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The Laws of Horizon's Stronghold

Town's motto:

"Do no harm and no harm shall come to you."

Positions of authority:

In order to be eligible for a position in the land of Oz, one must be a Citizen.

  • Mayor: The elected leader of the town who has authority that supersedes all other government positions. The mayor is still subject to the law. If the mayor is unable to fulfill their duty, the judge takes up the mayor's duties until a new elected official can be chosen. The mayor receives a bimonthly salary of 4 bits for their service.
  • Judge: An elected official who oversees all trials and decides innocence or guilt. If the judge is unable to fulfill their duty, the sheriff takes up the judge's duties until a new elected official can be chosen. The judge receives a bimonthly salary of 3 bits for their service.
  • Sheriff: An elected official who commands the local law enforcement, while defending and enforcing the laws. If the sheriff is unable to fulfill their duty, the deputy takes up the sheriff's duties until a new elected official can be chosen. The sheriff receives a bimonthly salary of 3 bits for their service.
  • Deputy: The 2nd in command in local law enforcement. The deputy receives a bimonthly salary of 2 bits for their service.
  • Officer: An officer is a member of the local law enforcement and are chosen by the sheriff or deputy. An officer receives a bimonthly salary of 1 bit for their service.

Law Enforcement:

The members of the local law enforcement are entrusted to uphold and enforce the law. Law enforcement can be identified by the Star worn on their lapel. Special Service to the Ruler of Oz wear a silver star. National officers such as Tin Men wear a tin star. Local officers such as the Sheriff, Deputy, and his Officers wear a brass or copper star. Temporary officers, when required, wear a cloth star. In the line of duty, an officer should strive to defend the laws and the people by non-lethal means. An officer may see a situation where lethal force is warranted and this grim duty is lawful in defense of the law. An officer may arrest anyone suspected of a crime for two hours for questioning. At the end of the two hours the suspect must be charged and awaiting trial or released. Trials should be swift and held within 24 hours of the arrest, circumstances permitting.

Elections:

Every Autumn, the position of mayor is put to a vote. All citizens are expected to participate in the voting process. Once elected, the Mayor has the option of placing the position of Judge, Sheriff or Deputy up for election, whose Election takes place in Spring. Voting counts as follows:

  • Citizens vote count as one vote.
  • Non-Citizens count as 1/2 vote.
  • Whomever has the most votes at the end of the election wins.

Death of an official: In the unfortunate circumstances that an officer dies, a special election will be held 2 months after. Should he be returned as a construct, he may fulfill his duty until the election is completed. He may not return to his position until he regains his citizenship.

Citizenship:

With the recent opening of Oz's borders, and the rise in threats from outside forces, it is necessary to have a path to citizenship. In order to make all equitable under the law, eligibility to citizenship applies to all living within the borders of Oz.

  • Humans living in Oz before the Great Spell faded are granted automatic citizenship.
  • A non-citizen must have a sponsor for citizenship. The sponsor agrees to pay an equal fine should the non-citizen commit any crimes. Sponsorship lasts a minimum of 6 months. Upon completing Sponsorship, the non-citizen and sponsor meet before a judge. The Sponsor announces that the non-citizen is worthy of citizenship, the non-citizen makes an oath of fealty to the Nation of Oz. Character witnesses may then speak on behalf of or against the non-citizen. The Judge has the final word on granting citizenship to the non-citizen. Should the non-citizen fail to pass citizenship, they may attempt the process again with a new sponsor.
  • A newly formed Construct does not retain any Citizenship that they held in life, and must seek it anew.
  • Nomes are forbidden from acting as sponsors.

Laws:

Fines are doubled for non-Citizens. If a non-Citizen is sponsored, their sponsor pays half of the fine, and the non-Citizen pays half of the fine. Non-domesticated Changelings are not tolerated within the borders of Oz. Changelings who break the laws lose their Certificate of Domestication. If they are not Domesticated and they commit a crime, they are to be put down.

  1. Any act of assault will be dealt with by a fine of 4 bits, 75% of which will go to the victim and no less than 24 hours in jail. Assault is defined as doing physical, spiritual, or severe emotional harm to an individual. Manipulation of free will through magical or other means is also seen as assault.
  2. Any act of assault with clear intent to kill will be dealt with by a fine of 12 bits, 75% of which will go to the victim and no less than one month in the local jail.
  3. Any act of murder will be dealt with by a fine of 5 Emeralds, 75% of which will go to the victim's next of kin and no less than 6 months in the local jail. The punishment for murder can also include execution but this must be signed off on by the mayor, judge, and sheriff.
  4. Any act of theft will be dealt with by a fine of Twice the value of the stolen item, 75% of which will go to the victim.
  5. Any act that results in the willful destruction or damaging of property will be dealt with by a fine of Twice the value of the damaged property, 75% of which will go to the victim.
  6. Any act that interferes with local law enforcement will be dealt with by a fine of 4 bits.
  7. Any act of public drunkenness or recklessness will be dealt with by a fine of 3 bits.
  8. The casting of involuntary necromancy (raising the dead) will be dealt with by a fine of 2 Emeralds and no less than 3  months in jail.
  9. Creation of a construct without the permission of the constructed party will be dealt with by a fine of 2 Emeralds, 75% of which will go to the victim and no less than 3 months in jail.
  10. An deliberately wrongful accusations of a crime will be dealt with by a fine of 4 bits, 75% of which will go to the victim.
  11. Unregistered Witches Pose a serious threat to the Nation of Oz. A discovered, unregistered witch will be fined 8 bits and no less than 1 month in Jail.
  12. Acts of Treason will not be tolerated. Anyone found guilty of Treason will pay a fine of 5 Emeralds and no less than 1 year in the local jail. The punishment for Treason can also include execution but this must be signed off on by the mayor, judge, and sheriff.
  13. Anyone found aiding, abiding, or not reporting suspicious activity will be met with a fine of 4 bits. If they are doing so on behalf of a traitor, the fine is raised to 2 Emeralds, and can lead to 3 months Jail time.

Witches

The nation of Oz promotes the advancement and creation of all technologies. But just as an inventor registers a device with the national patent office, a witch must register with local law enforcement. When a witch or other magic user moves into a new area, they must notify the Mayor, Judge, and Sheriff of their presence. This includes their Magical leanings, abilities, and reasons for relocating. Local officials have the option of requiring the Witch to wear specific markings, allowing their neighbors to identify the witch without direct communication. An unregistered witch is punishable by law.

 

 

- Source:  Stronghold Gazette, Vol. 5 No. 3 (May 19, Year 149)

Page last modified on Sunday November 17, 2019 19:58:34 PST