Mantle of the Magistrate
Summary
A decorative, yellow colored robe with an open-fit design meant to cover one's already worn clothing. Finely stitched, if subdued, images adorn the sides, depicting roiling sands and proud buildings amongst them. A high, flourished collar adorns the neck, while firm shoulders jut outward, completing an air of unyielding presentation. One long strip of cloth accompanies the robe, meant to be thrown around the neck, and let both ends drape down the front of the chest. Upon this golden cloth is etched with words of law, reciting the wearer's intention to fairness, justice, and the most honest ruling beneath all goddesses and gods. There are rare times Dorvar's immense trading companies need to come together. If not for the sake of profit, then to exercise judicial regulations. Ostensibly done so in the name of local governments or nations, the matter of which laws to judge under is a contentious matter. As some areas naturally favor one over others, picking a place to hold court can be as important as the actual issue itself. However, when impartiality of the most serious matters is required, the companies collectively call upon a person dubbed the Magistrate. It would be, many centuries prior, that the first Magistrate became known, a jiuweihu by the name of Jakarn. A capable warrior, his true talent lay in the realm of governing, and he proved an incredibly reliable source of fair laws and discerning judgements. While such a perspective understandably changes depending on who is asked, his vast reputation owed him respect from many of his contemporaries. So it came to be, he devised a tome and a set of legal vestments, inscribing all his lawful knowledge into both. This livery was handed down to his successor, who studied in his footsteps, and so the generational title of the Magistrate came to be. The duty of the Magistrate is to uphold the law, but laws are biased things in and of themselves. That injustice happens is not the issue; who enforces it? Why do they enforce it? What actually happens in the punishment? For people who command entire nations' worth of money, and none of the accountability, it was truly daunting indeed to exact justice upon them. These successor Magistrates lacked the influence Jakarn commanded, and so struggled to enforce their own rulings (however valid they were). It would not be until the 4th Magistrate some centuries later, an effluent noble-turned-lawyer by the name of Barhi. She devised a series of binding contracts and transnational laws, collectively referred to as the Magistrate's Carter, codifying the role of Magistrate in every nation in Dorvar. Each nation agreed to provide the Magistrate with an armed force to enforce their legal rulings; in return, governments of Dorvar would not be charged service fees by the Magistrate. This provided an immensely powerful legal tool by the native people against trade companies, who still ultimately needed to do business in the lands. Unless the Magistrate theirself was called to judge, they were not to use any of the power allocated to them. However, the position was also no longer allowed to be one of generations and designated inheritors. A conclave of representatives from every government was to convene, and these persons were to elect a Magistrate instead. Those elected must then pass the trials presented by the Mantle, which would not allow any who could not answer it to wear it. And so, hence forth, the Magistrate became an elected judge, representing the people of Dorvar when called upon. Some better, some worse; but few were willing to challenge the position at all. As for the Mantle itself, it is typically enshrined in one of several courts across Dorvar. It is only allowed to be moved by the Magistrate theirself, or in cases of dire emergency that might otherwise threaten it. Numerous attempts of thievery and sabotage have been tried on the Mantle throughout history, but none have succeeded. Indeed, in the times it has been actually stolen, the thieves later turned themselves in, expressing uncharacteristic guilt at their actions. Incidentally, this led to the destruction of several trading companies, who had conspired to undermine the legal authority of the Magistrate.Mechanics & Inner Workings
On its own, the mantle is for the most part magically reinforced, providing a modicum of protection. Its real power lies within its ancestral memory--all the prior Magistrates leave their own imprints upon the Mantle. In sense, this has given it a kind of nascent will, formed by the gestalt consciousness of such imprints. Through this, the Mantle is able to adapt throughout time to newer cultural trends, learning ever more accurate definitions of law, truth, and justice. Those who can tap into this and earn the Mantle's favor benefit immeasurably.
Those who are unworthy, however, find themselves judged by the Mantle itself, a court of law in the very realm of the soul.
Significance
An icon of law and order in Dorvar, it is singularly representative of justice to many people. Perhaps more than the person who wears the it, the Mantle is the unyielding wall against corruption and evil. Many in Dorvar often strive to behave worthy of potentially wearing the Mantle, even if none of them actually intend to become a judge.
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