Priestess Mirai al Tyr: Some notes and files
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Dear Priestess Mirai of Tyr,
Thank you for your offer to look over some of my notes to provide some assistance in evaluating them. I can see that you, considering your education, may wish to move as quickly on possible on this overall matter. However, I believe the moment for taking action on any of these compiled notes may need to be carefully considered. First and foremost, we serve the Crown and Country. Please feel free to peruse some of these files and annotations, and do not hesitate to get back to me with advice.
File 1: Undocumented Charges against Mr. Ekebald, Priest of Sune
Captain Farmerson has repeatedly pronounced Mr. Ekebald for "Crimes of theft and sabotage committed on Highborn property", as indicated by various sendings, spoken communication, and the following public announcement: leaflet. All investigations have shown that Mr. Ekebald and his girlfriend at the time were framed for this crime. Ms. Oakhollow (i.e., said girlfriend) was even in my personal presence at the time when these crimes are believed to have occured. In addition, Captain Farmerson informed me that a total sum of 30000 gold was paid by the Order of the Illuminated blade to summarily settle these and other allegations against members of said organization at the time. However, after having briefly suspended his demands for more gold to them, Captain Farmerson soon resumed these unsupported (and undocumented) accusations. He told me, privately, that his reason for doing so is because he hoped to press more gold from either the Illuminated Blade, or from Mr. Ekebald, in person. For this, he told me that he intends to arrest Mr. Ekebald for the express purpose of beating him up in the arrest cell to take all of his gold "in fines".
File 2: Disproven Charges against Ms. Oakhollow
While Ms. Oakhollow might be regarded as a thug and reckless individual herself, a more than substantial fine (see file #1 above) was paid by the Order of the Illuminated blade to settle the matter. Ms. Oakhollow has been proven innocent of the allegations concerning the Tilverton Food Poisoning events. Furthermore, as concerns the charge of assaulting a high-ranking officer of the Crown Guard, I can attest to the following because I was present as a witness at the time: Ms. Oakhollow acted upon direct orders of the noble leadership of the Illuminated Blade, who in turn acted on a poorly interpreted suggestion by Lady Islyn of House Mossmere that was misconstrued as an order to forcefully remove and punish Mr. Farmerson from the property. Hence, in my own limited understanding of this crime, it should have automatically been mitigated by one order of severity, and applied to the noble leadership of the house. That is, Ms. Oakhollow merely acted on orders. Furthermore, what might have been considered an appropriate fine, was paid for many times over.
However, sensing an opportunity to extort even more coin, Capatain Farmerson has kept fabricating further charges in this matter.
File 3: Whispers of Treasonous Intent
Shortly after hiring me as an (by then still un-paid) secretary, Captain Farmerson provided me with a personal tour of the most noble parts of the city. In particular, he seemed gleeful to show me House Mossmere. Upon departing the estate, he said to me, to my horror, that one day, that estate might be "ours". He said that he plans to recruit thugs and other criminals with the express purpose of bolstering the Crown Guard, as well as to take over Tilverton. He was more vague on a final goal - which is why I did not immediately bring these worrying concerns to the attention of another superior (so that I might still learn more first). However, I believe that his ultimate intention is to depose our beloved King and Queen in order to take their place himself. Alas, I have no proof of this, other than the words spoken to me in private. I have been trying to collect further evidence in the meanwhile - yet he has thus far failed to raise this topic again.
File 4: Graft and Bribery of Fellow Crown Guards under his Personal Command
Captain Farmerson has said to me repeatedly, and in the presence of several other members of the main Hall of the Crown Guard, that he expects any employee under his command to collect at least a set amount of 10000 gold pieces in fines per week, half of which are to be delivered to him in person, and for his own pocket. Naturally, I have refused these demands, pretending to understand them as a mere "joke". However, I am certain that he is actually serious about these demands, as he keeps bringing them up at every other meeting, asking for what fines I have collected, repeating his demands.
File 5: Demands of Conducting Theft and likely Treason towards a Noble on the Behalf of Captain Farmerson
On the very day that Captain Farmerson announced that I was hired as his secretary, he demanded me to hand over my cloak and my key to the Estate of the Illuminated Blade. As he clearly intended to misuse these items (conjecture: I speculate that this might be related to him colluding with the local were-rats), I found an excuse to visit the estate one final time before handing over said keys to pick up a personal item. I then left the keys and the cloak in their proper place in the estate, and informed my liege lord of my intentions. I must admit that I have lied to my soon-to-be superior, Captain Farmerson, in this matter, by telling him that the key had been removed from me against my will. However, in my defense I can say that at that moment, the leadership of the Illuminated Blade, and hence House Mossmere was still my liege, and I acted in their accord and interests. The paperwork for my own admittance to the Crown Guard had neither been submitted nor processed at the time. Hence - I lied to a treasonous drunkard, in order to gain his trust.
