Laws of the Kingdom of Stonegate
The laws of the baronies of Stonegate have
been created to protect the citizens of Stonegate, and to provide a structure of
governing that maintains peace.
It is this law that all citizens will be protected
by. It is
the duty of every citizen of Stonegate to participate in the execution of our
law.
The Book of Law
All towns of Stonegate will maintain a
ledger of current laws of the Kingdom of Stonegate and any local ordinances of
that town and barony.
The Book of Law will be available to all nobles, town
militia officers, Stonegate Officials, and barristers. The reigning
noble of the town or barony maintains this book.
Enforcement of the Law
The local knights, town militia officers,
officials of Stonegate, and the reigning nobles will enforce the Law of the
Kingdom.
The local lord, town garrison, and local knights enforce local ordinances. The knights and
the captain of the guard are responsible for bringing the criminal information
to the reigning lord’s court.
A trial may be granted or scheduled by the reigning lord
and may not include the presence of the accused.
Recognition by the Court
To be recognized by a reigning lord’s court
for a trial, an individual must be either a noble in the Kingdom of Stonegate,
the captain of the local militia, a Stonegate official, or a barrister of the
lands that the court is being held.
Recognized individuals of that court may introduce
witnesses or evidence to that court during a trial. Introduced witnesses may only
answer questions asked them from recognized members of that court participating
in the trial.
Introduced witnesses may never address the court except to
answer questions.
Nexus and the Accused
Any commoner accused of a crime can be
temporarily released while waiting for their trial. For the accused individual to be
temporarily released, nexus must be created. Nexus is created by either a
noble in the Kingdom of Stonegate, the captain of the local militia, a leader of
a recognized house in the lands which the court is being held, a Guild-master of
the town, a Stonegate official, or a barrister of the lands that the court is
being held applying for custody of the accused. The reigning noble can refuse or
grant nexus as they see necessary.
Accused individuals with nexus may not leave the
town.
Individuals receiving custody of the accused will have to supply collateral
before the accused will receive nexus.
If the accused leaves town before the trial, the
accused will automatically be found guilty, collateral will become property of
Stonegate, and individuals with custody may be punished as the reigning noble
sees fit.
Prosecution of Criminals of the Kingdom of Stonegate
Members of the local nobility, the local
captain of the guard, or an official of Stonegate may prosecute commoners. A local barrister
may prosecute a commoner if and only if either a knight, the captain of the town
guard, or an official of Stonegate supports the prosecution. Once the
barrister acquires support from one of the above, the two parties must request
to address the court of the reigning noble.
At that time, a trial may be granted and scheduled.
Defending the Accused
Commoners accused of a crime may defend
themselves by having either a noble of the Kingdom of Stonegate, the captain of
the guard, a Stonegate Official, or a local barrister to represent them. Commoners are not
allowed to introduce witnesses or evidence since the court does not recognize
them.
Commoners with out a recognized court representative may only question witnesses
called and may address the court in the final argument. In no way can a
commoner defending himself submit evidence!
Verdicts of the law
Once the court has heard or reviewed all
evidence, the reigning noble will pronounce a sentence if the individual is
guilty.
Innocent individuals will then be allowed to go free. Sentencing for
the guilty party may differ from the Book of Law as the reigning noble has the
right to increase or decrease the sentence if extenuating circumstances exist. Guilty
individuals have one hour to pay all fines, surrender to the authorities, or
prepare for death.
If fines can not be paid, the guilty individual will
surrender all property up to the point where the fine has been paid.
The Law of the Kingdom of Stonegate
Necromancy: Not only is Necromancy a crime in Stonegate,
it is a crime against the Land itself. This crime involves casting of spells
with the word "chaos" in the verbal, creation and control of undead through
cantrips and Formal Magic Spells, and use of any item necromantic in nature and
also consorting with undead in any way.
(The use of any spell, ability or item that calls
upon chaos or causes a chaos effect. Also the use of any spell, ability or item
that causes the creation or release of undead as well as the use of any spell,
ability or item that transforms a living being into undead. The willful and
consenting possession of any item that possesses necromantic properties.)
