The Lex Arcana

[Ragnio 510]

The Lex Arcana

Est anno Domini 1697

 

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Foreword,

Every citizen of the Imperial City and the Empire itself is bound by this legislative codex, holding the laws and regulations for magecraft and witchery within the holy empire. The law of the empire is derived from the rule of the Crown to which this codex is itself bound. Alterations, modifications and interpretations of this document are at the behest of the Crown and it’s Ministry for Magical Affairs. No exceptions are warranted to this document unless otherwise stated or approved by the Crown.

While the Lex Arcana regulates many laws every mage is required to be registered within the Empire and is required to gain permit for their magical crafts, if their magecraft is stated in §2 of the section Legislative Rules in Regards to Magecraft, as the Crown sees it fit to permit the usage of certain forms of magecraft only when granted explicit permission by the Minister or the Crown itselves!

 

 

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Table of Content
 

 

• Ministry for Magical Affairs
   
• Legally Important Terms
  • Magecraft
  • Witchery
  • Voidal
  • Deific
  • Dark Arts
  • Witch Hunters
  • Magi
     
• Legislative Rules in Regards to Magecraft
   
• Legislative Rules in Regards to Witchery
   
• Punishments

 

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I. Ministry for Magical Affairs

 

The Ministry for Magical Affairs is seen as one of the legislative units of the holy empire, placed in charge of magecraft and witchery by the Crown itself, allowing the Ministry to handle magical affairs on their own through the usage of a set of laws and regulations, each approved by the Crown. The leadership of the Ministry isn’t placed in the hand of a single individual, but rather in the hands of the Minister, Deputy Speaker and the Emperor, allowing for a clear guidance and fast and precise decisions. While the Emperor decides upon a Minister at the creation of the Ministry, the Minister is afterwards tasked in assigning a Deputy Speaker to handle the ministry if the Minister is unavailable.

 

 

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II. Legally Important Terms

 

Magecraft
Magecraft is known as the art of magic, which doesn’t act against the general view of the Church or of the Ministry, as such forms of magic, which aren’t seen as direct aspects of Ibless.
 

Witchery
Witchery describes the forms of magic, which break the law and regulations of the Ministry or are seen as abominations in the eyes of the Church, either due to their origin or their effect on others and the surrounding land.
 

Voidal
Voidal forms of magic are known as forms which use the void or voidal energy for their spells and creations, either by directly opening the void or using already existing mana.
 

Deific
Deific forms of magic are known as forms which either use the gift of an aengul or the energy of another deity or realm, besides the void, as their energy resources, such as the Fae-Realm.
 

Dark Arts
The dark arts are known as cruel and dark forms of magic, which either toy with the soul or use the deceased ones for their doings. Those forms of magic are also directly tied to demons and often Ibless himself and are forbidden widely.
 

Witch Hunters
Witch Hunters are trained individuals, placed in charge to handle magical affairs within the empire and even outside of it on the order of the Ministry.
 

Magi
Magi is the general description for a individual with magical talents.

 

 

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III. Legislative Rules in Regards to Magecraft

 

§1 The following aspects of magic are legally falling under the definition of Magecraft,

 

§1.1 Voidal Forms, such as Transfiguration, Telekinesis, Voidal Shifting, Voidal Translocation, Evocation, Arcanism and Conjuration.

§1.2 Deific Forms, such as Runesmithing and Druidism

§1.3 Other Forms, such as Golemancy, Chi, Ki and Iconoclasm

 

§2 Following forms of magic are requiring a permit to be used, else §6 is in order, resulting in a harsh punishment for the illegal usage of magecraft,

 

§2.1 Within the boundaries of a cities wall, such as Runesmithing, Golemancy and Druidism.

§2.2 Within the boundaries of the empire, such as Transfiguration, Telekinesis, Conjuration, Chi, Ki, Evocation, Voidal Translocation and Voidal Shifting.

 

§3 If not stated in §2 no permit is required to be obtained by the mage, yet, the laws still apply to those forms of magic and the mage themselves.

 

 

§4 Any form of magecraft may never be used for,

 

§4.1 Burglary; defined as the stealing of goods from one’s property.

• Minor Burglary; The theft of 200 minas or less, in equivalent goods or coin, Class C-Crime.   
• Burglary; The theft of 500 minas or less, in equivalent goods or coin, Class B-Crime.
• Grand Burglary; The theft of 1000 minas or less, in equivalent goods or coin, Class B-Crime.
   

§4.2 Robbery; defined as the stealing of goods from an individual's body.

• Minor Robbery; Brandishing a weapon or threatening violence to achieve the theft of less than 200 minas, in equivalent goods or coin, Class C-Crime.
• Robbery; Brandishing a weapon or threatening violence to achieve the theft of less than 500 minas, in equivalent goods or coin, Class B-Crime
• Grand Robbery; Brandishing a weapon or threatening violence to achieve the theft of less than 1000 minas, in equivalent goods or coin, Class B-Crime.
   

§4.3 Assault; defined as physical attack upon another, with the exception of self-defense or an official order from the Ministry or the Crown.

• Minor Assault; An unplanned attack upon another causing minor injury, Class C-Crime.
• Assault; A planned attack upon another causing minor injury, Class B-Crime.
• Grand Assault; A planned attack upon another causing grievous or debilitating injury, Class A-Crime.

