THE DAY COURT
☼ GENERAL LAWS ☼
I. The laws of the Day Court are relatively simple in their execution. The Day Court’s sense of justice is reciprocal; what is done unto others will be done unto you.
III. Crimes committed against Solterran citizens, particularly those committed on Solterran land, are considered by the Day Court to be subject to their own system of justice.
IV. Foreigners are allowed to pass through and visit Solterra without escort or express permission. However, the Court emphasizes the importance of requesting passage so that foreigners can be provided with a guide, as the deserts are extremely dangerous to those who are unfamiliar to them.
V. Foreigners who commit major crimes on Solterran land are exiled; should they return, they will be killed without question, save in rare cases of extenuating circumstances. Minor crimes are met with warnings – three are allowed (and, of course, punished appropriately) before exile.
VI. The justice of the Day Court is often served swiftly, but the Court does, on occasion, take prisoners. Most often, prisoners are treated with some degree of courtesy, though brutal methods may be employed in extreme circumstances. Because Solterra’s resources are scarce, prisoners are expected to complete manual labor (often in the gardens) to earn food and water for the day.
VII. Meetings are not mandatory. However, those who do not attend meetings might find themselves a bit out of the loop.
VIII. Alliances are to be regarded with the utmost respect – actions that jeopardize them will be punished with more severity than regular crimes.
IX. In the past, slavery was common in Solterra; it is outlawed in the modern Day Court and results in especially harsh punishments. The black market dealings they were provided by are being cracked down upon harshly. Merchants require licenses, and unlicensed merchants will be subject to harsh punishments, particularly if they are found dealing in unsavory matters.
- i.e., murder is met with execution, maiming is met with maiming, taking out an eye is met with taking out an eye…
- The punishment for crimes of other natures (i.e., theft, treason, etc.) will be decided on a case-to-case basis. The punishment takes the desires of the wounded party into account, and it is often decided by popular vote.
- On very rare and heavily debated occasions, trial by combat might be invoked. This can involve pitting the criminal against one of the Court’s own or against a captured beast and is treated as a public spectacle. Should the criminal survive the trial, their crimes will be pardoned, as it is seen as an expression of Solis’s will.
III. Crimes committed against Solterran citizens, particularly those committed on Solterran land, are considered by the Day Court to be subject to their own system of justice.
IV. Foreigners are allowed to pass through and visit Solterra without escort or express permission. However, the Court emphasizes the importance of requesting passage so that foreigners can be provided with a guide, as the deserts are extremely dangerous to those who are unfamiliar to them.
V. Foreigners who commit major crimes on Solterran land are exiled; should they return, they will be killed without question, save in rare cases of extenuating circumstances. Minor crimes are met with warnings – three are allowed (and, of course, punished appropriately) before exile.
VI. The justice of the Day Court is often served swiftly, but the Court does, on occasion, take prisoners. Most often, prisoners are treated with some degree of courtesy, though brutal methods may be employed in extreme circumstances. Because Solterra’s resources are scarce, prisoners are expected to complete manual labor (often in the gardens) to earn food and water for the day.
VII. Meetings are not mandatory. However, those who do not attend meetings might find themselves a bit out of the loop.
VIII. Alliances are to be regarded with the utmost respect – actions that jeopardize them will be punished with more severity than regular crimes.
IX. In the past, slavery was common in Solterra; it is outlawed in the modern Day Court and results in especially harsh punishments. The black market dealings they were provided by are being cracked down upon harshly. Merchants require licenses, and unlicensed merchants will be subject to harsh punishments, particularly if they are found dealing in unsavory matters.
☼ CULTURE && CUSTOMS ☼
X. Currently, Solterra is experiencing a stiff ideological divide between what remains of the old nobility and the new authority. Those that were in power under the previous monarchy struggle to cling to the structures that gave them power and control and the old conventions of the court, while much of the rest of the court works towards reform.
XI. Solterrans burn their dead; this is seen as a symbolic return to Solis.
XII. Worship of gods other than Solis is not expressly forbidden in the Day Court. However, worship of Caligo would be frowned on, if not treated with outright (though notably unsanctioned) hostility.
XIII. Most major decisions of the current Day Court are made in a public setting so that all citizens who wish to comment on the decisions or argue their points are able to do so; the Regime & Champions are considered subject to the will of the Court, and their decisions should accurately reflect the desires of Solterra.
XIV. The culture of the hierarchical monarchy that existed in Solterra prior to Zolin's death was dazzling and indulgent; it strained the people of the court to poverty whilst providing the cruel rulers with whatever they desired. As a result, much of the court goes out of its way to avoid invoking any resemblance to this culture of glamour and excess - those that do are often looked down upon and disliked.
XV. Solterra has historically been a culture of warriors, and, as such, they are still typically given the most respect in the society of the Day Court; the current Regime is attempting to improve the status of other ranks, particularly given the court's current lack of resources. The Court keeps extensive records on their soldiers, designated by numbers they are given early in their careers, particularly during times of war.
XVI. The great beasts (teryrs & sandwyrms) are given great respect in Solterran culture, seen as extensions of the sun god for their power and violence. Those that can bring down a teryr or sandwyrm have gained the god's favor, at least for a time, and are treated with great respect.
XVII. Certain ranks, under the previous monarchy, were denoted by items and brands; child soldiers wore simple, beaten silver collars, generals wore golden collars (usually with sun symbols carved into them), slaves were generally branded (usually on the right flank with a sun symbol) or given items (such as collars or bracelets) or piercings (generally in the ears) to denote their purpose, high priests and priestesses wore pendants with idols of Solis on them, and members of the nobility wore ornate crowns and wreathes. Many members of the court have abandoned such symbols (if they can), though some still wear them.
XVIII. The Court is in the process of expanding on and declassifying their scant historical records. Corruption and deceit have made many of the documents in the library and archives largely irrelevant, however.
XIX. Surprisingly enough, most of the maps of Solterra are star maps; this is largely because of the lack of landmarks in certain areas of the Mors and the Canyons.
☼ FESTIVALS && EVENTS ☼
- Festival of the Sun : coming soonish to a Day Court near you, full of events for the whole family. And violence. But not just violence, because we’re trying to branch out. A celebration of Solis, the sun, life, and light – open to the other courts, should they wish to participate and seek Solis’s favor!
- The Winter Solstice : The shortest day of the year is a sad occasion for the Solterrans; in the surrounding days, they perform various rituals to mourn their dead and reminiscence on the past year.
- The Winter Solstice : The shortest day of the year is a sad occasion for the Solterrans; in the surrounding days, they perform various rituals to mourn their dead and reminiscence on the past year.
☼ COURT RELATIONS ☼
- DAWN : tba
- DUSK : tba
- NIGHT : tba
- DUSK : tba
- NIGHT : tba
All of the above was enacted into law by @
