Cases & Judgements of Jasda al Tyr

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INDEX

CASE FILES

• Case: Barane's Discharge
  Regarding 'Captain' Daleroy's coercion of Barena, preventing her discharge.
• Case: Friedegard's Worship of Indecent, Armed Assault
  Record of the death and judgement of one Friedegard Shaeffer.
• Case: Dame Fyevarra, Murder
  For the murder of Mikal, Priest of Sune
• Case: Nix, Armed Assault, Murder
  For the murder of Mikal, Priest of Sune
• Bulk Ruling: Daleroy, Misconduct Charges 1-4
  Multiple Counts of Bribery, 1 count of trespass, 1 count of evasion of a peace official, "Conduct Unbecoming"
• Case: Luna of the Precept, Impersonation of Clergy
  1 count armed assault, 1 count impersonation of clergy, 1 count heresy
• Case: Elsa Brown
  1 Count Murder, 1 Count Treason

INTERPRETATIONS OF LAW & PRECIDENT

• Precident: Authority of the Crown Guard Abroad
  Response to an inquiry about how far from Arabel our authority extends.
• Precident: Ability of Crown Guard to write permits
  Count Immerdusk explaining we do not need permission to write permits.
• Precident: Charges filed against Serving Officers
  Officer Brown brought to charges internally.

Law proposals

• Petty Crime: Abusing a Cat
  Proposal to make abuse of mousing cats illegal within the Arabel city limits.

The record of Lawgiving of a Priestess of Tyr, Dilettante Jasda yr Mirai.

Legal notations.

Available as record unless otherwise noted.

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Case File: Barena

Brief:

Barena arrived in Arabel as a portrait artist. She had a patron in Eveningstar, but when Eveningstar was destroyed she returned to Arabel looking for another patron. Without demand for her work, she supplimented her income by taking delivery jobs.

She voluntarily joined the Crownguard in order to earn a steady income.

Now that she wishes to quit, she is being charged a 'fine for leaving,' and is not allowed to leave the Crownguard under threat of sentencing to a 'penal legion.'

Testimony:

• Barena was hired by Dilitantte Harriot Blackwagon with Cpt. Daleroy present to recommend her. (Provable)
• She was issued a hat. At the time, the recruiting officer stated the hat was free. (Provable)
• She has served approximately two weeks in the Crownguard by her estimation. (Provable, requires records)
• Within that two week time period she was issued no further equipment, pay, or board. (No such receipts exist)
• She was never accused of dereliction of duty, disobeying direct orders, or conduct unbecoming. (No such recorded charges exist)
• Upon expressing her wish to leave, Cpt. Daleroy informed her there was a 100gp fine for leaving. (Provable: this was done in the common area of the crown, with "all the regulars" present, 7th Day of the 12th Month 1362DR, mid-day.)
• Cpt. Daleroy led her to understand that if she left with or without paying the fine, she would be thrown into a 'Penal Legion'. (Potential misunderstanding).

Relevant Notations

Note: 100gp is the maximum disciplinary action for a lesser offense.

Note: No evidence exists that Ms. Barena committed Hooliganism, Evasion of a Peace Official, Arson, Blasphemy, Heresy, Harassment, or Possession of Contraband Items.

Note: As she was never paid and never given anything non-gratis during her two weeks of service, there is no just reason to charge Barena anything for leaving. She was never paid in the first place.

Note: Only the Council of Peers can propose or amend new laws in Arabel. The Council of Twelve, the representative of the adventuring body, is presently dormant by order of the King-Consort, and intervention by the Queen.

Note: The Crownguard is not chartered to create laws outside the domain of the Crown's Councils.

Note: Delorna Aris, High Priestess of Tymora

Follow On

Q: Is a separation fee standard among the other Crown-chartered factions of the city?
A: No. The fee is an illegal surcharge.

Q: What is a 'penal legion', and does it relate to the notation on 'reeducation' in the lawbook?
A: Many crimes may often be commuted to sentences in service. This is the only legal basis for a 'Penal Legion.'

Conclusion

ISSUED DISCHARGE TO BARANE ARTIST

Reasoning:

As miss Berena declines to press charges and only wishes to leave the service of the Crownguard, I have issued her a discharge and advised her to avoid any further illegal pressganging by Capt. Daleroy.

