Justice

different phyles of course take different approaches to justice|law enforcement|dispute resolution. some of the more popular approaches are:

• trial by judicial process: some phyles have extensive judicial systems, complete with codes of law, lawyers, judges, courthouses, and the like. details of law and procedure vary considerably from phyle to phyle, of course. phyles using this approach include:
  • Mutual Defense Co-operative – jury trials are the order of the day in the MDC.
  • One World Party – every 20 years or so, the OWP do a thorough revision of their legal code, to keep it up to date.
  • Overlords – a three-tier justice system is used: Phylists, Non-Phylists and Slaves each have their own courts, and their own rules of procedure. the penal code is extensive.
  • Regium – although nominally a feudal system, there are lengthy written codes by which feudal lords are expected to abide.
  • Sign of Swine – expensive lawsuits tend to be the main method of dispute resolution.
  • Talon – technically, there are three different systems in use, one each for dragon-dragon conflict, conflict between two non-dragons, and conflict between a dragon and a non-dragon. judges in all cases are, of course, draconic.
  • Tunnelers – traveling judges tend to be the order of the day.
• trial by ordeal/combat: in other phyles, the main method is trial by ordeal or combat – the accused must face either painful torments or a battle with an appropriate opponent (nominated by either the accuser or the phyle).
  • Bastion of Righteousness – the accuser usually nominates a challenger. all duels must be fought in the presence of phyle representatives, and are to the death.
  • Drummers – the usual approach is to abandon the miscreant, naked and without equipment, in an unfamiliar shard. if they can find their way home, they’re considered innocent.
  • Family – being hunted down by assassins counts as “ordeal”, right?
  • Green Way – various sorts of ordeals, including abandonment (see Drummers, above), and being left tied to trees for days at a time are not at all unusual. trials by combat are generally versus large, nasty beasts, and hence might be considered ordeals as well.
  • Maul – a not-too-unknown fact is that Gorgor’s Pits began as the judicial apparatus of the Maul, and indeed still serve that function for those in and around the Peace. trials by combat are sometimes considered private fights, but joining in is also sometimes encouraged.
  • Wretched Victims – their trials by combat are often derisively referred to as “slap fights” by non-phylists. the tendency for them to take place after everyone has gotten falling-down-drunk might have something to do with that.
• dispute resolution / mediation: some prefer a more gentle approach to dealing with conflict. if everyone gets together and shares their points of view, reasonable people should be able to come to a mutually acceptable resolution, shouldn’t they?
  • Broken Bond – some members of the Broken Bond even find this method burdensome – the “how about we just never talk to each other again?” approach isn’t unheard of in this phyle.
  • Green Way – depending on the situation, trial by ordeal isn’t universally practiced in the green way. high-level druids, for example, often act as mediators. admittedly, with some of these druids, it can feel like an ordeal anyway…
  • Hospitalers – members of the Hôspital not only universally practice mediation for in-phyle conflicts, but also offer their services for hire to others.
  • Sisters of Mercy – have a formal dispute resolution process involving circles of discussion.
• investigation / inquisition: then there are the phyles who take the attitude that the facts are out there, and once the facts are determined, the guilt or innocence of the accused will be apparent.
  • All-Seeing Eye – a staff of inquisitives split their time between fact-checking for the Chronicle and looking into disputes. when they’re on the case, they can be very good at what they do.
  • Clock Tenders – a Faculty of investigating judges looks into matters that are brought to their attention, though they often farm out the leg-work to others.
  • Dead College – the Chamber of Inquisition (also sometimes called the Grey Chamber) looks into problems and issues (often rather chillingly final) sentences.
• other: we’re not exactly what these ones do.
  • Other Side – people have sometimes asked members of the Other Side about their approach to justice. not all of those who have survived understanding the response have gone irrepably insane.
  • Shadowy Men – people ask the Shadowies about this sort of thing to. people ask them all sorts of questions. one wonders why.