Maals Doctrine

Justice for All

“Though the world’s injustices may fill the vessel of your heart with rage and hatred, though you may desire with all your soul to destroy those who have wronged you, remember that there is a true and greater law more perfect than any you might ever recite, more beautiful than you might ever hope.” —The Writ of Maal,

holiest screed of the courts of Maal The doctrine of the courts rests on four principles, which are described below.
There will be Justice
Even before Maal’s first declaration, there were laws against murder and taking justice into one’s own hands. If all involved in the tale of Ceruill and Ophiel had obeyed those laws, much suffering would have been avoided.
While the Church of Maal knows mortal laws are fallible (though they are mostly lawful neutral, they do not believe all laws are right simply because they are laws), they know Maal’s law is infallible. Maal promised all crimes would receive justice, so it is therefore a great wrong to commit another crime to see justice done. For instance, killing someone who has harmed your family because you believe it is the only way to receive justice is wrong— Maal has decreed it so, and you only prove you lack faith in Maal and his promise. “Trust in Maal,” the justiciars say, “for he is compassionate, and his justice will be done.”
Maal’s Wisdom is Infinite
Gods see further and understand more than even the wisest mortal can. Maal understands society and the mortal spirit better than any king or holy leader ever will, so his laws and decrees are perfect. His Sacred Laws were lost to the mortal races through ignorance, and failure to  obey them. Most in the courts believe they still haven’t been found because of outside interference. A few believe they will be found in sequence, once the mortal races master them in order.
Thus, the second decree will not appear until all mortals understand and live by the first, surviving decree: Vengeance is wrong. Believers argue that Maal could give mortal races the laws despite the Compact, but refrains, because he doesn’t want them ignored and lost again. Maal’s faithful debate how many decrees Maal gave mortals, but most agree on twelve: one for each of the mythic leaders to whom they were given.
All People have a Right to be Judged
All people accused of a crime have a right to some sort of trial, and should not simply be executed or punished according to mere whim, so the courts are opposed to low justice, in which a noble punishes a peasant however they like. All mortals have the right to some sort of formal trial before mundane authorities, just as all people, no matter how evil, despicable or chaotic, have a right to appear before Maal, and receive final judgment. Believers therefore abhor any magic that entraps or destroys the soul, or prevents it from ever going to Maal. Transforming oneself into a lich qualifies. They refer to all such magic as “anarchic,” and court officers tirelessly pursue those who use it.
Those Who Deny the Right to Judgment are Enemies
Be it a king who gives legal protections to nobles, but allows peasants to suffer the chaotic whims of hetman and gangs, or a sorcerer who traps souls in a magical well to power his spells, the courts oppose those who seek to deny others their right to procedural justice from their own societies, or from Maal, at the cusp of the afterlife. At the very least, courts issue edicts and arguments against those who bar the way to judgment, but in the worst cases, the courts might take up arms. The courts are not egalitarian, however, and do not require a kingdom to treat all its subjects equally, or issue virtuous laws. A lawful evil empire might escape the courts’ opposition, if all its people have access to some formal justice system.

Type

Religious, Organised Religion