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<ic>"...an Atun herself shall turn her gaze from you, as your soul lingers, unmourned, in the darkest recesses of the Labyrinth. You are excommunicated."
"You... you can't do that! Your writ of excommunication never passed the General Assembly!"
"You are condemned as a heretic. I will be sure the magistrate's know it. Besides, if the Assembly lacked the spine to issue a writ of excommunication against the likes of '''you''', what makes you think they have the will to condemn '''me'''?"</ic>
{{Synod Judgement Summary|Any Assembly|Lesser Majority}}
{{Synod Judgement Summary|Any Assembly|Lesser Majority}}
==Overview==
==Overview==
The [[Synod]] is responsible for investigating and publicising behaviour the Synod considers to be unvirtuous. Sanction allows the Synod to publicize such deeds and to bring religious crimes to the attention of the magistrates for possible prosecution.
The [[Synod]] is responsible for ensuring the virtuous behaviour of the Empire and its citizens. The judgement of [[inquisition]] allows priests in the Synod to investigate the actions of their Imperial citizens (including their fellow priests) - once complete, a priest can use one of three judgements of sanction to publicize the outcome of their inquisition, either [[vindication]], [[penance]], or [[castigation]].


For many years the only option available to the Synod was to condemn an individual for their invidious actions - criminal or unvirtuous. However following the work of [[Wintermark_religious_beliefs|stormcrow]] '''Jorma Steelhail''' from 379YE to 380YE, the Senate finally agreed to [[Amend_power_of_Inquisition|expand the scope of the Synod's powers]] to allow a range of different edicts to be issued - in accordance with the judgement of the Synod.
For many years the only option available to the Synod was to condemn an individual for their invidious actions - criminal or unvirtuous. However following the work of [[Wintermark_religious_beliefs|stormcrow]] '''Jorma Steelhail''' from 379YE to 380YE, the Senate finally agreed to [[Amend_power_of_Inquisition|expand the scope of the Synod's powers]] to allow a range of different edicts to be issued - in accordance with the judgement of the Synod.


As a result the judgement was changed to allow the Synod to choose one of four different options - whether to vindicate, castigate, condemn or demand penance.
As a result the rules were ultimately amended to allow the Synod to choose one of three different judgements - whether to vindicate, castigate or demand penance.


===Vindication===
===Vindication===
A judgement of vindication is used by the Synod to demonstrate that they view the target as innocent of any accusations of unvirtuous acts that have been levelled against them.  It may also be used to formally laud the subject's virtuous disposition.
A judgement of [[vindication]] is used by the Synod to demonstrate that they view the target as innocent of any accusations of unvirtuous acts that have been levelled against them.  It may also be used to formally laud the subject's virtuous disposition.
{{CaptionedImage|file=JormaSteelhail.jpg|align=right|width=250|caption=Jorma Steelhail, [[Wintermark]] [[Wintermark_religious_beliefs|stormcrow]]}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=JormaSteelhail.jpg|align=right|width=250|caption=Jorma Steelhail, [[Wintermark]] [[Wintermark_religious_beliefs|stormcrow]]}}
===Penance===
===Penance===
Penance is used where the assembly believes the subject to have engaged in both virtuous and unvirtuous behaviour. The judgement recommends how the target can correct their unvirtuous behaviour.
[[Penance]] is used where the assembly believes the subject to have engaged in both virtuous and unvirtuous behaviour. The judgement recommends how the target can correct their unvirtuous behaviour.
 
<div style="float: right;"><quote by="Marcher Proverb">It is easy to defend the innocent.</quote></div>
===Castigation===
===Castigation===
A judgement of castigation indicates that the target is believed by the assembly to be guilty of unvirtuous deeds and nature and is formally rebuked for them.
A judgement of [[castigation]] indicates that the target is believed by the assembly to be guilty of unvirtuous deeds and nature and is formally rebuked for them.  
 
===Condemnation===
Condemnation is used where the assembly is satisfied that an individual is guilty of committing a religious crime. The priest who brought the motion of condemnation is expected to be responsible for ensuring that the magistrates are informed of the matter, and that the basis for the condemnation is presented to them.
 
==Judgement==
The judgement of sanction must name one specific type of sanction; vindication, penance, castigation, or condemnation, that is being weighed against all those named in the judgement. A sanction may be raised by any assembly of the [[Synod]]. When the judgement is raised in a national assembly, it may only be used to sanction members of that nation. The virtue assemblies may raise a judgement against anyone - but they are expected to restrict the remit of their sanction to matters concerning their virtue.
 
The judgement must name each specific individual who will be covered. A judgement may only name more than one individual if they are members of the same oathsworn band - either a  [[bands#banner|banner]], [[bands#Sect|sect]], or [[bands#coven|coven]] at the time the judgement is raised.
 
When a judgement of sanction is submitted, the Tribune is responsible for informing the subject of the judgement. Usually they will send a messenger to find the citizen to ask them to attend the Hub so that they can be briefed on the development. Any sanction requires a lesser majority to pass.
 