She will report any further harassment to the Crownguard to be dealt with in a separate case.

This case file will be added to the case against Capt. Daleroy.

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Case File: Friedegard (Armed Assault, Worship of Indecent)

Full name: Friedegard Shaeffer, of Shadowdale.
Widow of Johnathan Shaeffer, of Same.

Brief:

Friedegard Shaeffer was seen to commit Armed Assault and Worship of the Indecent (Beholder Hive). Dame Fyevarra Dyernini wished to trial her by combat and Friedegard Shaeffer was slain.

Testimony:

Upon arriving in Bospir and entering the Inn, having been invited by the Dame Fyevarra Dyernini, retainer of Lord Mossmere, I witnessed the mage Friedegard Sheffer attacking the Dame with a spear. I intervened and assisted in subduing her.

It was revealed that she had been invaded by some sort of beholder after fleeing the 'Captain' Daleroy's attempted seizure of her husband, contained within a gem (now in my custody), and met a woman in the forest who kissed her which seems to be how this is transmitted.

The woman informed her that if she killed the Dame, her dead husband, contained in a 'soul gem', would be brought back to life.

I arrested her for Armed Assault, but it was explained that she had consorted with the beholders and beholder-kin, a capital crime. Dame Fyevarra invoked her right to duel the woman so I released her, ensured they were both prepared and understanding of the law regarding such duels and the finality thereof, and oversaw their duel afterwards. The woman 'Nix' was also present.

Relevant Notations

• A knight being a peer of the realm falls under the charter regarding nobles within the law, and is therefore allowed to request a duel in circumstances that involve crimes they are themselves part or parcel of.

• Capital crimes may be punished by exile or re-education without limitation on service time, but a public execution requires the assent of the Council of Peers.

• Bospir, having no specific charter, falls under the purview of the Queen's law and the charter of Arabel.

• Possession of contraband items is in and of itself a crime.

Follow On

Q: Who is this woman kissing people in the forest?
Q: What is this stone I am holding, really?
Q: Who can issue permits for contraband? Is it the Precept Arcanum?

Conclusion

1 Count Armed Assault: Guilty. Sentence commuted.
1 Count Worship of the Indecent: Guilty. Nobel Right of Duel granted to Dame Fyevarra Dyernini.

Accused slain in fair combat.

Contraband items seized.

REASONING:

This case was straightforward. When I arrested Friede, it seemed as though she was resigned to death. I actually told her that Armed Assault was a serious crime and that only the Council of Peers could authorize a public execution, but she remained morose until it came out that she was somehow infected willingly with some sort of beholder tadpoles.

After the duel was over, and the corpse was burned, I saw those things burning with the corpse. It was disgusting.

I should note that the decision to allow this duel was an extrapolation on the law regarding the Noble right to dueling. The two of them seemed convinced that they could neither cure or save her, so I proceeded to facilitate the duel as it would have proceeded in my own culture which is not so different from here I think. The end result is death and I judged that the Dame was adequate to defeat the woman as she had done most of the fighting herself the first time.

Had I returned Friede to the city and submitted her to the council I suspect that she would have died before she could be sentenced or worse, Daleroy Farmerson would get a hold of her and have the opportunity to break or ignore more of the law with public spectacle. By allowing Fyevarra the right to trial her by arms, I believe I provided a much more merciful judgement to what seemed to be an unfortunate and defeated woman.

Justice should be swift and merciful and as much as it could be, I sought and I believe I succeeded in providing this here.

[Paramour]

CASE FILE (UNIFIED)

Dame Fyevarra Dyernini
Nix of the Companions

BRIEF

Responding to a series of sendings defaming and slandering the Queen, King-Consort, and several other claims, Dame Fyevarra and Nix proceeded to slay Mikal, priest of Sune, and burn his body to prevent his restoration.

They claim he had secrets pertinent to the Crown's safety.

TESTIMONY

• A written series of letters from Fyevarra & Nix, included in Evidence.
• Logs of the sending system may be sourced to confirm the participation of Nix and Fyevarra.
• The burned victim was found and reported over the sending system by persons unknown.
• A signed and written account of events was provided by Fyevarra & Nix.

