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Geography of Ixinos

• Location & Physical Dimensions
• Terrain
• Climate & Weather
• Flora & Fauna
• Crops & Natural Resources
• Map of Ixinos
• The Southern Uplands
• The Central Lowlands
• The Northern Highlands

The people of Ixinos have a very lawful society. They believe in mercy, but they also believe that lawbreakers bring the consequences upon themselves. Thievery and murder are virtually unknown here, and the Genifari greatly resent outsiders who bring such atrocities to their island.

The present legal system of Ixinos is known as the Averrian Code, since it was first enacted by Queen Averri beginning around 420 D.R. Her goal was to replace the confusing labyrinth of proclamations and precedents that had been enacted by previous queens, many of whom were capricious, unfair, and even evil.

The following crimes are punishable by death: treason; murder; slaving; piracy; torture; maiming; rape; assaulting the queen, a clan chieftain or member of the Goldring Council; assaulting a pregnant woman or a baby. A unanimous vote of the Council is required to carry out an execution, which is usually accomplished by casting the criminal off one of the high sea-cliffs on the eastern side of the island. Lesser crimes carry punishments ranging from short terms of imprisonment to public flogging to magical petrification for very serious or repeat offenders. Banishment is never imposed upon Ixinian citizens, as they do not wish to inflict their criminals upon the rest of the world.

The Genifari have a ferocious hatred of slavery and those who practice it. Anyone who takes an Ixinian -- male or female -- as a slave will be hunted with truly amazing persistence, and killed on sight. It is a capital offense to buy or trade slaves on Ixinos, or to transport slaves on the island or in its territorial waters.

It is the task of the Daughters to see that criminals are apprehended and brought to trial. Although any female citizen can arrest a wrongdoer for good cause, the person cannot be held for trial until a Daughter has arrived to assess the situation.

The priestesses of Tormo traditionally serve as judges. Trials usually involve magical means of divination to discover the truth of a matter, if the offense is severe enough to warrant going to such trouble. There are no jury trials; the priestess-judge makes all decisions involving guilt and sentencing. If the offense is one that normally carries a death sentence, however, the matter must be brought before the Goldring Council before such sentence can be passed. Only the Council may pass a death sentence.

The decision of any judge can be reviewed by the Council at the request of a Council member, a Daughter, the Queen, or another judge.