Chelaxia: I am Chelaxia, Empress of Cheliax, who rules Wisely and Justly, for I am Wise and Just.
Tianius: I am Tianius, Emperor of Tianxia, who governs with Prudence and Good Judgment for the benefit of my Subjects.
Chelaxia: Tell me, Tianius, how is Justice done in Tianxia?
Tianius: That is a Large Question, Chelaxia, and not one I can hope to answer Quickly. But to begin with I will tell you of our Magistrates. For Justice cannot be done without Just Magistrates, and so I have selected the most Learned and Virtuous Men in my Empire to serve as Magistrates.
Chelaxia: That sounds Difficult. I will Ensorcel the Magistrates to be Just.
Tianius: You have little faith in the Virtue of your Magistrates, Chelaxia! But I must caution you that if a man is not already Just, your Sorcery will not grant him knowledge of True Justice. Do you believe this man to be Virtuous, and merely in need of Guidance?
Chelaxia: He was a magistrate under Asmodeus, and served as such for Thirty Years. That is why I needed the sorcery.
At this Tianius is Silent.
Chelaxia: What of the Lawyers of Tianxia?
Tianius: Lawyers? I know not of Lawyers. In Tianxia, court is conducted under the auspices of the Magistrate, who summons Witnesses and decides how much Weight to give to the Evidence. But tell me, what are these Lawyers?
Chelaxia: There is a Lawyer of the Prosecution, who is tasked with arguing that the accused is Guilty, and a Lawyer of the Defense, who is tasked with arguing that the accused is Innocent. In this we can discover whether indeed he be Guilty or Innocent, by which Lawyer has the better Argument.
Tianius: But what if one lawyer should be better at Sophistry, and so make the Defendant seem Guilty when he is Innocent, or Innocent when he is Guilty?
Chelaxia: That is No Issue. For the Lawyers who were Skilled in Sophistry were all Beheaded when the country was reclaimed from Asmodeus, as punishment for their Service to Mephistopheles.
Tianius: The Lawyers that Remain, then, are Virtuous:
Chelaxia: No, they also serve Mephistopheles. However they are Worse at it.
At this Tianius Again is Silent.
Chelaxia: But what of the Testimony? You have spoken of how Witnesses are summoned at the pleasure of the Magistrate; how do you Compel them to speak the Truth?
Tianius: Our Courtrooms are built on Hallowed Ground, which is Enchanted to forbid all Lies. How is it done in Cheliax?
Chelaxia: All men who wish to testify must swear an Oath to their Honesty.
Tianius: Wonders of Cheliax! Truly, your subjects must be Lawful, for those Oaths to be Reliable!
Chelaxia: Some of them are not, and those men are compelled as well to testify under Truthspell that they did not Deceive the Court.
Tianius: How is it Determined whether a man be Lawful enough that his Oath may be Relied Upon?
Chelaxia: That is determined by the Magistrate. For example a Select of Iomedae might be compelled to testify under Truthspell, for such Priests often stir up Riotous Mobs. However a Devilspawn might simply give his Oath, for Devilspawn are bound by Hell, a Lawful Power. Similarly an Archduchess might give her Oath as well, though she be an Anarchic Servant of Cayden Cailean, for when an Archduchess speaks her word becomes True in the Speaking.
At this Tianius is Silent once more.
Chelaxia: Is something wrong, Tianius?
Tianius: ...Of course not. I was merely wondering as to the Laws of your Kingdom, that a Select of Iomedae would stir up Riotous Mobs. For in Tianxia, no man would dare to stir up a Mob, lest they in their Ignorance of the Law break it.
Chelaxia: Could they not simply Read the Law, to determine whether such a thing is Allowed?
Tianius: Of course not! In Tianxia, only the Magistrates are permitted to read the Law. For a Foolish Man might Mistakenly believe something to be Permitted when it is Forbidden, or a Wicked Man might discover something to be Technically Permitted, though it be a great Evil. But if the people do not Know the Law, they will be Careful not to Displease me. How is it done in Cheliax?
Chelaxia: The Law in Cheliax is written for All to See, that they might Read it, and so be Ensnared by Mephistophelean Traps that make it seem Permissible to stir up Riotous Mobs.
At this Tianius is Silent, having been Struck Dumb.
Chelaxia: A shame, that Tianius is Silent! I shall Ensorcel him to see the Merits of the Justice of Cheliax.