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Laws in your campaign
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<blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 6715717" data-attributes="member: 4937"><p>I generally assume that any legal system ever invented somewhere in real world has some sort of corresponded in the fantasy world somewhere. The really interesting questions to me are how does the legal system differ to deal with things like magic, multiple species of sentient beings, and so forth.</p><p></p><p>Lèse-majesté: Pretty much everywhere. Free speech is basically unknown, though some places are more tolerant than others. Actually uttering a curse, because it can actually become real, against the government or a noble can and often will be considered assault. And if the person dies for any reason, it will probably be considered murder.</p><p>Sumptuary Laws: Pretty much everywhere, although seldom detailed in the campaign. </p><p>Prima Nocta: Pretty much nowhere, or at least nowhere I've ever detailed. The curse of a virgin or newly raped virgin were she unwilling is just potentially too powerful of a thing to let this custom flourish, and there are just too many supernatural beings that take umbrage at this sort of thing. Also, it wasn't even that common in the real world as far as I can tell and is more common in literary works than history. I can't see a society where this is common being all that stable. Concubines, harems, and various forms of polygamy are the more common cultural solution to male ego.</p><p>Trial by Combat/Ordeal: Optional for civil disputes most places. Allowed for domestic disputes and available as a remedy for criminal accusations in some of the hinterlands. </p><p></p><p>Some additional things:</p><p></p><p>The use of mind altering spells such as charm person are universally considered rape. Punishment is generally to be esmasculated, sodomized with a stake, and drawn and quartered. Even the charge or accusation can draw a lynch mob not willing to wait for the legal authority.</p><p></p><p>Looting or arson generally is punished by death by exposure, usually in a gibbet.</p><p></p><p>It's usually illegal to bury your own dead, in the same way that its usually illegal to bury radioactive waste on your property without a permit.</p><p></p><p>In most places, sorcerers are considered inhuman monsters undeserving of legal protection. Sorcerers that are discovered are usually killed, have their fingers broken, their tongues cut out, their eyes gouged or scalded out, and then are burned to ash. Not necessarily in that order. </p><p></p><p>In most places, it is illegal to raise a man from the dead if he has a legal heir. A man so raised from the dead is not considered to be heir of his own property, and the death nulls all contracts such as marriage and the like.</p><p> </p><p>In most places, it is illegal for a wizard to enter a city unless he first announces himself to the municipal authorities and obtains permission. Once obtained though, it's rarely denied, because again, curses. Generally, if a wizard of the city kills a visiting wizard, it will not be considered the cities business to become involved. It would be a really rare circumstance where a charge of self-defense by a wizard against another wizard wouldn't be accepted as valid. Conversely, a wizard that used any sort of nonlethal magic against a non-wizard, better hope that the dead man was a known bandit or assassin as there will tend to be presumption of guilt.</p><p></p><p>A wizard is convicted of a crime not related to their craft (such as murder, excepting mind rape, diablerie, necromancy, etc.) is generally entitled to a noble's death - usually beheading.</p><p></p><p>In most places, it is illegal to speak ill of a deity by their sacred name. You are also generally forbidden to try to discourage worship of a deity that is formally patronized by the city, and you may not publicly preach the doctrine of a deity that is foreign to the city. You may provide a blessing in exchange for begged alms. In some places, all of the above is illegal, but you first must obtain a license. </p><p></p><p>If a cleric turns up dead in a city, it's considered an ecclesiastical matter. If it is a visiting cleric, the secular courts probably won't get involved at all unless asked, and will leave the matter up to the cities temples. </p><p></p><p>It's illegal in most places to carry swords when outside of a town unless you are a noble, in the service of a temple or noble with a right to arm followers and can so prove it, or have a license to form a mercenary company. Right to bear arms beyond a dagger or staff or similar 'tool' is generally not assumed, though it varies widely by custom. If found in violation, you can be executed for banditry.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Celebrim, post: 6715717, member: 4937"] I generally assume that any legal system ever invented somewhere in real world has some sort of corresponded in the fantasy world somewhere. The really interesting questions to me are how does the legal system differ to deal with things like magic, multiple species of sentient beings, and so forth. Lèse-majesté: Pretty much everywhere. Free speech is basically unknown, though some places are more tolerant than others. Actually uttering a curse, because it can actually become real, against the government or a noble can and often will be considered assault. And if the person dies for any reason, it will probably be considered murder. Sumptuary Laws: Pretty much everywhere, although seldom detailed in the campaign. Prima Nocta: Pretty much nowhere, or at least nowhere I've ever detailed. The curse of a virgin or newly raped virgin were she unwilling is just potentially too powerful of a thing to let this custom flourish, and there are just too many supernatural beings that take umbrage at this sort of thing. Also, it wasn't even that common in the real world as far as I can tell and is more common in literary works than history. I can't see a society where this is common being all that stable. Concubines, harems, and various forms of polygamy are the more common cultural solution to male ego. Trial by Combat/Ordeal: Optional for civil disputes most places. Allowed for domestic disputes and available as a remedy for criminal accusations in some of the hinterlands. Some additional things: The use of mind altering spells such as charm person are universally considered rape. Punishment is generally to be esmasculated, sodomized with a stake, and drawn and quartered. Even the charge or accusation can draw a lynch mob not willing to wait for the legal authority. Looting or arson generally is punished by death by exposure, usually in a gibbet. It's usually illegal to bury your own dead, in the same way that its usually illegal to bury radioactive waste on your property without a permit. In most places, sorcerers are considered inhuman monsters undeserving of legal protection. Sorcerers that are discovered are usually killed, have their fingers broken, their tongues cut out, their eyes gouged or scalded out, and then are burned to ash. Not necessarily in that order. In most places, it is illegal to raise a man from the dead if he has a legal heir. A man so raised from the dead is not considered to be heir of his own property, and the death nulls all contracts such as marriage and the like. In most places, it is illegal for a wizard to enter a city unless he first announces himself to the municipal authorities and obtains permission. Once obtained though, it's rarely denied, because again, curses. Generally, if a wizard of the city kills a visiting wizard, it will not be considered the cities business to become involved. It would be a really rare circumstance where a charge of self-defense by a wizard against another wizard wouldn't be accepted as valid. Conversely, a wizard that used any sort of nonlethal magic against a non-wizard, better hope that the dead man was a known bandit or assassin as there will tend to be presumption of guilt. A wizard is convicted of a crime not related to their craft (such as murder, excepting mind rape, diablerie, necromancy, etc.) is generally entitled to a noble's death - usually beheading. In most places, it is illegal to speak ill of a deity by their sacred name. You are also generally forbidden to try to discourage worship of a deity that is formally patronized by the city, and you may not publicly preach the doctrine of a deity that is foreign to the city. You may provide a blessing in exchange for begged alms. In some places, all of the above is illegal, but you first must obtain a license. If a cleric turns up dead in a city, it's considered an ecclesiastical matter. If it is a visiting cleric, the secular courts probably won't get involved at all unless asked, and will leave the matter up to the cities temples. It's illegal in most places to carry swords when outside of a town unless you are a noble, in the service of a temple or noble with a right to arm followers and can so prove it, or have a license to form a mercenary company. Right to bear arms beyond a dagger or staff or similar 'tool' is generally not assumed, though it varies widely by custom. If found in violation, you can be executed for banditry. [/QUOTE]
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