The Court House

Standing next to City hall, in the Administrative Quarter, the Court House follows the traditional design for City Administrative building. With white stone walls, a covered stone walkway in front of it, and broad steps leading up to large iron studded doors. Again there is a large reception chamber, with clerks and messengers to assist the visitor and patrolling members of the city watch to ensure that everything goes smoothly. There are two doors behind the receptionist, each leading to two courtrooms. Each courtroom has a high table for the magistrate, and tables for the court clerks and administrators as well as a table each for the complainant and defendant. There are a few benches at the back of the room, to house witnesses and spectators. Again there will be a City watchman, or two, present when any cases are tried. Behind each courtroom is a private chamber for the judge and another for his clerks and messengers.

Stairs lead from the reception area to the second floor, where another antechamber, receptionist and Watchman await the visitor. Behind that desk are the doors to the City Watch and Inquisitors offices. There is a squad room for the on duty watchmen, offices for the watch captains and the Watchman-in-Chief. The other side of the corridor, are the offices of the Inquisitors. Rather than one big squad room, each of the inquisitors has their own office. There are also offices for the Inquisitor Captains, and another larger office for the Inquisitor-in-chief.

There are a flight of 'back stairs which lead down to a ground floor rear entrance to the building, and then down into the cellar level and the Porter's Bar lockup.

This rear entrance is open 24 hours a day, and visitors to this entrance will find they are greeted by a couple of watchmen, who want to know exactly what their business is. Down in the Lockup, there is another reception, a long with a captain of the Watch and 4-5 watchmen, who tend the cells. There are a number of communal cells (Hold 15-20 people) and a few smaller cells for dangerous or higher status detainees.

From the second floor reception, there is a short flight of stairs leading to the luxury third floor offices of Robert DuVale, the Lord Chief Justice of Porter's Bar. DuVale has a small staff of clerks and administrators, to run his personal office.

You will note that there are no restaurant or cooking facilities in The Court House. Senior staff tend to get food sent in or visit local restaurants to eat, junior staff generally settle for food from the various local street vendors. Prisoners can either have food sent in for them (family or restaurants can both do this) if that is not possible the city will provide basic cold rations to keep the prisoner alive until his/her trial or punishment.

It is important to note that the lock-up is not a permanent punishment, prisoners are only kept here awaiting trial or punishment.

People

Lord Chief Justice Robert DuVale

Magistrates 4
Watchman in Chief
Inquisitor in Chief
Watch Captains 6
Inquisitor Captains 3
Senior Clerk of the Court
Senior Clerk  (To DuVale's Office)
Watchmen 30
Inquistors 15
Clerks
Messengers
Administrators