Maal

Balance

The justiciars and the officers of the courts of Maal pray to their Lady often, particularly when they wonder if a decision they made was correct or ethical. Most often, common folk pray to Maal in three cases: when they need the wisdom to make an important decision, when they're wronged and crave justice, and when a loved one has died.   The prayer recited most fervently is called the Entreaty, and it is a cry to Maal for justice, when wronged. While spoken from the perspective of one murdered, its meaning stands beyond any one crime, for any offense committed against the mortal races. The Entreaty is not said lightly, and it is a solemn plea to Maal. It is usually invoked by someone who knows who has wronged them, is desperately trying to control their rage, and wants to avoid taking matters into their own hands.  

"Mother Maal, Judge of Souls,
Queen of the Dead,
Hear me in my need.
My blood runs in rivers,
And with it mingle my bitter tears.
I lay dying yet no crime have I done,
No man have I wronged.
My innocent blood I offer to you, Mother Maal,
My angry tears are my libations;
I pray to you that those who wrong me will find Justice,
By your hand or another's.
Let not my blood be washed away,
Let not my life be forgotten."

Maal's symbol is the sword Justice. Holy warriors of Maal have small silver swords, generally pointed upward, for their symbol. Clerics also use this symbol, but sometimes the sword lays sideways with an owl—Wisdom—perched on its edge, or otherwise arrayed with it. Justice was carved from metals created by the Nameless One, so more expensive and formal symbols are crafted from the most exotic metals the faithful can find. The sword in these symbols usually has the word "Justice" carved into it in the cleric's native language.

"Though the world's injustices may fill the vessel of your heart with rage and hatred, though you may desire with all your soul to destroy those who have wronged you, remember that there is a true and greater law more perfect than any you might ever recite, more beautiful than you might ever hope."

— The Writ of Maal, holiest screed of the courts of Maal

  The doctrine of the Courts rests on four principles, which are described below.  

There will be Justice

Even before Maal's first declaration, there were laws against murder and taking justice into one's own hands. If all involved in the tale of Ceruill and Ophiel had obeyed those laws, much suffering would have been avoided. While the Church of Maal knows mortal laws are fallible (though they are mostly lawful neutral, they do not believe all laws are right simply because they are laws), they know Maal's law is infallible. Maal promised all crimes would receive justice, so it is therefore a great wrong to commit another crime to see justice done. For instance, killing someone who has harmed your family because you believe it is the only way to receive justice is wrong—Maal has decreed it so, and you only prove you lack faith in Maal and her promise. "Trust in Maal," the justiciars say, "For she is compassionate, and her justice will be done."  

Maal's Wisdom is Infinite

Gods see further and understand more than even the wisest mortal can. Maal understands society and the mortal spirit better than any king or holy leader ever will, so her laws and decrees are perfect. Her Sacred Laws were lost to the mortal races through ignorance, and failure to obey them. Most in the courts believe they still haven't been found because of outside interference. A few believe they will be found in sequence, once the mortal races master them in order. Thus, the second decree will not appear until all mortals understand and live by the first, surviving decree: Vengeance is wrong. Believers argue that Maal could give mortal races the laws despite the Compact, but refrains, because she doesn't want them ignored and lost again. Maal's faithful debate how many decrees Maal gave mortals, but most agree on twelve: one for each of the mythic leaders to whom they were given.  

All People Have a Right to be Judged

All people accused of a crime have a right to some sort of trial, and should not simply be executed or punished according to mere whim, so the courts are opposed to low justice, in which a noble punishes a peasant however they like. All mortals have the right to some sort of formal trial before mundane authorities, just as all people, no matter how evil, despicable or chaotic, have a right to appear before Maal, and receive final judgement. Believers therefore abhor any magic that entraps or destroys the soul, or prevents it from ever going to Maal. Transforming oneself into a lich qualifies. They refer to all such magic as "anarchic," and court officers tirelessly pursue those who use it.  

Those Who Deny the Right to Judgement are Enemies

Be it a king who gives legal protections to nobles, but allows peasants to suffer the chaotic whims of hetman and gangs, or a sorcerer who traps souls in a magical well to power his spells, the courts oppose those who seek to deny others the right to procedural justice from their own societies, or from Maal, at the cusp of the afterlife. At the very least, courts issue edicts and arguments against those who bar the way to judgement, but in the worst cases, the courts might take up arms. The courts are not egalitarian, however, and do not require a kingdom to treat all its subjects equally, or issue virtuous laws. A lawful evil empire might escape the courts' opposition, if all its people have access to some formal justice system.

The Courts of Maal observe many minor holy days, each generally tied to days of remembrance of the dead. The holiday all observe at the beginning of the year is called the "Day of Offering." On this day, people are expected to come to the Courts, and pray to Maal to forgive them any transgressions they might have committed in the previous year. They accompany their prayers with an offering given to the wronged party. In cases where this is not possible, an offering is given to the court, to be distributed to those who have been wronged, but received no offering. It is a day filled with tears and apologies. Most people go to the Courts of Maal on the Day of Offering, including those who rarely pray to Maal, as it is considered one of the highest and most holy holidays of the gods. It is, after all, courting favor with the queen who will ultimately determine the fate of your soul.

Maal judges the soul of every mortal who dies, and it is through Maal the final reckoning comes for all. She stands beyond good and evil, but Maal determines whether a mortal has lived a good or evil life by listening to the tales of their lives, and then consulting the black and white ledgers of their deeds, as recorded in Gehenna and Elysium, respectively. Once she has learned all there is to learn, she hands down one of four judgments.  

• The truly evil are cast down into Hell, Gehena, or the Abyss.
 
• Those who led acceptable lives, but failed to distinguish themselves in thought and deed, remain in her realm until it is time for them to be reborn.
 
• The truly good, or those who have wrongly suffered, remain in eternal bliss in one of the four halls.
 
• For those who led lives in total devotion to a god, their souls might find a place in that god's realm, if the deity requests them from Maal.

  Wise like her mother Morwyn, Maal saw how mortal societies could function and, as detailed in the myth of the First Vengeance and First Law, gave mortals laws that would guide them to perfect order. However, her laws were lost by mortals and evil flourished thus, making Maal weary and filling her with sorrow. Maal wants mortals to rediscover the ancient laws, but due to the Compact she cannot simply present them on tablets. This vexes her, since she wants nothing better than for the mortal races to live in happy order.   The Compact also prevents Maal from enforcing justice in the world, except in the most egregious cases when all the gods agree she must influence the Material Plane. She swore to the mortal races long ago that justice would always prevail, given time, so Maal must provide justice, or be a liar. Thus, she steers her church and servants in the mortal sphere to advance the cause of justice, in some cases righting ancient wrongs long forgotten by mortals. When a group happens upon the site of an ancient injustice they might set to rights, it is said Maal's hand guided them there.   In addition to the judgement of souls and the enforcing of justice, Maal is also the Queen over the land of the dead.