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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Water Bob" data-source="post: 6259404" data-attributes="member: 92305">Law - Argossean law is complex because of the multiple jurisdictions.Coastal Cities:  The coastal cities all have their own legal systems, customs, and laws, based on their original charters (and dense history as city-states before that), freeing them from the feudal system.The kingdom's interior is subject to three types of jurisdictions--Manorial Law, which is the law of the feudal system.Temple Law, which is the law of the powerful (once almost all-powerful) Mitran church.King's Law, which is the law of the land, as decreed by the king.Typically, the order above is the order of relative prominence.In the eyes of the law, some men are better than others.  Laws vary based on social standing, and favor is given to higher classes.Customs are strong with the peoples of the Interior, and sometimes these customs are at odds with the current law.  Yet, the customs are the will of the people, and it is a wise ruler who keeps the populace at large happy.Courts - Only apply to free peoples.  Serfs and slaves do not use the courts--they are subject to manorial law (the decision of their lord).  Trials by jury are rare (the juries are not trusted--too easily manipulated in this culture).  In any case, when there are juries, they act only as advisors to the final judge (usually the lord).  Punishment can be quite harsh, even for the most minor of crimes.Executions usually begin wih a public display of torture (meant as a deterrent), such as being partially hung, then disembowelled, then castrated.  Once the torture is finished, the condemed is beheaded, and his head is shoved on a pole while his limbs are cut from his dead body and sent to the places affected by the person's crime.Prison is typically not used because upkeep is too expensive.  It's cheaper to mutilate and execute someone.  Sends a stronger message about breaking the law, too.Sorcery - is outlawed by Temple Law.  About three generations ago (close to 100 years), sorcerers were purged from Argos in a kingdom wide Inquisition.  Today, sorcerers exist, but only in complete secrecy.</blockquote>

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