Khaeros

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Articles of Vhalurian Law

By the Grace of Elysia, and upheld by the power of the Great King of our fair nation, we people of Vhaluran declare these the laws of our blessed nation.

Article One - Physical Assault and Murder

Section 1: no man may damage, or attempt to damage the body of another. In the case of an assault between commoners, the offender shall be sentenced to one day of imprisonment in the city jailhouse. In addition, if a commoner assaults a member of the noble Houses or a city official, they shall be sentenced to two days of imprisonment in the city jailhouse. An assault in which both parties are members of the noble Houses shall be treated as an assault between commoners. Any assault in which both parties are city officials, outside the scope of duty, shall also be treated as an assault between commoners. However, these officials or nobles may find themselves facing repercussions outside the scope of law from their superiors.

Section 2: any man, be they commoner, soldier, or a noble who has been found guilty of attempted murder or murder shall be immediately exiled from the city.

Section 3: any man who has been found committing the crimes of attempted assault, assault, attempted murder or murder for the purpose of preserving their own or another’s life from immediate danger shall not be held to further trial for his actions.

Article 2 - Theft, Trespassing, and Burglary

Section 1: any man found to have taken possession of property that is not legally his shall be considered a thief. This thief shall be sentenced to one day of imprisonment in the city jailhouse and shall be fined a sum of coin equal to the value of the stolen property.

Section 2: any man found to be in a building owned by another either after being told to leave or there by means of breaking in shall be punished for trespassing. They shall be sentenced to one day of imprisonment in the city jailhouse.

Section 3: any man found to have stolen another’s property from inside a building owned by the victim shall be punished. They shall be sentenced to one day of imprisonment in the city jailhouse and fined a sum of coins equal to the value of the stolen property.

Article 3 - Illegal Possession and Transactions

Section 1: any man found to be in possession of illegal goods shall have a fine of five silver pieces levied upon him.

Section 2: any man found knowingly purchasing or selling illegal or stolen goods shall have a fine of six silver pieces levied upon him.

Section 3: any man found knowingly selling or paying for a service that aids criminal efforts shall have a fine of five silver pieces levied upon him.

Section 4: if any man is found to be committing a criminal act for payment of any kind, both the offender and the employer shall be punished for the crime of the offender.

Section 5: any man punished under Article 3 of this document shall have all illegal goods confiscated and destroyed.

Article 4 - Blackmail and Extortion

Section 1: no man may use private information to force payment of any kind. Any man found doing this shall be sentenced to three days of imprisonment in the city jailhouse and shall have a fine of one gold piece levied upon him.

Section 2: any man found to be using physical harm, threats of physical harm or destruction of property to force payment of any kind shall be sentenced to three days of imprisonment in the city jailhouse. In addition, the offender must pay the victim for any damages to property and a fine of one gold piece.

Article 5 - Treason

Section 1: any man found, without authorization, in or on property where official business of the King or the city officials is conducted shall be considered a spy. All spies shall be tried and if found guilty, shall be exiled.

Section 2: any man found to be participating in acts meant to undermine the efforts of the King or city officials shall be susceptable to trial as a traitor. Any man found guilty of treason shall be exiled.

Article 6 - Procedural and Miscellaneous Ordinances

Section 1: the King is to preside over all official trials. In addition, the King posesses the power to pass judgement on any minor offence and levy a sentence on the offender.

Section 2: the First Knight, Knights, and Captain may pass judgement and levy a sentence on all criminals with the exception of murderers, traitors, spies, and offenders with three or more offences, which are to be officially tried before the King. Only the King may exile a man.

Section 3: the second offence on any man’s record shall result in a prison sentence of a length double the jail sentence that is typical to the crime. If any man accumulates three minor criminal offences during the course of their life, they shall be brought before the King for a hearing. During this hearing, if the offender cannot provide sufficient reason to be given mercy, the offender shall be exiled.

Section 4: any foreigner who is found committing a criminal act shall be punished according to the laws. After their sentence is fullfilled, they shall be immediately escorted to their city, along with an ambassador. There, the leadership of their city shall be informed of the offender’s crime and sentence. In addition, they shall be told that a second offence shall likely result in the banishment of the offender. On this second offence, however, the foreign offender is not to be placed in prison. They may only be banished.

Section 5: any man who is exiled or banished shall, in the event of their return to the city, be informed to leave immediately. Faiure to comply will be responded with an attack by the soldiers and possible death.

Section 6: any man who is accused of a crime and is awaiting judgement may be detained in the city jailhouse for up to three days. If, at the end of this period, no official with the authority to pass judgement is available, the accused must be released. The accused may be arrested again later, however, when the proper official is available. However, if the accused is convicted and sentenced, this period of detainment is to be subtracted from the sentence.

Section 7: unlawful or negative actions are not necessarily restricted to those outlined in this document. An official with sufficient authority to pass judgement, may, within reason, levy a sentence on men for things such as disturbing the peace, indecent exposure, or general troublemaking. They may also, within reason, show mercy and lighten a sentence for things such as a criminal turning himself in. Officials may also, within reason, increase sentences.

Section 8: any man with long outstanding fines shall be subject to imprisonment of length appropriate to the sum due.

Section 9: no man may be accused of more than one section of any one article for one incident. They may, however, be charged with violating multiple articles.

Section 10: all property involved with charges of theft and burglary is to be returned to its rightful owner. In the case of a failure to retrieve said stolen property, the offender shall pay the victim a sum of coins equal to the value of the missing property.

Section 11: failure to obey the orders of any man with the power to enforce law will result in a charge of insubordination. This naturally, is only valid within reason and will result in a fine of three silver pieces.