Forest Law

Forest Law is the complex legal code governing areas of primordial forest in Anhara. Established around the founding of the nation, this system has led to much controversy and unrest among the populace, culminating in its eventual reform in the 350s of the present age.

Terminology

Sifting through the ancient forest law of Anhara requires knowledge of a number of legal terms and concepts both past and present, and is not to be attempted lightly by the average citizen. However, following the reforms, the table below (from The Forest Laws) is deemed appropriate to aid the every-man in his comprehension of his nation's laws.

Legal Term	Definition	Notes
Agister	Legal official responsible for enforcing Venison-related laws	From "agistment," the pasturing of cattle
Assarting	Clearing forestlands for agricultural use
Justicar	Judge stationed in cities or large towns with jurisdiction over national law	Reports to the High Justicar, chief judge and law enforcement officer of Anhara
Pannage	Feeding of livestock, mostly pigs, upon acorns or other nuts	Occurs during pannage season, generally between the 7th & 9th months of the year
Primordial	Forests largely undisturbed by men, naturally developing, and under the jurisdiction of forest law	Also known as "virgin" or "ancient" forest Not all forests are primordial, contrast map below with a map of Anhara showing forests
Purley	Outlying edge of a forest	Often used to indicate which villages have limited rights to a forest
Ranger	Legal official responsible for enforcing Vert-related laws
Venison	Legal term for forest law related to animals	Not to be confused with the meat
Verderer	A colloquial term for a Ranger from the Verdante	Used outside the Verdante, but sparingly
Vert	Legal term for forest law related to foliage	Not to be confused with the heraldic tincture

Areas

Pre-Reform Forestland

The Verdante

The region of the Verdante is known for its dense foliage, and here lies the least controversial of Anhara's forestland. House Osage has maintained a highly centralized control over this region since the founding, so the issue of the forests being owned by irrelevant houses is not seen here, unlike the rest of the nation. Thanks to this concise control, House Osage is the main exporter of lumber in Anhara, and employs a unique system of districts to divvy up forestry rights to individual townships within their territory. Rangers in this area are generally referred to as "Verderers", given the difference in enforcement practices between Verdante officials and their fellow Rangers in other jurisdictions. "Verderer" may also be used to refer to Rangers elsewhere, but is less common.

Westwoods

Growing along the Anharan side of Mae's Mountains, this is a small but strategically important forest. The Westwoods were entirely under the control of House Aegis, Keepers of the Westmarches, until the Second Climbing War both greatly reduced their hegemony over the region, and led to reforms granting House Buckler control over the southeastern portions of the forest.

Cliffside Strip

The Cliffside Strip runs along the base of the Coquet Heights' mountains, from the southern side of the Verdante Trail to Ellicott Creek. This long spit of trees was also the property of House Aegis until the Second Climbing War, when House Buckler gained control over its southernmost third.

Hartland Woods

From the eastern bank of Ellicott Creek to just north of Creekside along the Coquet Heights, the Hartland Woods were under the control of House Oeis until the reforms of the 350s. Along with all of House Oeis' possessions, this was a problematic arrangement, as the Oeis family line had gone extinct long before the Second Climbing War, having entirely fallen from power after the First, in 40AM. Following the reforms, the Hartland Woods came under the control of House Leone and House Moray, in the northern and southern halves respectively.

Oakcliffe

Similar to the Hartland Woods, Oakcliffe is a continuation of the same band of forest along the Coquet Heights. However, this was under the control of House Etan until the reforms granted the southernmost portion to House Leone. Oakcliffe is a largely unproblematic stretch of forestry, as it has remained mostly within the territory of its original house.

The Stopdale

Finishing the stretch of trees which include the Hartland Woods and Oakcliffe, the Stopdale was also under the control of House Etan until the reforms. However, unlike Oakcliffe, the territory around the forest did not remain under the control of its original legal owner, falling to House Meadowbrook after their ascent to major house status at the end of the First Climbing War. Thus, like all houses in a similar situation, House Meadowbrook gained full control over the forestry rights following the reforms.

Vestria's Grounds

So named for the view offered of the forest from the top of Vestria's Tower, this area is under the control of House Prominere, and has been for their entire history. Unlike many of the nine original houses, the Promineres did not see a large decrease in territory during their history, thus they have maintained both legal and practical ownership over Vestria's Grounds and were unaffected by the reforms.

Murkmantle

The premiere example of the injustice inherent to the forestry laws, pre-reform, is the Murkmantle. This forest was controlled almost entirely by non-land holding houses until the reforms of the 350s. Despite having been utterly removed from power in 16AM, House Salis retained control over the majority of the Murkmantle for more than 300 years after their usurpation by House Semillon . In the southernmost portion, House Oeis legally controlled the forests, despite a both being thrust from power and their seat having been razed in 39AM. Murkmantle is now under the control of House Semillon, Thewisy, and Etan.

