The Court of the Chalice

The Central Pillar of Justice in a Society of Witches

"The melodrama of Morvathia's courts, a spectacle I find amusingly frivolous, yet irresistibly magnetic. In my extensive chronicle of our 200-year history, I've attended a fair share of these judicial charades - in disguise of course. Partly for research, but let's be honest, mostly due to my unapologetic curiosity. When a trial ensnares the public's gaze, especially involving a prominent figure, it transforms into a grand theater, a splendid performance, a marionette stage with twists, intrigue, and often, a fatal denouement. I can't deny a certain nostalgia for those bygone days, when the chalice was center stage during every trial. Today only the most severe crimes are celebrated with a sip from the silver cup."

— From: "A Comprehensive Guide to Morvathia's Mysteries" by Salama the Dragonwitch

A Sip of Fate

The Court of the Chalice is a central force of governance in the Witchrealm of Morvathia, embodying the pivotal role of law enforcement and judicial authority. Funded through the coffers of the realm, the court wields its influence across the seven counties, ensuring that the laws of Morvathia are not only upheld but also executed with strict precision.
The court takes its name from the unique, historical practice in its judicial system. In old times, the outcome of a trial was revealed through the contents of a chalice. An innocent verdict meant the chalice held only harmless wine. But guilt was marked by a more sinister drink, laced with punishments varying from lethal poisons to transformative curses, leading to physical changes or temporary afflictions like blindness or paralysis.
These trials were once grand spectacles, attracting the morbidly curious to witness the dramatic revelation of justice. The defendant's fate was unknown until the moment they drank from the chalice, adding a layer of drama and theatrics to the proceedings.
Today, this practice is less common. Judges often prefer straightforward penalties like fines, imprisonment, or forced labor, especially for minor offenses. However, in high-profile cases that capture public interest, the tradition of the chalice is still upheld, preserving a piece of the court's storied and colourful history.

Ranks of the Courts

The Court of the Chalice operates through a structured hierarchy, with each role playing a pivotal role in maintaining order and justice. At its zenith sit the Justiciars and Magistrates, whose act as the interpreters of law, the voices of verdicts, and the arbiters of fates. Beneath them are practical enforcers of the law – Constables and Inspectors. The backbone of the court's authority and organization are lower ranking Advocates and Archivists.

Justiciars

At the top of the Court's structure lie the seven Justiciars. These esteemed arbiters, drawn from the ranks of the most astute legal minds, represent the interests and greater good of the seven counties of Morvathia. Among them, one is elevated to the role of the "Chief Justiciar," appointed by the Witch Queen, who reports to her and works directly with her in legal matters.
Each Justiciar resides in a grand court located in the capital of their county. As the voice of the law, Justiciars are responsible for interpreting and upholding the legal codes of Morvathia. They preside over major trials, settle disputes between nobles, and ensure that justice is served in accordance with the realm's laws and traditions. The Justiciars also can act as deputies to the Counts and Countesses of their respective counties. As a rule, only a Magistrate who has distinguished himself through his skills and training under an incumbent Justiciar is promoted to this office.
Despite their high rank, the authority of a Justiciar has its limits; they do not pass judgement on members of the Thirteen. Such matters are reserved for the Council of Thirteen themselves.

Magistrates

Each Justiciar is aided by a cadre of Magistrates, skilled in the nuances of Morvathian law and adept in mediating conflicts. They serve as the operational arm of the court, conducting preliminary hearings, overseeing the collection of evidence, and ensuring that all proceedings adhere to legal protocols. Beyond these tasks, Magistrates also take on the mantle of judges in smaller cities and in cases that do not require the direct oversight of a Justiciar. Their presence in these locales ensures that the reach of the Court of the Chalice is extensive and its justice, uniform.
Magistrates often hailing from scholarly or legal backgrounds. Many have served as constables or advocates before, a roles that imbue them with a better understanding of practical applications of the law.

Bailiff

The Bailiff is a specialized Magistrate who heads the tax collection office within Morvathia's judicial system. In larger communities, a High Bailiff is appointed to oversee the entire process of tax collection, supported by a team of lower-ranking Bailiffs who act as the primary tax collectors. These individuals are responsible not only for the regular collection of taxes but also for ensuring that all financial obligations imposed by the court are met. This includes the collection of fines and penalties from debtors, a task often performed with the direct support of a Constable and the city guard to ensure compliance.
In smaller communities, where resources are more limited, the Magistrate leading the local court may also serve as the town's Bailiff, combining judicial responsibilities with the oversight of financial collections.

