Laws for Arabel
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The following work is put before the citizens of Arabel for public review for the next march. Any and all comments are welcome at the request of Lord Isodore
Maleen, which shall then be sent forth to the Regent Obraskyr for consideration in the final draft of the city's new law.Westar, Herald of Arabel
The Law Book of the City of Arabel as Pending Approved by the Alusair Obraskyr, in Hammer 30, 1382 These are the Laws and Ordinances of the Arabel. All
alterations to the Law Book must be authorized by the Viceroy of Arabel. If the
Viceroy is unable to fulfill this duty due to absence or unforeseen
circumstances, the Herald may authorize the tentative alterations
of the Law Book which must be confirmed by the Viceroy as soon as is
reasonably possible.Criminal Affairs
The following crimes are categorized in terms of severity.High Crimes
Defined under law as Capital Crimes of such heinous nature that the rights of
the nobility shall not provide a shield from the swift justice of law. Violation
of these laws may result in attainting of a noble at the discretion of the
Throne of Cormyr.Murder: Murder of any citizen protected by the laws of the
city of Arabel is a Capital Crime.Recommended sentence: Execution
Treason: Any domestic conspiracy that is considered an
attempt to overthrow or undermine the rule of Cormyr
is considered treason and warrants a sentence of Capital Crimes. Aiding
and abetting enemies of the nation is also considered treason. Accusations
of Treason must be tried publicly and in the city of Arabel itself.Recommended sentence: Execution or Exile
Capital Crimes
While serious in nature, capital crimes do not represent a blatant
disregard of one's subject status within the kingdom of Cormyr. While
many capital crimes carry a recommended sentence of exile or execution
the magistrates of Arabel shall carry the power to recommend inclusion
of capital criminals within the Penal Legion, or even time in The Pit.Abduction: Kidnapping within the
city of Arabel is a Capital Crime. Possession of Bottled Fey is considered
Abduction but shall be treated as a Serious Crime if the Fey is safely
released.
Recommended sentence: ExileArmed / Magical Assault upon Royalty or City Officials:
Armed or magical assault against a City Official, Foreign Diplomat or
individual of direct royal descent or position is considered a Capital
Crime. Note that trained unarmed fighters may be sentenced as being
armed even when not wielding weapons.Recommended sentence: Exile
Attempted Murder: If it can be proven that an assault
successful or otherwise was a premeditated attempt to have a victim
murdered then the offender can be charged with Attempted Murder.
Likewise shall one accused of murder, whereupon through miracles,
the victim has been raised from the dead shall be guilt only of Attempted
Murder since no final forfeiture of life has occurred.Recommended sentence: Exile
Creating Undead: The creation of beings known as undead
is a Capital Crime. Trade and use of created undead is also considered a
capital crime.Recommended sentence: Exile or Execution
Revised Contraband Act:
This act has now been nullified
Menace to Society: Repeated offenders can be brought
before a court under the charges of a Menace to Society. Offenders must
be shown to demonstrate a continuous disregard for the city's
Laws with multiple offenses without a conceivable sign of change.Recommended sentence: Exile
Slave Trading: Slave trading is not tolerated within the city
of Arabel and is a Capital Crime, this law does not apply to foreign
embassies of which reserve national sovereignty whereby their own
country's laws are applicable.Recommended sentence: Execution
Torture: Torture is defined as the act of inflicting agonizing
mental or physical pain, as revenge or punishment, as a method of
getting a confession or information, or out of sheer cruelty. Any form of
torture is considered a Capital Crime.Recommended sentence: Execution or Exile
Manipulating Souls: The act of manipulating souls, by arcane or divine means, against their will, is strictly prohibited. Trade and use of artifacts created specifically to bind, cage, or otherwise nefariously manipulate souls is also a capital crime.
Reccomended Sentence: Execution or Exile
Unholy Pacts: Summoning, worshipping, or entering into pacts with infernal or abyssal beings of the lower planes. Entering into Star Pacts is also a capital crime.
Reccomended Sentence: Execution
Serious Crimes:
Armed / Magical Assault: The instigator of armed or magical
assault will be sentenced to Serious Crimes; in cases of self defense the
arresting officer is to apply their own judgement and common sense.
