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

126 Iron Kingdoms
108.1.141.197
with a barbed whip so that Menoth can decide whether
the criminal should live or die. Important prisoners
are often sent to Tower Judgement where they are
imprisoned, and sometimes they are placed in the
“bindings of Menoth”—jackets or masks of heavy iron.
Enemies of the faith—who some might deem “prisoners
of war”—are occasionally sacrificed by scrutators as
special offerings to Menoth. It is said that this is the only
form of human sacrifice practiced by the Menites.
Deliberately false convictions are incredibly rare in
the Protectorate, as Menoth regards such corruption
as an abomination. Mistakes are made, but this matters
little since the scrutators can almost always find
something for which the accused should be punished
or “cleansed.” Even so, it is said that some scrutators
have been caught abusing their authority and have
themselves been executed.
Rhul
In Rhul trials and justice are treated with religious
solemnity. Most matters of justice deal with smaller
indiscretions or disputes of property rights, breaches
of contract, or violations of promise. Nonetheless
serious offenses do happen. Greed can corrupt even
the most stalwart of dwarves, and the judges of Rhul do
not shirk from making examples.
The Church of the Great Fathers is integrally
involved in the kingdom’s justice, for their priests are
their foremost legal experts and arbiters. Experienced
priests of the rank of assessor or higher are invited
to participate in trials and hearings and to enforce
dwarven oaths (see IKCG, pg. 276 for Rites of
Arbitration feats available to these priests). Individual
clan lords are also called upon to judge lawbreakers
or represent their families. Most clan lords rely
upon priestly advisors to help handle these ugly
confrontations. For larger, inter-clan disputes, or if a
citizen is dissatisfied with the rulings of a priest or clan
lord, the matter can be brought before the Moot of the
Hundred Houses or one of its appointed Mootjudges.
Mootjudges are highly educated wizards, priests,
or experts who spend their lives in the study of the
Codex and dwarven law, and their decisions can only
be countermanded by the thirteen Stone Lords—the
ultimate authority in Rhul.
Dwarves favor mutilation and fines as penalties for
most crimes, including theft. For murder, the criminal
must swear a blood-debt to the dead dwarf’s family or
families, and a great portion of his time, possessions,
and future income must be given over to them—often
in addition to mutilation such as the putting out of
an eye or loss of a hand. The Rhulfolk do not believe
in maintaining prisons or jails except as a temporary
holding measure and prefer to deal with lawbreakers
immediately via branding, mutilation, exile, or
execution.
oaths and non-dWarves
dWarves take great pride in their sWorn oaths, and in some
Cases an oath of innoCenCe may be enough to aCquit a dWarf in
good standing, partiCularly if Witnessed by a priest. hoWever,
the dWarves do not easily trust the Word of non-dWarves,
even those Who they knoW Well. unaffiliated humans or
members of other raCes aCCused of Crimes in rhul may have no
Clan or lord to speak for them. in these trials, judges Will
sometimes seek CharaCter Witnesses abroad. having a noted
dWarf Willing to speak for a non-dWarf is alWays taken in the
best light. humans With no dWarven friends may find rhuliC
trials one-sided and brutal. if apprised of the situation,
learned members of great Clan godor sometimes intervene
as advoCates to ensure a fair trial for non-dWarves.
Punishments
Punishments in the Iron Kingdoms are almost
always public and publicized well in advance. They
are popular outings for the whole family with ‘jackings
and executions drawing the largest crowds. Ironically,
it is common practice for pickpockets to work a crowd
viewing a punishment or execution. For these types,
this is a payday that comes with some risk. Recently in
Berck a cutpurse caught in the act during the hanging
of some highwaymen was seized by members of the
crowd and forced into the gallows without a trial.
Mob justice, though not condoned, is nonetheless a
factor. As a rule, however, convicted criminals receive
trials, although the courts are not always impartial or
sympathetic to the plight of the accused.
Fines are popular with the authorities in most
kingdoms, for the money collected goes directly into
their coffers. The amount of the fine is generally based
on the wealth of the offender rather than the nature of
the offense. Indeed, the very rich are sometimes able
to get away with simply paying a significant fine even
for crimes such as murder.