Basanic Society

The predominant characteristics of the citizenry of The Royal Basin are their resilience, their dedication to victory, their contentedness with their leadership and their willingness to fight for what they believe in, especially their freedom. The folk of the Basin are responsible people who take the issues of the Kingdom to heart and participate in community affairs and issues. This attitude has evolved over many years of warfare and oppression by those that were jealous of the situation that the people of the basin found themselves in. The constant warring has created a great unity and sense of community within the cities of the basin that is not only difficult to break down but is in truth the great strength of the Royal Basin.

This level of community and oneness, of devotion and diligence is felt at all levels of society; the noble class’s are equally as conscientious when it comes to leadership and government as their citizens are when it comes to day to day duties to family and city. The people of the Basin take great pride in their achievements , honouring each other, their victories and also the defeats that have made them stronger in the past. They also respect the laws of the land with compassion and diligence, the legal system is considered amongst the fairest and most humane in the known lands.

### Customs

There are many customs amongst the folk of the basin; many are common and understandable but some are quirky and visitors have difficulty remembering to follow them which can lead to difficult situations:

·         Heads are bowed to nobles of the ranks between Knight and Earl.

·         Kneeling until bade to stand be observed in the presence of nobles ranking Duke and above.

·         Honorific titles are used at all times to those nobles of  senior ranks.

·         Births are followed by great celebrations: The people of the basin have suffered greatly in the past and many thousands upon thousands have died. A birth is considered to be a great blessing from the Gods upon a family and it is customary to celebrate with great passion and vigour.

·         Death is a private thing and not be intruded upon.

·         The Kestrel is a Royal bird and shall not be harmed.

·         The boar is a Royal animal and shall not be hunted or harmed by those not of noble birth.

·         The use of foreign currency is frowned upon.

·         Guests always adhere to the rules of a household; the guest is responsible for making sure they do not upset the hosts daily routine: The home is one of the most important places to a person from the Basin.

### Entertainment

The people of the Basin enjoy all manner of entertainment; Terref being a primary goddess all forms of gambling and merriment are prevalent across the land. This extends from story telling to non-lethal gladiatorial games, card games to horseracing. There are festivals and holidays that revolve around seasonal happenings and Royal birthdays, several a month in many of the cities across the basin. This love of festivals extends into the religious area and often Basanic folk participate in festivals outside of areas of their own faith.

Every three years there are great games held, providing that wars and such are not currently being waged. These games, if held in the Basin, take place in the capital and area great and extravagant affair lasting almost three months, although the games themselves take only six weeks. The festivities continue long after the awards ceremonies have finished and the athletes have returned to their homes.

### Law and Order

Laws and the enforcement of them are the jurisdiction of The Church of Ekimelahw, the Silver Saints and the militia of the various cities and villages.

# Crime and Disorder (treason, murder and theft)

Those trials for which a jury of the accused peers is present (treason and murder) shall be supervised by the presiding judge. Failure to adhere to respectful conduct in regard of the court shall be determined by the presiding judge and if found to be wanting shall attract the charge of contempt. Utterance of falsehoods within a court or before a judge shall attract the charge of perjury. Perjury may be punished up to the punishment of the charge. Contempt may be punished with expulsion from the court and a fine of up to 100 Helms to be paid to the Royal treasury. Specific financial penalties are at the discretion of the presiding judge.

Treason: Any persons guilty of plotting or acting against the plans, concerns or well being of the kingdom, or acting against representatives of the monarch in the service of the monarch.

If the accused is of free birth then trial shall be conducted by a judge. Guilt shall be determined from the majority decision of a panel of four peers (of equal or greater social rank) and the presiding judge. Punishment shall be administered by execution by hanging. After death the head shall be protected magically from necromancy and displayed at a prominent place (as determined by the land owner or most senior local official) till it does naturally crumble by the actions of carrion beasts, weather or time. The body shall be magically protected from necromancy and burned to ash. The ash shall be scattered. All personal wealth (including lands and goods) of the guilty party shall be forfeit to the Royal treasury.

