Ravenloft: Prisoners of the Mist

Public (OOC) => Setting and Lore Discussion => Topic started by: herkles on April 14, 2010, 11:52:10 PM

Title: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: herkles on April 14, 2010, 11:52:10 PM
Hello,

I am curious about laws in port-a-Lucine. Unlike Vallaki there are not any laws posted. Now I am curious for what are the general laws that would be known to locals of the Port. I remember reading the Gazetteer III and it mentioned about how Dementilieu does not like Falkovinia and have laws against them.  Now I am wanting to know what sort of laws exist in the port.  While the port seems like the place that those with money and power decide the ways of the city, it also strikes me as a place where there are laws in place too.  So what sort of laws would exist in the port.

-Herkles
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Emomina on April 15, 2010, 12:08:24 AM
It is as close to modern democratic legal systems as you will find in the demiplane. Even with known war criminals, such as Falkovnians, they go through the motions of a proper trial. The people in Dementileu are not the superstitious lot you will find in the midieval domains like Barovia, so there will be no laws against magic, or against Calibans, they are looked down upon more than they are feared. The standard laws you would expect exist, the gendarme enforce peace and civility, but of course only the wealthy, and where the wealthy gather and frequent will have a strong enough gendarme presence to keep the peace, and streets free of the riffraff.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Mephisto on April 15, 2010, 08:54:47 PM
Weapons and armour are looked down upon too, not so much against the law but the person is viewed as a 'troublemaker' and the gendarme may keep their eyes on them. Armour is seen as a bit backwards and rude in polite society.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: herkles on November 20, 2010, 12:38:08 PM
Hello, I was thinking about this lately, and I am wondering as dementlieu doesn't have its laws written down somewhere for us to view it if there has been any more thought on what there laws would be. I do have some ideas of what their laws might be like and if the dms would like I can post some of them.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: herkles on January 01, 2011, 07:14:16 PM
mostly for my record and confirmation, I am going to post the laws that I know of so far.  There are not many of them though.

 :arrow: Falkovinians can not enter public buildings, gazetter III

 :arrow: illegal to sell guns to falkovinians along the prey road, gazetter III

 :arrow: the punishment for murder is death, EO

 :arrow: The punishment for Necromancy is death, EO

 :arrow: heavy duty explosives are illegal for the general public, ie bombs, gunpowder kegs. EO

 :arrow: all forms of artistic expression is to be done in high mordentish, Gazetter III

 :arrow: it is illegal to carry weapons in administrative buildings, IG NPC clerk

Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Badelaire on January 02, 2011, 03:11:15 PM
Dementlieu factoids:

:arrow: Multi-faceted aristocratic society with a republic elect, not a democracy since everyone in charge is of noble birth.
 
:arrow: Lord Governer is supported by the Council of Brilliance, elected nobles in offical positions based in Port-a-Lucine.

:arrow: Widespread literacy, even among the poor with schemes and initiatives to educate and assist the unwashed masses including food drives (As you might notice evidence of IG).

:arrow: Nobles "benevolence" lends them the notion that they're free to use and abuse the poor at whim.

:arrow: Mutual defense pact with Borca, Mordent and Richemulot against Falkovnia

:arrow: Magic is regarded as a "quaint distraction" largely applied to entertainment. Most mages stem from Illusionists and Enchanters.

:arrow: Decorum and ettitquette -very- important in Dementliuse society.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Zedrik on January 02, 2011, 06:53:37 PM

:arrow: Mutual defense pact with Borca, Mordent and Richemulot against Falkovnia


Has a name.
League of Four Nations if i recall correctly.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: herkles on January 11, 2011, 01:39:27 AM
question, would opium and similar drugs be banned in the port, I imagine they would be considering how the opium den is set up. but not sure.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Zedrik on January 11, 2011, 12:07:39 PM
mostly for my record and confirmation, I am going to post the laws that I know of so far.  There are not many of them though.

 :arrow: Falkovinians can not enter public buildings, gazetter III


What is considered a public building?
Werner only usually visits two buildings in the port (the alchemist and the printers) when he's there (and usually at night), so it's not a huge thing as I knew about the Falkovnians not being welcome in the Port. (Plus the feeling is more or less mutual, Werner doesn't like being in the Port, but it's where his faction HQ is.)
So is public building "any building open to the public"? Or is it "any building owned by the city for public use"?
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: EO on January 11, 2011, 07:04:10 PM
What is considered a public building?
Werner only usually visits two buildings in the port (the alchemist and the printers) when he's there (and usually at night), so it's not a huge thing as I knew about the Falkovnians not being welcome in the Port. (Plus the feeling is more or less mutual, Werner doesn't like being in the Port, but it's where his faction HQ is.)
So is public building "any building open to the public"? Or is it "any building owned by the city for public use"?