Note that trained unarmed fighters may be sentenced as being armed
even when not wielding weapons.Impersonation of Authority: Impersonating City Officials,
Peace Officials, Foreign Diplomats, Nobility and Royalty is a Serious
Crime.Arson: The intentional burning of public or private property
without consent of the appropriate authority is a Serious Crime. Consent
may not be given under duress.Blackmail: Blackmail is defined as any attempt to extort and
manipulate another's actions through threats. This is a Serious Crime.Breaking a Binding Contract: Binding contracts are regarded
as literature containing signed signatures by two or more parties in
accord. Breaking them is regarded as a Serious Crime.Bribery: Any attempt to persuade another citizen of Cormyr
through currency or tangible asset into an illegal act is
considered bribery and is a Serious Crime.Defiling the Dead: Manipulating the dead in any form, be it
necromantic perversion, or other misuse or mistreatment is a Serious
Crime. This also covers the summoning of undead beings. The creation of
undead is a Capital Crime (see above).Drawing a Weapon on Royalty, Nobles, Foreign Diplomats or City Officials:
Drawing a weapon on a City Official, Noble, Foreign Diplomat or Royalty
in a threat to assault is considered a Serious Crime. Note threats by
trained unarmed fighters may be sentenced as being threats with a
drawn weapon even when not wielding weapons.Fencing of Stolen Property: Selling another citizen's property
against their will is a Serious Crime.Perjury Willfully giving false testimony to a judicial authority
is, whether directly or through testimony to a Peace Official for use in
judicial proceedings is a Serious Crime.Sacrilege: Defiling a temple or shrine and disrupting legal
religious ceremonies of recognized and endorsed religions is a Serious
Crime.Killing of Cats: The killing of cats within Cormyr is a serious crime.
Unarmed Assault on a City Official, Noble, Foreign Diplomat or Royalty:
Unarmed assaults on City Officials, Nobles, Foreign Diplomats and Royals
are considered Serious Crimes. Note that trained unarmed fighters may
be sentenced as being armed even when not wielding weapons.**Possession of Bloodstones Possession or use of bloodstones is a Serious Crime.
**Possession of Bottled Fairies Possession or use of Bottled Fairies is a Serious Crime
and in serious cases should be considered Kidnapping.Serious Crimes may all be punished through administration of a 1000 gold fine.
Minor Crimes
Destruction of Property: Destruction or distortion of any
property, public or private, without permission by the appropriate owner
or authority is a base of Minor Crime which may be increased according
to severity and extent. Fines can be enforced in order to pay for the
damages.Reckless Endangerment: The act of bringing harm to another
in an inadvertent fashion is considered Reckless Endangerment.
Examples would be the act of fleeing from wild animals and drawing them
into the city, dueling in areas that could bring harm to bystanders and
more.Resisting Arrest: Persons who resist arrest in any fashion will
have their sentences upgraded (not to exceed Serious Crimes). This does not
apply to a noble who agrees to return to their estates rather than submit to
arrest and remain there until their case is heard by the law.Defamation of a City Official, Diplomat, Noble or Royal:
Defamation, whether verbally (slander) or in written form (libel), of a
City Official, Foreign Diplomat, Noble, or Royal is considered a crime. The
severity can range from petty to minor, depending on the degree of
defamation. Defamation is defined as untruthful statements made in the
effort to damage the reputation or livelihood of another. It does not
include insults or general gossip, (i.e. actual malice must be able to be
proved)Trespassing: Trespass on private property is illegal.
Offenders who refuse to leave on request will be arrested. ‘Request’
includes signs indicating that one should not pass and door locked for the
purpose of keeping people out.Harming Cats: The act of inflicting pain or wounds upon cats
within Cormyr is illegal. It should be considered a minor crime.Minor Crimes may all be punished through a fine of 500 gold coins.
Petty Crimes
Disturbing a Crime Scene: The disturbing of a Crime Scene
is considered an obstruction of justice. Any such action will result in
sentence dependent on the severity of the obstruction.Disturbing the peace: The unsettling of proper order by
fighting, casting spells in public unlawfully, issuing threats of unlawful
behaviour, or otherwise behaving in a manner that creates fear or
distress in the general populace to the point of hindering regular activities
such as travel or the conducting of business is a Petty Crime, though it
may be adjusted for severity or repeat offense. This will apply to the use
of distressing Familiars. In
most cases, a warning should be issued first and an arrest only made if
the request is ignored.Drawn Weapons: Citizens inside the city will not have
weapons drawn. A warning will be issued first. Failure to comply will
result in charge of petty crime. Exceptional circumstances, such as city
defense, waive this crime.Failure to Comply with Peace Officials, City Official's or Royal' Orders:
Failure to comply with any reasonable order from the
aforementioned parties is a Petty Crime. A reasonable request might
include such things as leaving a location that is needed for important
official purposes, fleeing a dangerous area, assisting in legal proceedings,
etc. Any form of servitude or order to commit an illegal or immoral
activity is not a reasonable order.Royal Respect: All citizens, noble or otherwise, are expected
to exhibit the same respect to royalty. Proper respect includes bowing
when requested and making use of proper titles. Those who refuse will be
punished accordingly. Nobles and City Officials are to be treated with
respect, but bowing is not required. Proper titles should be used as
appropriate.Theft: If proven that an item was stolen, a jail term equal to
the crime is warranted or recompense of the item and an equal value of gold
shall be made to the victim. The recompense shall be doubled if the noble
is the victim of the crime.Unarmed Assault: Non-lethal, unarmed assaults are
considered a petty crime. This applies to any brawl of fists. Note that
trained unarmed fighters may be sentenced as being armed even when
not wielding weapons.Petty Crimes may all be punished by fines of no more than 250 gold coins depending on severity.
