”That won’t be necessary.” Jamanda nods slowly. ”That won’t be necessary at all. I’d like to send Graelem and Sir Walhem south from here to reinforce Maegar Varn’s force in the Tors fo Levenies. As for the rest of you...I believe most of you have friends in Restov. I’d recommend you visit them and catch up, since we’ll be calling on you in the next few days.” Jamanda takes one more look at The Stag Lord. ”Oh! If you’d like, a public trial can be arranged for him.”
The wooden door creaks open after a few minutes and a mustached man beckons Valeriya and Alexi into the room. He doesn’t speak, instead waiting for both to be seated again. The room that they’re escorted into is simple, almost spartan; a few chairs, a round wooden table, and a couple of bookshelves packed full of old-looking, hand-written texts are the only furnishings. The man who opened the door nods respectfully toward the other, an older man, but nevertheless big and powerful. He holds out a hand in greeting. ”Sub-Bishop. Sister. You’ll forgive me if I don’t stand, since you’ve caught us at a disadvantage. I would assume you’re here to discuss the same thing you did before, Alexi.” He narrows his eyes a touch at the Abadarian.
”Of course, Lord Mayor. I continue to think that peace is more profitable for all parties, and easier on everyone than war.”
”Then we are in agreement on that. Nevertheless, the presumptuousness of the House Surtova is not acceptable to us. Teodor, if you would.” He waits while the other man presents a signed and sealed document to Alexi and Valeriya, then begins speaking again. ”Could you determine the legality of this charter?” As Alexi pores over it and shows it to Valeriya, he continues. ”Such actions by the Regent would seem to trample on Rostland’s rights, and posting such a figure as Drelev to our south is too much a threat for us to simply ignore.”
Charte: ”Be it so known that the bearers of this charter, having delivered the northern reaches of the Greenbelt from the scourge of banditry, having provided detailed maps of the lay of the land, and having done no small amount of work in the exploration of said land and the culling of hostile monsters and indigenous hazards, are hereby granted the rights of high justice and low in those lands. The nature and laws of rule are theirs to define, and the wellbeing of this new barony is theirs to protect. In accordance for providing a stable barony to the south of central Rostland, let there be a generous stipend of funds, support, and advice provided to this fledgling nation as a token of Brevoy’s goodwill, such that relations between the baronies and Great Houses might be mutually beneficial. So witnessedunder the watchful eye of the Lord Mayor of Restov, and by the authority granted by Noeleski Surtova, regent of the Dragonscale Throne.”
"Public trial's good. Figure we'll go finda Inn, get some rooms an' make our rounds." She looks over at the rest of the party. "I wanna find Daen an' Cyanne first. Share the good news."[/b]
"A trial sounds good," Kazimir agrees, nodding slowly. "Will we be required to speak? I'm unfamiliar with the processes of... large cities," he adds, by way of weak explanation.
"And yes, we'll have to introduce you to them," he grins at Nah. "They'd like you. Well, Cyanne would..."
"Of course sir" she says as she accepts the charter and begins to peruse it. She skims it quickly, getting a overall idea of it's content but not taking the time to properly analyse it. She listens to the rest of the conversation before saying. "Before I look properly at it I can agree with you that if the Regent is granting this land without consulting you, and yet using you as a witness, then your rights are at least being downplayed." She pauses for a moment to take another quick glance at the charter. "Of course, it is often the case that the minutia of the law give way to it's spirit when acting in good faith, so it will matter less if this turns out well I suppose. If may ask a question Lord Mayor -and forgive me for my ignorance on the matter- who is this land being granted to? Is it that Drelev person you mentioned?
Valeriya is confident making these assumptions and asking these questions. As a lawyer she is used to acting as a figure of authority, and expects that her clients know that if she does not ask questions she may as well be useless.
As she waits for an answer she checks one last time to make sure that the charter is legal. She compares it with both her general knowledge of Brevic law and with her specific knowledge of property law.
”Yes, you’ll be required to speak. However, the Lord Mayor and a representative of the citizens of Restov will be presiding over the trial. Plus, we’re in luck; there are a few Abadarians of rank here that we might be able to press into service for a trial. If that’s the case, you’ll be more witnesses than prosecution.” Jamanda pauses at the door. ”We’ll be calling on you soon. In the meantime, The Riverdance Inn. I imagine you’re tired from your journey. The guards will see you out.” She leaves the room, heading deeper into the castle.