A building owned by the Government, so places like the Museum, Ruling Palace, Great Library, Dock Office, Government Food Suppliers and uhm, other areas of the sort.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: herkles on January 19, 2011, 12:23:04 AM
I came up with a little silly law, that was inspired by an old french law.

 All books that are produced must have a copy sent to the Grand Library, made up. But I sort of like it.

Also what is the Port's status on opium, legal or not?
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Feronius on January 19, 2011, 04:35:41 AM
I came up with a little silly law, that was inspired by an old french law.

 All books that are produced must have a copy sent to the Grand Library, made up. But I sort of like it.

Also what is the Port's status on opium, legal or not?

Seeing how well hidden the Opium den is, I would assume obviously not.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Bluebomber4evr on January 19, 2011, 02:11:26 PM

:arrow: Mutual defense pact with Borca, Mordent and Richemulot against Falkovnia


Has a name.
League of Four Nations if i recall correctly.
It's called the Treaty of the Four Towers
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Little Lotte on January 19, 2011, 02:34:43 PM
I wasnt sure where to post this but I have a question about bounties!

If say a bounty was posted in Barovia, is it legal to collect it while the subject is in another country? Does it still count? I'm just wondering! Thanks!
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Shadowthrone on January 19, 2011, 02:43:02 PM
I wasnt sure where to post this but I have a question about bounties!

If say a bounty was posted in Barovia, is it legal to collect it while the subject is in another country? Does it still count? I'm just wondering! Thanks!

It wouldn't be recognised by Dementlieu and they would consider it murder. The Barovian authorities wouldn't care where they were found, though.

That's my assumption.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Little Lotte on January 19, 2011, 02:47:34 PM
I wasnt sure where to post this but I have a question about bounties!

If say a bounty was posted in Barovia, is it legal to collect it while the subject is in another country? Does it still count? I'm just wondering! Thanks!

It wouldn't be recognised by Dementlieu and they would consider it murder. The Barovian authorities wouldn't care where they were found, though.

That's my assumption.

Thats what I thought! Thank you!
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: herkles on January 19, 2011, 02:49:00 PM
I wasnt sure where to post this but I have a question about bounties!

If say a bounty was posted in Barovia, is it legal to collect it while the subject is in another country? Does it still count? I'm just wondering! Thanks!

no, it is not legal. Dementlieu does not follow barovia's laws. Kidnapping or murder is a crime in the port, and the gendarme do not care who you do it to if the person is not a wanted criminal. a criminal in barovia is not one in the port and vice versa.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: PiousHeretic on January 19, 2011, 02:49:15 PM
I wasnt sure where to post this but I have a question about bounties!

If say a bounty was posted in Barovia, is it legal to collect it while the subject is in another country? Does it still count? I'm just wondering! Thanks!

It wouldn't be recognised by Dementlieu and they would consider it murder. The Barovian authorities wouldn't care where they were found, though.

That's my assumption.

Yeah, I think if a group were to illegally smuggle those with a price on their heads into Barovia, the Garda or the Count wouldn't care where they got it from; however, it'd be considered murder and you'd probably get your head resting on the guillotine if you were unsuccessful and caught.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Bluebomber4evr on January 19, 2011, 03:08:56 PM
They're two different nations with no formal ties to each other.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Zedrik on January 19, 2011, 04:32:30 PM

:arrow: Mutual defense pact with Borca, Mordent and Richemulot against Falkovnia


Has a name.
League of Four Nations if i recall correctly.
It's called the Treaty of the Four Towers

The Treaty of the Four Towers (a treaty) establishes Borca, Mordent, Dementlieu, and Richemulot as the members of the League of Four Nations (an alliance).
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: herkles on January 20, 2011, 12:14:07 PM
I want to know what people think of these laws? I made them up. :shifty:

