Greetings!
Hey everyone! I do hope everyone had a good Fourth of July weekend!
This thread has certainly generated some interesting discussions!
Now, for some updates, and some thoughts.
In the world of Thandor, as MMADSEN has mentioned, Paladins are *the proper authorities*. The Vallorean Empire, as well as many other nations, kingdoms, and city-states, don't have justice systems predicated on a trial by jury, with defense attorneys for the rapists, murderers, and cultists.
No, instead, most justice is exercised by a Magistrate interviewing witnesses and any relevant evidence, before handing down a decision. In more rural areas, or in particular areas where the reigning nobles have great and ancient power granted to them, they have the power and authority to decide whether someone lives or dies on the spot. Nobles, wealthy merchants, good churchmen, plump, fresh goodwives, all enjoy a very good measure of leverage in all cases unless there is really damning evidence that proves them guilty. Now, having said that, most vicious criminals such as rapists, arsonists, murderers, heretics, cultists, witches and such are dealt with harshly. Preferably by being burned at the stake, or hanged from a good gallows. Smaller criminals are dealt with more leniently, usually fines, restitution, and a few lashings. Harder criminals are either beaten severely, given many lashings, enforced restitution, plus being sentenced to Penitential Slavery for 10, 15, or twenty years, or sentenced to serve in chains for life.
In the field, or generally anywhere outside the immediate environs of a specific city or jurisdiction, the Temples and the Emperor has charged Paladins and Templars with rooting out evil, crushing the Forces of Darkness, and defending society and the realm from a vast array of evil races and spiritual threats alike.
Beyond the borders of the Vallorean Empire, other such nations may and do have some different policies, though many give free reign to the Paladins authority and judgment. For example, Fighter Bruno doesn't have such authority, because he is not a Paladin. Paladin Bronwyn, though, using her as an example, most people know that Paladins have special blessed powers at sensing evil beings and evil spiritual forces. They know that Paladins have a sacred oath to defend the faithful from heretics, blasphemers, demons, witches, necromancers, and so on. In fact, seeing that these evil forces are frequently attacking the broader society, and occasionally causing cults to be discovered where there are vampire breeding pens, dungeons and torture chambers, brutal, horrifying experiments being forced on their neighbors, or some troupe of adolescents from some nearby town, or a group of demons ripping half a town to bloody shreds, or the authorities must fight a whole town that has been turned into vampires, who then begin to prey en masse on nearby towns and villages, well, the people have demanded, screamed, and pleaded that the local Lord, Baron, King or Emperor get busy and do something, and right quick, too!
Thus, in such a terrifying, suspicious, dangerous environment, security, or even the illusion of security, is preferred beyond anything else whatesoever. By and large, the people expect the King to quite literally do anything and everything in his power to help them, protect their children, and provide safety for the community.
Thus, Paladins often, though not always--(depends on the god or goddess, as well as kingdom or region)--have vast authority and are expected to zealously pursue evil creatures and forces, and destroy them as quickly as they can be dispatched by their sword. As Lord Pendragon, if I recall, said, in such words; Grant mercy as deemed practical or worthwhile as the Paladin deems fit; otherwise, keep hacking them down! This is a desperate spiritual and physical struggle for the survival of ideas, nations, and peoples, in a struggle that is not easy, nor are there any guarantees that this mortal realm with the people still of this world, is somehow destined to win, conquer, or remain free. The gods are indeed active, and the theologies of most tend to support or explicitly demand that everyone, all faithful worshippers everywhere, are expected to contribute and fight against evil in whatever manner they have been called, and with whatever talents or abilities they have been blessed with. Thus, the people are often aware of keenly, what is at stake. Noone is under the illusion that this struggle is a nice, honourable joust between friends who respect and abide by the same code of conduct.
Well, Drusilla has been subtly flirting with the Wizard Mathias, as well as with the Barbarian Hroar. Drusilla has been discussing theology and Bronwyn's values and world view with Bronwyn. Drusilla initially mocked Bronwyn's beliefs as being weak and pathetic, deserving to be enslaved, for her beliefs were the beliefs of slaves! Bronwyn gently, though firmly diasagreed, and held her ground.
Meanwhile, the group went into battle recently. They slipped into a huge cavern that was barred by vast, 30' high doors, heavily trapped and protected by spells. The group managed to get through, and entered an enormous multi-level cavern, with numerous pillars of gold-inlaid marble, large, finely carved statues, and several beautiful pools of cold water and frothing fountains. The party crept in slowly, then lit the place up with light spells as well as detection spells.
That's when the phalanx of beastmen and lead skeletons came swarming through fog-enshrouded archways at several locations on the opposite walls, along with several dozen dread wraiths and packs of vampire wizards, rogues, and fighters, all sweeping into the ranks of the group's followers and allies. Then, from the fog came several groups of Clerics of Orcus, and a Winter Wight!
Great stuff everyone! The ideas and discussion is very cool.
I'll post more soon, though.
Semper Fidelis,
SHARK
