Law & Order

Wretinridge's code of law is extensive and complicated - representing a sometimes mismatched amalgamation of legal code and policies developed since the city's founding which have been stitched together and expanded upon, yet steeped in centuries of tradition and precedent setting rulings.
Wretinridge Overview

Process of Law:

A crime is observed, reported, or investigated. If a member of the City Watch observes a crime, they have the authority to apprehend and detain the criminal immediately. If the criminal resists, the guard can use lethal for to deal with them if necessary. Brutality toward criminals and suspects is expected.

The criminal is hunted down and apprehended. Arrest usually entails confiscation of weapons, armor, spellbooks, spellcasting foci or material components, as well as most other magic items and inventory. Captured prisoners are typically manacled, gagged, with a black hood over their head to disorient and control them.

The criminal or accused is confined in jail. If the appropriate punishment for the crime is limited to a fine or restitution, they can pay at any time to secure their release.

The criminal secures or is assigned a barrister and brought to trial, usually within two weeks though the wheels of justice can turn slowly. The magistrate reads the charges, hears the accused's plea, the evidence, and the arguments of both sides. In general practice, the use of juries is not common. To ensure the integrity of witness testimony, courts may employ the services of truthsayers to uphold the credibility of testimony, though particularly only in the most serious or egregious of crimes.

The magistrate renders a judgment or pronounces punishment, which most often include: mandated public apology or retraction with or without an edict (forbidding the convicted from doing something monetary fine; branding or disfigurement; time in the stocks; lashes; imprisonment (with or without an accompanying sentence of hard labor exile or enslavement; or execution.

Legal Code in Brief:

1.0 Rights of a Person

1.01 There shall be no violation of life, body, mind, soul, religious freedom, nor dignity of any person except as lawful punishment for a crime or crimes against Wretinridge or its people.
1.02 There shall be no violation of the property of a person, except as part of the implementation of lawful punishment.
1.03 All persons are entitled to defend their life, body, mind, soul, religious freedom, dignity, and property except where prohibited as part of the implementation of lawful punishment.
1.04 All persons have the right to privacy unless said person is confined due to being convicted of a crime. There shall be no entry into the private premesis of a person who has not consented hitherto. No search shall be conducted on the private premises of a person, nor upon their body or personal effects unless said person is held in suspicion of a crime. There shall be no violation of the confidentiality of conversation, or the writings or recordings of a person, except in the course of official investigations. There shall be no violation of the privacy of a person's mind and thoughts unless said person is held in suspicion of a crime.
1.05 Tampering with the soul of corpse of a once sentient being is prohibited. Nonhumanoid creatures ("monsters") have no rights under this law. It is not murder to attack a troll or steal from a dragon's hoard.

2.0 Defensive Laws

2.01 The Lord Mayor has the authority to call a portion of citizens by random lottery to form a militia to defend Wretinridge, or to provide other forms of aid during times of crisis.
2.02 Adult citizens who are not infirm are required to be prepared to be called to arms at any given time. Those legitimately unavailable when the call to arms is issued may be replaced by a substitute, but are required to provide an accounting of their circumstances and recompense to the city in monies or labor after the crisis has passed.
2.03 Citizens are required to maintain basic weaponry, armor, and supplies in good condition for service in the militia. Those unable to do so will be issued appropriate equipment if called to arms, which is maintained by the Wretinridge Armory, but will recompense in monies or labor the cost of loaned equipment not returned in satisfactory condition. 2.04 Any militia formed is subject to orders from the Lord Mayor and ranking members of the Citysguard.
2.05 The Citysguard has the right to question any person passing through the City Gates.
2.06 The Citysguard has the right to instruct gatherings of individuals within the city walls to separate, disperse, change location, or leave public spaces if they determine it to be in the interest of public safety and social order. Failure to disperse may be answered in force.

