Legal Repercussions

As outlined in the section Alerting the Quaesitors, earlier, many actions and situations can lead to a Quaesitorial investigation. There is a lot of potential for variation in what evidence is left behind, what can be found, and how possible infractions are interpreted or prosecuted. The Code varies from Tribunal

to Tribunal, and saga to saga, but the following notes should help the storyguide to prepare.

While damage to The Gift is the ultimate violation of this provision of the Code, all situations where a magus is injured could bring charges of deprivation if it hampers mobility or spellcasting abilities. The same applies to any theft of or damage to magical property. Some situations where a magus spoils another magus' projects or plans causing him to waste vis or significant amounts of time could also be covered by deprivation. Examples are Soterists who demand restitution for vis and wasted time if the village is foiled. Of course, the Soterist may have been breaking the Code himself.

Unless The Gift of a magus is damaged or something as important and valuable as a Familiar or Talisman is lost, the consequence of this Code breach is most likely a vis fine or some other minor penalty, and should be settled out of court. Only the gravest, or most controversial, cases find their way to Tribunal.

This is a most heinous crime, and even attempting to kill a magus is punished, most likely with a Wizard's March. If the situation escalates and the player magi come to blows with either Soterists or Wächter, charges are brought against them; they may also bring their own charges. This sort of case goes to Tribunal unless it is impossible to prove what happened. If the defendant is seen to be guilty of negligence or questionable behavior, rather than outright and premeditated murder, the punishment could be the loss of apprentice, Familiar, or Talisman rather than death.

If this story goes on for many years and a Tribunal passes, there might be rulings either allowing the Wächter to protect the wild lands or deciding that support of Willehad-im-Wald is legal. Player magi might disagree with this and act against the decisions, and therefore be in violation of this provision. Penalties are likely to be much more severe than they would be for the actions themselves, as the player magi have directly challenged the authority of the Tribunal; the Quaesitores, in particular, take a very dim view of this.

If Willehad-im-Wald is razed, killing many innocents, the Bishop is none too pleased, and investigates. Such an investigation poses a real threat to the Order in that area, and, if the threat is averted, charges are very likely to be brought against the magi who are seen to be responsible. As the actions of the Wächter might lead to the destruction of the player covenant, the player magi could be the ones bringing the charges. Punishment can include Wizard's March, particularly if any magi actually suffered serious damage.

This provision serves to prevent magi dragging the Order into the disputes of Mythic Europe by taking the side of one noble or clergyman over another. The situation with Willehad-im-Wald is certainly about furthering artificial growth, and that indirectly increases the power of the bishop, as the village is on his land. However, the bishop does not know that the growth is magically assisted, so the actions are unlikely to lead to more demands for magical help. This case could be argued either way, and even on a con-

The player magi may well come to blows with the Faerie Huntsmen used by the Wächter, which might open them to this charge. Bear in mind that a magus has the right to defend himself and retaliate, so it matters greatly who struck the first blow. The same charge could also be brought against the Wächter for their manipulation of the fay.