Laws of S'shamath

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DM Ioulaum
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Laws of S'shamath

Unread post by DM Ioulaum »

There are very few laws in Sshamath, which is after all a city run by Drow who are primarily Chaotic Evil. This means that "laws" instead take the form of relatively vague edicts issued by the ruling council of Wizards, the Conclave. By not enshrining a hard set of laws the Council thus protects itself against any actions it may want to take in the future that could conceivably be seen to "break" a law. Laws are moreover understood as the will of the Conclave, justice has nothing to do with it.

In so far as S'shamath has laws these are usually the result of unwritten customs that have over several millenia (or centuries) become accepted rules to the point where they are written down and considered laws. Such laws predominantly deal with trade regulations, business licences, and the rights of citizens. As the most cosmopolitan Drow enclave in the underdark S'shamath has had both the time and need to develop such laws, so that trade and every day life continued to run smoothly while the City grew. In turn this has led to the development of a class of lawyers and magistrates for settling disputes. However, true to their Drow nature the magistrature and lawyers are often corrupt, considering bribery a right tied to their station.

Unlike the guards and law officers you may be used to in surface settlements the ones in Sshamath aren't really concerned with your well-being either. Rather they are charged with protecting the interests of the Conclave and its bureaucracy by ensuring the smooth functioning of the city. So where in Baldur's Gate you may run up to a guard pleading for justice against that thief that just stole your coin-purse and expect to get some satisfaction, in Sshamath the guards are likely to just shrug and say "so?". Unless of course you are a citizen or mechant some social standing, in which case the guard may well apprehend whatever non-citizen you accuse - whether they stole your purse or not.

Dealing with the public peace and security there are some general edicts which are enforced by the city's law officers, the Sshamathian City Guard and the elite Charnag Maelthra intelligence agents.


The city guard of S'shamath possesses wands imprinted with their identity which are capable of paralyzing and inflicting debilitating pain on anyone who ignores their commands. The City Wards inflict the same on anyone in S'shamath who attacks another inhabitant. The Sshamath Bazaar contains the heaviest of wards and protects anyone except slaves coming to the city for trade. Outside the Bazaar, into the city proper, the City Wards only protect citizens of Sshamath. The automatic enforcement and protection by the wards does not extend to the Sewers, Tombs, and Darkwoods District. The City Wards act as a dimensional anchor to prevent teleportation into and out of the city, and redirect teleportion away from Sshamath.

Edicts of the City's Magistrature Regarding Laws of Sshamath, Undrek Valanar, and Undrek Naudal: (Posted publicly outside the Stonestave)

1). All weapons must be sheathed and all shields slung. Official law officers of the city are the only exception. As with any civilization the rulers must restrict the use of force to themselves and their minions. This does not include quarterstaves, or a mage's staff, so long as they used for walking or held casually.

2). Summons, animal companions, undead minions, bound planar being, familiars, and other servants are permitted in Sshamath so long as they remain in full control of the wizard who has summoned them and serve a purpose to the wizard. Dominated and other wild animals are not permitted in the city. Any law violations as a result of their presence will be filed against the wizard responsible for them. Sshamath is a paramount of arcane achievement and such shortcomings can not and will not be tolerated.

3).It is unlawful to be polymorphed obtrusively or to own obtrusive creatures whilst in the city. Forms and creatures which are exceptionally large (no larger than a medium-sized humanoid) or exude uncivil effects such as hellfire or stink are thus not allowed. This includes balors, celestials, treants or elementals. Excessive gathering of creatures bound, summoned, or dominated (greater than two) is considered obtrusive in public unless involved directly in merchantile activities (setting up booths, for sale) or on official Conclave business.

4). All non-citizens (i.e. non-resident Drow) must display respect towards citizens. This means that a svirfneblin mouthing off to a Drow citizen could draw a fine, imprisonment or worse. In practice this is rare as most non-citizens aren't quite as stupid to insult a Drow.

5). No fighting, dueling or similar within city limits. It's bad for business and the Conclave covets the unique items trade brings above all else. If the guard catches you it could mean a fine, being thrown out of the city or a trip to the jail depending upon the whims of the intervening officer and the seriousness of the crime. NOTE: this includes mage duels.

Generally speaking any altercation involving a citizen and non-citizen generally results in the citizen prevailing. The penalty, while usually fitting the crime, also depends upon the whim of the officer. This could take the form of a fine (payable to the offended party and not usually exceeding 500gp), banishment, jail or other unspecified punishment.

