The Codex of Laws

[Dreek 1633]

The Code of Laws of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan

 

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• Preface

  • Regarding the nature, limitations, authority, and enforcement of the statutes within.

• Section I

  • Regarding the enjoyment of citizenship and the rights thereof.

• Section II

  • Regarding the categories of crimes and retributions.

• Section III

  • Regarding degrees of criminality and their maximum and minimum punishments.

• Section IV

  • Crimes against Property

• Section V

  • Crimes against Persons

• Section VI

  • Crimes against the Public

• Section VII

  • Crimes against the State

• Section VIII

  • Legal defenses which may exonerate criminals or provide clemency.

• Section IX

  • Placing and fulfillment of grudges and oaths.

 

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Preface

Regarding the nature, limitations, authority, and enforcement of the statues within.

 

1. These laws shall be held as executory throughout the territory of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan, by virtue of the promulgation made thereof by the Grand King and his representatives.

2. These laws ordain the future only; they shall not be applied retrospectively.

3. The laws of police and public security shall bind all inhabitants and visitors of the territory of the government of the Grand Kingdom.

   1. Immoveable property such as real estate or improvements upon the land, even in the possession of foreigners, is governed by the laws of the Grand Kingdom.

   2. Laws relating to the privileges of the citizen shall govern any citizen of Urguan, even those residing in foreign nations.

4. Those who inhabit, or shall continue to inhabit, the Grand Kingdom of Urguan, shall be held to have submitted to the authority of these laws and agreed to be bound thereby.

5. The power to pronounce guiltiness of criminality shall be vested with the Court of Mountains or its representatives.

6. Private agreements shall not contravene the laws of this Code.

 

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Section I

Regarding the enjoyment of citizenship and the rights thereof.

 

1. Every citizen of the Grand Kingdom is entitled to the rights outlined herein.

   1. Every person born to a citizen of the Grand Kingdom is a citizen of the Grand Kingdom.

   2. Every person born to a foreigner in the lands of the Grand Kingdom shall have the right, for a period not exceeding one year after reaching the age of majority (12), to renounce all other citizenships and automatically acquire citizenship within the Grand Kingdom.

   3. Every person naturalized by citizenship application is a Citizen of the Grand Kingdom.

2. No citizen of Urguan shall be denied the right to be tried by the Court of Mountains or one of its representative Courts.

   1. This right may be waived by the citizen in return for clemency.

3. No citizen of the Grand Kingdom shall be denied the right to propose their candidacy for public office.

4. No citizen of the Grand Kingdom shall be detained without being lawfully charged of a crime.

 

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Section II

Regarding the categories of crimes and retributions.

 

1. The Grand Kingdom divides violations of the Code into four categories: Offense against Property, Offense against Persons, Offense against the Public, and Offense Against the State.

2. The  Grand Kingdom divides punishments for criminality into five categories: Fine, Revocation of Citizenship, Execution, Imprisonment, and Branding.

   1. All executions, brandings, and revocations of citizenship must be publicly approved in writing by the Grand King of Urguan.

   2. The proceeds of all fines must be delivered directly to the representative of the Court of Mountains to be added to the treasury of the Grand Kingdom.

   3. Fines which the criminal cannot pay in minas may be paid with an amount of labor equal in value to the fine.

   4. Consecutive imprisonment shall not exceed three stone days without the written permission of the Grand King.

   5. Any person who has had their citizenship revoked may be expelled from the country and permanently banished on the order of the Grand King.

 

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Section III

Regarding degrees of criminality and their maximum and minimum punishments.

 

1. The Grand Kingdom divides violations of the law into four degrees of criminality, based on the severity with which they offend justice.

   1. The punishment for an individual crime shall never exceed the maximum punishment for its degree of severity.

      1. The punishments for multiple crimes may cumulatively exceed the maximum punishment for each individual crime.

   2. The punishment for a crime shall never fall below the minimum punishment for its degree of severity.

2. Delinquencies, or Fourth Degree Crimes

   1. No delinquency may be punished with Execution or Revocation of Citizenship.

   2. The maximum period of imprisonment for a delinquency is one stone day.

   3. The maximum fine for a delinquency is one hundred minas, or an amount of material wealth judged as equal by public proclamation of the Grand King.

