Fantasy Core RPG: Jianghu Setting-Justice and Law Enforcement

Fantasy Core RPG

© Jerry Harris 2013

Published here as Open Game Content.

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Jianghu Setting

Justice and Law Enforcement

The most impartial justice system money can buy.

The city district judges and the traveling provincial magistrates (who service the villages) are appointed by the Imperial Bureaucracy.  They are experienced lawyers who have applied and then been rigorously tested to obtain these positions.  They must be sponsored, apprenticed (as a clerk), and approved by an experienced judge.  They are always sent to posts well away from their home cities.   

In spite of these precautions, most of the judges in Shang-tu are in the pockets of the various competing interests: merchants, guilds, Tongs, and secret societies.  (Unlike the rest of the Imperial Bureaucracy, judges work alone and do have any direct or peer oversight.  Other Bureaucrats are ironically often more scrupulous the judges of the law.)  Any part of the city dominated by a special interest owns the judges and usually the constables as well.  Judges can only be removed by a Daimyo or the Governor and would be a daunting ordeal.

The Daimyos of the wards are ultimately the chief law enforcement officers as well as the Appeals judge.  This is a small check on the power of the judges.  Any criminal convicted by a judge may appeal to their Daimyo (or village lord), but failing to win the case, usually results in an immediate death sentence.  For certain sensitive matters (such as those involving foreign dignitaries or very important civic leaders) or even issues of possible national importance, judges may refer cases directly to their Daimyo, who may in turn send it directly to the Governor. 

A good constable does not tolerate the presence of criminals in his neighborhood, unless they are paying him well.

Each district has a force of constables paid out of the city taxes.  (Though it should be noted that the Governor’s Ward is well patrolled by the East Chamber and Imperial troops and private security instead.)  They require references and are well tested and trained, though not well paid.  Many are recruited out the city’s multitude of martial arts schools (who are often causing fights that have to be broken up the constables).  Often short-handed in patrols (especially at night with the curfew), the constables may be backed up by volunteer watchmen, depending on the neighborhood.   

There is a great deal of pride and service in the typical constable, but they are ultimately just working at a job.  Good and bad people populate the ranks of the force.  The good ones will often turn a blind eye to rampant corruption if exposing it means their life in exchange.  However, even corrupt constables taking payoffs will typically only tolerate a certain level of crime and then will act against it.  

Excellent constables may apply to become inspectors, who investigate unsolved crimes or track down wanted criminals.  They are promoted by the district captain, who is in turn promoted by the ward Daimyo.  Constables usually only have jurisdiction in their own ward.  Inspectors have sanction to bring in criminals from anywhere in the entire province.

There is no escape from death, taxes, and Inspector Amaratsu.

If there is one sterling example of a lawman in Shang-tu, it is Inspector Amaratsu of the Lake Ward.  He is incorruptible and relentless in the pursuit of justice.  The Inspector specializes in solving murder cases, and the criminal activity in the Lake Ward keeps him busy.  The Tongs are more-or-less forced to tolerate him and cut their losses in personnel if he is one the trail of one of their own.  He is now too famous and too popular to just be conveniently killed off. 

  

So far, Amaratsu has turned down every promotion, including invitations from the Governor.  He has a single-minded dedication to his mission of catching murders and seemingly no personal life to get in the way of it.  However, he’s not above seeking help in his investigations.  Working in the corruption of the Lake Ward, Amaratsu has little trust in his co-workers and often solicits the help of skilled outsiders (in other words, player characters).  

7th Level Flying Warrior, Hp 39, AC 15 (no armor) Enhanced Initiative +3

Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +6

Melee: Unarmed 2 attacks +8/+4 to hit 1d4+5

Longsword +8 to hit 1d8+1

Ranged: +2 Spiked Chain (Rip) +12 to hit 2d4 + DC 18 Ref Sv trip, 10’ reach, on Called Shot (nat 16) disarm

Flying Strike +8 to hit + DC 12 Acrobatics check, 9 damage

Flying Multi-Strike +8 to hit + DC 12 Acrobatics check, 1d8+1, up to four, adjacent opponents

Acrobatics +6

Immune to falling damage

Meditation Skill: If Amaratsu meditates for 1 turn at a crime scene, he will find at least 1 clue.

Devices: Amaratsu possesses several magical listening, tracking, lockpicking, and other devices, though they are usually one shot devices that he doesn’t use freely.  His source for these items is unknown.