The charter you can see in front of you is legal, for the most part. There could be some concerns with some of the River Kingdoms, due to the Stolen Lands being a no man’s land between Brevoy, Pitax, and Mivon, but within Brevoy, it follows proper law...assuming a regent has the same rights as a king.
The Lord Mayor narrows his eyes a bit as Valeriya begins speaking. ”There are actually several of these. The first is for Hans Drelev. His family’s been angling for more power in Brevoy for generations, and his father was looking to ride the Surtovans’ coat-tails to a Great House position when he died. We gave Drelev the job of settling the Hooktongue Slough, but intended to replace him. The others are for whoever we want, but it doesn’t matter, because the Slough is where the power really is in the Stolen Lands.”
He’s interrupted by a woman entering. She blinks, then introduces herself. ”Jamanda Aldori. I didn’t expect you to be here yet, but this will work. Our friends in the Greenbelt actually succeeded, which I know is a shock given how the Nettle expedition ended, but we’ll have to take that into account. They even managed to capture the leader of those bandits alive. I assume the Surtovans were here for what we thought they were?” She waits for a nod from the Lord Mayor. ”That’s what I was worried about. With that kind of support, soon-to-be Baron Drelev won’t fail. We’ll have to be a bit more obvious. But before that, there’s one more test to see if the Greenbelt expedition can rule. Sub-Bishop, could we borrow Sister Valeriya for a couple of days? Our friends need a prosecutor.”
The Sub-Bishop nods. ”If she’s willing, I have little I’ll need her for. You’ll need to inform me of whatever it is you’re planning, though, in exchange for her services.”
Valeriya nods through the explanation. Despite her position she has never actually enjoyed politics a great deal. She understands it of course, and some have even considered her rather good at it, but she has certainly never liked it. It seems that all this backstabbing and power-playing could be avoided if people simply followed due protocol properly she thinks wistfully.
She stands as the woman who introduces herself ans Jamanda enters in order to take a proper bow, before returning to her seat. Listening to the woman's words she resists rubbing her chin in thought. This is certainly a complex situation she thinks. She resists standing again at the mention of her name, merely sitting up straight in her chair. She is intrigued by the woman's offer, most so by who in the world she is talking about when she says 'friend'.
"I would be glad to assist" she says. "If nothing else, a break from the monotony of civil cases about turnip fields would be more than welcome." She pauses and gives the Sub-Bishop a look before continuing. "Of course I understand that I am only a priestess, but I will need to know some of the details to effectively argue my case. If nothing else, who shall I be prosecuting, and for what? She would also dearly like to know more about the political situation, but is certain that this would not be a good time to ask about it. Besides, I'm sure I'll be able to find out more if they're bringing me on as legal help. In her experience people tend to be rather talkative with her whilst ever she is representing them in court.
She gives no assurance of her success in the case, as she feels it is the responsibility of a lawyer merely to argue, only a judge or jury can decided a victor.
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"I, uhm..." Luthor said in reply to Nahs asking for further compliments, looking rather confused by her straightforward and entirely unveiled request. "Yes, well, uhm...She certainly knows how to handle those bomb things. Every single one of them ended up hitting something." He smiled, the immediately realized the contents of his supposed compliment. Attempting damage control, he quickly added. "Also proving to be quite the dependable ally. And such shiny scales."
He followed the rest of the conversation in silence, taking it all in but leaving the others to speak. No questions that werent asked really came to him, and as usual he was content to let the talking be done by others. While it wasnt often, he had had his fair share of social failures in his time. "Heck, you almost just had one!"
As they left, Luthor laughed at Nahs question. "Oh Im certain you will find the food delightful. As far as Im aware your people doesnt have much of a tradition for cooking, right?"
Relieved at the idea of being a mere witness in the trial, Kazimir nods gratefully to Jamanda. "I believe we're done here," he remarks to the others, glancing down at Nah as the group begins the walk to the Riverdance. "Er, what do kobolds usually eat?" he asks after a brief hesitation.