File 6: The Everyday Corruption of Captain Farmerson
This file might go without saying for everyone who knows Mr. Farmerson, even in passing. I have personally witnessed a multitude of on the spot made-up charges being raised by him against pretty much any adventurer he happens to run into. On one day, that might be a certain "Cloak Charge" of a 100 coins, or more (depending on his mood at the time), so that common adventurers shall have to pay to express their allegiance to their lord (e.g., the Illuminated Blade) or whatever group they might want to associate with. On another day, he might simply decide to charge people for praying to recognized deities of Arabel in a slightly more elaborate manner, by invoking a "ritual fee". I have personally witnessed both of these examples. Again, he has kept pestering me to try to collect such "fees" as well - which I have not.
Another example are his "consultation fees" that vary between 100 and 200 gold, depending on his mood. I.e., despite the ample pay afforded by his position, he still demands bribes for people to merely be awarded the honor of being allowed to talk to him. There are a few people whom I could contact to provide testimony on this.
However, among the above listed examples, I personally found the "Cloak Charge" to be the most dishonorable one, as this type of undue fee has been designed to drive a wedge between the common adventurers and their desire to pay respect to their betters.
File 7: The Penal League of Captain Farmerson
One of his most recent money-making schemes has involved the ad-hoc institution of a penal league of workers on made up or minimal charges. A legal expert might be more qualified to examine if this might already breach into the territory of "slavery" or undue serfdom.
An example case of this type was brought to me today by a man called Chris, who has also signed his name to the below summary statement:
"I hereby attest that I have been imprisoned on made up charges for 'public indecency' by Captain Farmerson. I have been sentenced to imprisonment for this, and charged to give all coin collected from my future employments to Captain Farmerson."
[signed: Chris]
I can personally attest to the allegations of this man having been imprisoned, as I saw them walk towards said prison a few days ago. While no one (alas, including myself, to avoid suspicion) said anything, Captain Farmerson simply proceeded to abuse this goodly citizen towards his own ends. The New Crownguard of Try, Priestess Mirai can provide further testimony on this matter.
File 8: Indecent drunkenness and constant defacement of the public image of the Crown Guard of Arabel
Captain Farmerson has an indisputable record of using the sending system during states of extreme inebriation. The public image this creates of the Crown Guard as a whole is simply devastating. Newcomers to the city are lead to believe that drunkenness is the new norm among representatives of our elite, and mere commoners are being allowed to drag the entire Crown Guard into the dirt to the ears of any visiting dignitaries. Perhaps even more importantly, however, he is misusing the sending system to spout his own highly questionable interpretations of the Arabellan Lawbook to everyone who might listen. This results in daily changes of fines and charges to be applied, including offers of false amnesties or days during which certain actions will simply not count as a "crime". He is, thus, not only a disgrace to what it means to be a member of the Crown Guard - but he is also appropriating a level of authority that his position simply does not provide him with (at least to the extent of my own limited understanding).
File 9: Failure to Provide any Direction or Documentation concerning the actual threats Facing Crown and Kingdom.
When I try to speak to Captain Farmerson of matters other than enriching his personal coffers, and those of House Axehand, he will simply tell me either "not to worry", or that his jurisdiction ends with the limits of the city. However, most frustrating of all is that he never even tries to dictate me any of the kind of security-relevant reports that I had been hoping he would provide to me in my function as his new secretary. I understand that the man is essentially illiterate. However, while that might excuse his failure to provide reports on his own - it does not excuse his failure to utilize my skills in this field. This is, what I thought the Crown wanted to pay me for: To help the Captain perform his actual paperwork. Instead, he only appears to be interested in mis-using me towards collecting further bribes - and perhaps as his whore.
File 10: Failure to respect legal permits.
The following was reported to me today by Ms. Friedegard, and witnessed by Crown Guard Mirai:
Captain Farmerson walked up to Ms. Friedegard today to fine her 100 coins on charges of "Necromancy" (note that this would be far beyond the minimum required for actual necromancy). Ms. Friedegard refused to pay this fine, showing him a writ entitling her to safeguard a specific item that she is personally best equipped with to protect from misuse. A copy of said document is attached to this file. While I am not a lawyer, I have had very good reasons to issue this permit (at no cost to the recipient), given her qualifications as a well-studied wizard and her mission in life to fight against necromancy. Alas, Capatain Farmerson decided to pursue her in order to collect this "fine" despite Ms. Friedegard clearly showing him this permit. Ms. Friedegard has therefore filed this complaint.
