The Codex of Liberty

Preamble
As penned by Doctor Marcus Michael Mercer, First Consul of New Libertalia
  Let it be known—to allies and enemies, idealists and outlaws alike—that this Codex was not forged in chaos, nor born of madness. It was written in the quiet clarity of defiance—not against order, but against the hypocrisy of those who claim to uphold it.
  The old world fears power unless it wears a uniform. It rewards obedience while punishing brilliance. It elevates mediocrity and then calls it peace. I have watched genius suffocated by bureaucracy, ambition vilified by morality, and strength shackled by fear masquerading as virtue.
  No more.
  New Libertalia is not a fantasy. It is a functional republic built by dangerous minds—for those unfit to serve, and too exceptional to obey. It is the inheritance of syndicates, scientists, sorcerers, rebels, and rogues—those who understand that freedom is not given, but taken, guarded, and earned through fire.
  This Codex does not promise equality.
It promises opportunity.
It does not guarantee justice.
It guarantees consequence.
It offers no protection for the passive.
Only power, tempered by loyalty, backed by legacy, and bound in law.
  We are not monsters.
We have families.
We seek futures.
We honor service.
And we protect our own—with fury the world has learned to fear.
  Let this Codex stand not as a rejection of civilization, but as its evolution—the new contract between the state and the ambitious soul. Between liberty and responsibility. Between the individual and the dominion they may one day rule.
  This is New Libertalia.
And this is how free people govern themselves.
  Article I — On Liberty and Order
From the Codex of Liberty, as authored by Doctor M
  Liberty is the Foundation of Greatness.
Every citizen of New Libertalia is entitled to liberty—the freedom to think, to build, to speak, to defend, and to rise. This liberty is sacred, not because it is universal, but because it is earned, guarded, and wielded with purpose.
  Liberty Without Order is Anarchy.
The state exists not to chain the strong, but to ensure their arena is worthy. Laws, bylaws, and civic structure shall exist to preserve opportunity, competition, and progress—not to coddle the weak or suppress the capable.
  All Citizens Have the Right to Bear Arms and Protect Themselves.
Personal defense is not a privilege. It is a duty. Citizens may arm themselves as they see fit, provided they do not endanger national security or violate the sovereign peace of the Council.
  Loyalty is the First Shield of Liberty.
Those who serve—whether in the Liberty Guard, in public office, in the sciences, or in the advancement of New Libertalia’s strength—are the bedrock upon which this freedom stands. To serve is honorable. To betray is unforgivable.
  Legacy May Be Claimed by Any.
Every citizen has the right to pursue legacy—through family, invention, ideology, or empire. But only those who maintain their strength shall retain it. Legacy without power is nostalgia. And nostalgia serves no functional purpose.
  The Right to Shape the Nation is Shared. New Libertalia is a democracy of the daring. Citizens may propose laws, challenge institutions, and shape governance—so long as they do so through proper channels, with strength of vision and clarity of thought.
  Merit is the Measure of Value.
Titles, privileges, and rank shall be awarded based on wealth, skill, brilliance, service, and achievement—not birth or sentiment. All who contribute may rise. All who stagnate shall fall behind.
  The Law Protects the State First, the People Second.
The law is not a shield for the selfish nor a leash for the ambitious. It is a weapon wielded to defend New Libertalia’s sovereignty, prosperity, and purpose. Those who endanger it shall face judgment—without pity, without exception.
  Article II — On Power, Service, and Citizenship
  Citizenship is Not a Birthright. It is a Bond.
To be a citizen of New Libertalia is to enter into covenant with the state—not through blood, but through service, contribution, or demonstrable merit. Citizenship must be earned, claimed, and maintained.
  Service to the State Confers Status.
Military service in the Liberty Guard, contributions to infrastructure, advancement of the sciences or esoteric arts, or demonstrable aid to national interests may be recognized as grounds for full citizenship. Those who serve with distinction may ascend further still.
