A fresh start

I HAVE BEEN MEDITATING ON THE RULES BY WHICH THE ORDER OF MONTGOMERY SHOULD FUNCTION AND WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING:

THE ORDER OF MONTGOMERY IS A FRATERNAL ORDER OF CAMARILLA NEONATES IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE PRINCES OF THEIR LOCAL COURTS. MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO KINDRED OF ALL CLANS AND BLOODLINES, AS WELL AS CAITIFF, SO LONG AS THEY ARE SPONSORED BY TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ORDER AND NO MEMBER OF THE ORDER HAS ANY OBJECTIONS. THE ORDER OF MONTGOMERY IS LED BY THE PRAESUL WHO, ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS, IS CHOSEN BY LOT FROM AMONGST ALL THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN HOLDING THE POSITION. A PRAESUL MAY BE REMOVED FROM HIS POSITION AT ANY TIME BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE OF THE ORDER’S MEMBERS.

NEW MEMBERS OF THE ORDER OF MONTGOMERY ARE GIVEN A TRIVIAL BOON FROM EACH MEMBER WITHIN THEIR LOCAL COURT, WITH THE SPECIAL CAVEAT THAT THE RECEIVER OF THE BOON SWEARS TO ABIDE BY THE CODE OF MONTGOMERY FOR SO LONG AS THEY REMAIN WITHIN THE ORDER. THIS GIVES THE BOON NO SET LENGTH OR EXPIRY DATE, AND BREAKING THE CODE WILL MAKE THE OFFENDER A BOON BREAKER SEVERAL TIMES OVER. ANY MEMBER WHO CHOOSES TO LEAVE THE ORDER OF MONTGOMERY MUST BE MAKE HIS DEPARTURE KNOWN TO THE PRAESUL A FORTNIGHT PRIOR TO ACTUALLY LEAVING THE ORDER.

THE CODE OF MONTGOMERY:

IUSIURANDUM SECRETUM (OATH OF SECRETS): ANYTHING SAID IN CONFIDENCE BY ONE MEMBER OF THE ORDER TO OTHER MEMBERS SHALL NEVER BE SHARED UNLESS THE SECURITY OF THE CAMARILLA NECESSITATES IT, OR IF THE PRINCE OF THE LOCAL COURT SPECIFICALLY REQUESTS THAT IT BE REVEALED.

IUSIURANDUM FRATERNITATEM (OATH OF BROTHERHOOD): ALL MEMBERS OF THE ORDER SHALL TREAT EACH OTHER AS EQUALS REGARDLESS OF STATUS, BOONS OR POLITICAL POSITION WITHIN THE CAMARILLA.

IUSIURANDUM AUXILIUM (OATH OF ASSISTANCE): ALL MEMBERS OF THE ORDER SHALL ASSIST EACH OTHER UPON REQUEST, AND NO MEMBER OF THE ORDER SHALL MAKE A REQUEST THAT IS UNREASONABLE, FRIVOLOUS, ENDANGERS ANY CAMARILLA KINDRED’S UNLIFE OR GOES AGAINST THE INTERESTS OF THE PRINCE OF THE LOCAL COURT OR THE TRADITIONS OF THE CAMARILLA.

IUSIURANDUM RUMORES (OATH OF INFORMATION): ALL MEMBERS OF THE ORDER SHALL SHARE ANY INFORMATION WHICH THEY OBTAIN WHICH THEY GENUINELY FEEL MIGHT BE OF VALUE TO THE ORDER, SO LONG AS THE PROVISION OF SUCH INFORMATION DOES NOT GO AGAINST THE INTERESTS OF THE PRINCE OF THE LOCAL COURT OR THE CAMARILLA AS A WHOLE.

IUSIURANDUM CLYPEI (OATH OF THE SHIELD): ALL MEMBERS OF THE ORDER SHALL DO THEIR UTMOST TO PROTECT ANY OTHER MEMBER FROM ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF ANY ANCILLA OR ELDER, SO LONG AS DOING SO DOES NOT GO AGAINST THE ORDERS OF THE PRINCE OF THE LOCAL COURT.

IUSIURANDUM OBSEQUIUM (OATH OF OBEDIENCE): ALL MEMBERS OF THE ORDER SHALL RESPECT THE PRAESUL AND OBEY HIS ORDERS SO LONG AS THEY DO NOT BREAK THE CODE OF MONTGOMERY, THE ORDERS OF THE LOCAL PRINCE OR THE TRADITIONS OR BEST INTERESTS OF THE CAMARILLA.

Think NGAM nailed it. I'm willing to abide with the structure and rules he's come up with, but I think it would be a good idea to run it by Prince Richtor before we settle on it.

i WoUlD aGrEe WiTh VlAdAmIr'S tHiRd PoInT. i SuGgEsT wE aDd A sEvEnTh RuLe To ThE cOdE, aNd ThAt It ReAd As FoLlOwS:

iUsIuRaNdUm AmEnTiA (oAtH oF mAdNeSs): WhEn SeLeCtInG a NeW pRaEsUl, AlL mEmBeRs SwEaR tO sAfEgUaRd ThE rAnDoMnEsS oF tHe PrAeSuL's SeLeCtIoN fRoM aMoNgSt ThOsE mEmBeRs InTeReStEd In HoLdInG tHe PoSiTiOn.

I do have some information for the order. I have it on good authority that Gabriel, the Ventrue Primogen, is planning to try and take Praxis in the near future. He's actively seeking boons on members of the Primogen council and there's reason to believe he's planning to assassinate the Nosferatu Primogen. Sure the Prince will be interested in hearing that little tidbit. Needless to say our clan is taking precautions to make sure our Primogen doesn't meet with an unfortunate end.

Bryce, That is interesting information.

As for the whole 'randomly picked leader' thing, I am of two minds about that.

Is it randomly picked from someone who wants it? or from all of us as a whole?

Also, I feel that we should have someone in that seat who is suited for it, and can best represent us a whole. I believe that we should change the way that the leader is picked.

For the start, it was all well and good to decide it randomly. However I think with how the court is right now, and how 'at risk' the Order has been at certain points, that we should vote on who leads from the lot of those who wish to. It seems a bit democratic I know, Its just that I think it would be best handled this way.

Can anyone think of reasons as to why this would NOT be a good idea?

So, basically what I said, only in terms less... 'sweet' Sounds about right.

THERE ARE TWO REASONS I SUGGEST WE SELECT OUR PRAESUL RANDOMLY RATHER THAN BY VOTE. THE FIRST REASON IS THAT WHEN WE FIRST FORMED THE ORDER WE ALL AGREED THAT WE WOULD MODEL IT ON AN ATHENEAN DEMOCRACY. THE WAY LEADERS WERE SELECTED IN ANCIENT ATHENS WAS THAT ALL THOSE WHO WISHED TO TAKE ON THE POSITION OF LEADER MADE THEMSELVES KNOWN, AND THEN ONE OF THEM WAS RANDOMLY SELECTED TO LEAD. I ENVISIONED THE ORDER WORKING IN THE SAME WAY THUS ELIMINATING ALL THE CONIVING AND DESTRUCTIVE POLITICS WE SEE IN THE CAMARILLA. THE SECOND REASON IS BECAUSE IT FORCES US TO BE PICKY ABOUT WHO WE LET INTO THE ORDER. IF A PERSON WANTS POWER BUT ISN'T SUITABLE TO LEAD THEY SHOULDN'T BE BROUGHT IN TO THE ORDER OF MONTGOMERY AT ALL.