City of Ishtar,
Southwest Territory of the Kingdom of Furyundy
Ruler:
Grandmarshall Lord Taran Soothra
Religious Ruler:
Cardinal Rahasia
Al'Vere
Population:
141,000 Citizens,
Population Charts
Relevant Locations
Indoctrinations
And the Laws of Babylon
An indoctrinator will be
assigned to any newcomer to Babylon.
Indoctrinators inform the newcomers of the local laws, the rules
regarding Colorless
Fire, and public safety and
service facilities within the city. The toll to
enter Babylon is 10 sp or 1% of goods, and indoctrinators collect these
fees. They will escort
newcomers to the Markets
and then to an Inn or help them find specific
locations.
The indoctrinators (some paid,
some fulfilling their indentured
servitude for water/Colorless
Fire crimes) at the Welcome Station explain what
visitors can and
cannot do. One of the paid indoctrinators is Athas.
"This desert is the Onesh or
the test. The rules of Babylon
are here for your protection, and
failure to follow them has serious consequences."
Rules for your Safety
- No one can carry any open water; water
must be
contained in a squeegie bottle.
Water can spontaneously ignite in Colorless
Fire that
cannot be healed by magical means. Anyone who uses
open water, elemental water spells, or any links to the water plane
becomes an indentured servant
indoctrinator for a period of time commensurate with the severity of
the offense. Kank nectar is the water substitute. There are places to
lock up links to the water plane in vaults in the nearest Inns on The
Ways. 1st
Open Water Offense: verbal
warning and indoctrination. 2nd
offense: 1 month indentured
servitude as indoctrinator. 3rd
offense: excavation work in the
desert.
- Writings displayed in public must be in
shelter or risk attracting and igniting Colorless
Fire. Maps
are allowed. Drawings are allowed.
- Anyone who wears a sword
must take an Oath of Chivalry on the Pattern Magic Oath Stone and
accept
challenges or put the sword away (peace-tied). Haqdeshani believe
swords are evil (due to their history with the Sword of Kas) and often
challenge
bearers.
- All fighting and dueling
must take place in sanctified duel arenas called Challenge Rings. Rings are officiated
and mediated by clerics who can perform miracles
for sacrifices. All fighters must be
prepared
to lose something as the Spoils
of War. Unauthorized fights require a sacrifice of one
month’s food
and loss of your
weapons. The penalty for repeat offenders is
indentured servitude, usually one battle in the war in the
desert.
- Everyone in the city must confess
secrets once a month or serve as
indentured
servants in infirmaries or battlefield clean-up crews the for one month.
Citizens
are all those
who have dwelled in the city for a month or longer.
- Every district has a
screecher (pull tail in times of danger, including signs that someone
or something is burning
without any sign of fire), an
emergency horn, and a covered continual light beacon. Pull tail, sound
horn or flash the beach in times of danger, including a fight
outside of the Challenge Rings
or any sign that someone or something is burning without any sign of fire.
In case of fire, also run to the extinguisher boxes and douse the
person or object with the thick blankets you find there.
- When the bell rings twice,
it's worm sign. The city will begin casting silences to prevent worms
from being attracted to the walls. Do not interfere with the silences.
Until the silences reach your area, all work and NOISE
must stop or you will call the worm. The penalty is indentured
servitude for three days to up to one month either in the Ruins of the Forgotten
City outside the walls or in
construction areas near the walls that
are most vulnerable to worm attack.
- When the bell rings three
times in a row, all non-warriors should
go to the brothels
for
celebration until the threat to the city is
passed. All militia must report for duty.
- No magic is allowed during a
state of emergency except in defense
of the city. The penalty is investigation for
spying/secrets/unlawful possession of patented spells and/or indentured
servitude. Usually the spellcaster is conscripted to
cast X number of spells which consume experience points for the city or
a month of spellcasting service to the city (determined by judge).
City Customs
- All
members of the
Veiled Alliance and Preservers are granted sanctuary, subject to
verification.
Preservers may perform services in times of emergency, although these
services
are not mandatory.
- Visitors and citizens may also pay to take
lessons at the fighting school and are then registered as
warriors. All
people who
register as warriors with the city militia are granted use of special
seating
in arenas and church.
- Babylon
sponsors regular tournaments
with gladiators from other
cities (travel and lodging paid) and actively recruits in other cities
to find
gladiators who will fight. Tournaments pay to the visitor 2000
gp/level. Special
prizes are
awarded for heroic deeds in battle, including Spoils
of War, weapons, medals, money or
Blessings
of Ishtar.
- Polygamy, prostitution, and gambling are legal here.
Warnings about
Crimes
- Some crimes of all types have
"gravis," meanings that if a crime has X it
is worse than a crime without X and is judged more harshly. For
example, commiting a
crime with the intention to desecrate carries gravis --i.e. kidnapping
a paladin in order to bring him to an evil church to transfer his
levels to the bad guys is worse than just plain kidnapping
someone.
- If a creature you summon
commits a crime, you are liable for
that crime, and it is considered premeditated. (The crime may have
gravis depending upon
the alignment of creature summoned). In other words, don't summon shit
you can't
control.
- Murder is punishable by
death (for heinous murders connected
to other evil acts) or a life (or long period) of indentured servitude
with
"estrangement" - criminal is conscripted into the armies deep in the
Onesh and not allowed to return into the city except on certain days
known as "sans-exila." Sans-exila days usually fall on the second day
of each season and are marked by higher militia levels. These
criminals are known as Oneshites.
- Rape, treason, and
extortion/bribery are all extremely serious, with punishments as severe
as
death (with ceremony to prevent resurrection) or Judgment by Lord Taran Soothra. Such crimes
may also require restitution.
- Slavery or slave trading are a violation of personhood and of the
religious laws of Babylon and Furyundy. These will be treated as acts
of violence with gravis and will require restitution to the victims.
- Violent
disturbances including riots, i. e. acts that violate the freedom or
sanctity of a person or personal property, are punishable by indentured
servitude (1 day to 1 month) and restitution. Acts with gravis receive
more serious punishments.
- Destruction or damage to the Hanging
Gardens, the
Grainhouses, or
food supply is a
major crime punishable by banishment into the depths of the Onesh
without food for
several days to weeks. Punishment can be much worse with gravis,
including death, banishment, dismemberment, or indentured servitude in
the Onesh.
- Endagerment of the Great
Tree is an act of violence and may be considered treason. The Tree of Life
is surrounded by guarded viewing areas.
Only
clerics, druids or their authorized guests may enter the actual grounds
of the Tree of Life.
This crime is
punishable by death, banishment, dismemberment, or
indentured servitude in church's property in hell (in cases without
gravis).
- Defilement, as per the desert spells of Colorless
Fire elementalists) is treason and will be punished as such.
- Thievery is punishable by
indentured servitude - usually to the
victim of thievery (or another in the city). The length of time is
determined by the value of the item(s) and the circumstances of the
crime. Mercy is shown to the impoverished (usually in the form of food
& sustenance and training during indentured
servitude).
- Drug
use or sale of shan, opium (Ketian), banghest/demon’s breath, i.
e. the
drugs of our enemies, is punishable by indentured servitude and fines.
Note: Drugs produced by allies, such as elfweed,
mushrooms, are legal.
- Money lending for capital/interest gain must take
place outside the city walls, or you
will be assessed a fine.
Rules for
Citizens
- Citizens
are all those
who have dwelled in the city for a month or longer.
- All
citizens must learn
the ways of the desert.
- Citizens
cannot be
forced to learn to read.
