Knights of the Round Table (2nd)

Knights of the Round Table (KoRT) is an alliance in the green sphere dedicated to freedom, order and assisting nations in distress. It is the democratic successor to the alliance of the same name ruled by an absolute king. KoRT was formerly protected by the Apparatus alliance under the ex-protectorate bloc, Apparatus Project. All members of KoRT must adhere to the Royal Charter and uphold a measure of honourable conduct in deference to the spirit of chivalry. The Knights of the Round Table strive to maintain positive foreign relations by asserting sovereignty and poltical neutrality.

An Alliance of Equals
The second incarnation of the Knights of the Round Table is based on the tenets of equality and freedom. No knight is forced to act against his or her will. Every knight is free to play the game as he or she pleases (with the exception of raiding). Important decisions such as signing treaties or declaring war against another AI are determined by a simple majority vote on the forums. Each knight is free to express their thoughts on the matter at hand without fear of persecution or reprisal. No knight holds more power than another. Essential roles such as recruiters, ambassadors, forum moderators, etc. are mainly carried out through volunteer work.

The Royal Charter was written without a central alliance government in mind. The idea is to simulate real world nation organizations; NATO, The Triple Entente, the Holy League, etc. Each nation is independent, chooses its level of involvement and commands its own military.

Historically, knights were an unruly lot. This worked to their advantage (the First Crusade) and to their detriment (the Battle of Poitiers). The knights of the Arthurian literature were unique in that all were equal at their Round Table. None could be seated in preference to another - no overbearing hierarchies, no inflexible structure. KoRT lays great value on solidarity and simplicity in continuance of this trend.

The Round Table
The eponymous Round Table is widely recognised as a staple of Arthurian lore, first mentioned in Wace of Jersey’s Roman de Brut (1155). As the legend goes, King Arthur creates a round table so that none of his barons can claim precedence over the others when seated at it. The importance of the Round Table is shown in its role as the most renowned symbol of Arthur's famous chivalric order. The fellowship of the Round Table became the prototype of the many great knightly orders that were founded in Europe during the later Middle Ages. By the late 15th century the notion of chivalry was inseparable from that of a great military brotherhood established in the household of some great prince.

In Robert de Boron's Merlin, written around the 1190s, the wizard Merlin creates the Round Table in imitation of the table of the Last Supper and of Joseph of Arimathea's Holy Grail table. This table (here made for Arthur's father Uther Pendragon rather than Arthur himself) has twelve seats and one empty place to mark the betrayal of Judas. This seat, the Siege Perilous, must remain empty until the coming of the knight who will achieve the Grail. The initiation of the Grail quest is sparked when Sir Percival (or in some versions Sir Galahad) takes his place in the empty seat without being killed instantly - which is the fate of all unworthy aspirants.

Motto
"To serve equally and equally serve."

Charter
The Knights of the Round Table is a fellowship of sovereign nations, equal in standing, regardless of strength or creed. Knights may speak freely at the Round Table, without fear of insult or reprisal.

The Knights of the Round Table strive for Strength, Prosperity, Dedication, Chivalry, and Education in a way unparalleled. To be a member of the Round Table is to be a shining beacon in an otherwise unruly world.

Organization
Knights are all the members of the alliance, and have one vote at the Round Table.

The King shall be a knight who is the spokesman for the alliance. He shall speak for the alliance, sign treaties, and in times of alliance-wide wars, sign declarations and organize war efforts. He shall sit at the Round Table and vote like any knight. He shall administer the Forums.

The Round Table shall consist of all the alliance Knights, and shall have the authority, by a majority vote, to pass laws, to approve wars, to appoint ambassadors, to ratify treaties, to approve and expel members, and to elect or remove a king; and by a two-thirds vote, to amend the charter.

Membership
Any nation may join the alliance by changing its alliance affiliation to Knights of the Round Table and agreeing to comply with the Royal Charter.

A member shall be considered a knight and be entitled to vote at the Round Table.

A nation that desires to leave the alliance may do so freely and without fear of reprisal provided that it sends a resignation, discharges its debts, and completes all aid obligations.

Colours and Banners
Member nations may display any team colour and may display any banner, flag, family crest, or coat-of-arms.

Raiding and War
Members of the alliance shall not conduct tech raids.

No member may declare war on another nation without the consent of a majority vote of the Round Table, unless in defense of another member.

A declaration of war on an entire alliance requires the approval of a majority vote of the Round Table, must be signed by the king, and must be publicly posted.

A member nation at war may use any weapons at its disposal. Member nations may request war aid and assistance from the alliance.

Justice
Disputes among knights shall be aired in the Forum. The Round Table shall mediate the dispute in accordance with the laws and traditions of the realm.

Alleged violations of the charter will be posted in the Forums. The Round Table shall weigh the allegations by severity, and punishment may include reprimand, penance, reparations, or expulsion from the alliance.

Nations flying the banner of the Knights of the Round Table without approval, also known as ghosting, will be treated as hostile, and, 48 hours after fair warning, be subject to the articles of war of the alliance or other action as determined by the Round Table.

Amendments
Any knight may propose an amendment to the charter.

The charter may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Round Table after a 14-day period of discussion.

(July 15, 2011) (Amended May 20, 2012)

Events
November 8, 2010 - Founding of the predecessor alliance of the same name by VanHuek.