 :arrow: Anti-governmental material is illegal to be printed and solicited throughout the Republic
 :arrow: All books that are produced must have a copy sent to the Grand Library
 :arrow: With respect to wine, oil, and other things which persons are in the habit of tasting before making purchase thereof, there is no sale so long as the purchaser have not tasted or approved of them.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: EO on January 20, 2011, 06:11:48 PM
First one contradicts canon.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: herkles on January 20, 2011, 07:18:25 PM
ah, how does it contridict canon? and what of the other 2 laws, I got them from old french laws heh
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: EO on January 20, 2011, 09:20:47 PM
ah, how does it contridict canon? and what of the other 2 laws, I got them from old french laws heh

There is freedom of speech to an extent in Dementlieu, but in terms of arts and culture, well, the Councilor of the Arts also happens to be one of the top and most respected critics of the arts so if he boos something, it is doomed to failure.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: herkles on January 20, 2011, 10:49:21 PM
yea, I figured there was freedom of speech, but if you were to say start publishing things that supported a revolution, or things that were saying the goverment is rotten and so forth than I doubt the council would just allow that to happen. Of course it maybe that this is more of a de facto rule than a de jure rule.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: herkles on February 04, 2011, 12:53:34 AM
another law question.

What is dementlieu's stance on duels? Are they illegal like I read they were in france? illegal but not enforced. or are the legal for those who can qualify to be 'nobles'?
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Badelaire on February 04, 2011, 02:11:51 PM
another law question.

What is dementlieu's stance on duels? Are they illegal like I read they were in france? illegal but not enforced. or are the legal for those who can qualify to be 'nobles'?

I'm going to dredge through some material and see what I can find. I would think Dementlieu would adhere to the "Gentleman's Agreement" (usually legally grey or outlawed) form of duel that took place at a mutually decided place of contest with seconds and a neutral party to bear witness to the outcome.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: herkles on February 20, 2011, 09:09:59 AM
Related to the laws is the court system and punishments that would be used.  here is my ideas for the dementlieuse legal system. Mind you it is a rough outline. I would like some feedback on these ideas.

Courtroom

 :arrow: trials are for most/all crimes unless it is blindingly obvious

:arrow: the judge is the utimatle arbitor. he is also the one that can set the price of a bail on the condemned.

:arrow: there is a jury made up of various people, some random and some who know the accused.

:arrow: The government does -not- provide assistance for the defendant. If you wanted a lawyer or legal consul you would have to buy it.

 :arrow: After both sides have given their say. The judge and the jury would meet in the backroom to discuss the fate of the accused.



Punishments

 :arrow: For major and serious crimes, the penalty is death by guillotine.

:arrow: fines, for minor stuff there can be some fines determined by the gendarme in question

:arrow: sent to the mental hospital, as a way to help rehabilitate people. The 'insane' would be sent off to a mental asylum so that they can be fixed.

 :arrow: jail time of various amounts

 :arrow: hard labor, in game this can be represented by needing to make several basic items for the gendarme, ie weapons and the like

 :arrow: corproal punishment, this is another one as the old domains of dread did say they had whips for the gendarmie and that looking up punishments this seems to be a common one.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Dhark on February 20, 2011, 05:26:06 PM
One feature of punishment that was quite common in times past is indenture, where the criminal works for the victim until his debt had been paid off , mostly used for theft , poaching & vandalisum . 
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: ladylena on July 19, 2014, 12:02:35 PM
Been searching the forums, and I can't find the rules on sale of land in Dementlieu. Would love to learn this.. Anyone know?
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: HellsPanda on July 19, 2014, 12:27:08 PM
Well players cant own ingame real estate so it hasnt come up often. I would check with Vengeance since he seems to be the primary dm in theport
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: herkles on July 19, 2014, 01:23:12 PM
Here is what I came up with before, of course this is not canon unless a dm says so; not to mention I would like to do some tweaks to it.



Quote
Laws of Dementlieu
GENERAL LAW(ie the laws that are posted on the bulleten boards or printed in books for all to see.)
Spoiler: show
 
1. theft is punished by a fine of 200-600 solars
2. arson, murder, assassination, are all illegal
3. a licenses is needed to own a business or a building
4. drugs are forbidden to be sold, fined if you do.
5. Falkovinians are not allowed to own weapons.
6. Falkovinians are not allowed in public facilities without an armed escort.
7. Seditious activity against the republic is not allowed
8. there is freedom of religion, of the press, of property and speech
9. It is possible to become a citizen of dementlieu if you marry one, fill out the property legal documentation, or are born of one who already has it.