First Offense: Death by burning, Loss of all
property, and possible Obliteration
Second Offense: Obliteration, Loss of all Property and
Banishment
Lycanthropy: The
creation of lycanthropic beings is a crime against the lands and people of
Stonegate. Lycanthropy is a magical affliction that is contagious via
numerous methods that include, but are not limited to touch, blood, and saliva
of the were-beast. Willingly creating, becoming, and/or consorting with
these creatures is Lycanthropy.
First
Offense: Death by burning, loss of all property
Second
Offense: Obliteration, loss of all property, and banishment
Murder: The willful taking
of another citizen's life, premeditated or in the heat of anger is murder. Even
if the victim receives a Life spell, you are still held accountable for this
crime. (Deliberate action to cause the death of any individual)
First Offense: Death, Loss of all property.
Second Offense: Obliteration, Loss of all property and
Banishment.
Assassination: While the
taking of another's life is covered by the crime of murder, assassination is
both the premeditated murder of another for a fee and the hiring of such
assassins. It is thus treated, if possible, as a more callous crime.
First Offense: Two Deaths by drawing &
quartering and loss of all property.
Second Offense: Obliteration and Banishment.
Assault: The willful attack
on another citizen by any means including weapon, spell, alchemy, potion or
trap. (An unlawful attempt or declaration (written or unwritten) on the part of
one or several with force or violence or malice to cause unwanted harm or
mischief upon another. An attempt or offer to harm another without touching
them, as one lifts their arms in a threatening manner to another or strikes at
them and misses.) If the assault causes death the charge will become murder.
First Offense: Public Beating and 25 gold
piece fine.
Second Offense: Death by the sword and loss of property.
Theft: The taking of
another citizen's property without permission is theft. Looting another's body
is a form of theft and will be treated as such. (To use any portion of or to
take possession of the property of another against there will.)
First Offense: Return of property, 25 gold
piece fine and branded with the symbol “T”.
Second Offense: Return of property, Loss of all property
and death by beheading.
Slavery: The buying,
selling or trade of sentient beings as well as the ownership of such is slavery.
The use of Enslavement elixirs is also a form of slavery. (The willful buying,
selling, or holding of an individual against their will such that said
individual shall have no freedom of action and whose person and services are
wholly under the control of another.)
First Offense: Death by drawing and
quartering, Loss of all property.
Second Offense: Obliteration, Loss of all property and
Banishment.
Perjury: To knowingly lie
or make false or misleading statements to a noble, magistrate or persons given
the power to conduct an official investigation or trial while they are in the
course of such an investigation or trial.
First Offense: Loss of property
Second Offense: Death by the sword and loss of property.
Raising or possessing an illegal Circle of Power: By Kingdom decree, permission to raise a circle of power lasting
longer than one hour, celestial or earth, must be granted by the Liege of that
land in writing. To do so without such permission is illegal.
First Offense: 50 gold piece fine,
Destruction of Circle at owner's expense, and Loss of Formal Scroll used to
extend the circle beyond one hour.
Second Offense: Death by beheading plus first offense
penalties.
Slander: The speaking of
false or malicious words concerning another whereby injuring results to their
reputation.
First Offense: Public Beating and 25 gold
piece fine.
Second Offense: Death by the sword and loss of property.
Treason: Treason covers things from disobeying a
direct noble order, attempting any form of criminal action on a noble of
Stonegate, rendering aid to a sworn enemy of Stonegate and inciting rebellion
against the noble and royal courts of Stonegate. (The involvement in any action
or assemblage for the purpose of rebelling against the state or its lawful
governing body or in aiding any other individual or individuals either foreign
or domestic to do the same.)
First Offense: Obliteration to Permanent Death.
Conspiracy: This crime is
defined as the knowledge and willful cooperation in or planning by more than one
person to commit any of the other crimes listed here. (A combination or
confederation between two or more willing persons for the purpose of committing
by their joint efforts some criminal act or some act which is innocent in itself
but becomes criminal when done by the concerted action of the conspirators.) If
the conspiracy is against a noble, the charge is treason.