The common room of the Riverdance Inn is filled with pipe-smoke, crowds, and (SOUND) fiddle music when the party arrives. A halfling greets everyone at the door, looking a bit apologetic. He shuffles his feet as he talks. ”The rooms aren’t ready yet, sirs and madams. The Swordlords only told us twenty minutes ago, and we couldn’t find Miss Ozolins or Madame Ozolins, so it took us a while to even get the news across to someone who could make decisions. We’ll have it cleaned shortly, but in the meantime, why don’t you enjoy the common room? We have a wide selection of brews available, and the music just started.”
Once inside the inn, the halfling leads the party to a table in a corner, well away from most of the chaos. The oak chairs are carved with reliefs of trees and streams, and though they’re not the most comfortable, they’re better than most anything the party’s encountered in the Greenbelt. The halfling pipes up again. ”Someone will be around shortly, and I’ll let you know when your rooms are ready. Apologies again.” He disappears into the crowd.
”The charges, I’m not sure about, but from all evidence, the person facing them is a the leader of a band of bandits south of Brevoy. The reason we can try him here, I believe, is that there’s no claim on that land, and the charter you recently saw was preceded by a different one that gave your soon-to-be witnesses the mission of bringing the bandits to heel.” Jamanda taps her foot. ”If you want to know more, I’m afraid you’ll have to talk to them about it. I’ve put them up at the Riverdance Inn for a bit so they can rest and recover from their time in the wilds. If they’re to be successful in all we ask, they’ll need it.”
She grins, then gestures toward the door. ”Sub-Bishop, I’d like you to stay for a bit. We have much to discuss. Sister Valeriya, this is where we say goodbye for now, I’m afraid. Could you, however, deliver this letter to our friends when you visit them?” She hands Valeriya a letter, then leads her out the door.
Congratulations,
On behalf of the Swordlords and Regent Surtova, allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your efforts in the Greenbelt. With the woods south of Brevoy relatively clear of banditry, the South Rostland Road is once again open to safe commerce. Furthermore, your mapping efforts, while not yet finished, have shed light on a number of economic opportunities that representatives of the High Brevic Houses would like to make use of. Later in this letter, I will explain how we intend to tap into the Stolen Lands’ wealth, but first, allow me to inform you of the other parties in the Stolen Lands and their efforts.
To the east, one of our swordlord aspirants has been hard at work in the Tors of Levenies. This Maegar Varn has secured a likely village location in the valley and has begun construction. However, he has been unable to completely suppress the centaur population in the hills around his village of Varnhold. To the west, Baron Hans Drelev has also begun construction. A large fortress is being built near the end of the Hooktongue Slough, with the purpose of keeping the Sellen River open to trade. He reports moderate success at mapping the Slough for safe travel. Further to the west, the Iron Wraith mercenaries report stiff resistance from several tribes of barbarians near the border with Pitax.
Now, Regent Surtova has authorized settlement efforts in all four regions of the Stolen Lands, and has named two new barons thus far; in the Tors of Levenies, Baron Meagar Varn and in the Hooktongue Slough, Baron Hans Drelev. The Iron Wraiths are not yet in a position to select a baron, but the Greenbelt has proven to be ripe for settlement, and we believe one of your number has earned the title.
The official ceremony will need to wait until we can resolve the Stag Lord’s trial, and until representatives of the Houses of Brevoy can arrive in Restov. The Swordlords are prepared to provide support in the form of settlers and some building supplies. However, with the situation in Brevoy being what it is, we cannot give you what you need on our own. Therefore, we would ask that you make deals as you see fit with the Great Houses, the faiths of Brevoy, and anyone else who you see fit over the next several weeks in Brevoy. Good luck.
Your Friend and Ally,
Jamanda Aldori, Blade of Restov
"Don' worry, we'll keep an eye on yeh." Lali trys to reassure the Kobold. "Anybody gives yeh a bad time an' we'll deal with 'em."
She drums her fingers on the table as the group waits. "Think we deserve some drinks. I'mma buy us a round. Mebbe some kinda dessert too.."
Boo settles onto the table as the group wait to be served, occasionally seeming to 'dance' along to the gentle music being played nearby. When Lali mentions dessert, he beeps in a cheerful manner and waves his arms around.