If the accused is of royal office, of a clerical profession or otherwise holds an office of local status or is of noble birth or status then trial shall be conducted by a high judge. Guilt shall be determined from the majority decision of a panel of six peers (of equal or greater social rank) and the presiding high judge. If the guilty party is of royal office, of a clerical profession or otherwise holds an office of local status then punishment shall be administered by public procession followed by execution by quartering (where the internal organs are removed from the body till and beyond death).  After death the head shall be magically protected from necromancy and displayed at a prominent place (as determined by the land owner or most senior local official) till it does naturally crumble by the actions of carrion beasts, weather or time. The body shall be magically protected from necromancy and burned to ash. The ash shall be scattered. All personal wealth of the guilty party shall be forfeit to the Royal treasury. If the guilty party is of noble birth or status then punishment shall be administered by public execution by beheading. After death the head shall be magically protected from necromancy and displayed at a prominent place (as determined by the land owner or most senior local official) till it does naturally crumble by the actions of carrion beasts, weather or time. The body shall be magically protected from necromancy and burned to ash. The ash shall be scattered. All personal wealth (including lands and goods) of the guilty party shall be forfeit to the Royal treasury.

High Treason: Any persons guilty of plotting or acting directly against the monarch.

The trial and punishment for high treason is of the same form as that for treason except that all family wealth of the guilty party (and those by marriage and birth) shall be forfeit to the Royal treasury.

Murder: Any person guilty of killing a person while not acting in accordance with the articles of war or law enforcement.

If the accused is of free birth then trial shall be presided over by a junior judge. Guilt shall be determined either from the majority decision of a panel of twelve peers or the deliberations of a single judge. Punishment shall be administered by execution by hanging.

If the accused is of Royal office, of a clerical profession or otherwise holds an office of local status trial shall be presided over by a judge. Guilt shall be determined either from the majority decision of a panel of twelve peers or the deliberations of a single high judge. Punishment shall be administered by execution by hanging.

If the accused is of noble birth or status trial shall be presided over by a high judge. Guilt shall be determined either from the majority decision of a panel of twelve peers. Punishment shall be administered by execution by beheading.

If a guilty party absconds from their punishment or sentence, or if expedience (as determined by the presiding lone judge) demands an immediate sentence, then sentence may be carried out by the swiftest means available.

Theft: Any person guilty of stealing a possession, money, livestock, goods or land from another. If the guilty party is of free birth then trial may be conducted by a minor judge. If the guilty party is of Royal office, of a clerical profession or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge may conduct trial. If the guilty party is of noble birth or status then trial may be conducted by a high judge.

Punishment for theft

(loss of an eye for the second offence and death by stoning for the third)
 Holder of Royal Office or an office of local status
(loss of an eye for the second offence and death by stoning for the third)
 Noble birth or status

Within The Basin certain regional variances based on local feudal law are permitted.

For the sentence of murder, hanging may be substituted with quartering, boiling or burning.

However, throughout The Basin those of noble birth or status sentenced to death for the crime of murder maintain their right to be beheaded.

For the sentence of theft, the infliction of lashes may be substituted with branding or by mutilation by removal of a nose or ear. The sentence of death by stoning may be substituted for hanging, quartering, boiling, burning or by use as target practice for soldiers and militia. Those of noble birth or status maintain their right to evade branding or mutilation.

# Tax and Trade

If the accused is bound to a master or was born in servitude then the master or owner shall be liable for any action they should commit. If the accused is a resident of a debtor’s prison or workhouse or in military service then the master or superior shall not be liable. In these cases the master or superior shall administer the trial and punishment.

Failure to adhere to respectful conduct in regard of the court shall be determined by the presiding judge and if found to be wanting shall attract the charge of contempt. Utterance of falsehoods within a court or before a judge shall attract the charge of perjury. Perjury may be punished up to the punishment of the charge. Contempt may be punished with expulsion from the court and a fine of up to half the annual income of the guilty party. Specific penalties are at the discretion of the presiding judge.

Non payment of tax to the Crown: Any person who fails to supply the demanded quarterly tax (or emergency war tax) to a designated official of the crown.

