02 - Iron Kingdoms W.. - Captain Spud Is Amazing

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there is any, is presented to the arbiter before combat
begins, and he then makes his decision whether or not
to proceed. In truth, native Khadorans rarely hire a
champion, but outsiders are often suspected of doing
so particularly if the champion is also an outsider.
Trial by combat is intended to subdue rather
than kill, and the presiding arbiter can declare a
clear victor if one side refuses to concede. Death,
of course, remains somewhat common. The loser of
the combat—if he survives—suffers the penalty for
the crime at hand, be he the accused or the accuser,
though arbiters commonly decree that the wounds
suffered during the trial are sufficient penalty and no
further punishment is inflicted.
Llael
The courts in Llael were more like popularity
contests than legal proceedings. A jury of seventeen
citizens decided guilt and sentencing, and the judge
merely kept order during the trial and provided advice
on the law. It was common for Llaelese citizens to hire
representatives to present their cases, and most nobles
kept an advocate on permanent retainer. While bribing
the jury was illegal, giving them gifts “unrelated to the
case” was not, so subtle bribery was rife throughout the
legal system. Jurors were, of course, free to take bribes
from both sides because anyone attempting to take
revenge on a juror would reveal his intent to influence
the jury unduly.
Sentencing tended to reflect the persuasiveness of
the advocates—and size of the bribes—rather than the
severity of the offense. Indeed, advocates were as much
actors and politicians as legal experts, moreso perhaps.
Some major Llaelese cases became performances of
near-legendary melodrama, and in crimes of a truly
heinous nature the jury was often convinced to be
extremely harsh in their sentencing. Slow, grisly death
sentences were far more popular in Llael than in any
other country.
Of course, all of this has changed under the
Khadoran occupation. Within days of seizing control
of Leryn, the Khadoran forces had imposed martial
law on the entirety of occupied Llael. Now the strict
ruling of Khadoran military law metes out all justice
within occupied Llael.
Ord
Ord’s justice system is nominally the same
throughout the country although some regions are
known to be tainted by the influence of its castellans
(many of whom claim to be above civil law and
answerable only to the throne yet serve as arbiters
with no apparent trouble). A panel of three judges
hears the case and the evidence and convicts by
unanimous vote. The laws define ranges of penalties
for various crimes, but they leave the judges a great
deal of discretion. In Merin, Midfast, and Berck things
work much as intended. Criminals are presumed guilty
unless they can provide evidence to clear themselves,
and malicious prosecution carries the same penalty as
the crime involved.
In Five Fingers, the judges are all controlled by
local crime lords and are simply another way for the
crime lords to keep control. Judges often acquit wellknown
criminals, and anyone who brings criminals
up too often is found guilty of malicious prosecution.
Additionally, it is rumored that many offenders in Five
Fingers—and even Berck—end up turning a profit
for Ord by being sold as slaves. The least fortunate
offenders often find themselves bound for Cryx in
the dark belly of a slaver’s ship rather than Khador or
other parts of the kingdom.
Protectorate of Menoth
The laws in the Protectorate are strict and
administered exclusively by the priesthood. Trials are
essentially inquisitions with the judge using divine magic
to ferret out any wrongdoing, though torture is always
an attractive option. It is quite common for someone to
be acquitted of the offense for which he was brought to
trial but punished for something else discovered during
his “questioning.” The Knights Exemplar and Order
of the Fist, charged with investigating everyday crimes,
typically haul wrongdoers before the clergy. Scrutators
can at any time take over an investigation and usually
handle the most serious offenses—often as investigators
and arbiters. Once questioning beings, the scrutators
rarely stop until they have found something for which
the accused can be punished.
Scrutators favor burning for major offenses and
imprisonment, torture, or branding for lesser offenses.
Several judges have a fondness for flogging, and it is not
uncommon for judges to sentence people to flogging
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