EVIDENCE

[Included is a series of letters from Fyevarra and Nix, to Jasda al Tyr]

RELEVANT NOTATIONS

Note: Peers of the realm have the severity of their crimes reduced by one step. Murder is a capital crime, but she can only be arrested as though it were Serious.

Note: Serious crimes may be punished by up to 15,000 in fines, no less than 5,000, and ten days service or the divestment of their positions or responsibilities if a public official.

Note: Though no specific law governs it, peers of the realm are entitled to discipline their subordinates as they see fit or answer threats to the realm in person as they arise without prior authorization from legal authorities and are assumed to have the Kingdom's interests in mind.

Note: The sending claimed that the Queen had sorcery that controlled a war between heaven and hell; that the King-Regent had sold his soul to a 'Lady Tethgard', an elven death spirit; that 'Captain' Daleroy had been seen meeting with the were-rats.

Observation: These letters indicate that Nix was present before Fyevarra's arrival and subdued Mikal, meaning that self-defense is impossible.

Follow On

Q: Why was Jo Sparrow present?
A: It is likely she was in contact with Mikal, due to his anti-Crown sentiments.

Q: Why was Jo Sparrow not mentioned in the reports sent to me?
A: Fyevarra mentioned during the trial that she did not trust the Crown Guard.

Q: Why did Fyevarra not attack Jo Sparrow or mention doing so during the trial?
A: ?

Conclusion

TRIAL DEFERRED TO THE COUNCIL OF PEERS

Prosecution recommended divestment of title and authority.

Fyevarra

1 Count Murder: Guilty. Queen recommended Lord Mossmere strip her of Knighthood. Lord Mossmere did so.

Nix

1 Count Murder: Not Guilty. Individual is presumed to have acted under Fyevarra's authority and command.
1 Count Armed Assault: Guilty. Sentence commuted so as not to presume further upon the Queen's Justice.

REASONING

[Placeholder]

[Paramour]

A letter regarding the extent of the Crown Guard's authority abroad is added to this file.

[Paramour]

A case file is placed, not with the others, but within a drawer, and its wooden case is locked.

It seems to be something she is working on rather than something she has completed.

If you want to read this case file, message me on Discord.

[Paramour]

Case: Luna de Vris, of the Precept

1 Count Impersonation, 1 Count Blasphemy/Slander, 1 Count Armed Assault

Brief

This is an abbreviated ruling regarding the charge of Impersonation of Official Clergy leveled at Luna de Vries of the Precept.

Following an argument in the Hullack over the unasked-for casting of a defensive ward over the Malagent de Verthan. The Malagent claims this to be magical assault. A companion of Luna de Vries then struck her for apparently striking Luna and the parties separated, both filing Assault accusations.

Later Luna de Vries was stopped by Officer Daleroy for Hooliganism and asked to put away her weapon (he phrased it as 'pay the weapon tax' and fined her 500 gold). She refused and attempted to make away, and was subdued and the fine taken. When asked for her name, she answered that she was Malagent Esme de Verthan.

Unfortuantely for her, she did not realize that Daleroy is illterate and therefore would never actually report her name.

Testimony

• Malagent de Verthan, as taken by Officer Elsa Brown.
• Statement from Luna, taken by Deputy Randal
• Statement from Officer Daleroy Farmerson, taken by Officer Jasda yr Mirai

Evidence

Evidence is one word against another.

Relevant Notations

Note: There was one other witness, Luna's bodyguard, whom neither I nor anyone else has met.

Note: It is 'Common Custom' in the adventuring community to cast defensive spells upon one's allies, and using a reasonable person standard, this would not be taken as a hostile action.

Note: The Precept Arcanum ordered Luna not to press charges against Esme. Belonging to the Banefaith, Luna takes this direction as law and has filed no charges.

Note: This crime took place in the Hullack forest, a crown property, and can be tried under the Royal Charter.

Note: An "Approved Faith of Arabel" as noted in the charter consists of a Faith that has been allowed to place an official shrine in the Kingdom. Talona is, therefore, an approved faith of Arabel under the law.

Note: Religious Blasphemy, Heresy, or Harassment includes 'statements or writings contrary to the 'Approved Faiths of the Kingdoms of Arabel.'

Follow On

Q: Why would Esme immediately move to attack this woman when common adventuring custom suggests the casting of defensive wards is a normal, expeted occurance?