Rights of a citizen of dementlieu
Spoiler: show
 
Rights of a citizen of dementlieu
1. All people born to Dementlieuse parents are citizens of dementlieu; furthermore anyone who marries a Dementlieuse is granted the rights as per their spouse.
2. Those of foreign nationalities who wish to become a citizen of Dementlieu can do so after declaring with the government their decision to do so and filling out the proper forms.
3. A foreigner shall enjoy in Dementlieu the same civil rights as are or shall be accorded to Dementlieuse by the treaties of that nation to which such foreigner shall belong.
4. All citizens of Dementlieu are granted the right to vote
5. all citizens have a right to freedom of speech and the press,
 1. exception to law 5: statements that are against the legal ordained council are forbidden.
6. Citizens have the right to property.
7. Citizens have the right to worship what they please.
 1. Due to the majority of the populace following the Ezrite faith, it is considered the official religion.
8. Education will be publicly funded for those who seek to earn an education.


CONTRACT LAW
Spoiler: show
 
1. A contract is an agreement which binds one or more persons, towards another or several others, to give, to do, or not to do something.
2. Four conditions are essential to the validity of an agreement:
  1. The consent of the party who binds himself;
  2. His capacity to contract;
  3. A certain object forming the matter of the contract;
   4. A lawful cause in the bond.  
3. There can be no valid consent if such consent have been given through magic, or have been extorted through violence or surreptitiously obtained by fraud.
4. Marriage is also a contract, and as such it follows the previous stated requirements.
5. The right of opposing the celebration of marriage belongs to the persons and parties connected by marriage with one of the two contracting parties.
6. Adoption is permitted to persons of either sex who are citizens of the republic of dementlieu and are well of.


PROPERTY LAW
Spoiler: show

1. Property is defined as all items, objects, money, or a location.
2. No one can compel another to give up their property, unless said individual has committed a crime that punishes them with loss of property.
3. Succession is opened upon death of the individual, or permanent banishment from dementlieu.
4. The heirs are bound by the debts and charges on the succession.
5. To own any locations in the republic, you must have a legal document saying that it is in yours or your parties ownership.
6. It is up to the owner of the property when it is a location if other individuals are allowed to enter or not.
7. Falkovinians do not have the right of entering a governmental facility without the escort of armed government agents.


8. TRADE LAW
Spoiler: show

1. All business require proper documentation to start and conduct business.
2. The following persons are forbidden to become purchasers, either by themselves or by the intervention of others, on pain of nullity:
 1.Falkovinians
 2.People serving out their crime
 3.the mentally ill
3. Every thing which is the object of commerce may be sold, where particular laws have not prohibited the alienation thereof.
4. It is against the law to sell items that are considered illegal substances or governmental official items; these include the following:
5. drugs and similar substances
6. governmental uniforms, documents, keys and personal effects of those who work for the government
7. military grade weapons, including but not limited to bombs, cannons, and artillery
8. the buying and selling of individuals is against the law; as is owning them.


MAJOR CRIMES
Spoiler: show

1. EVERY Dementlieuse , who shall have borne arms against Dementlieu, shall be punished with death and his property will be confiscated by the government.
2. Whoever shall have practiced any machinations, or kept up any understanding with foreign powers, or their agents, to induce them to commit hostilities, or undertake war against Dementlieu, or to procure them the means of doing so, shall be punished with death, and his property shall be confiscated.
3. An attempt or plot against the life, or against the person of the Lord-Governor or the council of Brilliance, is a crime of high treason (lèse majesté); this crime is punishable with death; and, moreover, infers the confiscation of property.
4. Every attempt or plot, the object of which shall be , either to to excite civil war or armed uprisings,  or to carry devastation, massacre, and pillage into one or more towns and locals shall be punished with death furthermore the offenders will have their property confiscated
5. Whoever shall have set fire to, or destroyed by the explosion with magic, any buildings, arsenals, ships, or other property belonging to the republic, shall be punished with death and confiscation of property .
6. Those who, either by discourses pronounced in public places or meetings, or by bills posted up, or by printed writings, shall have directly excited the citizens or inhabitants to commit the crimes and plots mentioned in the present section, shall be punished as guilty of those crimes or plots
 1. Nevertheless, in the cases where these incitements shall not have been followed by any effect, the actors thereof shall only be punished with banishment.
7. Every person guilty of assassination, or poisoning, shall be punished with death
8.  Whoever, by any writing, anonymous or signed, shall have threatened any one with assassination, poisoning, or any other personal assault, punishable with death or perpetual hard labor for time
 1. However if such actions were not carried out then a fine of 100-600 solars shall be issued.
9. If the threat was verbal, then they shall be punished with the same crime as if they ordered it in writing.
 1. However if nothing comes of said action then nothing is to occur to the one who issued such a statement.
10. Those who commit the black arts; defined as necromancy, infernalism and demonology, shall be punished by death and their property confiscated.


