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Voltan Justice

In the lands of Volta a Noble may only perform justice within their own holdings unless acting under authority of the Liege of the land they are currently in. Only Nobles or their Magistrate of Baronial standing or higher may execute ‘high justice’ on matters of high crimes. This includes any offense resulting in loss of all property or death/obliteration of the judged.

Judgment and sentencing by a Noble or their Magistrate need not include a trial nor even the presence of the accused. If a trial is granted, it is the responsibility of the accused to gather any that wish to speak for them. If witnesses are not present at the time of the trial, no time will be allotted to summon them. The accused will be permitted if in attendance to speak in their own defense and provide witnesses or testimony within reason, and only for the purpose of their direct defense. This privilege may be revoked by the Judge/Magistrate/Noble if it is deemed to be misused or abused.

Once sentence has been pronounced, the criminal has a period of time (usually 30 minutes) to gather any fines, surrender to the authorities, or prepare for death. In the event that the criminal cannot pay a fine, he will be required to surrender any property, barring one weapon/spell-book and a suit or armor of the judge's choice, to make up the difference of the fine.

Finally, the Noble may increase or decrease the sentence if and only if due to extenuating circumstances, it is merited. These cases should be the exception instead of the norm. Nobles may also reserve the right to brand repeat offenders as ‘outlaw’ if they feel the individual has no intention of following the laws of the land. This strips the individual of the protection of the law of Volta and any harm or mischief that may befall them save for Slavery or Necromancy will not be pursued by the law of Volta.

If an individual is convicted of a crime, and sentenced to ‘Public Beating', they will be placed within a circle of the townsfolk, and each is permitted to strike the criminal once. It may be noted that anyone who is foolish enough to merit a third punishment for any crime will find no mercy and receive a punishment consummate with the severity of their crime. Nobles always receive the maximum punishment for premeditated criminal activity.

Crimes

Accomplice : An associate in crime, one who willfully operates, aids or assists in the commission of a crime, Either by action or inaction. The accomplice shall bear the criminal responsibility as if they were the sole participants of said crime.

Arson : The willful destruction of another's property without consent by any means (the willful destruction or damage by fire to any property of another or of the state. Also the destruction of ones own property by fire if it is done so for profit and or if some collateral damage or destruction to the property of another or of the state ensues).

First Offense: Death by burning and loss of all property.
Second Offense: Obliteration.

Assassination : While the taking of another's life is covered by the crime of murder, assassination is both the premeditated murder of another for a fee and the hiring of such assassins. It is thus treated, if possible, as a more cowardly crime.

First Offense: Two Deaths and loss of all property.
Second Offense: Obliteration and Banishment.

Assault :. An unlawful attempt or declaration (written or unwritten) on the part of one or several with force or violence or malice to cause unwanted harm or mischief upon another. An attempt or offer to harm another without touching them, as one lifts their arms in a threatening manner to another or strikes at them and misses.

First Offense: Monetary fine.
Second Offense: Monetary fine.

Battery : The willful and unlawful use of force, violence, constraint, or mischief upon the person of another. The willful attack on another citizen by any means including weapon, spell, alchemy, potion or trap. If the battery results in the death of the victim the charge will be Murder. The attack need not be successful for the charge of Battery to be applied.

First Offense: 10 gold piece fine.
Second Offense: 20 gold piece fine.

Aggravated Battery : The commission of Battery with the intent of committing additional crimes.

First Offense: Public Beating and 50 gold piece fine.
Second Offense: Death and loss of property.

Bribery : The offering, giving or receiving or solicitation of something of value for the purpose of influencing the action of a person in the responsible discharge of his or her Noble, public or legal duties.

First Offense: Public Beating and 50 gold piece fine.
Second Offense: Death and loss of all property.

Burglary : This law covers breaking into another citizens home and consequently stealing property of another while in their home or business.

First Offense: Return of property, and loss of all property.
Second Offense: Return of property, Death and loss of all property.

Conspiracy : This crime is defined as the knowledge and willful cooperation in or planning by more than one person to commit any of the other crimes listed here (a combination or confederation between two or more willing persons for the purpose of committing by their joint efforts some criminal act or some act which is innocent in itself but becomes criminal when done by the concerted action of the conspirators). If the conspiracy is against a Noble, the charge is treason.

First Offense: 25 gold piece fine.
Second Offense: Public beating and 50 gold piece fine.

Counterfeiting\Forgery : While the obvious cause of this crime is the use of false monies, it also includes the sale or trade of false formal components represented as real components and the use of a counterfeited signature or writ. If a Noble signature or writ is counterfeited this becomes treason (falsely making or materially altering by hand or otherwise with intent to defraud, any document or symbol which if genuine might apparently be of legal efficacy or the foundation of a legal claim).

