Laws and Punishments
Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2024 3:39 pm
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
The Code Legal serves as basis for sentencing, dividing all crimes into four Plaints and each Plaint into Crimes Against the Lords,Against the City,Against the Gods and Against the Citizens offenses. 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
-Crimes Against the Lords
Treason,Impersonation,Forgery of official documents, Destruction of city property, Assault against officials, nobles and guilds heads, Willfull disobedience of edicts and Blasphemy against a government official.Conspiracy against the City and the Lords
-Crimes Against the City
Poisoning of wells, Murder, Spying, Sabotage, Fraud, Fencing, Unlawful dueling, Bribery, Unlawful entry into the city, Vagrancy, Littering, Brandishing a weapon without cause, Reckless Driving
-Crimes Against the Gods
Defiling of a holy place, Theft of temple goods, Tomb-robbing, Assault on a religious person, Public blasphemy of a god or priesthood outlawed by the Lords, Disorderly conduct at worship.
-Crimes Against the Citizens
Arson, Rape, Bodily harm, Magical assault, Forgery, Slavery, Robbery, Burglary, Theft/Killing of livestock, Usury, Property damage, Assault, Hindrance of business and Excessive noise
PUNISHMENTS
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.
Sentences for lawbreaking include:
Instant death
Death upon conviction
Exile
Mutilation
Hard labor
Imprisonment (dungeon)
Imprisonment (light work in castle compound)
Fine (payable to the City)
Damages (payable to the injured party)
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 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
The Code Legal serves as basis for sentencing, dividing all crimes into four Plaints and each Plaint into Crimes Against the Lords,Against the City,Against the Gods and Against the Citizens offenses. 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
-Crimes Against the Lords
Treason,Impersonation,Forgery of official documents, Destruction of city property, Assault against officials, nobles and guilds heads, Willfull disobedience of edicts and Blasphemy against a government official.Conspiracy against the City and the Lords
-Crimes Against the City
Poisoning of wells, Murder, Spying, Sabotage, Fraud, Fencing, Unlawful dueling, Bribery, Unlawful entry into the city, Vagrancy, Littering, Brandishing a weapon without cause, Reckless Driving
-Crimes Against the Gods
Defiling of a holy place, Theft of temple goods, Tomb-robbing, Assault on a religious person, Public blasphemy of a god or priesthood outlawed by the Lords, Disorderly conduct at worship.
-Crimes Against the Citizens
Arson, Rape, Bodily harm, Magical assault, Forgery, Slavery, Robbery, Burglary, Theft/Killing of livestock, Usury, Property damage, Assault, Hindrance of business and Excessive noise
PUNISHMENTS
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.
Sentences for lawbreaking include:
Instant death
Death upon conviction
Exile
Mutilation
Hard labor
Imprisonment (dungeon)
Imprisonment (light work in castle compound)
Fine (payable to the City)
Damages (payable to the injured party)
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