Lethe, City of Rain
City of the Great Arch, Home of Ten Thousand Deals, Setting of many Tales and where 60,000 souls rest their heads.
Surrounded by miles of farmlands, villages and towns that feed its populace and industry, Lethe is a monster unto itself in most regards. It is said that, for the right price, anything can and will be sold in Lethe. Even the few things that the law bans.
Still, Lethe is a place of opportunity. Fortunes can be made through hard work and luck, the tales say, and for many it's simply the only option beyond inheriting the job their parents do. Of course, few make it. But, in theory, the chance is there...
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The Laws of Lethe
There are few true laws within the walls of Lethe. What laws there are, however, are immutable, and apply equally to high and low.
- A life for a life. Those who kill will be placed in indentured servitude for as long as the victim's family lives, with all pay going to the family. If no family lives then they must serve a minimum of twenty years in service to the city.
- Theft hurts all. As well as the return of any stole goods, the thief shall owe the victim twice that amount in recompense. If such a fee cannot be met the thief will enter indentured servitude until such a period has passed.
- None can own a life. The buying and selling of slaves is strictly forbidden. Only indentured servitude is allowed, and only as punishment for a crime committed and convicted. Only the city may hold such a contract.
- All peoples shall be free to walk and live without fear of assault. Those who assault others except in defence of themselves, others or their property will be fined.
- Theft hurts all. As well as the return of any stole goods, the thief shall owe the victim twice that amount in recompense. If such a fee cannot be met the thief will enter indentured servitude until such a period has passed.
- None can own a life. The buying and selling of slaves is strictly forbidden. Only indentured servitude is allowed, and only as punishment for a crime committed and convicted. Only the city may hold such a contract.
- All peoples shall be free to walk and live without fear of assault. Those who assault others except in defence of themselves, others or their property will be fined.
While these laws apply equally, however, their prosecution is less than equal. It is said to be easy to pay the city Guard to look another way, or to not bother at all. Indeed, a certain amount of funds are required to start the Guard looking into many events, and the criminal in question can often pay for those investigations to stop, too.
However, the courts themselves, by ancient tradition and magical enforcement, are typically fair. A trio of judges, randomly selected for each trial, will listen to the evidence for and against as presented, and find based on that. These judges are experts in the laws, and are magically bound to be truthful. If a judge is found to be taken bribes they bring a harsh sentence on their own head. But getting the evidence to the court can be...taxing.
As a result, licences are sold for private companies to investigate, gather evidence and bring it and miscreants before a court.
Punishments
The death penalty does not exist in Lethe, as it's seen as a waste of resources - mortal lives have value, and that's why taking them is such a horrible crime. It also tends against long term imprisonment - why should the city waste money on convicts when the poor of the city scrambles for the next meal?
As a result, crime tends to result in two main forms of punishment - fines and Indentured Servitude.
While typically applied to lesser crimes, Fines are not typically an easier sentence. The Judges take account of how much a person is worth when they are sentenced, and will command a set percentage of that worth be taken - and will promptly send out teams of Reclaimers to take it. Rich and poor alike can be beggared by a sufficient fine, and it is tailored to inflict hardship. A crime that would see a pauper loose half of what they own to the Courts could see a rich person loose 99% of their money. This is part of the reason why rich people are so eager to avoid the Courts in the first place.
Indentured Servitude is more commonly given for harsher crimes. The city will feed, clothe and house indentured servants, and in return they will work for a set fee in a job best suited to their skills. It is possible to also volunteer for a more unpleasant or dangerous position, earning more to buy out the contract earlier. While part of the money earned goes towards the indentured servants housing, the rest will often be paid to compensate a victim.
For obvious reasons many do not enjoy this form of punishment, even with rules in place against abusing indentured servants. As a result, to avoid escape attempts and to enforce a Collar of Enforce Cooperation is placed on them. This only functions within the city, and the indentured servant is compelled to never leave, or return at once if taken from the city. They are also unable to harm another, instead being compelled to escape, or to steal.