In the venerable realm of Erindor, these statutes are decreed by His Majesty the King, with the counsel of the nobility and the wisdom of the mage circles, to safeguard justice, uphold honour, and preserve the prosperity of all who dwell within the realm’s borders.
These laws stand to ensure that no citizen, be they highborn or common-born, mage or mundane, stands above the rule of law. In the light of the many perils that beset our lands, whether the threat of monsters, the corruption of chaos, or the misuse of magic, these statutes bind all to a common cause: the safety, peace, and flourishing of Erindor.
Section I – Rights and Responsibilities of the People
Equality of the Realm – All citizens of Erindor, regardless of birth, wealth, race, creed, or craft, shall be honoured with equal standing before the law. Nobility shall not be shielded from just judgment, and the common folk shall not be denied its protection.
Duties of Citizenship – All citizens are bound to contribute to the defence, prosperity, and harmony of the realm. This duty may be fulfilled through labour, service in the militias, contribution of taxes, or the offering of skills for the benefit of the kingdom.
Right to Life and Liberty – Every subject of the Crown shall possess the right to live free from unjust harm or imprisonment, so long as they bring no injury to others, nor act against the peace of the realm.
Stewardship of Property – All possessions, whether land, goods, or coin, are to be respected. Theft, unlawful seizure, or willful destruction shall be met with recompense and punishment.
Binding Oaths and Covenants – Sworn oaths, contracts, and bonds of fealty are sacred in the eyes of the Crown. Breaking such without lawful cause is a grave offence.
Section II – Crimes, Threats, and Punishments
Murder and Slaying – The unlawful taking of life is a crime most severe. Punishment may be death, exile, or long imprisonment, as deemed fitting by tribunal.
Theft and Deceit – Theft of goods, fraud in trade, or swindling of coin is forbidden. Punishment shall match the severity and cunning of the crime.
Assault and Dishonourable Harm – Physical injury, threats of grievous harm, or the deliberate shaming of honour through unlawful means shall be punished according to rank and severity.
The Peril of Monsters – Those who, through negligence or malice, lure dangerous beasts or creatures of chaos toward the populace shall be held responsible for all ensuing harm. Those who slay such beasts in lawful defence shall be rewarded, provided they act within the law.
Use and Misuse of Magic – Magic, being both a gift and a danger, shall be subject to the oversight of the realm.
- Trained mages of the Schola Arcanis or sanctioned orders may wield magic for the benefit of the kingdom.
- Untrained use that imperils life, land, or soul is forbidden.
- The summoning of demons, the raising of the dead, or the corruption of the Weave into chaos shall be met with the full wrath of the law, even unto death.
Section III – Governance and the Crown
Sovereignty of the King – The King, in council with the Lord Justicars of the realm and the High Archmage of the Schola, is entrusted with the safety and prosperity of Erindor. His duty is to the welfare of the common folk as much as to the honour of the noble houses.
Councils of the Land – Each county shall be governed by its appointed lord or lady, in accordance with the King’s decrees, and shall maintain peace, collect fair taxes, and protect their people from threat.
Tithes and Levies – All must contribute to the Crown’s treasury according to their means. Nobility and great houses shall bear the heavier share, that the burdens of the common folk be lightened.
Section IV – Justice and Legal Proceedings
Judiciary and Tribunals – Trials shall be heard by appointed Justicars, Sheriffs, or Magistrates, or by local tribunals, drawing upon both noble and common-born judges to ensure fairness.
Right to Representation – Any accused has the right to counsel and the opportunity to speak in their own defence.
Sentencing and Mercy – Punishments shall fit the nature of the crime, with room for mercy in the face of repentance or noble service.
Special Authority in Crisis – In times of dire peril, such as a monster incursion or outbreak of chaos magic, the Ordo Chimerae and the King’s appointed Justicars may enact swift justice to safeguard the people, provided such actions are later reviewed by tribunal.
Section V – Enforcement and Defence
The Ordo Chimerae – This sacred Order, comprised of Justicars, Mages, and Venators, is entrusted with the enforcement of law, the pursuit of criminals, the slaying of monsters, and the protection of the people from magical or monstrous threats.
Militias and Watch – Towns and villages may form local watches or militias to defend against lesser threats, acting under the guidance of the Ordo Chimerae or local lords.
Self-Defence – All citizens may defend themselves, their kin, and their property from immediate harm, yet must refrain from excessive force beyond the need to end the threat.
Section VI – Special Appointed Authorities
Royal Investigators – Officers bearing the King’s own seal, entrusted with the most perilous and secretive matters within the realm.
- Only His Majesty may grant this title, and it is given rarely.
- Their charge lies in matters arcane, monstrous, and unnatural that imperil the realm’s safety.
- Their authority supersedes all other local powers, save that of the King and the Ruling Council of Erindor. Sheriffs defer to them; nobles yield before them.
- Royal Investigators act first to observe, gather evidence, and understand. Once judgment is reached, their decision is final.
- Abuse of this authority, or action without lawful cause, is a grave offence judged by the Crown itself.
Conduct of Royal Investigators – They are not soldiers, nor sheriffs, nor bureaucrats, but the final measure against threats the common law cannot hold. They do not involve themselves in petty disputes unless such matters mask greater dangers. They must act without fear or favour, guided by consequence as much as by law.
Representatives of the Ordo Chimerae – Justicars, Mages, and Venators engaged upon an official mission or appointed duty have freedom of action within their given orders, provided they do not disturb the local populace, break the law, or obstruct the duties of a Sheriff or Magistrate. They are exempt from extra duties imposed by local lawkeepers unless in declared emergency. In dire peril, they must place their full strength at the disposal of the presiding Sheriff or Magistrate. Deliberately obstructing rightful authority is punishable under law.
On the Members of the Ordo Chimerae – All sworn servants of the Ordo Chimerae are consecrated unto the defence of the realm.
- Justicars, drawn from noble bloodlines, retain their dignities of birth and their rights as citizens of Erindor, their service being a mark of added honour.
- Mages of the Schola Arcanis, having undergone their proper testing and oaths, are recognized as learned subjects of the Crown, their liberties preserved though bound by strictures upon the Weave.
- Venators, however, having endured the alchemies and mutations of their charge, are from the hour of investiture deemed to have surrendered all former standing as natural persons of the realm. Their civic personhood is reckoned as extinguished in sacrifice; in law they are regarded not as freemen, but as living instruments of sovereign will, maintained and directed solely for the service of Erindor.
Justicars Serving as Sheriffs – Justicars holding the office of Sheriff are the second-highest legal authority within their appointed district or region. They hold jurisdiction over all local legal matters, maintain the peace, and command the Ordo Chimerae within their boundaries, save where Royal Investigators or the Crown intervene.
Order of Precedence –
- The King of Erindor and the Ruling Council.
- Royal Investigators (within the scope of their investigation).
- Sheriffs in their district or region.
- Magistrates and appointed local tribunals.
- All other sworn members of the Ordo Chimerae acting in lawful duty.
Section VII – Amendments and the Will of the People
Amendment of Law – These laws may be altered or expanded through the King’s decree, upon counsel with the lords and with the assent of the people’s representatives. All changes must seek the peace, safety, and prosperity of the realm.
Spirit of the Law – Above all, these laws serve not the power of the few, but the welfare of all. Let the nobility guard the people, the people honour the nobility, and all stand united against those forces, mortal or monstrous, that would imperil Erindor.
Conclusion
Herein stand the statutes of Erindor, under the Seal of the King and the blessing of the Archmages. Let all within the realm take heed: these laws are the foundation of our peace, the shield of our people, and the sword against the realm’s foes.
Erindor 