House Kane
- Laws and Punishment -
Each citizen, noble or otherwise, who lives within the Kaltstaat, must abide by a set of laws set by the Kane family. A citizen is defined as anyone who has permanent quarters within any part of the kingdom, or within the cities of any of the vassals. While each vassal of Kane may have additional laws, they must be clearly documented within their own lands, and should not conflict with the laws already approved.
Any persons not a citizen of the Kaltstaat that are found guilty of these crimes will still be held accountable by Kane Law for crimes committed within the territory. These individuals will be imprisoned, but will have the right to send correspondence to their governing home states, to which an agreement will be met between the governing bodies on which laws they will become subject to. In the case of drifters, those whose governing bodies do not respond, and those who have already broken the law once before within the Kaltstaat, regardless of home states, will be treated and tried the same as a civilian.
The King and Queen are the only ones who may judge crime, handle trials, and hand out punishments. Any citizen or guard may apprehend and detain guilty parties until a member of the Kane family can arrive, but no further actions can be taken otherwise.
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The Kanes are above the laws set. The ruling King and Queen are also able to grant lands, knighthoods, titles, properties, among others. They are also able to strip these things should they see it fit to do so.
Duels
Duels are lawful with in the Kaltstaat so long as both parties agree to the terms at the start. Duels are defined as an agreed upon contest of magic, or weapons, between both parties where terms are set at the beginning of what constitutes the end of the duel. Acceptable end conditions are first strike, first blood, inability to continue, or death. Such duels must have a witness to vouch for the conduct and terms. It is the right of any Kaltstaat citizen to petition the Kanes to pursue punishment against those that breach the duel terms, and the Kanes may choose to pursue punishment if the other party dies as a result of breached terms.
-- If one party violates the agreed upon terms and escalates the duel, they will be subject the corresponding law and punishment of either assault or murder, depending on severity.
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Slander
Slander is considered deliberate and explicit offense upon an individual’s character that lacks verifiable basis in reality. It is the right of any Kaltstaat citizen to petition the Kanes to pursue action against those guilty of slander.
--- If the defamation is deemed to be unfounded by an authority of law in Kaltstaat, the offender must pay reparations to the offended, or de facto agrees to a duel with terms set by the authority if the offended pursues a duel.
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Theft
Theft is considered the act of taking possessions from another person, a private home or business, or from a person’s belongings. Those who are found guilty of unlawfully breaking and entering will be subject to the punishment of both theft and damage. It is the right of any Kaltstaat citizen to petition the Kanes to pursue punishment against those guilty of theft, and the Kanes may choose to pursue punishment even if the victim does not request it.
--- Thieves will return the items that have been stolen to either the victim or to the Kanes
--- Thieves will face a period of indentured servitude to the Realm based upon the estimated value of stolen item(s). For every day of servitude, they will earn 25r that goes towards their debt. (Example being an item worth 5,000r would incur 200 days in service to the Kanes.)
--- Thieves who attempt escaping their servitude, or incur other infractions during this period, will be moved to mines for hard labor to finish out their sentence or risk worsening punishment seen fit by the Kanes.
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Banditry
Banditry is considered the acts of theft and violence against the Kaltstaat itself, such as attacking merchant caravans, robbing banks, storehouses, or anything else belonging to the Duchy. Thieves, outlaws, brawlers, and smugglers that act as a group will be subject to the the laws of Banditry.
--- Bandits will be killed if they resist arrest.
--- Bandits who surrender will be marked with a permanent legal status as a criminal within the Kaltstaat, which will prevent them from ever: a) entering the castle, under any circumstances b) owning ships or horses within the Realm c) owning homes within the walls, although they will be permitted to live in the Eastern District.
--- Bandits who surrender will also be faced with a sentence of indentured servitude, with a length to be determined by the Kanes based on severity.
--- Bandits who attempt escaping their servitude, or incur other infractions during this period, will be moved to the mines for hard labor to finish out their sentence. Further attempts at escape or infractions may lead to death.
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Assault
Assault is considered acts of aggression that result in significant bodily harm to another party, ranging in severity and punishments. It is the right of any Kaltstaat citizen to petition the Kanes to pursue punishment against those guilty of assault, and the Kanes may choose to pursue punishment even if the victim does not request it.
