A Realm-Wide Framework of Justice
This document constitutes the Common Law of Eryndor, a realm-wide framework of justice recognized between nations, cities, and sovereign powers. It establishes shared legal principles rather than rigid local statutes. Individual realms, city-states, and authorities may expand, soften, or reinterpret these laws, but this code serves as the common ground when jurisdictions overlap.
On Judgment and Sentence
Justice in Eryndor is not mechanical. Magistrates, councils, and sovereign courts are expected to weigh intent, consequence, station, prior conduct, and public harm when passing sentence.
Sanctions available under the Common Law include:
- Capital sentence, carried out by lawful authority.
- Long imprisonment under civic or sovereign custody.
- Term labor in service of the realm or injured party.
- Corporal punishment, where custom allows.
- Monetary fines owed to crown, city, or chartered authority.
- Reparations paid directly to victims or their kin.
- Binding edicts restricting movement, trade, spellcasting, or office.
- Exile, imposed only by high authority in cases of existential or cross-realm threat.
Failure to satisfy fines or reparations lawfully converts punishment into imprisonment or labor.
I. Offenses Against Authority
Crimes that undermine governance, legitimacy, or the lawful exercise of power.
Violence or Deception Against a Ruling Authority Assaulting, impersonating, or unlawfully coercing a ruling lord or sovereign agent.
- Sanction: Capital sentence.
Violence or Deception Against Officials and Nobility
- Sanction: Imprisonment, corporal punishment, and fines up to 500 gp.
Corrupt Influence Blackmail, coercion, or manipulation of officials.
- Sanction: Imprisonment, labor, or heavy fines.
- Note: Exile reserved for repeated or realm-threatening offenses.
Bribery of Office Offering or accepting unlawful advantage in governance.
- Sanction: Imprisonment, labor, and fines equal to or exceeding the bribe.
- Note: Exile only for systemic or foreign-backed corruption.
Slaying of a Lord or High Official
- Sanction: Capital sentence.
Arcane Interference in Governance Use of magic to influence, compel, or deceive ruling authorities without consent.
- Sanction: Long imprisonment and fines up to 1,000 gp.
II. Offenses Against the Realm
Crimes that endanger public safety, infrastructure, or sovereignty.
Destructive Acts Arson, sabotage, or deliberate destruction of civic works.
- Sanction: Capital sentence or long labor terms, plus full restitution.
Armed Provocation Brandishing weapons without lawful cause in public spaces.
- Sanction: Short imprisonment or fines.
Espionage and Subversion
- Sanction: Capital sentence or perpetual imprisonment.
- Note: Exile only where execution risks wider conflict.
Forgery and Civic Deception Creation or use of falsified official instruments.
- Sanction: Imprisonment or labor; exile only for large-scale offenses.
Obstruction of Justice
- Sanction: Fines and labor sentences.
Poisoning of Public Resources
- Sanction: Capital sentence.
Theft of Public Assets
- Sanction: Imprisonment, labor, or fines equal to stolen value.
Treason
- Sanction: Capital sentence and total seizure of holdings.
III. Offenses Against the Divine Compact
Crimes that violate the protected relationship between faith, worship, and the public order.
Violence Within Sacred Space
- Sanction: Imprisonment and reparations.
Desecration and Theft of Sacred Property
- Sanction: Imprisonment and damages exceeding stolen value.
Public Blasphemy and Provocation
- Sanction: Edict, penance, or restriction.
- Note: Exile only where unrest or divine reprisal follows.
Grave Desecration and Tomb-Robbing
- Sanction: Imprisonment and reparations.
Forbidden Ritual Practice Infernal,