Gray's Harbor was founded with the law of the Regency firmly in place. Due to the presence of the Navy Surelain, and the elected officials of the 'Regent's Hand' those laws have, at least in print, stayed largely the same. In practice, the situation is slightly different.

The Dictate

It is said that Aiia stitched the original dictate into a woven matt of silver tuft, her preferred plant. It is the hushed agreement of scholars that over the centuries these laws have been altered in the face of practicality. A summary of Gray Harbor's copy of the dictate reads as follows... (notes of actual enforcement policy of Grey Harbor are in italics)

Murder

I. Murder by Intent- There shall be no murder. A murderer shall forever be locked within penitentiary where he may think of his crimes.

Seeing as Gray Harbor has no penitentiary, and can support no one who does not draw her own weight, murderers are put to death.

II. Murder by Passion-Emotion shall draw no one to muder. A murderer will be locked in penitentiary until they have reformed. Thereafter they shall work for the family whom they have taken from.

Seeing as Gray Harbor has no penitentiary, the murderer is tried to see if there was just cause for this violent defense. If not, they are put to death.

III. Murder of a Female with child-This is the highest crime. The murderer will be incarcerated for life within a penitentiary, and shall undergo monthly sessions with one skilled at the art of reform.

Again, Grey Harbor has no Penitentiary. The death penalty is enacted, usually by burning, or some other equally slow and painful death.

IV. Murder of a Female-None shall be tolerated who theft the life of my daughters. A lifelong penitentiary incarceration with yearly visits from a reform artist.

Such a crime is punishable only by death.

V. Murder by Passion- Emotion driving murder is illegal. One must control their anger toward their fellow.

The murderer is put to death if it is believed the incident will repeat. Otherwise the murderer is put into the gaol for three months. If it is determined the murderer was goaded, then the penalty is a month and a half.

VI. Blood Due- The Islee custom of blood due is illegal. One who enacts revenge for the murder of a loved one shall receive incarceration for a period deemed appropriate. This period will decrease dependant on the magnitude of their love.

Those who murder for revenge are either put to death if the courts believe they will do so again, or if there love was not great enough. If they loved enough to warrant the revenge, the murderer will stay in the gaol for no more than three months, the time decreased by the level of their love. If they live by the end of the sentence, they are released.

VII. Murder by Chance- A year in a penitentiary will cleanse them of their ill ways.

In Grey Harbor, these folks who murder accidentally are kept in the Gaol for a month, fed only the cheapest of breads and dirty water. If they still live at the end of the month, they are set free.

A woman's Murder - One with womanly status shall not be put to death on a murder charge.

Violence

I. Intended Murder -One who has commited an act of armed violence with murderous intent shall be incarcerated or reformed in a penitentiary.

An act of murderous intent is possibly punished by death, possibly simply by a month's incarceration, depending on severity and details.

II. Fisticuffs - One shall not raise their hand against another in violence.

In Gray Harbor brawling is mostly ignored, unless a severe beating begins to take place, in which case folks are incarcerated for intended murder of a low degree. Tavern brawls break out all the time, and the Lawmen simply don't have the resources to contain them all. A lawman with a broken jaw is a lawman that can't work for a week, so tavern brawls are usually left alone, or to the purview of the individual merchant's security forces until they get out of hand.

If a complaint is made, a brawler may be taken to the gaol to stew for an hour or two, or in extreme cases, an evening's time.

III. Raising Hand against a Woman - This is an extremely heinous crime, and the punishment shall be the same for murder by chance, a year in a penitentiary for their monstrous behaviour.

At worst, the death penalty, as there is no penitentiary. At best, a month in the gaol. This is especially true if it is thought that the incident will repeat. Raising a hand includes both fisticuffs and armed violence.

IV. Raising Hand against a Pregnant Woman - This, the pinnacle of ill intent, shall be punished with five years of Penitentiary, and monthly sessions with a Reformer.

If it can be dealt with quietly, only a few months in the gaol, if any of the more religious colonists get wind, it's likely the the death penalty, unless the criminal has very good representation, and extreme luck on their side.

Dark Worship

I. Lurenite Worship - Time spent in a penitentiary reforming the vile creature to an Aiian life. This may be a lifelong sentance if necessary.

In older times, the church would take these creatures in and reform them. These days, it's much more likely they will be burned, unless a representative from the Aiian church vouches for them. Certainly the matter becomes less likely if the Lurenite has been known to commit violence or murder.

