sacramento but should not be punished for numbers falling.

• The position is forfeit if a councillor fails to attend an official Consilium meeting. Otherwise, removal of a sitting councillor is down to the path members and their traditions.

• A standing councillor may willingly step down.

• Provost: The right had of a councillor, someone who speaks with their councillor’s voice and enacts their will. A path provost will be chosen by the councillor. Appointment of the position can be used as a bargaining chip in securing votes or settling negotiations.

• The position is forfeit if a provost fails to attend an official Consilium meeting. The councillor can revoke the position.
• An active provost may willingly step down.

Consilium

• Hierarch: The hierarch will be chosen by the councillors of the Consilium. Each councillor is by virtue of having been able to lead their path shown themselves to be the wisest of Sacramento. The council may choose any acknowledged mage for the position. The hierarch is the leading voice of the Consilium the wisest of the awakened and their will guides the mages of Sacramento. The Hierarch has final say on trials, punishments, acknowledgments and all matters of the Consilium. (The hierarch may not appoint any councillor position or any provost with the exception of their own if they retain a councillor position).

• The position is forfeit if the mage appointed misses an official Consilium meeting.
• If found in breach of the Lex any councillor may call for a vote of confidence in the standing hierarch.
• If the hierarch is a councillor they may choose to retain the position or stand down from it allowing their path to decide on a new mage to take up that duty. (If leaving a councillor position the hierarch may have as much or as little involvement in the replacement as they wish but the process must adhere to the norms for that path appointing a councillor, the hierarch does not get to choose) If the hierarch abdicates a councillor seat it is not grounds for a revote on who should be hierarch.

• If the council falls short of five members, sees any change of membership or is restructured this is not grounds for a new vote for hierarch. Much as a path councillor is not responsible for forcing mages to stay, a hierarch is not responsible for forcing councillors to remain in their position but should not face punishment for the political shifts that occur when mages join or leave the city.

• Herald: The mages responsible for making the hierarch will and decrees known. The position of Hearld will be chosen by the Hierarch from mages who are willing to serve in the role. A hierarch is permitted 1 herald +1 per ten mages in the city e.g. 0-9 mages require 1 heard while 10-19 mages permit 2 heralds.

• The position is lost if the appointed mages fail to attend an official Consilium meeting.
• The hierarch can strip the position if the mages fail to perform required duties, are found to be in breach of the lex or by granting a request of the appointed mage.

• Sentinel: The mages responsible for safeguarding the Consilium and its members, sent forth to defend acknowledged members and their sanctums against threats. The position of sentinel will be filled by the hierarch from mages will to take on the duty. The hierarch may appoint up to 2 sentinels with an additional appointment per ten acknowledged mages in the city. E.g 0-9 mages allows the appointment of up to 2 sentinels while 11-19 allows for the appointment of a 3rd sentinel.

• The position is lost if the appointed mages fail to attend an official Consilium meeting.
• The hierarch can strip the position if the mages fail to perform required duties, are found to be in breach of the lex or by granting a request of the appointed mage.

Cabal and solitaire rights

Cabals

Cabals enjoy all the rights and protections of the Lex in full. As they do the duties and responsibilities it places upon them.

Solitaires

The fluid nature of the population of Sacramento makes the forming of lasting cabals a difficulty consequently the charter of Sacramento affords certain rights to solitaire mages. These amendments build upon the precept of protectorate as a base.

• A solitaire who declares their sanctum under the precept of protectorate is permitted to claim up to 30 meters from each external wall as their territory providing, they meet and adhere to the follow version of the great rights.
• For solitaries to benefit from the Consilium protections they must uphold those same laws that protect them and their sanctums.

• Right of hospitality: Remains unchanged, grant it when it is asked of you.

• Right of sanctuary: The offence is to be brought to and handled by the Consilium if is from an external source, if you compromise your own sanctum, it is in your best interest to bring to the Consilium.

• Right of Nemesis: Will not be upheld by Solitaries rather any grievance they have will be settled by the Consilium, and at most a duel arcane will be declared or compensation required on behalf of the offender.

• Right of Emeritus: A mage is to be shown respect in their own sanctum regardless of personal feelings. This can extend more generally to if a mage is a known expert in a field.

• Right of crossing: The mage is mark and maintain a safe route through their territory. The current plan is a solitaire can claim territory not exceeding thirty meters from the external walls of the sanctum in any given direction. They must also provide the Consilium with a general location of the territory and a copy of the symbol they use to mark the safe passage. (Keeping an area safe and secure is a greater risk to a single mage then it is for a cabal regardless of Consilium intervention, thus mages are still encouraged to form cabals and benefit from the collective wisdom and safety they provide).

• No other changes are in effect, solitaries are still required to adhere to the remaining precepts of the gold laws, Silver, Bronze and Iron laws.

Trial and punishment procedure

• Truth is a serious matter among the awakened. If a matter is brought before the hierarch on trial both the accuser, the accused and any witnesses shall be placed under a fate bound oath to tell the truth for the duration of the trial. If any party is caught in violation of this oath mind magic from a trusted mage shall be used to ascertain the truth of the matter. (The uses of fate bound oaths and mind magic are reliant on appropriate, trustworthy and capable mages with no conflict of interest being present within the Consilium).