She stops outside The Riverdance, making sure that she understands the situation fully, as she stands she taps her foot to the violin music from within. I will be prosecuting a bandit chief she thinks. On behalf of a group who were given a mission to bring him to heel. This group is also being offered a land grant in the Greenbelt. She smiles, a complex situation, exactly the kind that she enjoys. She also cannot help but note that one of the groups that the letter asks this group to treat with to acquire support is the faiths of Brevoy. She makes sure that her tattooed holy symbol of Abadar is visible, and pushes open the doors.
Valeriya walks into the Riverdance, she does not think it necessary to announce her presence. Whilst she has not been here more than a few times, the staff should remember her as a member of Abadar's clergy if nothing else. She waves away the Halfling at the door, saying:
"Don't worry, I'm here to meet someone, I'll just get a drink first."
With that she walks toward the bar, keeping an eyes out for this group she has been told of. Her brown cloth trousers and blouse are not out of place in the dark, smoky bar, and even her gold vest is merely dyed. She keeps one hand on the hefty holy-text at her side to prevent it from bumping anyone in the press. Occasionally she pauses to say hello to another of the patrons. Here, an old man who she helped with his taxes, there, a young mother who she represented in a land dispute. As she talks the shallow crows-feet around her eyes are easily visible in her tanned skin.
Finally she reaches the bar and orders a small glass of liquor. Abadar teaches drinking in moderation of course, but when visiting a business it was only right to grant them your patronage. The wheels of commerce must turn after all. Drink in hand she scans the crowd, but only for a second. Even through the press, the smoke, and with her mind distracted by the fiddle she immediately picks out who she is looking for. Most of the people at the table are not particularly notable, looking typical if somewhat scruffy adventurous sorts, but the small lizard-like creature is hardly normal. Is that a Kobold? she wonders.
She makes her way over the the group, certain that they are the right ones. After arriving at the table she take a formal bow.
"Greetings" she says. "I am Valeriya Mikhailovna, priestess of Abadar and practitioner of law. I am to assume that you are the group recently returned from the Greenbelt? She continues on without waiting for a response. "I was sent by Jamanda Aldori, both to offer my services as legal council, and to deliver this." She hands over the letter and adds. "Nice to meet you all" making sure to include everyone in the table in her glance. After all, all are welcome in Abadar's society, so long as they do their part.
Congratulations,
On behalf of the Swordlords and Regent Surtova, allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your efforts in the Greenbelt. With the woods south of Brevoy relatively clear of banditry, the South Rostland Road is once again open to safe commerce. Furthermore, your mapping efforts, while not yet finished, have shed light on a number of economic opportunities that representatives of the High Brevic Houses would like to make use of. Later in this letter, I will explain how we intend to tap into the Stolen Lands’ wealth, but first, allow me to inform you of the other parties in the Stolen Lands and their efforts.
To the east, one of our swordlord aspirants has been hard at work in the Tors of Levenies. This Maegar Varn has secured a likely village location in the valley and has begun construction. However, he has been unable to completely suppress the centaur population in the hills around his village of Varnhold. To the west, Baron Hans Drelev has also begun construction. A large fortress is being built near the end of the Hooktongue Slough, with the purpose of keeping the Sellen River open to trade. He reports moderate success at mapping the Slough for safe travel. Further to the west, the Iron Wraith mercenaries report stiff resistance from several tribes of barbarians near the border with Pitax.
Now, Regent Surtova has authorized settlement efforts in all four regions of the Stolen Lands, and has named two new barons thus far; in the Tors of Levenies, Baron Meagar Varn and in the Hooktongue Slough, Baron Hans Drelev. The Iron Wraiths are not yet in a position to select a baron, but the Greenbelt has proven to be ripe for settlement, and we believe one of your number has earned the title.
The official ceremony will need to wait until we can resolve the Stag Lord’s trial, and until representatives of the Houses of Brevoy can arrive in Restov. The Swordlords are prepared to provide support in the form of settlers and some building supplies. However, with the situation in Brevoy being what it is, we cannot give you what you need on our own. Therefore, we would ask that you make deals as you see fit with the Great Houses, the faiths of Brevoy, and anyone else who you see fit over the next several weeks in Brevoy. Good luck.
Your Friend and Ally,
Jamanda Aldori, Blade of Restov
"Hello." Laliytsa uses her leg to push out one of the chairs for the newcomer. "I'm Laliytsa. 'Lali's fine."