If the non-paid tax is less than 100 helms then (regardless of if the accused is of free birth or noble) then a judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be the addition of ten percent of the tax shortfall to the outstanding tax sum.

If the non-paid tax is more than 100 helms then (regardless of if the accused is of free birth or noble) then a high judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be the addition of twenty percent of the tax shortfall to the outstanding tax sum.

If the non-paid tax is more than 1000 helms then (regardless of if the accused is of free birth or noble) then a high judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be a demand for the attendance of the non-payer at the Royal court. The penalty for non-attendance (after a period of one month from receipt) shall be the charge of treason.

Non payment of tax to a landowner: Any person who fails to supply the demanded tax to a designated official of a landowner.

If the non-payer is a freeman then a junior judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be fifteen lashes and imprisonment till payment of the outstanding tax sum is forthcoming.

If the non-payer is a holder of Royal office, a guild head or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be a demand for the attendance of the non-payer to the presence of the landowner, fifteen lashes and an addition of ten percent of the tax shortfall to the outstanding tax sum. The penalty for non-attendance (after a period of one month from receipt) shall be thirty lashes, two weeks in the stocks and the addition of twenty percent of the tax shortfall to the outstanding tax sum.

If the non-payer is of noble birth or status then a high judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be a demand for the attendance of the non-payer to the presence of the landowner and an addition of ten percent of the tax shortfall to the outstanding tax sum. The penalty for non-attendance (after a period of one month from receipt) shall be the addition of twenty percent of the tax shortfall to the outstanding tax sum. Subsequent failure to pay shall result in a request for payment being transferred to the Royal treasure. The Royal treasury shall treat the payment as ‘non-payment of tax to the Crown’ in regard to its recovery from the initial non-payer.

A feudal landlord, according to personal or traditional seasonal regimes, may apply tax. Trade tax applied to mercantile import and export shall be applied at the point of entree or exit and shall be applied as tax to the landowner.

Non payment of debt: Any person who fails to supply the payment for goods, land or services lawfully agreed by contract.

If the non-payer is a freeman then a junior judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be imprisonment till payment of the outstanding tax sum is forthcoming.

If the non-payer is a holder of Royal office, a guild head or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be an addition of ten percent of the tax shortfall to the outstanding tax sum within one month. Failure to pay with one month shall result in imprisonment till payment of the outstanding sum is forthcoming.

If the non-payer is of noble birth or status then a high judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be an addition of ten percent of the tax shortfall to the outstanding tax sum within one month. Subsequent failure to pay shall result in a request for payment being transferred to the Royal treasure. The Royal treasury shall treat the payment as ‘non-payment of tax to the Crown’ in regard to its recovery from the initial non-payer.

If any person should be unable or unwilling to pay tax or a debt then they may admit themselves to a debtor’s prison / workhouse. During this time they shall not be liable to further penalties for the non-payment of tax or debt. Once a debtor’s prison / workhouse has been entered (by free will) then the debtor shall not leave that place unless the tax or debt has been paid or if they join a regiment of the Royal army for a period of no less than eight years. Temporary leave may only be granted if it is by Royal charter and requires the debtor to return within one month and surrender all goods and treasures for sale as a means to offset their debt.

If the accused is bound to a master or was born in servitude then the master or owner shall be liable for any action they should commit. If the accused is a resident of a debtor’s prison or workhouse or in military service then the master or superior shall not be liable. In these cases the master or superior shall administer the trial and punishment.

The function of a debtor’s prison / workhouse is to assist the debtor in repayment of debt through the forced conduct of menial or dangerous work. If this work is conducted then subsistence board and shelter shall be provided. Within a debtor’s prison / workhouse the debtor shall forfeit the right to own any thing, beast or respect. Abuse of debtor’s within the prison / workhouse by staff (warders or the master) shall be investigated once per quarter without prior warning by a judge. Should any abuse be identified then the guilty party shall be punished under the terms of the law.

# Piracy and Slavery

Slavery: The imprisonment (under service) of the one person by another where the imprisoned person is regarded as the property of the other.

