Hi again. The rulebook makes it pretty clear that Arthur reserves the right for High Justice (capital crimes, death penalty), with the exception of perhaps some of the dukes. Ordinary knights have only Low Justice (maiming, whipping, stocks, imprisonment, that sort of stuff).

Now, baddies of course can break those rules all they want, but how about knights who are supposed to be loyal to King Arthur? I seem to recall from stories and indeed from the rulebook a situation where a lady might ask a knight to behead his vanquished opponent, who is trying to surrender. Is that a special case, rules of war, so to speak? If you are in a fight, then your life is forfeit and dependent on the winner's mercy?

What happens if PKs witness an NPC knight about to string some peasants (bandits or just 'troublemakers') up high without the King's writ? Can they get inspired by Loyalty (Arthur) to protect Arthur's law?

Is that a special case, rules of war, so to speak? If you are in a fight, then your life is forfeit and dependent on the winner's mercy?

I'd say this, exactly. Once you have accepted the person's surrender, then the king's law comes into effect, but until that moment, it's still technically a fight.
Also, High Justice isn't necessarily just the king's prerogative. The Earls, barons, dukes probably have right of High Justice in their lands. (It's technically the king's right, but he will have delegated this right to his sheriffs and to other nobles.) It's the lesser nobility - vassal knights, bannerettes - that need their superior's permission to kill.

Also, many lords aren't going to pay much attention if a knight kills commoners, especially bandits on their own land. They only really get protection if they have someone who can speak to the lord on their behalf. So arbitrary and/or cruel pc knights won't likely have much to worry about if they kill a few peasants. Knights, Ladies, priests - that's a very different matter.


What happens if PKs witness an NPC knight about to string some peasants (bandits or just 'troublemakers') up high without the King's writ? Can they get inspired by Loyalty (Arthur) to protect Arthur's law?


They could certainly intervene, but not use Loyalty (Pendragon). The Pendragon is hardly threatened by the death of a few peasants. If that's the reason they intervene, though, it's certainly worth an experience check. If Arthur's law is being threatened on a much larger scale, like it's somehow a landmark case that will set precedent and undermine arthur's law across the land afterwards, they could use it - but nothing less than that.

Thanks Darren, for a swift replies (here and in the other thread). It seems I am pretty much on the same track that you are. :)

I would argue that High Justice is the purview of the King and the King alone. This is why Sheriffs, who enforce the laws in the various counties, are royal officers rather than local ones. They answer to the King, even if it displeases the local earl or duke. Arthur is King of Logres, his position as High King is another thing entirely. It is only when someone accepts Arthur's rule as High King that his adminstration of High Justice extends beyond Logres' boundaries.