Gaz F10 The Kingdom of Kaarjala - Vaults of Pandius

SOCIETYAt the end of the year, eachkäräjäoikeus levies a tax of one-fifth ofestimated income on behalf of the kingon all households under its jurisdiction.After local collection, this tax, paid incash or goods, is delivered to the localnoble. Two-thirds of that then passes onto the king, less one markka for eachofficially listed soldier under the noble’scommand.When needed, the king may summonhis nobles to court to seek their counselon various matters. These assemblies,called rälssi, function as a looseparliament. The rälssi dissolve when thematter at hand has been resolved.Crime and PunishmentAlthough Kaarjala has no written legalcode, both the Saamari and Vaarana havewell-defined standards of properbehavior, with slight variations betweencommunities. Each settlement policesitself, and transgressions are handled bythe käräjäoikeus. The council also mightbring in pertinent citizens to helpadjudicate. For example, a council mightcall upon the community’s most seniormerchants or craftsmen to help judge aperson accused of selling inferior goods.All members of such councils are laypeople, with one person nominated as thelaamanni (literally, lawman), whopresides over the proceedings andmaintains order but has no additionalpowers. A käräjäoikeus is struck onlywhen there are cases to resolve and thereare no other pressing matters for thecommunities such as harvests or hunts.Consequently, most cases are delayeduntil winter.These traditional practices are slowlygiving way to a more formalized systemin Kaarja, where the King’s Counciloperates year-round. King Kaarlo seeselements worthy of emulation inneighboring Littonia’s own evolvinglegal system. He has upheld tradition bymaintaining a käräjäoikeus, but the kingreserved the right to appoint its membersand has ordered officials to draft a legalcodification of the traditional system.This move has angered some nobles, whofear that the king’s code will one day bethe only acceptable version of Kaarjalanlaw.Punishment varies according to thecrime, but it is usually restitution in theform of goods or indentured servitude fora period of time – this applies both inrural regions and in Kaarja. Seriouscrimes such as murder are oftenpunishable by death or exile for life.These harsh punishments are commonlycarried out immediately afterpronouncement. Executions are byhanging in Kaarja, but elsewhere it isdone by dragging. In the case of exile,the community drives out the offenderwith nothing more than what they werecarrying at the moment of sentence. Fewexiles survive long in the wilderness.Norwold’s druidic order has alsointerposed in Kaarjalan affairs with theirown penal system. Due to the importanceof the land for their survival, theKaarjalans have accepted this. Specialthree-druid councils exist to adjudicate inmatters where a person has inflicted harmon the environment, such as poisoning ariver, burning a forest, or renderingfarmland unproductive. Once captured,the offender is turned over to the druidsresponsible for the region affected. Iffound innocent, or if the council findsthat there were mitigating circumstances,the accused is released or ordered toperform minor restitution, e.g. a shortquest. Those found guilty are taken intothe forest, never to be seen again. Manyof these are polymorphed into animals.Organizations“He who lies thrice believes he’s toldthe truth.”– Kaarjalan sayingChurch of Kaarjala: The Churchof Kaarjala was officially formed byKing Paavo in AC 770 following afermenting religious dispute between theSaamari and Vaarana. The Saamari,during their roughly 700-year separationfrom their cousins, had incorporated thevarious aspects of Ilmarinen into theirfaith, and adopted elements from theirLittonian and Viaskodan neighbors. Inaddition, their settled lifestyle led to theincreased formalization of rites. TheVaarana had maintained the old ritesalong with concepts pulled from thewestern humanoids, and for centuriesthey refused to adopt the new Immortals.Successive monarchs let the Church lookafter its own affairs so long as itcontinued to support the monarchy andtithings continued to come in.Requirements: Profess belief in theKaarjalan pantheon, and attest to themiracles of Ilmarinen’s great works.Cost: Churchgoers pay a tithe of onepenni per month (or equivalent value inservice or goods) to their local church.Privileges: Membership in the Churchconveys a degree of acceptability inSaamari society.Brothers (C1-6) receive free room andboard at the nearest church, basiceducation, and enjoy a measure of respectfrom the citizenry.Smiths (C7+) further receive a stipendof 10 penniä per month over and aboveall operating costs, and they have theright to be attended by two Brothers, plusan additional Brother for every five levelsattained beyond 10th.The Grand Smith resides in the churchat Kaarja, where he is served by a retinueof ten Brothers and two Smiths. TheGrand Smith receives a stipend of 10markkaa per month.Responsibilities: Churchgoers mustdefer to the clergy on religious matters,observe all rites, and pay their tithes.Clergy must defer to those of higher rank,and undertake any task assigned by theGrand Smith.Hindrances: Poor reaction from noaideand some segments of Vaarana society.Followers of the Forge: TheFollowers of the Forge are a sect withinthe Church of Kaarjala that views thepolitical and social changes making theirway northwards with concern and fear.Tales told by adventurers have leftparticularly poor impressions about theEmpires of Alphatia and Thyatis.Littonia is considered a fallen realmbecause it traffics with southerners, andKaarjala is soon to be under siege.The Followers envision a strong nationfree of these corrupting influences, with asociety built along Saamari lines. Theirhighest-ranking members ponder whetherthey will have to overthrow the king if hecannot be dissuaded from seeking furthercontact and ties with the outside world.18