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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 6978040" data-attributes="member: 4937">The Forum of the Philosophers: The forum of Philosopher’s is a courtyard located near the palace and the college district, which is entered through archways in the middle of all four sides.  Around the courtyard there are tiers of stone benches, as with a stadium or ball court.  The floor of the courtyard is sand, which is groomed every morning.  Large pavilions of blue and white cloth are erected over the stone benches to provide shade.  By ancient tradition, no one can be held accountable for any words that they speak in the forum of philosophers.  No subject is forbidden, provided that the speaker cast no aspersions on the character of the Emir, or on the Grand Caliph of the Djinn, or on the god Oghma to which the forum is sacred and whose priesthood tends to the forum every morning and blesses it.  The forum is a meeting place for the lorewise of Qaybar, and a place to present novel ideas, scholarly thesis, philosophical treatises, and new poems.  Those who wish to give political speeches or debate ideas gather in the forum, as do tutors and lecturers who are in need of pupils.  Sometimes, if there is unrest in the city, the Emir will send out one of his Viziers to explain the reasoning of the Emir publicly in the forum, and debate with his critics.  The very poor also come to the forum, both to receive a free education if they have the aptitude, but also because Jann lecturers often produce food and drink both for the benefit of their audience and to attract a larger one.  There are often two or more debates or orations going on at all times of the day in the forum, and sometimes arguments go on far into the night.  Bargains and verbal agreements are never made or solemnized in the forum, for such bargains even when made with oaths cannot be enforced according to the laws and traditions of the city, and anyone asking the scholars gathered their to bear witness will only be laughed at and directed to the court of the elders.  Nonetheless, although it has been known to happen from time to time, few of the city try to cheat even strangers in this manner, for it is said that though the city may not find oaths binding, the gods hear and may not respect the traditions of a mere city – even one as great as Qaybar.  During the reign of the usurper, the tradition that no words could be held against the speaker in the forum was honored more in the breach than the observance, as the secret police frequented the forum and hauled off those who argued against the present policies.  Even the priesthood of Oghma was persecuted, and so eventually the forum stood empty save for the secret police.  These actions greatly enflamed the opinions of the muftis, uluma, imans, priests, scholars, wizards and sages of the city against the regime, and it no doubt contributed to its speedy downfall that almost all of the brightest minds and the greatest workers of wonders of the city became united in common cause against Al Zahran.  For left to their own devices, these persons prove endlessly quarrelsome over even the smallest matters, and cannot be united on anything at all.  The Court of the Elders: A small plaza on the main thoroughfare, just inside Jarmik’s Gate before the main marketplace is entered; the court of the Elders is oldest and most traditional place to conduct business in Qaybar.  It is lined on two sides with stone steps much like a stadium, which are covered from the sun and elements by ochre pavilions of cloth.  There in the morning, the elders of those that are acknowledged Muftis and Ulama and leaders within the city take seats.  Those that have disputes with their neighbors will bring them before these honored persons and voice their complaints, and then the elders will judge between them and give them council on resolving their differences.  In this manner, the case does not have to be brought before a judge, and the dispute settled without recourse to violence.  Elders may also be called upon to arbitrate disputes between family members or spouses.  Sometimes, the two parties will swear to the elders that they will find the elder’s arbitration binding.  Elders do not formally demand coin for their services, but to give a small amount “for the use of your family” or “for the cost of your burial” is considered customary and polite (and what is polite in Qaybar is effectively mandatory), and the most respected arbiters are so sought after that the effectively well-paid professionals and may turn away individuals whose demeanor does not suit them or who have not paid well in the past.  The elders at the gate also act as public witnesses and hear and witness the swearing of oaths, promises of betrothal between families, and verbal contracts between parties.  The will also notarize documents, and often younger scribes or students of the Mufti’s are on hand to record and document contracts.  Those wishing auguries or divinations performed will also come to the Court of the Elders.  For these services however it is customary to negotiate a price before the elder whose augury is desired will perform the necessary ritual.  These prices are often not in coin, but small services or deeds that the beneficiary swears to perform or particular needs the elder has that he wishes to see taken care of.  It is also possible to hire one of the elders to serve as a lawyer, but owing to the dignity of their position an elder of the city will not agree to take on a case unless they believe the cause is just or at least serves their personal interest.  As with performing auguries, the price of an elder legal council is often not payable in coin.  A great deal of shouting occurs in the Court of the Elders, for often several plaintiffs will be voicing their case at once and must also be heard over the bustle of the street.  After noon as the courtyard heats up, the most of the elders – especially those that have already heard many cases - typically retire for the day, and the Court of the Elders begins to take on more the character of any public space in Qaybar.  But at least some elders, those who have not yet heard much business or have no other affairs, will remain till nightfall to hear out serious disputes which cannot wait for the morning.  At night the plaza is largely abandoned, and is not considered a safe or decent area to lurk in.  To take a seat in the Court of Elders without having first been recognized and acknowledged by the existing elders as one deserving of such an honor is a great faux pas, and if the person who does so is not worthy then it will offend all the elders of the city and rumor of it will quickly turn much of the city against the offensive upstart.</blockquote>

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