Laws of Three

Also called: Order of Three Judiciary Declarations, Magistrates Code, Code of Three

The Laws' outline

Three Rivers Jurisdiction extends beyond its boarders. Many small regions, and even cities rely on the Laws of Three to uphold justice. The only code that is not universal in these small regions is those pertaining to the Code of Honor, as peasants in small hamlets have no need for such codes. A knight, however, would fully expect all peasants to show graces, which often creates tensions. The laws are outlined as such:

1. Credo of Men
2. Rights of all
3. Duties of Citizens
4. Credo of Honorbound
5. Duties of Honor
6. Hierarchy of Honor
7. Vices
8. Kings Code

Credo of Men

This is the opening page of the Lawbook Cannon. It begins on page two of the original document, and spans to the twenty third. The opening credo states:

Men without purpose are meek cattle. Men without morals are blightful ravens. Men without honor are Orcs. Men with purpose nil Morals nor Honor are the most dangerous of all. Men with the Three, can call themselves subjects of the sublime number. Men of all Men. Aho Men of all Men shall rule, the Third will ensure that the reign of man is everlasting il unchallanged. Though a rough road awaits for those who choose just, the world is his to inherit! Aho Three!

The Credo is rarely used for anything except dressing of formalities. The Credo dictates how all men must act within the Three. Though no specifics are mentioned, the basic ideas involve oppression of Evil, feeding of children and prevailence of Justice (referred to simply as 'Just')

Controversy

The credo of Men is controversal in that it makes no efforts to regard humans outside of Three. Kings Magistrates have used the Credo to banish men who alienate the Code and wage wars on other Human kingdoms. Nonhuman races find the Credo most unnerving.

Rights of All

The Rights of all begins on the Twenty Fourth page of the Cannon. It is the largest section by far, and most subject of errata. It is revisited every tenmonth, and often minute changes are enacted. The rights of all consists of three pieces:

• Right to live
  • The right to live is the most basic and least changed documentation. It simply outlines that no man can be killed within the limits of Three without an Honorable Reason (Cannon €133.54) or outside of self defense. This is the most sacred of the rights, and judges penalise murders most aggressively based on the cannon.
  • The King is forbidden to declare Minise on this right, and has never done so. Of course, criminals and opposition can be sentanced to death, but never outside of the laws.
• Freedoms
  • This is the most errata'd section within the Cannon. Judges and Kings have fiercly argued how to jurisdict the rights of the peasants and all non-land-owners. Under the current provisions, men are entitled to a wife, a family and a full stomach, and nothing more. The wife section is highly errata'd based on the question of weather or not an Honorable can force a woman of non-Honor to wed him. While cases are rare, they are currently being resolved on a case-by-case basis, even though the King and Cannon have decleared a Wife as a Right of All.
  • Basic Freedoms are often cited to protect peasants from nobles. Nobles may not strike a peasant in punishment, may not own a slave (ever) and may not allow for the starvation of his subjects. The King can declare Minise on any of the freedoms, and has done so in times of war to justify the famine caused by forcing farmers to ship surpluss.
• Right to eat (Often called Survivalism in scholarly texts.)
  • This section is slim, only containing 4 pages. It describes a manner in which a citizen can fulfill his aspirations if 'hungry'. The text is set up to allow peasants to react to unfair treatments, to ensure that the Three government is just. However such documents are obscurred from the peasants view, and this section is rarely enacted. This section was ratified on the First day of 1000, under the era of Change.
  • Henry Framesman published a book (illegally) and distributed it concerning how citizens can use this right to help their families and give themselves power. He was sentanced to death by hanging on the two-hundreth and fortyeith day of 1152. His book, titled "Peasants and Plight: Our Chance" remains in circulation, though rare and illegal.

• The King may not call Minise on the Right to eat.

Duties of Citizens

This section is very important to the Kingdom of Three. The pages span from page 94 to page 112. This section is outlined with a simple Credo, expressed in the introduction:

Three is nothing without one. One must build with his hands and allow Three to reap, the King does such, as do the simple.

Duties of citizens allows nobles to enforce working from peasants. This section also allows peasants to serve in the militia if called upon. Peasants are given rights to arrest criminals if no official is available. This section was ratified on the First day of 1000, marking a new era of change.

