Emerald Magistrates
The Emerald Magistrates are the enforcers of the Emperor's laws, answering only to the Emperor and the Emerald Champion. They had broad powers to achieve this goal, including the rights to recruit assistance, hold trials and mete out punishment, although their powers were only applicable in cases applicable to Imperial, not local law.
Public Agenda
Duties of the Emerald Magistrates
While the Emerald Magistrates are magistrates, they are specifically the enforcers of the Emperor's Law, as well as legal matters that could not be easily handled by a single clan's jurisdictions. Emerald Magistrates often deal with problems arising between clans. They also serve as observers for the Emperor, gathering information on the empire and meting out his justice when needed. Some are assigned as yojimbo to those in the Emperor's favor, also doubling as spies to those under his suspicion. One of the most important duties of the Emerald Magistrates was to protect the Emperor's roads and those travelling them. If a criminal is known to be guilty, then a confession might be obtained by whatever means necessary.Emerald Magistrates and Inter-Clan Politics
As the Emerald Magistrates were appointed by the Emperor himself, they were among his most powerful tools for keeping the peace and keeping the clans of Rokugan in their places. Magistrates can be posted publicly or secretly to observe the clans; the presence of the Emerald Magistrates is a constant reminder that the Emperor was watching.Symbols of the Emerald Magistrates
The symbol of office for Emerald Magistrates was a small jade orb, four inches in diameter. Magistrates often emblazoned the orb with their own mon and the mon of the Emerald Champion etched on the surface. The orb was a symbol of the magistrate's authority. For Chief Magistrates, it could conveniently served as a gavel when struck against a table. Yoriki and doshin carried a jitte as the symbol of their authority. The jitte was also very useful for stopping fights and disarming aggressors. Traveling magistrates who had worked their way up through the ranks to that position often continued to carry their jitte.Creation of Emerald Magistrates
Emerald Magistrates were generally appointed due to politics and as favors. The Emerald Magistrates were chosen by the Emperor himself, though the Emerald Champion had occasionally made recommendations for vacant posts. Traditionally Emerald Magistrates came only from the clans, but occasionally if a ronin had shown exceptional merit or if the Emperor desired to make a note of his displeasure to the clans, a ronin might be given an appointment to a Magistrate's position.Assets
Dojo
Only one dojo throughout the Empire trained the Emerald Magistrates, located at Yogasha Shiro, the Palace of the Emerald Champion.History
Formation of the Emerald Magistrates
The Emerald Magistrates and the Imperial Legions were founded in 153 by Doji Hatsuo and Soshi Saibankan. Hatsuo, the soldier, was the architect of the Imperial Legions while Saibankan, the judge, designed the legal framework of the Emerald Magistrates which would fall under the command of an Emerald Champion. To this date, there had been no radical change in the systems originally laid out by Hatsuo and Saibankan.
Founding Date
153
Type
Government, Law Enforcement
Location
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
- Audience Hall
- Audience Room
- Barracks
- Cave
- Conference Halls
- Court of Judgement
- Court of Punishment
- Dignitary's Quarters
- Dining Hall
- Entrance Hall
- Family Quarters
- Gardens of Verdant Serenity
- Granary and Storage
- Hennery
- Holding Cells
- Kitchen
- Library
- Main Gate
- Private Dining Hall
- Room of Law
- Room of Questioning
- Ruby Champion's Estate
- Ruby Dojo
- Secret Room
- Servants Quarters
- Shiro Yogasha
- Stables
- Takahara Village
- The Castle of the Emerald Champion (Building)
- The Emerald Archives
- The Emerald Champions Rooms
- Training Dojo
- Training Yard
- Traveling Magistrates Quarters
Notable Members
Comments