File 11: Constant verbal abuse of subordinates
While this is perhaps the very least of all matters, I would like to include here that trying to work for Captain Farmerson equals a constant barrage of the lowest kinds of verbal abuse. Being called a "dumb bitch" in front of other members of the Crown Guard is just the least of these concerns. I understand that his station may allow him such. However, it really shows just how much of a low-born commoner he is, as his verbal skills are extremely limited. He has also "accidentally" imprisoned me once in his own prison cell - until another Crown Guard was so kind as to let me out again. However, in his defense, I should also state that he has never beaten me or unduly touched me. Perhaps he does not even want to do that - or would be unable to in any event, due to his constant state of drunkenness?
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Thank you, I will review these and return my thoughts after I have digested them fully.
~Jasda yr Mirai al Tyr
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Please note that Captain Daleroy has meanwhile claimed to have nullified the release of Mr. Chris. He indicated that anyone releasing someone from said legion without his approval would "get thumped". We should therefore make that piece of paperwork a priority so that the poor man may not be subjected to further suffering.
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No paperwork means no charges.
If he thumps the man, charge him with assault and fine him.
His rusty uniform does not grant him immunity to the law.
And since he cannot read, warn him that if he chooses to come after me with that ale bottle of his, he had better kill me, because the moment I am standing again I will raise a posse, arrest him, and throw him in lockup for armed assault.
~Jasda al Tyr
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I do not believe he has ever murdered anyone. That is his one saving grace. That and.. not knowing what kind of man he might have been, or become, without that bottle - is what is making me hesitate.
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The law of Arabel itself is not unjust. The only issue I have seen in reviewing it is that it is not applied as it should be. That must begin, again, with us holding each other accountable for doing so.
He can break the law drunk, or he can break the law sober, and he can even pose a tragic sight as a misunderstood man just trying to do his job, but in Arabel, the distinction doesn't matter. The result is the same.
I nearly refused to take this uniform because I did not want to sully the Church of Tyr by touching this job, but there are faithful of Tyr in the Crownguard who have sincerely asked me to attempt to restore some dignity to it.
Tell the man No, and keep telling him No until he understands that he must subject himself to reading and following the Kingdom's laws, or quit.
~Jasda al Tyr
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Dear Priestess Mirai of Tyr,
I am horrified to hear of these events and the crimes committed by Ms. Friedegard. That gem has been a terrible burden on her, and I had hoped she might be able to resolve this in a benign manner. This is why I attempted to prevent this very type of event, which appears to have bern triggered by Captain Farmerson trying to fine and to chase her. By my understanding, such items are not allowed to be in the possession of „mere common men“, yet exceptions can be made.
Let me know in case you wish to learn somewhat more about this gem. Under no circumstances must it be used in any way, which also means that it much not fall into the hands of our Captain Farmerson. Likewise, I believe that destroying it would be a heinous crime as well. It might be best if you either hide it, or prepare irrevocable authorization that you and you alone be permitted to safeguard it.
It is a terrible burden - a burden that I appear to have failed to lessen.
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I have not had the time to really inspect it or even look at it since it was handed to me. The drunkard did mention something like that when I told him Friedegard was dead, since he had been bothering me about Mikal's death and some conspiracy about what the Blades were trying to summon and capture some sort of demon spirit or something.
I mentioned that I would be amicable to putting the soul inside to rest. However, as Fyevarra and Nix are about to be referred for the murder of Mikal of Sune I may end up adding it to my rapidly growing pile of things to do.
If you have ideas about it I am all ears.
I have read through the documents you sent me, finally, and I am working on a charge sheet we can submit to the Count and Lady Courtier.
~Jasda al Tyr
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Highly esteemed Priestess Mirai of Tyr,
As you are acknowledging yourself, you seem to have managed to pile more work upon your desk than most people here might see in a moon, if not a year.
I would therefore like to advise you to not try to juggle all too many pieces at ones, and to try to always consider the full picture - lest your decisions might be prone to result in unintended consequences that you might very well have seen when taking the time to consider a matter from all relevant angles.
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As concerns the matter of „laying to rest“ that soul inside said gem, what you indeed might be pondering here could easily be constituting the murder of an innocent who has been trapped. I would suggest to at least consider trying to find out what that soul itself might desire in this context. It is not one of the cursed and twisted creatures of Eveningstar - for all I know, but a most kind and gentle soul.
