law & Order in Bravado

After the War of Antlers, a conflict that ended in the fall of the San Saba Board and a lack of central leadership, the various settlements of the area around Bravado have been left to themselves.  There is a lot of need to rebuild and restructure, and there are many conflicting ideas of the best path forward.  Each town has their own opinions on what the right answer, but Bravado has chosen an answer that works for them.

The town has collectively decided to enforce a social contract among themselves, defining the rules and laws that are enforced in the town limits. The Justices of Sin have been tasked with helping be a neutral arbiter for disputes of the laws, and each of the various factions of the San Saba have signed their support of the town’s new independence.

The Bravado Town Charter

The Town of Bravado recognizes no greater authority over it and therefore puts forth this Charter as the Will of the People of Bravado, under which they will allow themselves to be governed. This document is an agreement to define Law and Order, rather than allow the town to fall to anarchy and chaos that befalls so much of the Greater Wastes. The People of Bravado accept this agreement to contract with the Justices of Sin and the Law Dog Union to enforce this Charter, for as long as the parties work in the best interest of the safety, stability, and freedoms of the People of Bravado.

Revisions & Definitions

• The Law of Bravado will be written, revised, and unwritten by the Justices of Sin, utilizing proposed laws or amendments bearing signatures of at least 50% of the Citizenship.

• Suggestions from the Citizens of Bravado for new Laws or amendments to the Charter will be presented to the Justices of Sin each year during the annual Charter Summit, for a period of consideration no shorter than 3 days. 

• “A Bravado Citizen” is defined as any individual who is not an Outlaw; AND is a resident of the Bravado area or a non-resident who has paid the yearly Citizenship fee of 2 brass. This list shall be maintained by the Justices of Sin, and this fee may be paid any time to the Post Office, or to any Justice of Sin.

• Non-citizens are still held to the laws of The Charter when within Bravado. 

The Laws

The town of Bravado has established a tradition of law and order throughout the region in the wake of the War of Antlers. These are the major laws enforced by the town’s residents and their affiliated factions: 

• The procedure of harvesting and manufacturing, distributing and possessing crystal candy and its by-products is a crime.

• None shall interfere with the Justice of Sin’s dispensation of justice and punishment, Delivery of the Post, the Broadcast of radio, the Publication and Distribution of the press, nor the Collection of the Grave Tax.

• Acts of non-lethal violence are the prerogative of the Wastes, and are a protected right. But to steal the Infection of the Body or the Work of the Hands of a Citizen, is forbidden.

• Murder of a Citizen, regardless of the final status of their Infection, is forbidden.

• The Grave Council shall not be barred from the entrance or maintenance of the Bravado Morgue.

Each of the laws was recently enacted as part of the signing of the new Bravado Charter, and was the wording decided by a council of the Law Dogs, Justices of Sin, and other residents of the town.

Procedures & Enforcement

• The Justices of Sin shall pass judgment on the guilty and offer them a path to Absolution befitting the faith of the breacher. Justices of Sin will act as arbiters between Citizens and the Law Dogs when requested by either party, or when there is suspicion of inaction or corruption. 

• The Law Dogs shall enforce the Laws of Bravado. The Law Dogs derive their authority from the will of the Citizens of Bravado. Law Dogs can be stripped of authority by the Commissioner or the Justices of Sin if the individual is not adhering to the Law Dog Code Of Conduct. The “Commissioner” of the Bravado Law Dog Union will be appointed by the majority of its membership and that of the Justices of Sin.

• Any person convicted of breaking any law put forth in this Charter will be considered an “Outlaw” and their citizenship revoked until they have completed the assigned absolution. 

• Due to the known dangers of corrupted morgues, the Grave Council is given authority over the handling and maintenance of the Bravado morgue. The Grave Council may instate legally binding sanctions with defined time limits and resolutions on the town for the sole purpose of preserving the health of the local Mortis and Morgue and overall safety of Bravado, with the written approval of a majority of the Grave Council affiliated Citizens. This authority is provided by the Citizens of Bravado and can be removed during the Charter Summit by providing the Justices of Sin just cause and supporting evidence proving dereliction of duties.