She leaves the others to introduce themselves, picking up the letter and slowly reading it; a scowl deepens on her face as she gets to the end. "Bah" she grumbles, shoving the letter at Kazimir. "Ain't gonna be me. Nope. Better not wanna make me Baroness, cause I ain't a gonna do it."
It's then, just as Laliytsa finishes reading the letter, that a small halfling in a red dress arrives at the table. "Hello, sirs and madams. We have some lovely Sarian wines from our neighbors to the southwest in Pitax, or some more local Rostland ales. We're fresh out of most everything Issian, though; some big, rough-looking types bought it all out. For food, the latest catch from the Shrike is being fried in butter, and there's pork, but I'd recommend the fish, personally." She looks at the party expectantly, a quill in one hand.
After spending a moment looking over the newcomer, Kazimir gives a warm smile before nodding and smoothing the letter next to his mug. "Then sit, Valeriya. Abadar's law may not do much where we've been, but his guidance may do good in troubled lands. Kazimir Vasilovich, warrior of Erastil." Looking to Nah, he adds, "Abadar's one of the gods, like Erastil." Pausing, he amends, "Do kobolds have gods?"
As he reads the letter, his face shifts from bemused, to confused, to troubled. "Hmm?" he mutters suddenly, glancing up at the halfling woman who seemed to appear from nowhere. "Um, the fish, please," he mutters, before going back to the letter, drumming two fingers on the table next to it before pushing it towards the center of the ring of mugs and tableware. "If one of us is to lead, I would gladly shoulder the responsibility, but that isn't a decision any one of us can make," he sighs. "The Grim White Stag..." Voice trailing off, he stares into his mug before taking another drink. "In Erastil's Realm, I met with the Elkfather's herald. He told me that strong but gentle leadership would be needed soon, and asked me if I would lead, were it thrust upon me." He taps the letter with a finger. "I believe this was what He meant. If any among us would rather take the title, I will serve, and gladly. But otherwise, I would keep the promise I made to my god and myself."
Valeria sits down, placing her holy-text on the table in front of her, if for no other reason than how heavy it is. She responds to each self-introduction with a nod of the head and a quick word.
She notes the woman's full name, but she has always found that being casual is a good way to engender trust.
"Nice to meet you Lali"
She wonders what the small scaled creature thinks of her. She had always thought that Kobolds were bloodthirsty and ill-mannered. This one does not seem all that objectionable.
"A pleasure to meet you Nah. Yes, as your friend says, Abadar is a god. The god of civilisation and society.
The young man seems to have a commanding presence. Whilst Erastil and Abadar do not always see eye to eye Valeria sees no reason why they cannot work in harmony, after all, communities are communities, large or small.
"Greetings Kazimir, indeed, I hope that The Master of The First Vault will be able to bring peace and progress through me as The Stag God brings through you."
Finally she turns to the Halfling and says:
"I shall take your recommendation, the fish for me as well."
She sits and listens as Kazamir talks over his decision. Well there is not a lot I can add, I barely know these people. However, if he truly has met the herald of his god then perhaps this is to be? She simply says:
"If you have been granted this right then I am certain you will all know who among you is fit to govern. Tell me though, did you truly visit Erastil's realm?" It is not hard to see that she asks with genuine interest.
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Kazimir blinks in confusion at Valeriya's doubt, before carefully removing one gauntlet, then the other, setting the heavy armoured gloves aside. With clumsy fingers, he removes his gorget, lifts his chin, and indicates the thick, ugly scar across his throat, nearly stretching from one ear to the other.
"As I live and breathe, I've been there," he says in a low tone, keeping his chin high for a few seconds longer before dropping it again, massaging his throat. "After I was cut down in defense of Oleg's Outpost, I tended the fields on the slopes of Heaven, slept near the fires of the hall, and drank wheat-beer with the petitioners. I heard and saw much from the herald, and understand little of it. I have faith that all will be revealed in time."
Valeriya listens to the young man talk with interest. He seems to be telling the truth, and she has had plenty of experience noticing lies.
"In that case you truly are blessed, to return by the grace of a god is truly extraordinary." She gives a shallow bow of the head.
She wrinkles her nose at the list of gods that Nah mentions, but diegns to stay silent. She does not seem wicked, perhaps it is a cultural thing she wonders.
