Across the continent of Liwilai, several laws have been put in place in order to curb the misuse of spells by powerful spellcasters, restricting the use of certain spells within city centers and larger settlements. Active members of the Liwilai Adventurer's Guild may have special privileges, but may get certain penalties for using such spells in their work, with too many cases of misuse sometimes even resulting in the rescission of their limited diplomatic immunity.
Villages and smaller towns, due to their lesser ability to regulate these spells, may have local laws for the use of magic.
Restricted spells are as follows:
- Charm Spells, Suggestion, Mass Suggestion, Geas and Dominate Spells: Illegal for use within cities and larger settlements, as they can be used to violate consent. Licensed adventurers who use magic items with these spells need to have these items registered in a special registry, and Wizards who have these spells in their spell book need to register themselves. Unsanctioned use of these spells is subject to fines, or in especially heavy cases to jail time. Special scrutiny is had in government buildings, where the use of such spells is regulated even further, with the use of such spells is always being subject to jail time or even the death penalty depending on severity, due to the potential of influencing government officials. Exceptions for the use of the spell are made if these spells are used in self-defense, such as, but not limited to: A merchant casting suggestion on an unruly customer, telling them to go home, or using the spells to thwart a robbery.
- Detect Thoughts and Zone of Truth: Violates the right to privacy, if done non-consensually. Use of Detect Thoughts and Zone of Truth within cities and larger settlements is subject to fines. Exceptions are made for Adventurers on investigation-missions, as well as members of the town guard or the court systems in order to gather evidence.
- Animate Dead and similar spells: Illegal for use in Cities and larger settlements to avoid mass panics, and subject to fines, but allowed in private residences and businesses, using ethically sourced bodies and body parts. The animation of bodies buried in local cemeteries is considered grave robbing and desecration of graves, and subject to fines and jail time.
- Modify Memory: Sanctioned for use by registered psychiatrists and healers. Use on random citizens within cities and large settlements is subject to fines and jail time, depending on the severity of the modified memories. A simple prank with no negative effects towards anyone most likely gets ignored.
- Any spell that damages its target: Obviously, using these against an innocent, or casting a spell that is way too dangerous to use in large crowds such as fireball, is restricted for use in crowds and is counted as assault at best and attempted murder at worst. Using them in self-defense and with moderation, of course, is permitted, and adventurers are allowed to use them for the apprehension or neutralization of dangerous creatures and criminals.
- Magic Jar, Soul Cage and the likes: Obviously restricted and illegal without permission. Especially with the possession-aspect. Any souls in such magic jars are collected in a safe way and locked away; or destroyed if the body is still intact and alive. Objects with souls in them that have been put inside without consent however are however either helped with new bodies or put to rest.