I have been meaning to get this out for a while but just haven't had
the chance. So here it goes:
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Commissioner of Public Safety
The CoPS seeks out traitors to the Crown. He can appoint two ferrets
for use as spies (both are appointed secretly by notifying the GM and the
players involved. Ferrets cannot be appointed and used in an arrest during
the same month). The CoPS can make up to 5 arrests per year with the
arrested person being incarcerated for one week (e.g., the CoPS could use 4
arrests to put a character in jail for an entire month but that would mean
four charges brought against the character). Every arrest results in a
trial.
During the first six months of his appointment, the CoPS *must* trump
up charges against one PC (player character) and the PC must have an SL of
at least 1/3 that of the CoPS in order for the arrest to count toward the
CoPS requirement. Therefore, if the CoPS has an SL of 24 an arrest of any
PC with an SL of 7 or lower will *not* count toward the required CoPS
arrest.
Furthermore, arrests made directly at the behest of the King, or other
ministers (e.g., MoJ for embezzlement), or duelling arrests do *not* count
toward your PC arrest requirement. If the PC is not convicted, the CoPS
will lose his post only if there is not enough time to arrest and
successfully prosecute another PC. In other words, the CoPS only needs a
single successful prosecution (out of the 5 possible ones).
If a CoPS is appointed in January, then he has to secure a guilty
verdict no later than June (i.e., at the end of the June turn). Here is a
sample timeline:
January: CoPS is appointed
Feb-March: CoPS has sown seeds of guilt through press
April: CoPS issues arrest in turn orders (see Arrest Notes below)
Trial occurs in press between turns (i.e., before May turn is
run)
May: MoS hands down guilty verdict. Defendant appeals.
June: His Majesty confirms guilt.
In this scenario, the CoPS just made it by the skin of his teeth. Had
the MoS forgotten to include the guilty verdict in his official May orders,
then the CoPS would lose his post since the affair would not be resolved
until July. The trial occurs in the press, but both the CoPS and MoS are
required to include official statements in their orders.
The Minister of State judges all charges made by the Commissioner and
may be influenced if an NPC (the chart from the rules is used if the MoS is
an NPC). Cases involving the Minister of State are judged by the King.
The King, if appealed to, will commute any sentence on a roll of 6
with one die. He will commute a death sentence on a roll of 7 on one die
(influence is necessary).
Witnesses will aid in conviction (assuming an NPC MoS). A witness of
the same SL or higher will give a -1 modifier, as will a witness from the
same regiment or an employee of the accused. A maximum of two witnesses
are allowed. While witnesses don't affect a PC MoS, the MoS is encouraged
to consider how well the CoPS has put his case together. Note, however,
that the negative witness modifier also applies to any appeal to the King
(and so this would affect PCs).
Arresting a Character
In order to arrest a character, either the CoPS or both ferrets must
be in the same locale (e.g., either the Front or Paris) as the character to
be apprehended. In other words, if the CoPS is at the Front and both
ferrets are in Paris then an arrest would be guaranteed (and vice versa).
Other than being in the same general place (Paris or the Front), arrests
are automatic and a trial must follow with the MoS making the determination
of guilt and sentence if applicable (arrests of the MoS are settled by the
King according to the random roll table in the printed rules).
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There are the official rules going forward. As long time players can no
doubt see, I have added a number of new requirements. Since Zac Zilvain
has just been fully informed of these requirements, I have extended his
deadline for the PC Arrest until August 1673.
