Slavery Laws
1. By law, the Slavers' Caste is a subcaste of the Merchants' Caste. The Slavers though like to consider themselves a separate Caste.
2. Slaves are considered property, on the same level as animals. Their owner may do anything they wish to them without repercussion. An owner can even kill his own slave with impunity.
3. Slaves may not own anything, including a name. Even though they may use goods, they do not own them.
4. No Player, Musician, Poet or Singer Caste member may be enslaved within a city limits. Of course, they can still be arrested, imprisoned, tortured and executed. They are simply immune from enslavement.
5.It is illegal for slaves to play Kaissa. It is considered an insult to free men, not only for a slave to play but even to touch the pieces.
6. In any legal proceedings, the testimony of slaves may be taken by torture. This is solely in the discretion of the courts.
7. The property of one who becomes a slave is transferred to the nearest male relative or the nearest relative if no male exists, or to the city, or a guardian. Even if the slave is later freed, the property cannot ever be recovered.
8. If a slave owner dies, his slaves pass to his heirs or if he has no heirs, to the state.
9. Capture rights pertain to all property, including slaves. Active possession of a slave is regarded as crucial by the law. A slave must fully serve anyone who possesses her, even a thief. If the slave runs away from the thief, she is considered to be a runaway. Free women are permitted to escape from a captor as long as they have not yet been enslaved. The point of this law is to keep slaves in bondage and to make men bold. The institution of capture is honored by all cities, provided the females captured are those of an enemy.
10. If a lost, stolen or runaway slave is taken by another person, the original master has only one week to regain his property before legal title passes to the new master. The slave remains the property of the original master only for that one week if he does not regain possession.
For a slave to runaway from her owner is a serious offense. For the first offense, the penalty is commonly a severe beating. But she is only allowed that single mistake. The penalty for a second offense is usually ham stringing.
11. A free woman can sell herself into slavery. But, once completed, she cannot then revoke it.
If a free woman submits to be a slave to a specific man, and that man refuses the offer, she still shall become a slave, subject to capture by the first person to collar her.
12. Slaves are not permitted outside the city gates unless accompanied by a free person.
It is a capital offense for a slave to wield any weapon.
It is a capital offense for a slave to claim caste.
It is a capital offense for a female slave to wear the garment of a free woman.
It is illegal for a slave to wear veils.
13. A child, born of a slave, becomes a slave and belongs to the mother's owner.
14. .Any free woman who couches with another's slave or even prepares to do so, becomes a slave herself and becomes the slave of the male slave's master. This is known as the "couching law."
15. Slaves are not allowed in temples. It is felt that they would defile it.
16. If a father cannot pay his debts, his daughter becomes a slave of the state. She will be put up for sale at public auction. The proceeds of her sale will be used to equitably satisfy the creditors.
17. A free woman who cannot pay her debts will be enslaved. Under the redemption laws, a man can pay her debts and thus will now own her. If no one redeems her within a certain period, she will be sold to slavers.
18. Earth girls do not have a Home Stone so there are no legalities that prevent their capture and enslavement.
19. A slave, on threat of torture and impalement, must endure whatever abuse a free person cares to inflict on him.
20. Any free person may discipline an insolent or errant slave, even one who is in the least bit displeasing. If the slave is killed or injured, the free person need only pay compensation to the master and only if the master requests such compensation.
21. The crime of false yielding is a capital offense. It is easy to detect, through infallible physiological signs.
22. If a slave strikes a free person, the penalty is commonly death by impalement, preceded by lengthy torture.
23. Freed slaves require explicit papers of manumission or they may be enslaved again without repercussion. Slaves who have been branded or had theirs ears pierced and later freed should definitely keep their papers handy at all times.
24. The principle of "conduct indicating suitability for the collar" deals with conduct by a free woman sufficient to warrant her reduction to slavery. It is commonly applied to fraud, theft, indigency, vagrancy, prostitution, and indulgence in sensuous dance. Other behavior which might trigger the principles includes attempting to spy on masters and slaves, disguising oneself as a slave, garbing oneself as a slave even in the supposed secrecy of one's own compartment, baring too much flesh, lingering about slave shelves and markets, and even exhibiting an interest in or fascination with bondage. The principle deals with overt behavior and not thoughts. Judges must decide if such behavior is sufficient to warrant a reduction to slavery. It is illegal for someone on their own to collar a free woman for this conduct without seeking legal action.
25. There is no law that states a man may enslave a free woman of his Home Stone because she has insulted or disrespected him.
26. Female slaves must wear a visible token of their slavery within the city limits. Male slaves are exempt from this law. It is not good for male slaves to understand their true numbers.
27. When a person is collared, it cancels their past. They begin a new life as a slave and may not be held accountable for any crimes that occurred while they were free.
28. It is illegal to sell a slave that is not your own, without the owner's permission. The penalty varies according to the sex of the seller. For a man, it is exile, and for a woman, it is enslavement.
29. It is illegal to offer an unbranded slave in a public sale.
30. By recommendation of Merchant Law, there are three standard marking places for brands, on the left thigh, right thigh, and lower left abdomen.
31. In some cities, a free woman that kneels before a man or addresses him as Master effects legal imbondment on herself. It is interpreted as a gesture of submission
32. It is illegal to sell a slave as auburn haired if she is truly not so.
33. It is a felony to forge or falsify pedigree papers on any slave.
34. A certification of a slave girl's heat may be given in certain cities. Her degree of heat will be listed on the sale documents. It is done in few cities though because of the potential for fraud on the part of the buyer. A buyer might use a girl for a month and then seek a refund based on the guarantee of her level of heat.
35. Slaves are not allowed to build anything. That right is reserved for free people only.
It is illegal for slaves to touch or handle legal documents.
Slaves may not teach free people. By teaching someone, they are placed in your debt and nothing can be owed to a slave.
36.A free woman may do a form of limited self-contracting where she legally becomes a slave for a specific time period, commonly ranging from one night to one year. She cannot end this contract earlier than the specified time period. Once the contract takes effect, she becomes a slave with no legal powers at all. This curious contractual arrangement is not described in great detail. It raises numerous legal dilemmas that can only be speculated about. The books do not state that the contract covers any contigencies or limits the slavery in any way. The woman becomes an actual slave. That would seem to mean she could be freely killed. What would happen is she was sold? Does the contract prevent that? Would the time period still apply if she was sold? What would happen if she was stolen? This passage seems to raise far more questions than it answers.
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Subject: Slavery Laws 
Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:43 pm
hmmm interesting read 