3. Misdemeanors, or Third Degree crimes

   1. No misdemeanor may be punished with Execution or Revocation of Citizenship.

   2. The maximum period of imprisonment for a misdemeanor is three stone days.

   3. The minimum fine for a misdemeanor is one hundred minas, or an amount of material wealth judged as equal by public proclamation of the Grand King.

   4. The maximum fine for a misdemeanor is five hundred minas, or an amount of material wealth judged as equal by public proclamation of the Grand King.

4. Felonies, or Second Degree crimes

   1. No felony may be punished with Execution.

   2. The maximum period of imprisonment for a felony is five stone days.

   3. The minimum fine for a felony is five hundred minas, or an amount of material wealth judged as equal by public proclamation of the Grand King.

   4. The maximum fine for a felony is five thousand minas, or an amount of material wealth judged as equal by public proclamation of the Grand King.

5. Atrocities, or First Degree crimes

   1. The minimum period of imprisonment for an atrocity is seven stone days.

   2. The maximum period of imprisonment for an atrocity is two stone weeks.

   3. The minimum fine for an atrocity is two thousand minas, or an amount of material wealth judged as equal by public proclamation of the Grand King.

   4. The maximum fine for an atrocity is fifty thousand minas, or an amount of material wealth judged as equal by public proclamation of the Grand King.

 

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Section IV

Crimes against Property

1. Trespassing

   1. Trespassing is the crime of being present on real property despite obvious visual or verbal warning on the part of the government or the property’s owner.

   2. Trespassing is a fourth-degree crime.

2. Vandalism

   1. Vandalism is the crime of destruction or defacement of real property.

   2. Vandalism is a third-degree crime

3. Theft

   1. Theft is the crime of forcibly removing moveable property from the the ownership of its lawful possessor.

   2. Theft is a third-degree crime.

   3. In addition to punishment levied by the court, the guilty thief will also be required to return the stolen property to its owner.

      1. In cases where the stolen property cannot be returned, the thief will provide remuneration of double its value.

4. Burglary

   1. Burglary is the crime of accessing a container without its owner’s permission.

   2. Burglary is a fourth-degree crime.

5. Disrespect of a Relic

   1. Disrespect of a Relic is the crime of the unauthorized taking, sale, or dishonorable interaction with a relic of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan.

   2. Disrespect of a Relic is a first-degree crime.

 

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Section V

Crimes against Persons

1. Harassment

   1. Harassment is the crime of persistent harrying of or hostility towards a citizen of Urguan despite multiple verbal warnings.

   2. Harassment is a fourth-degree crime.

      1. In cases where a fine is levied by the court, the criminal will pay an equal amount to the victim in remuneration.

2. Impersonation of a Citizen

   1. Impersonation of a Citizen is the crime of assuming the identity of a citizen of Urguan with or without their permission.

   2. Impersonation of a Citizen is a third-degree crime.

3. Impersonation of a Public Official

   1. Impersonation of a Public Official is the crime of assuming the identity of a public official of Urguan or another government, assuming a title to which one does not have right, or falsely acting as a representative of a public official of Urguan or another government.

   2. Impersonation of a Public Official is a second-degree crime.

4. Fraud

   1. Fraud is the crime of breaking the terms of a contract which was lawfully inspected and approved by a representative of the Grand King.

   2. Fraud is a second-degree crime.

5. Murder

   1. Murder is the crime of unlawfully taking the life of another, with or without their permission.

   2. Murder is a first-degree crime.

6. Slander

   1. Slander is the crime of spreading known mistruths about a citizen of Urguan.

   2. Slander is a fourth-degree crime.

7. Assault

   1. Assault is the crime of physically and unlawfully accosting a citizen of Urguan.

   2. Assault is a second-degree crime.

8. Kidnapping

   1. Kidnapping is the crime of unlawfully holding a citizen of Urguan against their will.

   2. Kidnapping is a second-degree crime.

 

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Section VI

Crimes against the Public

1. Indecency

   1. Indecency is the crime of intentionally or negligently offending a citizen of Urguan by expressing non-political speech which a reasonable person may consider morally repugnant.