First Offense: 25 gold piece fine.
Second Offense: Death and loss of all property.

Impersonating a Noble : This involves not only the act of pretending to have Noble title when you do not have such but also acting as if a Noble has given you authority to act in their name when they have not. If you commit a crime while doing this the charge is elevated to Treason (to knowingly present oneself by document, raiment, statement to be of a Noble station).

First Offense: Death and loss of all property.
Second Offense: Obliteration, and loss of property.

Kidnapping : This crime involves the unlawful taking and holding of a citizen against his or her will, and attempts to ransom these captives to friends or family. Also, the forcible and unlawful confinement of an individual.

First offense: Death, loss of all property.
Second Offense: Obliteration.

Libel : One person or group of persons issuing or presenting a prejudicial or false statement or accusation pertaining to any other by the use of print, writing, pictures, or signs. It is a crime to print, write, etc. knowingly false statements with the intent to injure the character or image of another.

First Offense: Public Beating and 25 gold piece fine.
Second Offense: Death and loss of property.

Mockery of a Noble : This involves the defamation of a Nobles character through insults, lies or mockery. If this is used to incite rebellion or to undermine the authority of a Noble the charge becomes treason.

First offense: 10 gold piece fine.
Second Offense: Loss of all property and possible death.

Murder : The willful taking of another citizen's life, premeditated or in the heat of anger is murder. Even if the victim receives a Life spell, you are still held accountable for this crime (deliberate action to cause the death of any individual).

First Offense: Death, Loss of all property.
Second Offense: Obliteration, Loss of all property.

Necromancy : Not only is Necromancy a crime in the lands of Avalon, it is a crime against the Land itself. This crime involves casting of spells with the word "chaos" in the verbal, creation and control of undead through Cantrips and Formal Magic Spells, and use of any item necromantic in nature as well as consorting with undead in any way (the use of any spell, ability or item that calls upon chaos or causes an effect that taints the blood, withers, diseases. Also, the use of any spell, ability or item that causes the creation or release of undead as well as the use of any spell, ability or item that transforms a living being into undead. The willful and consenting possession of any item that possesses necromantic properties including transformations).

First Offense: Death, Loss of all property and possible Obliteration.
Second Offense: Obliteration, Loss of all Property

Perjury : To knowingly lie or make false or misleading statements to a Noble, magistrate or persons given the power to conduct an official investigation or trial while they are in the course of such an investigation or trial.

First Offense: same punishment as the crime demands.
Second Offense: same punishment as the crime demands.

Raising or possessing an illegal Circle of Power or Greater Ward : By decree, permission to raise a circle of power lasting longer than one hour, celestial or earth, must be granted by the Liege of that land in writing. Creation of a ward or like effect lasting more than 5 days must also be approved by the Liege of the land. To do so without such permission is illegal.

First Offense: 50 gold piece fine, Destruction of Circle at owner's expense, and Loss of Formal Scroll used to extend the circle beyond one hour.
Second Offense: Death, plus first offense penalties.

Slander: The speaking of false or malicious words concerning another whereby injuring results to their reputation.

First Offense: Public Beating and 25 gold piece fine.
Second Offense: Death and 50 Gold Fine.

Slavery : The buying, selling or trade of sentient beings as well as the ownership of such is slavery. The use of Enslavement elixirs is also a form of slavery (the willful buying, selling, or holding of an individual against their will such that said individual shall have no freedom of action and whose person and services are wholly under the control of another).

First Offense: Death, Loss of all property.
Second Offense: Obliteration, Loss of all property.

Tax Evasion : This is simply the failure to pay any taxes levied by the Duchy, Earldom, or any Baronies of which you are a citizen. Note: Visiting adventurers are also subject to some of these taxes.

First Offense: Double Payment of Taxes.
Second Offense: Triple Payment of Taxes and possible loss of property.

Theft : The taking of another citizen's property without permission is theft. Looting another's body is a form of theft and will be treated as such (to use any portion of or to take possession of the property of another against there will).

First Offense: Return of property, 25 gold piece fine.
Second Offense: Return of property, Loss of all property and possible death.

Treason : Treason covers things from disobeying a direct Noble order, attempting any form of criminal action on a Noble of Volta or Evendarr, rendering aid to a sworn enemy of Volta or Evendarr and inciting rebellion or unrest against the Noble and royal courts of Volta or Evendarr (the involvement in any action or assemblage for the purpose of rebelling against the state or its lawful governing body or inciting or aiding any other individual or individuals either foreign or domestic to do the same).

First Offense:  Obliteration.