Extent, Citizenshp, Immunity

The Extent of the Law, Citizenship, and Immunity

"I am surprised to hear such sentiments," I said, "from those who must once have held and kissed the Home Stone of Ar." This was a reference to the citizenship ceremony which, following the oath of allegiance to the city, involves an actual touching of the city's Home Stone. This may be the only time in the life of a citizen of the city that they actually touch the Home Stone. In Ar, as in many Gorean cities, citizenship is confirmed in a ceremony of this sort. Nonperformance of this ceremony, upon reaching intellectual majority, can be a cause for expulsion from the city. The rationale seems to be that the community has a right to expect allegiance from its members.

Norman, John. Vagabonds of Gor (Gorean Saga Book 24) .

Young men and women of the city, when coming of age, participate in a ceremony which involves the swearing of oaths, and the sharing of bread, fire and salt. In this ceremony the Home Stone of the city is held by each young person and kissed. Only then are the laurel wreath and the mantle of citizenship conferred. This is a moment no young person of Ar forgets. The youth of Earth have no Home Stone. Citizenship, interestingly, in most Gorean cities is conferred only upon the coming of age, and only after certain examinations are passed. Further, the youth of Gor, in most cities, must be vouched for by citizens of the city, not related in blood to him, and be questioned before a committee of citizens, intent upon determining his worthiness or lack thereof to take the Home Stone of the city as his own. Citizenship in most Gorean communities is not something accrued in virtue of the accident of birth but earned in virtue of intent and application. The sharing of a Home Stone is no light thing in a Gorean city.
Slave Girl of Gor Book 11 Page 394

Whereas Treve has gained control of Minus, the laws of Treve will apply until such a time the new government is established in the village. Upon the formation of this government, the Administrator and High Council of Minus will then proceed drafting new laws for Minus. To be eligible for such positions in Minus, the candidate must be a sworn citizen of Treve. This will ensure no uprisings will come from the village.

The Extent of the Law

The laws of Treve and Minus are applicable within the walls of Treve and Minus and over any lands outside those walls in which Treve and Minus exercise sovereignty, including any ports, exchanges, and banner keeps.
No foreign debts or warrants will be recognized within Treve and Minus.
- This means if you commit a crime in another city, that city cannot have you arrested in Treve and Minus for the crime. Their laws only extend as far as their walls. Citizenship in Treve and Minus provides a degree of protection against foreign creditors and governments.
The Initiate Caste within Treve and Minus possesses its own court system. Adjudication of religious matters is deferred to the Initiate Caste.
The Merchant Caste within Treve and Minus possesses its own court system. Adjudication of matters of MerchantLaw is deferred to the Merchant Magistrates. If a Merchant Magistrate is not readily available, the matter will remain undecided until such a time the complaint is heard.
Ignorance of the law is not a valid defense in any legal proceedings.
Freedom from Double Jeopardy under the law.
- No one shall be liable to be tried or punished again for an offense for which they have already been finally convicted or acquitted or pardoned or had their sentence commuted/reduced in accordance with the law and penal procedure of Treve and Minus.
No man, nor woman, is above the law. This includes the Administrator or Ubar. A law may not be decreed after the act has been committed.

The Home Stone and Citizenship

Home Stone in this section refers to the physical stone that is the Home Stone of Treve.
The theft of the Home Stone of Treve is punishable by extreme torture followed by impalement.
Disrespect of the Home Stone carries punishment proportional to and appropriate to the circumstances. Persons will do well to stand when speaking of the Home Stone to emphasize their respect. However, respectfully mentioning the Home Stone in a polite discussion--such as a High Council Meeting--does not require standing, which might be disruptive to the discussion.
Kajiri are not allowed to touch the Home Stone under penalty of death.
Retaining your citizenship is contingent upon you attending certain public ceremonies and assemblies. Citizenship is a privilege, not a right, and thus it must be earned. You are expected to owe your primary allegiance to the city and work at supporting that city.
- Seeing as all Goreans respect and fear Priest Kings, but not all Goreans worship them, citizenship does not require worship of Priest Kings or attendance at such services.
Citizenship in Treve can be stripped by the High Council or Administrator. If you are stripped of your citizenship, you will also be immediately expelled and exiled from the city.
Claiming dual Home Stones is a capital offense and punishable by banishment or impalement.
- Maintaining a pretense of loyalty to Minus while maintaining true loyalty to Treve, is of course acceptable and necessary for those maintaining Treve's clandestine control of Minus.
Every citizen must journey, at least once, to the Sardar Mountains before they are twenty-five years old. The Initiate Caste monitors who goes and who does not. The Initiates also teach that misfortunes will strike a city if their youth try to avoid this sacred obligation. Sometimes the Initiate Caste will ask a person to make the journey at a specific time.

Immunity

Citizens of Treve and those of the Black Caste employed by or living in Treve are able to enter and depart freely.
The following are permitted to enter Treve hooded and via tarn by a Warrior of the city.
- Candidates for Trevan citizenship who have not yet sworn to the Home Stone.
- Members of the Castes of Players, Poets, Musicians and Singers
- Heralds, on official business, may enter Treve. Official heralds bear a gold slash on the left temple of their helmet or headgear.
- Assassins, bearing the mark of the black dagger on their forehead. Must be visible.
- Merchants, with prior approval to enter the city, to conduct business.
- Guests invited for competitions in the arena or other city events
The following are not permitted to enter Treve
- Anyone who is disguised or posing to be one of the above, and thus gains access to the city is subject to arrest and subsequent penalty up to and including impalement.
- Outlaws discovered within the jurisdiction of Treve, this includes Minus, are subject to arrest, and punishment up to and including impalement.
- Anyone inflicted with Dar-Kosis is considered to be legally dead and denied entrance into the city.
Before visiting Treve, all weapons must be sheathed, and all bows unstrung. No visitor is permitted to arm themselves with hostile intent. If a weapon is drawn with the intent of performing a hostile act, the person will be arrested and is subject to penalty determined by the magistrate. Exceptions to this law are:
- Weapons mutually drawn to settle a matter of honor
- Black Caste upon finding their mark
- Persons invited for competition in the arena
Officially recognized heralds and ambassadors possess legal immunity within Treve. Though they may not be prosecuted for their crimes, they still may be expelled from the city.
No Player, Musician, Poet or Singer Caste member may be enslaved within a city's limits. This does not mean they are immune from prosecution for violating city law. They can still be arrested, imprisoned, tortured and executed. They are simply immune from enslavement
If such individuals ever return to Treve after their expulsion, they will be considered to possess no legal immunity and thus subject to arrest.