"In either case" she continues "this commission is yours to do with as you will. However I believe that before that you will want to see to the trial of the local bandit lord you have captured? I have been sent to act as legal council in this regard. Could you tell me about this man?"
Lali orders both the fish and ale, along with 'any dessert yeh have back there'.
"Goes by 'Stag Lord'. Ain't gotta clue 'bout his real name. Ain't spoken since we caught him. His band was stealin', killin', demandin' tribute from locals; all that b%+*+%*$. Plus a buncha the victims they burried behin' their fort was rising as zombies. Dunno how they managed that part. Might needa priest or two to deal with that."
She pauses for a moment while she thinks. "Can talk to him if yeh want. Mebbe he'd answer yeh, seein' as yer not one of the ones what caught him"
Kazimir fixes Nah with a hard stare, watching her squirm as she attempts to cover up the worship of her people. However, no evil seemed to lurk in the kobold's heart, so he says nothing, softens his gaze, and nods in agreement to Laliytsa' explanation, having little more to add.
The party’s discussion of the Stag Lord carries them through dinner, and soon after their meal arrives, the Riverdance begins to empty out. Before long, only a few other groups are at tables; a pair of men with rough, scraggly beards and loud, drunken voices who talk about the Gronzi Forest; an ancient-looking woman in the far corner who’s spent the last half-hour muttering into her tea; a quartet of halflings who periodically cast fearful glances toward the door before returning to huddle and whisper in hushed tones. After a while, even these patrons head to the doors or up the stairs to their rooms, while other halflings in aprons hurriedly begin cleaning the common room.
A sleepy-looking halfling leads the party out of the common room and up two flights of stairs, to a white-painted door. He fumbles with a ring of keys for a bit before finding the right key, which he hands to Lali. ”There’s a red cord in the center room. If you pull it, either myself or Lillian will be up to see what you need.” He half-suppresses a yawn and starts heading down the stairs. ”Enjoy your stay.” The rooms, for their part, are comfortable. The center room features a large oak table, with a few scattered armchairs, while each of the two bedrooms has been fitted with a pair of beds. There’s even a small room labeled “bath”, though the tub is empty and there’s no visible means of getting water.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The next day, as the party is eating breakfast, an older man with a thin, drooping mustache arrives at the Riverdance. He walks over, nods politely to the group, and then addresses Valeriya. ”Sister, I had a good discussion with the Lord Mayor. He asked me to represent the Stag Lord in trial, and I agreed. He would also like to get the trial started as soon as possible. I interviewed the Stag Lord and was able to get a name, so he’s interested in talking, but you should pay him a visit tonight.” He pauses. ”They’d like to start the trial tonight, if possible, and have it resolved quickly. Oh.” He turns back to the party. ”Sub-Bishop Alexi Seltov. We’ll be meeting again, I’m sure.”
Laliytsa scowls at the Sub-Bishop's back as he walks away. "Feh. Stag Lord gettin' a defense. Ain't no defendin' what he did. Oughta just hang 'em." She shakes her head in disgust.
"Don' feel I needa talk to him, but I'll go if'n yeh want me to." She tells Valeriya. "Meanwhile, I wanna go lookin' fer some friends of ours. Deserve to see this 'trial' if'n they can."
Valeriya returns to her own rooms for the night, bidding everyone else a good night.
"A pleasure meeting you all, blessings of Abadar upon you." She says as she walks away from the Riverdance.
---------
In the morning she returns to the tavern for breakfast, eager to continue researching her case. She greets the Sub-Bishop cheerfully but professionally as he enters.She listens to what he has to say and nods in agreement. She knows that Alexi knows the law well, and trusts him to ensure that the trial is completed speedily and without any foul-play.
"Yes, Nah" she says "The Sub-Bishop is a good man, I too find his pro-activity a positive quality."
"And I do understand your point of view. She says, turning to Laliytsa "but what if The Stag Lord does not deserve death. Imagine if you were in his place, you would want proper representation would you not? That is the beauty of the law, it cares not who you are, all are equal before it." She smiles softly before adding "And I am ready to visit the Stag Lord immediately, I too wish to see this trial completed quickly. You may join me, or as Lali suggested, you may complete your own tasks."
She turns back to her light breakfast of cereals and fruit whilst waiting for a reply.
