DETECT LIE AND
THE IMPERIAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

One of the most staggering differences between the cultures on our world (Earth) and the cultures in a magic filled AD&D world (like Orlantia) is the presence of the Detect Lie spell as well as other magic spells that help gain true, accurate insight into the mind of the target (and in case you didn't know, such spells are nearly flawless and/or practically flawless under the right circumstances, and by far and away exceed the reliability of something like a lie detector or polygraph machine on Earth). Naturally, there are a slew of spells and magic items that help ward off such attempts to gain this level of mental access, but when a prisoner or defendant is in custody, these things cannot be used without some form of magic being detected by those who are looking for it. The practical advantage of this is simply that the authorities can know if a character is using magic to protect themselves, put a stop to this protection with dispel magic or simply removing all magic items or even waiting until the protective spell's duration expires, and know with certainty that the character is naked before their onslaught of information gathering spells. In the field, one may easily have and keep such protections up and running, but while in custody, that's another matter.

Thus, with the proper precautions taken, it is assumed no magic will help a character cheat the authority's use of their spells and such a character will be laid bare before a wide variety of magical methods at obtaining information.

Furthermore, other spells such a Friends, Charm Person, or similar spells may be used to entice a character into telling the truth of their own accord by taking their new "friend" into their confidence. If such a target had no magic on them before but registered magically afterwards, the casters would know for certain the spell worked, so it is impossible to even fake it and pretend you succumb to the spell's effect when, in fact, you didn't.

Next, even more spells such a ESP, Commune, or Contact Other Plane may be employed. Thus, in addition to the simple Detect Lie, there are a wide variety of methods to get at the truth.

Finally, there are also the many non-magical methods employed (similar to the justice systems found on Earth). These alone can give a rather remarkable approximation of the truth, but when magic is employed to confirm certain facts and know with certainty who is lying and who is telling the truth, when the weight of the empire's gaze falls upon a character in their custody, there is little or nothing they can do to escape justice, and their best hope is that they have done nothing wrong after all. Or, failing that, that whatever they may have done is not worth the expense of the empire's gaze. So murder would certainly be looked at, but petty theft may not be. It all depends on the circumstances. Still, it is best anti social PCs simply avoid the scrutiny of the empire in the first place. This does not mean they have to live outside the empire, but only they should be careful.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse, so they say on worlds like Earth, since to do so otherwise would allow every Tom, Dick, or Harry to claim ignorance (even if they were not). But on a magical world, such a claim could not be made if it were, in fact, not true. Such a lie would register. Thus, in many instances, ignorance of the law IS an excuse on Orlantia, but ignorance of common sense is not.

Fortunately for most PCs, the empire is not concerned with them unless they try to harm an imperial citizen, cheat them, rob them, or do some other anti social thing to them. Since it is relatively impossible to protect its citizens before something bad happens, the promise of imperial justice (the unrelenting pursuit of criminals who harm the empire's citizens), and the virtual certainty that most people cannot escape imperial justice (even if they flee the planet, they are relatively easy to find with magic), is what keeps most non-citizens (like PCs) from even daring to harm an imperial citizen. (In case you do not know this, anyone who has sufficient life energy to be 1st level or higher no longer qualifies to be an imperial citizen. In fact, many people who work for the government are not citizens). Thus, if a crime against her citizens is sufficiently harmful and worth the expense, who ever committed the crime is in big trouble.

Frequently, when caught, the punishment includes compensation for the victim, their family, and the cost to the empire in catching them and exacting imperial justice, in addition to the actual punishment of a prison term or astral confinement for the more serious capital cases. Ironically, if a PC has lots of magic or is rich, since they can expect the empire to take up to all of this to pay for any harm they may have done, they are less likely to wish to do harm. Therefore, those who are more able to cause harm have a stronger incentive not to do so if they cherish their items or hoard of wealth.

(If you wish to read about astral confinement, that can be found somewhere in the article by following the link below).

The Planes Of Existence, A Better Look

Therefore, what PCs and NPCs of 1st level or higher do to each other is frequently not a concern of the empire and so has little direct bearing on the game (as PCs most often interact with other adventurers, monsters, or things outside of the confines of imperial protection. But it does give many no level types the confidence to deal with these PCs without fear knowing that the promise of imperial justice fully protects them. Aside from living in wonderful cities with many advantages to health, commerce, and industry, this is the primary advantage to being an imperial citizen; it is the promise of Imperial Justice.

However, just because the truth will come out doesn't in and of itself mean a lot if no one cares about the truth. So, in a Lawful Neutral Empire with Lawful Good tendencies (by virtue of its current emperor), the ideas of justice are dependent upon this particular world and the DM's views on many things. However, on other worlds they may have a radically different take on the subject of justice. My point is, therefore, that with magic one can have access to the truth with a high degree of certainty. What my world or your world may do with this truth is an entirely different matter.

I would like to end this article with a summary and explanation of how the Detect Lie spell works on my world. It is virtually identical to the standard form in the book, but there is one small exception.

This spell looks for and detects the INTENT TO DECEIVE. Thus a character could tell the literal truth and be lying. For example: I am chewing gum and still have some more gum in my pocket. You see and desire a piece and ask for some. Not wanting to give you any of my gum, I may tell you "I don't have no more." This is a literal truth as I deliberately used a double negative. If I don't have no more, I must have some more. Of course, many people's grammatical skills being what they are might not think twice about this and go their merry way, thinking I didn't have ANY gum. If such a person were using a detect lie spell, however, this would register as a lie since it was an intent to deceive.

Next, you demand to know where my brother is. I last saw him in the garage. I did not know, however, that he had since left there. I tell you "He's in the garage." Now, in this example I have told you something which is, in fact, wrong, but as far as I knew, it was true, and there was no intent to deceive. If you had a Detect Lie spell up, this would NOT register as a lie.

Next, when a character is asked for information that one is pretty certain about, the answer "I'm not certain." is a truth for no one is absolutely certain of anything. However, this, too, would register as a lie IF the character was intending to evade the question and knew the questioner wanted the information he had, whatever level of certainty that may be at.

Finally, keeping the truth to oneself is not a lie. If you do not answer at all, this cannot register as a lie. If the questioner is asking stupid, irrelevant, or non sequitur questions, even if you think you know what questions he should ask or what information he probably is looking for, that's not your problem. Simply address his questions and you will not register as a liar. For example, you think he wants to know if you went to the store, but he asks you if you went to the store with Mary. Now in fact, you went to the store with Susan, but you can freely answer "No" to his question even if you thought all he probably really wanted to know was whether you went to the store or not. Since you do not know for a fact that is what he wants, but only suspect it, this may be done truthfully and without the intention to deceive. It is not incumbent upon you to volunteer information, so by answering his question truthfully, you will not register as a liar.

© November of 1999
by
James L.R. Beach
Waterville, MN 56096