Law & Punishment Fantasy Legal Doctrines
D&D Generators

Law & Punishment

Every campaign world is different, and each kingdom and/or race may have their own ways of dealing with crime & punishment. Below are several legal doctrines that you can use in your campaigns. If you feel the laws in these templated doctrines are too strict or too lenient, you can EDIT each set of rules by clicking the red "Edit These Laws" button at the bottom of the page.

Many of these laws are based on historical laws, and the punishments may be very different than modern times (example: theft was punishable by chopping off a hand in some regions). Laws were also quite sexist in our past, especially in patriarical societies. When running a campaign, you will want to weigh all these factors, and stray away from laws that will get your party killed quickly. In additon, it is important to note, prisons were historically very rare because communities did not want to pay for their costs and upkeep, and comminities preferred quick and decisive punishments, like mutilation.

City Laws

Murder (Malicious, unjustified killing of another person) - Death by beheading.
Treason (Crimes to undermine or cause harm to the kingdom) - Death by beheading.
Bribery (Bribery or attempted bribery of a city official) - 200 gp fine (minimum), payable to the city. Repeat offenders: 1,000 gp fine, 1 month hard labor.
Blackmail (Blackmailing or intimidating a city official) - 500 gp fine (minimum), payable to the city. Repeat offenders: 2,000 gp fine, and 6 months hard labor.
Slavery (Enslaving, holding, or owning a person against their will) - 500gp fine, payable to the city. Repeat offenders: Violator is sold into indentured servitude.
Arson (The burning of property and goods endangers the entire community) - 250 gp fine, plus damages, payable to the city. Repeat offenders: fine and flogging, 50 lashes.
Assault (Public brawls and fighting are illegal) - 10 gp fine, payable to the city. Repeat offenders: fine and flogging, 10 lashes.
Disturbing the Peace (Disrupting trade, commerce and daily life in the city) - 10 gp fine, payable to the city. Repeat offenders: fine and flogging, 10 lashes.
Hampering Justice (Hindering or attempting to stop the kingdom's justice) - 250 gp fine, payable to the city. Repeat offenders: fine and flogging, 10 lashes (possible hard labor).
Vandalism (Damaging property or livestock) - 25 gp fine plus the cost of repairs/replacement. Repeat offenders: fine and flogging, 10 lashes.
Smuggling (The movement of illegal goods (banned foreign goods, drugs)) - 250 gp fine, payable to the city. Repeat offenders: Fine and loss a finger; possible revocation of trade permits and city warehouse access.
Petty Theft (Taking property belonging to others) - 10 gp fine plus 3 days in the stocks. Repeat offenders: 50gp fine, and 1 year of hard labor.
Grand Theft (Theft of property valued over 100gp) - 100gp fine and possible term of hard labor. Repeat offenders: 5 years of hard labor.
Fencing Stolen Goods (Purchasing and selling stolen goods) - 100 gp fine, payable to the city. Repeat offenders: 250 gp fine and confiscation of assets.
Illegal Casting (The casting of spells to harm or influence others) - Fine (varies, based on the repercussions), plus damages. Destructive and deadly spells are punishable by hard labor, minimum of 1 year.
If a fine can't be paid, additional time of hard labor or indentured servitude will be added as punishent.


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