Mutual Defense Pact Between The Grove and The Cast

The Grove and The Cast have joined hands in their desire to have their respective peoples live in peace and defend each other should the worst happen.

Both involved in mitigation of the Demonic Dominion in prior years, Leaders Oonagh Cardot and Sir Tanos Hrafnar of The Grove and The Cast, respectively, have codified a mutual defense pact between their Factions. The treaty was signed by the military leaders (Gwion Triarta and Sir Tanos) of both Factions, with terms effective immediately.

The Document

[Signatures Below]

• Gwion Triarta, Tactician of The Grove

• Sir Tanos Hrafnar of New Ravenfall, Commander of The Cast

Witnesses

The following members of both Factions bore witness to the events or participated in the proceedings:

• Oonagh of the Grove, Faction Leader

• Sir Tanos Hrafnar, Faction Leader

• Lt. Commander Dima, The Cast

• Dame Gwion Triarta, Tactician of The Grove

• Morgwae Dae'ellen, The Cast

Plain Text of the Treaty

For those who have difficulty with the fancy script, a plain-text replication of the treaty is reproduced below:

“The Parties to this Pact,

Reaffirming their desire to have their respective peoples live in peace with all inhabitants of Osterra, and desiring to strengthen the fabric of peace in the lands,

Recalling the bond of sympathy and mutual ideals while fighting side-by-side against aggression, tyranny, and evil,

Desiring to declare publicly and formally their sense of unity and their common determination to defend themselves against external armed attack, so that no potential aggressor could be under the illusion that either of them stands alone,

Agreeing that nothing in this present instrument shall be considered or interpreted as in any way or sense altering or diminishing any existing agreements or understandings between The Grove and The Cast,

Have agreed as follows;

ARTICLE I

The Parties undertake to settle any disputes with other organized groups in Osterra, in which they may be or will be involved, by peaceful means in such a manner that peace and security and justice are not endangered, and to refrain in their relations with other groups from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the ideals outlined herein.

ARTICLE II

In order to more effectively achieve the objective of this Pact, the Parties separately and jointly by self-help and mutual aid will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack. To this end, both Parties shall agree to not make resources available to be purchased by any group acting as an aggressor against either Party.

ARTICLE III

The Parties, through their approved diplomats or their deputies, will consult together from time to time regarding the implementation of this Pact, and whenever it is the opinion of either of them that the territorial integrity, independence, or security of either of the Parties is threatened by external armed attack.

ARTICLE IV

Each Party recognizes that an armed attack on either of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its respective internal laws and processes. Any and all possible resources beyond those required for the maintenance and upkeep of existing settlements shall be made available for the purposes of this action against an aggressor. Each Party also agrees to shelter any civilians of the other in situations where a party falls under attack and its civilians must flee.

Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall be immediately reported to the Council of Osterra and the Knights of Osterra. Such measures shall be terminated when either of the aforementioned groups has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain peace and security in Osterra.

A Party should not be considered in default to this agreement if they are assisting in an armed conflict outside of the bounds of this agreement in good faith, or are physically unable to arrive to the field of battle in time to assist an attacked Party.

If one Party assists another group in either defensive or aggressive actions via a separate agreement, this pact shall not require any Party that is not a part of that agreement to provide any support to the external conflict.

Neither party shall be bound to provide forces, resources, or other aid to defenses required solely due to actions of a corrupted, mind-controlled, or otherwise magically irresponsible individual belonging to the parties. Instead, the two parties shall provide their best efforts towards the restoration of the affected individual’s normal level of control over their own morality.

The Party requiring aid shall pay all costs for reinforcements under the Rules of War if they have the desire and capabilities to do so. The assisting party may also assist in providing resources for reinforcement, if agreed to by both parties. In the event the Party calling for aid is successfully defended, reinforcement costs paid by the assisting Party shall be deducted from any post-conflict compensation, hereafter referred to as restitution, and reimbursed to the assisting party first. The remaining restitution paid by the aggressor shall be split between the two Parties commensurate to this agreement.

After a successful defense from an aggressor, that aggressor is to be given the opportunity to negotiate payment for damages their actions have caused. That payment must first be put towards repayment of any immediate costs incurred in the defensive action. Payment received beyond the immediate costs incurred will be divided between the Parties of this Pact at a rate of 80 units to the attacked faction, and 20 units to the faction coming to their aid. If the aggressor does not agree to provide compensation, the combined forces of the Parties in this pact are permitted but not required to move to claim up to but not more than a total of two of the aggressor's hexes by force.

If either Party defaults on this agreement, they owe the other Party two seasons worth of harvested resources. The payment of resources will be made after any upkeep of settlements and structures that existed before the war against the Party in need was declared. The payment of each harvest must be accompanied by a detailed ledger of the pre-existing structures and a calculation of each harvest in order to verify accuracy.

ARTICLE V

For the purpose of Article II and Article IV, an armed attack on either of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack on any protected territory of either of the Parties, or on its armed forces, public figures, citizens, and vessels of transport within the sovereign territory of either of the Parties.

ARTICLE VI

This Pact does not affect and shall not be interpreted as affecting in any way the rights and obligations of the individual Parties or the responsibility of the Council of Osterra and the Knights of Osterra for the maintenance of peace and security in the lands of Osterra.

ARTICLE VII

This Pact shall be ratified by The Grove and The Cast in accordance with their respective internal laws and processes and will come into force when instruments of ratification thereof have been exchanged by them at Wyrmwood Hollow on Mundus Ferox.

ARTICLE VIII

This Pact shall remain in force indefinitely. Either Party may terminate it one year after notice has been given to the other Party.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.”

[Signatures of Gwion Triarta and Sir Tanos Hrafnar]