Magistrados Society

The Magistrados are the military forces of the Illustrados and their society is heavily stratified and categorized to create a unified command structure, divided into the four branches. Funded by Illustrados taxes and governmental programs, they have little in the way of economic structure beyond the employment of their members and the logistics of their supplies.

The Warband

After an individual graduates from a Magistrados Academy, they are assigned to a Warband. These are autonomous to quasi-autonomous groups of soldiers that work with a Marshall to accomplish an objective, whether it is a military, a logistical, or a support one. Many objectives are focused on a resolution (e.g. drive the Flesh-takers from Snakewater, capture the elusive outlaw Stephaniel the Cat). On the other hand, objectives are open-ended (e.g. ensure the safety of this region, track and capture all outlaws). 

Regardless of the objective, the Warband is expected to work within itself and even other Warbands under the Marshall’s command to accomplish it. Members of a Warband often endure many trials and battles together so they are expected to cooperate and coordinate, even if there are personal differences. 

Numbering from five to fifteen, each Warband is led by a Captain (or Centurion, Commander, General)  and supported by the Captain’s lieutenants, if any. Majority of a Warband is composed of Privates and Sergeants. These groups often have a name based on the area they are assembled and the branch that did so (e.g. 456th Lancero-Vedado). Many Warbands name themselves with flashier unofficial labels (e.g. Blood of the Sun, Fires of the Phoenix).

A Macana without a Warband will be re-assigned to one as soon as their paperwork is cleared by the local Marshall. 

Social Strata

Below are the rankings of the Magistrados, from least significant to most significant. 

• Continental: A non-Illustrados person. 

• Citizen (Civil): Someone from the Illustrados but not a Magistrados, including those still in the Academy. 

• Soldier (Guardia): The lowest rank of the Magistrados military structure, given to those who graduate from a Magistrados Academy. There are three grades of Soldier (lowest to highest): tercero, segundo, primera.

• Sergeant (Sargento): A rank awarded to those who have proven themselves to have exceptional skill and/or leadership ability. There are three grades of Sergeant (lowest to highest): tercero, segundo, primera.

• Subcaptain (Tiniente): A higher rank awarded to those who have proven themselves to have exceptional leadership ability. In the absence of a Captain, a Subcaptain is expected to lead.

• Captain (Capitan): This rank is given to a Macana who will command a Warband. This is the highest rank a Player Character may attain (unless they retire). 

• Centurion (Mariscal/Mariscala): A commander of a region, governing it and the warbands within but deferring to their Commander. They are the leader of their own Warband. 

• Branch-Commander (Coronel): The leader of a Magistrados branch. Commands their branch while following the direction of their superior officer. They are the leader of their own Warband. This is the highest a retired Player character can attain. 

• Cacique-General: The leader of the Magistrados as a whole, directing them toward certain objectives and governing their policies. They are the leader of their own Warband. 

Upbringing

The Magistrados recruits from all parts of the Illustrados Union and the other Archfactions. Though the Union is not a utopia, the working and middle class in the Illustrados benefit from Senatorial support via governmental programs of food, schooling, shelter, and clothing. The reach of the Senate is not absolute and some fall through the cracks. Similarly, the quality of the programs varies within and between each city or province. Many Illustrados look beyond these government programs for wealth and comfort, seeking greater employment or other methods of acquisition. 

Those who do not labor for the government are usually employed by the Tecnocracia, the Iglesia, or the Charioteers. The Magistrados usually draws upon those families that are entrenched within their ranks as well as middle and working class individuals with aspirations. If they fulfill the requirements of the Macana, these individuals are enrolled in a military academy of a branch they choose -- this takes several years. They are considered to be under the government’s employ and thus paid accordingly, with benefits given out to their families (the main reason why many individuals join the Magistrados). This even applies to non-Illustrados that manage to join the Macana -- their family is allowed to reside in an Illustrados enclave or even emigrate to the Caribbean after several years of service. 

