Laws: Elan

Laws of Elan

The Laws of the Kingdom of Elan

The Laws of Elan are hereby established by order of His Majesty King Killian SongShine. These absolute laws shall be binding in perpetuity for all Principalities, Duchies, Baronies, Fifes and Estates which reside within Elan proper or to which Elan extends its influence and protection thereunto (known as Protectorates). These laws are hereby decreed to be known as the HIGH CRIMES against the Kingdom of Elan. Anyone found guilty of a High Crime is to be marked with the High Crime Spirit Mark and so will be recognizable to all who see them. This Spirit Mark may not be removed on pain of Permanent Death.

Nobles ruling over individual Duchies, Baronies, Fifes and Estates are hereby granted right to create and enact their own additional laws, as long as they do not conflict with any higher law. The additional laws of Duchies as hereby decreed to be known as the LOW CRIMES and are not punishable for a sentence of death for the first offence. The additional laws of Baronies, Fifes and Estates are to be known simply as LAWS.

The attempt to commit a crime shall be prosecuted as if the crime had been successfully committed. Ignorance of the law is not a defense.

It must be noted for those foolish enough to commit crimes that ignorance of the law is not a defense and that anyone unwise enough to be convicted multiple times for any crime will find no mercy and receive a harsh punishment dependent upon the severity of the crime.

Judgment and sentencing are to be shouldered by the proper Noble authority of the lands in which the crime was committed. Sentencing need not include a trial or even the presence of the accused, although a trial is preferred and encouraged. If such a trial is granted, it need not be public. It is the duty and responsibility of the accused to gather any persons that might speak for them. If such witnesses are not present at the time of the trial, additional time need not be granted to summon them. Such witness may be disallowed if they are known to be disreputable or untrustworthy.

Once the trial has concluded and sentence pronounced, if the prisoner is found guilty, they are often allotted a specific amount of time (usually 30 minutes) to collect any monetary fines owed, return stolen properties, surrender to the authorities, and/or prepare for death (if so sentenced). Any prisoner that cannot pay a required fine must still surrender items of equivalent value of the fine (final arbitration lies with the presiding Noble). If the sentence for the crime includes death, then it is the Noble’s decision as to the manner of death to be dealt. The punishment of “death” requires that the spirit of the criminal dissipate and seek resurrection, not merely harm to the body of the criminal such that death occurs prior to them receiving a Life spell. Any resurrections are to be Field Resurrections so to prevent the renewal of skills. The term “obliteration” is used for convenience and is taken to mean “3 consecutive deaths” to be delivered.

The Noble may increase or decrease the sentence of a crime if they have cause to believe it is merited. These cases should be rare.

Criminals who are sentenced to “hard labor” shall serve that time working manual labor in a manner decided by the Noble.

Formal charges against a Noble must be made by another Noble. Traditionally, a Noble is tried by their liege lord if such is possible though such a courtesy given to a Noble is not required by law. Arrest of a Noble must be ordered by a Noble of higher rank than the accused within the lands of Elan. Such trials are always private and not open to the public.

High Crimes

· Assassination
Assassination includes the premeditated murder of another for a fee and/or the hiring of such assassins. It is thus treated as a more callous crime.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: obliteration; confiscation of all worldly possessions; Enslavement & expulsion from the King’s lands
Second Offense: obliteration until permanent death

· Contempt
Willful disobedience of the legitimate authority or declarations by nobility giving lawful orders made for the benefit of the people and the support of the law.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: 1 death & fine of 50 gold
Second Offense: 1 death & fine of 200 gold
Third Offense: 1 death & expulsion from the King’s lands

· Counterfeiting
Falsely making any currency with the intent to defraud.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: 1 death & fine of 50 gold
Second Offense: 1 death & denial of citizenship rights
Third Offense: 1 death & expulsion from the King’s lands

· Forgery
Falsely making or materially altering by hand or otherwise, with intent to defraud, any document or symbol which if genuine would be of legal efficacy or foundation of a legal claim.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: 1 death & fine of 50 gold
Second Offense: 1 death & denial of citizenship rights
Third Offense: 1 death & expulsion from the King’s lands

· Manslaughter
The killing of another individual impulsively and without premeditation, with dissipation and resurrection, whether through one’s carelessness, reckless behavior, or willful inaction.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: 1 death
Second Offense: 1 death & denial of citizenship rights
Third Offense: obliteration & expulsion from the King’s lands

