The Laws of Ashbury

The crimes listed here are an overview. Only a few crimes have mandatory sentences and they are listed as such. Most of the serious crimes are punishable by at least one death. "Death" is defined as a complete loss of life, requiring a resurrection. Ben'/'s case (522 Ash 382).

Attempting to commit a crime is punishable as if the crime was actually committed.

A criminal who has committed a number of crimes may be given a harsher sentence than usual and even Obliterated for being a habitual offender even if no single offense was punishable by Obliteration.

Any person convicted of a crime may be subject to Death, Obliteration, a fine, a prison term, performing a public service, exile, required to make restitution and pay costs, and/or any other punishment that the Magistrate deems appropriate.

Arson: Arson is the destruction of another's property by use of fire.

Assault: The definition of "Assault" has been recently change by Ducal decree. Assault is the act of placing someone in fear of imminent physical harm coming to that person or otherwise seriously taking away that person's free will. The standard is an objective one, and the threat must be immediate and real. Simply insulting someone or giving a vague threat is not assault. Most gypsy curses would be considered Assault by this definition, especially if they take away the victim's free will.

Battery: Battery is the causing of harm to another person. "Harm" is defined as damage requiring the use of curing medicines, spells, potions or elixirs. Alaric's case (523 Ash 664).

Bribery: Giving or accepting gifts of value in exchange for favors is considered bribery. In Ehlondril's case (592 Ash 276), Ehlondril (a tavern-keeper) was given a monetary bribe to accept beer from only from one specific merchant. He took the money and promised to do so. A few hours later, he was arrested by the Town Guard after a witness to the transaction reported it. Ehlondril stated that he had no intention of fulfilling his end of the bargain and was going to turn over all the money to the Town Guard after the tavern closed. Since there was no evidence that Ehlondril had ever accepted bribes before or that he was lying, he was not found guilty of the crime even though the briber was. It should be pointed out that these incidents must be investigated on a case by case basis and the magistrate must take into account the amount of time between the acceptance of the bribe and the reporting of the crime and the reputation and previous record of the bribetaker.



Burglary: Burglary is the stealing of another's possessions from their home, place of business, cart, or other possession. Rhihirrin's case (584 Ash 335) included "possession" to include anything within the control of the victim. That case involved Birk, a young adventurer, who had been attacked by a group of goblins and had fought them all back. While the battle was taking place, Rhihirrin went by, searched the bodies of those already fallen, and took whatever booty was available. Rhihirrin ran off before the battle was completed. Once the monsters were defeated, Birk went after Rhihirrin and demanded the treasure. Rhihirrin refused. Birk, being a good law abiding citizen, went to the sheriff and had Rhihirrin arrested. In her defense, she stated that she was guilty of nothing, since she stole from dead monster bodies and not from Birk. The magistrate disagreed, thus setting the precedent that the one (or ones) who do the killing are entitled to the treasure. (Of course, usually these cases are decided "out of court" by the aggrieved parties.)

Conspiracy: Conspiracy is the joining together of two or more persons to plan or commit a crime. Giving aid or comfort to a wanted criminal or obstructing the investigation or apprehension of a criminal is also Conspiracy, as is having foreknowledge of a crime and not either reporting it or taking a reasonable step to prevent the crime.

Contempt: Contempt is the voluntary and willful nonobeyance of an order given by one who has power to issue that order.

Counterfeiting: Counterfeiting is the making or passing of money that is false and which the passer knows or has reason to know is false.

Extortion: Extortion is the act of forcing someone to give value against their will through the use of threats.

Forgery: Forgery is the production or planting of false papers and documents or false signatures on legitimate documents that the accused knows or has reason to know is false.

Indecent Exposure: Those who corrupt children and the innocent by walking through public areas unclothed are committing the crime of Indecent Exposure.

Kidnapping: The taking and holding of a person against that person's will is kidnapping.

Libel: Libel is the printing of information that causes harm to the reputation of another (noble or commoner). Orn's case (524 Ash 65) established the most recent interpretation of this law. Orin printed a pamphlet in which he accused a certain knight of being a necromancer, of having aided the enemy, and having the ugliest wife in all of Ashbury. Orin was charged with Libel. In his defense, he produced witnesses and documents to prove that the knight was indeed a necromancer and had committed Treason. The knight was tried, convicted, and Obliterated. The "ugliest wife" controversy was deemed to be opinion and could not be proved one way or another, and as such, Orin was found guilty of Libel as well as Mockery of a Noble Title. The final analysis is that to be found guilty of Libel (or Slander), what you have written must be untrue, believed by many people, and harmful to the reputation of the victim. (Note that if what you write is untrue and insulting yet no one believes you, you will not be found guilty of Libel but may still be subject to other charges, especially against nobility.)

Manslaughter: Causing another person's death through one's carelessness, inaction, or reckless disregard is manslaughter.

Mockery of a Noble Title: being insulting, degrading or otherwise showing disrespect to one of noble title constitutes this offense. According to the primary case on this law, Jorell's case (334 Eve 52), the offense should be fairly great. A commoner who sneers at a passing noble should definitely be reminded to correct that behavior, and if he does so, no further action should be taken. However, one who shouts insults and refuses to back down should be made an example of. Later cases stated that more leniency should be allowed for plays, songs, and other forms of satiric entertainment but these too may "cross the line" and violate this law. (Ashbury, with its history of bards, storytellers and entertainers, tends to be even more lenient than other duchies. The key seems to be whether the satire is done "in good-natured fun" or with malice.) Duchess Mara recently stated that she believed that merely disagreeing with a noble's view or stating that you believe the noble is unfit for noble title (even in a semi-insulting way) should not be considered to be sufficient cause for the bringing of charges of Mockery of a Noble Title. She apparently sees this crime as a lesser version of Treason—which means that the "mockery" has to be very serious indeed for charges to be brought forth.

Murder: Murder is the taking of life, even if the victim is given a Life spell before the death was complete. Intent to commit murder must be shown or the action becomes Manslaughter. This has a mandatory minimum sentence of a death. Obliteration of another person carries a mandatory minimum sentence of obliteration.

Necromancy: Necromancy is a crime against the very nature of our existence. The first conviction carries a minimum punishment of death and the second conviction requires obliteration.

Perjury: Lying to the Magistrate or a noble while that person is conducting an investigation or a trial is perjury. "Lying" includes withholding of pertinent information or otherwise attempting to mislead or fool the investigator. Morlox's case (594 Ash 16).

Pretending to a Noble Title: A commoner who attempts to convince another that he or she is a noble has violated this law. Zerdik's case (553 Ash 910) involved a person who claimed to be a knight; however, as he went through town making his claim, no one believed him. He was found not guilty, thus establishing the precedent that the main purpose of this crime is to punish the fraud that would accompany a believing audience rather than to punish the mere claim. It should be noted that Zerdik was found guilty on other counts, such as assault (he constantly harassed passerby and demanded that they bow down to him) and was subsequently placed into an asylum for his own protection.

Robbery: Robbery is the stealing of another's possessions from that person.

Slander: Slander is the spoken version of Libel.

Slavery: Slavery is the holding in bondage of another. The mandatory minimum sentence for slavery is death.

Tax Evasion: Failure to pay one's appropriate tax, fee, toll, or other remuneration to the proper authority is tax evasion.

Treason: Treason is any rebellious action that is taken against the lawful governing bodies of the duchy or giving aid to any enemy of the duchy. Merely speaking against a noble is usually not considered treason. Any noble is considered a "lawful governing body” as are all magistrates, sheriffs, and other town or city officials.