Law And Order

Final Version

Matters between individuals are dealt with by dueling or brawling although they may be upgraded to a family-family conflict should the patriarch and/or matriarch consider it politically appropriate. If an challenge has been issued and neither side is willing to produce an act of reparation an arbitrator will be called in and a duel will be held to deal with the issue. Duels do not necessarily involve combat. Once a duel has been properly concluded the matter cannot be brought up in council without serious social embarrassment.

Matters between two families are dealt with by the Provincial Council of Elders. The patriarch and/or matriarch of one family will accuse the other family of their crime and the council will vote upon the guilt or innocence of the family or family member.

Matters between two members of the same family are dealt with by the family itself. The patriarch and/or matriarch will determine any guilt and innocence in the matter and apply any punishment that they set. They cannot kill, brand or maim family members but they can disown them making them family-less and thus without citizenship.

Those without family and thus without citizenship are dealt with quite harshly. The word of a citizen is always of higher value than the word of a family-less person and as such any accusation made by a citizen against one of the family-less will automatically be taken as the truth. Family-less people are tried and punished by a nominated Justice. The punishments are the same as for any citizen. The High Priest has the right to bring the plight of any individual, even a non-citizen, to the attention of the Council. This right is rarely used.

Punishment for crimes usually involves fines and branding. Serious crimes can involve execution or maiming. Serious debt can result in the subject becoming an indentured slave. This is not considered to be a punishment but rather a service that the wealthier Su'ndari citizen performs for the benefit of society as they take on the debt and provide the individual, who clearly cannot care for themselves, with housing, food and the means to repay their debt and thus regain their freedom.