The Kordavan Way (S&P 16

The Kordavan Way

Conan the Roleplaying Game features a code of honour system, offering a standard of behaviour that Player Characters can attempt to uphold, rewarded with a bonus to morale and Reputation. The rules offer two primary codes of honour: barbaric and civilised, with a note that additional ones might be introduced by the Games Master. This article presents a third code of honour, practised by Zingarans who hold to their old ways, a belief system based on chivalry and noble behaviour. It is similar to the civilised code of honour, though there are many significant differences.

Chivalric Code of Honour

In old Zingara rose a chivalric tradition, borne in the hearts of the noblest of knights, a code of honour that adhered to the most elevated principles and loftiest behaviour. The knights who practised this code of chivalry were held in the highest regard by their peers, and were the gist of countless tales of valour and greatness across the land. Questing knights holding to a chivalric code of honour were once emblems that all was right in the land, and with them rode the hearts and souls of the Zingaran people, common and noble alike. Times changed, however, and principled behaviour was often trumped by brutal, cunning expediency and ruthlessness, and where Zingarans were once viewed as chivalric paragons of knightly virtue, they took on a reputation as untrustworthy opportunists. There is a core of Zingaran nobility and others who still hold true to the old ways, however, and they continue to practice the chivalric code of honour of their forefathers. Chivalric behaviour is a difficult means of life, and therefore ennobling in the eyes of those who practice this code of honour. It is also unapologetically sexist and old-fashioned, hewing closely to an older and more idealised behaviour than is commonly practiced elsewhere in the Hyborian age.

A character adhering to the chivalric code of honour gains an additional advantage above and beyond the benefits to morale saves and Reputation. When dealing with civilised allies or even enemies, characters with a chivalric code of honour gain a +1 circumstance bonus while using the following skills: Diplomacy, Gather Information and Intimidate. The caveat to this is that the character must be behaving in a manner appropriate to the chivalric code of honour to gain the circumstance bonus.

Furthermore, characters (player or non-player) who possess no code of honour gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Bluff, Gather Information and Sense Motive checks against characters with a chivalric code of honour.

Requirement: To practise the chivalric code of honour, a character must be Zingaran or have spent a significant amount of time in Zingara living alongside Non-Player Characters who adhere to the old methods of chivalry. At the Games Master’s allowance, a character from another suitable Hyborian nation may also follow this code of honour, though he may be considered odd or old-fashioned by his fellows. In these cases, it is assumed that the character learned chivalric behaviour from hearing stories about it, or through reading ancient tales and legends. A character can adopt a chivalric code of honour given the proper circumstances in the course of play, at the Games Master’s allowance.

Restrictions of the Chivalric Code of Honour

A character with the chivalric code of honour will:

 Respect allegiances with other honourable characters, meaning those with a barbaric, civilised or chivalric code of honour.

 Refuse significant allegiance with characters who follow no code of honour. This does not mean that he will refuse to associate with them, but means that he will not consider them equals or worthy of partnership in any significant endeavour. If the chivalric character discovers that an ally is without honour, he will take whatever steps are reasonable to disassociate himself with that ally, remaining true to his code of honour all the while.

 Adhere to whatever alliance, promise, covenant or agreement he has made, even if it turns out to be to a dishonourable character, though he will do what he can to free himself from his oath or bond and remain chivalric and honourable. If a character is duped into an agreement to do deeds that are ignoble or unchivalric and cannot free himself of this obligation (and does not possess the freedom to refuse), he will emphatically proclaim to any concerned that he is oath-bound into ignoble action, and apologise for the repercussions of his actions.

 Adhere loyally to any contract of employment, even if the employer is revealed to be without honour, in a manner similar to that described above.

 Offer allegiance to any leader regarded as legitimate and following a civilised or chivalric code of honour. If the allegiance is considered temporary (such as a particular task or battle), it is not considered binding. If the leader follows a chivalric code of honour, any offer of allegiance is to be considered open-ended and terminated only at the decision of the leader.

 If insulted in any noticeable manner, demand a formal duel at the most immediate suitable opportunity.

Honour can only be satisfied through victory in combat, a profuse and honest apology or through intercession of a shared leader who follows the chivalric code of honour.

 Give quarter where it is asked, even if it is from a dishonourable foe, and even when the foe is clearly going to use this quarter to their advantage. Only in situations where the foe has clearly betrayed the character before and presents an obvious and apparent threat to the innocent or those under the chivalric character’s protection can the chivalric character refuse quarter. In such situations, the chivalric character should even then be amenable to further negotiations by which a means of granting quarter can be achieved.

 Obey the laws of their homeland, so long as those laws are held by a rightful ruler and enforced by lawful and honourable means. If this is not the case, the chivalric character will behave in a chivalric manner to demonstrate the superiority of his own code of honour to those who rule.

 Protect those weaker than himself in most circumstances, provided that the weaker party is not obviously a criminal or deserving of their punishment or treatment. Though a chivalric character will never keep slaves, he will allow for others to keep them and will not automatically attempt to set them free, though he should act against any unnecessarily cruel or dishonourable masters in defence of the slaves, if their punishment is unjust or unwarranted.

 Protect women of any social class, even if he would otherwise not willingly associate himself with them.

Furthermore, in most cases, he will defer to a woman’s commands if they are obviously need assistance, though in all cases he will bear himself with utter chivalric behaviour.

 Show deference to any character of equal or greater social rank than the character, and, where applicable, all women, regardless of social rank. The degree of deference can vary appropriately, such that while a full bow and kiss on the hand are required for meeting a noble lady, a mere nod and polite greeting will do for a common milk-maid or innkeeper’s wife.

A character with the chivalric code of honour will not:

 Use a sneak attack to gain advantage in combat against another foe, honourable or otherwise. Use of the Zingaran sneak attack special ability is considered a dishonourable means of combat and unsuited to chivalric behaviour.

 Break the law of the land unless it has been enforced by a ruler who is notably without a code of honour, or if the law of the land is enforced by those who have no rightful claim of rulership, such as in the case of an usurper or invading king. If he does ignore the laws of the land, these will be only in matters relating to restoration of rightful rule, or as demonstration of chivalric principles and behaviour.

 Slay an honourable foe without extreme provocation. As noted above, he will grant quarter if it is asked from any but the most despicable of foes, and if possible will offer a truce or conditions of surrender at the moment before a killing blow. A chivalric character will even risk further harm to himself if doing so means he might avoid killing an honourable foe, though he will place the safety of others under his protection before such mercy.

 Slay a dishonourable foe whenever possible, in the belief that demonstrating the chivalric code of honour to a dishonourable foe might impress them towards a higher standard of behaviour, or serve as an example of chivalry to others, despite the practicality of the situation.

 Work for a dishonourable employer under any circumstances, unless unknowingly. As discussed above, should a chivalric character discover they are serving a dishonourable character, he will do all without their power to end such a period of employ, though adhering to chivalric principles all the while.

 Attack peasants or ordinary citizens unless under the direst of circumstances, such as when said commonfolk threaten those under the protection of the chivalric character, or those who would otherwise receive such protection and defence.

 Attack women without severe provocation, regardless of the risk to himself. If forced into a circumstance where fighting a woman is unavoidable, he will attempt to use nonlethal damage wherever possible, offer frequently for a surrender, or, if such a victory would do more damage to his reputation than good, he might go so far as to surrender honourably rather than besmirch his reputation further. Better to surrender gracefully to a lesser opponent than to be called a woman-killer.