6). Slavery works differently in Sshamath relative to the rest of the underdark. Slaves are considered property but it is frowned upon to starve or casually sacrifice them, unless they are rebellious. Individuals who are not of a monster-race cannot be enslaved. Instead they may become indebted servants, whose contracts may be sold as if property, yet who are not property themselves. Examples of monster races include chitines, goblins, grimlocks, minotaurs, and ogres. Members of these and similar races who can use arcane magic are seen as anomalies or trick ponies rather than indications of wizardly ability for the race. Notable races excluded from slavery include elves, humans, svirfneblin, and deep Imaskari. Constructs, conjured creatures, and controlled undead are considered objects, even when capable of wizardry, and have no rights.

The City's magistrature is composed of magisters appointed by the Conclave. A magister is always a wizard who has been trained to interrogate others and come to the truth in a matter. Normally via magical and invasive means. The magistrature creates edicts, which it posts publically outside the Stonestave, and enforces them. If the City Guard apprehends a Citizen or inhabitant they can make an appeal to a magister to examine their case. This process usually involves bribes, especially if the accused has no social standing in the City.

In exceptional cases a magister may organize a trial to hear evidence, or a tribunal of multiple magisters. In high profile or political cases it is customary that the delegates to the Conclave themselves act as magisters. The magistrature is independent and superior to the City's bureaucracy, reporting directly to the Conclave.
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DM Theophanies
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Re: Laws of S'shamath

Unread post by DM Theophanies »

August 11 2018 - Updated laws of Sshamath.

//New laws with highlighted changes in gold:
Hidden: show
The city guard of S'shamath possesses wands imprinted with their identity which are capable of paralyzing and inflicting debilitating pain on anyone who ignores their commands. The City Wards inflict the same on anyone in S'shamath who attacks another inhabitant. The Sshamath Bazaar contains the heaviest of wards and protects anyone except slaves coming to the city for trade. Outside the Bazaar, into the city proper, the City Wards only protect citizens of Sshamath. The automatic enforcement and protection by the wards does not extend to the Sewers, Tombs, and Darkwoods District. The City Wards act as a dimensional anchor to prevent teleportation into and out of the city, and redirect teleportion away from Sshamath.
Edicts of the City's Magistrature Regarding Laws of Sshamath, Undrek Valanar, and Undrek Naudal: (Posted publicly outside the Stonestave)

1). All weapons must be sheathed and all shields slung. Official law officers of the city are the only exception. As with any civilization the rulers must restrict the use of force to themselves and their minions. This does not include quarterstaves, or a mage's staff, so long as they used for walking or held casually.

2). Summons, animal companions, undead minions, bound planar being, familiars, and other servants are permitted in Sshamath so long as they remain in full control of the wizard who has summoned them and serve a purpose to the wizard. Dominated and other wild animals are not permitted in the city. Any law violations as a result of their presence will be filed against the wizard responsible for them. Sshamath is a paramount of arcane achievement and such shortcomings can not and will not be tolerated.

3). It is unlawful to be polymorphed obtrusively or to own obtrusive creatures whilst in the city. Forms and creatures which are exceptionally large (no larger than a medium-sized humanoid) or exude uncivil effects such as hellfire or stink are thus not allowed. This includes balors, celestials, treants or elementals. Excessive gathering of creatures bound, summoned, or dominated (greater than two) is considered obtrusive in public unless involved directly in merchantile activities (setting up booths, for sale) or on official Conclave business.

4). All non-citizens (i.e. non-resident Drow) must display respect towards citizens. This means that a svirfneblin mouthing off to a Drow citizen could draw a fine, imprisonment or worse. In practice this is rare as most non-citizens aren't quite as stupid to insult a Drow.

5). No fighting, dueling or similar within city limits. It's bad for business and the Conclave covets the unique items trade brings above all else. If the guard catches you it could mean a fine, being thrown out of the city or a trip to the jail depending upon the whims of the intervening officer and the seriousness of the crime. NOTE: this includes mage duels.

Generally speaking any altercation involving a citizen and non-citizen generally results in the citizen prevailing. The penalty, while usually fitting the crime, also depends upon the whim of the officer. This could take the form of a fine (payable to the offended party and not usually exceeding 500gp), banishment, jail or other unspecified punishment.

6). Slavery works differently in Sshamath relative to the rest of the underdark. Slaves are considered property but it is frowned upon to starve or casually sacrifice them, unless they are rebellious. Individuals who are not of a monster-race cannot be enslaved. Instead they may become indebted servants, whose contracts may be sold as if property, yet who are not property themselves. Examples of monster races include chitines, goblins, grimlocks, minotaurs, and ogres. Members of these and similar races who can use arcane magic are seen as anomalies or trick ponies rather than indications of wizardly ability for the race. Notable races excluded from slavery include elves, humans, svirfneblin, and deep Imaskari. Constructs, conjured creatures, and controlled undead are considered objects, even when capable of wizardry, and have no rights.
//Old laws for OOC record:
Hidden: show
[quote="DM Ioulaum"]There are very few laws in Sshamath, which is after all a city run by Drow who are primarily Chaotic Evil. This means that "laws" instead take the form of relatively vague edicts issued by the ruling council of Wizards, the Conclave. By not enshrining a hard set of laws the Council thus protects itself against any actions it may want to take in the future that could conceivably be seen to "break" a law. Laws are moreover understood as the will of the Conclave, justice has nothing to do with it.