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As concerns the matter of apparent failings of our superior officer, I would likewise like to urge you to try to understand the full picture - including that which is not part of the written legal code. For example, this included the recent announcements of a tournament, as well as the Captain having been charged with the betterment of a known anarchist and enemy of the Crown. Note also, that Captain Farmerson had been willing to put himself on the line for this Gnome. Why? What possible gain might outweigh the risks associated with such an action?
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As concerns yet other matters, I would like to urge you to likewise take into consideration the wider implications of an outcome of certain trials and legal efforts. I hope that you may be willing and able to do so - as this is certainly not a trivial task. Alas, while you might believe that you are „just doing your work“, you might want to try to see a little bit further ahead. Otherwise, you might just end up like another playing piece that does not even know its player(s).
With respect, hope, and grave concern,
-Elsa Brown -
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I appreciate your concern.
As to the soul gem, I have just penned a missive to the Precept Arcanum and await a reply or a visit.
Regarding the trial - it went well, and I accomplished everything I hoped in regards to the broader picture you mention.
As to the failings of our 'superior officer', I am genuinely surprised that as clever as you are at coding underwritten messages and warnings into parchment, you have not yet realized that Captain Famerson is a joke being played upon us by Lady Axehand, and that if you listen to him, you become a part of it. I will admit that after I realized that I had the unholy urge to play along with it as you are doing, mewling at his feet and calling him a hero, but I feel it is too cruel to continue building him up. When he meets reality he will kill himself on the gap. I will see if we can turn the joke back on the nobility somehow, but in the meantime I sat down after the recent trial to properly look over the files you have recorded.
Here is my recommendation for the first four:
File 1: Undocumented Charges against Mikal Ekebald of Sune
Serious Crimes:
2 Counts BriberyFirst count is the initial carrying on of a case on false pretenses for the sole purpose of receiving monetary gain. Second count is the intent to continue despite full knowledge of it being unlawful.
A case could also be made for theft - the unlawful possession of another person's belongings - but I feel as it is money being exchanged in order to disregard his duties, Bribery more strongly applies.
I recommend a fine of 7,500 crowns for each instance of purposeful solicitation.
File 2: Disproven Charges against Ms. Oakhollow
Serious Crimes
1 Count Trespassing
1 Count BriberyLesser Offenses
1 Count Evasion of a Peace OfficialCriminal trespass in this case would be upon your word that he was asked to leave, and did not. Evasion of a peace official, a lesser crime, is possible because of the article in the law related to the possessions of peers; as the estate at the time was the domain of a ranking Peer of the Realm, she had every right to evict whom she pleases.
From your account I feel that the response from Ms. Oakhollow was excessive. Were she to be brought before me I would advise a fine of 10,000 be levied and provided to Officer Daleroy as compensation for excessive suffering, on an Armed Assault charge. Ms. Oakhollow might have acted under orders but she is still common-born and the charge cannot therefore be reduced on those grounds. However, as you say, this fine seems to have been paid many times over.
For Trespassing, I would assign One Tenday's worth of labor in the immediate area of his crime. If he wished to arrest her or inspect her property without her permission he should have received a warrant to do so. Serving some public service in the area would remind him of that.
For Bribery, I would again recommend 7,500 coins as fine.
For Evasion of a Peace Official (Defined in Article VIII of the Arabellan Constitution), I recommend a forfeiture of 300 coins, but would commute it because the individuals involved are no longer present to receive it.
File 3: Whispers of Treasonous Intent
As you say, there is no proof of this. In order for a Treason charge to be relevant, the Treason must be acted upon. Furthermore, Officer Farmerson is demonstrably an idiot. It's concerning behaviour, but not a crime, just something to keep an eye on.
File 4: Graft and Bribery of Fellow Crown Guards under his Personal Command
Capital
Multiple Counts Bribery; Circumstantial severity increased to Capital.
Internal Policy
Conduct UnbecomingAgain, this is covered by the bribery law, due to the apparent intent being accumulation of personal wealth. Although it is not specifically a crime in the Lawbook, I have seen 'Conduct Unbecoming' used elsewhere in guard companies to punish incompetent officers internally, and it usually involves a demotion or a suspension of pay.
I would recommend that his pay be forfeiture up to the amount of 30,000 coins, given the repetition of this crime in this circumstance making the argument for Capital severity, which while not explicitly monetary in the law, would perforce lift the upper restriction on fines.
I will continue this analysis in chunks as I have time between other affairs.
My major takeaway so far is - where is all this graft money going? I am informed by other officers that it is going to the Axehand family. Is there a way to prove this, or has this been witnessed directly?