  Citizens Possess the Following Core Rights:
  The Right to Self-Defense
  The Right to Own and Develop Property
  The Right to Invention, Creation, and Enterprise
  The Right to Propose Laws and Seek Office
  The Right to Legacy and Inheritance
  The Right to Trial or Challenge Before Punishment
  These rights are protected so long as the citizen does not endanger the state, obstruct justice, or breach the peace upheld by the Council.   Legacy May Be Honored, But Must Be Upheld.
Children, successors, and apprentices of citizens may inherit rights and holdings. However, they must prove themselves competent within a reasonable period—by trial, performance, or contribution. Legacy is a claim, not a shield.
  Treason is the Forfeiture of Self.
Any citizen who deliberately acts against the state, betrays classified intelligence, or endangers national sovereignty shall be declared Property of the State.
  Their fate shall be decided by the Council of Six, and may include:
  Public Execution
  Indentured Labor
  Gladiatorial Combat
  Human Testing for State mandated Science Endeavors
  Memory Stripping and Psychological Reassignment
  Imprisonment
  Mercy is reserved for those who regret their actions before the damage is done or are deemed to be of a value greater then the degree of their disloyalty by the Counsel.   Citizens May Rise. And Citizens May Fall.
Citizenship is not eternal. Failure to contribute, to grow, or to act in the interest of New Libertalia may result in demotion, probation, or loss of privileges. Redemption is always possible—but never without cost.
  The State Shall Protect the Worthy.
New Libertalia does not abandon its own. Citizens who are loyal and valuable shall be protected, avenged, and supported in times of crisis—whether through military response, social reinforcement, or targeted retaliation.
  Article III — On Governance and the Council of Six
  The State Exists to Endure, Not to Please.
New Libertalia is not ruled by popularity, emotion, or ideology—it is ruled by those with the strength, intellect, and resolve to preserve its independence, prosperity, and purpose. The state must function. The state must survive.
  The Council of Six Is the Pinnacle of Authority. Governance is vested in the Council of Six—six sovereign powers, each entrusted with dominion over a primary aspect of the state:
  Defense and Security
  Science and Innovation
  Arcana, Psionics and Mysticism
  Commerce and Infrastructure
  Citizenship and Internal Affairs
  Foreign Policy and Espionage
  Each councilor holds autonomous control within their domain, answerable only to the Council collectively—and to the Supreme Consul in matters of existential threat.   The Supreme Consul Is First Among Tyrants.
The Supreme Consul serves as wartime executor, tie-breaker, and voice of unity in times of crisis. This role is not fixed by blood or vote—but by dominance, succession, or conquest, as determined by the Council and tradition. The Supreme Consul may be deposed by majority Council vote or defeated in sanctioned challenge.
  Democracy Within Discipline.
All citizens of standing may elect regional representatives, propose laws, and vote on civil matters. These elected officials report to the appropriate Councilor. Law proposals must pass committee, undergo scrutiny, and receive executive consent. The process is rigorous—by design.
  Checks Shall Exist. But So Shall Consequences.
Corruption, sedition, or failure within the Council or lower offices shall be met with swift reprisal. No office is above accountability—but no office shall be dissolved without overwhelming evidence and formal hearing by the Council.
  Emergency Powers Shall Be Recognized.
In times of extraordinary threat, the Council may invoke Directive Sovereign, transferring temporary executive control to the Supreme Consul or a designated War Cabinet. These powers lapse upon the resolution of the crisis or by two-thirds Council vote.
  Guilds and Factions Are Sanctioned but Supervised.
Trade guilds, scientific collectives, business syndicates and various alliances are permitted within the nation’s framework—but must register, declare assets, and refrain from armed insurrection or illegal sovereignty claims. Factional conflict is tolerated within limits. State destruction is not.
  Article IV — On Conflict, Justice, and the Right of Challenge
  Conflict Is Not a Flaw. It Is a Function.
In New Libertalia, disagreement is not silenced—it is weaponized. Through challenge, duel, trial, and structured competition, conflict becomes the crucible of progress. Violence without purpose is condemned. Violence with vision is governed.
  The Right of Challenge is Fundamental.
