It is normal for patrols of the Citywatch to receive the aid of the guild of Magisters in everyday sentences and crimes regulations. They must abide to the plaints when making a sentence on the spot. It is possible for the convicted to ask for a regular process but, if found guilty, the expenses sustained will be added to their final sentence
The laws that are explained to all new arrivals and adventurers coming to the city for the first time are
-Slavery is illegal within the city and slaves brought into the city are considered free under all aspects. Selling slaves within the wall is forbidden and strictly policed.
-Weapons can be worn openly and used in self-defense but brandishing weapons in other situations is a crime against the Citizens.
-Waterdhavians expects debts to be paid in full, even if that means the debtor must serve a form of legal indentured service to the creditor (in the case of small debts) or the city( in the case of large debts)
-Duels are legal only in specific places but must be marshaled by a member of the Watch or a Magister. Lords,Magisters,guards, citywatch members, and Heralds are exempt from challenges and the Lords forbid duels involving heads of guilds, noble houses or priesthoods except extreme circumstances. Most importantly, duels are rarely to death*
(There are no precedents registered for legally authorized duels to the death)
-Perjury, abjudicated by magic, is punished by expulsion from the city.Using magic to dected lies and other means to discern the truth are legally accepted if casted by authorized entities in service to the Lords or a Magister
Be known that the city of Waterdeep forbids belonging to any religion that kidnaps or sacrifices living beings, steals their property, or carries out attacks on non-worshippers or other faiths. Especially followers of Cyric and Talos will be immediately captured for judgement. Cultists of Shar, if proven, are sentenced to death
Sentencing & Conviction
Crimes and their corresponding sentences, as administered by the Lords and Magisters of Waterdeep, can be roughly summarized as set forth below. This system is known as the Code Legal, and is only a basis for sentencing, not absolute rules.It divide all crimes into four Plaints into Crimes Against the Lords,Against the City,Against the Gods and Against the Citizens offenses. Note that both Lords and Magisters are free to determine absolute guilt and innocence, and set any lesser sentence they consider fitting (or none at all) if a crime is deemed justified or largely harmless and unintentional.
What an officer (Lord,Magister,Watch officer,etc) should use these as follow; to create any necessary decrees to prevent people from running amok. Magisters and Lords have in the past made Edicts specific to certain individuals (e.g. Sibrin the Warrior may not enter the City of the Dead at any time, for any reason except his own final burial), and will continue to do so.
Temples and priesthoods are not permitted to pass or carry out sentences under the Third Plaint; only officers of the City may do so.
Death sentences vary by station: Commoners and soldiers are hung from the Castle battlements while nobles are beheaded by the sword. Floggings are typically carried out at the Court of the White Bull. Death sentences sometimes can be commuted to exile into Undermountain, althought this often winds up with the same result
The Legal Process
There is no bail in Waterdeep, although a Lord can dismiss charges at will. This is rarely done; usually the offender must be an undercover Lord or trusted agent involved in something important to get such a reprieve. Magisterial justice may be appealed to the Lords by anyone, but such appeals must be within nine days of the initial sentencing, and non-citizens of Waterdeep must persuade a citizen of the City (money is the great persuader, Durnan once remarked dryly) to appeal on their behalf.
There are no lawyers in Waterdeep (an Open Lord of Waterdeep commented on this matter that “no one should get between citizens and their justice”), although there are a few professional witnesses who for a fee will state a case to their clients best advantage before a Black Robe.
Expulsion from the city is the fate of any of these who are caught swearing they saw something that did not in fact occur, or that they were not present to see.
Several minor clerics earn regular incomes for themselves or their temples by casting Zone of Truth from behind concealing tapestries at a sign from a Magister. The fee paid by the city is 500 gold pieces per spell cast, and so this service is used only in the most delicate of important cases.
Persecutions of Crimes Against the Citizens can be carried out on the spot by a Magister and their retinue. Rarely any sentence goes beyond a Hard Labor sentence*. They can be carried out at a lawhouse at the presence of 1 Magistrated and 2 Magisters. The minute of the procedures are rarely saved at the Font of Knowledge
*(Magisters don't hold the authority to carry out heavier punishments. In case of doubts that a punishment is too light for the crime committed, they will send the persecuted in prison for further study of the case and proper assignment of their crime)* [Generally, are npcs guards to automatically assign a prison sentence for these crimes, but this does not forbid players of the relative Magisters and Citywatch faction to carry out sentences..so long they are ready for any consequences on a bad judgement call]
Persecutions of Crimes Against the Gods and the City must be carried out in the lawhouse at the presence of 2 Magistrates and a Head Magistrate. The minute of the procedures are always available for checking in the Font of Knowledge
Persecutions of Crimes Against the Lords must be carried out in Plergeiron's Palace court at the presence of the Open Lord, at least a Secret Lord, the High Priest of Tyr and 2 Head Magistrate:The minutes are not always available for checking but they can be asked in the Palace itself.
