Editing User:Bill/Magocracy of Dholavira (section)

====Code of Law====
The commonality of magic in Dholavira changes how law can be applied. The application of spells such as ''geas'' and ''Seals of Binding'' makes contracts very difficult to ignore or evade; virtually eliminating common civil disputes. Only in instances where no magic has previously been applied or when it has been applied in bad faith, is it necessary to involve a magister.

Magisters are appointed by the Eldrich Council for periods of four years. While there is no law requiring these magisters to be members of the Eldrich College, the vast majority of them are. The number of magisters is not fixed and the Eldrich Council appoints them as necessary throughout the year to deal with the volume of work. Over the course of a magister's appointment he or she is paid a stipend and given a small staff; including a journeyman member of the Eldrich College capable of casting divination and enchantment spells sufficient to wrest the truth from any matter, a scholar dedicated to studying the law, a pair of bailiffs to insure peace in the court, and one mundane investigator to follow up on matters of interest to the court. The staff is paid for by the magister from his or her stipend, and he or she is permitted to appoint anyone he or she chooses to it. In return, magisters are required to hold court a minimum of six hours per week and up to as many as necessary to meet the demands of the people. A magister may step down from his or her position at any time.


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| colspan="2" | '''Seal of Binding'''
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| '''Description:'' || A cylinder carved from a single piece of semi-precious stone, inscribed with mystical writing. Rolling this seal across any document binds the holder (as per the spell '''geas'') of the seal to honor any terms described within it so long as the document remains whole. It is considered bad faith to enter into any significant business deal without both parties employing seal of binding.
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| '''Notes:''' || Strong enchantment; CL12; Craft Wondrous Item; ''geas''; Price: 33,000 gp
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Dholavira's criminal law is far more progressive that of other cities as well. Very few crimes are punished with lethal force. Instead restitution is extracted through use of ''geas''. In some cases, most frequently murder, this takes the form of lifetime commitments to serve the state and obey the law. Some have protested this practice of mentally shackling citizens of Dholavira, but few have offered a reasonable substitute.

=====Sample Laws=====
*It is unlawful to utilize summoning magic (defined as the application of any natural or unnatural power that calls into existence or makes manifest any form of animal, elemental, or other being, intelligent or otherwise) without the express permission of an officer of the Eldrich Council.

*The practice of magic (defined as the application of any natural or unnatural power that causes a person, thing, or deity's will to be worked on the world without direct application of labor) is prohibited without a license.

*The brandishing of arms (defined as any implement that can be used to inflict bodily or mental injury by accident or intent) is unlawful.

*It is prohibited to assault any person without just cause (such as in the defense of oneself and loved ones in the face of immanent threat).

*Defacing (defined as intentional or unintentional harm rendered unto an object or structure) the public offices (defined as any structure commonly used for the execution of a public servant's duties) of the government or any monument (defined as a statue, golem, or other work of art owned by the people of Dholavira) is unlawful.

*The production of enchanted arms or armors (defined as any magical device, poultice, or potion that may be used by intent or accident to improve a combatant's success in a contest of arms) without a license is an act of treason against the city of Dholavira and her citizenry.