Law and justice
The Bailiff's Court
Officers of the law whose rank may judge (by default Gate Sergeant and up), and a town's court officers in their own town, try the accused wherever they stand, and the verdict is read to the whole realm.
- The charge
The accused is brought before the officer: F2 > People around me > Bring them to trial (or the bailiff > Hold a trial, or
/trial player charge). The charge is read out to the realm. - The verdict
The officer chooses the verdict (
/verdictreopens the choice).
| Verdict | What it means |
|---|---|
| Acquitted | The accused walks free. |
| A fine | Up to 500 groschen, taken from the purse and the rest from the account. The coffers of the judge's faction receive what is actually paid. |
| The pillory | Up to 60 minutes in the stocks - never less than a town court's cell allows. |
| The cane | 5 to 25 strokes: each one hurts, none kills, and the convict is left wounded. |
| The brand | A mark burned into the hand, for good: everyone who looks the convict over sees it. Only the City Guard's judges can give it. |
A lordship's sworn Constables also hold this court, through their ranks' right to judge - but only in the towns of their lordship, on someone standing in them, never on their Lord, and never with the brand. Their fines go to their own coffers. See The Right of the Sword.
In a town with a court, its Lord or Bailiff, Castellan, Reeve and Captain of the Watch hold this court too, in their own town, on someone standing in it, never on the town's head and never with the brand. A Watchman does not. Their office's limits apply: a fine of up to 100 groschen for a Captain and 200 for the others, up to 30 minutes in the stocks for a Captain and 60 for the others. The fine goes to the town's treasury and onto its register. See Lords, towns and courts.
Absolution
A brand stays until the Parish of St James absolves it: a Preacher or the Parish Priest offers absolution to the kneeling penitent, for a donation of 300 groschen to the parish's coffers.