<div style="float: right;"><quote by="Marcher Proverb">It is easy to defend the innocent.</quote></div>
 
==Outcome==
A successful judgement of vindication, castigation, or penance will be noted and recorded in the official Synod records, but it is the responsibility of the priest who brought the judgement to ensure that all are aware of the outcome.
 
A successful condemnation however will lead to a [[criminal trial]], if the magistrates are satisfied that there is sufficient evidence that [[Imperial  Law]] has been broken, especially if a [[religious crime]] has been committed. The magistrates will consider:
 
* Whether the presenting priests have sufficiently established a [[religious crime]] has taken place
* The severity of the crime in terms of harm, or potential harm, to the Empire
* Any pleas for [[clemency]]
 
The priest who raised the successful judgement of condemnation must address the magistrates, either alone or with others, and present the basis for their condemnation.


==Inquisition==
==Escalation==
A priest who conducts an [[inquisition]] may choose to escalate the inquisition to a sanction if they believe it is appropriate. To do this they submit a new judgement of sanction for consideration by the Synod. This judgement does not count against the limit of one judgement per priest per summit, provided it is submitted by the same priest who submitted the judgement of inquisition and that it does not name a new target not named in the inquisition. The new judgement may use less names than the original inquisition, but it may not add a new name to the list.
A priest who conducts an [[inquisition]] may choose to escalate the inquisition to a single judgement of [[vindication]], [[penance]] or [[castigation]] if they believe it is appropriate. This escalation is considered to be an extension of the original inquisition, it will be submitted by the [[Tribune of the Synod]] on behalf of the priest who raised the original judgement at their request. As a result, this judgement does not count against the limit of one judgement per priest per summit. The Tribune will only escalate a judgement if it does not name a new target not named in the inquisition. An escalated judgement may use fewer names than the original inquisition, but it may not add a new name to the list.


Refusal to attend an inquisition is usually sufficient grounds for condemnation and prosecution for subverting the agencies of state, provided that the target or targets could reasonably have attended.
A member of the Synod may only submit a single judgement per summit. Inevitably inquisition can cause the shadow of suspicion to fall over those who are called to testify for their actions. The Tribune will use their authority to escalate an inquisition to allow the Synod to act quickly to publish the outcome of their investigation - unless there are extenuating circumstances, a priest who has called a judgement is expected to escalate the inquisition to a sanction speedily. If deeds were unvirtuous then people might need to know that quickly so that they can act accordingly - and if those who were inquisited were vindicated then they deserve to have their names cleared.


{{Synod Further Reading}}
{{Synod Further Reading}}

Latest revision as of 08:23, 11 April 2026

Synod Judgement

Overview

The Synod is responsible for ensuring the virtuous behaviour of the Empire and its citizens. The judgement of inquisition allows priests in the Synod to investigate the actions of their Imperial citizens (including their fellow priests) - once complete, a priest can use one of three judgements of sanction to publicize the outcome of their inquisition, either vindication, penance, or castigation.

For many years the only option available to the Synod was to condemn an individual for their invidious actions - criminal or unvirtuous. However following the work of stormcrow Jorma Steelhail from 379YE to 380YE, the Senate finally agreed to expand the scope of the Synod's powers to allow a range of different edicts to be issued - in accordance with the judgement of the Synod.

As a result the rules were ultimately amended to allow the Synod to choose one of three different judgements - whether to vindicate, castigate or demand penance.

Vindication

A judgement of vindication is used by the Synod to demonstrate that they view the target as innocent of any accusations of unvirtuous acts that have been levelled against them. It may also be used to formally laud the subject's virtuous disposition.

JormaSteelhail.jpg
Jorma Steelhail, Wintermark stormcrow

Penance

Penance is used where the assembly believes the subject to have engaged in both virtuous and unvirtuous behaviour. The judgement recommends how the target can correct their unvirtuous behaviour.

It is easy to defend the innocent.

Marcher Proverb

Castigation

A judgement of castigation indicates that the target is believed by the assembly to be guilty of unvirtuous deeds and nature and is formally rebuked for them.

Escalation

A priest who conducts an inquisition may choose to escalate the inquisition to a single judgement of vindication, penance or castigation if they believe it is appropriate. This escalation is considered to be an extension of the original inquisition, it will be submitted by the Tribune of the Synod on behalf of the priest who raised the original judgement at their request. As a result, this judgement does not count against the limit of one judgement per priest per summit. The Tribune will only escalate a judgement if it does not name a new target not named in the inquisition. An escalated judgement may use fewer names than the original inquisition, but it may not add a new name to the list.

A member of the Synod may only submit a single judgement per summit. Inevitably inquisition can cause the shadow of suspicion to fall over those who are called to testify for their actions. The Tribune will use their authority to escalate an inquisition to allow the Synod to act quickly to publish the outcome of their investigation - unless there are extenuating circumstances, a priest who has called a judgement is expected to escalate the inquisition to a sanction speedily. If deeds were unvirtuous then people might need to know that quickly so that they can act accordingly - and if those who were inquisited were vindicated then they deserve to have their names cleared.

Further Reading

Core Reading


Click Expand to see a summary of judgements and other pages related to the Synod.