## Divine Laws of Justice and Order _As decreed by Donavan, God of Justice and Law_ _Former King of Polaira, Eternal Arbiter of Right and Wrong_ --- ## Preamble "Justice is not a convenience to be applied when favorable, nor a weapon to wield against one's enemies. It is the sacred foundation upon which civilization stands. These laws are absolute, universal, and blind to station, race, or personal prejudice. Let none claim ignorance, for justice delayed is justice denied, and justice corrupted is the gravest sin." --- ## The Seven Pillars of Divine Justice ### **First Pillar: The Supremacy of Law** _"Law exists above all mortal whim and divine favor."_ 1. **All beings are subject to the laws of the land in which they dwell** 2. No creature is above the law by virtue of race, divine heritage, or personal power 3. Laws must be known, written, and accessible to those governed by them 4. Ignorance of law diminishes guilt but does not erase it ### **Second Pillar: The Burden of Evidence** _"Accusation without proof is itself an injustice."_ 1. **Guilt must be proven beyond reasonable doubt before punishment** 2. Suspicion, assumption, and prejudice are not evidence 3. The accused have the right to face their accusers and hear the charges 4. Evidence obtained through torture, coercion, or divine compulsion is tainted and inadmissible ### **Third Pillar: Proportionate Justice** _"The punishment must fit the crime, neither exceeding nor falling short."_ 1. **Punishment must be proportional to the offense committed** 2. Death is reserved for only the most heinous crimes 3. Rehabilitation should be attempted before purely punitive measures 4. Collective punishment for individual crimes is forbidden ### **Fourth Pillar: The Process of Justice** _"Justice rushed is justice corrupted."_ 1. **Proper legal procedure must be followed in all cases** 2. The accused have the right to speak in their own defense 3. A fair and impartial tribunal must hear all serious accusations 4. Execution of punishment must only follow proper legal conclusion ### **Fifth Pillar: Protection of the Defenseless** _"True justice shields the weak from the strong."_ 1. **Those who cannot defend themselves deserve the law's protection** 2. Prisoners, children, and the helpless must not be harmed while under legal authority 3. Torture is forbidden as both interrogation and punishment 4. The wounded and surrendering must be treated with basic dignity ### **Sixth Pillar: Impartial Authority** _"Justice serves the law, not the judge."_ 1. **Those who enforce law must themselves be subject to it** 2. Personal vendettas have no place in legal proceedings 3. Judges must recuse themselves when personally involved 4. Corruption of legal authority is among the gravest of crimes ### **Seventh Pillar: Universal Application** _"Justice knows no favorites."_ 1. **These laws apply equally to all rational beings** 2. Species, race, divine heritage, or infernal nature do not exempt any from justice 3. Previous crimes do not justify present injustices 4. Even enemies of the state deserve fair treatment under law --- ## Specific Divine Decrees ### **On Combat and Warfare** - Combat must be honorable; no striking of those who yield - Prisoners of war must be treated according to established conventions - Civilian populations may not be targeted for military actions - Oaths of surrender must be honored by both parties ### **On Divine and Infernal Beings** - Devils, celestials, and other extraplanar beings are subject to local law while present - Divine heritage grants no immunity from earthly justice - Fiends who obey local laws cannot be attacked solely for their nature - Angels who break local laws are not immune from prosecution ### **On Magical Compulsion** - Charm spells used to extract confessions render such confessions invalid - Mind control used to force criminal acts transfers guilt to the controller - Divination magic used in legal proceedings must be verified by multiple sources - Magical punishment must still conform to proportionality requirements ### **On Capital Crimes** Offenses warranting death under divine law: - Premeditated murder of innocents - High treason against lawful authority - Systematic torture resulting in death - Corruption of justice that leads to wrongful execution - Kinslaying (murder of family members) --- ## The Five Unforgivable Sins Against Justice 1. **Judicial Corruption**: Deliberately perverting justice for personal gain 2. **False Witness**: Knowingly providing false testimony in legal proceedings 3. **Torture of the Helpless**: Inflicting pain on those unable to defend themselves 4. **Vigilante Execution**: Killing those who have committed no capital crime 5. **Tyrannical Oppression**: Using legal authority to inflict suffering without just cause --- ## Penalties for Violation ### **For Common Mortals:** - Loss of legal standing and civil protections - Banishment from civilized lands - Divine mark of injustice (visible to detect evil/good spells) - Karmic retribution through natural consequences ### **For Divine Champions:** - Immediate loss of divine powers and abilities - Withdrawal of divine protection - Cursed to face the same injustices they inflicted on others - Required to make meaningful restitution before redemption ### **For Legal Authorities:** - Permanent removal from all positions of authority - Public exposure of their crimes - Forced to experience the treatment they gave to others - Divine intervention to prevent future abuses of power --- ## Paths to Redemption _"Even the gravest sinner may find redemption through true justice."_ 1. **Acknowledgment**: Full admission of wrongdoing without excuse or justification 2. **Restitution**: Making amends to those harmed, to the fullest extent possible 3. **Service**: Dedicating oneself to protecting justice and preventing others from making the same errors 4. **Sacrifice**: Giving up something of great personal value to demonstrate sincerity 5. **Time**: Proving through consistent righteous action over an extended period --- ## Final Words "Let it be known that Donavan's justice is neither cruel nor merciful—it simply _is_. Like the turning of seasons or the rising of the sun, justice follows its course with absolute certainty. Those who align themselves with law and order will find in me a steadfast ally. Those who corrupt or pervert justice will find in me an implacable enemy. Remember: the law protects all who respect it, and condemns all who abuse it. Choose your path accordingly." --- _This codex bears the divine seal of Donavan and will glow with golden light when opened by those who have violated its precepts, serving as both guide and judgment._ **Divine Symbols**: The scales of justice, the hammer of law, the blindfolded eye of impartial judgment