· Murder with Intent
The unlawful and premeditated killing of a sentient being.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: 1 death, fine of 100 gold & 4 hours of hard labor
Second Offense: 1 death & denial of citizenship rights
Third Offense: obliteration & expulsion from the King’s lands

· Necromancy with Reanimation
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.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: 1 death, fine of 100 gold & 4 hours of hard labor
Second Offense: 1 death & denial of citizenship rights
Third Offense: obliteration until permanent death

· Pretending to a Noble Title (Impersonating a Noble)
The knowingly and falsely presenting oneself by document or statement to be of noble station.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: 1 death & fine of 50 gold
Second Offense: 1 death, fine of 100 gold & denial of citizenship rights
Third Offense: obliteration & expulsion from the King’s lands

· Slavery
The unlawful holding in bondage of an individual or the willful trafficking, trade or sale of an individual against their will such that said individual shall have no freedom of action or choice and whose person
and services are under control of another in entirety.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: 1 death & fine of 50 gold; freedom of all slaves & denial of citizenship rights
Second Offense: obliteration; loss of all material wealth & freedom of all slaves
Third Offense: obliteration; loss of all material wealth; freedom of all slaves & expulsion from King’s lands

· Treason
The communication or delivery (or attempts of such) of any document or information relating to the Kingdom’s defense to any foreign government, faction, or person who threatens the rule of the Crown.
Including attempting any form of criminal action against a noble, or rendering aid to a sworn enemy of Elan. Additionally, any crime which results in the death of a knight or noble of Elan.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
Offense: obliteration; confiscation of all worldly possessions & denial of citizenship rights; Enslavement & imprisonment for up to 100 years or expulsion from King’s lands or up to obliteration until permanent death

Low Crimes

Accomplice
to willingly aid or assist in the commission of a crime by either action or inaction. Those fully aware of their participation in the unlawful act shall bear the criminal responsibility as if they were
the sole participants of said crime. If the charge is in relation to actions against a Noble or to the Kingdom, a
charge of Treason may be assessed.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: as the actual crime & 4 hours hard labor
Additional Offense: as the actual crime up to 1 death

Aggravated Assault
Commission of Assault with the intent of committing additional crimes.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 30 gold & 8 hours of hard labor
Additional Offense: fine of 50 gold & 20 hours of hard labor up to 1 death

Artificially Influencing Others
To prevent a sentient being from being able to form or express their own opinions or make their own decisions through use of magical or alchemical means.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 20 gold
Additional Offense: fine of 30 gold up to 1 death

Assault
Assault is the act of placing someone in fear of imminent physical harm. This threat must be immediate and real. Simply insulting someone or a vague threat is not assault, nor are gypsy curses,
which while obnoxious and bothersome, do not rise to the level of “physical harm”.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 10 gold & 4 hours of hard labor
Additional Offense: fine of 30 gold & 20 hours of hard labor up to 1 death

Battery
The unlawful use of force or violence, constraint or mischief upon the person of another.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 10 gold
Additional Offense: fine of 30 gold & 4 hours of hard labor up to 1 death

Whitemail
Something of value obtained by threats of public exposure or criminal prosecution.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 30 gold & 8 hours of hard labor
Additional Offense: fine of 50 gold & 20 hours of hard labor up to 1 death

Bribery
The unlawful entry into a building or other structure with the intent to commit Theft
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 50 gold & 8 hours of hard labor
Additional Offense: fine of 200 gold & 20 hours hard labor up to 1 death

Burglary
The knowingly and falsely presenting oneself by document or statement to be of noble station.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 10 gold; 4 hours of hard labor & compensation to injured party
Additional Offense: fine of 30 gold; 20 hours hard labor & compensation to injured party up to 1 death

Coercion
The practice of forcing a sentient victim to behave in an involuntary manner by means of action, inaction, use of threats, intimidation or some other form of pressure or force.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 30 gold
Additional Offense: fine of 50 gold up to 1 death

Contraband
The unlawful possession, production, trade or use of any noted controlled substance is hereby illegal without proper licensure. This list is as follows: Chaos items (including potions), Enslavement
poisons, Euphoria poisons, Forget-it-Well poisons, Forget-Me-Not poisons, Love poisons, LP9 poisons, & Obliteration Scrolls.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: confiscation of all contraband & fine of 5 gold per item
Additional Offense: confiscation of all contraband material & fine of 10 gold per item up to 8 hours hard labor and/or 1 death

Conspiracy
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. This crime may be waived by writ of the hand.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 30 gold
Additional Offense: fine of 50 gold up to 1 death

