Where Winds Meet employs a detailed jail system tied to the game's law and reputation mechanics. Getting thrown in jail triggers a sentence you must serve either by waiting in real time, working it off, paying a bribe, or joining a pardon parade.

Ways to reduce jail time

Depending on the seriousness of the crime, your jail time could be many hours long. This is all in real-time, and the counter ticks only if the game is on. While it's a bold mechanic that forces you to think on your actions, you would want to get it over with quickly, and get on with the game. Here's how.

Pay a bribe

You can interact with a guard NPC near the jail who accepts payment to release them instantly.

The bribe amount varies based on crime severity but can be relatively affordable (e.g., 750 coins for a minor offense) or very costly for serious crimes. This method provides immediate freedom without waiting or additional effort.

Doing labor or community service

If lacking funds, you can work off your sentence by performing labor tasks assigned inside the jail, such as gathering building materials. These corrective tasks reduce sentence time and may lead to a pardon. You may even be called to play a musical interlude.

The duration for community service can be significant, especially for repeated or severe crimes, sometimes lasting from 15 to 30 minutes or longer.

Pardon parade

An alternative to waiting out the full sentence or paying bribes is to join a Pardon Parade. This event publicly parades the offender, shortening their jail time drastically (often by 60 minutes) but exposing them to in-game ridicule like players throwing vegetables. It’s more of a social penalty than a gameplay one since the jailed character suffers no real harm during or after.

Paying a bribe is the fastest way out if you have the funds. If you ain't got the bucks, then community or joining a Pardon Parade are the only practical options to shorten your sentence. The jail system is quite bold, no doubt, and the wait doesn't go well. It's best not to get caught at all.