Carefully bound into the badgerleather covers of this book is a dated copy of the First Constitution of Bendir from the days of the First Elder Council, accompanied by official records detailing the disbanding of the First, and establishment of the Second Elder Council.

The documents and records within remain in their original and unaltered states, as scribed in exact replication by Regrin Highhill, the last remaining of the First Elder Council and the subsequent Mayor of Bendir. His final act of office assigned three members to replace himself, including his wife Francisca Highhill with whom he later retired, in the hopes that their deeds would surpass those of their predecessors. Few records remain of the First Elders and fewer still are those who remember them.

These documents are their legacy to their homes and their kin. Past, present, and future. ---

Public Mandates of Bendir

1. Absolutely no outside animals allowed inside the gates excluding necessary and permitted badger trafficking.

2. Always close the gate behind you whether leaving or arriving, or whenever it is generally neglected and left wide open.

3. All weaponry inside the gates, excluding that of sanctioned guard personnel, is to be sheathed, put away, or left with Stregio at all times unless otherwise permitted.

4. Any spell of magical trickery concealing race, clothes, colors, etc. such as Treehide or Rockhide must be dispelled and left dispelled while inside the Fort.

5. Anyone wearing a helmet in the Fort must show their face upon request of any citizen or concerned visitor or especially Defender personnel.

6. Citizenship can only be given in full by the Mayor. Only gnomes, hin, dwarves, and exceptionally well-behaved svirfneblin deep gnomes may apply for citizenship.

7. Only citizens may buy, lease, rent, or otherwise reside within housing in Bendir.

8. Shops are to be owned, operated, and traded as seen fit; rights may be revoked upon higher infractions against Bendir.

9. Banishment policies regarding individuals or certain groups can be enacted by anyone above "Regular" rank of the Defense, but can be enforced by anyone at will.

10. All bans are subject to immediate and full review by the commanding officer unless issued directly by the Guard Captain or Mayor.

11. Anyone banished from the walls of the Fort should stay out of and away from the Fort, and may be subjected to active escort anywhere within the Dale borders.

12. If said banned person or persons do not leave immediately of their own free will, other methods of removal may and shall be used.

13. Lifting of a ban policy on a particular person or group must be agreed upon by both the Captain and the Mayor.

14. Harrassment of Bendir livestock in any manner without express permission of proximity from the Mayor is subject to immediate, severe punishment as per the presented situation, including but not limited to the death penalty.

15. Guards and Defenders and Militiamen may solves any of the above listed or implied problems in any form or fashion they deem appropriate.

16. Complaints regarding methods of execution or punishments or fines may be submitted to a superior officer for a full, impartial review.

Article I - The Bendir Council and Council of Elders

[I-i] The Bendir Council shall be fluid but permanent depending upon the will of the resident population; the Council, as a whole body, consists of two parts: The Bendir Council of the public and the Elder Council of the leaders of the people; "Council" may refer to both the members and to a meeting, itself.

[I-ii] The public Council consists of all willful Bendir citizens who are deemed of proper age to deal in the mature ongoings of a country surrounded by tallfolk lands; the Council is only those eligible citizens who make appearances; no seats are appointed or reserved, but stand-ins honoring the vote of an elderly Bendirian are welcome.

[I-iii] The elected Council of Elders consists of those citizens chosen from the public Council to act as representatives, judges, and leaders for Bendir; Elders are made so by the actions of the existing Elders; no outsider of any race or following may ascend to Elderhood, as this is an honor for loyal citizens and shall be respected as such a thing.

[I-iv] A Council Elder is a representative of the people; therefore, candidates for Elderhood must be nominated by the public, the nomination must be seconded, and the action is finalized by a third member not of the Elder offices; following a finalized nomination, a prompt vote of the Elder Council is taken with a majority approval required to pass the motion.

[I-v] When not performing or available for duties, Elders are citizens of Bendir and shall be respected as such a people who lend dedication to the improvement of Bendir; Elders are free to live and speak as any Earthkin would and free to act in the defense of their own lives or the lives of others; the Council of Elders are not the enforcers of law.

[I-vi] Seats of the Elder Council are permanent with the exception of those removed from office and those who willingly retire; an Elder may retired from his seat at any time without any further obligations; an Elder may be removed with a majority vote of both the public Council and the Elders, but shall remain a citizen and Council member of equal weight.

[I-vii] Elderhood shall be barred to outsiders alone, not citizens, unless all seats are filled in proportion to the total population; outsiders include those of foreign lands and those questionable citizens under terms of banishment or imprisonment; the total number of Elder seats shall be reasoned out between Elders and the people, whether it be formally or informally.

[I-viii] The budget and account of Bendir finances shall be overseen and recorded by one citizen appointed as the Treasurer; all spending within the coffers shall be approved by the Elder Council and reported appropriately by the Treasurer at each Council; funding of all things may be proposed or requested just as any legislation.

[I-ix] The Dale Captain holds virtual Elder powers as the leader of the Defense; the Captain may not vote as an Elder, but his approval is required for political matters in which the Defense is involved; the Dale Captain, unlike Elders, may appoint any soldier in his command to represent his voice in Elder Council matters.

[I-x] All members of the Guard, including the Dale Captain, are considered public citizens when Council votes are prompted; all Defenders but the Dale Captain may aspire to Elderhood, and all Elders may aspire to the life of a soldier; only a Mayor may assume the duties of Council and Captain, but may not expel any Captain while another exists who is willing and able.

