Law in the Realms? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Law in the Realms? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
thalious
07-02-03, 04:13 AM Do other cities and governments honor the law of other communities? For example, if two characters are declared outlaws in the town of "Secomber" would they be outlaws in Waterdeep, Arabal, Scardale, etc? Obviously certain places could care less such as the City of Shades or Zentil Keep, and news or wanted posters wont travel fast either.
Another Gnome
07-02-03, 04:53 AM Probably only allied cities care one bit about the laws of each other.

* * *

As a note about wanted posters and being declared outlaws, unless a character is becoming really (in)famous, chances are that not even the authorities of the city where one is declared an outlaw will ever recognize him or her after simply changing clothes. Something that's been bothering me occasionally is how every damn NPC seems to have a photographic memory when "in reality" a human couldn't tell the difference between two elves even if his life depended on it.
thalious
07-02-03, 05:04 AM good points you raise. IMC, the 2 outlaws in question are a Tiefling and an Asamiar named Reign and Darrin--who were arrested for killing a Gypsy and her Helper who were charming people. Granted the PCs have no easy or known way to really prove that the Gypsy was charming people, also her being dead does not help much. Darrin surrendered, Reign broke him out of jail. Darrin was seen by the sherrif and 2 of his guards thus making it easy for them describe him. Reign was described to the authorites by one of the PCs who was also in jail, but did not flee when Reign busted Darrin out. It should be noted that the PC who did not flee is a Samuria.
Dargoth
07-02-03, 05:33 AM it would depend if the citys where on good terms.

If for example someone commited a murder in Silveryrmoon and where caught in Waterdeep then the town watch or the Lords of Waterdeep would probably tell the Silvermoon authorities that they had him in custody and hand him over.

if however the 2 cites werent on good terms say an offence commited in Zhentil keep and the culprit flees to Waterdeep then the Waterdeep watch probably wouldnt hold the culprit or hand him over to the Zhentilar
thalious
07-02-03, 06:16 AM Which cities are on good terms with each other? Does it go mainly by region/government/alignment?
Faraer
07-02-03, 10:12 AM Arabel and Scardale have no idea what goes on legally in Secomber. The Waterdeep authorities will be informed of the most heinous criminals there. The settlements of the Lords' Alliance and Luruar will coordinate to a fair degree. The trade cities of the Western Heartlands know and care about each others' goings-on only in so far as they affect trade, but will each deal differently with suspected disturbers of the peace. It all depends on the specific geographical, political, and economic situation. In general, overland travel and communication should be nontrivial -- see Hand of Fire for details of merchant caravans -- and magical communication and fast couriers the exception.

For a general treatment of law in the Realms, see "Law of the land" in Dragon #65.
Savras
07-02-03, 11:55 AM Before a diffrent city will arrest them, said city needs to *know* it should- i.e., Wanted decrees should be issued and so forth.

Savras
kamiblackflag
07-02-03, 03:42 PM if this game is roughly based on historical cultures, mainly western europe, then of cource law wouldnt overlap the borders of soveriegn states/city states. does one nations law overlap borders in todays world? think about all the US resistance to the International Criminal Court having jurisdiction over our nationals when they otherwise wouldnt be prosecuted here?
primemover003
07-02-03, 05:04 PM One of Rand's Travelogues discussed this very issue. The discussion was about the Silver Marches in general, but it could apply to cities and towns close to eache other. The point of the Travelogue was a council meeting between the member states of the Silver Marches confederation.

Politics of the Silver Marches (http://wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=fr/fx20030115rt)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
thalious 07-02-03, 04:13 AM	Do other cities and governments honor the law of other communities? For example, if two characters are declared outlaws in the town of "Secomber" would they be outlaws in Waterdeep, Arabal, Scardale, etc? Obviously certain places could care less such as the City of Shades or Zentil Keep, and news or wanted posters wont travel fast either.
Another Gnome 07-02-03, 04:53 AM	Probably only allied cities care one bit about the laws of each other. * * * As a note about wanted posters and being declared outlaws, unless a character is becoming really (in)famous, chances are that not even the authorities of the city where one is declared an outlaw will ever recognize him or her after simply changing clothes. Something that's been bothering me occasionally is how every damn NPC seems to have a photographic memory when "in reality" a human couldn't tell the difference between two elves even if his life depended on it.
thalious 07-02-03, 05:04 AM	good points you raise. IMC, the 2 outlaws in question are a Tiefling and an Asamiar named Reign and Darrin--who were arrested for killing a Gypsy and her Helper who were charming people. Granted the PCs have no easy or known way to really prove that the Gypsy was charming people, also her being dead does not help much. Darrin surrendered, Reign broke him out of jail. Darrin was seen by the sherrif and 2 of his guards thus making it easy for them describe him. Reign was described to the authorites by one of the PCs who was also in jail, but did not flee when Reign busted Darrin out. It should be noted that the PC who did not flee is a Samuria.
Dargoth 07-02-03, 05:33 AM	it would depend if the citys where on good terms. If for example someone commited a murder in Silveryrmoon and where caught in Waterdeep then the town watch or the Lords of Waterdeep would probably tell the Silvermoon authorities that they had him in custody and hand him over. if however the 2 cites werent on good terms say an offence commited in Zhentil keep and the culprit flees to Waterdeep then the Waterdeep watch probably wouldnt hold the culprit or hand him over to the Zhentilar
thalious 07-02-03, 06:16 AM	Which cities are on good terms with each other? Does it go mainly by region/government/alignment?
Faraer 07-02-03, 10:12 AM	Arabel and Scardale have no idea what goes on legally in Secomber. The Waterdeep authorities will be informed of the most heinous criminals there. The settlements of the Lords' Alliance and Luruar will coordinate to a fair degree. The trade cities of the Western Heartlands know and care about each others' goings-on only in so far as they affect trade, but will each deal differently with suspected disturbers of the peace. It all depends on the specific geographical, political, and economic situation. In general, overland travel and communication should be nontrivial -- see Hand of Fire for details of merchant caravans -- and magical communication and fast couriers the exception. For a general treatment of law in the Realms, see "Law of the land" in Dragon #65.
Savras 07-02-03, 11:55 AM	Before a diffrent city will arrest them, said city needs to know it should- i.e., Wanted decrees should be issued and so forth. Savras
kamiblackflag 07-02-03, 03:42 PM	if this game is roughly based on historical cultures, mainly western europe, then of cource law wouldnt overlap the borders of soveriegn states/city states. does one nations law overlap borders in todays world? think about all the US resistance to the International Criminal Court having jurisdiction over our nationals when they otherwise wouldnt be prosecuted here?
primemover003 07-02-03, 05:04 PM	One of Rand's Travelogues discussed this very issue. The discussion was about the Silver Marches in general, but it could apply to cities and towns close to eache other. The point of the Travelogue was a council meeting between the member states of the Silver Marches confederation. Politics of the Silver Marches (http://wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=fr/fx20030115rt)