3.0 Public Laws

3.01 Destruction, defacement, disappearance, and relocation of public or private buildings, excepting one's own property, is prohibited.
3.02 No individual may display private portions of their person (genitalia) or perform acts with such portions in a manner that is regarded as vulgar or disturbing to the social order outside of brothels or other designated spaces.
3.03 Urination or defecation outside of appropriate receptacles is prohibited.
3.04 Littering in the streets or within public buildings is prohibited.
3.05 Vagrancy and loitering is prohibited.
3.06 Sound that can be deemed a public nuisance is prohibited unless permission for assembly has been granted.
3.07 Fires, bonfires, fire magick, or open flame outside of candles and torches are prohibited unless exception has been granted.
3.08 All creatures owned by a person must be confined to private locations (i.e. stabled) unless traveling with their owner. In this case, the animal must be demonstrably leashed, caged, or otherwise fitted to ensure control of said creature.
3.09 Privately owned businesses have the right to apply the above laws in, and enforce or request enforcement of, the above laws in their own establishments. See also 'Conditions Condoning Vigilante Justice'

4.0 Environmental Laws

4.01 No trees may be cut within the walls of or within a 4 mile radius of Wretinridge without written authorization or permit.
4.02 No mining, quarrying, digging, or other form of excavation may be performed within the city walls or within a 25 mile radius without prior consent. Any excavation is subject to ongoing oversight by the municipal government. Any such excavation which is found to be unauthorized or which fails to adhere to appropriate safety codes is subject to immediate closure, stabilization, and/or controlled collapse.
4.03 No substance which was not originally retrieved from a water source may be dumped into that water source without prior written consent.
4.04 No creature within the walls of or within a 5 mile radius of Wretinridge may be slain except by its owner, unless permission has been granted or it has been deemed a threat by the Citysguard or licensed animal catcher.
4.05 All individuals within the walls of Wretinridge are required to comply with published statute and Citysguard instructions regarding quarantines, unsafe goods seizure/forfeiture, street closures, building construction/maintenance, and other lawful health and safety measures.

5.0 Economic Laws

5.01 All persons employed by others are entitled to fair treatment and compensation as outlined in City Codes.
5.02 All businesses may advertise their wares and services along the dockfront and on public message boards designated for that purpose. Any other fliers, adverts, or postings require permit and applicable taxes be paid.
5.03 The Municipal Office has the authority to impose temporary restrictions on the pricing of goods and services and/or temporarily halt the sale of specific goods and services in the interest of preventing unlawful manipulation of the market as outlined in the Wretinridge Civil Code.

6.0 Magical Laws

6.01 Any usage of magic, wizardry, or sorcery that violates any laws laid out in the previous sections is prohibited within the confines and territory of Wretinridge.
6.02 Any person that intends to use magic in pursuit of a commercial enterprise must be tested by, registered with, and obtain licensure for their practice.
6.03 The private tutoring or instruction of magic outside of a magical institution is prohibited.
6.04 Any resident of Wretinridge seeking to expand their magical aptitude beyond a theoretical understanding must do so under the guidance of a recognized magical institution.
6.05 Any attempt to use black magic to charm or any effort to bribe or coerce a Truthsayer, bailiff, or barrister (i.e. to influence the outcome of court proceedings) is punishable by death of oneself and one's immediate family. 6.06 The practice of any form of Corruption magic is prohibited, as is the posession, sale, exchange, or creation of objects infused with Corruptive or Necromantic magic.

Required Licenses & Permits (and recurring applicable taxes):

Opening a tavern, inn, or restaurant

Operating any shop or service, regardless of whether in a permanent structure or portable stall or tent

Operating a gambling establishment

Distilling or brewing liquor or alcohol

Working as a prostitute

New construction or renovation within city walls

Holding a public gathering

Distributing broadsheets (news page) or posting written adverts

Meta Notes:

• The Citysguard is, in some ways, like an occupying force. They are more interested in order than justice, and more interested in the well-being of the city as a whole than in the needs of any particular citizen.

• If a child or juvenile commits a crime, their parents are held legally responsible for facing the associated punishment.

• Vigilante justice - the concept of citizens taking laws into their own hands is not necessarily considered a bad thing. If an angry mob finds and kills a kidnapper, the authorities not only don't intervene, they don't make arrests. They go out of their way to not get involved.

• Lawmakers recognize the need to defend onesself from aggression. "Self defense" is a very common defense in murder or assualt cases, often resulting in acquittal.

• The system deals harshly with recidivists.

Sources: GooeyCube Darkenhaven, Monte Cooke Games Ptolus
AI Art by Midjourney