In so far as S'shamath has laws these are usually the result of unwritten customs that have over several millenia (or centuries) become accepted rules to the point where they are written down and considered laws. Such laws predominantly deal with trade regulations, business licences, and the rights of citizens. As the most cosmopolitan Drow enclave in the underdark S'shamath has had both the time and need to develop such laws, so that trade and every day life continued to run smoothly while the City grew. In turn this has led to the development of a class of lawyers and magistrates for settling disputes. However, true to their Drow nature the magistrature and lawyers are often corrupt, considering bribery a right tied to their station.

Unlike the guards and law officers you may be used to in surface settlements the ones in Sshamath aren't really concerned with your well-being either. Rather they are charged with protecting the interests of the Conclave and its bureaucracy by ensuring the smooth functioning of the city. So where in Baldur's Gate you may run up to a guard pleading for justice against that thief that just stole your coin-purse and expect to get some satisfaction, in Sshamath the guards are likely to just shrug and say "so?". Unless of course you are a citizen or mechant some social standing, in which case the guard may well apprehend whatever non-citizen you accuse - whether they stole your purse or not.

Dealing with the public peace and security there are some general edicts which are enforced by the city's law officers, the Sshamathian City Guard and the elite Charnag Maelthra intelligence agents.


[hr][/hr]

The city guard of S'shamath possesses wands imprinted with their identity which are capable of paralyzing and inflicting debilitating pain on anyone who ignores their commands. The wards of the City inflict the same on anyone in S'shamath who attacks another inhabitant, and they protect everyone from harm. The automatic enforcement and protection by the wards does not extend to the sewers, tombs, and darkwoods district.

[hr][/hr]

Edicts of the City's Magistrature: (Posted publically outside the Stonestave)

1). All weapons must be sheathed and all shields slung. The only exception to this are the official law officers of the city as mentioned above. As with any civilization the rulers must restrict the use of force to themselves and their minions. This does not include quarterstaves, or a mage's staff, so long as they used for walking or held casually.

2). All summons, animal companions, undead minions etc. must be dispelled prior to entering the city. The only exception to this is the summoning of a small creature to carry a message or your luggage or whatever (note you can summon an imp using the 5th level mage spell: Lesser Planar Binding). The owner of a minion or summon is accountable for anything the creature does or causes.

3). It is unlawful to be polymorphed obtrusively or to own obtrusive creatures whilst in the city. Forms and creatures which are exceptionally large or exude uncivil effects such as hellfire or stink are thus not allowed (no wandering around in balor, treant or other form).

4). All non-citizens (i.e. non-resident Drow) must display respect towards citizens. This means that a svirfneblin mouthing off to a Drow citizen could draw a fine, imprisonment or worse. In practice this is rare as most non-citizens aren't quite as stupid to insult a Drow.

5). No fighting, dueling or similar within city limits. It's bad for business and the Conclave covets the unique items trade brings above all else. If the guard catches you it could mean a fine, being thrown out of the city or a trip to the jail depending upon the whims of the intervening officer and the seriousness of the crime. NOTE: this includes mage duels.

Generally speaking any altercation involving a citizen and non-citizen generally results in the citizen prevailing. The penalty, while usually fitting the crime, also depends upon the whim of the officer. This could take the form of a fine (payable to the offended party and not usually exceeding 500gp), banishment, jail or other unspecified punishment.


6). Slavery works differently in Sshamath relative to the rest of the underdark. Slaves are considered property but it is frowned upon to starve or casually sacrifice them, unless they are rebellious. Individuals who are not of a monster-race cannot be enslaved. Instead they may become indebted servants, whose contracts may be sold as if property, yet who are not property themselves.

[hr][/hr]

The City's magistrature is composed of magisters appointed by the Conclave. A magister is always a wizard who has been trained to interrogate others and come to the truth in a matter. Normally via magical and invasive means. The magistrature creates edicts, which it posts publically outside the Stonestave, and enforces them. If the City Guard apprehends a Citizen or inhabitant they can make an appeal to a magister to examine their case. This process usually involves bribes, especially if the accused has no social standing in the City.

In exceptional cases a magister may organize a trial to hear evidence, or a tribunal of multiple magisters. In high profile or political cases it is customary that the delegates to the Conclave themselves act as magisters. The magistrature is independent and superior to the City's bureaucracy, reporting directly to the Conclave.
[/quote]
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