Slothjemia adheres quite rigidly to its laws and the enforcement of them in order to maintain some semblance of civilization among the melting pot of a multicultural citizenry. To this end there are laws pertaining to such things as bribery, theft, robbery, assault, manslaughter, attempted murder, murder, assassination, rape, kidnapping, and destruction of property. These criminal offenses are gauged in levels of severity (lesser, greater, and grand) based on who the victim is, the accused’s position, the value of property involved (if applicable), and the level of violence employed in the act. If the accused is convicted, they then face penalties based on the severity of the crime. While there are minimum penalties that can be applied to those convicted of crimes there remains a great amount of latitude in how severe of a penalty a magistrate can levy. Criminals should beware of this and not assume that they will get only a six month prison sentence if the possibility exists for the magistrate to drop twenty years of forced labor on top of the ne’er-do-well.

Bribery: The attempt to persuade by means of money or material gain the undo influence of a public official. Lesser Bribery pertains to officials of municipalities or estates lesser than a Grafdom. The penalty for this is incarceration for no less than 30 days. Greater Bribery pertains to acts involving officials of Grafdoms or colonial authorities. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 6 months or forced labor for 3 months. Grand Bribery involves anyone deemed to be a member of the Bureaucratic Council or their immediate underlings that serve in the capitol. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 5 years and may include the forfeiture of property.

Blackmail: The attempt to use scandalous or incriminating information to coerce somebody into doing something in the blackmailer’s favor or to obtain money or property from such information. Lesser Blackmail involves a victim with limited social status or goods and services totaling not more than 10gp. Penalty is incarceration of no less than a year or forced labor for 6 months. Greater Blackmail involves a victim of moderate to upper social status, but not including nobility, or goods and services totaling between 10gp and 1000gp. Penalty is incarceration of no less than 5 years. Grand Bribery involves a victim of noble status or goods and services totaling more than 1000gp. Penalty is incarceration of no less than 10 years.

Theft: Stealing of property that does not involve physical intimidation or the threat of violence. Lesser Theft involves the stealing of goods less than 10gp in value. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 2 years or forced labor for 1 year. Greater Theft involves the stealing of goods in value between 10gp and 1000gp. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 5 years or forced labor for 2 and a half years. Grand Theft involves the stealing of goods worth more than 1000gp in value. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 10 years and may include the removal of a hand or equivalent appendage.

Robbery: Stealing that involves the use of force or the threat of violence. Lesser Robbery involves the forceful theft of goods worth no more than 10gp. The penalty is incarceration for no less than 5 years or forced labor for 2 and a half years. Greater Robbery involves the forceful theft of goods worth between 10gp and 1000gp. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 10 years and may include the removal of a hand or equivalent appendage. Grand Robbery involves the forceful theft of goods worth more than 1000gp. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 20 years or execution.

Assault: Attacking a person with or without the use of a weapon. Lesser Assault involves simple injury not resulting in lasting ill-effects, such as most bar fights. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 30 days. Greater Assault involves more serious injuries to the victim but not so much as to be considered crippling or debilitating. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 6 months or forced labor for 3 months. Grand Assault involves egregious injuries such as the loss of an eye or limb, but not so great as to be fatal. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 5 years.

Manslaughter: The inadvertent killing of another person through negligence or by accident for which the accused is held criminally responsible. Lesser Manslaughter involves the death of another purely by accident but due to verified negligence. The penalty is incarceration for no less than 5 years or forced labor for 2 and a half years. Greater Manslaughter involves the death of another due to willful negligence when such an incident was easily avoidable if warnings had been heeded prior to the event. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 10 years or forced labor for 5 years. Grand Manslaughter involves the death of another in circumstances that exceed those deemed necessary for Greater Manslaughter in displaying the accused’s blatant disregard for life and property. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 20 years or execution.

Attempted Murder: Attacking a person with or without the use of a weapon with the clear intent to cause the death of that person. Lesser Attempted Murder involves a spontaneous effort to kill another person with little or no predetermination. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 10 years or forced labor for 5 years. Greater Attempted Murder involves a premeditated scheme to take another person’s life. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 20 years or forced labor for 10 years. Grand Attempted Murder involves any premeditated scheme to kill a noble, law enforcement officer, or government official. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 40 years or forced labor for 20 years.

Murder: Intentionally taking the life of a person by any means. There are no levels for this offense. Penalty is incarceration of no less than 75 years or execution.

Assassination: Murder of a noble or of a government official, which may include law enforcement officers. There are no levels for this offense. Penalty is execution.

Rape: Sexual assault with or without the use of a weapon. There are no levels for this offense. Penalty is incarceration of no less than 50 years or execution.

Kidnapping: Taking of a person with the intention of holding them for ransom or in exchange for some service otherwise withheld. Also includes unlawful incarceration or holding a person against their will without legal charges being brought. Lesser Kidnapping: Might include not asking for a ransom or demanding a ransom or service of no more than 10gp. Penalty is incarceration of no less than 10 years or forced labor for 5 years. Greater Kidnapping: Might include asking for a ransom not more than 100gp. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 20 years or forced labor for 10 years. Grand Kidnapping: Might include asking for a ransom of over 100gp or abusing official authority in wrongful imprisonment. Penalty is incarceration for 30 years or forced labor for 15 years and may include forfeiture of property.

Destruction of Property: This is the most commonly referenced crime anywhere in the empire. It includes damages caused by barfights, property destroyed by gnome tinkerers, and any object incinerated by errant magicks. Lesser Destruction of Property: The destruction of property valued at no more than 10gp. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 6 months or forced labor for 3 months. Greater Destruction of Property: The destruction of property valued at between 10gp and 100gp. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 1 year or forced labor for 6 months. Grand Destruction of Property: The destruction of property valued at more than 100gp. Penalty is incarceration for no less than 3 years or forced labor for 18 months.

There are of course many more laws than this, but those travelling to Slothjemia at least have a starting point to gauge how severely their unwanted behavior will be dealt with. Unless one has a hankering to do plenty of road work and digging ditches while under guard it is advisable to mind yourself.