Crime and Punishment

[Omnipotent Overlord]

The old legal system in the Protected Zone had been found to be patchy and hard to enforce. Therefore the council of 14 have agreed to implement a new system to rectify this and to make the Protected Zone a safer place for all.

In the new system, the newly created Brehon Guild will be responsible for upholding the new laws and there are many new laws covering a lot of crimes that were previously lumped together or ill defined.

[Omnipotent Overlord]

The Brehon Guild

The Brehon guild have been made responsible for maintaining law and order in the protected zone. To do this they have a 3 tier structure:

Chief Brehon – Guildmaster of the Brehon Guild
The Chief Brehon has all the rights and powers of the other ranks of the Brehon Guild but he is tasked with investigation and judging crimes of the High Nobles as well as the general running of the Brehon Guild. His judgments can only be overturned by the joint will of at least 3 of the council of 14.

Gunther Ungart, first son of the dwarven king has been chosen by the council as the first Chief Brehon due to his honest, hard work with the council and his unorthodox but effective wisdom which he obviously he inherited from his father. It is his responsibility to create the Brehon guild and make it in to the effective law enforcement entity we hope it will become.

Brehon – Middle Rank of the Brehon Guild
A Brehon has all the rights and powers of a Dalaigh but he works for one of the Lords and is permitted to investigate the crimes of the lesser nobles where a Dalaign is not. Lesser Nobles cannot overturn the decision of a Brehon but Lords can, as can members of the Brehon Guild of Higher rank. A Brehon also has powers to call on the guard and any number of Dalaign to assist him in the pursuit of justice. As with the rank of Dalaigh, if the Chief Brehon or a High Noble is unavailable then a group of at least 5 Brehons can pursue a case against a High Noble or against the Chief Brehon.

Dalaigh – Lowest Rank of the Brehon Guild
Each of the minor nobles will have at least one Dalaigh assigned to their lands. It is the job of the Dalaigh to investigate crimes within his area and to oversee judgment of the criminals as per the laws. A Dalaigh can declare someone an outlaw and award bounties on their heads. They are also able to call on the guard to provide any and all assistance they may require in the apprehension of a criminal. They can have their judgements overturned by the lesser noble of the land they oversee or by a Lord or Brehon of higher rank. Guilds may also have a Dalaigh assigned to then if they wish however, in the same way that a Lesser Noble may dispense justice as he sees fit a guild master may do the same for matters pertaining to his or her own guild if they so choose. The Brehon Guild reserves the right to monitor such actions if it feels there is need. In the event there is no Brehon or Lord available. A group of at least 5 Dalaighs can pursue a case against a noble or Brehon of higher rank than themselves.

Joining the Brehon Guild
Anyone wishing to become a member of the Brehon guild is encouraged to visit their new headquarters in Halward city. It is still in the process of being converted to the new home of the guild but interviews are being conducted there. Although applicants will require recommendations from at least one Lord or two or more Lesser Nobles before they are to be considered.


Outlaw
It is important to note the definition of Outlaw under the new laws. Once someone is declared an Outlaw none of the laws of the protected zone apply to them for they are considered without law. By this it means that anyone can walk up to an Outlaw and murder them in cold blood and suffer no penalty for the act. Such actions are not encouraged however as you need to be very sure it is an Outlaw you are killing. Outlaw status may be revoked, however it may only be revoked by a Brehon of higher rank than the one who issued it or by the Brehon who issued it in the first place.

Certain races can have been declared outlaw. The undead and T’cra are outlaws as are the Ferals although it is unclear for how much longer as they start to integrate in to the protected zone. The Rat-Kin are another outlaw race after last years attack on the homes and children of Prodigio.

Bounties
Sometimes certain individuals go to great lengths to avoid capture by the authorities and in order to see justice done the Brehon guild may place bounties on the heads of such people. The size of the bounty depends on the nature of the crime and how dangerous the individual is. Bounties can be collected by anyone who can prove the requirements of the bounty has been fulfilled. Current bounties can be found outside Brehon guild houses.

There are unofficial bounties, these are placed on people by anyone with money. The Brehon guild have nothing to do with these and actively discourage people from setting unofficial bounties on others.

[Omnipotent Overlord]

Types of Crime
Crimes are split in to two types, Felonies and Misdemeanours.