Except for the Jaguar Sentinels, few Magistrados are deployed near their home. They leave most Illustrados peacekeeping efforts to locals, as opposed to doing so themselves and seeming like invaders. Many are positioned on ships, in garrisons, or in distant outposts. Some Magistrados warbands (or rarely, individuals) are sent to open-ended missions to safeguard an objective or to investigate a matter. While they are outside the Illustrados Union or its enclaves/garrisons, they are expected to follow local law and conduct themselves with honor. 

Stigmata in the Magistrados

All Bloodlines are represented among the Magistrados, both Stigmatic and otherwise. Seraphs and Chimera are the most common of the Bloodline Stigmata, though they do not make up the majority of the army. 

As to be expected, Graft Stigmata are far more common in the ranks of those who have experienced heavy engagements, especially those who fought during the War over Embers. These individuals are more likely to be Los Friyos (Risen) or Metabionics, having gone through brutal trauma. For the latter, the Metabionic Implantation was paid for by the Magistrados. 

Laws and Punishments

The Magistrados are tasked to not only follow the dictates of local law (within reason), but they are also bound by codes of honor and conduct. For these individuals, they are not just soldiers but protectors of the Illustrados Union and humanity. 

The laws of the Magistrados focus on behaving honorable, respecting life, and respecting local laws/property. 

Dishonorable Conduct: This includes public indecency, disorderly conduct, perjury in a foreign court, and similar miscellaneous acts that reflect poorly on a Macana. These actions tend to be treated as lesser crimes unless the result is particularly egregious. For example, a Magistrados found guilty of driving a vehicle recklessly and inebriated receives a lesser sentence. If their inebriation caused them to destroy a merchant’s stall, then they would receive a more serious punishment. 

Assault/Murder: While the Macana are trained to be killers, they draw the line at murder -- specifically, the willful slaying of a human without any cause to do so. The Macana are expected to kill only in times of war or in defense (of themselves or others). Outside of war or when dealing with those outside the Illustrados’ protection (i.e. outlaws), they are expected to follow the normal rules of engagement, resorting to lethal violence only when the other options cannot be chosen. 

Also, punishable is any kind of physical assault -- the Macana only strike at their peers when there is a need. Whether wielding a firearm or a blade, they believe that these are tools for killing and defense, not toys. That said, they have no mercy for monstrous or eldritch creatures. Those who willfully attack and/or kill non-Illustrados without cause may be accused of Dishonorable Conduct. Superior officers are expected to punish this accordingly.

There is a special case to be made regarding the existence of magical or pseudo-magical abilities that bends the will of others. If proven that the attacks are under this type of compulsion or madness, then there is leniency given in the judgment. Generally speaking, most Macana have recognized the signs of these effects and can identify them. 

Insubordination: In the militaristic structure of the Magistrados, disobeying a superior officer’s direct order is a grave offense. That said, this crime is acceptable if the order required a Macana to act dishonorably or to perform a crime -- “only doing what one was told” is not an excuse.

Theft/Vandalism: A lesser crime but one of note is theft and vandalism (property destruction). The Magistrados are required to take only what is theirs and what is given to them, regardless of what they think they are owed. Because it is a lesser crime, violators are often flogged or sentenced to toil -- repeat offenders may be dismissed for their unbecoming conduct.

Treason: This is a serious crime, especially for those who are tasked to serve the Illustrados Union. This includes the killing of Magistrados operatives, selling state secrets to the other Archfactions, and any attempt to usurp or assassinate the Senate leadership. When proven without a shadow of a doubt, traitors are executed and their names stricken from the roster. 

Law Enforcement:

When accused of a serious crime, a Magistrados is expected to report to their Captain or Centurion. If deemed necessary, they may be remanded to local authorities and be detained while their innocence is proven. In many cases, the codes of the Magistrados are far more strict than the local laws, except where courtesy and propriety has local and specific requirements.

If the Magistrados do not believe the authorities are not “legitimate or reasonable”, then they need not submit to them -- however, their superiors may decide on sanctions or other courses of actions upon them.  In fact, sanctions may occur to an offending Macana on the local and the military level. 

If this person does not submit, then the other Magistrados may subdue the accused, unless they themselves do not believe in the accusation. Regardless of their belief, they must pursue and subdue the accused if they are ordered to do so.