First Offense: 25 gold piece fine and
removal of tongue.
Second Offense: Death by beheading.
Counterfeiting\Forgery:
While the obvious cause of this crime is the use of false monies, it also
includes the sale or trade of false formal components represented as real
components and the use of a counterfeited signature or writ. If a Noble
signature or writ is counterfeited this becomes treason. (Falsely making or
materially altering by hand or otherwise with intent to defraud, any document or
symbol which if genuine might apparently be of legal efficacy or the foundation
of a legal claim.)
First Offense: 25 gold piece fine and
branding of the back of the right hand.
Second Offense: Death by beheading and loss of all
property.
Impersonating a Noble: This
involves not only the act of pretending to have noble title when you do not have
such but also acting as if a noble has given you authority to act in their name
when they have not. If you commit a crime while doing this the charge is
elevated to Treason. (To knowingly present oneself by document, raiment,
statement to be of a noble station.)
First Offense: Death by beheading and loss
of all property.
Second Offense: Obliteration, Banishment, and loss of
property.
Kidnapping: This crime
involves the unlawful taking and holding of a citizen against his or her will
and attempts to ransom these captives to friends or family. Also the forcible
and unlawful confinement of an individual.
First offense: Death by impalement, loss of
property.
Second Offense: Obliteration and Banishment.
Creation of a Golem:
The creation of a golem
of any type has proven to be detrimental to the psyche of the being that is
placed within this shell of non-living matter.
First
Offense: 10 gold piece fine
Second
Offense: 25 gold piece fine and loss of property.
Libel:
One person or group of persons issuing or presenting a
prejudicial or false statement or accusation pertaining to any other by the use
of print, writing, pictures, or signs. It is a crime to print, write, etc.
knowingly false statements with the intent to injure the character or image of
another.
First Offense: Public Beating and 25 gold
piece fine.
Second Offense: Death by the sword and loss of property.
Mockery of a Noble: This
involves the defamation of a Nobles character through insults, lies or mockery.
If this is used to incite rebellion the charge becomes treason.
First offense: 10 gold piece fine.
Second Offense: Loss of all property and possible death by
beheading.
Accomplice: An associate in
crime, one who willfully operates, aids or assists in the commission of a crime,
Either by action or inaction. The accomplice shall bear the criminal
responsibility as if they were the sole participants of said crime.
Arson:
The willful destruction of another's property without consent by any means. (The
willful destruction or damage by fire to any property of another or of the
state. Also the destruction of ones own property by fire if it is done so for
profit and or if some collateral damage or destruction to the property of
another or of the state ensues.)
First Offense: Death by burning and loss of
all property.
Second Offense: Obliteration.
Tax Evasion: This is simply
the failure to pay any taxes levied by the Kingdom of Stonegate, or interfering
with the collection of taxes levied.
First Offense: Double Payment of Taxes.
Second Offense: Triple Payment of Taxes and possible loss
of property.
Deadly or Excessive Constraint: While maintaining the law of the Kingdom of
Stonegate, no knight, town militia, Stonegate official, and reigning noble shall
apply excessive force to bring the accused to trial. Intentional excessive force is
actions that kill the accused or leave them disfigured. While force may
be needed to apprehend the accused, it should not be used to the point where the
accused cannot be revived with basic first aid. Intentionally not giving first
aid to wounded accused may also be considered excessive force. If found guilty
of this crime, commoners will be tried for assault, and nobles of Stonegate will
have to answer to their liege.
Orders allowing the use of excessive and deadly
force can only be granted by nobles and must be supplied in writing.
Desertion: Any member of the Militia of Stonegate,
whether for a barony or a specific town, that abandons their post and flees will
be tried for desertion.
First Offense: Death.
Second Offense: Obliteration.
Any person who commits any of the above crimes a third time will
find no mercy and receive a punishment commensurate with the severity of their
crime.