If the accused is of free birth then a junior judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be confiscation of all personal possessions (to be added to the Royal treasury) a fine of 100 Helms (to be paid in one month) and forty lashes. Failure to pay the fine shall add forty lashes per Helm unpaid.

If the accused is of Royal office, a guild head or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge.  Punishment shall be confiscation of all personal possessions (to be added to the Royal treasury) a fine of 100 Helms (to be paid in one month) and one hundred lashes. Failure to pay the fine shall add one hundred lashes per Helm unpaid.

If the accused is of noble birth or status then a high judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be a fine of 1000 Helms (to be paid in one month). If the fine is unpaid then further punishment shall be administered by private execution by beheading.

Piracy and highway robbery: The robbery and / or murder of persons lawfully travelling across land or sea.

If the accused is of free birth then a junior judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be administered by execution by hanging.

If the accused is of Royal office, a guild head, of a clerical profession or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be administered by execution by hanging.

If the accused is of noble birth or status then a high judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be administered by execution by hanging.

The site of execution of a highwayman should be a crossroads and the body left in gibbet till no flesh remains. The site of execution of a pirate should be a yard (ships rigging) and the body left in gibbet at low water or hanging at high water till no flesh remains.

Attempted removal of a corpse before its full term or the removal of the head of a person sentenced for treason, high treason or murder from its appointed place.

If the accused is of free birth then a junior judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be forty lashes.

If the accused is of Royal office, a guild head, of a clerical profession or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be eighty lashes.

If the accused is of noble birth or status then a high judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be a fine of 100 Helms to the Royal treasury (non-payment to be treated as non-payment of tax to the Crown).

Removal of a corpse before its full term or the removal of the head of a person sentenced for treason, high treason or murder from its appointed place.

If the accused is of free birth then a junior judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be administered by execution by hanging.

If the accused is of Royal office, a guild head, of a clerical profession or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be administered by execution by hanging.

If the accused is of noble birth or status then a high judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be administered by execution by hanging.

Smuggling: The act of evading the payment of tax on imported or exported goods.

If the accused is of free birth then a junior judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be forty lashes per Helm of goods smuggled.

If the accused is of Royal office, a guild head, of a clerical profession or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be eighty lashes per Helm of goods smuggled.

If the accused is of noble birth or status then a high judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be a fine of 100 Helms per Helm of goods smuggled to the Royal treasury (non-payment to be treated as non-payment of tax to the Crown).

Within Vaklam certain regional variances based on local feudal law are permitted.

For the sentence of smuggling, a sentence of over one hundred lashes may be substituted with hanging or boiling.

Grave robbery: The theft of a corpse from a grave or scaffold.

If the accused is of free birth then a junior judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be forty lashes.

If the accused is of Royal office, a guild head, of a clerical profession or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be eighty lashes.

If the accused is of noble birth or status then a high judge shall conduct the trial. Guilt shall be determined by the deliberations of the presiding judge. Punishment shall be a fine of 100 Helms to the Royal treasury (non-payment to be treated as non-payment of tax to the Crown).

# Civil Obedience

Criminal Damage: Deliberate damage to property goods or / and livestock.

If the accused is a freeman then a junior judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be one week in the stocks and the repair or replacement of the damaged property goods or / and livestock (within one month).

If the accused is a holder of Royal office, a guild head or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be a fine of 10 Helms paid to the Royal treasury and the repair or replacement of the damaged property goods or / and livestock (within one month).

If the accused is of noble birth or status then a high judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be a fine of 100 Helms paid to the Royal treasury and the repair or replacement of the damaged property goods or / and livestock (within one month).

Arson: Deliberate damage to property goods by the deliberate lighting of fires.

If the accused is a freeman then a junior judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be a branding and a fine of 100 Helms paid to the Royal treasury and mutilation by removal of a hand or eye or nose.  For a second offence the sentence is death by hanging.

If the accused is a holder of Royal office, a guild head or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be expulsion from office, a fine of 100 Helms paid to the Royal treasury and mutilation by removal of a hand or eye or nose.  For a second offence the sentence is death by hanging.

If the accused is of noble birth or status then a high judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be a fine of 1000 Helms paid to the Royal treasury.

