Post by Admin on Aug 21, 2015 15:37:16 GMT
Ar'vahl is a small nation sculpted out of Varisia almost directly east of Riddleport, and a continental scale map can be found here, with DweomerStar located east of the legend in the Varisian Gulf near the northwest corner. A more detailed map can be found here. It is a shining beacon of civilization carved out of the wilds, a center of learning, magic and communion with the gods. Many races make Ar'vahl home and over the last decade it has become a Mecca for the rejected, disempowered, dispossessed, exiled and those looking for a new start. The only city is DweomerStar (which is classified as a Metropolis under Pathfinder Mechanics), with a population of ~28,000. The city is densely packed, defended by high walls, populous well-trained soldiers, and well made siege engines. While DweomerStar sports a Magical Academy, Temples to many gods, pleasure houses, baths and a low cost of living, it's main attractions are the monuments dedicated to the public teaching of magic and proper worship of the gods. Subsequently, almost everyone who has even the faintest capacity can cast some sort of low powered arcane or divine magic. This has made the city very resistant to erosion, invasions, privation, and natural disasters. The citizenry are possessed of a strong sense of loyalty to one another, and they generally believe Ar'vahl to be a force for good and stability.
The nation is ruled over by Sorbien Spellsear, a powerful wizard . He personally built the Light Spire which shines a beam into the sky and can be seen for miles around. More importantly, he also built the Eldritch Grove, a place of stone monoliths containing the basic lessons of arcane spellcasting and a small number of low powered spells. (These spells are: All Cantrips, Crafter's Fortune, Infernal Healing, Mount, Color Spray, Polypurpose Panacea, Comprehend Languages, and Cultural Adaption. You, as a player, may add to this list by roleplaying interactions with representatives of Ar'vahl.)
Sorbien has laid down few laws, and set harsh punishments for breaking them. These are the laws of the land:
1.The Magister (currently Sorbien Spellsear) shall leave vacant, appoint, vacate, or re-appoint, all Political offices at whim.
2.The Magister shall leave vacant, appoint, vacate, or re-appoint, a successor Magister at whim.
3.The Magister shall create, repeal, or change any law at whim, and these powers shall lay with no other.
4.Evil religions are outlawed on Pain of Public Torture and Public Death. Further, Razmir is not a god, but merely a pretender, and his blasphemous cult is also outlawed on Pain of Public Torture and Public Death. All gods hate pretenders, and their wrath shall fall upon him soon enough.
5.Slavery of sentient beings is illegal on Pain of Public Torture and Public Death.
6.All are free to express themselves in any fashion save they do not destroy, vandalize, damage or invade the property, privacy, liberty, minds, bodies, souls or lives of others. Nor are any allowed to falsely accuse others of crimes, incite to riot, cause undue panic, or stir sedition or coups of any kind.
7.You are not slaves, or serfs, or subjects. You are citizens, be worthy of the appellation. All here choose to live by these laws, choose to leave these lands, or choose to face harsh justice before the Crown.
8.You do not own your children, you are the guardians of their futures for the moment when they become adults. Abusing (not to be confused with mild physical discipline) or mistreating them will carry severe penalties.
9.All who have reached adulthood for their species are considered to be in the militia and may be called upon to defend our sovereignty in battle upon lands that are rightly owned by the Crown. Therefore, all who have the mind shall learn The Art, all who are wise shall learn the ways of the Faiths, all who are cunning shall learn spycraft, and all who are strong or swift shall learn how to fight. As history has shown, liberties can only be guarded with force. Those unable to fight shall be excepted, and appropriate measures shall be taken to make that determination on a case by case basis. Those who have reached seniority for their species may retire from the militia if they wish, without prejudice. Special legally protected honors and decoration shall be extended to those citizens who have fought in the defense of our sovereignty. The Crown shall endeavor mightily to avoid compulsory conscription and volunteer forces shall be taken before conscription is mandated.
10.Forests shall never be clear cut, rivers and lakes never fished empty, nor the fields or skies stripped of creatures. Trees may be “topped” only once every 10 years, at 20 feet below the top, or 20 feet above the first branch bearing leaves, whichever yields less wood. Tree orchards are excepted from this law, as is dead wood. The wilderness and the land shall be respected at all times and sustainable hunting, fishing, agricultural and watershed practices shall be followed at all times. Pollution and dumping waste in any place not designated by the Crown carries the punishment of life imprisonment at hard labor.
11.The Laws, Commandments, et al, et cetera, of other nations, powers, authorities, et cetera, et al, do not extend to within the borders of Ar'vahl, and as such bounty hunters or agents of other nations, official or otherwise, shall not pursue, capture, imprison or transport any person within these borders on pain of life imprisonment at hard labor.
