Legal Code: Raechin

Codified for the first time in the year 810, this document has been an ever growing, oft edited, and added too. It codifies the laws and rules of Raechin's justice system, as well as punishment guidelines. A lot of the rules are similar to many other nations, but there are a few exceptions.

Purpose

This document was created to establish, in writing, a legal codex and system for all the peoples of Raechin. To insure that there was one system, one national legal code, and a set of laws, rules and practices for enforcing said laws.

Document Structure

Clauses

This document is divided into the following categories: Capital offenses, Civil Code, Criminal Code, Economic Code, Immigration Code, Property Laws

Publication Status

Readily available, though as it is large, generally its available in sections to check on request in any church or town hall.

Legal status

It is the legal code

Historical Details

Background

This code took many many decades to refine to the point where it is now, and its always open to change, and growth from the councils held twice a year in Longreach.

History

This document has an interesting history in many facets, but the one most relevant today, and most recent, is the Ironfist accords that were signed a mere 3 decades previous. This ended a...long term civil conflict between the Ironfist Vrock in the north west corner of Raechin and the rest of the nation. This conflict was due very much so to the persecution the Vrock had faced elsewhere all over the continent for centuries, their unwillingness to submit totally to a new authority, for they had not fled during the Sundering when all others did. This tribe, number a couple thousand, had stayed and stubbornly survived and struggled on. So far as they were concerned, they were the true masters of their homeland, and as such their were quite....heated disagreements when the humans and their allies returned to reclaim their homes. These disagreements have let to a powerful treaty of sorts that allows the Ironfist to maintain their autonomy, acting as an equal partner, not subject to Raechin, contributing to the nation state taxes and their own militant might in return for the right to enforce their own laws and customs on their noted territory. That amendment to the legal framework, signed by both sides, allows the Ironfist to be a part of Raechin, with all the benefits of citizenship, while maintaining independent status and alliances to insure their own protection.

Public Reaction

Like any legal code, you can never please everyone. depending who you ask, there are always possible nitpicks. But overall, the public has, and continues to be quite pleased with this document.

Read the Document

Legal Code: Raechin

Lots of legal material, pretty standard stuff one would expect. Here I'll only cover the things I feel may actually come up and be relevant that are...a bit different, or are important to know. Section by section, this will briefly provide an overview of each section, and also a note of any odd laws or codes that...seem to stand out for their oddity.

Capital Offenses
These offenses can invoke a punishment of death, life imprisonment, or exile from the nation on pain of death as maximum sentences.They include the obvious, like all nations, any sort of Abyssal worship or magic practices are in this section. Rape, Murder, and Treason

Civil Code:
They don't quite have one, even for civil damages, one must either go through the state in some other way, or attempt to negotiate or challenge on the field of honor to solve such disputes

Criminal Code
This section is naturally one of the longest, breaking down the laws of Raechin that warrant criminal punishment. Much of this is as one would expect, but there are a few distinct and important things to note;
Anyone, even those charged with a capital offense, can request, which will be honored, a trial by deed. You will then be given a task, ordained by the government. The deed will be assigned based on the crime, and it will be something that is seen as a benefit to the nation and your fellow man. Such requests are rarely made, but well documented. You only get one. Once ordained, you must complete the task and deliver proof of such to the court within ninety days.
-In most towns and cities, there are laws regarding weapons. Whether its the local garrison and a simple double storing number and ticket system or something much more complex, all towns and cities do not allow their citizens to walk around heavily armed. Any weapon 1 meter (3 feet) or longer in length must be turned in. Any shield larger than a buckler must also be turned in. This is to prevent accidental injuries, and to avoid any other complications.
-In regards to self defense, it applies not just to your person, but to your possessions and indeed, to the concept of 'Good Samaritan' acts.
-All are entitled to a proper trial, though not necessarily a proper legal representative. If you cant find or afford to hire a lawyer, you are responsible for your own defense.
-You are to be neither assumed innocent, nor guilty, by the judge. S/He are to remain impartial, and both sides must present argument and evidence to try and convince the judge of guilt or innocence.

Economic Code
This section details everything from how the market flows, what the rules are on shipping standards, mining standards, etc etc. But the big part is also the tax code. All citizens must pay a 25% income tax on all they make. Tho this seems harsh, the reasons for it lie in Raechin's recent memory. They are a militant state by necessity, for they are the road to the north and south and the landing point for any troubles of Children of Chaos, or perhaps the Sea Raiders from the far off lands across the sea. They are the point of contact, they hold the gap, and as such they need a strong and numerically advantageous military presence across their lands. Such things cost a great deal of coin.

Immigration Laws
This section details the laws of immigration in Raechin. All nations on Valerick have an open border policy to a degree, but each do have a couple of requirements. Mostly in line of, 'Must have applicable and employable skills to offer.' In Raechin, they also do insist you have papers proving citizenship of the last nation you called home.

Property Laws
This section covers things like inheritance, and property tax, and all the little details and finer legal parts of property ownership and purchase or selling of property.

Close

Type

Manuscript, Legal

Medium

Paper

Authoring Date

810

Ratification Date

810

Signatories (Organizations)

• Raechin