After a few moments of looking longingly at the empty bath, Kazimir enlists help in removing his armour and sinks into an armchair, looking for all the world as if he could fall asleep in it, still wearing his worn boots and clothes. Shaking himself from the sedentary state some time later, he wraps his armour and weapons in a thick blanket and pushes them under one of the beds, saying his short prayers before settling in for the deepest sleep he's had in weeks.
----------
"If this is the law, then we will follow it. Had we killed him ourselves, perhaps things would be different, but now that we're in civilization-" A momentary flicker crosses his face at the thought of the city "- we handle things their way." Back home, this would also be resolved already, he adds silently.
"Whether he deserves death is for the Lord Mayor to decide now. I will, of course, accompany you to the prison." The Sub-Bishop nods and heads to the door. "When you are ready, I'll be waiting outside."
Once the party is ready, Alexi walks with them over to the Rock of Restov, where he takes them into the dungeon. There, the Stag Lord half-sits/half-lies on a straw mat in the middle of his room. As he notices the party and Sub-Bishop, he props himself up on an elbow and turns his face toward them, revealing his scarred face and torso. Old, raised injuries cover his body, ranging from jagged cuts to a nose broken in many places. "What do you want now, Lexi?" He leers at the bars, and at the party behind.
"Bors Sadowski, the prosecution has the right to question you before the trial, in accordance with the laws of Brevoy and of Restov. You would be wise to answer truthfully and fully, but I understand your...reluctance to talk. I am, of course, here to prevent them from asking anything that would entrap you." Having said his piece, the Sub-Bishop takes a seat on a nearby stool. "He's all yours."
"Yes Nah, entrapping him would be tricking him into revealing things that he doesn't want to say. He's not under oath yet so he does not have to tell us anything. Of course", she directs her eyes to the scarred man "it will be better for his case if he does not obstruct our investigations too much." With that she steps forward to the bars. She breifly looks the man over, noting his obvious scars. They will work for my case.
"Bors Sadowski, you stand accused of banditry, thievery, attempted murder and other assorted charges. Do you understand these charges? And what reason do you give for these actions?"
Laliytsa looks the Stag Lord over, and obvious look of disgust on her face, and spits on the floor. She already sure that whatever answer he gives Valeriya is going to be pure b#&%!#!%.
The Stag Lord sends another glare at Valeriya, and for a minute stays silent. Then, he spits on the ground and shifts his gaze to the rest of the party. "These aren't charges, they're reality. The lands that I held, I held because no one else had. You Brevics will see, when you decide which lordlings to send into the Greenbelt and the winter sets in. A harsh land needs a firm master."
He stands and stalks over to the bars. "Here, behind the walls, the rule of law is enough. Even for you, traipsing across my lands, you can retreat back to Restov when you need time away. But out there...really out there, there's only one law that matters, and that's who's strong and who's not. The old man knew it, still had the finger to prove it too."
Valeriya wrinkles her nose in distaste, visibly annoyed. The man's appearance is easy to ignore, his views are significantly more reprehensible. Law is universal, one cannot claim ignorance of the laws of Abadar himself! She composes herself, removing emotion from her face. I am serving justice, his crimes will be punished.
"Your actions were undertaken within Brevoy, so your assertions will be a poor defense in court, though you are entitled to speak them." She pulls her holy text from her side and opens it to one of the many ribbon-marked passages. "Still, you are entitled to a speedy and correct judgement and I would be remiss if I did not fully understand your perspective. Depending on your motivations, sentencing may be altered. You said the land was harsh and needed a firm master, could you expand on this?" She taps a finger on her chin momentarily, thinking. "And whom is this 'old man'? And what was that about a finger?"
More than a little uncomfortable in the presence of the now not quite as lordly Stag Fellow, Luthor just sat with his hands in his lap, following the conversation as best he could. Truth be told he wouldnt mind not knowing anything in regards to the man, but he felt he had to. At any rate, it would be terribly embarrassing to be asked later about some detail, and being wholly ignorant about it.
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The Stag Lord moves away from the bars, then glares at Sub-Bishop Selitov. ”Should I?” The Sub-Bishop nods, and rage crosses the imprisoned man’s face. ”Damn you all, you know. You and your power, and your authority.
