Sanctuary Law

Sanctuary has more law enforcers and less laws than most cities.

The place to start is Civil Justice for crimes against property and people, as enforced by the garrison, town guard and some gangs; and ruled over nominally by Revenent the Justicar via the civil courts. Lesser crimes are tried in the mornings by the Captain of the day or the leader of the enforcement group that arrested the miscreant, but their punishments may not exceed the loss of three fingers. The Hellhounds may dispense justice at any time as if in a civil court. Grand larceny, involving merchant guilds and substantial sums of money are tried by the Magisterial courts, where all three judges are guild merchants. High crimes and crimes against nobility are tried in the Prince's Own, with Revenant or Kadakithis presiding. It is the only court that can hear charges against enforcers and adminstrators of Sanctuary laws.

Any crime, except a capital offence, commited against a priest or on holy ground or temple property, is under the jurisdiction of that temple. Canon-law is complex and secret to each temple. The only appeal against such decisions is to the gods themselves - a route the wise decline. Any death sentence must be approved by the civil courts.

Offenses commited in the more free-flowing areas of Sanctuary, such as the docks, the Maze, the Bazaar, or during business which need not see the light of day, are dealt with with summary justice via the street gangs, or merely a knife in the back. Downwind has its own informal public court, run by Jubal. With no obvious leader, Downwind's court is in recess.

All systems of justice brook no formal appeal, are based on whimsy and bribes, and are punitive. Imprisonment is not a punishment. Monetary restituion is often required, but is also not a punishment. Ruinous fines, loss of limbs or enslavement is standard, and implemented within the day. Those with any influence will carefully pick the court they wish to be tried in, and spend every effort to have the case moved appropriately. And the ultimate appeal can usually be made via any number of assassins.

Whether you are guilty or innocent, it is recommended that you attempt to employ Tonkin and Dabb before the other side does, if you can afford it.

Judicious Commentary

The quality of money is not strain'd,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown;

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

But money is above this sceptred sway;

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute of Gods above;

And earthly power doth then show likest Gods'

When money seasons justice. So, plantiff,

Though justice be thy plea, consider this,

That, in the course of justice, none of us

Should see salvation: we do pray for money;

And that same prayer doth teach us all to render

Both deeds and money. I have spoke thus much

To mitigate the justice of thy plea;

Which if thou follow, this strict court of Sanct'ry

Must needs give sentence 'gainst the guilty there.

W.S. (barrister)