Capital Punishment
The death penalty is customarily employed only to deal with dangerous and incurable lunatics, murderers, and those who commit acts of treason against the city or the Lords.
Sentences of death are usually carried out on the battlements of Castle Waterdeep if commoners or soldiers must die for death in such cases is by hanging, usually at highsun (noon). Several massive, permanent wooden scaffolds are cantilevered out from the Castle walls on the south side. Nobles die by the sword; such beheadings are usually carried out in front of the Palace gates.
Many people over the years have opted to stay an immediate death sentence for exile into Undermountain; while over 200 persons have requested this apparent clemency, Laeral reports of the survival of perhaps 10% of these. Persons sentenced to death who choose exile to Undermountain and are later caught in the city are put to death immediately.
Flogging
Floggings are more often carried out in the Court of the White Bull, but may be carried out anywhere if an example to the citizenry of a particular neighborhood is intended.
Fines
The commercial nature of the City, with its emphasis on mercantile trade and property, is clearly reflected in these typical punishments. The City is empowered to seize and sell the property of a convict to realize the money needed to satisfy the payment of fines or damages, without the consent of a convict.
The family, clan, guild, or business partners of a convict are never liable for the payment of a convict's fines or damages, unless they can be proven to have aided, abetted, ordered, or coerced a convict into the criminal activity in question.
Convicted beings may owe fines to the City and pay as they can over time, but only upon permission of a Lord or Magister, who will typically demand at least a partial payment immediately.
Paying off Debts
Most Waterdhavians are sentenced for debts of one sort or another either debts to another citizen or outstanding debts owed to the city due to unpaid fees or taxes or fines imposed by a Black Robe or Lord which cannot be (or are not) paid within a specified period of time. Such payoff periods are set by the sentencer, and are usually twenty days, exactly, from the date and time of the sentencing.
Minor personal (private) debts are paid off by the offender, by having him work for the person he owes money to (Watch officers will check on attendance to, and diligence in, this enforced servitude) until service, at the going market rate, equals the debt owed.
Major debts may result in the city paying the person owed from its own coffers, and the offender becoming an unpaid sewer, wall, or road repair worker until the debt is cleared. In times of strife, such offenders have found themselves pressed into service as temporary soldiers, or rowers on a seagoing raker, on the understanding that they are free of debt if they survive to make it back to Waterdeep with their ship or military unit. Only the Lords can approve a recommendation by a Magister, senior watch officer, or one of their number to seize property or goods of an offender to pay fines; this they do rarely but, combined with exile from the city, provides an effective last-resort method of removing persistent troublemakers.
Written contracts or note-of-hand are required to prove to a Black Robe that a debt is owed, if a citizen wishes to bring a complaint before the Courts. All careful merchants will get and give written documents in their dealings, even if their trade is unlawful. (For example, the selling of privileged information overheard in the Palace might appear on an invoice as three horses, or slaves discussed below as six sacks of finest barley, unmilled.)