~Jasda al Tyr
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Dear Priestess Mirai of Tyr,
As concerns the money-flow, there was an official public announcement by Lady Naomi of House Axehand that specified and even bragged that the tournament was in honor of Captain Daleroy „contributing“ 200000 coins to „the Royal Coffers“. This, of course, does not exclude that he may also have given coin directly to House Axehand. However, that is a heavy money flow right there. I am not sure how wise it would be to try to investigate that in depth - but I would leave that up to you.
As concerns your question concerning my apparent lack of mental faculties: I take no offense at this, and even appreciate being asked. The answer is that I am aware that the Captain has been a joke, and perhaps an experiment of House Axehand. When that Lady Axehand (it might have been another member of the family) first made an announcement about his first promotion (not the one to becoming a captain), it was already evident from the announcement that she was inebriated at the time. It sounded very much like a jest between nobles. In fact, my guess is that this was sort of a “counter-jest” in response to elevate Fye to become a noble under the protection of House Mossmere.
You see, they have both been either “toys” or experiments of these two influential noble Houses. Now, thanks in part to your dilligent efforts in these matters, the grander “proof” is being delivered that elevating mere common rabble to noble status or even some kind of otherwise elevated station, is only ever going to be just that: a jest. As such, these outcomes are clearly helping to assure everyone to stay content in their place and accept the whims of the noble rule of our benevolent betters. This is, of course, as it has always been, and you are probably right in working towards this aim, and trying to make these things a little more painless - through the virtue of acceptance.
Yours, Elsa Brown
P.S.: As concerns my mewling and supplication to our esteemed Captain Farmerson, the Hero of Arabel.. I am taking a leap of faith here that you might be saying this out of some flicker of true concern between all those legal paragraphs…
I am afraid that this is mostly my own way of venting my anger and frustration at him. For he should be a hero, and he ought to at least even try. Apart from that, yes, I must admit - I can get rather angry myself, and this is the only polite and acceptable way that I have learned to express it, my dear and esteemed priestess of Tyr.
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Before the trial I sat down and explained Fyevarra's rights to her as a peer of the realm. Not once during the trial did she attempt to exercise them. Instead, she lied - admitted she lied - and in general she performed very poorly despite my coaching her prior. For the short time I have known Fyevarra she has treated her peerage like a snake, avoided it, and refused to utilize it for anything. She was given several opportunities to assert herself at trial and stand up for herself or her beliefs, which is why she was divested of her rank.
In the end, the Queen told her that while she was a hero who had risked life and limb for the country, her performance as a knight left the peerage with the impression that she could neither be trusted to make decisions nor be trusted to protect her retinue.
She recommended that Fyevarra be divested to Lord Mossmere, her leige, and Lord Mossmere himself turned and asked her, right in front of me, if she were worth making the other peers angry. Her answer was so underwhelming I cannot even remember it. She had the opportunity to keep the Knighthood - all she had to do was assert herself, and she refused to do so.
I wouldn't say I like the nobility, and it is my keen interest to hold them to account for the laws they so often shirk or avoid responsibility within. It is unfortunate that, in this case, the Knight they raised to the peerage could not perform a Knight's duties. But I assure you that the nobility of any country will never support, as a whole, raising commoners to the peerage. Yet, historically, every noble family was once an ordinary family. Thousands of years ago, when the djinn came to Calimshan, we humans were their slaves. Now, there are so many Pasha claiming nobility that the title is ubiquitous throughout my homeland.
I intend that by pursuing 'Captain' Farmerson, I - we - can reveal the culpability of House Axehand in this unamusing jest and place them before the Queen just as the former Dame was placed and seeking much the same result. It irritates me that instead of teaching this man better or even teaching him to read, they dressed him in rusted armor that smells like a privy and sent him out as a mockery. But more unfair, the heaviest mockery is placed on Officer Farmerson, who is too ignorant to realize what they are doing to him. That is a specific and terrible sort of viciousness that does not belong in the Crown Guard or in any civil society. It happens anyway, but it is callous. I do care, Officer Brown, a great deal. And that is why I have been making my eyes bleed trying to absorb all of this information as quickly as possible and cramping my hand. It will not last forever, but it is important to me those responsible for this are held accountable.
Perhaps I have been too harsh with you and dismissive of your efforts. Forgive my previous tone with you, as I have been not just ready to but have been actively looking for faults, and it has colored my viewpoint somewhat.
I hope you understand where I am coming from now, a little better, and that I do appreciate the effort you have put in and are still putting in to combat the current state of affairs.
~Jasda al Tyr
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Dear Priestess Mirai,
I thank you for providing this context. It indeed means much to me. I have received a letter from the Malagent de Verthan of Tilverton. I would like to phrase a reply to her - yet you are the legal expert. Might you have a precise answer for this request? As with the Malagent, precision and phrasing are important. Hence, I would like to provide a swift and accurate response.
https://nodebb.cityofarabel.com/topic/60951/crown-guard-attn-elsa?_=1670870232497
Sincerely,
Elsa Brown -
I'm just going to do one every time I sit down at my desk.