[I-xi] In the event of a stale vote of the Council, the vote shall be taken once more, including the Elders~ votes as public citizens; in the event of a stale vote of the Elders, the Council shall vote upon the same topic and the majority shall count as one Elder vote; the Council and Elders otherwise vote separately on Council matters.

[I-xii] In the event of a trial concerning a crime against or within Bendir, any number of Elders shall act as judges; a jury of Bendirians thrice the number of judges may be selected and present if necessary; the defendant may request the services of any individual tolerated by Bendir policy as an attorney; trials shall be conducted as the judges deem appropriate.

[I-xiii] An Elder may be declared absent with a majority vote of the number of Elders which remain; an absentee holds no weight in determining the votes needed for unanimous or majority rulings; an absentee is restored to full standing upon returning and making an appearance to justify his continued Elderhood.

[I-xiv] If all Elders but one are declared absent, the remaining person may assume the duties of the Mayorship unless another returns within a year of being declared absent; absent Elders may be permanently removed after one year of inaction or inability by the will of the majority of remaining Elders.

[I-xv] A state of emergency may be declared by any Elder under circumstances threatening Bendir and its people; under this decree, an Elder assumes full powers of the entire Council, but not the power of the Dale Captain; all actions during the emergency must be reviewed and justified before the next Council; the emergency ends when another Elder is available for a meeting.

[I-xvi] An item may be added to or removed from the Bendirian Constitution in the event of majority Elder approval; any item is free to be proposed to the Elders by any speaker in the Council, including actions of personal intrigue and all else conceivable; matters concern the Elders only under the terms of this document or by the public will.

Article II - Bendir Civil Law and Defense

[II-i] The Dale Captain is and shall be the final authority on all matters of public safety within the Dale; his authority does not extend beyond the borders of Bendir; the Defenders are subordinate to the Captain in all dutiful respects; ranks, salaries, budget, spending, equipment, strategy, and all other military responsibilities are those of the Captain.

[II-ii] The Captain may grant any subordinate personnel any portion of his authority at any time with the exception of his own designated rank as Captain; the Dale Captain is placed into office by a majority Elder Council vote and may be removed by the same means; a nominee must be a member of the Guard of significant experience.

[II-iii] Funding and spending for the Defense shall be dealt with exclusively by its personnel in order to protect the public from harm; it is the responsibility of the Captain to request funding from the Elders to perform his duties efficiently; a private account for the Defense may be maintained with no obligations of disclosure with the exception of direct Treasury funding.

[II-iv] The Death of any creature and any activity considered hostile or potentially so shall be reported to the Defenders for counteraction immediately; all other responsibilities of the Defense are to be determined by the resident Dale Captain.

[II-v] The civil laws of Bendir apply to all people withing Bendir Dale; citizens, foreigners, friends, foes, beastly creatures, demons, dragons, goblins, lizards, and all things which draw breath shall be bound by the law; oddities which live but do not breathe shall be put to rest without exception.

[II-vi] Regarding offenders of foreign policy, the Captain shall act to end the violation with the Defense at his full disposal; offenders shall be detained if possible but stopped by any means; offenders of this policy are considered hostile, as actions in the name of Bendir may lead to provocation of foreign influence or other dooms.

[II-vii] Formal complaints regarding any law or ruling shall be directed toward an Elder for appeal under the terms of representation; fines shall be paid immediately but may be refunded with a successful appeal; deadly force is authorized to be employed at the cautious discretion of the Captain and his policies.

Article III - General Foreign Policy

[III-i] Only members of the Eler Council may undertake ambassadorial responsibilities in order to protect the interests of Bendir from the clear and present malintent of the outside lands; as established by the First Council.

[III-ii] Ambassadorial duties consist of and are limited to meeting with official foreign representatives in any setting which directly affects a matter of foreign policy; the establishment of treaties or alliances; declarations of war; the appeals of those questioning punitive measures taken by the Defense.

[III-iii] No citizen of Bendir shall act toward any party in such a way that a political trust between Bendir Dale and the aforementioned party is threatened; personal endeavors between a Bendirian and a party of foreign consequence shall be investigated by the Elder Council if deemed necessary.

[III-iv] Declarations of war may be voted on by the Elder Council only and shall be discussed with the utmost discretion; war shall be considered after all alternatives are deemed unsound or exhausted; no war may be declared without the signed approval of the Dale Captain and a majority Elder Council vote.

[III-v] Banishment is a policy reserved for designated enemies of the Dale; banishment policies may exist in regards to one person, one group of people, or a foreign entity; banishment policies may endure for any time period approved by the enacting party, including that of permanency.

[III-vi] The enactment of a banishment policy of any degree requires the approval of at least one Council Elder and the Dale Captain; banishment may be abolished by either the lapse of the predetermined time period or by Council approval of an equal volume as the enacting party, including the Dale Captain.

[III-vii] No foreign party shall be permitted to operate under or imitate the authority of Bendir without the consent of the Elder Council; the policy of consent does not include, under any circumstance, the duties of an ambassador or any other privilege reserved exclusively for the Elder Council.

~The bottom of the long sheet of parchment containing the Second Bendir Constitution is signed the full page across by one name.~ Regrin Highhill, Elder of the First Council, Mayor of Bendir