December 2010 - Disbandment of the alliance by VanHuek to join Viridian Entente. Some loyal members refuse disabandment.

February 2011 - Return of VanHuek and formal restoration of the alliance.

March 2011 - Members fight a series of defensive wars against the Jewish Hebrew Society.

April 25, 2011 - KoRT signs an Optional Defense Pact with CORN. 

May 11, 2011 - KoRT signs a Protectorate Treaty with the Apparatus, becoming part of the Apparatus Project. 

July 4, 2011 - Resignation of VanHuek. Members end absolute monarchy.

July 15, 2011 - Member nations ratify new charter establishing democracy and elect Trash as titular king.

December 2011 - Trash appoints Round Table and Mordred as caretakers in his absence. Each assumes the title of Regent.

February 2012 - The alliance fights a series of counter-raids against several Arabic tech raiders.

March 2012 - The members of Kick Ass and Take Name alliance merge into KoRT.

April 2012 - KoRT's new forum at http://cn-knights.net is created.

June 9, 2012 - KoRT signs a Non Aggression Pact with The Templar Knights. 

July 29, 2012 - KoRT's recruitment program is launched.

December 2012 - Several members of the New Conglomerate alliance merge into KoRT.

January 21, 2013 - KoRT signs a Peace, Intelligence and Aid Treaty with the CCC. 

February 2013 - The knights set up camp in Pixel Nations.

February 25, 2013 - KoRT ranks among the top 10 biggest alliances in PN.

April 1, 2013 - KoRT's flag gets uploaded into PN.

April 26, 2013 - PN-KoRT signs a Mutual Defense and Optional Aggression Pact with The PN-Legion With the dissolution of the Legion in Pixel Nations, the treaty is rendered defunct. 

May 06, 2013 - PN-KoRT signs a Peace, Intelligence and Aid Treaty with the Asatru Alliance, known as SPQR as of June 30, 2013. SPQR collapses in early August 2013, rendering the treaty defunct.

June 04, 2013 - KoRT reaches the 1'000'000 strength milestone.

July 05, 2013 - KoRT's NationStates branch becomes official after a general referendum. 

July 09, 2013 - Taco Spears, the last remaining member of CORN, merges into KoRT. The ODP between the two alliances becomes defunct. 

July 12, 2013 - KoRT signs a Peace, Intelligence and Aid Treaty with The Last Republic. . TLR disbands in April 2014, rendering the treaty defunct.

July 13, 2013 - KoRT's peace and war flags get uploaded into CN.

August 28, 2013 - KoRT's protector alliance, the Apparatus, merges with Pax Corvus. After a period of debate, KoRT decides to explore some treaties as an independent alliance. During the transitional period, the Aftermath bloc continues to offer protection to the knights.

September 18th, 2013 - KoRT signs its first ODP as an independent alliance with the Terran Empire. 

September 30th, 2013 - KoRT updates its NAP with TTK to an ODP. 

October 31st, 2013 - KoRT signs an Optional Defense Pact with the Prussian Confederation. 

November 23rd, 2013 - KoRT takes Monarch Order under its wing. The two alliances were both former sister protectorates of the Apparatus. 

February 6th, 2014 - Knight Mordred resigns as Regent after multiple votes spring up debating the election of a third Regent. Mordred's action annuls the previous ballots and triggers a separate, official election for a single knight as King.

February 12th, 2014 - End of twenty-six months of KoRT Regency. Knights of the Grail is elected third King of the Knights of the Round Table.

April 20th, 2014 - KoRT signs a Peace, Intelligence and Aid Treaty with United Republic of Nations. 

May, 2014 - KoRT's largest nation, Britannia Coast, is blitzed by DBDC. Aid efforts get underway to restore Britannia Coast to its former glory. Despite three of the six raids being highly ranked in the top 40 most destructive wars, KoRT continues to gain in strength.

May 6th, 2014 - The knights set up camp in Project Terra.

August 7th, 2014 - KoRT's treaty partner TTE merges into Nordreich. Several members opt to bolster the ranks of KoRT instead. Any nation flying the flag of the Terran Empire will continue to be subject to the KoRT-TTE ODP.

August 11th, 2014 - KoRT's PIAT with the the CCC is upgraded to an OEDP (Optional Extended Defense Pact). 

August 16th, 2014 - aNiMaLz, an alliance of micro raiders and multis, declares war on KoRT. The war lasts a whole month until September 15th, 2014. During its course the knights are able to fend off the aNiMaLz and ZI the agitator, Sir Kindle. 

September 1st, 2014 - KoRT reaches an alliance score of 10.44, passing the 10.00 score milestone.

September 20th, 2014 - KoRT joins the Emerald Economic Community, along with Viridian Entente, GPA, the Green Old Party and Mortal Wombat. The treaty is officially announced on September 27th, 2014. 

November 10th, 2014 - KoRT signs a perpetual peace agreement with aNiMaLz. aNiMaLz agrees to never bother KoRT again. 

November 17th, 2014 - KoRT signs a Protectorate Treaty with CoIS. 

November 30th, 2014 - KoRT honours its OEDP with the CCC by declaring war against the NPO. This is the first time KoRT takes part in a global war, in this case the Doom War.