A Felony is a serious offence and will almost certainly carry harsh punishments for anyone caught.

A Misdemeanour is still punished severely by modern standard but punishments do not include execution, just either fines, restitution to the victims, public humiliation, lashes and possibly branding or mutilation.

[Omnipotent Overlord]

Crimes
Arson
This is a felony; the penalty is burning at the stake

Assault
There are two kinds of assault and they are treated differently

Assault with intent to do bodily harm
For an assault to be considered an assault with intent to do bodily harm there must be deliberate bloodshed, maiming or if there is a wrongful threat of maiming or death used to intimidate the victim. This crime is treated as a felony and punished with death by hanging.

Assault
An assault is when the assailant didn’t intend to do permanent damage or kill. The crime is treated as a third common assault and punished accordingly.

Black Sorcery
Felony resulting in being burned at the stake and the burial of ashes on cursed ground for the foul crime of using magic to do wrongful harm to others, their property or goods.

Breaking the Peace
This is a misdemeanour that results time in the stocks. The crime is a catch all including a variety of disruptive offences (public brawling, drunk and disorderly etc) Sometimes a fine may be levied as well.

Brigandage
This is a felony resulting in death by hanging.

Burglary
This is a felony with punishment as per Grand Theft. The actual theft need not be proved; illegal entry is proof of intent to burglarise. Any attack whatsoever made by the accused on any persons on the premises is Robbery with Violence

Cannibalism
This is a felony resulting in being torn apart by wild dogs in a pit.

Cattle Lifting or Sheep Stealing
This is a misdemeanour.
For the first offence the punishment is:
Restitution, 20 lashes and time in the stocks

For a second offence the punishment is:
Restitution, branding, 40 lashes, time in the stocks and 60 days hard labour.

A third offence means the crime becomes a felony and is punishable with death by hanging.

Common Assault
This is a misdemeanour with the following punishments:
For a first offence
A fine of 100 crowns or 10 lashes and time in the stocks
For a second offence
A fine of 100 crowns, 20 lashes and time in the stocks
For every subsequent offence
A fine of 200 crowns, 20 lashes and time in the stocks

Conspiracy
This is a felony resulting in the culprit suffering hanging, drawing, disembowelling and quartering

Desecration
This is a felony resulting in burning at the stake for defiling or mutilating the corpses of the dead; burning at the stake or being buried alive for desecrating graves in protected ground.

Grand Theft
This is felony and is defined as stealing money or goods of more than 500 crowns in value. It’s punished as follows:
For a first offence:
Restitution, branding, 20 lashes and 60 days hard labour

For a second offence:
Restitution, 40 lashes and loss of hand

For a Third offence:
Death by hanging:

Horse Theft
This is Felony resulting in death by hanging if a war horse, otherwise treat as theft of a beast of burden.

Incitement to Riot
This is a felony resulting in 40 lashes ad 90 days hard labour, but death by hanging if the intent was to forment actual rebellion.

Murder
A felony resulting in death by hanging

Necromancy
A felony resulting in being burned at the stake for consorting with undead.

Perjury
A felony resulting in the same punishment as the one falsely accused. This crime covers bearing false witness as well as false accusation

Petty Theft
A misdemeanour for stealing money or items of less than 500 crowns in value. Punished as per Picking pockets and cutting purses

Picking Pockets and cutting purses
This crime is a misdemeanour and is punished as follows:
For a first offence:
Restitution and time in the stocks
For a second offence:
Restitution, 20 lashes and time in the stocks
For a third offence
Restitution, 40 lashes and time in the stocks
For a fourth offence
As per third offence but included loss of a hand
For a fifth offence
Death by hanging

Piracy
A felony resulting in death by hanging or 1000 lashes

Poaching
This is a misdemeanour with the following penalties:
For a first offence:
20 Lashes
For a second & third offences
20 lashes and time in the stocks
Fourth offence
40 lashes and loss of a hand
Fifth offence
Death by hanging

Poaching a Deer
A felony resulting in death by flaying alive or by being sewn up in the wet rawhide of the deer and hung head down over hot coals.

Poisoning
A felony resulting in burning at the stake.

