Purpose
This page defines how authority works in Keystone Region and why outcomes are governed by systems, not individual discretion. Keystone Region is not run by opinions, improvisation, or ad-hoc admin decisions. It is governed by fixed canon, lawful processes, and clearly defined authority structures.
What Keystone Region Is
Keystone Region is the Official Pennsylvania Roleplay Network — a persistent, statewide environment built around Pennsylvania law, geography, and institutional structure. Actions carry forward, records persist, and authority does not reset based on staff presence or popularity. The world is designed for long-term characters, realistic consequences, and continuity across time, regions, and expansions.
Canon as Final Authority
Canon is the highest authority in Keystone Region. Canon defines laws, jurisdiction, escalation, court authority, enforcement boundaries, and roleplay expectations.
Authority Hierarchy
- Canon — Defines the rules of the world
- Courts — Decide legality, guilt, sentencing, and appeals
- Departments — Enforce law within jurisdiction and procedure
- Staff — Enforce systems and protect roleplay integrity
- Players — Create stories within the system
Staff do not decide outcomes. Courts do not invent rules. Canon outranks all.
Role of Staff
Staff exist to protect the system, not control the story. Their role is to observe roleplay, ensure systems function, prevent rule-breaking that disrupts RP, and document incidents for proper review.
- Observe and document
- Stop clear rule disruption
- Protect system stability
- Route disputes to authority
- Declare guilt
- Decide punishments
- Override courts or departments
- Resolve IC disputes OOC
When staff are deciding outcomes, the system has failed. Keystone Region is built to prevent that.
Role of Courts
Courts are the lawful authority over outcomes in Keystone Region. Courts decide arrest validity, charge legitimacy, sentencing, asset seizure, and appeals. No punishment is final without a lawful pathway.
Canon Lock Statement
Keystone Region canon is locked statewide. Rules are not changed to fit situations. Enforcement does not shift based on pressure. Outcomes are reviewable and documented. Consistency matters more than convenience.
What This System Protects
This structure protects players from arbitrary punishment, staff from favoritism claims, departments from unclear authority, and roleplay from chaos and resets. Everyone plays under the same rules. Everyone is accountable to the same system.
Final Authority Reminder
Keystone Region is governed by canon, upheld by courts, enforced by departments, and supported by staff. Money does not override roleplay. Popularity does not override process. Staff do not override canon. Authority is structural, not personal.
Courts decide outcomes.
Staff enforce systems — not verdicts.
Canon is locked statewide.