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Sundren is a land of laws and religions, its jurisprudence heavily influenced by the teachings of the Helmite clergy -- oftentimes swayed by practical concerns of the church of Waukeen -- and its judiciary tempered with the justice of Tyr, with a smidgen of Ilmater's mercy at times.
The degree of enforcement varies throughout the valley state, and the fairness of the legal system overall is adequate, if unexceptional, relative to the rest of the Realms. Still, it is because of Sundren's sound governance and effective laws that the people of the valley may sleep sound at night in their homes.
As with all places of the era, enforcement of the law is more often than highly dependent upon expediency, practical relevance, and convenience. For instance, petty thugs roaming in the backstreets may receive limited spotlight from law enforcement, but murderous bandits in the heart of a Sundarian marketplace would likely be dealt with swiftly and harshly, where one may expect the enforcers of law to take on the combined role of judge and executioner.
This is an age where legal loopholes are a privilege for the powerful, exceptional clauses tools of the resourceful. Sundren deals with internal unrest with little tolerance, by means of severe consequences. Eloquent lawyers will not save common lawbreakers, nor will petty bribes shake the dedication of the judiciary. Let them be warned who dance on the precipice of breaching the law, for the eye of Helm watches, and the punishment of Tyr just.
State Laws
State Laws apply to all of Sundren, both in Sundren City and the lesser towns. They deal with crimes.
The degree of enforcement varies throughout the valley state, and the fairness of the legal system overall is adequate, if unexceptional, relative to the rest of the Realms. Still, it is because of Sundren's sound governance and effective laws that the people of the valley may sleep sound at night in their homes.
As with all places of the era, enforcement of the law is more often than highly dependent upon expediency, practical relevance, and convenience. For instance, petty thugs roaming in the backstreets may receive limited spotlight from law enforcement, but murderous bandits in the heart of a Sundarian marketplace would likely be dealt with swiftly and harshly, where one may expect the enforcers of law to take on the combined role of judge and executioner.
This is an age where legal loopholes are a privilege for the powerful, exceptional clauses tools of the resourceful. Sundren deals with internal unrest with little tolerance, by means of severe consequences. Eloquent lawyers will not save common lawbreakers, nor will petty bribes shake the dedication of the judiciary. Let them be warned who dance on the precipice of breaching the law, for the eye of Helm watches, and the punishment of Tyr just.
State Laws
State Laws apply to all of Sundren, both in Sundren City and the lesser towns. They deal with crimes.
- Regarding Murder
Murder is defined as the premeditated taking of the life or lives of a member or members of the Good Races, regardless of origin or citizenship. A perpetrator of murder or attempted murder is sometimes subject to trial in a court of law, and conviction typically leads to exile, temporary or permanent, lifelong imprisonment, or execution.
- Regarding Treason
Treason is defined as conspiring or conducting harm to the State of Sundren, including but not limited to, active agitation against the State; collaboration with known enemies of the State; participation or instigation of war against the State; and harming or participation in conspiracy of harming the Arbiters, the Steward, or the Harbingers of the State.
A perpetrator of treason is subject to trial in a court of law, and conviction typically leads to public humiliation in the pillory followed by permanent exile, lifelong imprisonment, or execution.
A perpetrator of treason is subject to trial in a court of law, and conviction typically leads to public humiliation in the pillory followed by permanent exile, lifelong imprisonment, or execution.
- Regarding Manslaughter
Manslaughter is defined as the taking of the life or lives of a member or members of the Good Races. A perpetrator of manslaughter is sometimes subject to trial in a court of law, and conviction typically leads to imprisonment, temporary or lifelong; exile, temporary or permanent, or execution.
- Regarding Assault and Battery
Assault and Battery are defined as crimes of violence against another or others of the Good Races, regardless of origin or citizenship, where Assault is the threat of violence and Battery the infliction thereof.
Torture is defined as an act or a series of acts of violence, extended or otherwise, that effects irrevocable bodily or emotional harm. It is considered a form of aggravated assault where unauthorized by law.
A perpetrator of assault and/or battery is sometimes subject to trial in a court of law, and conviction typically leads to imprisonment, community service, fines, or exile.
A criminal convicted of torture is in addition subject to public humiliation in the pillory, public lashings, or execution.
Torture is defined as an act or a series of acts of violence, extended or otherwise, that effects irrevocable bodily or emotional harm. It is considered a form of aggravated assault where unauthorized by law.
A perpetrator of assault and/or battery is sometimes subject to trial in a court of law, and conviction typically leads to imprisonment, community service, fines, or exile.
A criminal convicted of torture is in addition subject to public humiliation in the pillory, public lashings, or execution.
- Regarding Mayhem
Mayhem is defined as an unjustified permanent crippling, with or without malicious intent, of a member or members of the Good Races. A perpetrator of mayhem is sometimes subject to trial in a court of law, and conviction typically leads to imprisonment with community service and/or fines or exile.
