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Palmate
Acolyte
USA
18 Posts |
 Posted - 30 Sep 2004 : 15:07:48
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Greetings knowledgeable friends
I have a dilemma, I have a party that is fixing to be apprehended by the local militia of Berdusk, in the Western Heartlands, my problem comes as to what then… What type of ‘law’ exists in that city? The charge would be murder and possibly more as they were attempting to steal a barge.
But the questions I have are actually, what type of court system exists in Berdusk, if any? And what would the process be? What would be some possible punishments? Fines, jail time, hard labor?
Would the party be allowed to speak for their actions or just thrown in a cell and forgotten? Would witnesses be allowed? Would there even be a trial?
Any help in this area would be appreciated.
Palmate
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Jerard Doonsay
Seeker
USA
65 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2004 : 15:40:19
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| My advice is read Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast. I have, and the Berdusk entry, but I don't remember exactly what it said. I would assume though that they would at least get some kind of trial, weather or not it's fare. |
May history live forever in the writings and stories of those who wish to tell them.
Please come and enjoy my website http://ferien.aribytes.org |
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Palmate
Acolyte
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2004 : 16:08:11
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Unfortunatly I don't have access to that source, unless you know of somewhere on the web it can be found?
could someone perhaps fill me in a bit on what it might say until I can get my hands on it?
Palmate |
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Lysander
Learned Scribe
USA
183 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2004 : 16:12:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Palmate
Greetings knowledgeable friends
I have a dilemma, I have a party that is fixing to be apprehended by the local militia of Berdusk, in the Western Heartlands, my problem comes as to what then… What type of ‘law’ exists in that city? The charge would be murder and possibly more as they were attempting to steal a barge.
But the questions I have are actually, what type of court system exists in Berdusk, if any? And what would the process be? What would be some possible punishments? Fines, jail time, hard labor?
Would the party be allowed to speak for their actions or just thrown in a cell and forgotten? Would witnesses be allowed? Would there even be a trial?
Any help in this area would be appreciated.
Palmate
I don't know the area in particular, and don't have my books handy to take a look, so all of what I'm about to say is very general assumption.  (It’s also very off the cuff, so the general thrust is correct, specifics might not be)
Mostly, I would use a medieval law setting, when law would come into play. This differs either greatly or superficially from what you’re used to today (Your location tag says the US, so it’s probably “greatly” – though each state’s different ), as the law is usually what the strongest person says it is. In England, there was the remainder of Roman law, tribal law (though, not called law), and Ecclesiastical law. The Kings (and Queens) sought to influence this and established both the Reeves of the various shires (where we get the word “sheriff” from, although what they are now and what they were then are two different things), and appointed judges to go to the various cities, towns, and localities (the “circuit judges,” because they literally rode circuits. Like the “sheriffs,” they’re not exactly what they are today). The circuit judges and reeves were charged with enforcing the King’s Will – but they had to do so on the spot, without a lot of riding back and forth and bugging the King a lot. This is the birth of what we know as the “Common Law”. Europe had a different system, more rooted in the Roman law, which didn’t die out as much, and both lack (or, in France’s case: presence) of “parliaments” meant that the will of the King, by divine right, was written down (codified) and sent out by proclamation, rather than decided on the spot by proxies.
How’s all that to fit into a campaign? If the town’s part of a larger area, is that country ruled more along the lines of England or the Continent? Cormyr, for example, I would say follows the English model, while Waterdeep probably the Continental European. (Despotic areas, such as the Zhents, Thay, etc, are almost always the rule from the top, rather than proxy.) For the legal procedures, I’d look both at the locality, and where the “legal allegiance” is to. An outlying town owing some sort of fealty to Waterdeep probably would have the European style of judges – e.g. the judge himself is prosecuting the case. A larger town might have a “deciding judge” and an “accusing judge.” How formal it gets depends on the size of the town, how much crime you could reasonably expect there, and other interference (say, an active thieves’ guild). Punishment too would reflect the area. If the overall ruler has said something to the effect of all murderers must die, but the town is only of slight fealty to him, they might not execute the death penalty. Though, if the town is constantly beset by bandits, they might really, really, like the old head-on-a-pike form of crime deterrent.
I hope that helps!
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Lysander
Defender of the Second Edition
Moderator, Project Gemengan, Worlds of D&D |
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Beowulf
Learned Scribe
Canada
322 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2004 : 16:21:16
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Well met!
I'm not sure what type of law exists in Berdusk, but the city is ruled by a LN bard (female) and controlled by her Harper allies. The major temple would likely be that of Deneir, though Helm and Milil also seem to be quite strong, with Oghma seemingly carrying up the rear. This gives an idea of the predominent morality of the city to my mind.
I would say that they would definitely conduct a investigation, probably give the offenders fair representation, and use all of the magical means at their disposal to determine the guilt/innoncence of those involeved.
If the characters are thence found guilty, I know that lesser offenders are sometimes sentenced to a term of service in the local "gauntlets", militia. Murder however is a highly anti-social and thus capital offence. Most societies would put such a person to death, or perhaps a long service of hard labour.
Perhaps Berdusk and Iriaebor have a jointly owned mine-camp somewhere in the Far Hills or southern Sunset Mtns. that doubles as a prison camp?
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"Ill tempered the wretch, who laughs at everyone. He cannot recognize, as he should, that he is not without faults." the High One, Poetic Edda |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2004 : 16:56:59
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| On law in the Realms generally, see Ed's article "Law of the land" in Dragon #65 and his post here. You can get Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast, the main source on Berdusk, here. |
Edited by - Faraer on 30 Sep 2004 16:58:04 |
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Jerard Doonsay
Seeker
USA
65 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2004 : 23:37:14
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| I though wizards had Volo's guid to the sword coast as a downloadable pdf. I don't remember now. |
May history live forever in the writings and stories of those who wish to tell them.
Please come and enjoy my website http://ferien.aribytes.org |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2004 : 15:01:12
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| I was worrited there for a moment, but no, the free-download Volo's Guides are the North, Cormyr, the Dalelands, and All Things Magical. |
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Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Master of Realmslore
1338 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2004 : 20:00:41
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| As Beowulf mentioned above, Berdusk is ruled by a senior Harper and counts several Harpers amongst the 'people that matter in town'. It is very likley that the laws in Berdusk folow the spirit of the Code of the Harpers - and maybe in some cases even the letter since the Twilight Hall Harpers tend to be a little more militant. |
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Law in the Heartlands