Gloomden

Similarly to the Murkmantle forest, Gloomden was under the control of House Oeis until the reforms, despite having fallen from power three hundred years prior. It is now under the control of House Leone.

Allegany Forest

Nearly an example of the injustice of the forest laws, it was instead transferred from House Caersea to House Thewisy following the Sacking of Caerseat. Along with all Caersea territory, the Allegany Forest was yielded up by Lord Olivi Caersea in a much-lauded act of patriotism in 10AM. Since then, it has been under House Thewisy's legal and practical control, playing no part in the reforms.

Idlewood

Last of the primeval forests, the Idlewood belonged to House Oeis until their downfall in the First Climbing War. Directly next to their razed capital of Old Oeis, this woodland was largely a bandit haven until the reform, as no house exercised practical control over the area besides the powerless House Oeis. Post-reform, this area is technically under the control of House Moray, and has had its bandit problems largely resolved.

Offenses

Legal offenses against the forest laws took two different forms, vert and venison. Vert, illegal activity impacting the trees such as logging, and venison, crimes against the animals of the forests such as poaching.

Enforcement

Two different type of enforcement officers handle forestry law offenses, the Lord's Agisters and the Lord's Rangers. Agisters are in charge of violations of the Venison, while Rangers handle those of the Vert. However, despite their names, these officials are ultimately under the control of the High Justicar, and by proxy the local Justicars, rather than the Lord of the area. However, they enforce both the national overarching forest law, as well as local customs and regulations, but give preference to the first. This duality allows for the existence of a unique blending of forest law and local culture, such as in the Verdante. These officials generally proceed about their duties while both well armed and highly trained, as confrontations with poachers and bandits are often a threat. Owing to this, a mythos has sprung up around Rangers and Agisters, particularly in the Verdante, seeing them glorified as lone lawmen, dispatching bands of criminals single-handed. For their safety, these men reside within the forests themselves, and are granted exception to the forest law, within reason, to aid in their general survival.

Venison

Section II of The Forest Laws The animals residing within the primordial forests of Anhara are considered property of whichever noble house owns the forest, and are generally regarded as part of the ecosystem thereof, and crucial to the forest's health. Therefore, a number of crimes revolve around the safety of animals found in the forests. Hunting without permission of the noble house who owns the forest is illegal, and the sale of hunting licenses for exorbitant prices is the main means of income for many of the ancient, but less powerful, houses. House Oeis' sole remaining branch, for example, is entirely deprived of real power and subsists largely on forest-related funds.

"While the protection of property on the edge of forestland is crucial, only mastiffs may be used as watchdogs, and in that instance front claws are to be removed, preventing the hunting of game" - The Forest Laws, S.II, P.IV.

To protect the animals of the forests, a number of activities are required or forbidden by law. Only mastiffs may be kept as watchdogs within the areas surrounding the forests, and must be declawed. Prior to reform, any owner found with a clawed dog is to be fined, with the dog being killed if it has been found to have harmed game. Following the reform, the fines were reduced, and the death penalty replaced with a fine. However, a smaller breed of mastiff is common among poachers, and to be found using this more streamlined dog for poaching was a death sentence, being reduced to jail time following the reforms. The activity of poaching itself is highly illegal, and punishable by death, pre-reform, or life in prison, post-reform. In the Verdante, however, poaching remains a death sentence under local law, owing to their reliance upon forestland for their livelihood. There, the rivalry between poachers and forest officials is highly romanticized, with the lone Agister or Ranger an awesome figure. Groups of poachers are regularly rooted out and put to death, or arrested, and citizens are often rewarded for accompanying officials to destroy large groups or encampments. Those poachers killed in these sorts of events are generally hung at the edge of the forest.

"Three poachers hung in quick succession along the eastern portion of the Verdante, caught by two local rangers. May their bodies serve as a warning to those violating our forests." - Verdante Trail Courier

Poaching is more than the hunting of game within the forests, which is illegal on its own and caries a lighter punishment, but rather the organized and repeated act of doing so, often in a coordinated group. This includes, as well as hunting within forestland, the willful luring of game outside of forests. While accidentally killing a protected creature who has briefly wandered from its area carries a small fine, conspiring to lure it is considered poaching. Despite its illegality, poaching is generally ignored by all those except Rangers and Agisters, and occasionally orchestrated by the local nobility to circumvent the price of the forestry system.

Vert

Section III of The Forestry Laws Crimes against the Vert are extensive and varied in nature. They may include anywhere from the felling of trees for lumber, the picking up of fallen branches for kindling, or excessive pannage (see table). The upkeep of the ecosystem of the forest is essential to its status as primordial, and violation of the laws involving the Vert are generally more frowned upon than the Venison, given the regard granted to forests by the Familial Movement. This philosophy, adopted by most rural residents of Anhara, raising the forests to the status of trusts held by the people, with the primordial forests under the protection of the lord, and the more common areas to be protected by all for the benefit of all.