Constables

Constables are the enforcers of the court's rulings and the guardians of its sanctity. Tasked with executing the orders of the Justiciars and Magistrates, they maintain peace within the court's halls and ensure the safety of all who enter. Within the courtroom Constables represents the city's interests. They are often the ones presenting evidence, speaking on behalf of the people and questioning witnesses on the stand. Beyond the courtrooms, Constables are responsible for apprehending individuals charged with serious breaches of Morvathian law. They serve as a bridge between the court's decrees and their practical application.
Each city within the realm is typically assigned its own Chief Constable, who works in tandem with the city guard to maintain law and order. Larger cities typically have multiple Chief Constables – one for each district. This structure ensures that justice is not just a central principle in the Court of the Chalice, but a living, breathing part of everyday life in Morvathia.

Inspector

The inspector is a highly specialized role within the Court of the Chalice, designed to address the intricate and often dangerous nature of magical crimes in Morvathia. These Inspectors, often colloquially referred to as Widowbirds by the populace due to the distinctive tailfeather-like appearance of their coats, are more than mere detectives; they are experts of the arcane, the mystical and the occult. Their primary task is to unravel the mysteries that standard investigative methods by the city guards fail to resolve, focusing particularly on crimes that involve magical manipulation, curses, forbidden rituals, or any form of arcane interference.
Their role is crucial in a realm where witchcraft is an integral part of everyday life - and undoubtedly the most dangerous. They are often recruited as outsiders to the Court's system, such as members of the Morvathian Coven, city guards or even former mercenaries like the Night's Cloak.

Advocates

Advocates are skilled orators and legal scholars, representing parties in court proceedings. Tasked with the crucial responsibility of arguing cases before the Justiciars or Magistrates, they are striving to elucidate the truth and seek justice for their clients. Their role is pivotal in ensuring that all voices are heard in the court, and their knowledge of legal rhetoric and Morvathian law aids in the Court's fair and balanced decision-making.
In essence, Advocates are the bridge between the layperson and the legal machinery. However, while Advocates are officially assigned to cases by the court, there exists the flexibility for individuals to choose their form of representation. Parties involved in a case have the option to forgo the services of a court-appointed Advocate. Instead, they can either represent themselves, exercising their right to self-advocacy, or they may chose to be represented by a third party.

Archivists

Responsible for maintaining the records, Archivists are the custodians of legal documents, court proceedings, and historical legal precedents. Their meticulous work ensures the integrity of the court's archives, providing Justiciars, Advocates, Magistrates, and other legal practitioners with the necessary tools and information to understand past rulings and draw on historical legal contexts. They are often seen as the memory of the court, their work preserving the continuity and consistency of Morvathian law.

Justice, Politics and Governance

As the central judicial authority, the Court of the Chalice is pivotal in maintaining the balance of power within the Witchrealm. Its relationship with the Thirteen is characterized by cautious coexistence and subtle influence through political interplay. While the seven major houses of the Thirteen hold the legislative power to craft laws for their respective counties, the Court, led by the Chief Justiciar, shoulders the responsibility of upholding these laws. The Chief Justiciar, serving directly under the Witch Queen, acts as a conduit between court of law, the ruling powers and the throne in Vilandsburg.
Each law passed by a Count or Countess is subject to the Witch Queen's review, with her possessing veto power and the ability to demand a communal decision from the Council of the Thirteen on any legislative matter. It's the Chief Justiciar's responsibility to present new laws to the Witch Queen, before they come into force. This system positions the Court not only as an enforcer of law and order but also as a subtle regulator of the powers wielded by the Thirteen. It serves as both an obstacle against their absolute autonomy and a means for them to keep each other's ambitions in check.
The Court's jurisdiction, however, is most notably limited its inability to pass judgment directly on members of the Thirteen. Only the Council of the Thirteen can judge one of their own.

Collaboration with the Coven

The Morvathian Coven often intersects with the Court's workings. With their extensive knowledge of the Rules of Magic and the nature of witchcraft, the Coven is both a valuable ally and a challenging variable in the Court's pursuit of justice. The Court often relies on the Coven's expertise in cases involving magical elements, yet this reliance places the Court in a vulnerable position, given the Coven's own agendas. The High Witch of the coven is the only real challenge to the unrestricted rule of the Thirteen and is therefore often interested in expanding her position and influence over them. The Court, on the other hand, is supposed to neutrally uphold the law passed by the Council of Thirteen, not help any one party gain more power.
Nevertheless, co-operation is almost indispensable. Many of the court's inspectors are either former members of the Coven or work closely with them. As a result, inspectors are often seen as agents of the Coven within their own ranks, outsiders in the court of the Chalice they work for.
To the citizens of Morvathia, the Court of the Chalice is a necessary counterbalance to the whims of the powerful witches and nobles - even if the justiciars tend to favour their own masters rather than the commonfolk. The theatricality of the Chalice's judgments, a relic of a old era, still resonates with the people, reminding them of the Court's role as a dispenser of justice, however flawed or influenced it might be. This cultural impact is encapsulated in a well-known Morvathian proverb, where "to drink from the chalice" has come to mean having absolute certainty.

