Torchbearer - Town Laws

When creating a town, choose a law or two that sets it apart from its neighbors. Obviously, a true town would have many laws, but a single law in this game will often dramatically change play in that town. Don’t apply too many laws at once. Let additional laws emerge as a result of the players’ actions or town events.

Choose new laws from these lists or invent your own.

Criminal Law

• Begging is against the law. Punishable by transport.
• Cursing is a criminal act. Punishable by branding.
• Drunkenness is a criminal act. Punishable by public humiliation.
• Theft is a criminal act. Punishable by loss of a limb or facial branding.
• Using magic in town is a criminal act. Punishable by removal of tongue.
• Dueling is a criminal act. Punishable by loss of dueling hand.
• Brawling is a criminal act. Punishable by public humiliation.
• Riding ahead of your betters is a criminal act. Punishable by whipping.
• Praying to any Immortal is a criminal act. Punishable by branding or execution.
• Sedition is a criminal act. Punishable by incarceration or execution.
• Defaming the ruling class is a criminal act. Punishable by incarceration or whipping.
• Belonging to any cult is a criminal act. Punishable by execution.
• Failing to report for watch duty is a criminal act. Punishable by whipping.

Sumptuary Law

• One may not wear fashionable shoes above one’s station.
• Punishable by three days in stocks or a fine (Ob 2 Resources).
• One may not wear fashionable clothes above one’s station.
• Punishable by three days in stocks or a fine (Ob 2 Resources).
• All magicians must wear conical hats. Failure to do so is punishable by whipping or a fine (Ob 3 Resources).
• All theurges must wear plain vestments. Failure to be properly robed is punishable by a fine (Ob 2 Resources).
• It is illegal for anyone but temple priests to bear relics.
• Punishable by loss of relic and three days in stocks.
• All residents may eat meat only once a week. Punishable by loss of meat and a fine (Ob 1 Resources).
• All families must have one boy child. Failure results in the arrest of the of the mother or father.
• All persons must wear a particular symbol or item of clothing. Punishable by three days in stocks and a fine (Ob 1 Resources).

Civil Law

• All persons are forbidden to bear arms greater than a knife or dagger in town. Punishable by confiscation of illegal arms and a fine (Ob 2 Resources test).
• Magicians may not testify before a judge. Punishable by execution.
• Contracts with the guild are annulled.
• Contracts with the guild are enforced and payable immediately.
• Temple priests are not subject to civil law.
• No wills written before today shall be enforced.
• All youths between the ages of 12 and 18 must train in a particular weapon. Failure to do so punishable by public humiliation.
• All guild members must stand watch for the remainder of the month. Failure to do so is punishable by whipping.
• Only temple priests are subject to religious law.
• Proclamation of war against distant neighbor.
• All marriage contracts are strictly enforced. Failure to honor a marriage contract is punishable by public humiliation.

Religious Law

• Only priests may officiate funerals, weddings and births. Punishable by a fine (Ob 3 Resources).
• Performing invocations is forbidden. Punishable by exile.
• All persons must observe a new holiday. The market and guild hall are closed. Failure to observe is punishable by flogging.
• Communicating with the excommunicated is forbidden. Punishable by stoning.
• Thence forth, today is a day of fasting. Failure to fast is punishable by flogging.
• Dwarves and halflings may not become friends. Punishable by whipping.
• Elves must cover their faces. Failure to hide one’s face is punishable by whipping.
• Elves may not share food. Punishable by whipping.
• One may not eat meat while the sun is up. Punishable by whipping.
• One may not drink water during the night. Punishable by whipping.
• Owning or drinking wine is forbidden. Punishable by whipping and confiscation of illegal stocks.
• Taking a life is forbidden. Punishable by retaliation or compensation.
• Touching a temple priest is forbidden. Punishable by public flogging.
• Taking an Immortal’s name in vain is forbidden. Punishable by public flogging.
• All persons must pay a tithe to the temple (equivalent to 1D of cash). Failure to pay punishable by whipping.
• Dwarves and elves may not walk together. Punishable by whipping.
• Crusade declared. All persons must enlist. Failure to enlist is punishable by fine (Ob 2 Resources).
• The temple priests declare that absolution from sin can be had at their hands. Absolution requires a donation (Ob 2 Resources). Sinners are publicly whipped.
• Defiling a tomb is an offense before the Immortals. Punishable by execution.
• Casting a spell upon another is forbidden. Punishable by execution.