Criminal Injury: Deliberate injury to persons such that the injury causes permanent mutilation or loss of over one week’s wages.

If the non-payer is a freeman then a junior judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be fifteen lashes and a fine to be paid to the injured person (within one month); 1 Helm for a lost hand, foot or eye; 4 Helms for a lost limb; 8 Helms for a second lost limb and 10 Helms for a second lost eye. Other mutilations shall be applied by the judge.

If the accused is a holder of Royal office, a guild head or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be a fine of 10 Helms paid to the Royal treasury and a fine to be paid to the injured person (within one month); 1 Helm for a lost hand, foot or eye;  4 Helms for a lost limb; 8 Helms for a second lost limb and 10 Helms for a second lost eye. Other mutilations shall be applied by the judge.

If the accused is of noble birth or status then a high judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be 100 Helms paid to the Royal treasury and a fine to be paid to the injured person (within one month); 1 Helm for a lost hand, foot or eye;  4 Helms for a lost limb; 8 Helms for a second lost limb and 10 Helms for a second lost eye. Other mutilations shall be applied by the judge.

Perjury and falsehood: Lying to a judge or to questions properly directed in a court of law.

If the non-payer is a freeman then a junior judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be fifteen lashes or two weeks in the stocks.

If the accused is a holder of Royal office, a guild head or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be a fine of 100 Helms paid to the Royal treasury.

If the accused is of noble birth or status then a high judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be 1000 Helms paid to the Royal treasury.

False judgement: A judgement (issued by a presiding judge) that is contrary to the evidence available.

If the accused is a junior judge then a judge or three junior judges shall deliberate guilt.

If the accused is a judge then a high judge or three judges shall deliberate guilt.

If the accused is a high judge then three high judges shall deliberate guilt.

The penalty shall be attendance at the Central Cathedral of Law to explain their actions. Deliberate failure to attend shall incur the sentence of recovery for interrogation or execution by any means.

An unsuccessful justification of a judgement contrary to the evidence available shall result in excommunication and / or execution by drowning.

Sheltering a fugitive: Giving food, shelter or succour to a fugitive (as marked by the ‘mark of the outlaw’ or by proclamation by a judge or local official).

If the non-payer is a freeman then a junior judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be fifteen lashes and a fine of up to 100 Helms paid to the Royal treasury.

If the accused is a holder of Royal office, a guild head or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be a fine of up to 1000 Helms paid to the Royal treasury.

If the accused is of noble birth or status then a high judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be a fine of up to 1000 Helms paid to the Royal treasury.

If the fugitive is guilty of treason then an official account shall be forwarded to the Royal palace and the an additional charge of treason shall be deliberated by the presiding judge.

Unlicensed brawling: Fighting in a public place so as to cause civil disturbance.

Fraud: Fabrication of items, goods or records in order to mislead or gain financial advantage.

Slander: Distributing false statements concerning the reputation of another.

Discourtesy: Failure to give proper respect and regard to ones social betters (higher social ranks, officers of the Crown etc.).

If the non-payer is a freeman then a junior judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be fifteen lashes.

If the accused is a holder of Royal office, a guild head or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be a fine of 10 Helms paid to the Royal treasury.

If the accused is of noble birth or status then a high judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be 100 Helms paid to the Royal treasury.

In the situation where a person of noble birth or status is slandered or shown discourtesy by a person without Royal office, a guild head or senior cleric then they shall be exempt from any charge of Criminal damage or Criminal Injury.

# Heresy and blasphemy

Heresy: Any persons guilty of plotting or acting against the unified doctrine of those churches recognised by the kingdom.

If the accused is a freeman then a junior judge and two clerics shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be fifteen lashes. The penalty for a second offence shall be branding and thirty lashes.

If the accused is a cleric, a holder of Royal office, a guild head or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge and two senior clerics shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be a fine of 10 Helms paid to the Royal treasury. The penalty for a second offence shall be 20 Helms (paid to the Royal treasury) and branding.

If the accused is of noble birth or status or a cleric of high priest status then a high judge and two high priests shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be 100 Helms paid to the Royal treasury. The penalty for a second offence shall be 1000 Helms paid to the Royal treasury.