File 5: Demands of Conducting Theft and likely Treason towards a Noble on the Behalf of Captain Farmerson
While it's clear to me the attempt is there based upon your testimony in this case, as no actual theft happened, this can only be taken as context for a similar case as evidence proving poor character. For instance, if he were to make the argument that he has 'never stolen before', this could be used as evidence to refute the claim.
There is no provision in Arabel's lawbook allowing us to arrest someone for making the attempt, only for succeeding. If this were an individual case I would make the argument for charging him 'by custom' - but would need to dig for a precedent of someone else being prosecuted for a crime they did not successfully commit.
I.E., if a person attempts to kill someone and succeeds, but that person is raised afterward, the charge is not 'Attempted Murder', but 'Armed Assault'. The Law in Arabel cares about timing, not intention.
Penned slightly later
I'll look into the map and the distances.
~Jasda al Tyr
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Dear Priestess Mirai of Tyr,
You are probably the wrong person to address with any sort of unofficial "hunches". However, for your own well-being, I would still like to advise you not to trust the Malagent de Verthan. I believe the only true reason she is considering helping me deal with that disease is because of the indignation at the mis-behavior of those were-rats in this matter. I had given her no reason to take offense, and she had given me her word. Furthermore, she was aware that if I went missing, this would raise suspicions because people knew I had been invited to that meeting with an assurance of safety.
In hindsight, I probably should not have accepted that meeting in the first place. I was assured by someone else that it would be safe, and it would simply have hurt too much not to try to trust that other person. I am aware that my repeated encounters with these monsters do not make me look trustworthy at all. I understand that. However, I still hope you might somehow be willing to help me. I am in a very difficult situation, and this disease is a nightmare coming true for me.
If you should ever find a valid reason to have me executed, I would beseech you to make it quick. I am certainly not one who would try to resist such - provided it is just.
-Elsa Brown
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Dear Priestess Mirai of Tyr,
I am sorry to be putting yet another incomplete file onto your endless stack of tasks and responsibilities. Alas, it seems that I will be indisposed for the foreseeable future.
Case File: An apparent sorceress, calling herself the 'Witch of Bane' and her companion
Full name: Unknown. Yet there seems to be only one recently arrived banite of this description in the city
Full name of the companion: As of yet Unknown.Brief:
The "witch of Bane" and "her companion" (presumably a blood hound from the Precept) appear to have been hired by the Malagent de Verthan in the Hullack forest to assist the Malagent in gathering spider glands. The Malagent de Verthan claims that the "Witch of Bane" began casting spells on her without her consent. Apparently, the Malagent then moved to defend herself, not knowing what intention the sorceress had in her Weaving. The "brute", i.e., the presumably the accompanying blood hound, then her struck the Malagent with a weapon as she was trying to explain to the sorceress how such casting is unacceptable.
The "Witch of Bane" appears to have been subsequently arrested by Captain Daleroy. When asked, she is said to have stated her name as being that of the Malagent de Verthan.
Testimony:
At this time, all of the available evidence in this case file is based entirely on the testimony of the Malagent de Verthan, as reported to Dilletante Brown in Tilverton. The reputed perpetrators should be interviewed. At present, it is unknown if any other adventurers were present who might function as witnesses.
I apologize for the incomplete nature of this report. As already noted, other events have occurred in the meanwhile, which have very much rattled me, rendering me unfit to perform my duties for the time being.
Dilletante Elsa Brown.Interim Conclusion:
The Malagent wished to press the following two charges:
- Impersonation of an official member of the clergy (serious crime), with any fine collected to be given to the Church, and any labor would be performed in the city
- Religious Blasphemy and Slander (lesser offense)
I believe that a third charge should be added here, namely: - Armed Assault, as reputedly performed by the Blood Hound of "the witch of bane" (serious offense)
Advice:
Please do proceed with the utmost possible caution and politeness in this matter. The city is already suffering from a terrible plague, and we should try to do our best to avoid making it any worse.
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If you do feel truly miserable enough to die, I have recently been building a case against you for conspiring with those were-rats.
What you leave out in your explanation of your sick leave is that they were assaulting you and asking you to cook for them because, according to letters I have received as evidence, you were one of the ones feeding them in the first place and stopped. It is my suspicion, personally, that the reason they did not attack the Malagent was that they had coordinated with her to place you in that selfsame position, and the woman was just acting surprised and offended for your benefit, but I have yet to prove that suspicion and right now I lack solid evidence for it.
