The Law: Territorial Authority vs Steward vs Dogs
cra2:
I've done a search on Territorial Authority and still haven't quite come to a concrete picture in my head.
Was hoping someone could help me...
In terms of "law enforcement" and justice, what is the difference betweent he TA, the Steward and the Dogs?
In a town that has a TA and a Steward, if someone's ... I dunno.. stealing chickens... who investigates, arrests, tries, and punishes the guilty?
I get that the TA is more of a "tax collector" but it does say that he's there to ensure taxes CAN be collected. In other words - a town plagued by crime doesn't produce taxes. So does the TA carry a gun? Does he investigate crime? Does he have the ability to arrest/jail someone?
Even if not.. what happens when someone doesn't pay their taxes when he comes calling?
Does he go tell the Steward to get the money?
Or does he enforce his will with a gun?
Or does he go back to his Superiors and "report" the crime so they can send law enforcement?
Or is "criminal justice" the Steward's job only?
Or is the Steward only concerned with Faith issues and "law & order" (the way we see it) aren't important?
And if criminal justice is the Steward's job, then the Dogs are really more like a U.S. (territorial) Marshall, while the Steward is like the town sheriff? They do the same job - just the Dogs have more authority when they're present? Doesn't seem right cuz I thought Marshalls tended to stick to issues that are bigger than an individual town - like breaking up a County-wide cattle-rustling gang. Or tracking a criminal who has left town and is on the run.
Lance D. Allen:
The way I play it:
The TA is the federal government's representation out in the Territories. The rep is one part sheriff, one part taxman.
He enforces TA laws.
The steward isn't (generally) recognized as a legitimate authority figure by the TA. Sometimes the steward is also a town mayor, but as a rule he's a spiritual and social leader rather than an elected figure. Where TA law and the tenets of the Faithful coincide, he enforces the law. Where they differ, he follows the Faith. This can cause problems with the TA. As a rule though, the TA isn't right there in the town unless it's a bigger one. Often, the TA rep may be one of the Faithful, so he may turn a blind eye to what the law forbids but the Faith allows.
Such as the Dogs' King-given authority to shoot, hang or whatever they please.
Other times, the TA and the Dogs may not see eye to eye. The Dogs don't recognize the laws made by the corrupt, decadent government back east. The TA doesn't recognize the divine authority of the Order Set Apart.
cra2:
Very well written, thanks!
Is this the generally-accepted view of their roles?
Quote from: Lance D. Allen on August 05, 2009, 07:57:49 AM
The way I play it:
The TA is the federal government's representation out in the Territories. The rep is one part sheriff, one part taxman.
He enforces TA laws.
The steward isn't (generally) recognized as a legitimate authority figure by the TA. Sometimes the steward is also a town mayor, but as a rule he's a spiritual and social leader rather than an elected figure. Where TA law and the tenets of the Faithful coincide, he enforces the law. Where they differ, he follows the Faith. This can cause problems with the TA. As a rule though, the TA isn't right there in the town unless it's a bigger one. Often, the TA rep may be one of the Faithful, so he may turn a blind eye to what the law forbids but the Faith allows.
Such as the Dogs' King-given authority to shoot, hang or whatever they please.
Other times, the TA and the Dogs may not see eye to eye. The Dogs don't recognize the laws made by the corrupt, decadent government back east. The TA doesn't recognize the divine authority of the Order Set Apart.
cra2:
You know what might be very helpful - a concrete list of examples where the laws of the faith may differ or agree with the laws of the TA. And a differentiation between a "Steward" issue and a "Dogs" issue.
Stealing chickens, for example.
Has to be against the "law" - right? TA law.
But theft has to be a "sin" in the Book of Life, as well.
So I'd assume the Steward or the TA or both would handle it.
No?
So what are some examples "sins" that the Steward would handle but the TA wouldn't care about?
Lust, greed, pride, etc. right.
Seems simple except when you bring "justice" into it.
What happens when the Steward can exact justic on his flock in forms that would otherwise be considered crimes by the TA?
You know - if the Steward shoots (or beats or interrogates or brands) someone for crimes of the Faith, does the TA call that murder?
lumpley:
Yes! Great topic.
Lance is right on.
The office of Steward is solely religious; a Steward has no legal authority at all. Same with the Dogs! If a Steward or the Dogs shoot and hang people, this makes them murderers in the eyes of the Territorial Authority.
The TA guy has a tough job of it, though. Think about the beat cop in a (cinematic) Mafia neighborhood. If someone's stealing your chickens, do you go to the cop? The hell you do. You go to the Family. If there's a murder in the neighborhood, does anybody talk to the police? NO.
The Faith fled out here into the West to get away from the federal government, and the Territorial Authority is the federal government's representation out here. It's not easy relations. Sometimes the TA will employ Faithful, to ease relations; sometimes Faithful will step up to be TA reps, and turn a blind eye (like a Mob guy joining the force).
One Dog of mine got herself chased halfway across the Mountain Territory by the Territorial Authority's rangers, for being (in their eyes) a murderer and rebel. She'd gun down a TA rep for meeting her eyes.
-Vincent
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