Zaku
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Posts : 108
Join date : 2014-02-25
 |  Subject: Laws and Regulations Wed Mar 05, 2014 11:57 am | |
|  - The Law:
In general, law in Estavyr is as is it everywhere. Severe crimes, things like murder and treason are commonly treated with a good hanging, while lesser crimes might warrant a missing finger or some lashes. Estavyr's only unique take on law maybe in that disrupting commerce, harassing trade vessels, and other life lines that keep the city alive is treated as being high treason. These cases end the same way murder might, with the guilty sent to the gallows.
The laws and common punishments are as follows. Anything not on this list, though expected elsewhere in the world, is more then likely treated the same. Some liberty is given to the guardsmen on duty to enact laws as they see fit, and it is in their power to enforce punishments and jail time for people disrupting peace or other disturbances that may not always be defined.
In any case, many of these laws could be decided by an ordeal. Some of which holding red hot irons on the hands until you blister, should the wounds start to heal in three days time you were innocent, if the gods willed it and they didn't heal you were guilty. These ordeals, though entirely barbaric, are still used in some cases though more often then not they are seen are archaic. They may be requested, but are rarely forced.
On the other hand, trial by combat is still used extensively between merchant lords and other businesses who take their issues to court. Gladiators and mercenaries find a lot of work battling these feuds in front of a judge, where if the accused was defeated before he was guilty. If he won he was acquitted. As written ordeals by combat are to be fought between the two individuals in question, though in the modern age many merchants hire swords to fight and represent them on the field instead.
The guilty may chose to be exiled in many cases. While this punishment is usually barred from the most severe crimes (treason, murder) lesser crimes and repeat offenders may be instead forced into the Savage Lands to be dealt with there, instead of in Estavyr's borders. This is commonly the case for misbehaving guardsmen and has become almost a tradition in the corp. It is also worth noting that while it may seem petty, the most henious of crimes are never treated with a proper burial after their respective executions. This directly violates Myros' teachings, a god many citizens in Estavvyr worship, and damns the culprits to wander in the afterlife, thus they never truly rest with the winter lord.
  - Quote :
- • Treason
The guilty are to be hung at the gallows immediately. They will not be treated with jail time, as soon as they are trialed and found to be guilty of their crimes they will be sent to be hung by night. This includes treason against the state, and commerce (disrupting trade lines, piracy, abandoned the guard, etc.) The guilty is not treated with a proper burial and is to be thrown into the wild.
• Murder
The guilty will forfeit all of their property, and savings to the victim's family. Then punishment will be chosen by the victim's significant other (if applicable) or their parents. Common punishments include boiling, drawn-and-quarter, and hanging (though other deaths have been put into practice). In the end, no matter the case, the guilty is executed and will not be treated with a proper burial. They are usually burned or thrown to the wilds.
• Magic, Hostile Use
The offender in question will be drawn-and-quarter. Other punishments have been used previously and may be enacted at any time (though in every case the end result is death). Any books or arcane paraphernalia written by the offender will be burned and considered contraband from then on. Hostile Intent is classified as a misuse of magic if the offender intends on killing, maiming, or otherwise injuring another civilian or public official. Different degrees of misuse exist and are further classified below. Offenders will not be buried.
• Forgery
The guilty will forfeit all of their counterfeit goods to the state and then hung. Forgery is treated much the same as treason, and in many cases the two go hand in hand. The guilty are not treated with a proper burial (as Treason would dictate) and are usually thrown into the wilds.
• Cults / Heresy
Freedom of religion is practiced in Estavyr. However, in the case of a cult whose deity's portfolio and practices include crimes such as murder, thievery, etc. The entire organization will be prosecuted extensively. Religious feuds also fall into this category and inciting holy wars or skirmishes against other religious followers will be trialed all the same. Lead instigators (such as prophets, or other leaders) will be executed. His close adjutants will be trialed the same. Followers are to be punished in varying degrees, though this is on a case-by-case basis.
• Horse Theft
One of the most common crimes, horse thievery is still punished by means of hanging. The convicted will be sent to the gallows, with their possessions forfeited to the victims in question. They are not to be honored with a proper burial, and their bodies will be cast into the wilds. The severity of this law has been questioned in the past but no compromises have been made as of yet.
• Piracy
If convicted the guilty will be hung at the gallows. If a boats or other vessels were used in the incident they will be dismantled and any funds aboard them or scavenged from the hull will be provided to the victims. Any accomplices will be trialed the same, and in the event that an entire crew is being trialed (or a company, guild, etc.) the entire band will suffer the same fate. Their crews will be cast to the waters they preyed upon.
 - Quote :
- • Adultery
The convicted will first forfeit an ear. If the guilty's significant other wills it, they may claim all of their partner's savings and property. On repeat offences the other ear may be taken, or the tongue. Divorces are filed in most cases though not forced by law. They may face a jail sentence no longer then a year.
• Assault
In the event that someone is attacked in any degree the guilty will face extensive jail time, a fine (of varying degrees, depending on the severity of the injuries) and will pay these dues to the injured person in question. Should the victim die to his injuries the case will be considered murder for all intents and purposes and the guilty will hang for his crimes. In the past convicted criminals have bypassed their jail sentences by choosing to be exiled instead. Though this is a common enough occurrence to note, it is not always guaranteed.