All citizens possess the right to challenge others—be it for title, property, reputation, or resolution of insult—provided the terms are public, sanctioned, and conducted through recognized forms:
  Combat (Lethal or Non-Lethal)
  Scientific, Psionic or Arcane Trial
  Strategic Duel (Game, Riddle, or Puzzle)
  Public Oration or Political Combat
  Economic Sabotage or Market Duel
  Legacy Duel (Bloodline vs. Bloodline)
  The outcome of a sanctioned challenge is binding, unless overturned by the Council in the interest of state survival.   Justice Shall Be Swift, Creative, and Absolute.
New Libertalia offers no illusions of leniency. Those who betray the state, its people, or its principles shall be judged and punished accordingly. Forms of punishment include but are not limited to:
  Execution (Public or Private)
  Gladiatorial Combat
  Indentured Scientific Service
  Memory Erasure or Neurological Reprogramming
  Transformation or Mutation (Voluntary or Not)
  Civic Humiliation and Ritual Disgrace
  Punishment is designed not merely to end threats—but to remind the nation of what happens when loyalty falters.   Dueling Is a Civic Rite. Every district shall maintain at least one sanctioned Dueling Arena, in which personal disputes may be resolved outside the courts. Unregulated dueling in public areas is discouraged—but not illegal, provided collateral damage is compensated.
  Trial May Be Demanded by Combat, Witness, or Wager.
Citizens accused of crime may select their form of trial:
  Trial by Combat
  Trial by Jury of Peers (Elected)
  Trial by Ordeal (Magical, Psychological, or Scientific)
  Trial by Oath (Binding Geas or Neural Contract)
  Trial by Wager (Outcome of a Challenge)
  However, the Council reserves the right to override any trial method in cases of state treason, biological contamination, or existential threat.   Vigilantism is Legal—Within Reason.
Citizens may apprehend wrongdoers, defend themselves, and intervene in crimes so long as they do not interfere with official investigations or cause disproportionate destruction. Vigilantes operate at their own risk, and may be challenged for authority.
  Appeal Is a Privilege, Not a Right.
Sentences may be appealed only once, to the overseeing Councilor or a designated high tribunal. Frivolous appeals shall result in sentence extension—or elevation to a worse punishment.
  Article V — On Legacy, Family, and Inheritance   Legacy is the Right of All Who Build. In New Libertalia, legacy is more than wealth or bloodline—it is reputation, empire, ideology, invention, and the name you leave behind. Every citizen has the right to craft a legacy. Every legacy must be defended to endure.
  Inheritance is Conditional Upon Strength.
Titles, holdings, and reputations may be passed to heirs or successors. But all inheritances—be they financial, political, intellectual, or arcane—may be challenged. The heir must prove themselves equal to what they claim. The unworthy shall not be permitted to tarnish a legacy by mere birthright.
  Family is Protected Under Law.
Children and legal wards of citizens, regardless of their parentage or origin, are considered under the protection of the state. Any harm, abduction, or exploitation of a registered child is a capital offense.
  Youth Shall Be Trained, Not Sacrificed.
Citizens under the age of majority shall be enrolled in education or sanctioned apprenticeship programs. They are not to be conscripted, experimented upon, or used in conflict unless with express Council approval. Juvenile offenses shall be handled by rehabilitation, training, or reconditioning—not destruction.
  Marriage, Partnership, and Blood Oaths Are Honored.
New Libertalia recognizes all forms of consensual partnership—be they romantic, political, strategic, or arcane. Such bonds may be recorded with the Office of Civic Union and carry legal weight in matters of inheritance, representation, and vengeance.
  Revenge is a Recognized Form of Justice. If a citizen’s family is unlawfully harmed, the victim or their kin may petition for Blood Rights—a state-sanctioned vendetta that allows limited retribution under supervised conditions. Abuse of this right will result in severe penalties.
  Foundlings May Rise.
Orphans, strays, and outcast children taken in by registered citizens may be adopted through the Right of Naming. Once named and claimed, they are protected by law as family. Any harm against them shall be met with the same fury as blood.
  The State Shall Remember the Fallen.
Those who serve with honor and fall in battle, in lab, or in act of defiance against the tyranny of New Libertalia's enemies, shall be remembered. Their names shall be entered into the Tomb of Legacy—an eternal archive beneath the Obsidian Spire.
