Laws of Ravena

Introduction: The Law in the Lunar City

Ravena stands as the political and magical nexus of Geminaea, an artificial moon born from necessity and sustained by structure. Governed by a council of ten guilds and upheld by the Lazorian Senate, the city’s laws serve as both a foundation for daily life and a framework for interplanetary diplomacy. Over the centuries, this legal system has become a model emulated across Vitaea and Aradaea, balancing competing interests through clarity, precedent, and measured enforcement.

Raveni law does not rely on divine commandment or ideological purity. It is a civic endeavor, shaped by evolving consensus, codified through debate, and refined through experience. Though its language can be complex and its punishments severe, its principles aim to safeguard both the city and the autonomy of those who dwell within it.

Framework of Law

Classes of Crime

Crimes are classified along two axes:

Aggrieved Party:

• Crimes Against the City: Disruptions to infrastructure, public order, magical equilibrium, or guild governance.
• Crimes Against Citizens: Harms inflicted upon individuals or private property.

Severity of Offense:

• Severe
• Serious
• Lesser
• Minor

A single act may result in multiple charges. Judges are empowered to interpret intent, assess broader social impact, and deliver leniency or escalation accordingly.

Sentencing Process

• Trials are overseen by civic Judges, advised by guild-appointed advocates.
• Verdicts may be appealed within nine days to a High Justice of the Senate.
• Magic may be used to confirm truth, memory, or emotional state, but not as sole evidence.

Guild affiliation often provides access to internal arbitration, but cannot shield a citizen from charges of Crimes Against the City.

The Draco Chryseum, while historically active in matters of metaphysical threat, now serves a largely symbolic role as an advisory body in exceptional cases.

Raveni Citizenship and Mortal Rights

Raveni law distinguishes between:

• Full Citizens (registered residents of Ravena or its recognized satellite jurisdictions)
• Non-Citizen Residents (visitors, travelers, or residents without formal guild alignment)
• Foreign Nationals (residents of Aradaea or Vitaea unaffiliated with Raveni jurisdiction)

Rights of Full Citizens:

• Right to a fair trial and legal representation
• Right to appeal sentencing within the designated window
• Right to guild arbitration when applicable
• Protections against magical coercion or forced confession
• Right to seek civic redress in cases of wrongful punishment

Rights of Non-Citizens:

• May be tried under Raveni law, but lack guaranteed guild arbitration
• Legal representation provided by city advocates, not personal guilds
• Penalties for minor offenses often escalated due to perceived civic risk
• In high-severity cases, may face banishment rather than imprisonment

Citizenship may be granted through prolonged residence, guild sponsorship, or formal application reviewed by a Civic Tribunal. It may also be revoked in cases of treason, repeated severe crimes, or magical tampering with judicial structures.

Table of Sentencing

Each punishment is assigned a code and may be applied singly or in combination. Sentences are calibrated to maintain civic balance and discourage repetition.

Table of Sentencing

Code	Sentence Type	Description
A	Final Dissolution	Death or Unmaking (instant)
B	Executed Judgment	Death upon formal sentencing
C	Banishment	Exile from Ravena or specific districts (often District Ten)
D	Corporal Marking	Mutilation, branding, or forced magical limitation
E	Arcano-Labor	Hard labor in Aethyr-reactive environments (mines, forges, sewers)
F	Custodial Imprisonment	Dungeon time, sometimes in suspended or stasis-bound form
G	Penal Contract	Light labor, often assigned to guilds (e.g. excavation, logistics)
H	Civic Fine	Payment to the City (enforced via confiscation if necessary)
I	Personal Restitution	Damages owed to the injured party (negotiated if deceased)
J	Echo Edict	Public decree forbidding certain actions (magically enforced)

Judges may suspend or lessen sentences based on motive, public sentiment, or acts of restorative justice.

Crimes Against the City

Severe Offenses

• Tampering with Raveni Transit Gates or Zonot Wells: A or B; viewed as existential sabotage.
• Spying, Magical Sabotage of Guild Infrastructure: B or C (permanent) + H (2,000–5,000 Zinos) + I + J
• Unauthorized Invocation of Citywide Rituals: B or D + E (10 years)

Serious Offenses

• Fraudulent Use of Guild Seals or Senate Edicts: C (permanent) + I + F (up to 10 years)
• Unlicensed Duelling Resulting in Death: C (5 years) + I (1,000 Zinos to kin) or E (3 years)
• Bribery of a Guild Official or Aether Warden: C (20 years) + total asset seizure (clothing excepted)

Lesser Offenses

• Unauthorized Access to Blistercoil Maintenance Zones: C (1 year) + H (500 Zinos)
• Aetheric Disturbance (e.g. illegal summoning, uncontrolled transmutation): F (1 week) + J

Minor Offenses

• Unregistered Aerial Entry: H (300 Zinos) + J (public notice)
• Littering or Biohazardous Waste Disposal in Public: F (overnight) + H (2 Zibs to 1 Zinos) + J
• Dangerous Vehicular Conduct (land or air): H (5–50 Zinos)

Crimes Against Citizens

Severe Offenses

• Arson or Arcane Destruction of Property: E (3 months) + I (value + 500 Zinos)
• Magical or Physical Assault Resulting in Crippling: D + I (up to 2,000 Zinos)
• Slavery or Binding of Sentient Beings: C (10 years) + corporal punishment if cruelty involved

Serious Offenses

• Robbery with Force: E (1 month) + I (goods + 500 Zinos)
• Burglary with Magical Tools: F (3 months) + I (goods + 500 Zinos)
• Forgery of Personal Contracts or Heirlooms: C (up to 20 years) + D + I + asset forfeiture

Lesser Offenses

• Damage to Property (non-structural): I (goods value + up to 500 Zinos) + J
• Assault (Wounding): I (medical costs + up to 500 Zinos) + J
• Business Obstruction (disruption of trade or access): I (up to 200 Zinos) + J

Minor Offenses

• Assault Without Weapon or Injury: F (overnight) + I (up to 50 Zinos)
• Noise Violation (arcane or mundane): I (up to 25 Zinos) + J

Commentary and Judicial Philosophy

The Senate of Ravena maintains that law must reflect both order and adaptation. In a world where Aethyr enables the shaping of reality itself, inflexible dogma poses a danger. Raveni law is not sacred, but civic—a structure built to evolve through precedent, negotiation, and the shifting needs of a changing society.

While punishments can be severe, judges are empowered to weigh context, motivation, and outcome. Mercy is not rare, but must be earned.

A growing school of legal thought known as the Doctrine of Willful Balance emphasizes participatory governance, transparency in judicial process, and the careful elevation of mortal rights within the broader civic framework.

Roleplaying Within the Law

When playing a character in Ravena or under its influence, consider:

• Do you recognize the authority of Raveni law?
• Does your guild offer you protections or exemptions?
• Have you been sentenced before? Justly? Unjustly?
• Do you carry the mark of a past Echo Edict?
• Do you believe law is a tool, a cage, or a shield?

Adventurers often find themselves straddling legality and necessity. While enforcement may be lenient toward those who serve the public good, high-profile offenses rarely go unnoticed, especially in Ravena.

In Closing

The Raveni Customs and Standards represent one of the most ambitious legal undertakings in the history of Geminaea: a living codex intended not just to constrain, but to guide. Forged in the crucible of conflict and refined over generations, it remains a cornerstone of order in a system where the only constant is change.