Pc's legal problem - help wanted (my players stay out)

[Rybaer]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions (and I'll happily take more). This is just what I was looking for - inspirational material on how to handle it.

I don't want this episode to become the focus of the campaign, so I'll probably go a little easy on them (fine, restitution, etc.). It's more of an object lesson and change of pace. In a way, it's become a good opportunity to expose them to other facets of the city.

 

[pogre]

No matter what you do make sure there is one heck of an attorney bill.

One other suggestion is to have the PCs see justice dispensed at Albion's Tree - the hanging post. Have them watch a dozen or so convicted souls swing at the end of a rope. This will let them know their little trick was very dangerous indeed and may have serious consequences next time around.

 

[Silver Moon]

Legal Issue

"WHAT! My sweet little Mikey is dead! I thought I had left him in a safe place, as apprentice to a Mapmaker, while I set off with the King on a Quest to Vanquish Great Evil. And now I return to find my only son and namesake has been tricked into a cruel and early death! And his body just dumped out in some unnamed wilderness, rather than a proper burial in the Montague family crypt!

I hearby declare a new quest, one of vengeance. I, and the others of the Montague family, will not rest until we have hunted down this cowardly lot of degenerates and make them pay for what they have done!"

Lord Michael James Montague III

 

[Mythmere]

Rhialto

Rhialto, you're right that guild courts existed, and I didn't mean they didn't. I just thought they had jurisdiction ONLY over intra-guild matters, especially things like who was undercutting prices or putting sawdust in the bread flour. The city courts in a self-governed city are themselves filled by the guilds (the cities were usually chartered to the guilds); they would just have representatives of more than one guild on the court.
It sounds like the thread is closing as game time approaches, but I didn't want you to think I was dismissing your historical comment; I just think the jurisdiction didn't spread that far. I still don't, actually, but I'm only familiar with English medieval law.

 

[Oren the awakener]

Lasting consequnces

His brother or father (probaly 6th level experts, possibly with 1 or two warrior levels) could, having heared of their sons/brothers death, could begin training in the ways of a fighter or a mage and could then either attack or at least interact with the PC's at a latter time.

 

[Rhialto]

Re: Rhialto

Rhialto, you're right that guild courts existed, and I didn't mean they didn't. I just thought they had jurisdiction ONLY over intra-guild matters, especially things like who was undercutting prices or putting sawdust in the bread flour. The city courts in a self-governed city are themselves filled by the guilds (the cities were usually chartered to the guilds); they would just have representatives of more than one guild on the court.
It sounds like the thread is closing as game time approaches, but I didn't want you to think I was dismissing your historical comment; I just think the jurisdiction didn't spread that far. I still don't, actually, but I'm only familiar with English medieval law.

The thing is jurisdiction in medieval times was even looser than it is today--if you could find an excuse to try it in your court, you could try it there. Mind you, another court might think it had a better excuse, and then arguments, and appeals could begin, which could all get horrifically complicated...

 

[Mythmere]

Rhialto said:

The thing is jurisdiction in medieval times was even looser than it is today--if you could find an excuse to try it in your court, you could try it there. Mind you, another court might think it had a better excuse, and then arguments, and appeals could begin, which could all get horrifically complicated...

That's true.