“My…father…he never told me anything about my mother, except to keep me weak. He told me I’d killed her, that I carried the same weakness, and that only pain would make me strong. His world was simple. ‘I’m right, and you’re wrong. I’m big and you’re small, and there’s nothing you can do about it. He was right. I was small, he was big, so I had to endure the beatings, and listen to him tell how he’d beaten his mother and maimed his brother, and how that made him strong. And then, one day…”
The Stag Lord is interrupted by the Sub-Bishop. ”I think it would be wise to save this for the Lord-Mayor. What you’re saying is not what you told me.”
”See? My father is right. I was big, and those peasants on the border were little, so I made the demands, but now you’re big and I’m little, and your demands are hidden in pleasant words, but they’re the same. No, I won’t save this. And then, one day, while my father slept off another night’s drinking in the woods and I started mine for the day, I…” The Stag Lord pauses, a moment of hesitation crossing his face. ”I met a woman, out there in the woods. She looked past the scars my father gave me, and took me to the river. ‘Why do you still ride where he wills?’ she said, ‘You’re big, and he’s small. You can be right, and him wrong, now.” The Stag Lord looks up, above the heads of the party and Sub-Bishop. ”Have you ever been told that you can be right after being wrong so long? The power I had that night, when my father woke… and more, when my lover led me to what would become my stronghold, and bade me rule as I see fit. She told me what the land would be, and said my father had explained to me how to rule it.”
He pauses, then slams his fist into the wall of the cell, eyes wild. ”You think you have a charter to rule the Greenbelt? My lady gave me her word that she’d return when I’d finished her work, and that I was big enough and right enough to rule. And she will never. Give it. To you and your kind.” At each punctuation, he spits through the bars toward the party, then turns away. ”Now, leave me. The once and future Lord of the Greenbelt needs his rest.”
Valeriya listens attentively to The Stag Lord's speech, noting away details in her head. Several things stand out to her as important.
Firstly the man's father. If he truly was abused at the hands of his father then it is possible that Alexi will use that in court. It may provide good justification for why he engaged in banditry. She turns to leave the prison, caught up in her own thoughts she barely pauses long enough to distractedly say:
"I will see you at the trial Bors Sadowski. Enjoy your rest."
And judging by that ranting an insanity defence may be a possibility her thoughts continue. Though if he was saying something different to the mayor I may be able to argue that it is a deliberate fabrication. As she exits the prison she puts these thoughts of legal action from her head to focus on the more important question.
"What do you think he meant by 'she'" she asks. "He referred to her as both a lover and a benefactor. This woman might be important, it is possible that she manipulated him. What are your thoughts? She finishes, turning to the rest of the party.
Laliytsa's silent through the Stag's Lord speech, though she does roll her eye a lot. She wait until they're out of the prison before sharing her thoughts.
"Knew 'bout some green lady he drew pictures of. Sounds like somethin' what knows how to manipulate people real good. Fae mebbe? Daen ran into a river fae lady, oughta ask 'bout her."
Though the Stag Lord's tale chills him, Kazimir remains silent, jaw held strong, eyes fixed on the other man's. "Rightful rule is not earned through strength and fear," he replies, his voice low and level. "Those things are temporary. Rightful rule is held through trust and guidance." As the man once called the Stag Lord turns away, he adds, "It is better to be told you are wrong, than to live a lie."
As the group begins the walk back outside, he glances to Nah, Luthor, and Lali before looking back at Valeriya. "When we found his room, it was covered in drawings of this green woman, some of lewd nature," he adds. "We found no trace of her, though."
"That was certainly informative." Sub-Bishop Stavarov emerges behind the party, closing a little notebook and looking at Valeriya. "Unfortunately, he's not capable of holding his silence, or of shaping that story to focus a bit more on his family...whoever they are. If he were, I believe I could sway the Lord Mayor into sending Bors off to the Iobarian border. There's always a need for soldiers there."
He pauses, then turns his attention to the rest of the party. "The Lord Mayor wants a trial this afternoon, so he can put this matter behind him. However, the Church of Abadar - And I speak in an official capacity here - would like to know more about what happened. If I can count on you to investigate what happened in what will soon be your land, the Church is prepared to offer some support to whatever your next endeavor is."
"Whatever you decide, I'll be seeing you at the trial." The Sub-Bishop pockets his notebook and makes his way back toward the Rock of Restov.