I think you know the letter I'm talking about.
You have two options. The first option would be to be prosecuted for treason. While you might argue that you stopped the practice recently, it is clear to me that you had amicable relations with the were-rats that you did not report and that you joined the guard, therefore, under pretenses.
The second option would be to confess this crime and provide helpful evidence leading to or assisting in their capture. I do not believe this country has the equivalent of 'Turning Queen's Evidence' but as I am the one prosecuting this case, I will consider a reduced sentence.
I have appraised Sir Everduke of the situation, and should harm come to me, it will be fairly obvious where that harm came from.
As to the case you have provided - there are indeed three sides to this story including Captain Daleroy's. Strangely, his account is the least scurrilous.
I will find you in person rather than over the files to discuss your charges with you and your recent trouble with the Malagent de Verthan. I have questions you will need to answer.
//Jasda al Tyr//
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I finished my judgment on the case you mentioned, and my reasoning is included in my report.
I'll summon Luna to the Crown when time permits and inform her of the result. If you would like to inform Esme of the result, I will leave that to you, or she can be informed when the donation to her church is delivered or the person in question appears for her work detail.
//Jasda al Tyr//
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I simply cannot meet with you right now!
I have never had any „amicable relations” with those rats! How can you even think of construing that letter as treason?? I tried to scare them away by trying to tell them that my flesh is cursed and barren (which, sadly, I am). And I tried to explain that I had to stop giving in to them extorting food from me for the goddess to "feed them" because I listened to my very best friend telling me to stop feeding them. She also asked me to actively fight them when they broke into our home that night. I had the feeling that we were doomed already then because… nothing I possessed seemed to be able to even nick them. Ask Mr. Faust if you need a witness of how we both tried to fight. Ask how we both failed miserably… But I ask you, have you ever tried to fight two were-rats with no tools available to you to even harm them?? And then when you have, and they are sitting on top of you, dripping their foul spittle into your mouth, and into your wounds, then, when you sit alone in a dark corner and they grant you three days to break your word to your best friend not to feed them again. Listen to all those heroic "friends" and colleagues of yours with the greatest blades, spells, and iron muscles - tell you how you are a coward that should finally grow some balls... all the while doing, exactly nothing themselves about that deadline. Please, go ahead, and then wait until the last day of that deadline and then tell me to my face that you won’t try to somehow talk them out of eating you. That you won't at least try to explain to them why you have stopped making offerings to Talona, to "feed them" out of fear. Tell me that. Please! Tell me that After you have experienced something even remotely like that.
And she did ask me to stop feeding them. She convinced me to try to do more than be another fearful commoner. And then, the rats took that as an excuse to EAT the very person I cared more about than anyone else right then?? And you blame that on ME?
I hoped they might just leave me alone, when I wrote that letter. I talked to Fye to warn Imyra to stay away from them and be careful. But it seems she ran into them anyway... They ate the person I loved. They now cursed me with that terrible disease because I am still keeping my word to Imyra not to feed them again, and you want to frame me for TREASON? Are you fucking insane???
By Tyr, if that is really the god who grants you your spells, then I want you to sentence me for treason, and then never have your god ever do anything for you ever again!
[*some ink stains here. A heavy dot, then the writing appears to resume with a different quill and a noticeably softer guidance of the quill.]
Perhaps, instead, begin by asking yourself, why the goddess Sune, truly, abandoned Mr. Ekebald - instead of conjecturing motivations upon a woman whom you have never really met? Or try to get to truly know our Captain Farmerson before you act on any of that paperwork that I have found myself somehow collecting? Where you seem to look, always, for the darkest flaws of people…
Like I said, I must not meet with people now, or they might get infected. This should give you, I hope, some time to think as well…
Perhaps we can truly meet, one day, and perhaps it shall never be - and you shall get that flee-ridden corpse upon the gallows that would seem to be your deepest wish. I still somehow hope, though, for.. the opposite.
-Elsa
P.S.: As concerns that evidence that I have been "among those feeding them in the first place" - what I did was to drop off some food supplies in the sewers, with an appeasing prayer to the goddess Talona to continue to spare me. Yes, they talk about that as feeding them - I am well aware of that. But I did not do that to do them any favors. I did it out of my terrible fear of the goddes and her touch (may she spare you!). Thankfully, I never met the rats in the sewers, and I did my best to dart in and back out as quickly as humanly possible. Yes, I knew that the rats would likely be the agents of the goddess to feed on these offerings to the goddess. This is why I have been feeling terrible about it (despite not truly doing anything wrong), and why I gave my word to Imyra to stop [note]. Instead, I have been trying to show my respect and fear to the Mother in other ways. But you must be genuinely callous if you intend to try to frame such divine offerings as treason. Or do you want to beat Ms. Sabriel the Mad in the count of innocents slain because they aren't angels? How many hundreds, do you think will be in this city today, whom you should try to execute on the same "charge"?