   2. Indecency is a fourth-degree crime.

2. Vulgarity

   1. Vulgarity is the crime of public lewdness.

   2. Vulgarity is a third-degree crime.

3. Vigilantism

   1. Vigilantism is the crime of unnecessarily undertaking law enforcement without legal authority.

   2. Vigilantism is a third-degree crime.

4. Miscegenation

   1. Miscegenation is the crime of conceiving a child of dwarven blood mixed with any foreign race.

   2. Miscegenation is a second-degree crime.

5. Heathenism

   1. Heathenism is the crime of engaging in public worship of a heathen god, or the establishment of a facility for such worship. Practicing a non-dwarven religion must occur purely in the private sphere.

   2. Heathenism is a third-degree crime.

6. Slaving

   1. Slaving is the crime of unlawful possession, transport, sale, or purchase of enslaved persons.

   2. Slaving is a second-degree crime.

 

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Section VII

Crimes against the State

1. Treason

   1. Treason is the crime of attempting the subversion of state authority or the assassination of a representative of the Grand King.

   2. Treason is a first-degree crime.

2. Sedition

   1. Sedition is the crime of spreading literature of speech intended to provoke revolution or other treason.

   2. Sedition is a first-degree crime.

3. Insubordination

   1. Insubordination is the crime of disrespect of or insufficient reverence for legitimate authorities of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan.

   2. Insubordination is a second-degree crime.

4. Lese majeste

   1. Lese majeste is the crime of disrespect of or insufficient reverence for the Grand King of Urguan, including assaults of the personage or character of the Grand King.

   2. Lese majeste is a Third-Degree crime.

5. Conspiracy

   1. Conspiracy is the crime of conspiring to commit any other crime listed within this Code of Laws.

   2. Conspiracy is a crime of a degree one lesser than the crime of which the guilty intended to commit.

6. Perjury

   1. Perjury is the crime of intentionally lying while under interrogation by a representative of the state.

   2. Perjury is a second-degree crime.

7. Disloyalty

   1. Disloyalty is the crime of failing to fully accomplish the punishment for a crime as laid down by the Court of Mountains or its representative.

   2. Disloyalty is a crime of one degree greater than the crime for which the punishment was issued.

8. Tax Evasion

   1. Tax Evasion is the crime of failing to pay a tax or tariff as lawfully instituted by the Clan Council.

   2. Tax Evasion is a third-degree crime.

9. Unlicensed Vending

   1. Unlicensed vending is the crime of ownership or operation of a place of business either without the direction of a relevant and licensed corporate body or outside of the jurisdiction of such a body.

   2. Unlicensed vending is a third-degree crime.

10. Unlicensed Drug Possession

    1. Unlicensed Drug Possession is the crime of use or ownership of illegal substances under circumstances unauthorized by the Clan Council of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan.

    2. Unlicensed Drug Possession is a fourth-degree crime.

 

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Section VIII

Legal defenses which may exonerate criminals or provide clemency.

 

1. Legal defenses may only be presented once the accused is found to have committed the crime, but before they begin to fulfill their punishment. If a presented legal defense is found to be salient and reasonable by the presiding official, they may choose to reduce or even negate the punishment levied against the accused.

2. Self-defense

   1. The accused acted only as was necessary to defend their life or health, exhausting every other method before resorting to lawbreaking, and not acting with excessive or unnecessary disrespect for the law or public order.

3. Defense of Property

   1. The accused acted only as was necessary to defend their property from being defaced or carried away, exhausting every other method before resorting to lawbreaking, and not acting with excessive or unnecessary disrespect for the law or public order.

4. Volenti non fit injuria

   1. The victim of the crime, without being coerced, deliberately placed themselves in a situation where they might be injured with the intention of extracting benefit from the crime.

5. In pari delictor

   1. Both the accused and the victim were equally at fault for the breach of law, and so it is impossible to say which deserves to be punished more than the other.

6. Duress

   1. The accused was forced to commit the crime under significant and probable damage to body or livelihood.

 

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Section IX

Placing and fulfillment of grudges and oaths.

 

1. Grudges are established by being proposed to a representative of the Grand King for consideration. If a grudge is considered worthy of record, it will be archived into the history of the Grand Kingdom. A grudge may only be considered worthy of record if it contains only two parties, displays an infringement of the grudgebearer’s honor on the part of the grudge recipient, and must provide a manner in which the grudge can be fulfilled and dismissed.

2. Oaths are established by being proposed to a representative of the Grand King for consideration. If an oath is considered worthy of record, it will be archived into the history of the Grand Kingdom. Oaths must be entered into willingly by all parties, and if broken will be considered a first-degree offense.

 

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