To determine the details of a crime and the innocence of the accused, the commanding officer assigns individuals or even a Warband to investigate the matter, if such an action is required. Guaga, if available and skilled in investigation, are highly desired for this activity. Some Guaga Warbands are tasked with exactly this purpose -- in particular, the Warband under the direct command of the Guaga Branch-Commander, “The Widower’s Watch”, has special jurisdictional ability that is recognized by all the branches.  

When the Inquisidores are in the area, they are able to supersede the authority of Magistrados officers (exempting Coronels). They may even supersede local authorities with their judgment, though this is only done in extreme cases. The role of these individuals is to ensure that officers are not abusing their powers and that the Magistrados are conducting themselves with the proper decorum and restraint. Furthermore, they are empowered to conscript Magistrados toward their investigative or enforcement efforts. 

Punishment:

Toil: A Captain can sentence one of their Warband to a week, a month or even a year of Toil. This is usually humiliating and/or backbreaking work. This is the most common sanction inflicted on Warband. 

Flogging -- As per its name, this punishment involves the public flogging of an individual’s back. This punishment is less about the pain of the flogging (usually a handful to a dozen strikes) and more about the humiliation of the act. The loss of prestige or even status is part of the sentence. Some floggings are extended, requiring multiple public sessions of the flogging. 

Dismissal: For those whose Crimes have proven them to be unreliable or unfit to stay within the Magistrados, a Centurion (or someone of higher rank) may dismiss an individual from their ranks. This is permanent although certain circumstances or heroic deeds may warrant a return from this punishment. 

Prosecuted Dismissal: For those who have committed crimes and heinous acts of significance, the Magistrados may elect to not only dismiss an individual but give them over to local law enforcement. In some cases, this may involve being brought back to the Illustrados Union to be incarcerated based on a court’s findings. 

Execution: Not many individuals warrant Execution but those that do have been deemed too dangerous to live by a Centurion (or higher). If captured, these individuals are executed via firing squad. The Magistrados then holds a 24-hour vigil, not to mourn the deceased but to patrol the area and ensure that the outlaw does not rise again. If done in one of their military facilities or one of the city-states, this vigil still continues and is augmented by a device that captures a spirit and allows it to dissipate naturally. 

Territory

Bridgeboro

The seat of the Peace Makers Cartel also houses a small garrison of Magistrados alongside an Illustrados Embassy. This is one of two main ports that the Lanceros patrol and safeguard, though the distance makes their appearances a rarity.

Ciudad Juanita

The Illustrados capital of Cuidad Juanita (and thus the seat of the Senate) is located on the island of Puerto-del-Encanto (aka Boriken). Once the crown of Magnatech and Celsotech, it has since ceded that label to Port-au-Jacques but it is no slouch: the largest Vox-Com tower is in Ciudad Juanita, unifying the Illustrados and allowing instant long range communique. 

The Nest

Somewhere in the Yucatan peninsula is the academy of the Guaga. Its location is unknown to most individuals and only the Spider Scouts may bring ships there. The Nest also serves as the organization’s headquarters where their Branch-Commander makes his plans. It is rumored that the Nest keeps moving to different locales and uses powerful Obfuscation magic, adding layers of difficulty for those attempting to find it. 

Port Atlantica

This is a casino town of sin, indulgence, and pleasure. It is also home to the Golden Fortunes Cartel. This is the other port of entry for the Illustrados after their withdrawal from Mid-Atla. Though there is no garrison here, the Magistrados often make their way here for business or pleasure -- it is a confluence point for the other two Archfactions.

Sao Ravardiere

This is a remote southern community that has allied with the Illustrados Union and is on its way to full membership. Its people have staved off monster attacks and the hungry jungle from the fortified palace at this town’s center. With permission from the locals, the Guaga and the Lanceros have established a garrison here -- it marks the southernmost allied port for the Illustrados and a starting point for expeditions into the southern continent. 

Vedado

This city-state is situated on Coabana island and is home to the main shipyards of the Illustrados. It is one of the bigger and more influential powers in the Illustrados Union, to the point that it almost became the Archfaction’s capital. Agriculture and mining have made this place strong. The mariners of the Lanceros are headquartered here and have their primary academy nearby.