Politics and Trials

This week is all about politics, trials and popular opinions. In The Guild 3, there will be many political positions (less if your city is smaller), separated into groups. Even if you can be elected to just one position at a time, you can also control a group (either through putting a family member, or through Guild associates), allowing you to avoid being prosecuted – but up to a certain point. It’s really important to keep in mind that the popular opinion is something that can boil over. If you avoid sentencing for your crimes for too long, and the population suspects that the system is corrupted, they could turn on you, even riot in front of your house!

This offers gameplay to every elected positions, and incites you to hold on to offices and put as many people as possible in several positions. It also allows you to advance positions, while opening and closing doors along the way. For players who attain high levels of power, this reality creates interesting situations where you can’t simply rule with an iron fist. If you do, the population might revolt. You have to work on multiple levels, and at least give the impression that you’re taking the popular opinion into consideration.

Of course, popular opinion is something that can easily change too. You know, with a couple of scandals here and there…

In the middle of the afternoon, a few villagers were gathered together in the center of the city, in front of City Hall. People were shouting and protesting about something when the city guards approached them to ask what was going on. It was one of those times when Roland Karzer, Captain of the Guards, hated his job. Right away, he knew that the crowd was this close to turning into a stone throwing mob and had to handle everyone with kid gloves if he didn’t want to have a full blown uprising on his hands. If it was up to him, he would just throw everybody in jail, no questions asked. But even he knew that would make matters worse. Trying to keep his cool, he then asked very loudly: ”Would you all shut up and tell me what happened?”

A woman moved towards him and said:

”Want to know what happened? Well, here it is: we were all in the Tavern when that little gossiper Achim Mecker came in, saying that he heard somewhere that the city chest gold was all empty. At first, we didn’t believe him. How could something like this happen in our city? But Achim was telling the truth! Someone stole everything, last night! Everything! The city’s broke!”

Shocked, Roland stared at the woman for a few seconds before pulling himself together and taking a good look around him. People were mad, protesting and shouting their anger, looking for someone to blame, hoping the gold would be found. What would happen if it was all lost for good?

” Achim said that Lord Polter did it! Hang him!”

Hearing the accusation, Roland was speechless, not knowing what to respond to this. Lord Polter, really? How could someone accuse Lord Polter, of all people, of stealing the city’s gold? That new town clerk’s always been above reproach.

Roland and his men, though, didn’t have any time to dwell on Lord Polter. The crowd was mad (a little drunk, as well) and wanted revenge on the man they already decided was guilty of stealing the gold. More and more people were coming, protesting and shouting, and Roland knew it would be hard to keep them under control.

“But how on Earth could they believe that Lord Polter did such a thing?” he asked himself. “Especially if the information came from a twit like Achim…”

Quickly, all the evidence pointed to Lord Polter, to everyone’s shock and disbelief. But why would he do such a thing? The man was loved and respected by the people. His reputation was unimpeachable. It didn’t make any sense. But the proof was conclusive, solid, and it was becoming more and more obvious that he fooled everyone.

The day of the trial, the courtroom was packed, full of noblemen, citizens and commoners wanting to make sure that justice would be served.

“I want you to know that we took notice of your strong discontent, said Franziska Schmidt, the city’s mayor, to the crowd gathered outside the building. And that Lord Polter will be judged accordingly.”

Lord Polter, for his part, kept swearing he was innocent, which had the effect of making people even more angry. All the proofs needed for a strong conviction were there. Didn’t he have any pride? Why was he still lying?

“I want all of you to know that I will pay up my fine and walk shamefully for this, said Lord Polter. But I also want you to know that I am innocent.”

Those words made the room go crazy. Roland and his men had to be quick on their feet. Once more, a full-fledged revolt would break out if everything wasn’t kept under control.

“Why can’t this stupid fool just admit to what he did and get it over with?, he said to himself. Doesn’t he realize that he’s making matters worse?”

A conviction came quickly, to the relief and joy of everyone. Roland breathed a sigh of relief. Lord Polter has been punished and the crowd was jubilant. An uprising has been averted. The dust would finally settle. Ordering his guards to go outside the building, Roland himself was leaving when he overheard the mayor and one of his privy councillor, Carl Wagner, talking.

“Congratulations for a job well done, said Franziska to Carl, in a low voice.

-It had to be done. We couldn’t let Polter go on like this.

-A little more time and the population would have demanded that he take my place. Polter was becoming way too dangerous for us.

-Well, the danger has been removed. You can rest easy, now, Madam.”

Roland Karzer, Captain of the Guards, just stood there, in complete disbelief, as Franziska and Carl were smiling, pleased with themselves. Lord Polter was innocent. The people have been duped.

If they only knew…