LAW ENFORCEMENT

You and the Law

1. Enforcers of the Pact: Police

On Vero, the Consulate and it's enforcer's, the local Police Force—are appointed to maintain the balance between the island’s factions. These enforcers, are given authority by The Senate, Pact Leadership and the Consul, to uphold core rules; such as respect for territorial boundaries, submission to the will of the gods, and adherence to the social hierarchy and infraction of the criminal code. Their power is unquestionable, and they maintain order through direct action, whether disciplining individuals or negotiating disputes. The Police also enforce the Legal Code.

2. Hierarchical Rule: The Power of Strength

Vero's laws are driven by strength and hierarchy. Each faction, such as vampires, werewolves, or fey, operates with its internal structure where leaders are the judges, juries, and executioners within their territories.

In Vero, if a member of one species attacks or violates another or their property, the perpetrator will be placed under arrest for due process by the Police after an appropriate investigation at the assumed or direct behest of the Consul. Process will then follow involving interviews with victims (if possible) and negotiations between the involved Factional leaders. If a trial is warranted, one will be conducted before the persons of the Consul and each Faction involved will prosecute or defend, usually this duty falls to a Senator. The Consul retains final decision and will decide punishment.

Punishments can include any of the following:

Indentured servitude (slavery) for a pre-determined amount of time up to life.
Prison Sentence of any duration
Summary Execution
Arena Execution
Fines and Remediation to the injured party.
Public Service
Probation

Crimes which occur within Factions are handled by their own faction or as an alternative a Leader can hand the issue off to the Island Authorities. Examples include:

Vampires enforce their rules within their kind, punishing breaches severely.
Werewolves use physical force to settle disputes, often through challenge or ritual.
Fey utilize mystical methods like enchantments or curses to enforce control.
etc.

Duels and ritual challenges are legal provided they adhere to acceptable oversight by Faction Leaders.

3. The Role of Human Indentured Servants

In Vero, human indentured servants serve also as informants, or spies. They help maintain peace by monitoring the actions of powerful supernatural beings. These freed devoted humans or exotic species are often used by Enforcers. Violation of the power dynamic may result in cruel consequences, with traitors or those who step out of line often subjected to further and harsher servitude.

4. The Gods as Arbitrators

In Vero, gods such as Jupiter, Diana, and Bacchus are the ultimate arbiters of law. Their will manifests in the actions of powerful beings and their representatives, like priests, who serve as Enforcers. Violating the sacred order can lead to divine sanctions—curses, transformations, or sacrifices—designed to restore balance. These divine interventions are feared for their severity and are executed through rituals and divine retribution.

5. The Arena as Judgment and Punishment

The arena in Vero serves as both a public spectacle and a method of punishment. Those who break the laws, may face a trial by combat where they either defend their innocence or face execution. The arena can be used to settle disputes, enforce dominance, and remind all inhabitants of the consequences of defying the island’s hierarchy.

6. The Jail as a Temporary Holding Ground and the Lanista's Prison Complex

Vero’s jail is not designed for rehabilitation but as a place of punishment and psychological control. It is a dungeon-like compound with enchanted walls to prevent escape. Inmates are subjected to humiliation and harsh control mechanisms:

Humans are often used as slaves or subjected to brutal oversight.
Vampires are imprisoned in ways that deny them sustenance or magic, forcing them into a state of living death.
Werewolves face physical restraint or may be left in savage cages, unable to shift back to their human form, causing primal agony.
Fae experience psychological torment, with their powers nullified and subjected to mental tests or manipulations.

IMPORTANT: Avoid leaving a roleplayer in a situation where they cannot interact with anyone for extended periods, such as hours or days. This is considered poor etiquette. If a character is left in such a scenario for more than 2 hours, they are entitled to roleplay being rescued by an NPC or finding a way to escape. Always make sure to communicate any updates or actions related to your character’s situation directly to your captor. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and the roleplay progresses smoothly.

Jailers in Vero are powerful beings who enforce the prison’s order through fear and authority. Their duties include:

Interrogations that focus on psychological control, often using violence or manipulation.
Public trials where prisoners, particularly outsiders, face brutal, predetermined fates in the arena or ritual grounds.
Humiliation and obedience rituals that strip prisoners of their dignity, forcing them into servitude or submission to higher authorities.
Sale to Slavers or interested people, for their own profit.

7. The Ownership of Slaves: Property and Power

In Vero, slaves are viewed not as people, but as property. The treatment of these individuals is entirely at the discretion of their owners, with no interference or judgment from other species. Whether human or supernatural, slaves exist to serve and obey, their lives governed by the whims and desires of those who claim ownership over them. In this harsh system, their rights, if any, are nonexistent. The island’s hierarchy ensures that no other being, no matter their status or power, can intervene in how a slave is treated. This absolute control emphasizes the brutal and unforgiving nature of Vero’s society, where even the lowest of creatures are bound by the will of those in power.