Trials and Tribulations
In fantasy roleplaying, the various court systems and local laws can take on myriad forms. As a gamemaster, you have some choices to make. How detailed do you want the laws and justice system of a particular land or city? Do you base any of it on real-world ideals, or do you take a more fantastic approach from fiction or your own imagination? Regardless, here are some ideas to keep in mind, meant to be tailored to your own campaign.
Arrested for Trial
First, to have a trial you need living criminals… or do you? Right off we see some unique features. Is the city watch trained in subduing opponents first, defending themselves only with weaponry, or do they attack in full and anyone who survives is simply lucky enough to go to trial? Or, using special magic to communicate with the dead, does the city also bring in corpses for questioning and involvement? If so, at what cost to the city and taxpayers?
Held for Trial
A number of different lodgings are available to criminals, depending on the laws and disposition of the city and its law enforcers. Criminals not awaiting trial (for minor laws or public disruption) might face a night or two sleeping it off in a local watch outpost and maybe a small fine. For trial criminals, the city dungeons or special tower jails are used. Here they are provided with basic food and water and may or may not suffer any sort of collateral effects. To speed trials, magical questioning and probing may be employed, or in more draconian cities, torture for confession may play a part here.
The Trial Itself
Not every game needs a courtroom scene, but some amazing roleplaying stories over the years have come about from some important trial to further the plot. Trials consist of opening statements by a solicitor, barrister, or lawyer for the defendant and the prosecution. A judge, magistrate, or bailiff oversees the trial, possibly with a jury of peers of selected common folk and possibly magical aid for detecting lies or other magic in use. Witnesses may be called in to verify either side’s story. Depending on the skullduggery and shady side of the city, “professional” witnesses paid for their point of view by either side may come into play. Once significant proof is reached closing arguments are heard by all, again by both sides.
sentencing and Punishment
This is where the real diversity comes in (and the tables provided for you are used). Determining the punishment for a criminal may be specified (if you do this, that is your punishment) or determined based on the severity of the crime, jury reaction, and possible magistrate payoff. Certain magistrates gain reputations for tweaking punishments to fit the crimes they specifically abhor, and the outlook of a city’s rulers (evil or good) can determine if the punishments lean toward further torture, disfigurement/violent death, or to fines, forced servitude, or banishment.
Magic
In a world of magic and spellcasters, the entire judicial system must take into account the effects. Special materials might be used as lining in jails or prisons to prevent scrying or teleportation. Perhaps special manacles prohibit spellcasting hand motions, or deliberate magic-dead zones are used for trials. Does the court allow or hire those who can sense lies, illusions, or other deception through magic? Are members of the clergy allowed to testify or officiate? Answering these questions can lead to a new twist on the subject.
Table 3–42: Trials
Bench trial, magistrate dispensing the law 1
Brought before king 2
Council advisory and vote 3
Inquisitional by council 4
Jury and execution in one 5
Jury of peers 6
Jury of professional jurors 7
Justice of the peace 8
King and advisor dispense justice 9
Law guild assemblage 10
Magical determination of innocence or guilt 11
Military declaration 12
Officiated by priests (god of law) 13
Officiated by barristers 14
Overseen by royal judge 15 Trial by combat 16 Trial by ordeal 17 Tribunal 18 Vote of nobles 19 Vote of witnesses 20
Table 3–43: Trial Complications 1
Accidental discrepancy in presenter’s story 1
Ally/patron provides money/influence 2
Comments or important fact overruled 3
Conflicting laws cause arguments/tangents 4
Conflicting witness testimony raises questions 5
Confusing laws on subject must be navigated 6
Corruption exposed in defense/prosecution 7
Claims of racial bias or unfair treatment 8
Evidence goes missing 9
Evidence points to conflicting stories 10
Fight breaks out among witnesses/attendants 11
Fortunate loophole in law 12
General confusion from evidence/testimony 13
High-ranking priest perjures self 14
Hung jury 15
Impatient lawyers or barristers 16
Intimidation used on witness 17
Judge (overseer) confused by events/evidence 18
Judge declares a mistrial, mysteriously… 19
Judge declares trial censure 20
Table 3–44: Trial Complications 2
Judge has personal interest in case 1
Judge orders sequestering of jury/witnesses 2
Judge subpoenas gentry, noble, or royalty 3
Judge or jury biased against the defendant 4
Judge or jury requests magical evidence/scry 5
Judge or jury suggests a compromise to trial 6
Judge postpones trial and reschedules 7
Local cleric casts "truth" spell 8
Local cleric testifies as character witness 9
Magical evidence disputes witness testimony 10
Magical evidence is not allowed in case 11
Magical evidence points to numerous causes 12
Magical evidence unbalances evidence of case 13
Nervous witness is open to suggestion 14
New evidence presented 15
Normal proceedings without incident 16
Payoff occurs behind the scenes 17
Poor or insubstantial evidence 18
Profound testimony impresses judge 19
Prosecution/defense is a rival of the judge 20
Table 3–45: Trial Complications 3
Recent changes in local laws affect trial 1
Show of dazzling rhetoric stuns the jury 2
Someone else suddenly confesses to crime 3
Special witness interviewed in private 4
Surprise witnesses comes forward 5
Testimony is forgotten/ignored by jury 6
Testimony is stricken by judge 7
Unusual incident postpones trial 8
Violent outburst from victim or witness 9
Witness appears slovenly or untrustworthy 10
Witness arrives drunk and/or unintelligible 11
Witness badgered until he cracks 12
Witness caught in double-talk and cover-up 13
Witness caught in a lie or embellishment 14
Witness murdered before trial begins 15
Witness perjures self 16
Witness perjures self but isn't caught 17
Witness restrained by bailiff or judge 18
Witness threatens defendant openly 19
Witness testimony is stricken by judge 20