High heresy: Any persons guilty of plotting or acting against those churches recognised by the kingdom or being a member of a prescribed church.

If the accused is a freeman then a junior judge and two clerics shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be execution by burning. All personal wealth (including lands and goods) of the guilty party shall be forfeit to the Royal treasury.

If the accused is a cleric, a holder of Royal office, a guild head or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge and two senior clerics shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be execution by burning. All personal wealth (including lands and goods) of the guilty party shall be forfeit to the Royal treasury.

If the accused is of noble birth or status or a cleric of high priest status then a high judge and two high priests shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be execution by burning. All personal wealth (including lands and goods) of the guilty party shall be forfeit to the Royal treasury.

Daemonology: The practice of summoning or dealing with daemons.

If the accused is a freeman then a junior judge and two sourcerers shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be execution by burning. All personal wealth (including lands and goods) of the guilty party shall be forfeit to the Royal treasury.

If the accused is a holder of Royal office, a guild head or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge and two senior sourcerers shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be execution by burning. All personal wealth (including lands and goods) of the guilty party shall be forfeit to the Royal treasury.

If the accused is of noble birth or status then a high judge and two high sourcerers shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be execution by burning. All personal wealth (including lands and goods) of the guilty party shall be forfeit to the Royal treasury.

Necromancy: The practice of causing the living or dead to become undead.

If the accused is a freeman then a junior judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be execution by burning. All personal wealth (including lands and goods) of the guilty party shall be forfeit to the Royal treasury.

If the accused is a holder of Royal office, a guild head or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be execution by burning. All personal wealth (including lands and goods) of the guilty party shall be forfeit to the Royal treasury.

If the accused is of noble birth or status then a high judge shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be execution by burning. All personal wealth (including lands and goods) of the guilty party shall be forfeit to the Royal treasury.

Blasphemy: Improprieties speech concerning the gods and goddesses.

If the accused is a freeman then a junior judge and two clerics shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be fifteen lashes.

If the accused is a cleric, a holder of Royal office, a guild head or otherwise holds an office of local status then a judge and two senior clerics shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be a fine of 10 Helms paid to the Royal treasury.

If the accused is of noble birth or status or a cleric of high priest status then a high judge and two high priests shall deliberate guilt. The penalty shall be 100 Helms paid to the Royal treasury.

## The Legal Court

The Court system works like those in other kingdoms: The Local Lord and an appropriately ranked Judge sits in judgement and sentences the violators to punishment. Nobles can demand that they are tried by a jury of their peers but that decision is eventually in the hands of the King. If they appeal the verdict the appeal must be to a jury of a dozen commoners chosen personally by the King. The Kingdom does not provide the accused with any facilities; the accused is responsible for making their case to the judge and persuading them that they should be found not guilty.

## The Royal Court

The Kingdom would not be a kingdom without its king and the nobles that support him; in the capitol there are a large number of smaller castles surrounding the Kings which house the Royal Court, that is to say those nobles that meet to make the choices that shape the Kingdom. There are some forty noble families, only about a half of these are considered to be major players of the Court game; these families tend to intermarry to keep the power flowing between the right families. These makes the problem of succession difficult, almost everyone in the Royal Court has some claim to the throne and if the King had no heirs there would certainly be a dispute over who would take up the throne.

Few people are elevated to the position of a noble and only if there is a position of power available for them to enter. Many are made Knights which gives them the right bear arms and fight in the name of their Lord. It is possible that a commoner will be given the position of Lord of a township but these are roles most often given to minor nobles that the King knows well and trusts. A local Lord must be a noble such as a Baron or a Count therefore the King must grant them title before granting them Lordship and that title will always remain theirs even if they lose or gain power they will always be known as the Lord of X.

The King also appoints the ministerial duties of the Court to his nobles; such as minister for trade, minister for war and minister for religion. The King is always right in his choices and cannot be seen to be wrong, those who perform badly or attempt to betray their king retain their titles but are often transferred to more obscure or dangerous duties.