• Contract breaches must be settled between the contracted parties. Contracts must include the consequences for breaching said contract clearly and openly. The aggrieved party is within their right to enact these consequences to the fullest extent when a contract has been breached. No other contract provisions can supersede this Charter. A Citizen may request mediation from the Justices of Sin on contract breaches.

Contracts

In the aftermath of the War of Antlers, a new sense of freedom and order has spread across the San Saba. When so many varied people and factions are joined together in a common goal of survival, there is a need for the common folk to choose a side and declare their loyalty. Thus, many law-abiding inhabitants of the Wastes enjoy having a Contract with one of the powerful factions of the area. With powerful friends on your side, a resident can always have someone in their corner when it comes to a dispute. In fact, when Bravado was a burgeoning boom town, Contracts were once “the Sum and Whole of the Law”. While that has changed with the fall of the San Saba Board, there are many for whom this decree still holds primary sway as an integral part of Bravado culture.

While the exact terms may differ from faction to faction, a Contract simply establishes a person’s right to do business within the town on behalf of a major faction and in return their right to exist and prosper will be protected by that faction. Contracts can be signed with other parties past the major factions, but every contract signed within the region is ultimately only backed by the trust and credit of the major factions of the San Saba. Boilerplate Contracts are available at every Depot through the San Saba and every Duster can find a few folks willing to offer them a preliminary offer of work.

Note: When a Guide or NPC uses the phrase “I need to check your contract” within the game, this normally refers to the act of checking your character sheet to see if you have the appropriate Society Membership.

This is partially an out of character behavior, but allows a narrative explanation for anything that refers to the character sheet in game. Try to refer to your character sheet as your “contract” whenever possible!

EnforcemenT & Capture

In matters of Law and Order, the Law Dogs, Hell Hounds and Justices of Sin shall be the Voice and Vigor, empowered to wield Death and Duty in their name.

If a person is accused of violating one of the laws of the Bravado Charter, the town of Bravado sets forth the marshals and agents of the Law Dog Union to collect the offender and investigate their crime. Those caught are brought before the Justices of Sin, roving representatives of the Warden that assess their crimes and assign an appropriate punishment.

The Law Dog Union is responsible for investigating, detaining, and finding evidence to present to the Justices of Sin. The person accused of breaking the law is known as a “Breacher”. Once the Law Dogs have found and detained the Breacher, the Crime Scene will commence. If the Law Dog cannot present sufficient evidence of the crime, the accused will be released and the contract for capture ended.

These enforcers serve no single master other than the Law Dog Union and their “Boss” but hold distinct contracts with the major settlements of the San Saba - paid by the head to enforce their Standards of Practice. The weight of their jurisdiction lies in their ability to enforce under the Town Charter, in accordance with their contract with each settlement.

Justices will sometimes travel with Law Dogs, to ensure a quick resolution to whatever issue is at hand, but this is not a requirement of the job, and they are not allowed to participate in the actual retrieval, which is the duty of Law Dogs and Hell Hounds. They can vary in their application of justice, and never seem to agree with each other, but somehow maintain a strong sense of rightness in their decisions.

The steps of punishment for violations of the law consist of three steps:

• The Investigation - The Law Dogs will investigate the events of what happened, question witnesses, and try to find the source of the trouble. Once proof of a crime has been determined, the Law Dog Union will issue an arrest warrant for capture of the Breacher. Once captured, the Law Dog will present evidence of the crime to the Justice and help keep the peace while the Justice deliberates. The Law Dog submits a custom form of an Action Request at the Post Office, submitting their Law Dog Report to the Storytellers.

• The Crime Scene - The scene between The Justice and the LC who committed a crime is a personalized scene ran by a Storyteller that melds the player’s goals and comfort level with the story and consequences brought about through their play. A player can never be a Justice of Sin, and this role will always be portrayed by a Storyteller or Gamerunner.

• The Gauntlet - This is a public event telegraphed in advance that happens near Noon during a DR:TX live event. This is the “sentencing” part of the trial and is where the Justice of Sin will hear mitigating and aggravating factors, as well as an appeal for mercy from the crowd. Once completed, they will announce the punishment for the criminal and return them to their standing as a citizen of the San Saba.

Players (LCs) may hold roles as Law Dogs in game, but Justices of Sin will always be a member of the DR:TX staff.

