Gameplay
The Treaty of Venice is a set of accords that most groups in the
supernatural world are signatories too. It lays out a set of common rules
and understandings that allows members of different groups to get along when
they need to. The treaty was signed in Venice in 1584, replacing the older
Byzantium accords.
The largest difference between the Treaty of Venice and the Byzantium
accords is the strict rules about the revelation of the supernatural world
to unaware humans and it's no coincidence that this change was made during
the height of the witch trials.
Under the treaty of Venice any member of the signatory organizations may be
executed if revealing the existence of the supernatural to a human causes
significant harm to any other signatory member. In modern times this
accusation is difficult to make stick, and generally requires fairly clear
cut examples of someone revealing the supernatural to a human only to have
that human turn to a path of vengeance, supernatural hunting or spreading
the word indiscriminately. It also doesn't apply if the human goes on to
join a signatory group before doing said harm, allowing organizations like
the Temple to continue recruiting.
The other main principles of the Treaty are:
Oaths: A member of the supernatural world is considered bound by any oath
they make invoking the Treaty of Venice. Anyone who violates this oath owes
reparations to the injured party, if they do not pay, their organization
will be compelled to on their behalf. While formally this involves stating,
I swear by the Treaty of Venice, it is almost always accepted to also simply
say, I give you my Venetian word, or I make a Venetian promise.
Treaties: Members of different organizations may at times need to work
together, in order to facilitate that the Treaty covers temporary alliances
between different members known as Venetian truces. Again the general
requirement is to mention the word Venice of Venetian in your proposal of a
truce, as well as to stipulate until when it will last either by a date or
time or by a particular event. Such as "I offer you a Venetian Truce until
sundown." Or "Venetian Truce until we catch this guy?" While under a truce
any hostile actions are considered violations. A failure to help your new
ally however is not considered a violation.
Hospitality: In order to successfully host meetings and settle disputes,
members of different organizations may often need to work together. To
extend someone Venetian hospitality covers that individual until they leave
the residence or place of business in question. Any harm that befalls them
there that you did not do your best to prevent is considered a violation.
Whenever a violation occurs, reparations are determined. The general
principle is that the aggrieved is paid back for the offense threefold. If
they lost a hundred dollars, they must be paid back three hundred. If they
lost a finger, the guilty will lose three fingers. If they were killed, the
guilty and two members of his or her family will be put to death.
Such matters are generally resolved by a council involving a representative
from each of the two involved organizations and a representative of one
other signatory organization, determined by random draw. In most clear cut
cases however, the matter does not proceed this far and an organization
simple forces their member to par the threefold reparations.
The Treaty Of Venice
The Treaty of Venice is a set of accords that most groups in the
supernatural world are signatories too. It lays out a set of common rules
and understandings that allows members of different groups to get along when
they need to. The treaty was signed in Venice in 1584, replacing the older
Byzantium accords.
The largest difference between the Treaty of Venice and the Byzantium
accords is the strict rules about the revelation of the supernatural world
to unaware humans and it's no coincidence that this change was made during
the height of the witch trials.
Under the treaty of Venice any member of the signatory organizations may be
executed if revealing the existence of the supernatural to a human causes
significant harm to any other signatory member. In modern times this
accusation is difficult to make stick, and generally requires fairly clear
cut examples of someone revealing the supernatural to a human only to have
that human turn to a path of vengeance, supernatural hunting or spreading
the word indiscriminately. It also doesn't apply if the human goes on to
join a signatory group before doing said harm, allowing organizations like
the Temple to continue recruiting.
The other main principles of the Treaty are:
Oaths: A member of the supernatural world is considered bound by any oath
they make invoking the Treaty of Venice. Anyone who violates this oath owes
reparations to the injured party, if they do not pay, their organization
will be compelled to on their behalf. While formally this involves stating,
I swear by the Treaty of Venice, it is almost always accepted to also simply
say, I give you my Venetian word, or I make a Venetian promise.
Treaties: Members of different organizations may at times need to work
together, in order to facilitate that the Treaty covers temporary alliances
between different members known as Venetian truces. Again the general
requirement is to mention the word Venice of Venetian in your proposal of a
truce, as well as to stipulate until when it will last either by a date or
time or by a particular event. Such as "I offer you a Venetian Truce until
sundown." Or "Venetian Truce until we catch this guy?" While under a truce
any hostile actions are considered violations. A failure to help your new
ally however is not considered a violation.
Hospitality: In order to successfully host meetings and settle disputes,
members of different organizations may often need to work together. To
extend someone Venetian hospitality covers that individual until they leave
the residence or place of business in question. Any harm that befalls them
there that you did not do your best to prevent is considered a violation.
Whenever a violation occurs, reparations are determined. The general
principle is that the aggrieved is paid back for the offense threefold. If
they lost a hundred dollars, they must be paid back three hundred. If they
lost a finger, the guilty will lose three fingers. If they were killed, the
guilty and two members of his or her family will be put to death.
Such matters are generally resolved by a council involving a representative
from each of the two involved organizations and a representative of one
other signatory organization, determined by random draw. In most clear cut
cases however, the matter does not proceed this far and an organization
simple forces their member to par the threefold reparations.