he wisdom and fairness of the church judges the lawbreakers and the laws in Veluna. The judges are always clerisy with most being followers of our most just Rao and in a few cases Saint Cuthbert or Heironeous. The Archclericy's Judges for the diocese are selected from Velunan clergy by the College of Bishops and approved by the nobles Celestial Order of the Moons. Very much like the selection of Canon.

When someone is accused of a crime and arrested they are held until one of the judicial clerics from that diocese come to hear the case. The cleric questions the local law enforcement, accuser and defendant in a normally public but in some cases private proceeding. Witnesses and objects can be offered by church, accuser or defendant which must then be approved by the church before being weighed as evidence. Scribes record statements by all questioned by the court through all hearings. Proof of innocence must be made to the church by the defendant while being disputed by the accuser. If the accuser is unable to prove that the defendant committed the crime, but the defendant is likewise unable to prove that he didn't do it then the defendant will still be punished. This is because the defendant has not proven his innocence to the church. In these cases the punishment would normally be less severe than being proven guilty.

If a noble is brought up on charges of a crime then they are judged in private by the Celestial Order of the Moons. If innocence is not proven the cleric silently viewing the proceedings then speaks for the church and hands down sentence.

When a criminal has preformed a very evil act, high crimes or capitol crimes they are judged by the highest court in the diocese or the Holy Court of Mitrik. Lower crimes assigned court depends on how evil the act was and if connected crimes were committed in more than one diocese by the same defendant.

Punishments are decided by the church and are set to fit the crime. Judges may decide the sentence maybe several days in the courts stockade in public display for stealing from a market stall or fines to reimburse the shopkeeper and the courts services. A combination of both maybe used as well depending on the accused, proof, diocese and the situation. Punishments that are not used by our civilized courts are ones used in more barbaric lands. Punishments such as enslavement, combat to the death, torture or amputation are illegal in Veluna and punishable under Velunan law.

Punishments are carried out by clerical officials.

• Stockades are usually placed outside the court entrance on a raised platform with a guard to prevent the criminal from being harmed to much by the often jeering and angry crowds. Simple minded crowds of commoners are allowed, and thus encouraged, to do such things as insult, spit upon, poke, or throw rotten food at the criminal. Nobles are never placed in stockades as punishment.
• Jail time is usually spent in buildings near or connected to the judging church or temple where the wisdom of the clerics can help the criminals troubled soul. The jail maybe a secure room with barred doors or windows or simple chains set into a inner wall.
• Each diocese has one prison with the Veluna Archprison in Whithale for very evil or dangerous prisoners. They are places of prayer and work to help inmates focus their actions away from unlawful habits. Set in desolate areas away from population centers the prisons are run by a cleric appointed by the diocese top ranking cleric.
• Banishments are always very public and ceremonial with huge crowds gathered to watch the expulsion of the lawbreaker.
• Death sentences are rare and the prisoner, whatever their crime, is not to suffer unnecessarily on his departure from this world. Usually done by spell or poison with priority given to it's humane quick dispatching of the sentence.