Jade Tribunal

Guarding the moral and legal fabric of Ithica, the Jade Tribunal stands as the city’s highest judicial authority. Occupying a stately courthouse near the heart of Oldtown Ramparts, its presence dates back to the earliest dynasties of Ithria, with carved inscriptions attesting to centuries of case law and ancestral precedents. Judges, scribes, and advisors form the Tribunal’s core, each thoroughly vetted and sworn to uphold justice above all else. Their rulings resonate throughout Ithica—if the Jade Tribunal decrees a law unconstitutional or an individual’s conduct egregiously unlawful, no faction, not even the monarchy, can simply brush aside their verdict.
The Tribunal is led by a rotating council of senior justiciars, colloquially referred to as the “Circle of Jade.” Each member is chosen for extensive legal scholarship and a deep knowledge of Ithrian traditions. Selections are painstakingly vetted through smaller courts, religious leaders, and occasionally the monarchy, preventing any single faction from installing a biased candidate. As a result, independence and integrity have become the Tribunal’s defining traits; allies and enemies alike know that decisions within its marble halls owe allegiance only to the letter—and spirit—of Ithrian law.
Day to day, the Jade Tribunal oversees a sprawling network of sub-courts and local magistrates, streamlining small disputes like property disagreements or petty theft. Citizens often appreciate how promptly these lower courts respond—trials are relatively swift, and appeals flow upward only if significant ethical or constitutional questions arise. Still, the weightiest issues, such as treason, large-scale corruption, or major trade violations, ultimately arrive at the Tribunal’s chambers. There, close scrutiny, cross-examination, and extensive documentation ensure no party can subvert justice through mere political maneuvering.
To maintain consistency in their rulings, the Tribunal’s archival section—an immense library guarded by robed archivists—houses tomes detailing centuries of legal codes, decrees, and case precedents. Crafted manuscripts, sealed scrolls, and carefully indexed volumes allow justiciars to cite ancient verdicts when forming new judgments. Significant decisions are entered into updated tomes, such that future generations can reference them in turn. This cumulative repository lends the Tribunal a sense of unbroken heritage, linking modern Ithica to the wisdom of its storied past.
One noteworthy aspect is how the Tribunal’s jurisprudence remains grounded in Ithria’s cultural emphasis on community cohesion and ancestral respect. Punishments often lean toward restitution or service to the offended community, rather than sheer imprisonment. Repeated or egregious offenders can still face severe sentences—like forced labor or, in rare cases, exile—but the Tribunal favors resolutions that teach accountability and foster renewal. This measured approach has gained the Jade Tribunal admiration abroad, as well as scorn from those who believe only harsher penalties deter wrongdoing.
In high-profile cases, the Tribunal sometimes summons key factions—such as the Great Ithrian Company or the Corsairs of the Republic of Ithics—to testify or relinquish disputed items. While compliance is the norm, tensions can spike if corporate titans or brazen pirate captains push back against subpoenas. The Tribunal’s ability to sanction noncompliance, including freezing assets or declaring a faction’s privileges invalid, wields considerable power over even the wealthiest or most rebellious corners of Ithica. Nonetheless, it exercises these measures with caution, determined to act fairly but forcefully when law and order are threatened.
Behind the lofty marble columns, the human dimension of the Jade Tribunal also thrives. Scribes work late into the night transcribing testimonies, preserving them for posterity. Counselors and advocates patrol the waiting halls, offering guidance to litigants and collecting statements from reluctant witnesses. Elders from local communities can petition for minor legislative adjustments, ensuring the law evolves with changing times. For many Ithrians, the Tribunal’s openness affirms its status as not only a judicial colossus but also a responsive, living institution.
In Ithica’s swirling tapestry of power, the Jade Tribunal anchors a moral fulcrum—steady and incorruptible as a carved gemstone. Its layered hierarchy and meticulous record-keeping reflect the reverence Ithrians hold for due process and balanced governance. Where rival factions might posture and haggle for political advantage, the Tribunal methodically weighs evidence, upholding an ancient promise: justice for all who come to its doors. While no institution is perfect, the Jade Tribunal remains a beacon in a sea of shifting alliances—one that endures, unwavering, through every challenge Ithica confronts.

Ruled Locations

• Ithica