Arquitectura escénica: funcionalidad vs. diseño…

have studied the city’s outdated and confusing laws and edicts their whole lives, only under- stand a fraction of them. The laws change from day to day, district to district, and sometimes from neighbor- hood to neighborhood. Most natives get a sort of feel for the rules in the areas they frequent.

There are major infractions which everyone agrees on, things like murder, major

theft, and kidnapping. The minor infractions are far more tricky. These are written in convoluted language and often taken out of context by corrupt officials.

Kausao City Law for Noodleheads

Breaking the law isn’t illegal if you don’t get caught, grease the right palms, or know the right people. Otherwise, a crime is a crime and you will have to pay or work off your fine. It’s best to just avoid the whole mess, though that is harder to do than it sounds.

If you are the victim of a crime do not expect the watch or the guard to help you, unless you are related to someone, or are paid up with the right people. Most minor infractions are enforced by various private security firms or vigilance committees. Each has their upside and their downside.

Unfortunately for independent drivers, the Council has passed numerous laws enforcing the need for permits, typically only available through membership with a union, in order to conduct business in many city districts.

One alternative, which runs into as much trouble as it does progress, is the Jaderail. A major interest for the Four Winds Trading Company, the white jade rail- way has been the target of saboteurs since its maiden voyage across the city, pre- sumably from ricksha unions afraid that the Jaderail will put them out of business. Add to this the late arrival times for many of the railcars and it’s no wonder many citizens prefer to walk than to utilize the city’s terribly organized transit systems, though some make use of the recent “bicycle” invention, and those with the means to stable them still ride horses and other beasts of burden to get around or carry their goods.

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City Watch

The legal authorities and investigative branch of the law, they investigate and pros- ecute crimes within the city and its surrounding area. The Ministers of Justice have license to investigate any crime, and upon finding evidence assemble a group of five other ministers to decide upon the guilt of the accused. Their only true loyalty is to the governor. When one joins the watch, he must reject all authority, save for that of the governor and his hierarchy of magistrates. Each watchman has a jade tattoo over one eye that grants them heightened senses. There are rumors that these tattoos can also be used to instantly kill any watchman who proves disloyal to the governor. But no one has ever witnessed this, so none can say.

City Guard

The enforcement arm of the law, they keep the peace and make arrests for crimes in progress. It is they who seek to capture the accused once judgement has been pronounced. Like the city watch, guardsmen serve only the governor, renouncing all other authority, mortal or otherwise. All guardsmen have jade pins fused into their spines, making them stronger, faster, and tougher. Like the watchmen’s tat- toos, there is a rumor that these pins can kill any disloyal guardsmen at the whim of the governor, but is similarly untested.

Private Agencies

Nobeutma: Guards for hire, the Nobeutma are the most feared freelance “police” in the city. They are trained in ancient Naramel fighting techniques and raised to be warriors from a young age. They will take any job so long as the price is right.

Walezi: Originally a Túyangan mercenary company, the Walezi are now a private security firm. Anyone can join their ranks, provided they have a useful skill set. They usually work mine security for various corporations when they aren’t roughing up unsuspecting citizens in Refinery Row.

Jingdei Wei: There are many private investigators in the city, but everyone knows you cannot escape the Jingdei Wei, provided they have been paid to find you. The origins of this organization are a mystery, but they work with the seal of the governor, making them especially dangerous.

Shi-Gado: The ‘death watch’, as they are called, have no care for anything outside of their jurisdiction. They guard the dead laid to rest in the Hakumoreita, tombs made from repurposed mining tunnels that stretch beneath the city and throughout the cliff walls. They bring an unusual zeal to their work, making grave robbing a dangerous business in Kausao City.

Vigilance Committees

There are many such organizations within the city, a mixture of a neighborhood watch, union, and political party. They often overlook crimes by people who share the same job or belief system as they do, while overreacting to the crimes of their political opponents. A vigilance committee will “solve” the crime, but often that just means they find some poor soul to pin the blame on.

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