Recognized Crimes by the Court of the Chalice

The Court of the Chalice maintains an extensive codex of laws, categorizing crimes into various types with specific precedents and historical contexts. This categorization not only clarifies which force within the Court handles each crime but also dictates the severity of the punishment. The categories, ranked from least to most severe, are Crimes Against the Community, Crimes of the Arcane, Crimes Against the Coven, Crimes Against the Crown, and Crimes Against the Realm. A person can be guilty of multiple categories; for example, an assault with a magic spell would be both a Crime Against the Community and a Crime of the Arcane.

Wanted by Renz

§1 Crimes Against the Community

Crimes Against the Community include offenses directly affecting the people of Morvathia, such as petty crimes, forgery, fraud, perjury, theft, assault, and murder. These crimes are typically handled by Constables and city guards, without involving magistrates or higher-ups in the court. The Court often shows little interest in minor crimes, trusting the city guard to manage them independently.

§2 Crimes of the Arcane

Crimes of the Arcane involve the misuse of magical powers and generally require an Inspector’s involvement. Any crime can escalate to a Crime of the Arcane if it involves magic, increasing the severity of the punishment. Depending on the crime's seriousness, a Magistrate even might lead the investigation. Purely arcane crimes include creating or distributing cursed objects to harm or manipulate, summoning entities without safeguards, or using magic to influence others unduly, such as through enchantments and compulsions.

§3 Crimes Against the Coven

Crimes Against the Coven involve disturbing or hindering Morvathia's magical culture without necessarily misusing magic. This includes offenses against Coven members or practices. Practicing forbidden spells or rituals without a license is both a Crime of the Arcane and a Crime Against the Coven. Other examples are obstructing witchcraft ceremonies vital to the realm or defiling sacred sites and artifacts revered by the Coven, such as ancient spellbooks and enchanted relics.

§4 Crimes Against the Crown

Crimes Against the Crown include offenses against the ruling families and their interests, resulting in harsh penalties to protect noble houses' sanctity. These crimes include assault on nobility, theft of royal or noble property, and defamation or slander of a noble house's reputation. Justiciars usually handle these crimes personally. To qualify, the crime must specifically target a member or a group of people of the ruling families with the intend to harm the group or the indiviual. Crimes intended to weaken the larger Witchrealm fall under Crimes Against the Realm and face more severe punishment.

§5 Crimes Against the Realm

Crimes Against the Realm are the most serious offenses, seen as direct threats to Morvathia's stability and security, and are severely punished. These include betrayal against the Witch Queen or ruling houses, espionage, incitement of rebellion, and assassination attempts. Sedition, such as spreading falsehoods or inciting unrest undermining the Thirteen or the Witch Queen's authority, and sabotage, like acts intended to weaken Morvathia’s infrastructure or defenses, also fall under this category.

List of Historical Punishments

In the judicial tradition of the Court of the Chalice, the use of the name-giving chalice, while less frequent in modern times, still persists as a potent symbol of justice. Each chalice, with its unique concoction, represents a different form of punishment, tailored to the nature of the crime and serving as spectacel to onlookers. Here are some of the notable chalices and their historical uses:

• Chalice of Imprisonment: This chalice contains a toxin that temporarily paralyzes the body. The effect is symbolic, marking the start of the convicted's incarceration as they are rendered immobile in court and subsequently transported to prison.

• Chalice of Silence: Used for those who have abused their voice for deceit and chaos, this chalice renders the drinker permanently mute. The potion is a sophisticated mix, targeting the vocal cords to enforce a literal and metaphorical silence for their misdeeds.

• Chalice of Servitude: This chalice imposes a temporary geas, compelling the guilty to engage in community service or forced labor. It's often the sentence for crimes against the community, symbolizing direct restitution for their actions.

• Chalice of Exile: Reserved for severe punishments, this chalice disfigures or brands the guilty, transforming them into monstrous forms before their expulsion from Morvathia. Exiles are often sent to the harsh northern regions of Vespero or the distant Bittermarsh.

• Chalice of Death: The ultimate sentence, this chalice contains a lethal poison. Reserved for the gravest crimes, it is still seen as a merciful end, as the poisons from House Florindale are known for their swift and effective action.

• Chalice of Pain: A controversial and rare punishment, this chalice inflicts a slow, agonizing death. The poison within causes extreme physical suffering, such as internal deterioration or skin necrosis. Historically, witnesses have described the process as nightmarish, highlighting the brutality of this sentence.