The Throne of Cormyr has the
right to make or veto any decisions of the Arabel Court and Viceroy.–---------------
Nobility, City Officials, and Royalty Notes:
City Officials include all members of the Arabel Court, all
Peace and Military Officials.- City Officials are permitted to draw weapons as appropriate to their
positions.
Foreign Laws:
Crimes occurring on Home Soil are to be tried by the laws of
the Cormyr. This includes any crimes involving Foreign
Diplomats.Embassies are land granted to Foreign Diplomats. This land is
considered their country and their laws apply there. Our laws do not
apply on their land, and no arrests are to be made there without their
permission. Diplomats representing these embassies are granted
immunity for everything beneath Serious Crimes though they may at any
time be required to return to their Embassy and stay within it's grounds
for a set period of time. An embassy in Arabel may be established only
upon the authority of the Throne of Cormyr.Revised ‘Protected Races’ act:
All races shall be afforded protection under the law, provided they are in the city in good will.
The city watch, subject to clarification by the Viceroy and Herald of Arabel, may make
exceptions to this rule for the safety of the city and the preservation of the peace.Noble Rights
A Noble is defined as a person given a title by the Throne of Cormyr.
Foreign Nobles, such as those from Cormyr, are to be treated with
respect but as travelers, not as nobles.- Retainers are permitted to draw weapons in their estate grounds. That
includes anywhere in the building, and anywhere behind their gates.
While on estate grounds, the Retainers can act as representatives of their
Lord or Lady. - Nobles are permitted to freely draw weapons in the city.
- All people granted noble titles are considered nobles.
- Nobles are not automatically City Officials, though they share some
similar rights.
Recognizing the importance of the nobility in the guidance and leadership
of the lands of Cormyr, all nobility are special rights under the law.Any noble accused of a crime shall have the right have their case heard
or reviewed by a council of nobles appointed by the Throne of Cormyr.Any noble accused of a crime, short of Treason and Murder, shall have the
first such offense treated as a category lower than it is for purpose of the
law under the supposition that a Lord who commits these acts has likely
done so only for the good of the nation or through honest error and not from
true malice or disregard of the law.No noble within Arabel's fiefs may maintain a military force of more than 50
soldiers and men at arms and golems, and no more than ten wizards within that number.Any noble may pay a weregild rather than face ignominious punishment for a
crime. The weregild shall be set at 5,000 lions for a Capital
Crime, 750 lions for a Serious Crime, 400 lions for a Minor Crime,
and 150 lions for a Petty Crime.Penal Legion
In the case of any crime of capital nature, the magistrate may choose
to subject the criminal to enrollment in the Penal Legion. Their they
become wholly subject and bonded to the commander of the City Watch who
retains over them the power of absolute life and death. Only a pardon from
the Crown of Cormyr itself may remove one from duty within the Legion.Subjects of the Penal Legion are sworn to the city's defense and shall be
utilized in the most dangerous of missions and combats. Any crime
committed by a Legionnaire after their subjection shall be considered an
act of Treason itself for their status is now, and in all ways, the preservation
of the Realm of Cormyr by whose sufferance alone they still live.Members of the Penal Legion must at all times wear the uniform and colors of the
Penal Legion, and failure to do so shall lead to execution.The Pit
In a joint venture between Lord Commander Anya Deschuur, and Lord Hardcastle
'The Pit' has been created to facilitate rehabilitation of criminals through service to
the city of Arabel.At the discretion of the Wyrmguard 'The Pit' may be used as a punitive measure in
the case of any crime which does not require a public trial by the laws stated above.
This is done under the assumption that the Lord Commander or a most trusted
subordinate has gathered enough evidence that a trial would be an un-neccassary
waste of Arabellan resources.'The Pit' may also be used as a holding cell for cases where a trial is to be held, and
the criminal acts, or nature of the criminal themselves cause the Wyrmguard to
believe the cells may not be enough to hold such a person. This includes but is not
limited to: Lycans, druids, powerful casters, and any other creature that may be able
to shapeshift, or otherwise call on a power the guard believe may aid in their escape
(eg, suspected infernalists).Once a pit sentence has been carried out, the crime is counted as repaid to society
and can no longer be held against the defendant, except in the case of determining
if the defendant has become a 'Menace to Society' through multiple crimes without
remorse.This amendment is applied retroactively to all cases since the construction of 'The Pit'
**** - City Officials are permitted to draw weapons as appropriate to their
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Westar updates the law book with new language regarding the nobility and the Penal Legion.
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The new lawbook has been accepted by the Viceroy and is now the law of the lands.
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Further amendments are made concerning infernalism, contraband, and the manipulation of souls.
