crime and punishment...

[agdhani.livejournal.com]

So, I have a kingdom of particularly peaceful individuals who possess a varying array of mental 'abilities', a land where serious crime is almost non-existent (the most common crimes, which are not particularly common at all, would be things like cheating someone out of fair payment, failure to pay, avoidance of taxation etc). There is very little history of things like kidnapping, rape, beatings or murder...but these crimes HAVE happened now and then, so there would have to be punishments in place to deal with these things.

The situation at hand is that three individuals (non-connected) have been proven to have been involved in the death of another (a church leader). One is the religious leader in a neighboring kingdom...I'm thinking he will be cut off from the church and left for the queen in his kingdom to punish. One of the other two is also a religious figure, the son of the poisoned man, and the third is a pawn manipulated into trying to poison someone else...but the poison ends up in the wrong hands. The third is also not a citizen of the kingdom in which the poisoning takes place.

My dilemma is determining what sort of punishment they would administer...both to one of their own race, part of their church, killing his own father, and the other being a blacksmith of a different race, from a different kingdom. Would a death penalty be too harsh for an otherwise peaceful people? Something quick and relatively painless...or something meant to be a public lesson? Just looking for ideas to spark the creative process, so all suggestions are welcome.

Comments

[agdhani.livejournal.com]

I should mention that there is a single 'sanctioned' form of execution in the land, but its use is VERY rare. Could they execute a foreigner? Would the church have its own form of punishment or would it be turned over to the state?

[witchyemerald.livejournal.com]

So are the peaceful by nature or by teaching. Since there are rare times people in your kingdom have done crimes, I would guess they are taught to be peaceful, and then I would ask how? You could justify, in that thought process, a harsh public punishment, unless you don't want them to die. As a writer you can come up with lots of other equally harsh punishments to give to your three.

You would have to chose the execute the foreigner, but I if the people want justice, they might do it anyway, because the crime happen on their soil, the people of the kingdom, might just want to so punishment.

[agdhani.livejournal.com]

It's some of both really. Even when undergoing great persecution, most will not fight back. The kingdom has a small standing 'army'...mostly protecting the monarch and ecclesiastical dignitaries...and a few roads coming into the kingdom...but they are not well trained in physical violence. As some (probably about 1/2) have the capacity to cause physical harm through mental/psychic means, non-violence was something that came into their culture long ago in order to preserve their race (they live 200-600 years...and find conception difficult, so too much violence amongst themselves would destroy them as a race very quickly). a bit like Tolkein's elves, maybe, but less trained for combat.
I was thinking exile for the church member...as the other kingdoms can sometimes be harsh on members of this race, his life will be in danger, but it would mean the church does not have to execute him...and he does stand the possibility of returning one day. I don't think the public would call for his execution. The foreigner...I'm thinking they would likely send him home for punishment, but have not decided yet if that's 'logical' lol.

[witchyemerald.livejournal.com]

Well if the believe in preserving the race, but they are guilty, maybe some other form of punishment, like x amount of year in servitude, doesn't mean slavery, but forced military or working for the victims family for x amount of years until the sentience is paid.

Sending him home after guilty of a crime sound like a get out of jail free card, unless he get punished at home like a treaty pack with others.

Just tossing ideas

[agdhani.livejournal.com]

oh, his Queen back home has a definite interest in punishing him. There has been a lot of violence in her kingdom towards the other race...and as some of her advisers and best friends are part of that race (including the MC) she wants the kingdom to be safe for them. She's executed quite a few already for murder, so she won't hesitate to give this guy what's coming to him.

And since I do intend a meeting between the two monarchs, they can work this out between them.

[witchyemerald.livejournal.com]

sounds like a perfect pawn in a political move.

[fairyniamh]

How was the peace achieved? Is it because they are naturally peaceful? Or is fear ruling them?

Are their deaths going to cause a conflict/resolution you need for story progression? Is the other race peaceful or violent? Will his/her death cause war? Are the people/rulers trying to avoid/cause war? Why did he kill his father? Was his father good/bad? If he was bad would people understand/believe him if he explained?

Would they use the deaths to strike fear in the hearts of their people/neighbors? Or do they want to sweep it under the rug and continue with their peaceful facade?

[agdhani.livejournal.com]

Part of the peace was achieved through religious teachings, the rest because they know that there are those amongst them who could kill with a thought, and their population growth level would mean their rapid extinction. Also, as many of this race can touch an object and gain information about it and the last person to use it, tracking down criminals amongst them can be very easy to do (for those who are not squeamish about doing this...which most are). They don't like fighting, they don't like violence, and tend to avoid it when they can.

There is no specific 'need' to kill the criminals. Mainly identifying them gets my MC off the hook and keeps a murderer from being elected to a position of power.

Both rulers would be seeking to avoid war at this point. His father was...complicated. Many did not like him for his policies, and he has done bad things, but he is not a monster either. It was a kill for power. Some are pleased the man is dead, but are displeased/shocked that he was murdered.

And I can definitely see them being concerned with the perception of other kingdoms.

[kahuna-burger.livejournal.com]

I'm going to work under the assumptions that the individuals are truly peaceful by nature and that this is strongly related to the mental abilities you cited - that is, if just about everyone is low level empathic, hurting other people would not be a common desire.

If this is the case, a fitting punishment for the plotter could be enhancing their receptive empathy and forcing them to serve the people currently mourning the victim for a certain term. They get a unique punishment in experiencing the pain they have caused and it 'fixes' what people of that society would see as the most common cause of violent crime.

For the outsider, a more intense version of the same as provided by projecting empaths, plus return to his own land to face whatever form of punishment they use.

[agdhani.livejournal.com]

hhmmm...that's a cool idea...I can see that being useful...will have to ponder how it could fit, thanks :)