Destruction of Property
The willful destruction or damage to any property of another or of the Kingdom or the destruction of one’s own property if it is done for some later benefit.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 30 gold; 4 hours of hard labor & compensation to injured party
Additional Offense: fine of 50 gold; 20 hours of hard labor & restitution to injured party up to 1 death

Extortion
The unlawful gain of money, property or services from a person, people, entity, or institution, through Coercion.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: compensation to injured parties & fine of 50 gold
Additional Offense: compensation to injured parties & fine of 100 gold up to 1 death

False Accusation
To bring charges of illegal activity by an individual or individuals without the proper evidence to support it.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 30 gold
Additional Offense: fine of 50 gold up to 1 death

Fencing Stolen Goods
The sale or attempted sale of goods which are known to be stolen in expectation of monetary benefit or other compensation.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
Offense: restitution to injured parties, fine of 10 gold, 4 hours of hard labor, & confiscation of stolen goods (if applicable)

Flight from Prosecution
Unlawful flight to avoid a trial or punishment for a crime.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: doubling of original maximum sentence
Additional Offense: doubling of original maximum sentence & 1 death

Fraud
Any deception, either by false statement, omission or distortion of fact, knowingly made with the intention to mislead or misrepresent to another information on which a reasonable person would
rely to his or her detriment.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 30 gold; 4 hours of hard labor & compensation to injured parties
Additional Offense: fine of 50 gold; 8 hours hard labor & compensation to injured parties up to 1 death

Kidnapping
The forcible and unlawful abduction or confinement of an individual against their will.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 30 gold & 8 hours hard labor
Additional Offense: fine of 50 gold & 20 hours hard labor up to obliteration

Libel
The penning of knowingly false, misleading or malicious words concerning another whereby such statements injure their reputation.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 20 gold; 2 hours hard labor; public retraction of words & monetary compensation to injured party
Additional Offense: fine of 30 gold; 4 hours hard labor; public retraction of words & monetary compensation to injured party up to 1 death

Mockery of a Noble Title
To deride, ridicule, or obviously and intentionally disrespect the personage, coat of arms or colors of an individual recognized as a noble in the Kingdom of Elan.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 50 gold & 4 hours of hard labor up to 1 death
Additional Offense: 1 death up to obliteration

Necromancy (Chaos Magic)
The use of any spell, ability, cantrip, formal magic, or any method or item that calls upon chaos or causes a chaos effect
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 20 gold & 4 hours of hard labor
Additional Offense: fine of 50 gold & 8 hours hard labor up to obliteration

Obstruction of Justice
The failure to report a crime is itself a crime.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine dependent on severity of crime which may not exceed 50 gold
Additional Offense: fine dependent on severity of crime which may not exceed 100 gold & 1 death

Perjury
To knowingly lie or make false or misleading statements to a Noble or Kingdom officer in the course of an official investigation or trial.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 30 gold & 4 hours hard labor
Additional Offense: fine of 50 gold & 12 hours hard labor up to 1 death

Possession of Stolen Property
The possession of goods which are known to be stolen, whether known or unknown to the possessor.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: confiscation of all known stolen goods & fine of 20 gold
Additional Offense: confiscation of all known stolen goods & fine of 50 gold up to denial of citizenship rights or 1 death

Reckless Endangerment
Risking the death of another under circumstances that show an extreme indifference to the value of life.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 30 gold & 4 hours hard labor
Additional Offense: fine of 30 gold & 20 hours hard labor up to denial of citizenship rights

Slander
The speaking of knowingly false, misleading or malicious words concerning another whereby such statements injure their reputation.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: fine of 20 gold; 2 hours hard labor; public retraction of words & monetary compensation to injured party
Additional Offense: fine of 30 gold; 4 hours hard labor; public retraction of words & monetary compensation to injured party up to 1 death

Tax Evasion
To avoid the payment of taxes, fees, tolls, or other remuneration on income, property, goods and/or services to the rightful authorities.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: 20 hours of hard labor & full payment of back taxes owed
Additional Offense: fine of 30 gold; 40 hours hard labor & full payment of back taxes owed plus a 10% fee of total taxes; up to denial of citizenship rights

Theft
The unauthorized taking, keeping or using of another's property by means of dishonesty and/or with the intent to permanently deprive the owner or the person with rightful possession of that property or its use.
----- PUNISHMENT-----
First Offense: return of goods or equivalent compensation (restitution) & fine of double the total value of items or 50 gold whichever is less
Additional Offense: return of goods or equivalent compensation (restitution) & fine of ten-times the total value of items or 100 gold whichever is higher; 1 death