The human witness can be bribed, threatened, or confused. The Dog cannot.
The Dog knew where the body was buried because the Dog *smelled* the truth. The Dog attacked the murderer not out of malice, but out of recognition.
The Aegis Axiom: In a world of gaslighting, rely on the senses that cannot lie.
Maquer had a lance. The Dog had teeth. The fight was "fair" only if you believe that Truth grants a +10 Buff to Agility.
The moment the dog grabbed his throat, the lie collapsed. Maquer confessed immediately. He feared the Dog more than the Hangman.
Today, we don't use trial by combat. We use "Trial by Bank Account." Whoever has the better lawyer wins.
We need to bring back the Dog. We need systems (like the Ethical Compiler) that function like the Dog: Relentless, unbribable, and capable of biting the throat of the liar.