Q: Why did Luna lie to me and downplay her own involvement in proking Esme?

Q: Why did the Precept Arcanum order Luna not to press counter-charges against Esme?

Conclusion

Case judged out of court.

1 Count Armed Assault: Not Heard.
1 Count Impersonation of a Cleric: Guilty
1 Count Religious Blasphemy: Not Guilty

For the Serious crime of Impersonation, Defendant shall be fined 8500 crowns, half of which shall be granted as a donation to the Church of Talona in Tilverton as penance OR defendant, if unable to pay, will be committed to one tenday of penance in service to the Church of Talona in Tilverton.

Reasoning

Regarding the Serious count of Armed Assault, it seems that the assaults themselves stem from a fundamental misunderstanding rather than active intent to do each other serious harm. Taken all together, it looks to me like Esme acted unreasonably when Luna performed what to most people would be a regular spell upon her, and that her bodyguard moved to her defense in a reasonable manner. No unbiased witnesses exist to this crime, both parties did harm to one another, and Luna herself has dropped charges. I feel it therefore fair that the charges in this case be dropped as well.

Impersonation of an official member of the Clergy of Arabel is absolutely provable, with multiple reports indicating that she attempted to pass herself off as the Malagent to get herself out of trouble. This was clearly a calculated choice intended to defame the Malagent, for the specific purpose of not only slandering her, but also to avoid reprecussions for her own actions in front of Officer Daleroy. As much as I dislike the man, I have seen how adventurers react to an attempted search, which is within his lawful authority. She could also have simply put away her spear upon request.

As to the Blasphemy charge, as there is no written proof of what she said and it seems to be simply tacked on to try and make her punishment worse, I have dismissed it as scurrilous in favor of the greater charge of Impersonation.

I have assigned 8,500 crowns as a fine, as Talona is only a minor and not a major faith, and the individual has some argument against the Malagent which clearly gave her the idea of doing this. The Malagent has also apparently attempted to manipulate justice by placing the woman in a position where she cannot levy counter-charges. Yet, it is also clear to me that this was a willing decision on Luna's part, and must therefore carry a serious fine.

This is also the first case in which I will be taking a speaking fee as it seems scurrilous and it took a while to suss out the truth. 4,250 crowns will be awarded to the Church of Talona, 250 Crowns donated to the Church of Tyr as speaking fee, and the remaining 4,000 Crowns will be turned in to the Crown Quartermaster for use in the operation of the Crown Guard.

If the individual cannot pay she will simply serve a week with the Malagent to learn something of the Talonite church and gain some respect for the woman. Considering they seem to hate each other that feels like an almost worse punishment.

[Paramour]

Case File: Elsa Brown

Treason (Espionage, Joining under Pretense)
Murder

Brief:

Officer Elsa Brown concealed her involvement with the Were-Rats prior to joining the Crown Guard, and has subsequently both spoken and acted in a manner which suggests to me she might still be in league with them in some capacity. Her actions may have demonstrably led to the were-rats targetting the woman Imyra, leading to her death.

Having joined the Crown Guard under false pretenses, many of her suggestions seem to involve painting the Crown in a tarnished light, or interrupting its operation entirely in some cases. Her support of Officer Farmerson's antics and her recent suggestions worry me greatly about her purpose within the Crown. Even if this may be unintentional, having spoken to her, I do not feel she is capable of passing fair judgement upon others.

Testimony:

Fyevarra

I discussed Elsa's involvement with the Illuminated Blade for a while with then-Dame Fyevarra of the Illuminated Blade, around the time of my passing judgement on Friedegard. At that time, Fyevarra vouchsafed to me that Elsa had personally come to her and admitted that Imyra's death was her fault, and that she had done this deed on purpose or at least felt guilt for doing so, and that this may have led to her leaving the Illuminated Blades in the first place.

Initially, Fyevarra did not share the exact letters with me, but after being divested of her authority, I requested them again and received them. The contents can be read under Evidence.

Personal Statement

On the 11th day of the 12th month, 1362DR, I noticed a sending that requested the presence of a Priest of Tyr. The sending sounded suspicious and requested I come to the Manticore. When I arrived at the Manticore I met two individuals, human, a male and a female in tattered garments with raspy voices and coughs, wearing a pair of skull masks to conceal their features.

