Imperial Decree #382: Imperial Inquisition, etc.

[Kaiseress Anandja I]

To all Shirerithians, greetings!

As you all know, Shireroth has never had an imperial police force. Matters of policing and public safety have always been a matter for the subdivisions. To combat the problem of criminality stretching across subdivisions, as well as supporting those divisions that have no or underfunded law enforcement, I hereby create the Imperial Inquisition.

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1. The Imperial Inquisition is responsible for general law enforcement and prosecutions in the Imperial Republic.

2. The Imperial Inquisition has exclusive jurisdiction in the following cases:
a. Crimes committed in two or more Duchies;
b. Suspected violations of LB VIII, D, F and M;
c. Suspected violations of LB VIII, E, when the target is the Kaiser;
d. All crimes committed in the Imperial County; and
e. Any other case explicitly put under Imperial Inquisition jurisdiction by the Kaiser.

3. The Imperial Inquisition also has joint jurisdiction in the following cases:
a. When catching a person in the act of committing a crime; and
b. When requested to assist the local law enforcement officials of a subdivision.

5. The Imperial Inquisition is also charged with prosecuting cases before the Imperial Judex, when needed.

6. The Imperial Inquisition is headed by the First Imperial Inquisitor appointed by the Kaiser.

7. The First Imperial Inquisitor is charged with the fullfillment of the duties of the Imperial Inquisition, and reports directly to the Kaiser.
a. The First Imperial Inquisitor may be removed by a 2/3rds majority vote of the Landsraad.

8. The First Imperial Inquisitor is also charged with providing the Imperial Republic with interesting and nifty stories about the work of the ImIn.
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I appoint Scott of Hyperborea First Imperial Inquisitor.

I also repeal Imperial Decree #379.

Signed by my hand this Semisaday, the Twenty-first of Ikolstyme, 3613 ASC.

[Kaiseress Anandja I]

The reason I didn't put this in either the LawBook or the DecreeBook is because I don't know where to put it.

[Jonas]

The Sermolotian Gendarmerie will not accept that other police forces are meddling in their jurisdiction.

[Kaiseress Anandja I]

The Gendarmerie has to cooperate, when needed. Regardless, I imagine the ImIn will keep an extremely low profile in Sermolot since you have such a well developed law enforcement organisation. Maybe a posh office with a couple of Inquisitors drinking coffee and watching tv.

[Harvey Steffke]

If you read the jurisdiction of the ImIn (which really could use a better shortened name, by the way) they won't have the authority to interfere with matters on a baronial level.

[Kaiseress Anandja I]

Exactly. Since the Sermolotian Gendarmerie doesn't seem likely to ask for help, I imagine that the II? people will just spy on "political interest groups" and such. I'm editing out the abbreviations since Harvey has a good point. I'll leave that up to Scott.

[Aurangzeb Khan]

The Cudgellers of Elwynn look forward to extending a vigorous and traditional greeting these new Imperial functionaries...

[Kaiseress Anandja I]

Ah, another well-organized law enforcement agency. The Cudgellers will be granted the same hospitality, I presume, when pursuing suspects into Shirekeep.

[Prince Ísur-Ai]

ImpInq?

[Aurangzeb Khan]

I can assure your Imperial Majesty that the likelihood of any fugitive suspects getting that far is negligible...

[Kaiseress Anandja I]

I thought about that too. Sounds like a company.

[Prince Ísur-Ai]

ImpIn' then?

And instead of first imperial inquisitor, prime imperial inquisitor - PImpIn'!

[Kaiseress Anandja I]

I can assure your Imperial Majesty that the likelihood of any fugitive suspects getting that far is negligible...

Ah. The Kalisa is called "The longish arm of the law which we haven't really got written down as such". We deal out swift justice, or at least in due time, and hard, or at least not soft. We might not kick ass, but we sure do prod bottom.

[Aurangzeb Khan]

Broadly however I welcome this development as being an interesting one.

[Prince Ísur-Ai]

Scott for Pimpin'! Scott for Pimpin'!

[Aurangzeb Khan]

A less likely pimp than Scott is scarcely imaginable...

[Jacobus Loki]

(fidgets)

[Gman Russell]

The Ghost Program looks forward to evading them... just like they avoid SHINE.

[Leo Fenrir]

*Grumble* Didn't get a shot *grumble* target practice *grumble* stupid flying facilities *grumble* wish I was MoMA...

[Austi_Scot]

Now we need the development of a crime culture.

[Jacobus Loki]

Well, I'm opening a lobbyist firm, that's a good start.

[Gman Russell]

Now we need the development of a crime culture.

Hello, have you been paying attention to Mirioth?

[Harvey Steffke]

Well, I'm opening a lobbyist firm, that's a good start.

[Erik Mortis]

Monty Crisco objects to any outside interference in its own affairs. The Inquisition shall not be greeted well by local authorities.

[Jacobus Loki]

As I understand it, the Inquisition is for characters rather than citizens, for narrative effect.

[Erik Mortis]

Monty Crisco will never submit!

[Bacchus]

Awesome. Inqusitions are cool.

[Kaiseress Anandja I]

Jacobus is mostly right. The Imperial Inquisition will have a double role, one small and formal, one large and more interesting. The decree is true in the way that the Imperial Inquisition will handle certain real criminal matters, like treason and such, as well as prosecution before the Judex. I imagine that this part of the job will be a very small one though. I did not create this institution to chase real citizens, but it will handle the few cases that do arise from time to time. The large part of this job is in the last section of the decree, to provide the nation with fun stories about the Imperial Inquisition's work. This is also the big reason behind appointing Scott. I wanted a good storyteller who at the same time has a relaxed position when it comes to enforcing the laws against real citizens. I am fully confident that Scott will be able to decide what cases to pursue and what cases can be better handled outside the Imperial Inquisition.

As for those of you that have expressed concern over this new organisation I have two things to say. First, to address the matter of "jurisdiction". The Imperial Inquisition will not be there to meddle in your internal affairs, but will merely handle the issues assigned to them by this decree. That will probably run more smoothly if you cooperate with Scott, who is a generally nifty and nice guy. The second thing I have to say is about this grumbling I hear from Sermolot and Dolor. I suggest you read the decree again and ask yourselves how much the II will actually be involved in your areas. If your answer is "a lot", well, I guess that says more about you than it says about the Imperial Inquisition.

I suggest that we all wait for Scott and see what direction he wants the Imperial Inquisition to take. I am fully confident that he will do a great job.

[Austi_Scot]

Now we need the development of a crime culture.

Hello, have you been paying attention to Mirioth?

Nope - via circumstances that caused me to move 1000 miles, be without the iternet except for fits and few ah ha here and there, I just recently got a stable connection.

So do catch me up on Miroth.

[Austi_Scot]

I suggest: All who want create a "paper doll" for use as a criminal. The paper dolls owner should never be revealed, just treeated as the criminals in our society. A day or two, a month or two, in jail here and there - as the crime fits.