Laws and Regulations of the Town of Trolls Bane and surrounding estates
Nobles rights -
The rights and duties of the Noble Lords regarding their respective Borough
- I. Be the Lord of the Land, only subject to the Archduke and the Council of Nobles. This includes immunity of prosecution from all crimes which have happened within the Borough, with the exception of crimes against other nobles, treason and murder.
II. Act as the High Judge within the borders of the Borough with crimes involving commoners (Nobles are tried by the Archduke and the council of Nobles)
III. Right to grant building permits for citizens
IV. Right to tax foreigners with buildings or estates within the Borough
V. Right to train, maintain and equip his own militia or guard to keep order within the land. The noble lord may act as the captain of the group, but the authority of him and his group only exists within the borders of the borough. Furthermore, the troops shall be subjected to the command of the Archduke when so requested.
VI. Duty of overseeing that the laws of Trolls bane and the Edicts of the Archduke are obeyed
VII. Responsibility for the development of the Borough
VIII. Follow the foreign policy set by the Archduke. This means that the noble lord may not make contracts with the representatives of any foreign third party without the consent of the Archduke.
The nobles must allow access to their land for the citizens of Trolls bane. However, they do not have to grant it to anyone who is not a citizen (or above) of Trolls bane. The must respect the owners and ownership of buildings and land, but may deny the use of tools and buildings from anyone else they see fit. The nobles may ban or allow serfdom or slavery if they see fit, however capturing slaves within the territory of Trollsbane is strictly forbidden.
Laws upheld by the Town Guard
I. Minor Offenses
Punishment guidelines for the Guard:
- Fines: up to 15 silvers or returning of the stolen item. Further repercussions for repeat offenders.
Jail Time: 1 - 4 days.
Banishment from the Town Borders and surrounding estates: 1-10 days, repeat offenders could see more time.
A. Thievery
Everyone who takes property of someone else while acting against the owners wish or without the owner’s knowledge commits crime in terms of the Law. If the stolen products or materials have become a part of larger entity, have been used for the manufacture/repair of a thing or cannot be reliably or without risking damage to the victim be separated from the possessions of the thief, then the victim may be entitled to be given complete possession of that for which the stolen materials were used for. It should be noted, that only the property of Citizens and Residents will be protected against thievery.
B. Break in/Trespassing (Private building)
Whoever breaks into a house of an individual against the will or knowledge of the owner, or refuses to leave when asked to commits a crime against the law.
C. Disturbance
Everyone who disturbs the calmness and peace in Troll’s Bane by any excessively repeated verbal or physical actions and continues to do so even after official warning, commits crime in terms of the Law. Guards should note that Citizens should not be implicated for this, barring an extremely strong disturbance to others.
D. Assault
Assault is a crime which involves attacking someone with one’s fists or wounding him to the limbs in non-lethal way (and without cutting off the victim’s limbs). Guards should note that only residents and citizens are protected against an assault.
E. Defamation
Everyone who purposely designs and spreads wrong claims to harm someone else or to have own benefit from doing so commits crime in terms of the law. The crime is especially grave if it involves unfounded accusing someone in the government or guard without proper representation for committing a crime. Only citizens, guards and others in position of authority are protected against this type of crime.
F. Conspiracy to commit a Crime
Conspiring to commit a crime is now a crime in itself under the law. Should a person be caught in the act of planning, attempting or inciting others to break the laws and regulations alone or in a group, he is subject to the exactly same punishment as he would get for doing the crime. (Treat as category III.I-III.III crime depending on the crimes)
G. Concealment of identity
Anyone claiming to be another, wearing a suspicious article of clothing (hoods, long cloaks, visored helms), or refusing to remove these articles upon demand from a Governmental official or guard will be at the mercy of the law.
H. Provocation
Anyone who constantly and vigorously importunes, provokes or insults someone else by verbal or physical actions commits crime. To unsheathe a weapon and to try to inveigle someone to do illegal actions can be a form of Provocation too.
