Fourth Annual Symposium on Pop Culture and International Law: Law, Dungeons, and Dragons

[Dr. Alonso Gurmendi is a Fellow in Human Rights and Politics at LSE and a contributor editor at Opinio Juris

Dr. Nicolás Carrillo-Santarelli is a Researcher of International Law at the University of Cagliari and today’s Dungeon Master

Dr. Juliana Santos de Carvalho is the Isaac Newton Trust Academic Career Development Fellow in Gender Studies and Human, Social, and Political Sciences at the University of Cambridge, and will be role-playing Magistratorial Fellow Ryll O’Loch

Dr. Alex Green is a Senior Lecturer at the University of York and will be role-playing Lord-Arbiter Modus Vivendi

Dr. Tamsin Phillipa Paige is a Senior Lecturer at Deakin University and will be role-playing Jusa Bellum]

Welcome to Faerûn! Specifically, the Republic of Pacta, in the lands of Esmeralda, continent of Maztica, to the west of Baldur’s Gate and the Sword Coast across the Trackless Sea. As a result of a violent decolonisation process from the Dragon Empire, Pacta recently won a bloody war against its neighbour – and fellow former Esmeraldean colony – of Servanda, which led Pacta’s borders to extend beyond the course of the River Sunt. 

Pacta has since lodged a complaint before The Organization — a military and religious order charged with the maintenance of regional peace and security that was constituted by agreement among the newly independent Republics, not limited to Pacta and Servanda. Pacta claims that Servanda is breaching the Peace Treaty signed after the war for the River Sunt. It claims that Pactan trade caravans are being raided by Servandan forces. But here is the issue: no one has been killed so far. The caravans simply disappear, and the security escort awakens, dizzy but unharmed, a few hours later. 

Not knowing what to make of this bizarre situation, The Organization has appointed an investigatory mission to figure out what is going on and report back. The mission is headed by Ryll O’Loch, an Early Career Bureaucrat seeking to prove herself as she attempts to pass the Regional Examination Form (REF, for short) — a standardised testing system aimed at securing excellence and real-world experience for aspiring Magistrates of The Organization. Ryll already managed to successfully persuade the revolutionary government of the Republic of Argentum to allow the Organization to keep operating there, despite initial mistrust, and to assist persecuted individuals whose cultural heritage and religious objects were being destroyed.

Ryll would describe herself as a person in labour precarity, with a very strong belief in The Organization and in the system as a whole: It works very well, so why change it? Ryll trusts blindly in the system – some would perhaps call her a “formalist”, but she would define herself as “always on the side of the law”. Ryll has a tattoo of a Pyramid organising all the different kinds of regulations produced by The Organization, which she calls her Pyramid of “Kewl Zen”. She is a halfling mage but, despite her size, you will often see her carrying a lot of books and diplomatic toolkits in her purse. She will be the first to reckon that she probably says sorry way too much, but, as her first job as a Magistratorial Fellow, I guess it’s worth being cautious…

To evaluate Ryll’s performance, The Organization has appointed one of its most highly decorated officers: Lord-Arbiter Modus Vivendi. The Lord-Arbiter is a stern Asimar Paladin, 6 foot on the button, 55 years old, with salt and pepper hair, short back and sides, and, as some of his colleagues describe him, “clean shaven as hell”. He has been told in the past that he gives off “daddy vibes”, but this is ruined by a perennial expression of disinterested disapproval and (again, quoting his colleagues) a “massive stick up his ass”. The Lord-Arbiter wears a long cloak and has a kite shield with The Rule written on the front – the set of rules and norms that states under the jurisdiction of The Organization must abide by. He carries a cane that he doesn’t really need to lean on; he just thinks it looks cool (though he would never admit it!).

While the Lord Arbiter is a fairly capable fighter, The Organization has also decided to appoint the one and only Jusa Bellum to accompany the Magistratorial Fellow. The Organization is, after all, both a military and religious order. As some within The Organization sometimes say, interpreting The Rule is not just about what is legal or not, but what is right or wrong as well. As an Asimar Monk, Jusa has very firm views on right and wrong — and at an imposing 5’9 ft. (1.75 m.), Jusa is always happy to use her excellent martial arts skills to remind those who tend to forget the importance of doing what is right. Jusa is always filled with a sense of optimistic enthusiasm and a distrust of authority. Jusa has a silver hue to her skin, thanks to her celestial heritage, and always carries her quarterstaff with her. She is very proud that it is a staff of flowers which she uses to replenish her flower crown. She wears loose-fitting pants and a loose-fitting tunic that is tied with a belt at the waist. 

And of course, any good investigatory mission must have among its ranks a proper Investigator. And, in fact, Investigator Tooh Ayle would say he is the only qualified member of this company. An annoying know-it-all high elf, he is experienced but not old, skinny and of pale skin with a long stern cheekless face and long white hair – to the untrained eye, he could easily be confused with a Drow. As a rogue, he wears a long black leather cloak on top of a black shirt and black pants. And while he has been described as “squishy” by Jusa, he always carries a bow and arrow and a sheathed rapier. Tooh Ayle always has a frown on his face, as if he is already annoyed at everyone and everything around him. He wears grey gloves and loves to remain as inconspicuous as he can. This elf does not like to be the centre of attention, but nevertheless managed to be respected in the Organization as a result of his contribution to the mission in Argentum.

You meet our heroes as they are about to meet with the Pactan Minister of Defence. We hope that as they adventure their way through this treacherous terrain, you, the reader, can pick up on the underlying philosophical and jurisprudential issues at play. If you’re a student of international law, hopefully, this quest will be enriching and help you see the impact that different theories of law can have in a practical setting. If you are a teacher, we hope that you feel encouraged to use this playthrough as part of your teaching tools going forward.

Aaaand… ACTION!