• If the hierarch is the one standing trial, then the councillors shall be the one to pass verdict. (If the hierarch is a councillor they shall be excluded from this decision and the provost of their path shall take their place, if there is no provost then a representative of the path if one is present in the Consilium shall handle the task).

• Failure to uphold a sanctioned punishment by either the accused or the councillor responsible shall see escalation. If a councillor is completing a punishment the hierarch shall over see the punishment. If the hierarch is facing punishment, it shall be overseen by their councillor, provost or path member as required. (If this is not possible follow the same structure as who is responsible for acknowledgement)

Declaration

Disparate people, and yet, we are one. We may come from all walks of life. But, we are all members of the Awakened Nation. It is opportunity and fate that calls us together. Be it that we arrived through customs at the airport or were born to Sacramento, we walk the same soil for this reason. Encompassing all the area of the City of Sacramento; it is this Consilium’s solemn promise and it’s solemn necessity to protect those cabals that call Sacramento home.

Responsibilities of the Consilium

• The Consilium of Sacramento is charged with maintaining the Veil of Secrecy.
• The Consilium of Sacramento is charged with the protection of the associated Cabals and Awakened of the Consilium of Sacramento from outsides threats: those who are servants of the Lie, as well as those who are servants of their own insanity and servants of the Abyss.
• The Consilium of Sacramento is charged with hearing the ideas, suggestions, and grievances of it’s associated cabals to increase the quality of Awakened Life. This may be done in a few ways:

Consilium Meetings: New business is scheduled to the agenda ahead of time via a Herald or Provost.

Through a Provost or Councilor of the Cabal or Individual’s choosing at any time.

Through a Herald, should the provosts and Councilors be not available.

• The Consilium of Sacramento is charged with recording and tracking public Favors (Rite of Requite).
• The Consilium is charged with the task of maintaining the peace between the Associated Cabals. It is charged with the task of moderation between individuals and cabals, recognized by the Consilium’s Aegis. The Consilium must do all in its power to keep conflicts from escalating to the point of declaring Right of Nemesis. It is that drastic step, that takes our minds off of the task all Awakened are charged with.

The Consilium is charged with appointing a mediator to attempt to solve the problem before it escalates to the declaration of Nemesis; however, the Consilium does recognize the need for the Right of Nemesis under the Precept of War.

Member Cabals are charged with bringing such a conflict to the Consilium prior to Right of Nemesis being enacted so that such mediation might take place.

• The Consilium is charged with the interpretation and the execution of the Wisdom of the Lex Magica. It is the wisdom of the Lex Magica and it’s Great Rights, that are protected by the will of the Consilium.

The Consilium of Sacramento recognizes all of the Great Rights to it’s Member Cabals.

Precedents set by decisions of the Consilium’s Councillors and the Hierarch alone may be added to the Lex Magica; as they are the wisest amongst us.

Lex Magica Violations

Should any of the polity of the Consilium of Sacramento breach the Precepts in anyway, the perpetrator will be brought before the Consilium’s Council for a Hearing, and may request a Factotum to represent them.

• The Councilors shall convene and hear the case. These verdicts are final.
• Innocence is assumed, and Guilt must be proven.
• Guilty parties shall have judgement rendered under the Tetragrammaton.

Membership

Membership to the Consilium of Sacramento is open to all individuals and cabals Recognized by a Consilium officer.

Duties

Note

No Member of the Sacramento Consilium may hold more than one Consilium Office. Thus, to illustrate several examples, no Councilor may be both Councilor and Sentinel, or Councilor and Herald. Likewise, no Provost may be both Provost and Sentinel, and Provost and Herald, nor could a Herald be both Herald and Sentinel, and so on.

The Hierarch

The Hierarch is chosen from amongst the Councilors and is recognized as the wisest amongst them, and may appoint one Herald per ten Mages to assist her and act as the voice of the Hierarch and the voice of the Consilium.

Councilors

Councillors are the wisest of the Paths. Chosen and ascended to their positions in anyway the Path chooses. Should a case of a possible breach of the precepts come to them, Councillors must hear and decide upon guilt or innocence.

• Provosts may be chosen by Councillors in any way the Councillor deems. There are no restrictions upon who may be elected Provost. Each Councilor is allowed a single (1) Provost.

Following the vacancy of the office, a Conclave of the Path is called to determine a new Councilor. A Councilor may be appointed in one of three traditional methods:

• By Majority: A vote. A majority of votes is obtained from all Path members not seeking the appointment themselves. If the Conclave numbers too few to collect three votes, the 'majority' is too few and the collective will of all in attendance will pronounce the Councilor by Acclamation.
• By Acclamation: A contender for the position is overwhelmingly favored to the extent that there is either no dissent, or only one or two -- often rivals for the position.
• By Superiority: In cases where one or more contenders questions the collective Wisdom of the Conclave, the office may be seized by a demonstration of superior Enlightenment. This may be in the form of a demonstration of Mastery, Power, or even a Duel Arcane, or forfeiture of said challenge(s).