They attempted to bribe me to leave them alone and the way they spoke strongly suggested they had done the same thing before. The rats also forwarned me about the manner of Mikal's death by flames, although I did not lend that credit at the time and were apparent witnesses to his death.

They knew about my investigation without my having to mention it, even though the knowledge of that investigation was restricted at the time to the Crown Guard and to those who stood accused.

When I pointed out that it seemed as though they had bribed the Crown Guard before, they practically threw it in my face that they had done so. They offered to give me a letter they had received asking them to kill the woman Imyra in trade for my silence so that I could bring the person who hired them to account, but I refused.

Witnessing my refusal would be Randal who also witnessed most of the conversation prior to his joining the Guard.

Evidence

[Letter from Elsa to the Were-Rats]
[Response from the Were-Rats]
[Praeved Shrooms Proposal]
[Cooking Rats Proposal]
[Internal statements and responses to charges]

Relevant Notations

Note: In the Praeved Shrooms proposal, Elsa fails to mention that experimentation with the shrooms could kill or permanently injure a man. When I met with her to discuss this plan in person, she made a particular point of telling me that I was immoral for supporting it in front of a group of adventurers, even though she withheld that information in writing the initial suggestion, and the initial suggestion was her own.

Note: Seemingly intelligent in most other regards, when I confronted Elsa about her plan to lure the were-rats out by eating their children and broadcasting it over the sending system, I pointed out that she was proposing to feed diseased rats to the Crown Guard and our prisoners. When she said they ought to be fine, I asked her whether or not she herself was contageous - and she 'hadn't thought of it.'

Note: Treason is 'The act of aiding the enemies of Arabel, its leader, or its people. Concealing the actions of foreign agents, their locations, or otherwise siding with opposing national powers over Kingdom of Arabel.'

Note: Murder is 'causing directly, or through carelessness, the death of any Arabellan citizen or foreign diplomat.'

Note: Only public executions must be approved by the Council of Peers. A private execution may be carried out where necessary at discretion.

Note: No precident yet exists for prosecuting a serving officer.

Note: Daleroy could not have shared our files with the were-rats as he is unable to read.

Follow On

Q: Why did Elsa Brown join the Crown in the first place?
A: Count Immerdusk explained that she had clearly joined to spy for the Illuminated Blade.

Q: What was she hoping to accomplish here?
A: The firing of Cpt. Daleroy.

Reasoning

Originally I was going to hold this judgement until after the current crises has passed, but recent actions by the defendant have disavailed me of that notion. I feel that if I do not act swiftly, her method of thinking and her apparently casual disregard for what is natively right and wrong will continue to do active harm to the Crown.

In writing and by testimony, it is clear that Elsa Brown assisted in feeding the were-rats, at least during their initial rise to the massive infestation they represent now. By her admission to her then-superior Fyevarra, and by the inclusion of this letter, written in her own hand, and the response letter from the were-rats, it is also clear that her actions can be firmly linked to the death of the woman Imyra, in a most brutal fashion.

The reason that I suggest that we execute her rather than exile her, your Excellency, is because I feel as though, as clever and as well read as she seems to be, she must have been aware where her actions were going to lead. Many of her proposals only make sense if viewed from the lens of someone plotting trechery, and much of the way that she acts is duplicitous - even actively conniving. She is remarkably prescient in some ways, and remarkably - I would argue willfully - blind in others. In my own judgement, the things that she says and the people that she chooses to say them to are active choices rather than accidents and, if allowed to live, she will continue to prove a liability to the Crown even in exile, if not our active opponant.

At best, her actions can be taken as haphazard - but her apparent competencies reject this explanation. She is too intelligent to have done these things, not realizing where her actions would lead.

Conclusion

Case forwarded to Count Immerdusk.

Capital Charges
1 Count Treason: Not Guilty
1 Count Murder: Not Heard

Verdict: Offered Retirement. If Retirement not taken, case returned to Jasda al Tyr

The Count argues that not enough evidence is present to place a charge of Treason upon Elsa Brown, while the charge of Murder is tenuous. The Count agreed that Elsa Brown was not fit for service overall, an internal issue, and offered her the opportunity to resign with a pension, with the understanding that if she refused to resign, the count would defer to the prosecutor's recommendation thereafter.