The rules for CVC still apply for Law Dogs in pursuit of a criminal, and even members of the Union must abide by the restrictions outlined in the Dystopia Rising Live Player’s Guide.

The Crime Scene

After the events of Justicalia, the Justices of Sin are now responsible for being Judge, Jury, and Executioner of any and all citizens of the Lone Star who violate the laws set forth by a town and those who breach contracts that are backed by the Railroad Conglomerate. The person accused of breaking the law is known as a “Breacher”.

During a Crime Scene, the Law Dogs present to the Justice of Sin appointed to the region evidence of the accused crime, and detail the manner in which the LC has violated the Town Charter. They will outline their witnesses, any physical evidence, or testimony from other members of the Law Dog Union as proof of completing their contract to detain and present the accused for punishment.

The scene between the Justice of Sin and the LC who committed a crime is a personalized scene that melds the player’s goals and comfort level with the story and consequences brought about through their play. This may involve ‘closed door’ black box narration scenes, or public displays of punishment or atonement also known as The Gauntlet. However, not every Crime Scene resolves into a Gauntlet.

Completion of a Crime Scene is seen by the Justices of Sin as absolving that character’s criminal strikes and all Law Dog Contracts will be nullified for those crimes.

The Gauntlet

“A Gauntlet has been duly called, and these assembled breachers stand accused of failure to enforce the grave tax, breach of contract, failure to defend contracted entity in court of public opinion, failure to maintain Mortis vents per contract, and other sins of a vagrant-like nature.” - Reckoner-General Rampart

The Gauntlet is a tradition of the San Saba that functions similar to a “sentencing” in our modern justice system. When a person has been found guilty of violating the Laws and Charter of the San Saba during a Crime Scene, the Justices of Sin, roving representatives of the San Saba Board that assess their crimes and assign an appropriate punishment, will determine the punishment that will levied on the accused.

After a violent incident at a Gauntlet in Bravado last year, The Justices of Sin have established a new format for the Gauntlet that helps ensure it remains timely, professional, and orderly.

The Gathering

During the Gathering, the Justice of Sin will establish the structure of the Gauntlet and explain each step of the process. All citizens of a town are invited to attend a Gauntlet, and they will be alerted at least one month before a Gauntlet is to commence.

“The Gauntlet is Commenced. Today’s Gauntlet will be run thusly: we will have a presentation of sin by the aggrieved contracting party. Then each Breacher, or their duly appointed representative, will have 2 minutes to appeal for Mercy, and then a Sentence of Absolution will be passed. Should anyone obstruct the law and order of this Gauntlet, the Law Dogs will enforce peace.”

The Presentation of Sin

During the Presentation of Sin, the Justice of Sin will introduce the evidence presented by the Law Dogs during the Crime Scene. They will outline why the decision of guilt was reached and the appropriate public evidence that should be considered by the attendees. New evidence cannot be presented during this step, as the word of the Justice is law and the accused has already been determined guilty.

“The accused is guilt of violating the San Saba Charter and the Laws of the San Saba Territories. The Law Dogs will present their proof of evidence for consideration to the public. The accused has been found guilty, and no new evidence will be considered.”

Appeal for Mercy

During the Appeal for Mercy, the Justice will consider any mitigating or aggravating factors in determining the sentencing for the accused. Character witnesses or past good behavior is commonly considered during this step, as is information that might confirm the evidence presented by the Law Dogs. Each contractor or stakeholder that chooses to do so will have 2 minutes to speak, or may pass their time to another person. The breacher may also use their two minutes to ask for Mercy from the Justices, or appeal to logic or reason.

“Now each Breacher, or their duly appointed representative, may have two minutes to appeal for mercy, before their sentence is passed.”

Sentence of Absolution

Once all breachers have spoken, the Justice will determine the outcome of the punishment. Violators can either be assessed a hefty fine of Brass or materials, assigned mandatory work tasks for factions of the San Saba or service within the San Saba Militia, assigned a collective punishment of their peers present, or be labeled a contract-breaker and Vagrant.  In rare instances, the strikers of the Red Ledger may be tasked as Hellhounds, and simply remove the threat to the Board through sanctioned murder.

“We have heard the accounting of Sins and the appeals for Mercy, now we are ready to deliver Absolution. For the crimes of breaching their contract, we find…”