The Archon's Law
Purpose:
The Archon's Law is meant to define crimes and the structure of authority. It is an ever growing document as more First Archons and First Enchanters add to it. In this sense, it is the overarching rule of law within Halruaal but other law is developed by the regional Archons. This law governs the legal matters of the empire, taxes, and highlights the Halruaalan criminal code in that order.Authority:
Supreme Authority is invested within the First Archon of House Udaku. The First Archon can delegate these matters to either the various Archons of the realm or to the First Enchanter of the Imperial Senate. While the First Archon can add to the law, they are bound by the law from previous First Archons, except in the fact that they can only alter the code enacted by First Archon immediate before them.Taxes:
In the various regions, taxes are collected locally. Local Barons pay taxes to their Counts, who in turn owe dues to the Dukes or Duchesses of the great cities. The Eight Houses, run by their Archons, gather the taxes from their region's Dukes and subsequently pay their taxes to the First Archon. An exception to this are taxes owed to the Order of the White Oak. These are usually taken by the villages and towns of the North and particularly from Houses Aetius, Hanover, and Odinson.Crimes:
There are three levels of criminal acts worthy of punishments and each level is established in a structural hierarchy.High Crimes are the top crimes recognized by the Nobility, the Imperial Senate, and the Church of the Seven. These are acts committed by or on political actors such as the Archons and the Imperial Dragons, or acts threatening the religious or humanitarian well-being of large bodies of people. Typically acts of this nature span ethnic regions or threaten the peace between the eight Noble Houses. Individual people are unlikely to be charged with high crimes, but it's not unheard of. High Crimes include:
- Assassination of a House member
- Treason (acts against the Archons)
- Sedition (acts against the First Archon)
- Consorting with False gods and Fiends)
- Assassination of an Imperial Dragon
- Slavery
High Crimes are always punishable by death. The method of determining guilt are left to the Houses. In terms of wrongs between the Houses, the matter is brought before the whole of the Imperial senate with either the First Archon or a neutral house acting as the presiding Authority. Punishment is then determined by the presiding Authority. When this method is impractical, the alternative is trial by combat (either by arms or through a regulated wizards' duel).
Crimes against Court and Persons are the intermediate level crimes that are recognized by the Nobility and the Imperial Senate (and to their lesser degree the City Senates). These are acts committed by individuals of stature or peasantry against one another or guilds and factions. These are acts that usually span within Cities or between Cities, but can evolve region wide depending on the charge. Organizations can be charged with Crimes against Court and Persons just as much as individuals. These crimes can include:
- Impersonation of a Magisterium official
- Improper use of magic
- Used of magic outside of Magisterium Authority
- Murder
- Banditry
- Assault (with intent to maim or kill)
- Rape
- Arson
- Theft (of a serious nature)
- Kidnapping
- Slander and libel
- Blackmail.
Crimes against Court and Person hold a number of punishments typically correlating with the level of the crime. Someone could be punished with death, imprisonment, a wergild (fair price for the infraction upon the wounded party), conscription into the White Oak, and/or banishment. Crimes of this nature are brought before a number of bodies. These include (from lesser degree to greater): a city district's minister; a city's Magister; a tribunal of a city's imperial senate; the City's Duke or Duchess, the whole of a city's Senate; a panel of at least three Senior Enchanters; or possibly the Region's Archon. Trial by combat can also be invoked at this level; however duels for this matter are carried out until either one yields or the loser falls unconscious.
Petty Crimes are the lowest level of crimes recognized by the Nobility, the Lesser Imperial Senates, and the Church of the Seven. These are minor crimes that occur in the every day actions of urban and rural life (often times with drastically different punishments dealt out depending on governmental structures. Usually individuals are charged with these crimes more so than organizations or factions. They include:
- Petty theft
- Charlatanry
- Misrepresentation
- Minor assault
- Poaching.
Petty crimes are dealt usually minor punishments but in some location and ethnic regions, the punishments can be severe. They can range anywhere from fine to imprisonment. In more severe areas, a thief could be punished by losing their hand. One who lies constantly could have their tongue cut out, and even some sadistic lords could punish a poacher by running them down with trained animals or hunters. Either way, in urban environments, Senate ministers or Church priests usually try these cases in designated courts either within guard barracks or temple grounds. In more rural areas the local lord or their seneschals see to these matters personally.
Type
Manuscript, Legal
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