Legal system

Preface The medieval legal system is based upon a contract between the feudal lord and the subject. The subject gives up certain rights, amongst them loyalty, the right that the feudal lord can judge them and pledge to follow his laws in return for protection from attackers and bandits, and usually land. Since the feudal lord pledges his loyalty to the king, every subject of the kingdom has pledged loyalty to the king and his laws. The kings rule is often founded on the fact that he's placed there by gods will. This is not the case in Triman. Just like the king of Christian Jerusalem or the Saxon kings of England, he has to be elected by the Council of Nobles as tzar of the land, and the election has in theory to be unanimous (although one can remove anyone opposing and then have a new vote) It is however customary to elect the son or daughter of the last ruler as the new tsar or tsaritsa, and exceptions happen only if the candidate is a particularly unsuited one or there is no direct heir. In such a case, one of the kniazi, who are all related to the royal line will be chosen. The kniazi have also the privilege to judge in their province just like the tarz himself, while other nobles can only judge subjects of their fief. A judgement by a noble can always be disputed and taken to that nobles feudal lord. So a kniazs judgement can be disputed before the tzar. The exception to this is Drevnedub, where the Elder council and not the kniaz is the judge, and the kniaz acts as the prosecution. The church has the privilege of self-government and is sovereign in it's holdings. Outside of them they are expected to follow the law of the tzar. They police their own and a kniaz judging a sage is considered a breach of etiquette. If the crime is serious enough, an offending sage would be brought before the tsar. The beggar knights are a hard issue, as they don't answer to the law, although they still can be imprisoned and judged by the authorities that they don't recognise. Usually, crime leads to fines or forced labour, and imprisonment is uncommon. Imprisonment is mostly used for criminals awaiting trial. Corporal punishment has been illegal, but came back during the civil war. Torture is seen as both a secular and religious crime, and is not admitted to have been used by any ruler. Since killing is seen as a sin in Triman, one strives hard to avoid condemning anyone to the death penalty. In stead, when someone is condemned to death, he or she has the alternative to pay a compensation, called Vira to the victim or the victims family. Sometimes the Vira is paid to the feudal lord. The Vira enables one to avoid blood feud and the sin of having to execute someone. However, since the Vira is so high, most communities pay the Vira together, and the criminal then is in debt to the community, a debt he or if he is exiled, his family is expected to find a way to pay back for. The concept of adoption doesn't exist in most of Triman. Kin is important, and an orphan that is kinless has an additional right to protection from state and church, except in Drevnedub. Being in kinship to someone gives special privileges before the law, particularly when it comes to trial by combat and compensations to next of kin To make the legal system more complicated, there are 3 main sets of laws that often contradict each other. The old laws of tzar Dobroslav, the rather extensive laws of tzar Borislav and the oppressive laws of tzar Vesevolod. They will be marked with a D, B or V. The laws of tzar Vsevolod are contested, as the civil war broke out partially because of his laws. The laws of Borislav are accepted, while the laws of Dobroslav are seen by the church and many others as the only truly just laws. LawsPenal code Treason - exile for life from the province and confiscation of possessions (D) High treason - beheading. (B) Often reduced to lifelong exile from Triman and confiscation of possessions to avoid breaking the church law to not kill if the perpetrator did not violate any other laws. (B) Now punished by torture and imprisonment or torture and then execution (V) Killing in self-defence is legal, but hard to prove. Murder or rape - execution carried out by a representative, usually the kin, of the victim (V) For killing – one Vira and exile from the province for 5 years for killing of a commoner. Two Vira and exile from the province for life for killing anyone of a kniazs or tzars household or anyone of the church. Three Vira for a knight, a child or a boyar and exile for life from Triman. (B) For killing anyone of royal blood, rape or planned murder – beheading. Might be reduced to lifelong exile from Triman and confiscation of all possessions, with the kin paying the appropriate Vira (B) The criminal is held in forced labour for the kniaz or tzar until the Vira is paid by his kin (V) Consorting with the Black Serpent or his creatures – beheading (B) Casting spells with the aid of the Black Serpent – beheading (B) Worshipping the Black Serpent – exile for life from Triman (D)

For armed robbery – half a Vira and exile from the province for 3 years, confiscation of all property (B) Thievery – a quarter of a Vira, confiscation of all property and exile from the province for 2 years (B) The criminal is held in forced labour in stead of exile for the kniaz or tzar for the same time period (V) Corporal damage – up to a full Vira, depending on the severity of the damage and chances of recovery. (D) Kidnapping, attempt to force a marriage or false imprisonment – 1 Vira for a commoner, 2 Vira for anyone from a nobles household, 3 Vira for a noble, 5 Vira for a boyar or anyone of royal blood. (B) Kidnapping of a noble or boyar is often judged as treason or high treason One is expected to spend the time of exile (particularly if it is for only some years) doing penance in a church of Svarog. Failure to do so might lead to exile for life.

A Vira is currently 100 silver. It is expected to be raised by the criminal or his family and the criminal could be held in forced labour or imprisoned until the Vira is paid. If the victim is healed or raised from the dead, the Vira is paid to the church. Depending on the province , the Vira is paid to the kin of the victim or to the victims feudal lord. An execution used to be paid for by the appropriate Vira to the church by the feudal lord (B). This was abolished by tzar Vsevolod. Trial by combat (D) Someone who a crime punishable by death is committed by, or the relatives of such person, can demand trial by combat if he or she wants, or if there is not enough proof to get the offender condemned. The combat is until death or one of the sides admit to the crime or the accusation to be false. Although it is considered immoral, there is no law that prevents any other kin to demand a second trial by combat if the first doesn't bring results. All members of the church, that is the beggar knights, ordained sages and the copper guard are considered each others kin for all legal purposes. Since the trial by combat is supposedly a judgement by Svarog, the church is expected to win any dispute. When that is not the case, the church blames it on dark magic, and sees it as it’s sacred duty to continue to issue challenges for trial by combat until the original opponent is killed. Weapon laws Only nobles and their men at arms can carry weapons (except in Drevnedub). In addition, the privilege to carry arms can be granted. Particularly, it's granted members of the church and citizens of cities. (B) Knives, axes for woodcutting, spears and bows for hunting are not considered weapons, but tools unless used otherwise. This law is ignored during the civil war of course, but technically you can be arrested for carrying weapons without a document that permits you to carry them Trade laws To sell goods in Triman one has to pay a tax to the feudal lord upon entering a place of trade (like a city on a market day). (D) A separate tax is paid to the feudal lord when taking goods out of the province. In addition one has to pay a merchants fee for the right to trade outside of the province. Merchant guilds pay a fee for the same right to the tzar. (B)

Laws concerning the use of magic Any user of magic has to prove before two representatives of the Church of Svarog that his magic is used for good and that he does not gain any powers from the Black Serpent or any other otherworldly being to enact his magic. (D) The representatives of the Church and the feudal lord shall give a seal of approval to the magic user (B). The use of magic is illegal, except for the sages of the Church and by the tzar specially appointed magicians (V). The use of unsanctioned magic is punishable by death by hanging (V). The use of magic to harm another is punished by double Vira (D).