• Tax Evasion
The guilty will pay back double what they owe to the state. On repeat offences they will lose two fingers on their dominant hand. If the guilty continues to defy the law and ignore the state's requests their charges in many cases are considered treason. In this event, when evasion becomes treason, they are sent to the gallows. They may face jail sentences of a few years.
• Thievery, Mass
Thievery is considered mass when the crimes committed are considered organized or in the name of a gang or guild. This includes mass pick pocketing, routine burglaries, and all the crimes typically associated with rogues. If the entire gang in question is being trialed the leader is to be hung as treason, with his colleagues and followers trialed as so. First offence, (as dictated by Thievery, Minor) is usually punished by the loss of two fingers. If the culprit in question has already been convicted once they are to lose their hand. Jail sentences will be handed out accordingly, though all convicted must serve at least one years time for their crimes.
• Magic, Mild Misuse
The misuse of arcane cantrips for the sake of mischief, thievery, or otherwise is classified as Mild Misuse. Handled on a case by case basis, many of the convictions end in the removal of two fingers (to brand the convicted) and on repeat offences the removal of one hand. This process makes somatic spell components, which are required heavily in the magic field, hard or next to impossible to complete. Simply brandishing magical ability is akin to drawing a weapon and will be trialed as such (whereas weapons are confiscated any arcane paraphernalia is burned and one hand removed). Jail time is also a common punishment, with the guilty usually barred from any arcane studies then after. The misuse of mana in any form also falls into this category (be it narcotic like intake with vaporform mana, or the ingestion of solid forms).
• Sexual Assault
Forcing yourself on another individual or abusing minors in a statutory sense are considered sexual assault. The convicted will be branded on both hands, face an extensive fine (payed to the victim's family, in the case that they are a minor), and face a lengthy jail sentence. On repeat offences (in the event that these cases become so numerous they're serial) the offender will be executed. Two weeks in the stocks are commonly handed out to offenders, though this is as a guardsmen's discretion.
• Drawing a Weapon
Brandishing any kind of weapon, be it a physical tool or any ability over the arcane is against the law. The weapons in question will be confiscated (or spell tomes). Any other aggressors on scene will be forcibly moved and the convicted will face a lengthy jail sentence and fines. In the case that any parties are injured the culprits are to be trialed as you would a case of Assault.
• Poaching
Hunters caught poaching on land they do not own, or know to be wild will be fined. These fines will be payed to the state (or landlord in question). Jail time is commonly issued to repeat offenders.
• Smuggling
Any attempt to bypass customs, or transport illegal goods in / out of Estavyr will be considered smuggling. This includes avoiding taxation and import fees. Smugglers will lose two fingers (as given to thieves) and will pay fines for their crimes. Any contracts, licenses, or requisitions the guilty may have are forfeited and they will not be allowed to continue their trade within city borders. Jail time is common for repeat offenders.
• Arson
Setting any property alight is considered Arson. In cases where magic is in use the accused might be trialed for misusing magical ability, whereas cases where hostile intent is evident it might be assault (or murder in the event of death). Fines and jail time are the most common punishments. Should the guilty show signs of mental instability banishment is also an accepted option.
• Extortion
Commonly employed by thieves guilds, Extortion is any threats used to swindle money out of local businesses, districts, or public officials. Black mail is also considered Extortion. The guilty are usually trialed as they would be with Mass Thievery. A few exceptions have been made to this rule, but not many.
 - Quote :
- • Thievery, Minor
Pickpockets make up the bulk of those convicted for Thievery. Though other crimes warrant the same punishments at a guardsmen's discretion. In the case of simple theft, the guilty will pay fines to the victim and forfeit two fingers. They might also see jail time dependent on the severity of their crime. Repeat offenders are considered for Mass Thievery charges, though this isn't always the case.
• Loitering
Generally loitering around in public places or meeting spots such as plazas or parks is entirely legal. However, in the case that suspicious parties are loitering in front of businesses, in alleyways, or anywhere they might be mistaken for common criminals they will be removed from the post and sent on their way. Fines are generally not administered, though these might be brought up in the case that the party's loitering is affected a business one way or another.
• Squatting
Using abandoned or derelict homes and warehouses for shelter is against the law. Petty fines are usually issued out to the guilty, and in most cases they are forced to spend the rest of the night in a cell. In any case, rarely are squatters treated harsher then this, with most of them simply thrown out and forced elsewhere.
• Disturbing the Peace
Almost entirely at a guard's discretion, anyone disturbing the peace may be given a fine or a short sentence in jail (no longer then a week in most cases). Generally this includes people being drunkards in public, instigating verbal fights, or generally causing a ruckus in public.
• Begging
Beggars are not tolerated in Estavyr's streets. The punishments for such a crime tend to be light, with most beggars making off with a stern warning and an escort to the local boarding house. Guardsmen have been reported beating beggars, and while this isn't unheard of it is in no way condoned by policy.
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