Justicars
Physical embodiments of the law, the history of the Justiciar dates back twenty-five hundred years to the earliest days of the Flietch-ta Empire. Hoping to expand his influence beyond the confines of his small valley, Emperor Cith Harnot sought out Flind that would enforce his imperial edicts across the Pontrien River valley. One day, while tracking a great white bear in the Frosted Mountains, pondering how he might find such Flind, he caught the scent of smoke on the wind. Leaving the trail of the bear, he followed the stench through a narrow pass, only to find the ruins of a hunting, its roof collapsed and western wall crumbling. The smoke, tinted with apple and roasted meat, came from a wide pit of glowing coals, the body of moose stretched across it. Encircling the fire, seated in the lotus position and chanting softly, were Flind cubs - perhaps 4 or 5 years old - all marked with the strangest furs of black and white.
The Emperor, who had been hunting alone, glanced around, looking for an adult. Seeing no one, he cleared his throat and a hundred eyes turned his way. "Would you like some dinner?" asked one of the cubs. "It is almost ready," spoke another. Suddenly famished the Emperor nodded, accepting their hospitality. And so he dined with the strange litter of Flind cubs - fifty in all. He learned that no adults lived here and that each of the cubs came from a different villages. They had, all agreed, felt a strange compulsion to leave their homes in the past moon and upon arriving, found that their brethren. They were certain that the Emperor's arrival was no coincidence and offered him their service. Cith Harnot knew he had found that which he sought.
"I shall take you into my household. You shall be my voice and hands throughout the land, enforcing my will and maintaining order across the Empire. I name you Justicars and your word shall be the law."
The first justicar died in the service of the Emperor five later. That autumn, a mid-wife brought a babe to the IImperial Lodge that bore the distinctive black and white fur. Cith Harnot immediately sequestered the child, introduced him to his brethren who simply nodded, and began his training in the spring. Since that time, there have always been exactly fifty Flind with Black and White fur to serve as Justicars.
Today, the Justicars continue to serve the same purpose as they did those long centuries ago, travelling the countryside and serving as the will of the Emperor. They carry out his edicts, spreading decrees throughout the land. They reacquisition youths for the army and when needed, organize militia along the border of the Orkish Hills. When needed, they serve as judge jury, and generally executioner for those accused of crimes against their neighbors or empire. Most commonly, they settle disputes in the small villages of Empire, acting as the imperial arbiter.
Since those early days, the size and population of the Empire has likewise expanded, causing Justicars to travel more widely. It has even become custom for some to travel beyond the boundaries of the Empire. These travels, typically the purview of the youngest usticars, those just past their tenth anniversaries of their birth and season of study with the Elynthi samurai, take many Justicars far from the Frosted Mountains. These wandering Justicars still execute the will of the Emperor, but also spend much of their time learning about the world, the varying perspectives that they encounter helping them to better understand the true nature of justice.
Within the Empire, A Justicar's word is law. At anytime a Justicar can try, and sentence any individual that he considers unlawful. A Justicar's first and only duty is to the Law. Even those Justicars travelling outside of the Empire often become involved in situations where they must arbitrate or act in order to fulfill this duty.
In Flind society, the only check to this absolute power is the will of the other Justicar. A corrupt Justicar is rare and dangerous, and would be quickly hunted down by his brethren. A Justicar may not hold political office.