II. Ilsean Worship - Ilsean worship shall be dealt with only a degree less harshly than a Lurenite's.

In all honesty few people will vouch for a known Ilsean. Typically it's the death penalty unless the church intervenes.

III. Speaking an Lurenite Ritual - Time in a penitentiary.

If it can be argued they are not in fact Lurenite, only some gaol time, three months at the shortest. Also include ten public lashes.

III. Speaking an Ilsean Ritual - Time in a penitentiary.

If it can be argued they are not in fact Ilsean, only some gaol time, a month at the shortest. Also include five public lashes.

IV. Speaking Positively of Ilseus, Luren, or their followers - Time in a penitentiary, public display in the stocks.

Public display in the stocks for ten hours. Three lashes.

V. Unknown Sorcery - Time spent in a penitentiary to determine the nature of the sorcery, and to rehabilitate them.

Depending on the severity, intent, and manner of the sorcery, gaol time, public display, lashing, death.

Rape

I. Rape against a Woman - This most unforgiveable of crimes shall carry the strictest penalty. It is the only time one shall be put to death.

There's virtually no way a lesser penalty would be possible. The church is powerful in Gray Harbor, and the priestesses will usually demand the death penalty. As there are no facilities to hold the criminal for extended reformation, this is the only possible penalty.

Theft

I. Pickpocketing - A month in the gaol.

There are simply not enough resources. A week, plus a week for each previous attempt. At three attempts, a hand comes off. Four is the death penalty.

II. Burglary - Two months in the gaol

There are not enough cells. Two weeks plus a week for each previous attempt. At three attempts a foot comes off. Four is the death penalty.

III. In possesion of stolen goods - A month in the gaol.

With all the black market trade? There would be no way to hold them. A week in the gaol, or a day for every 10 opals worth of goods.

Slander

I. Gross Slander - If an untrue criminal charge is spoken, then the speaker will be incarcerated for one month, and publically displayed.

One week, and either stocks for five hours or five lashes. On the third arrest, a notch in the tongue. On the fourth arrest, tongue is cut out.

II. Slander - General defamation of character will be two weeks incarceration in a gaol.

Four days, then the stocks for a few hours about noontime, or three lashes. On the third arrest, a tongue notch, on the fourth, a second notch, and so on.

Treason

I. Treason Against the Regency - Plotting against the Regency will end in a period of Penitentiary, preceeded by a period of incarceration to determine intent.

Usually incarceration or death, depending on whether it was simply subversive speech, or how dire the action was.

II. Treason against the Church - Plotting against the Aiian church will be met with a period of Penitentiary preceeded by incarceration to determine intent.

Misdemeanors

I. Speaking Ill to a Woman - Speaking coarsely to a woman will damage her life-bringing gentle nature. A week's incarceration.

A week's incarceration, if someone actually complains about it. This is most likely to happen, and to be paid attention to with women of wealth or stature.

II. Not showing respect to a Noblewoman - A woman of noble station shall be bowed to and helped to any comforts available in the immediate area, save if she refuses such offerings. She shall be addressed with the proper title. Failure means public display and incarceration.

If reported or seen, admonishment, then if it persists, incarceration for up to a week, or what is requested by the noble lady. Then public lashing, stocks, or what she wills, when she is available for viewing, if she so wishes it.

III. Property Damage - The punishment is to be drawn out in fines or incarceration to a point that is deemed appropriate by the courts.

The same.

Religious Crimes

I. Swimming - Thou shall not break the surface of the water, save with the keel of a boat, or a fishing line. Such is respectful to The Lady Sylrie, and her great sacrifice to the Child Goddess.

Virtually unenforced by Gray Harbor Lawmen. Usually only looked to upon complaint by a Priestess.

II. Temple Defacement - Though shall not deface a church or shrine to Aiia or Sylrien. Public lashing.

The same, and the defacer is forced to repair the damage while in shackles.

III. Enberrening - Any woman or man who destroys a womb, especially if it is the woman's own womb, shall be incarcerated in a Penitentiary until reformed.

Usually death. This seldom comes up as a charge not paired with being a Lurenite, as enberrening oneself is a empowering ritual for a Lurenite woman.

Legal Addendum

I. Womanly Status - Any woman who takes up a weapon casts off her womanly status until she puts it down. Any woman who enberrens herself (destroys her own womb) casts off her womanly status.