Heralds

• Heralds may recognize new member cabals of the Consilium.
• Heralds are charged with informing the Council of any new Solitaires and Cabals who have been recognized and informing the polity of any news and changes.
• Neutral heralds are charged with overseeing the Rite of Requite should two members of the Consilium wish to undergo it.

Provosts

Provosts speak with their Councilor’s voice, but must escalate cases of possible Breaches of the Precepts to the Council. They must be of the same path as their Councillor.

Sentinels

It is the Sentinel’s duty to be informed and be ready for possible threats to the Consilium and its members. Be they of the Void, the Mad, and the Liars as well as threats from within.

• The Sentinels may be called upon by the Consulate to execute the will of the Consilium.
• Sentinels are to be chosen by the Hierarch or Council.
• Sentinels are able to deputize magi temporarily without the need of formal permission from the Hierarch or Consulate. This deputization lasts for the extent of the problem, or 72 hours, whichever comes first. Deputies may be created again (reactivated) if the problem is not solved at the end of 72 hours, but the Hierarch and Council must be notified at this time and approved by the Hierarch for the continuation of the deputization for the remainder of the problem. Deputies, while active, act at the authority of the Sentinel which deputized them. As such, any action taken by the deputy during this time is also an action of the Sentinel which deputized them.

Members

Those member cabals within the Consilium of Sacramento, are asked of the following, so that the Consilium may prosper and flourish as a whole and greater than the sum of its parts:

• It is asked that those member Cabals of the Consilium of Sacramento respect the edicts and mandates of the Consilium; to adhere to any and all verdicts either for or against them, including individual members.

• Should the Consilium be attacked by outside forces and a call to action is declared, it is the duty of the member Cabals to heed and accept the call to action.

• It is asked that those member Cabals of the Consilium of Sacramento may ask for a favor of its member cabals. Ranging from access to its resources to its expertise. This is a favor that is repaid over time by the Consilium.

• Failure by any member of a Member Cabal or any total failure by an entire Member Cabal to adhere to their duties to the Consilium of Sacramento may result in the following or more determining on the nature of the Lex Magica of the Consilium of Sacramento:

Revoking of protection by the Consilium of Sacramento

Freezing of the Member or Member Cabal’s assets, including it's Sanctum or Hallow.

Forced Service to the Consilium of Sacramento.

Trial Procedures

A Trial occurs when an accusation is made by one Recognized member against another Recognized member. The accusation must be made in regards to a Law of the Consilium. An accusation, and thus a trial, may be brought against anyone who was a Recognized member of the Consilium at the time of the crime they are accused of. Thus, even if a Sentinel strips a member of the Consilium of their recognition before or after an accusation was brought forth, the accused would still be brought to trial so long as they were Recognized when the supposed crime was committed.

• The Council will declare the date of a Trial after the Accusation has been heard and Factota have been assigned to prosecute as well as advise and defend the Accused. The Trial must take place within a year of the Council hearing the Accusation.
  • The Heralds are charged with informing the polity of the charge.
  • The Heralds or Provost are charged with bringing the Accusation immediately (within 24 hours by written message or telephone call) to the Council.
  • A Councilor who has been accused, or who has brought accusation against another member of the Consilium, must appoint a Provost, or, in the case of a Provost being one of the accused, the accuser, or an assigned Factotum, another member of their Path to Represent their Path and act as Judge during the trial.
  • In the case of a Councilor being aware of an accusation, they must also inform the rest of the Council, as well as the Heralds within 24 hours.
  • Any Member of the Consilium involved in an Accusation or a declared Trial is exempt from any Duel Arcane challenge issued over a matter which involves the Accusation or Trial.

• All Accused are not innocent nor guilty until stated by the Council during the assigned Trial.
  • The Council is tasked with finding the Truth.
  • Accused may plead either Guilty or Not Guilty.
  • Should the Accused plead Guilty, the Council will move directly to the penalty stage as required by the Tetragrammaton.
  • Should the Accused plead Not Guilty, the Council will further hear the case.

• When the Accused pleads Not Guilty the Council must judge the Truth of the Accusation and the events involved therein.
  • One Factotum, assigned before the Date of the Trial, will prosecute the case.
  • One Factotum, assigned before the Date of the Trial, will defend the Accused.
  • Sentinels are charged to assist the Prosecutor in investigating the accusation.
  • The Defense may retain assistance to prove innocence.
  • Witnesses called by the Prosecution or Defense are required by Law to stand and give evidence.

• Once all evidence is received, the Council will deliberate.
  • All evidence must be presented during the Trial. The Council must examine all evidence.
  • If cleared or convicted of the accusation, the accused is protected from any retribution under the Precept of War.
  • The Council is charged with using the Tetragrammaton and Prior Judgements to decide on any necessary punishment.
    • All decisions are final. There is no appeals process.
  • Should the Accused be found guilty, a failure to adhere to the punishment may result in the removal of protections of the Consilium, banishment, or forced servitude to the Consilium.