MINOR CRIMES
Spoiler: show

1. very individual, who shall have given any wounds or blows to another individual that has harmed them in a grievous manner, shall be punished with a jail time, and a fine of 100-600 solars.
 1. If one is however dueling, then one does not comite the above crime. Duels to the death though are punished as acts of killing another person and thus a major crime.
2. There is neither crime when the homicide, wounds, and blows, were ordained by the law, and commanded by lawful authority.
3. There is neither crime when the homicide, wounds, and blows, were commanded by the actual necessity of lawful self-defense, or defense of another person.
2. any individual guilty of theft,  shall be punished by a fine of 200-600 solars or with hard labor.
3. Whoever shall willfully burn or destroy, by any means whatever, any registers, minutes, or original acts of public authority; any deeds, notes, bills of exchange, banking or commercial papers, containing or operating any obligation, conveyance, or release; shall be punished as with hard labor, jail time, and a fine of 500 or more solars depending on the document that was destroyed.
4. The possession of illegal substances shall be a punished with a fine of 50-100 solars and a single night stay at the jails.
5. Whoever shall have counterfeited or altered the silver or gold coin, legally current in Dementlieu; or shall have taken part in the issue or uttering of such counterfeit or altered coin; or in bringing the same within the Dementlieuse territory, shall be punished with fine of twice the coin that was counterfeited.
6. The penalty of perpetual hard labour shall be inflicted upon every individual guilty of theft, committed by means of violence as well as restitution to the victim.
7. Whoever shall wilfully set destroy to any buildings, ships, boats, warehouses, dock or timber yards; woods, underwoods, or crops, either standing or cut down; and whether the wood be in heaps or cords, and the crops in heaps or stacks; or to combustible materials, so placed as to communicate the fire to such objects, or any of them; shall be punished with death.
8. Any who shall take another against the individual's will, shall be sentinced to hard labor and given a fine of 300-800 solars.
 1. If violence was used to take the individual by force then they shall be subject the punishment befitting violence as laid out above.
9. Whoever shall willfully destroy or throw down, by any means whatever, in whole or in part, any buildings, bridges, piers, or cause-ways; or any other constructions which belong to others; shall be punished with hard labor, in addition he shall be punished with a fine equal to at least half of the destroyed building's monetary worth.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Feronius on July 19, 2014, 02:04:25 PM
Do you require a Dementlieuse citizenship in order to be able to purchase, sell or own a piece of land on Dementlieuse soil?

I am of course talking about the ownership of land, to have the actual deeds to the land, not about the right to live there or being allowed to farm the land.
Since everyone in any position of authority is part of the nobility, I'm guessing you would? This has always confused me, what rights do non-citizens have?
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Dread on July 19, 2014, 02:09:48 PM
Been searching the forums, and I can't find the rules on sale of land in Dementlieu. Would love to learn this.. Anyone know?

Don't worry, I'll walk you through it. :)
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Dread on July 19, 2014, 02:12:12 PM
Do you require a Dementlieuse citizenship in order to be able to purchase, sell or own a piece of land on Dementlieuse soil?

Citizenship is the first step towards becoming a landowner more or less. It also means you have more respect in the eyes of the law.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Avatar6666 on July 19, 2014, 02:13:55 PM
Cord would also like Citizen ship in Dementie.
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: ladylena on July 19, 2014, 02:19:37 PM
Been searching the forums, and I can't find the rules on sale of land in Dementlieu. Would love to learn this.. Anyone know?

Don't worry, I'll walk you through it. :)

Thank you!  :love:
Title: Re: Dementilieu Laws
Post by: Elfric on July 19, 2014, 03:10:50 PM
Been searching the forums, and I can't find the rules on sale of land in Dementlieu. Would love to learn this.. Anyone know?
I know that one, you gotta be a citizen of Dementlieu.
Well, to do anything really you got to be a Citizen, else you're a tourist.
As for how to obtain citizenship? Contact a DM and find out in game  :P