I've got a few questions about Tribunal. I'm interested in everyone's opinion, but specifically looking for an “official” answer from an Imm if there is one.

1) What's the IC explanation behind why it's alright to attack city guards? I understand the mechanics / balance issues, and I've heard a couple of the excuses commonly given by Tribunal leaders, mainly that they're essentially “hired help”. Is there an “official” reason why it's okay to make someone a criminal for attacking guild guards but not city guards?

2) Is there an agreed upon background story or explanation for Tribunals existence in certain cities? Hamsah has the Sultan and his palace (complete with guards) and Seantryn has something similar. Is there concrete information IC (besides hearsay and guesses) as to how these “relationships” work?

3) This probably has to be answered specifically by a Tribunal Imm, but is it acceptable for a Tribunal to care about the law, protecting the cities, etc., but simply not give a rat's ass about Outlander? For example, said Tribunal would retrieve the scales (since they're a necessity) but otherwise be uninterested in taking the fetish or being offensive towards the Outlander.

** Again, I've heard what mortal Tribunals in the past have said IC. I'm just wondering if there are concrete answers to these questions (mainly 1 & 2) or if it's intentionally vague.

I've always heard the back story is that Tribunal is a hired organization of mercenary elites. Sure, the Sultan and the Empress have their own guards, but they have hundreds of other responsibilities like keeping the plebians in line, whipping the slaves, and sleeping with loose women.

Not only that, the average Hero PC is practically a demi-god. Your average run-of-the-mill army can't handle them effectively; the cheapest way to keep them into check is to hire other demi-gods to take care of them for you.

I'll mostly skip 1 and 2, as I'm not a current Tribby Imm. But as
former Tribby Imm, and serial Tribby player, I'll say.. 1 and 2 just
are. I mean, the sky is blue, water is wet, and Tribby is the way it
is, because that's just the way it is. I am unsure why you need it
spelled out in game or otherwise.

In fact, I prefer it vague as it lends to a variety of role options
for the 5 or so Tribs I play in a calender year.

As for number 3.

My last Trib made Provost and he was a complete pacifist when it came
to Outlander. Yes, I would retrieve. Yes, I would defend the Spire
and the cities. I *almost* never hunted outside the cities and I
*never* once participated taking the Fetish.

In fact, I am unsure why regular Tribunal members are so DEAD set on
retrieving the Scales even if it means their death, as you can still:

Make people wanted
Call Vigilance
Call Guards

the three main powers to enforce the laws within the cities...

Anyways, just the 2 cents of a former Tribby Imm

G.

Fair enough.

I guess the reason I like there being a "real" explanation is because when everyone simply writes whatever they want in their role or every leader says something a little different, something has to be wrong. I absolutely understand that it is what it is because of game mechanics and because that's how it was before.

Either way, I'm not so much asking for anything to happen or be changed, but simply wondering if in almost 20 years of Law-Cabal lore there was a "right answer". If there isn't, that's cool too.

>In fact, I am unsure why regular Tribunal members are so DEAD
>set on
>retrieving the Scales even if it means their death, as you can
>still:

Obviously nobody should be retrieving if they're almost certainly going to die.

On the other hand, you can't really be nonchalant about the Scales being in the Tree or you'll get your chops busted by the Provost or an Tribunal imm. Or failing that you'll get a snarky comment in your PBF about sitting around with your thumb up your butt while the Scales are being held captive.

You know its true.

No one should have to suicide, but generally you should be obliged to get back your cabal item, not just ignore it is missing. To do otherwise is poor rp imho. It basically says "I don't care whether or not I've got my item".

I've never had a lot of luck with this RP angle in Trib, but it seems to be a popular one. What about those who basically join Tribunal and think of it as a job?

Joe the (we'll say evil) Magistrate is "at work" in Galadon, and when he leaves he's a private citizen. Assuming Joe thinks that nobody is going to punish him for not retrieving, is it poor RP for him to simply not care? He's got his powers, he has all the tools he needs to effectively do this job.

Normally I'd say yeah, if you're in the cabal then the cabal item is automatically important to you and worth fighting to have back as soon as possible. In the case of Tribunal though, I can sort of see the above case being a reasonable exception.

I can also completely understand a Tribunal character of higher authority getting pissed off and reprimanding Joe, if that's the risk he wants to take, I think I'd let it pass as satisfactory PR, so long as Joe's role describes him as someone who would think and act that way.

The blood tribunal is hired to protect Thera's guildmembers against other guildmembers in certain cities. The protection of other citizens are taken care of by the cityguards. The guildguards are also hired to protect the guildmembers

There are some texts exaplaining exactly that ICly. If not the helpfile even? Or is it help 26 (the law helpfile)

(Guildmembers = PCs)

I guess I don't see anything in the helpfiles that explains that very clearly.

Either way, I've heard that before. I've heard similar, but slightly different things before. I'm just wondering if there is an official "right" answer or not. It's fine if there's not.

...

help 26
LAWS LAW PROTECTOR PROTECTED
The laws of the land that shall be enforced by the Blood Tribunal are
as follows:

*** The areas that are defined as protected by the jurisdiction of the Law
are the entirety of Galadon, Hamsah Mu'tazz, Voralian City, and Seantryn
Modan. With the exception of the fifth law, the cities police their own
denizens, leaving the Blood Tribunal to focus on the actions of
Adventurers and their servants.


Yepp, the last bit is pretty obvious.

Again, I didn't ask for confirmation that cityguards (and other things) aren't protected, I was asking for the background and/or explanation why.

... that the cities hired the bloodtribunal to aid them in guarding the cities. No idea where I've read it though.