Official Charter of Coppervale

Official Charter of Coppervale Law

Attempting to commit any of these crimes or any crimes at all is punishable as if the crime were actually committed.

Arson

Arson is the act of burning down a building. The punishment for this depends on the noble handling teh situation, seeing as there are several degrees of this crime. The punishment can range from a day in jail to Death.

Assault

Assault is any unjustified attack, through word or deed, upon another person. Penalty for assault varies according to the severity of the assault, decided by the Noble or Official handling the case. Minor assaults may be grounds for Honor Combat.

Bribery

Bribery is the offering of money, goods, or services to an Official or Noble within the Duchy for the purposes of influencing that person's actions, or the taking of such a bribe. The penalty for offering or taking a bribe is a fine equal to twice the amount of the bribe, or gold equal to twice the amount of the bribe, and loss of the original bribe if it is still held in possession.

Forgery

Forgery is the production, use, or possession of any false papers, documents, or identification. The penalty for Forgery of citizenship papers is immeediate banishment from the Duchy. Other forgery penalties for less serious documents forged are decided by the Duchy, Barony, or Garrison on a case-by-case basis.

Mockery

Mockery is the insulting, degrading, or otherwise showing unrequited disrespect for another person. Mockery is legitimate grounds for Honor Combat.

Murder

Murder is the causing of death through direct action, intentional inaction, failure to provide healing, or hindering others from providing healing. The penalty for murder is death by execution.

Stealing

Stealing is the taking of another person's possessions through stealth, deceit, or trickery. The penalty for Stealing is the removal of one hand, on the first offense. One arm, on the second offense, and incarceration of not less than one year on the third and subsequent offenses.

Robbery

Robbery is the taking of another person's possessions through force or the threat of force. The penalty for robbery is incarceration for not less than one month and a fine of not less than 500 gold pieces for the first offense, incarceration for not less than three months and a fine of not less than 1,000 gold pieces on the second offense, and incarceration for not less than six months and a fine of not less than 5,000 gold pieces for subsequent offenses.

Burglary

Burglary is the entering of another person's home or place of dwelling with the intent of stealing. The penalty for burglary is a fine of not less than 500 for the first offense, and fines increasing by 1,000 gold piece intervals for subsequent offences.

Treason

Treason is the undertaking or planning of any action that would subvert, overthrow, or hinder the Duchy in any way. The penalty for Treason is immediate execution.

Murder or Kidnapping of a Noble is Treason.

Honor Combat

Honor Combat is the most widely-used and easily allowable form of Citizen-to-Citizen dispute settlement within Coppervale. Whenever one's honor has been degraded, insulted, or otherwise hurt, or a person is the victim of a crime which is grounds for Honor Combat upon the perpetrator, that person may choose to challenge the offending person to Honor Combat.

If the one being challenged or challenging another to Honor Combat is physically unable or, for some other reason, would be incapable of defending their own Honor, that person may choose a Champion. This Champion will accept or decline the offer, and if accepting, fight in the person's place. It is considered dishonorable for an Able-bodied Knight to choose a Champion.

Reasons to choose a Champion include but are not limited to illness, disease, physical inferiority, being a woman, lack of experience.

Honor Combat consists of an uninterrupted duel between the challenger and the challengee. The duel will progress as far as the two feel comfortable with and agree upon beforehand. The duel might end at the first hit, when one goes unconscious, or to the death. Magic may or may not be allowed, the two participating must agree. Healing afterwards by a cleric may or may not be allowed, in the same way as Magic.

In any situation where the fine or time of incarceration, or penalty at any degree, is varying, either the Noble handling the case or the Official in charge will decide the severity of the penalty.

Aside from these crimes and their punishments, other laws shall be instituted throughout time and as needed to ensure a constant flow of growth within the economy and the Duchy.