The Prisons of Vienda
Within the city of Vienda proper there are a number of prisons designed to hold malefactors of various kinds. The prisons for felons have a grim reputation. Some are quite ancient while others are new-fangled experiments in the science of incarceration.
Constructed in the late 2050s in response to both growing civil unrest and to tensions rising with Hesse, Melbury’s Barbican was constructed as a refuge for the Parliament. A huge and imposing structure, it was originally constructed at the East Yard, which lies between the Parliament House and the Courts. This placed it in an ideal location for the councilors and members of the assembly, as well as the magistracy to shelter within. However, as the years wore on and the political situation changed, Melbury’s Barbican slowly shifted purposes. By the 2200’s it was used to house political prisoners and dissidents while the awaited trial.
In the present day, the Barbican has become the jail most likely to house malefactors as they await trial, regardless of the severity of nature of their crimes. It tends toward overcrowding, and its narrow, dim halls have earned it a dreary reputation.
There are still more ‘pleasant’ cells in the upper reaches of the Barbican which often are used to house more genteel prisoners. Such prisoners are inevitably galdori of some standing or wealth and can pay for some additional luxuries such as furniture, better food, and so forth.
In the local cant of Vienda, especially that of the Dives, to be imprisoned in the Barbican is often known as ‘Staying with Melbury”.
In the present day, the Barbican has become the jail most likely to house malefactors as they await trial, regardless of the severity of nature of their crimes. It tends toward overcrowding, and its narrow, dim halls have earned it a dreary reputation.
There are still more ‘pleasant’ cells in the upper reaches of the Barbican which often are used to house more genteel prisoners. Such prisoners are inevitably galdori of some standing or wealth and can pay for some additional luxuries such as furniture, better food, and so forth.
In the local cant of Vienda, especially that of the Dives, to be imprisoned in the Barbican is often known as ‘Staying with Melbury”.
The Panopticon
Constructed in the 2660’s in the district of Marlingspike, the Panopticon is a strange exercise in ‘scientific correction’, being a large, circular structure wherein a small number of guards can view every prisoner within all the cells.
While not the largest of the Viendan prisons, it is famous for holding some of the most notorious and dangerous criminals of the current age. The horrific multiple murder George Macklewhite, the celebrated forger Susanna Remmington-Barlowe, and the crime boss Hamish Townsend are all current inmates of the Panopticon, and there is little chance of any of them ever seeing the light of day.
While not the largest of the Viendan prisons, it is famous for holding some of the most notorious and dangerous criminals of the current age. The horrific multiple murder George Macklewhite, the celebrated forger Susanna Remmington-Barlowe, and the crime boss Hamish Townsend are all current inmates of the Panopticon, and there is little chance of any of them ever seeing the light of day.
Forgetmenows
The labyrinth of holding cells and galleries beneath the headquarters of the Seventen do not have a proper name, being referred to the Seventen simple as ‘The Cells’, and to the public at large as Forgetmenows. This name arose from the not unwarranted reputation that prisoners held in these cells were doomed to be forgotten. Indeed, for many years this was the case, especially for those accused of sedition, violation of various morality laws, labor organizers, rioters, as well as any who were believed to have assaulted or killed a Seventen.
The Penal Reform Act of 2620 did something to improve the plight of prisoners held in Forgetmenows, but it still is not the sort of place anyone wants to end up.
The Penal Reform Act of 2620 did something to improve the plight of prisoners held in Forgetmenows, but it still is not the sort of place anyone wants to end up.
Thripping Prison
Vienda’s largest prison, Thripping Prison is a gloomy edifice in Thripping Bite housing a heterogeneous collection of malefactors. Some are in for a few years, others are there awaiting some other judicial punishment such as forced labor, or eye-watering fines.
For many prisoners, life in Thripping Prison is communal as they are kept in large, dormitory-like cells. This is especially true of the more minor criminals.
For many prisoners, life in Thripping Prison is communal as they are kept in large, dormitory-like cells. This is especially true of the more minor criminals.
