Laws and Societal Norms

Laws and Social Norms

Depending on where you go, laws and law enforcement will vary. In addition to the usual crimes (theft, murder, etc.), there are other actions that would be commonly disapproved of. Whether they are illegal, heretical, socially unacceptable, or frowned upon, depends greatly upon location.

·        To cast any spell or use magic in a public place.

·        To go about in public invisible.

·        To skry upon any person or possess a skrying device.

·        To create or consort with the undead, or to be undead.

·        The worship of false or foreign gods. [ Especially evil gods ]

·        The use of magic by non-people, non-citizens, the poor, or anyone sketchy.

·        Drugs/alcohol are not usually illegal.

·        Being heavily armed/armored in a peaceful civilian setting. Having a weapon drawn.

·        To use magic (charm, suggestion, etc.) to compel another into a contract or tansaction.

Law Enforcement

·        Extenuating circumstances usually apply (No one minds if you cast spells helping the City Watch kill a Monster)

·        Money & Social Status, of either victim or perpetrator, make a huge difference in what one can get away with.

·        The rules aboard a ship are determined by the State if a military ship, or by the ship’s articles if civilian crew. Passengers aboard a civilian ship are be subject to, and protected by, the laws of the country whose flag the ship flies.

Rights and Personhood (from a European point of view)

·        All the European races are “People” (Elves, Dwarves, Humans, Human-hybrids, Firbolg, Gnomes, Halflings, etc.)

·        Other races (Usan, Lizardfolk, Kobolds, etc.) are “Natives”, somewhat lower than People, but better than Monsters. They are not People, but can be trained to act like People, sort of like a well-trained pet.

·        Africans (Orcs, Goblins, Ogres, etc) are not People or Natives, they are Monsters.

·        Slaves (Chattel slavery) are not people, they are property. If you kill/ruin/take someone’s property, it’s usually a crime.

·        Monsters can be killed on sight, unless they are Slaves. (Well, depending on the Monster. You can try.)

·        Indentured servants (“temporary slavery”, a common form of punishment) have more rights than chattel slaves, but less than People.

LAW LEVELS

Different communities will have different degrees of law and order.

LAW LEVEL 0 – Pirate Island

·        No Law enforcement at all.

·        The victim and/or their allies are solely responsible for reparations/revenge.

LAW LEVEL 1 – Frontier town or small colony

·        Community paid/selected keeper of the peace and/or arbitrator.

·        The victim and/or their allies are solely responsible for reparations/revenge, within community standards.

LAW LEVEL 2 – Large established colony

·        Community paid/selected keepers of the peace.

·        The victim and/or their allies are solely responsible for presenting evidence and probably acquiring the guilty party.

·        State laws and standards of punishment.

·        State representative determines guilt/innocence/punishment.

LAW LEVEL 3 – “Civilized” area (The largest/oldest of colonies)

·        State-provided keepers of the peace

·        The victim and/or their allies are responsible for presenting evidence and possibly acquiring the guilty party, generally in a minor/civil complaint, often usually via legal counsel.

·        The State investigates and prosecutes major crimes.

·        State laws and standards of punishment.

·        State representative determines guilt/innocence/punishment.

LAW LEVEL 4 – “Modern” area (Europe)

·        State-provided keepers of the peace

·        The victim and/or their allies are responsible for presenting evidence in a civil complaint, usually via legal counsel.

·        The State investigates and prosecutes crimes.

·        State laws and standards of punishment.

·        State representative determines guilt/innocence/punishment.