--- Those found guilty of assault will be subjected to the equivalent bodily harm, with guaranteed replication of any permanent damage incurred on the victim.
--- The guilty party will pay additional financial reparations for the cost of any necessary medical supplies and treatments.
--- If there is belief the altercation is a result of self-defense, it may be disputed with the Kanes.
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Damage
Damage is considered breaking, destroying, or irreparably defacing property of another person, or property of the Duchy. It is the right of any Kaltstaat citizen to petition the Kanes to pursue punishment against those guilty of damaging property, and the Kanes may choose to pursue punishment even if the victim does not request it.
--- For those found guilty of damaging property, immediate fines equal to the cost of having the property repaired or replaced to at least its previous quality.
--- The guilty party will face a period of indentured servitude to the Realm based upon the estimated value of damaged item(s). For every day of servitude, they will earn 25r that goes towards their debt. (Example being an item worth 5,000r would incur 200 days in service to the Kanes.)
-- For those who refuse or are unable to pay the fines and serve their time will be placed in the mines for double the original sentence of servitude.
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Murder
Murder is considered the act of ending someone’s life outside of justifiable self-defense, lawful dueling, or wartime.
--- For those found guilty of murder, they will face either imprisonment or execution depending on the circumstances of the murder. This sentence may be carried out as imprisonment within the mines or within a cell, at the will of the Kanes.
--- The length of the imprisonment sentence will be evaluated upon the circumstances and decided by the Kanes based on the situation.
--- For each day the murderer evades justice, on year is added to the sentence.
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Mutilation
Mutilation is considered the act of debilitating an individual’s body beyond function, removing parts of the body, irreparably and intentionally marring the skin, or otherwise crippling an individual.
--- Those found guilty of mutilation will be subjected to the equivalent bodily harm, with guaranteed replication of any permanent damage incurred on the victim.
--- The guilty party will pay additional financial reparations for the cost of any necessary medical supplies and treatments.
--- The guilty party will face removal of faculty to inflict intentional mutilation again.
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Treason
Treason within the Kaltstaat is considered to be the act of citizens conspiring, threatening, or harming a member of the ruling family, and otherwise acting directly against the wellbeing of the Kaltstaat as a whole.
--- Those suspected of treason within the Kaltstaat will be detained for a trial overseen by a member of the Kane family in order to determine innocence or guilt..
--- Those found guilty of treason will be permanently exiled from the Kaltstaat, with the promise of death upon attempts to break the exile.
--- The guilty party will also be branded with a a "K" upon their cheek to mark these crimes.
In the case of indentured servitude within the Kaltstaat, the guilty are imposed a state of indentured servitude as a means to work off the debts and to repay transgressions through a means of service to the Kaltstaat and her people.
For those under the terms of indentured servitude, the following apply:
--- For each day of servitude, they will earn 25r to repay the debt until the total value of their circumstance is repaid.
--- While following through with their sentence, the indentured servant is not permitted to leave the confines of Queensport, and agrees to check in with their superiors each day to ensure they remain. If the indentured servant does not check in with their superior for one day, they are considered in breach of their terms.
--- Indentured servants perform tasks set by the Kanes. These jobs can be anything from lumber cutting, tending fields, serving on fishing vessels, etc.
--- Indentured servants are given meager quarters in the Eastern District if they do not already have a residence until the end of their time.
--- Indentured servants may not, under any circumstance, enter the castle.
--- Indentured servants may only entered the walled portion of the city with permission from someone in the Kane court.
For indentured servants found in breach of terms, for those who have committed additional crimes while carrying out their already prescribed servitude, or for those who refuse to agree to these terms altogether, other measures will be taken. Individuals who are noncompliant will be transferred to the mines to serve the remainder of their time under guard, with hard labor. Further noncompliance may result in death or increased time.
((OOC: This system was designed so that people who break the law will still be able to RP. Instead of being locked in a cell without RP, lawbreakers and servants may still RP in the confines of Queensport, but are not permitted to leave the city. If they leave the city, do not perform their service, or cause further infractions, then the characters will be moved to a mine that serves as a work prison. ))
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