The one difference there might be between me and them, is that I happen to have some skills as a secretary, and that our Captain, my Hero, somehow seems to like me [note 2]. And I thought - where could I be safer than with him and in the Crown Guard, doing his paper work and, if he lets me, do his linens and his cooking? The rats had already attacked me and Imyra inside of our home then. And then, suddenly he offers a job to me, to work with him in the Crown Guard? With people all around who are sworn to an ideal, sworn to King and Kingdom, and armed to the teeth? How could I have said "no" to that?
I also wanted to learn, to understand who he really is, instead of that judgment on first sight - that you all seem to be so very fond of. Who is he, really? A drunkard? A fool? A bully? A danger to the people I love? Or rather just someone with extremely bad manners and a terrible odor? A man who, somehow, wants to do something good? In his own twisted and largely incapable way? A terribly a-social man, whom everybody jumps at and points out as a villain? A friend and protector? A good.. man who will do anything to keep someone safe?
I wanted to learn this, and more, of him, as well as keep that stupid Sunite from attacking him. Well.. you have seen how well that worked.
[A note in the margins]: Oh very well! This is not the whole truth: I also did it because I wanted to [an ink blot] show her and the others that I could try to become more than such a terrible coward. I wanted her to love me, and respect me. She was always so brave - she made me feel wanting to be brave as well.
[*A second note in the margins] Why does everyone just seem to think I only call him my "hero" out of some weird kind of political scheme? Does no one here understand what love and empathy truly means? Are these devious plots and ideas really all that anyone can think of?
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Thank you, Priestess Mirai,
I did not actually know that I had that in me. Was this indignation? I do not remember ever having felt like that before. Somehow, this just keeps happening. Something new, just when I feel that nothing is left.
I thought I might be... ready to give in to that dark haze, which sometimes lets me feel nothing but this smothering sadness. Almost ready to seek out that druid, Ms Nela, to give over my festering body towards something - something that might be good. Numb, like I felt when those were-rats were tearing open my skin, to plant inside me their vile infections.
But what you wrote... I just could not let it stand!
Do you want to know how often I have re-read that very letter? Since that day when they somehow hunted her down to murder and eat her? I made the mistake of thinking that, somehow, these murdering monsters might be scared away, or that they might understand why these offerings just had to cease. I dared to hope they might.. just leave me alone.
You probably do not know this... but some time ago, there were reports about a great battle between these rats and a party of powerful adventurers. There was this Lash Moraji [note], a servant of the Lady of Pain. She, and some of her friends battled these monsters. It must have been terrible. I treated her wounds, they... looked almost like mine do now.
At least one of her friends was so terribly ripped to pieces in that battle - that he could not be restored. However, there were also rumors of that battle. And there was this one rumor in particular, that said that one of the rats went into a terrible blood-frenzy when their mate had seemed to have died. I thought then, perhaps, these monsters might still have just this one little flicker of humanity left to understand, just this one little piece of being a person. To care for a loved one.
I was wrong. They twisted, they abused, they intentionally "misunderstood" my words and warped them to their own dark purposes. I understood then, too late, that I had been horribly naïf and mistaken about them the entire time. Never before have I met someone where I did not see, at least, some tiny spark, some glimmer of humanity - that might still be coaxed into something better. So often, that spark is buried beneath deep layers of grime, of pain, and hate, of desperation, and shame, and of guilt. But it is always there. Except for with.. these monsters. I know this now, that they are so alien to us, that all they will ever seek is our destruction. I believe they want to turn us into having to live like rats - whereas they wish to feast like queens and kings. They get upset even by the notion of harming a rat. Utterly irredeemable, at least for us. Utterly evil, at least towards us.
You falsely accuse me of Treason. You falsely accuse me of Murder. I know that I have committed neither. But, despite finally saying "No" to them, while facing all those threats, and despite still saying "No" while they found and enacted a worse punishment for me than you could ever dream of, I am still feeling worthless, and cowardly, and yes even guilty. I misjudged them, and I showed a piece of my heart to them that absolutely should have remained hidden. And they abused this as their excuse, their pretense, to snuff out that shining star that was... Imyra.
But it was them who murdered and ate her, and I did not ask them to murder anyone. Nor did I ever intend to.
-Elsa
[Note in the margins:] You somehow remind me of her.