The First Plaint: Crimes Against The Lords
SEVERE
- Treason (including Assault Upon a Lord): Instant Death
- Impersonation of a Lord: Instant Death
- Impersonation of Magister: Death Upon Conviction after flogging
- Forgery of an Official Document: Death Upon Conviction or Exile or Ban Against Future Entry (permanent) plus Mutilation (loss of offending extremities, branding)
- Assault Upon a Magister: Death Upon Conviction or Imprisonment in the Dungeon (10 years) after flogging
- Theft, Vandalism, or Arson Against the Palace or any part of the City Walls: Enforced Hard Labor (as justice demands) plus Fine Payable to City (cost of repairs plus 2,000 gold pieces)
- Impersonation of a Guardsman or Officer of the Watch: Imprisonment in the Dungeon (as justice demands) plus Fine Payable to City (5,000 gold pieces) and flogging
- Repetition of any Lesser or Minor Offense Against This Plaint: Enforced Hard Labor or Imprisonment in the Dungeon (1 month) and/or Fine Payable to City (up to 1,000 gold pieces)
- Forgery of an Official Document: Death Upon Conviction or Exile or Ban Against Future Entry (permanent) plus Mutilation (loss of offending extremities, branding)
- Willful Disobedience of any Edict Uttered Against One By a Lord: Fine Payable to City (up to 1,000 gp) and/or Exile or Ban Against Future Entry (up to 5 years)
- Unlawful Observation or Copying of an Official Document: Imprisonment in the Dungeon (3 weeks) plus Fine Payable to City (300 gp)
- Assault Upon Any City Officer Who Is Acting In The Line Of Duty: Imprisonment in the Dungeon (1 week) plus Fine Payable to City (as justice demands; usually based on ability to pay; flogging if unable to pay anything)
- Blasphemy Against Lord, Magister, or any City Officer: Light work in Castle compound (4 days) plus Fine Payable to City (20 gp)
SEVERE
- Poisoning of Water (City Wells; includes attempted blockage or attempts to control public access, or charge fees for such access) Instant Death
- Murder: Death Upon Conviction or Enforced Hard Labor (10-15 years)
- Spying, Sabotage: Death Upon Conviction or Exile or Ban Against Future Entry (permanent) plus Fine Payable to City (costs of repairs plus 2,000-5,000 gp) or Imprisonment in the Dungeon (20 years) plus Fine Payable to City
- Fraud: Exile or Ban Against Future Entry (permanent) and Damages Payable to Injured Party (as justice demands) or Imprisonment in the Dungeon (up to 10 years)
- Fencing Stolen Goods: Light work in Castle compound (up to 2 years) and Fine Payable to City (typically twice the price the goods were sold for) and Edict Against Convicted
- Unlawful Dueling (Manslaughter): Exile or Ban Against Future Entry (up to 5 years) and Damages Payable to Injured Party (to family, typically 1,000 gp) or Enforced Hard Labor (up to 3 years) and Damages Payable to Injured Party
- Bribery: Light work in Castle compound (1 week) and/or Fine Payable to City (amount of bribe or attempted bribe)
- Unlawful Flight Intrusion (into City airspace, of intelligent being flying by means of an aerial mount or magic): Fine Payable to City (300 gp) and Edict Against Convicted (in peacetime; in wartime, sentence can be Instant Death )
- Blasphemy Against Foreign Ambassadors: Light work in Castle compound (up to 1 week), Fine Payable to City (50 gp) and Edict Against Convicted
- Vagrancy: Imprisonment in the Dungeon (overnight)
- Littering (includes Relief of Human Wastes in Public). Imprisonment in the Dungeon (overnight) and Fine Payable to City (2 sp to 1 gp, based on ability to pay) and Edict Against Convicted
- Brandishing a Weapon Dangerously or Threateningly Without Due Cause (note: being in a brawl is not due cause unless one is menaced with a weapon): Imprisonment in the Dungeon (overnight) and Fine Payable to City (1 gp)
- Dangerous Operation of a Coach Wagon Litter or other Conveyance (including Airborne): Fine Payable to City (5-50 gp, as justice demands. note that this will be in addition to the sentence for any charges placed under The Fourth Plaint)
- Murder With Justification: Exile or Ban Against Future Entry (up to 5 years) or Enforced Hard Labor (up to 3 years)
- Repetition of Any Lesser or Minor Offense Against This Plaint: Imprisonment in the Dungeon (1 month) and Fine Payable to City (up to 1,000 gp) and Edict Against Convicted
- Bribery of a City Officer or Official (attempted or apprehended): Exile or Ban Against Future Entry (up to 20 years) and confiscation of all property except one weapon, one weeks rations, and clothes worn by offender
- Unlawful Entry Into The Harbor (1 charge per vessel per occasion). Exile or Ban Against Future Entry (1 year) and Fine Payable to City (500 gp)