  Article VI — On Innovation, Industry, and the Engines of Dominion
  Innovation Is Sovereign.
The pursuit of knowledge—technological, arcane, biological, or theoretical—is not only permitted but celebrated. All citizens have the right to invent, experiment, and advance their fields without moral restriction, so long as such acts do not endanger the nation or its citizens without cause.
  Industry Shall Serve Progress, Not Comfort.
Industry in New Libertalia exists to empower the nation. Factories, laboratories, foundries, and magical forges shall operate under laws of output, efficiency, and ingenuity. Environmental consequences are secondary to results, unless affecting state assets or legacy zones.
  All Creations Belong First to Their Creators.
Inventors, spellwrights, and artificers retain ownership of their creations unless:
  The state commissions the work,
  The creation endangers public safety or national security,
  The creator fails to contain or control it.
  In such cases, the Council of Six may seize, weaponize, or destroy the work by decree.
  Doomsday Devices Are Permissible—With Conditions.
Class-Ω ("Doomsday") devices are legal within New Libertalia, but must be registered with the Office of Strategic Armaments and subject to Council review. No Doomsday Device may be:
  Activated within national borders,
  Tested within national borders,
  Deployed without Council authorization.
  Unauthorized use of a Doomsday-class device is grounds for execution and asset liquidation. Possession without registration is considered a threat to state survival.
  The Market Shall Remain Unregulated.
The market of innovation—so long as it does not threaten the Council, leak state secrets, or traffic in state endangering extradimensional entities—shall be permitted to operate freely. Innovation and progress cannot flourish under suffocating light.
  State Laboratories Shall Be Sanctuaries of Madness and Marvel.
Government-sponsored facilities shall remain independent from foreign inspection. Scientists operating under state aegis are granted full immunity, provided they deliver results.
  Magical and Psionic Research Is Recognized.
Arcane, psychic, and supernatural research shall be funded, protected, and integrated into the national economy. Magical energy nodes and ley lines are sovereign state property but may be tapped by licensed citizens.
  Innovation Must Serve the State—or Be Removed.
Creations that risk mass destabilization, multiversal rupture, or state collapse will be confiscated, contained, or destroyed. Genius is sacred—but treason wrapped in genius is still treason.
  Threats to the world, dimension or humanity are considered by in large as threats to the State and shall be treated as such.
  Final Article — The Oath of Liberty and Dominion
  Let no one mistake what we have built here.
  New Libertalia is not a sanctuary for monsters. It is not a failed state, nor a den of chaos. It is a functional republic of dangerous people—founded upon the truths the rest of the world dares not speak.
  Here, freedom is earned, not granted. Here, the strong rise not by oppression, but by outpacing the weak. Here, legacy is not inherited—it is defended.
  This nation was forged by hands that once robbed vaults, hacked satellites, summoned demons, cracked atoms, and broke crowns. We were thieves, warlords, witches, and madmen—until we became builders.
  We are bound not by mercy, but by mutual ambition. Not by trust, but by the sacred calculus of risk and reward. And still—still—we are more honest than any empire, more loyal than any republic, and more enduring than any so-called utopia.
  Our founding pillars are these:
  Freedom without illusion.
  Order without hypocrisy.
  Strength without shame.
  Family without apology.
  Power, tempered by consequence.
  And beneath them all lies a deeper law. An older code. One whispered in the shadows of syndicate halls, written in blood and branded onto the bones of every man and woman who ever carved their name into the world:
  Do as you will. But be ready to pay.
  Let this Codex stand as our contract. Let it guide, restrain, and inspire. Let it remind all who walk these black-iron streets that villainy is not evil—it is simply unwilling to kneel.
  And to those beyond our shores who fear what we have become, who call us pariahs and predators:
You are right.
  We are what your world was too weak to become.
  We are New Libertalia.
  We are free.
  — Doctor M, Doctor Marcus M. Mercer, The Marvelous Mastermind of Malfeasance, Founder and First Consul of the Sovereign Republic of New Libertalia