Carrying Poisons
Anyone found carrying poisons will be fined 20 crowns per level of the poison. Anyone found with the recipes to make poisons will be fined 200 crowns per level of the poison. Licensed individuals may make and use poison for legitimate purposes.

Rebellion
A felony resulting in the culprits suffering hanging, drawing, disembowelling and quartering.

Robbery with Violence
This is a felony involving any form of armed robbery. Any use of a lethal weapon or the shedding of blood makes it a robbery with violence and is punished as follows:
For a first offence:
Restitution, 40 lashes, branding and cutting off the hand.
For a second offence
Death by hanging

Smuggling
This is misdemeanour and is punished as follows:
For a first offence:
A fine of equal value to the smuggled goods, time in the stocks and confiscation of goods.
For a second and third offences:
Fine, stocks, confiscation 40 lashes
For a fourth offence
Fine, confiscation and death by hanging

Spying
A felony as per rebellion

Theft of a beast of burden
A misdemeanour as per Cattle lifting and sheep stealing

Theft of valuable property
A felony punished by branding, 60 lashes, 3 days in the stocks, restitution and 60 days hard labour. If the restitution cannot be paid the penalty is death by the cutting of the throat or strangulation with garrotte. This is a charge reserved for thieves who steal from nobles.

Treason
A felony punished as per rebellion.

Following the old gods
A felony punished as per rebellion

Skin trading
Due to the input of the Lizard-kin and in order to placate them the crime is now punishable by flaying alive. The skin is given to the family of the Lizard-kin who was skinned.

Aiding the Undead
A felony punishable as per black sorcery

Slavery
Slavery is punishable with death by hanging. However there are 2 occasions when slavery is legal. Firstly when the slave is someone who was unable to pay restitution, secondly is if the slaves are outlaws.

[Omnipotent Overlord]

Punishments
Imprisonment
Imprisonment is rare and reserved for those awaiting trial or the arrival of a ransom.

Fine
The size of the fine is dependent on the crime that took place and the person who broke the law. A noble will pay a higher fine than a commoner for example. If the fine cannot be paid the offender is sentenced to hard labour at the rate of 1 day per 2 crowns of fine.

Restitution
Restitution is repaying the victim for the lost property or injury to his person. If the offender is unable to do this then they will be required to perform hard labour until the debt is considered repaid. If the Brehon so chooses, inability to pay restitution can result in enslavement to the victim and the victim can choose to sell offender to satisfy the claim. Or the victim can choose for the offender to enter indentured service to the victim for a set period as full compensation based on the rate of 1 day = 1 crown. This is one of the few occasions that slavery is permitted.

Public Stocks
These are the means of identifying and humiliating a minor offender by securing him in a public place and exposing him to the disapproval of passers by. In game terms characters give time in the stocks will serve this on the forums rather than at an event and it will mean they have no opportunity to purchase goods in downtime between events.

Hard Labour
Characters given a sentence of hard labour will serve the time in the downtime between events. Characters serving hard labour will be unable to perform actions between events and will not be able to purchase goods between events. They will also start the following event at 1 hit to all locations and no mana or daily abilities. This can be restored with a good nights rest or through healing.

Lashes
For every 20 lashes a criminal suffers they take a -1 loc penalty to their chest. The penalty lasts for the remainder of the event. This damage CANNOT be healed by spells, first aid or potions. If the damage from the lashes would take the victim to zero hits on the chest then they recover to a maximum of 1 hit to the chest after one hours complete rest and being tended to by someone with the first aid skill of any level. If the number of lashes would take the target to –1 or lower on the location then they suffer a PERMANENT –1 loc penalty to the location for every point below zero. If the offender is given enough lashes to take them to -1 permanent damage to the chest then the character dies. The permanent damage can be restored by high level healing or potions but only after the event in which the lashes took place. The scars from the lashing will remain whether the damage is healed or not. A merciful Brehon may allow people to pay money at the rate of 10 crowns per lash to avoid the lashes

Branding
Involves branding in an obvious place (cheek, forehead) to mark person as an offender.

Mutilation
Involves the cutting off of a hand or foot, most often used in the case of thieves. The stump will also be branded to show all that it was removed as punishment for a crime and any who attempt to restore the missing body part will face the same punishment as the criminal if caught.

Death
Enough said, overseen by a executioner of some sort to ensure its done right