- Unlawful Dueling (apprehended, i.e. on fatality): Light work in Castle compound (1 week) and Fine Payable to City (100 gp) and J
SEVERE
- Defiling of a Holy Place (Temple Burglary, Temple Arson, or Temple Vandalism). Exile or Ban Against Future Entry (5 years) and Damages Payable to Injured Party (as justice demands) or Enforced Hard Labor (up to 5 years) and Damages Payable to Injured Party or Imprisonment in the Dungeon (up to 3 years) and Damages Payable to Injured Party
- Theft of Temple Goods or Offerings (includes spoilage or consumption of same) Imprisonment in the Dungeon (up to 1 month) and Damages Payable to Injured Party (double the estimated value of the goods) and Edict Against Convicted
- Tomb-Robbing (or Unlawful Entry and/or Vandalism of a Tomb): Light work in Castle compound (up to 1 week) and Damages Payable to Injured Party (costs of repairs and replacements plus up to 500 gp, payable to whoever maintains the tomb/temple, guild, City, or family) and Edict Against Convicted
- Repetition of any Lesser or Minor Offense Against This Plaint: Light work in Castle compound (up to 1 week) and Fine Payable to City (up to 1,000 gp) and Edict Against Convicted
- Public Blasphemy of a God or Priesthood: Damages Payable to Injured Party (up to 10 gp, based on ability to pay) and Edict Against Convicted
- Drunkenness (and Disorderly Conduct) at Worship: Damages Payable to Injured Party (up to 3 gp, based on ability to pay) and Edict Against Convicted
- Assault Upon a Priest or Lay Worshiper: Damages Payable to Injured Party (of up to 500 gp; payable to temple and usually based on ability to pay) and Edict Against Convicted (in addition to charges placed under the Fourth Plaint arising from such an assault)
SEVERE
- Arson (of Ship, Structure, or Stored Property): Enforced Hard Labor (up to 3 months) and Damages Payable to Injured Party (value lost plus up to 500 gp), and/or Exile or Ban Against Future Entry (up to 10 years) and Damages Payable to Injured Party
- Rape: Mutilation (loss of offending extremities, branding) and Damages Payable to Injured Party (up to 2,000 gp) or Enforced Hard Labor (up to 5 years) and Damages Payable to Injured Party or Imprisonment in the Dungeon (up to 10 years) and Damages Payable to Injured Party
- Assault Resulting In Mutilation or Crippling: Mutilation (loss of offending extremities, branding) and Damages Payable to Injured Party (up to 2,000 gp) or Enforced Hard Labor (up to 3 years) and Damages Payable to Injured Party
- Magical Assault: Fine Payable to City (up to 1,000 gp) and Damages Payable to Injured Party (up to 2,000 gp) and Edict Against Convicted
- Forgery (not including official City documents): Exile or Ban Against Future Entry (up to 20 years) and Mutilation (loss of offending extremities, branding) and the confiscation of all property except 1 weapon, 1 weeks rations, and offenders clothing worn at the time of sentencing
- Slavery: Exile or Ban Against Future Entry (up to 10 years) and flogging if shackling, cruelty, whipping, branding, or physical indignities are observed
- Robbery: Enforced Hard Labor (up to 1 month) and Damages Payable to Injured Party (value of goods lost plus up to 500 gp)
- Burglary: Imprisonment in the Dungeon (up to 3 months) and Damages Payable to Injured Party (value of goods lost plus up to 500 gp)
- Theft or Killing of Livestock: (double cost of lost stock)
- Repetition of any Lesser or Minor Offense Against This Plaint: Imprisonment in the Dungeon (up to 1 week) and Damages Payable to Injured Party (double normal), or Light work in Castle compound (up to 2 weeks) and Damages Payable to Injured Party (double normal)
- Usury (Criminally high loans): Damages Payable to Injured Party (City recovers excess over legal rates, returns to injured party)
MINOR
- Assault (without wounding or robbery) - Imprisonment in the Dungeon overnight and Damages Payable to Injured Party (up to 50 gp)
- Excessive Noise (interfering with sleep or business) - Damages Payable to Injured Party (up to 25 gp) and Edict Against Convicted
- Damage to Property - Damages Payable to Injured Party (value of goods lost plus up to 500 gp) and
- Assault (Wounding) - Damages Payable to Injured Party (cost of medical attention plus up to 500 gp) and Edict Against Convicted
- Assault on Livestock (non-fatal) - Damages Payable to Injured Party (cost of medical attention plus up to 500 gp; maximum damages always apply if livestocks breeding capability is impaired)
- Unlawful Hindrance of Business - Damages Payable to Injured Party (up to 200 gp) and Edict Against Convicted (this charge includes instances of blocking access to a place of business without permission of owner or a Magister; and trying to frighten, disgust, or drive away customers in or in front of another’s shop)
