There are only two crimes which all authorities in Tirneach are bound to prevent, pursue, and punish: the raising of undead abominations and treating with the Gwyllt enemy.
All other issues are seen not as matters for the Tiarnaí, the Church, or even the militias and Galloglaigh to concern themselves with, but as disputes between families or individuals. To resolve these disputes and prevent disagreements from flourishing into feuds, the people of Tirneach rely on a tradition of arbitration by judges.
Judges
Being a judge is not a permanent or formal role, though there are individuals who have developed a skill and reputation for it, but rather a position that is filled as needed. The judge who is to hear any particular dispute is chosen by the parties of that case, though often they cannot agree on who should judge the matter and it falls to their Rider to make the choice (or the Iarla, if Riders are involved). If there is no local figure with a strong reputation as a judge, or if they’re not seen as impartial in the case at hand, travelling Peacesworn are usually the preferred choice. Typically either one or three judges are appointed, depending on the severity of the case, and both sides must swear to be bound by the decision of the judges. Judges are officially paid by the local Rider, although they may often be given gifts by those who are grateful for the outcome of their judgement. Riders are incentivised to keep the peace in their Riding, as more than one tale tells of an opportunistic (and probably apocryphal) judge descending on a previously happy Riding and having the denizens at each other’s throats by sundown.
In the case of a crime such as murder, the victim’s family may bring a claim against the alleged killer. If any individual refuses to cooperate or appear before a judge, the head of their household can be held responsible for their actions. Judgements usually result in a fine being paid by the offending party to the individual they have wronged, although punishment rituals and more novel sanctions are also common. If a fine cannot be paid, property of equal value may be seized in its place.
There are many, particularly among the Teachers, who take a scholarly interest in the practice of judgement, and writings offering guidance and opinion on good judicial practice, as well as collections of rulings and commentary, circulate throughout the Realms.
“I was held up in Daracaoi for two days to hear out a claim of theft against the smith of the town. It was, in my view, entirely spurious. I ruled that the amount claimed to have been stolen was due to the smith as recompense for the slander against her.” – Laeg, Peacesworn Merchant
There are no prisons in Tirneach but most large settlements will maintain a small jail where the disorderly or anti-social can be corralled temporarily. Riders are permitted to maintain a militia suitable for the defence of their stronghold and it is traditionally tolerated for this militia to be deployed for the general purposes of keeping the peace in the Riding. It is rare for this type of action to result in the involvement of a judge.
Loyalty and Treason
All people of Tirneach are presumed to owe loyalty to their family, their Rider, their Iarla, the Réig, and the Shaper. It is upon this duty of loyalty, rather than a code of law which the authority of the Réig rests and by which they are empowered to issue edicts to their people. In many situations however, this natural loyalty is supplemented with oaths that specify additional rights and responsibilities. It is through oaths that the Iarlas, and Riders derive their authority, and the Gallóglaigh their strength. Treason, dereliction of loyalty and the breaking of oaths, are grave matters in Tirneach and would be seen as more than enough reason to bring a claim against the offending party. In most cases however the matter is resolved personally, and permanently.