LAWS AND ORDINANCES OF VOYREEM

WHEREON THE Queen HAS STATED THAT CERTAIN CRIMES WILL HOLD SPECIFIC PUNISHMENTS UNDER THE LAW, TO WIT:

Drunkards are to be taken into custody for the day, and returned publicly to their kin (should they have any) the next day. Repeated drunkenness will be treated as irresolute, and steps will be taken to rid the person of the affliction by whatever means are most appropriate to the case.

Debtors are subject to having property seized to repay debt, should a reasonable time for repayment have elapsed: judgment will be by the courts. For repeated and/or insurmountable debt, the person of the debtor is subject to either indentured servitude to the creditor or to the Crown, for work to benefit the Kingdom of Lebensbrüke. Arbitration may be requested by either party, debtor or creditor, should the terms be considered unfair; however, final disposition is the sole purview of the Crown.

Petty Theft shall carry a punishment of 1 to 5 hours in the stocks, with note of what was stolen.

Swindlers and Con Artists shall be stripped of all goods, down to the underclothes, and enrolled in the Crown's work training program until satisfactory progress has been demonstrated.

High Theft (of items valued not less than 50 Krugerrand) and higher shall result in the thief or thieves being stripped, branded, and enrolled in the Crown's work training program until satisfactory progress has been demonstrated.

Brawlers (be they in taverns or not) shall be brought into custody for the day and fined, the degree of which is to be decided by the attendant Sheriff or Deputy.

Muggers and others guilty of assault shall be brought into custody, fined, and stood in the stocks for 3 to 8 consecutive days, or the alternative punishment is 5 to 25 lashes upon the naked back.

Bandits will be branded, have all goods confiscated, and shall be removed from civilisation and enrolled in the Crown's work training program until satisfactory progress has been demonstrated.

Child Beaters who beat or harm children (not their own) shall stand and receive 5 to 25 lashes upon their naked back. Those who break the bones of their own children shall, on first offense, stand to receive 25 lashes upon their naked back: Upon further offense, the children shall be removed from the household and given to relatives to raise. Should there be no relatives, the Crown shall have full authority to place the children where its agents deem best. The offenders shall be punished as given under the articles of Assault, above.

Rapists shall be, upon first offense, subject to gelding (if male), and branding. If there are further attempts to harm others through sexual means, those found guilty will be summarily executed, and their kin informed after the fact.

Murderers are to be taken into custody and given over to the Crown for judgment. The standard penalty shall be death. Mitigating circumstances shall be considered, including the principle of self defense.

Adventurers, Vagrants, and Freeswords have three days in which they may enjoy the hospitality of the Kingdom, subject to its other laws. After three days, these persons must register with the Adventurers' Guild, find other gainful employment, or move on. In any case, adventurers must pay a 10 per cent tax on their gains to the Crown to aid in the policing and protecting of the realm against such misadventures as sometimes follow persons of valor back to their homes and communities. Continued vagrancy shall be noted as appropriate under the articles of inDebtedness, above.

Trespass Upon the Deep Aelvenwode is prohibited. All people will keep out of the deep woods unless specifically invited. Elves will not harass humans in the lesser woods. Elves are allowed to visit Lebensbrüke without harassment, and humans may hunt, gather deadfall, and cut wood in the Outer Wood under the guidance of the local druids. Penalities vary from imprisonment for one day and/or a fine of 5 crowns to unspecified indentured servitude to the elves. Conversely, the Prince of the Aelvenwode has sole discretion in punitive actions taken against the elven violators of this agreement.

Interference with Official Duties is prohibited. Officials of the Kingdom, County, Barony, or Town shall not be harrassed, molested, or assaulted in any way during the execution of their duties. Offenders may expect a flogging for so doing, the number of strokes being dependent upon the severity of the offense. Offenders may also be imprisoned, fined, or otherwise punished, at the discretion of the Crown or Mayor, if such is deemed necessary for the safety of the citizens.

Weapons Inspections may be performed at any time within the Kingdom of Lebensbrüke. Persons in possession of rifles, rapid-fire projectile weapons, and magically enhanced weapons will be escorted to the nearest City Hall to acquire a permit (for a one-time fee of 5 crowns). Refusal to acquire a permit will result in confiscation of the weapon and all ammunition until the owner of the weapon leaves the country. Use of such weapons upon the citizenry or guests of Lebensbrüke, be they human, orc, dwarf, gnome, elf, or other is an attempt at murder, at the least, and may be punishable by death.

Weapons Employing Blast or Beam Technology are prohibited to private individuals within Lebensbrüke. Such weapons are those that employ technological or natural principles to generate magical effects to cause wounds, death, or destruction of property. Possession is punishable by confiscation and a fine of 500 crowns or a term in prison of not less than one week. Private use of such weapons within the Kingdom is grounds for imprisonment. Use against the citizenry or guests of the Kingdom of Lebensbrüke, be they human, orc, dwarf, gnome, elf, or other is punishable by death, as noted under the articles of Murder, above.

Questioning by magical or mental means is to be expected for major crimes. All criminals shall expect to have their innermost thoughts read upon capture. Information obtained by these means shall be considered as evidence in judgment of criminal cases. Accused may request a second neutral examination by qualified members of the White Hand or at their own expense by a neutral spellcaster licensed for such duty by the Crown.