The Court of the Monarch
The Court of the Monarch is solely used to address grievances and criminal accusations against individuals within Arandor. External threats, or dangers to the realm or realms as a whole fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Monarch’s royal decree. In such cases, swift and decisive action is taken without recourse to the court, ensuring the safety and protection of the land and its people.
The Court of the Monarch
Enforcement
- If the Elves declare someone a criminal, their name and likeness will be provided to Arandor's sentries.
- The Elves, without a decree issued by the Court of the Monarch, will not pursue criminals in other sovereign territories. If such a decree is issued, neighboring lands will be notified.
- The Elves reserve the right to defend themselves in other territories if attacked, so long as they are permitted to travel within that territory.
Bounties
- The Monarch or Magistrate may issue a bounty that will be sent to neighboring lands depending on the nature of the crime. Any interested party should contact Arandor to express interest to pursue a bounty if one becomes available.
- Claiming to be pursuing a bounty on behalf of Arandor without acknowledgement from Arandor is itself considered a crime.
- Elves are forbidden from participating in bounty hunting work on behalf of Arandor regardless of their sworn status.
Investigation Process
- Investigations: The accused are secretly investigated by the Order of the Eternal Sentinel or the Justice Bringers from the Order of the Valiant Shield. The accused may not be informed of the investigation unless the findings are inconclusive. Within Elven Society, if the Monarch has to oversee anything within the Monarch's Court, the Elves have already determined guilt.
- Monarch's Authority: The Monarch, or Magistrate, decides guilt based on the investigation’s evidence. If the investigation is inconclusive, the accused may be summoned to face questioning in the Monarch’s Court. If summoned, the accused must appear for questioning. Failure to appear, if you are summoned, implies that the guilty party agrees with the sentence issued by The Monarch in absentia.
Sentencing
- Elves: May request a direct audience with the Monarch, or Magistrate, to plead down their sentence.
- Humans, Dwarves, and Orcs: Must seek an Elf sponsor in good standing to present their case on their behalf. This Elf must not be considered a criminal or involved in illegal activities within Arandor. The Elf does not have to be sworn to Arandor.
- Character Statements: Anyone interested in participating on behalf of the guilty party can provide character statements. However, individuals may be held in contempt by the Monarch if they are determined to be wasting the court’s time. Anyone making a character statement on behalf of someone appearing in the Monarch's Court cannot be considered a Criminal within Arandor, Edana, Karagard, and in certain circumstances Burz'kal.
Sentencing and Penalties
The list below are the possible sentences that can be issued by the Court of the Monarch. Further, the Monarch, or Magistrate, will issue proscriptive guidance and expectations that the offender is expected to abide to avoid additional penalties.
Non-Elves:
- Fines: A fine in materials, or gold.
- Revocation of Status: The revocation of status means that, if Arandor considers a non-Elf a friend of the Kingdom, then they will no longer have such a status.
- Banishment: Banishment from Arandor, the guilty party's name and likeness would be issued to the sentries around Arandor to ensure the banishment is enforced.
- Imprisonment: Sentenced to imprisonment within Arandor.
Elves:
- Fine: A fine in materials, or gold.
- Conscription to the Kingdom: The Elf, if they chose to leave Arandor after their Weaving, will serve a term of conscription with the Kingdom. The Order will align with their skills and desires. They will be appointed an overseer from another Order, not the Order they are placed in, to ensure they are not granted favored status during their conscription.
- Banishment: Banishment from Arandor, the guilty party's name and likeness would be issued to the sentries around Arandor to ensure the banishment is enforced.
- Imprisonment: Sentenced to imprisonment within Arandor.
- The Weeping Veil: The Elf is sentenced to the Weeping Veil. Their Lyrandrel is destroyed, and they are cut off from the Valar. They are then banished from Arandor and forced to live the rest of their lives as a Human.
Repeat offenders will be dealt with harshly, up to and including the most severe penalties possible, even if the guilty party has paid the penalty issued during their previous sentences.