 

§4.4 Murder; defined as the unlawful killing of another Citizen.

• Attempted Murder; The planned attempt of taking another’s life and failing in doing so, Class B-Crime.
• Murder; The unplanned killing of anyone's life, Class B-Crime.
• Planned Murder; The planned killing of anyone’s life, Class A-Crime.

 

§4.5 Espionage; defined as spying on another Citizen, with the exception of an official order from the Ministry or the Crown, Class B-Crime.

 

§4.6 Vandalism; defined as the unlawful destruction of property.

• Unplanned Vandalism; Unplanned destruction of property, Class D-Crime.
• Vandalism; Planned destruction of property, Class B-Crime.

 

§4.7 Kidnapping; the unlawful seizure or holding of another in one’s custody.

• Kidnapping; Holding a person at a place against their own will, Class B-Crime.
• Slavery; Holding a person against their own will and selling them into slavery, Class A-Crime.

 

§4.8 Aiding an Outlaw or Criminal, Class B-Crime.

 

§4.9 Undermining Authority & Defenses, Class D-Crime.

§5 Any form of magecraft shall not be taught within the walls of an imperial city, without the direct permission of the Minister, Church or Crown.
 

§6 Any mage is required to inform the Ministry of their arts, so that they will be added to the registry.

 

    §6.1 Failing to inform the Ministry will result in a punishment, the height of a Class C-Crime.

 

§7 No form of magecraft shall be used within a building of the Church, unless given permission by the Church itself.

 

 

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IV. Legislative Rules in Regards to Witchery

 

§1 The following aspects of magic are legally falling under the definition of Witchery,

 

§1.1 Voidal Forms, such as Sensory Illusion, Cognatism and Mental Magic.

§1.2 Deific Forms, such as Shamanism, Clericalism and Paladinism.

§1.3 Dark Arts, such as Blood Magic, Necromancy, Shade Magic, Mysticism and the Abyssal Magic.

 

§2 If a form of magic isn’t directly stated within III. Legislative Rules in Regards to Magecraft or IV. Legislative Rules in Regards to Witchery they are seen as forbidden and fall directly under Witchery.

 

§3 Any form of Witchery is forbidden within the holy empire.

 

§4 Using Witchery or teaching Witchery of any kind will be seen as a Class A-Crime.

 

 

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V. Punishments

 

§1 The following punishments are applicable for any Class D-Crimes,

 

§1.1 Fines,

A fine is of lower grade sentencing, considered the utmost minimal punishment possible. When a fine is sentenced, the criminal must pay the fine within one Saint’s week from the day the fine was announced / recorded.

 

§1.2 Detention,

A detention is of lower grade sentencing, placing the criminal within a holding cell for a certain amount of time, either out of safety for others or for their own safety.

 

§2 The following punishments are applicable for any Class C-Crimes,

 

    §2.1 Branding,

A Branding is of average grade sentencing, considered the procedure to take when a criminal must be identified for their crimes in the future. This punishment is done in private.

 

    §2.2 Public Torture/Lashing,

Public torture is of average grade sentencing, considered the go-to sentencing for medium to severe or recurring criminals. This is procedure when a criminal is found for charges that require more than the light sentencing, but must be dealt with efficiently.

 

§3 The following punishments are applicable for any Class B-Crimes,

 

    §3.1 Revocation of Citizenship,

Revocation of citizenship is of heavy grade sentencing, considered the way to punish a criminal and force them into rehabilitation by earning society’s trust once more, usually through gaining a career record and then after repenting for their crimes appealing to the Ministry or the Court.

 

    §3.2 Dismemberment,

Dismemberment is of heavy grade sentencing, considered the procedure to remove the criminal’s ability to repeat a crime. In the case of repeated disrespect, slander and harassment, a tongue might be torn out. All sentences of dismemberment are specific to the crime and precisely which body part can be removed to prevent the criminal from ever committing such a crime again. This can also be the go-to for recurring criminal acts, if public torture does not stop them.

 

§4 The following punishments are applicable for any Class A-Crimes,

 

    §4.1 Banishment,

Banishment is of critical grade sentencing, and thusly needs a trial or the approval of the Crown. When a criminal has gone so far that they can no longer be rehabilitated into society, nor can they be trusted to be forced into labour and not commit further crimes, they will be banished from the empire and send into a wasteland desert with no supplies, never legally allowed to return.

 

    §4.2 Execution,

Execution is of critical grace sentencing and is used when a criminal has gone so far that they must be eliminated in public to be made an example of. The main objective behind execution is knowing that there is no other viable punishment and no rehabilitating option for the criminal.

 

§5 If a trialed citizen is not found guilty of any magical crimes, yet, evidences that the individual broke other Imperial Laws were documented while the trial took place, the individual person is to be handed to the specific judiciary to be trialed for the recorded crimes.

 

 

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In Nomine Dei,

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, Augustus I of the House of Horen, Emperor of Man, King of Renatus, Marna, Mardon, Salvus, Seventis, Savoy, Courland, Santegia and Norland, Duke of the Crownlands, Cascadia, Avar, and Frederica, Count of Carolustadt, Alamar, Frederica, Thesmer, Thelen, Lorath, and Cantal, Baron of Darkwood, Gravelhold, Fidei Defensor, Protector of the Heartlanders, Highlanders, Farfolk, etcetera.

[Jasonhz 58]

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