Winterweir Rule of Law

This is a short description of the Winterweir legal system. It is, at once, familiar and different from what many people actually may be familiar with. This will play a part in our games as an important part of this case.

The Code of Alacarn

The Code of Alacarn is the Law for the land. This allows all beings the rights to a trial with legal representation. Juries are not used for criminal cases in Winterweir but only civil suits. Crimes that are punishable by death in Winterweir are black magic, heresy (restricted to worshiping Malaxas), kidnapping (often used to punish slavers), murder, rape, and treason. All other crimes are punishable by either fines or by extended service in one of Winterweir's prison camps.

The law is very progressive by the standards of Alacarn but it is also something that has some serious flaws. For example, a peasant cannot testify against a nobleman in Winterweir and a noble can also pardon someone guilty of a crime against a peasant. The only recourse is a Trial by Combat that the Prosecutor must undertake himself. Many murderers have gotten away scott free by being good duelists. The guilty can also request a trial by combat.

Legal Positions

The positions that exist in the Winterweir court of law are as follows.

• Accuser: The equivalent of a Prosecutor. The Accuser brings the state's evidence against offenders. Accusers are almost always Priests of Tyros and skilled combatants in addition to their role as Accusers. Older ones may be awarded a Champion. Accusers almost are always priests of Heton or Tyros.

• Advocates: Those required to defend the innocent and not so innocent. Advocates are a less beloved profession in Winterweir as the wealthy rarely get accused and the poor often have the odds stacked against them. Advocates, more often than not, do defend the innocent. Advocates are rarely clergy.

• Champion: Allowed for trials of Nobles or Clergy. Champions take up the cause of the Defense and, rarely, certain Accusers. Champions are often always hardened mercenaries that exist to get the rich and powerful off crimes.

• Gravemaster: Peculiarly, Forensics actually exists in Winterweir. Gravemasters are almost always Priests of Kaalon (the only way to avoid accusations of blasphemy and spiritual contamination). The best use magic to interrogate the spirits of the dead and plumb secrets.

• Justicar: The equivalent of a Judge. All Justicars are Priests of Heton or Tyros. They can only be appealed by going up the clerical ladder to High Justicars and Grand Justicars.

• Lamplighter: Bizarrely, the people who light Winterweir's lights at night are actually high ranking members of the City Guard and charged with investigating guards. They rarely actually do the lamplighting itself (often handled by poor boys who are apprenticed to them) but keep the name do to their having special red lanterns.

• Pardoner: A Church position, the Pardoners may step in when they desire to protect those found guilty. The corruption with them is rampant.

• Wintermen: The equivalent of the city watch. Winterweir men actually work for the army but the best are selected to become Lamplighters and become permanent investigators of Alfein's many crimes.

Notable NPCs

• Accuser Nigel D'Stone: A brilliant but ruthless accusor whom is reputed by many to have never known a woman's touch because he's THAT uptight. Nigel genuinely wants justice done but an Advocate released the murderer and rapist of his wife because the Accuser was an incompetent and he now always believes the guilt of his opponents.

• High Accuser Zayne D'Diavalos: A priest of Tyros that many believe long ago fell to fanaticism. He is particularly brutal in his persecution of criminals from the lower classes and non-humans. He believes witches and heretics of the Immaculate Doom are everywhere and wants to have a law advocated to kill all mutations on sight.

• High Justicar Marcus D'Trawls: The senile judge in charge of most capital murder offenses. High Justicar is 102 years old and no one wants to comment on the fact that he's growing increasingly senile. A Priest of Heton, the Justicar is still capable of incredible miracles if he's able to concentrate (which he rarely can). Many he has sent to their death have been innocent.

• High Pardoner Valath D'Destang: A twisted and evil 78 year old man. High Pardoner Destang is a 'Priest of Heton' only by payment and allows murderers and other monsters to go free in exchange for hefty bribes. It requires great skill to have his works overthrown.

• Gravemaster Emma A'Turran: A cute and perky Priestess of Kaalon. Emma A'Turran is an adorable investigator that unsettles people with her tremendous love of tearing corpses apart to find out what makes them tick.

• Lamplighter Robert D'Smith: Robert Smith is in charge of the investigation for most capital crimes. A lovable Half-Jotun, he's not exactly the smartest man in the world and his conclusions are always the most obvious. Unlike most, he cares little for minor crimes and believes himself a great champion of justice....he would be if he was cleaning out dungeons with his warhammer.

(Winterweir) In Search of the Unknown]