Credo of Honorbound

This section is entirely apart from the above. It has its own set of rules and occupies pages 113 up to page 156, though it has been divided up into three sections since. The pages up until 156 are lined with golden outbound pages, which are inlayed with silk. Though done to make the pages stand out, it has caused the section to decay more rapidly than the rest of the pages, which are leather. Thousands in gold must be paid every year to preserve its integrity. The Credo states:

The farmhand believes his position lowly. He knows not that even the lowliest of stations is neccessary to have just. Honorbound stations are to serve the purpose of Three, whatever that purpose may be. As the three conjoining rivers protected the infant cities inhabitance, the Honorbound must cradle all life within the walls of Three. Thou shall never break honor, lest thou seeks humiliation and subjection to suffering. Gold runs through thous blood, and thous blood runs through the Rivers.

The credo is often quoted, especially the last sentence. It is read before every noble wedding, every salute of the King, and every formal affair within Three. Silk and Gold have always been the colors of Honor within Three. The beggining section outlines who is Honorable and who is not. A family ledger is often quoted, also called "The Tree of Codex". The King is referred to as The Just Honor.

Duties of Honor

The duties of Honor section begins on page 123. It outlines what actions are forbidden within the honor code, it is often called "Chivalry". There are hundreds of revisions and footnotes, but the ten duties are still intact.

1. Protect the weak
2. Elope only when wed
3. Eat only when hungry
4. Kill only when neccessary
5. Bow for just
6. Challenge only evil,

   and not your country

7. Strike only the front
8. Fall when struck, run only from dishonor
9. Defend your Country
10. Die for the King

The inset that reads "and not your country" was added in 1024, the day unknown. King Marthis deemed that it is unhonorable to challange Three, or the Cannon and especially the King. Number 8 has also been the cause of controversy. Its current interpretation is that you may not run in battle, regardless of the outcome. The King has Minised this several times.

Breaking any Honor will cause a loss of title, in addition to possible exile or execution. An Honorable member of society may not be hung, and may only be killed by Honorables.

Hierarchy of Honor

This section has a table inset. It has never been errata'd, though some positions are rarely filled.

{I need somone to make a table in this order: King, Queen, Count=Commander=King Justice, Prince, Dukes, Viscounts, Military Nobleman, Nobleman.}

Vices

This section is fully thourough in what is illegal. It begins with minor Vices, goes to General Vices and ends with Major Vices.

Minor Vices

• Theft of goods not doubling ones salary and of a non honorable
• Minor Forgery
• Impersonation
• Foolishness
• Disruption
• Lewdness
• Drunkness
• Possession of weapon
• Aggression
• Laughing in mockery
• General Mockery
• Clothing unfit

Punishable by: Limited Jail time, Finger Removal, Sesame in the eyes, Beating, Fine, etc.

General Vices

• Theft of goods doubling ones salary
• Offending an Honorable
• Beating a woman
• Beating a child
• Damages
• Aggression
• Mockery of Honorable
• Clothing Offensive
• Possesion of Poison
• Drug use
• Slavery
• Lewdness
• Breaking and Entering
• Printing without permission from Magistrate
• Use of Magic in any form
• Gambling
• Beating a citizen
• Disobeying a Noble
• Disobeying Court
• Disobeying Cannon
• Foul Smell

Punishable by: Jail time, Multiple Finger removal, Hand Removal, Beating, Tongue Removal, Execution, etc.

Note: Execution is rarely employed for such offenses, though it has been used on multiple offenders and general exceptions.

Major Vices

•  
• Rape
• Muder
• Sodomy
• Drugs
• Selling of Drugs
• Selling of Slaves
• Espionage
• Offending the King
• Alliance with opposition
• Disregarding King
• Spitting on a Noble
• Spitting on the King
• Urinating on the house of a Noble
• Impostering the King
• Impostering a Noble
• Extreme Bafoonary
• Wearing colors of Gry or Orcs
• Being an Orc
• Major Bribery
• Consiracy
• Stealing from a Noble
• Destroying property
• Bestiality
• Eloping outside of race
• Ignoring Honor
• Teaching Magics
• Publishing Mockery
• Revolt
• Multiple General Vices

Punishable by: Execution, Life in Prison, Banishment, Limb removal, Eye removal, etc.

Note: Any major offense is almost immediatly solved with execution. Such acts are rare within Three's jurisdiction, because of the harsh penalties.

Kings Code

The Kings code the last section of the Cannon, though no one can be sure, bards have estimated it to be around 200 pages. It dictates what the King must wear, how to behave and how to run the Kingdom of Three successfully. It is secured with a large key and cannot be opened by anything but the Kings Key. The pages are not made of silk interestingly enough, but seem to be made of a special leather. Information is unavailable on the Kings Code because it is forbidden to be seen by all but the king.