- Regarding Arson
Arson is defined as setting a fire or fires unlawfully that results in damage to private or public property and/or life. For all intents and purposes, damage to property, regardless of manner, is defined as arson under State Law. A perpetrator of arson is sometimes subject to trial in a court of law, and conviction typically leads to imprisonment with fines, temporary or lifelong; exile with fines, temporary or lifelong; partial or complete confiscation of properties and worldly possessions; or execution.
- Regarding Rape
Rape is defined as violence of grand proportions against a member or members of the Good Races, and includes acts of sexual violation and unsolicited intrusion to or manipulation of the mind by means of magic. A perpetrator of rape is sometimes subject to trial in a court of law, and conviction typically leads to imprisonment, community service, fines, public humiliation in the pillory, or exile.
- Regarding Banditry
Banditry is defined as seizing properties or possessions from a member or members of the Good Races through violence or threat of violence. A perpetrator of banditry is sometimes subject to trial in a court of law, and conviction typically leads to imprisonment with fines, temporary or lifelong; exile with fines, temporary or lifelong; partial or complete confiscation of properties and worldly possessions; or execution.
- Regarding Larceny
Larceny is defined as trespassing property and/or the taking of properties without consent and with the intent to deprive. It includes but is not limited to breaking-and-entering, theft or embezzlement of possessions, and poaching.
A perpetrator of larceny is sometimes subject to trial in a court of law, and conviction typically leads to fines, imprisonment, or community service.
A perpetrator of larceny is sometimes subject to trial in a court of law, and conviction typically leads to fines, imprisonment, or community service.
- Regarding Obstruction of Justice and Perjury
Obstruction of Justice is defined as deliberate interference in the legislating, interpreting, or enforcing of State Laws or Town Ordinances. A person found guilty of Obstruction of Justice, if guilty of other crimes, may face a doubling of his or her penalties; otherwise, he or she may be subject to fines, imprisonment, community service, or public humiliation in the pillory.
Perjury is defined as making false statements knowingly under oath to Tyr. It is an aggravated form of obstruction of justice and carries greater penalties of the same sorts.
Perjury is defined as making false statements knowingly under oath to Tyr. It is an aggravated form of obstruction of justice and carries greater penalties of the same sorts.
- Regarding False Pretences and Deception
False Pretences and Deception are defined as intentional and/or malicious dishonesty in dealings with a member or members of the Good Races that results in damage to property, life, or reputation of abovementioned member or members. Deception offences include, but are not limited to, impersonation of officials or individuals of import, slander and libel in public statements, use of false credentials, styles, or titles, conscious false claims over property, fraud, and forgery. An intent to deceive or harm is always involved in an offence of false pretences and deception.
A perpetrator of false pretences and deception is often subject to a trial in court of law, and conviction typically leads to fines, imprisonment, or exile.
A perpetrator of false pretences and deception is often subject to a trial in court of law, and conviction typically leads to fines, imprisonment, or exile.
- Regarding Extortion
Extortion is defined as the seizing of properties or possessions from a member or members of the Good Races through coercion and intimidation. It differs from robbery in that the intent of bodily harm is often less pronounced or nonexistent, and extortion involves threats that may be legal under State Laws but nevertheless pose sufficient distress to result in loss of properties or possessions. A perpetrator of extortion is often subject to trial in a court of law, and conviction typically leads to fines, partial or complete confiscation of properties and possessions, imprisonment, or exile.
- Regarding Proxies and Responsibilities
All crimes carried out through a proxy or dependant are considered as though the guardian or master were in full guilt. A proxy or dependant may include, but would not be limited to, a familiar of a mage, a pet-animal, a magical presence bound to a master, or a young child. For instance, a mage who commits crimes through a familiar is held fully accountable for the familiar's actions, and a spellcaster who bewitches the mind of another to carry out a crime is culpable of all guilt thereof. In cases where a proxy or dependant commits wrongdoing without equal intent on the part of the guardian or master, the aforementioned guardian or master is guilty criminal negligence. Criminal negligence is punishable by fines and prison sentences equal to or less than the crime allowed to happen through negligence.
- Regarding Census and Taxes
All households resident to Sundren are expected to report biennially to their local government for the purpose of census after Highharvestide in the month of Eleint (the ninth month of the year) every two years. Taxes in Sundren are collected bianually, once during the season of Greengrass in mid-Tarsakh (the fourth month of the year) and once after the Highharvestide in mid-Eleint. Taxes are determined according to the year's harvest, income, profession, and standard of living of the taxed. The local government is empowered with the duty of adjusting taxes and keeps them up-to-date.
Residents with no set address and travellers are still subject to taxation, even if they are to report to different local governments. In exchange, they enjoy the protection of the law.
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