"Pannage may not occur outside of the season designated by the Rangers of the particular forestland, to be decreed within one month of the starting date of the season." - The Forest Laws S.III, P.II

Pannage, or the grazing of livestock on forestland, is illegal for all but residents of villages immediately near the purley, the outlying area, of the forestland. However, even for those with the legal ability to do so, pannage may only occur within a season announced by the Rangers, differing for each area of forest. This generally takes place between the end of Pyrae, the seventh month, and the start of Nemura, the ninth, running for a minimum of 40 days. During this time, pigs, sheep, and other livestock are allowed to graze within reason in the forestland. Pigs in particular benefit from this, as the pannage season coincides with the falling of acorns and other nuts, which are then consumed by the pigs. As the pigs search the forest floor for acorns, they also overturn the ground with their snouts, aiding in the forest's growth. Pannage herds are limited to thirty animals, and depending on the area, they are generally not allowed to forage within the same portion of woods for multiple seasons. This law is in keeping with the overall theme of moderation for those peasants allowed within forests, however it is important to note that those who live outside the purley of the forestlands have no right to pasture or pannage, and must purchase it. Similar to pannage is agistment, the origin of the title of Agister, which is the practice of grazing more specific to animals such as cattle, who are unable to consume acorns and similar nuts in large measure. This too faces similar restrictions, and is kept to the very edge of the forestlands, purchasable for a high price.

"The stripping of bark is forbidden, and any fallen products of trees are the property of the forest's legal overlord." - The Forest Laws S.III, P.III

The worst crime against forest law, however, is assarting. This crime carries with it the heaviest fines, and in some cases, death. Assarting is the act of clearing away forestland for agricultural purposes, which involves the total uprooting of trees and destruction of forests. Given the amount of infighting, particularly centralized in fertile areas of the nation, the food supply in Anhara is always at risk for peasants. Thus, the need for more farmland is high, both for the lower and upper classes, becoming a leading cause in the Second Climbing War. The preservation of forests against assarting by houses at no risk of starvation, owing to their lack of actual presence in the region, was seen as a ridiculous law by most. Along with the ban on the collection of fallen wood for kindling, and the exorbitant fines against the lower classes, this caused great unrest among both the peasants and the land-owning houses desperate to acquire the forests.

History

While viewed with some scorn in the present day, the original intent and benefits of forest law are well known to Anharans. Despite the injustice inherent in who owns the forests, as well as the excessive fines and punishments, the philosophy of Anharans lead them to hold their forestland in great regard. The upkeep and sanctity of the natural environment is important to most rural citizens, and held aloft as a crucial feature of their local identity.

Establishment

When Vestria first divvied up the territory of Anhara to the nine legendary founders of the original major noble houses, the forests of the nation were included in their domains. However, these woodlands were quickly differentiated from the overall concept of landholding in the nation. Generally in Anhara, territory is controlled in layers, with the major house holding sway over a region, and vassals more directly controlling portions thereof. With the forests, the major noble houses directly own them not as a trust, but as property.

Controversy

As time went on in Anhara, and politics took its natural course, some of the original noble houses fell from power. However, despite no longer having vassals, or in some cases holding any land, they retained their control over the forests. Oftentimes, fines and fees were the only means of income for some of these families, giving incentive to charge exorbitant prices and catch lawbreakers. This seemingly unjust practice caused great inconvenience to the neighboring towns of these forestlands, especially the major noble houses who had replaced those who fell from power. The greatest example of this would be House Semillon's inability to utilize the Murkmantle, prior to reform, despite having defeated House Salis hundreds of years ago. Not every noble house saw this as a bad thing however, rather it was simply tradition, or even beneficial. House Osage and House Aegis, for example, both controlled their forests and the surrounding areas since the founding of the nation, and viewed any change to the forest laws as a threat to their power. Conservative houses, especially those in the Coquet Heights who have a vested interest in keeping the power of rural nobles down, adopted tradition and piety as justification for the forest laws.

Reformation

"For too long have the reins of this nation been held by an ancient few, soon new blood shall be given their due." - Soon-be-assassinated Rhea Ilia to the Rhetorlord of Anhara

When Rhea Ilia came to power as High Priestess of Vestria in 351AM, her progressive attitude meshed well enough with the discontent of the people to allow for an attempt at reform. As the forest laws were largely enshrined within the Book of Etiquette, the High Priestess could technically circumvent the Rostrum in modifying them. This led to Ilia reducing fines, removing death penalties and jail times, as well as an attempt to make the forests common property of the people as a whole. Following her assassination and the subsequent Second Climbing War, the Treaty of the Summit saw her changes enshrined in law. However, the High Priestess' attempt to transfer the forests to the general public was uniformly unpopular, both with Conservatives and Climbers. Instead, forestland was put under the control of whichever house maintained practical overlordship of the surrounding region, with nuances granted to regions such as the Verdante.