12.All people shall be secure in their places of dwelling, possessions, personhood, minds, bodies and souls from all others at all times. Theft, property destruction, violence, violation, false imprisonment, injury, murder, magical mind invasion or influence and all other like crimes will carry severe penalties. Investigations by the Crown into crimes may be excepted from this law by warrant from the Magister, King, Queen, Marshal, Warden, Royal Assassin, or Spymaster.
13.All types of intoxicants and intoxication are specifically legalized. All crimes committed while intoxicated shall bear a more severe penalty than they would normally carry. Exercise your mastery over your own destiny responsibly.
14.All are free to associate and communicate with as much or as little privacy as they wish, with whom ever they choose, free from suspicion, lest paranoia damage our liberties.
15.Commerce and trade shall be conducted openly as well as honestly. Those attempting to take advantage of others with tricks, lies, deceit, overly complicated contracts, hidden penalties in voluminous text, or any of the like, shall have their assets nationalized and be dealt with harshly. Intentional interference with trade will likewise be dealt with harshly
16.Travel through the rivers, waterways, roads and lands owned by the Crown will not be impeded.
17.All are required to own a handheld and a ranged weapon and be proficient with their use. All are allowed to own armor and shields. All may arm, armor and equip themselves and their beasts as they please.
18.Property owners, including the Crown, may designate any others who are welcome or not, and who are trespassers and not, at whim upon their property. Those present and designated trespassers shall immediately gather their belongings and depart, or, shall not enter upon that property. Those violating this law shall face the defense of the owners, or the Justice of the Crown, or both. Those abusing this law to obtain the high weight property of others will face harsh justice before the Crown.
19.Participating in war against Ar'vahl carries the penalty of life imprisonment at hard labor.
20.All undiscovered archaeological, magical, and natural places of history, resources and power belong to the Crown. Their discoverers shall be appropriately rewarded.
21.Tax dodging carries the penalty of nationalization of all assets and 20 years at hard labor.
22.In response to the recent outcry of a very small but very vocal minority of citizens, prostitution is hereby specifically legalized. The offense taken by others is no excuse or reason to curtail the ownership that all beings have of their own bodies and the Right to do with that body as they please so long as they break no other laws nor harm others.
23. Spellcasting is both legal and encouraged so long as you break no other laws, nor harm or invade the property, body, minds, or souls of others without their knowledge or consent. Ar'vahl is a place meant to exemplify the best part of what all magic can do for all who wield it, both on their own behalf, on the behalf of others, and preferably both at the same time.
24.You are personally responsible for the actions of your minor children, constructs, familiars, summoned creatures, animal companions, et al, etc etc. Any crimes they commit are yours to face justice for, and as such, you are granted authority over them; abuse it not.
25. All lands within Ar'vahl belong to the Crown, except those the Crown has seen fit to lease, sell or grant to it's citizens. Non-citizens may not own lands within Ar'vahl. Ar'vahl is for Ar'vahlians.
26. The Crown reserves sole Right to magically or otherwise alter the weather inside the Nation's borders. All others attempting to do so without the expressed consent of the Crown commit a capital offense. The sentence shall be Public Torture, and Public Death.
The nation is ruled over by Sorbien Spellsear, a powerful wizard . He personally built the Light Spire which shines a beam into the sky and can be seen for miles around. More importantly, he also built the Eldritch Grove, a place of stone monoliths containing the basic lessons of arcane spellcasting and a small number of low powered spells. (These spells are: All Cantrips, Crafter's Fortune, Infernal Healing, Mount, Color Spray, Polypurpose Panacea, Comprehend Languages, and Cultural Adaption. You, as a player, may add to this list by roleplaying interactions with representatives of Ar'vahl.)
Sorbien has laid down few laws, and set harsh punishments for breaking them. These are the laws of the land:
1.The Magister (currently Sorbien Spellsear) shall leave vacant, appoint, vacate, or re-appoint, all Political offices at whim.
2.The Magister shall leave vacant, appoint, vacate, or re-appoint, a successor Magister at whim.
3.The Magister shall create, repeal, or change any law at whim, and these powers shall lay with no other.
4.Evil religions are outlawed on Pain of Public Torture and Public Death. Further, Razmir is not a god, but merely a pretender, and his blasphemous cult is also outlawed on Pain of Public Torture and Public Death. All gods hate pretenders, and their wrath shall fall upon him soon enough.
5.Slavery of sentient beings is illegal on Pain of Public Torture and Public Death.
6.All are free to express themselves in any fashion save they do not destroy, vandalize, damage or invade the property, privacy, liberty, minds, bodies, souls or lives of others. Nor are any allowed to falsely accuse others of crimes, incite to riot, cause undue panic, or stir sedition or coups of any kind.
7.You are not slaves, or serfs, or subjects. You are citizens, be worthy of the appellation. All here choose to live by these laws, choose to leave these lands, or choose to face harsh justice before the Crown.