II. Medium Offenses
Punishment guidelines for the Guard:
- Fines: 10-25+ silvers, or up to the worth of the stolen item if it cannot be returned.
Banishment from the Town borders and surrounding estates: 10+ days
Jail time: 7+ days
A. Claiming false status to Authorities
Claiming to be a Resident/Citizen when you in fact are not is now a crime under the law. When this false claim is done by person who is accused of a crime, he/she can get double the maximum punishment under the law for the crime.
B. Giving false information to Authorities
Lying to the authorities is a crime under the law. When the authorities ask you a question, you should answer truthfully. The punishment varies depending on the magnitude of deception.
C. Obstruction of Justice
Anyone perverting or distorting the course of justice, interfering with law-enforcement or preventing the law enforcement from fulfilling their tasks commits a crime under the law.
D. Resisting Arrest
Resisting arrest through physical or verbal means is a crime under the law. Trying to prevent the arrest of someone, or sheltering him/her else by the same means is an equal crime under the law.
E. Disobedience
Everyone who refuses to follow official orders of the Town Guard or the Government, especially refuses imprisonments, bans or other official punishments commits crime in terms of the Law.
F. Robbery
In cases of thievery where the victim is threatened to be harmed by violence the crime has to be considered as Robbery in terms of the Law. When violence is used the crime has to considered as assault or attempted murder and robbery. It should be noted, that only citizens and residents will be protected against Robbery.
G. Threat and duress
Threatening a citizen or a resident with violence, or trying to force them into doing something against his will is crime against the law. Guards or other representatives of authority can never be charged for this without the approval of the High Judge. Residents are protected against threats or duress only within the walls of Trolls bane.
H. Kidnapping
Capturing or holding someone against his will is a crime against the laws. This does not apply to criminals and a guard or other representative of government is never committing a kidnapping. It should be noted, that only Citizens and Residents will be protected against kidnapping. (Kidnapping of a citizen should be treated as III.III crime)
I. Attempted Murder
Attempted murder is a crime where it can be seen that the perpetrator attempted to murder the individual, or that the victim was sufficiently severely wounded to justify that. Guards should note that Outsiders are protected against attempted murder within the walls of the city.
III. Serious Offenses
Punishment guidelines for the Guard:
- Fines: 25-50+ Silvers
Banishment from the borders of Trolls Bane and surrounding estates: Unlimited
Jail time: 20+ days
A. Spying
Spying for the benefit of other town or organization is a crime under the law. The magnitude of punishment depends on the graveness of the leaks, to which organization/town the spying has been conducted for and the duration of the spying. Always treat the case as category III.III crime until proven otherwise.
B. Murder
When a person is irreversibly killed by someone else, and it cannot be determined that this was in self-defence, it is seen as Murder in front of the law. ((OOC: Only Perma-deaths can be murder))
Anyone accused of Murder who doesn’t turn him/herself in immediately becomes an outlaw.
C. Arson and Damaging of property
Anyone who through fire or any other means, intentionally or unintentionally, damages the property of the town, an individual or a group commits a crime under the law. To encourage caution with fire, even unintentional cases of property damaging will be punished with fines. The minimum fine is 25 silvers but there is no upper limit.
D. High Treason
An individual, who alone or in a group, commits any or all of the following acts may be found guilty of treason:
- Inciting a rebellion.
- Belonging to, associating with, assisting or supporting a group which plans to overthrow the government of Trolls bane or assassinating a person belonging to or working for the government (or planning to do those individually).
- Anyone convicted of spying may also be punished for treason, and vice versa.
Revocation of citizenship, branding as outlaw, confiscation of property, extreme fines, a long period of hard labour or death by hanging may be given as punishments for treason, depending on the seriousness of the person’s guilt. All punishments for treason are handed personally by the Governor, or by the captain of the guard, should the governor be absent.