8.You do not own your children, you are the guardians of their futures for the moment when they become adults. Abusing (not to be confused with mild physical discipline) or mistreating them will carry severe penalties.
9.All who have reached adulthood for their species are considered to be in the militia and may be called upon to defend our sovereignty in battle upon lands that are rightly owned by the Crown. Therefore, all who have the mind shall learn The Art, all who are wise shall learn the ways of the Faiths, all who are cunning shall learn spycraft, and all who are strong or swift shall learn how to fight. As history has shown, liberties can only be guarded with force. Those unable to fight shall be excepted, and appropriate measures shall be taken to make that determination on a case by case basis. Those who have reached seniority for their species may retire from the militia if they wish, without prejudice. Special legally protected honors and decoration shall be extended to those citizens who have fought in the defense of our sovereignty. The Crown shall endeavor mightily to avoid compulsory conscription and volunteer forces shall be taken before conscription is mandated.
10.Forests shall never be clear cut, rivers and lakes never fished empty, nor the fields or skies stripped of creatures. Trees may be “topped” only once every 10 years, at 20 feet below the top, or 20 feet above the first branch bearing leaves, whichever yields less wood. Tree orchards are excepted from this law, as is dead wood. The wilderness and the land shall be respected at all times and sustainable hunting, fishing, agricultural and watershed practices shall be followed at all times. Pollution and dumping waste in any place not designated by the Crown carries the punishment of life imprisonment at hard labor.
11.The Laws, Commandments, et al, et cetera, of other nations, powers, authorities, et cetera, et al, do not extend to within the borders of Ar'vahl, and as such bounty hunters or agents of other nations, official or otherwise, shall not pursue, capture, imprison or transport any person within these borders on pain of life imprisonment at hard labor.
12.All people shall be secure in their places of dwelling, possessions, personhood, minds, bodies and souls from all others at all times. Theft, property destruction, violence, violation, false imprisonment, injury, murder, magical mind invasion or influence and all other like crimes will carry severe penalties. Investigations by the Crown into crimes may be excepted from this law by warrant from the Magister, King, Queen, Marshal, Warden, Royal Assassin, or Spymaster.
13.All types of intoxicants and intoxication are specifically legalized. All crimes committed while intoxicated shall bear a more severe penalty than they would normally carry. Exercise your mastery over your own destiny responsibly.
14.All are free to associate and communicate with as much or as little privacy as they wish, with whom ever they choose, free from suspicion, lest paranoia damage our liberties.
15.Commerce and trade shall be conducted openly as well as honestly. Those attempting to take advantage of others with tricks, lies, deceit, overly complicated contracts, hidden penalties in voluminous text, or any of the like, shall have their assets nationalized and be dealt with harshly. Intentional interference with trade will likewise be dealt with harshly
16.Travel through the rivers, waterways, roads and lands owned by the Crown will not be impeded.
17.All are required to own a handheld and a ranged weapon and be proficient with their use. All are allowed to own armor and shields. All may arm, armor and equip themselves and their beasts as they please.
18.Property owners, including the Crown, may designate any others who are welcome or not, and who are trespassers and not, at whim upon their property. Those present and designated trespassers shall immediately gather their belongings and depart, or, shall not enter upon that property. Those violating this law shall face the defense of the owners, or the Justice of the Crown, or both. Those abusing this law to obtain the high weight property of others will face harsh justice before the Crown.
19.Participating in war against Ar'vahl carries the penalty of life imprisonment at hard labor.
20.All undiscovered archaeological, magical, and natural places of history, resources and power belong to the Crown. Their discoverers shall be appropriately rewarded.
21.Tax dodging carries the penalty of nationalization of all assets and 20 years at hard labor.
22.In response to the recent outcry of a very small but very vocal minority of citizens, prostitution is hereby specifically legalized. The offense taken by others is no excuse or reason to curtail the ownership that all beings have of their own bodies and the Right to do with that body as they please so long as they break no other laws nor harm others.
23. Spellcasting is both legal and encouraged so long as you break no other laws, nor harm or invade the property, body, minds, or souls of others without their knowledge or consent. Ar'vahl is a place meant to exemplify the best part of what all magic can do for all who wield it, both on their own behalf, on the behalf of others, and preferably both at the same time.
24.You are personally responsible for the actions of your minor children, constructs, familiars, summoned creatures, animal companions, et al, etc etc. Any crimes they commit are yours to face justice for, and as such, you are granted authority over them; abuse it not.
25. All lands within Ar'vahl belong to the Crown, except those the Crown has seen fit to lease, sell or grant to it's citizens. Non-citizens may not own lands within Ar'vahl. Ar'vahl is for Ar'vahlians.
26. The Crown reserves sole Right to magically or otherwise alter the weather inside the Nation's borders. All others attempting to do so without the expressed consent of the Crown commit a capital offense. The sentence shall be Public Torture, and Public Death.