Seeing that he hasn't quite convinced the fighter, S'ala hurries over to where the others are gathered. [b]"As This One suspected, Saren is more hurt over our failing to ask him about the prisoners, which he watched over, and also our failure to include him in the Wardens which he thought he deserved. This One believes he could be retained if an offer was made, and if we asked him about his experience guarding these prisoners before sentences were carried out. What say you, wise friends?"
Quince frowns, "Saren had a chance to share his feelings and did not. Instead of speak his mind plainly when informed of our decision he said he would leave and insulted us as dogs. He seems erratic and selfish not like one I would want to trust, but I will hear him out."
Perception
Angeus notices S'ala in deep conversation with Saren and his frustrated cry. She raises an eyebrow at Quince when S'ala comes over and explains Saren's frustrations.
She nods at Quince's observation "Well put, Quince. However, we can admit that we may have overlooked Saren's contributions while deliberating the prisoners' fate." she sighs , "We're all new at this and will make mistakes, both with peoples' lives and feelings. Saren is a capable man, one that we'd be a fool to let go over a misunderstanding. "
She pauses to hear more from Quince and S'ala.
Quince annoyed but relenting playfully banters back to Angeus, "This dog won't bite."
"So we are agreed to seek mighty Saren's opinion, and to ask him for inclusion in the Wardens? Kevros and Tristan, what say you?"
S'ala nods again at Quince recognizing the man is swallowing his pride to forgive the insult from before, something that no man finds easy to do.
Tristan is out back with the log and rope awaiting the rest of you to show with the prisoners for execution.
Quince annoyed but relenting playfully banters back to Angeus, "This dog won't bite."
Meeting Quince's gaze directly, Angeus leans in and says softly "I don't mind the occasional nibble...right here." indicating the small of her neck.
Arching an eyebrow, she then smiles brightly and turns to join Tristan outside the walls.
Walking by Saren, she slows and says "You're welcome to join us. As a Warden you've the responsibility to watch the death of those so sentenced, a responsibility I take very seriously."
She then continues on out the gate.
Saren looks at Angeus confused.
Quince looks back to S'ala, "We are agreed to hear him out as to the matter of prisoners. If he would also desire membership it should be brought to a vote. Which at the moment I would be against."
S'ala nods his understanding of Quince's statement. He approaches the warrior and says:"The others have agreed they are remiss in not seeking your report on the behavior and conduct of our prisoners before dispositions were made. They seek to remedy that error now before irretrievable punishments are made. Please come brief us."
"As to a membership in the charter, that would have to be discussed and taken to a vote from all members, which we do not have time for at this instant. It will be brought before the Wardens at their next meeting which may be as soon as tonight. I do not know if you will wait until the next meeting to make your decision to depart, but those terms are fair and reasonable. You can choose to stay or go, but This One would prefer you to stay."
He pats the big man on the back and encourages him to come forward to share what he will during the absence of the rest of the group.
"I will get Tristan who is already waiting." Quince climbs the wall yells and motions for Tristan to come back.
Looking and still feeling ill from a 24 hour flu bug, Kevros manages to roll out of bed and starts to clean up while the rest of party prepares for the execution and other matters.
When Quince sees Kevros up and about he makes his way over to him. "It seems Saren has some things he wishes to share about the prisoners." The set of Quince's jaw says there is more to the story but he offers little other explination.
Once all are gathered, one way or another, likely in front of the Outpost. Saren seems a bit uncomfortable. "I would suggest that you make Happs your example, for he is the most troublesome of the prisoners and then see if the others keep following his ways or if they shape up. I for one believe that all can change, but as you must make an example execute Happs."
Quince listens, "Well execution is about law, consequence and what a community will allow to go on without acting, not about whether people can change or not but I understand your point. Happs from the very beginning seemed the hardest case. I was surprised to find others who shared his thoughts. Perhaps he has had time to poison the waters." He thinks a moment and shakes his head. "This is a long fight not a few weeks this will not be last time people face the axe. Also these men had the opportunity for mercy and a chance to change instead they whether defect of character or fear still wanted to identify with lawlessness. My vote stands."
"It is written 'One bad apple spoils the barrel'. It may be that is the case here. If we eliminate Happs, maychance the others will fall back into line. This One is firm in his belief that a life should be spared, and if I were against killing the bandits before, I am moreso against killing those who may be nothing more than foolish followers."
"If the men are still not repentant after the loss of their leader, then they may follow him to the axe. This One says, withhold your judgement of doom a moon or so, wise Quince, and let the better angels of your mercy hold sway for a little while."
"More blood needs must be spilled before our job is done, let us not be in a hurry to add to it. This One's vote is for a stay of execution for these two based on Saren's word."
"I agree, Hap dies and we give his cohorts a second chance. We want to show that we have some flexibility I think." Angeus says after pondering the words of her fellows.
What you call flexibility I see as weekness. You want to call yourselves the Wardens. Well make your call and stand by it. There will always be those that call are decisions into question. Are duty is to stand by our decisions as long as our cause is just. Quince and I both lost our parents to these bandits. I wish to give none of them mercy but this group brought me out of my anger. The three will be executed. I agree they are following Happs, and that is their decision. I will not grant them mercy just to join the next person of character they meet. Saren has stated his opinion but if he wanted it weighed it should have been stated earlier. I say the three die and we don't show weekness in our decision making.
Quince nudges Kevros playfully, "Quite coughing sicky, we need you to break the tie. What do you say Stalker."
Stalker takes a doulble take. "Wha... wait so am I in? Well... honestly I say hang the whole lot, then again, I don't take prisoners that much. Nonetheless if you want me to vote on this matter, I will abstain." He looks to Kevros. "Sorry brother it be on your shoulder's."
With color returning to Kevros' cheeks, he tries to catch up with the affairs, it seems like there is still turmoil regarding the execution of Happ and Lackeys. Kevros smiles at Stalker, "To get this straight, we spare the lackeys and only execute Happ? This would be a very good move on our part. We may want to state, "Since we are merciful, we are granting mercy to the lackeys. However, someone must be punished for the crimes against the Swordlords and the Greenbelt. Since Happ is the leader of these men, just like his commander before him, he must also pay for his indiscretions in blood." We can not go back on the execution of Happ unless some indisputable evidence comes forth. If we go back without this evidence, we will appear weak and that is not good. If we do not show mercy, we will be in violation of the Charter and the people may find the bandits to be more hospitable to their needs than us Wardens." Kevros bends over at the waist and rests his hands on his knees like to catch his breath after running, "What else did I miss or am I missing?"
Quince nods "Well that breaks the tie. Tristan we will have Happ and the others out to the stump shortly. Where Happs will get the axe?"
Quince goes and speaks to Kreston the leader of Olegs guards. "Slight change. Only Happs will not return with us. Let us know when your ready."
Tristan spits on the ground and has a look of disgust.
You break the charter offering mercy to these scum. They are unrepentent and defy us and you offer mercy. I only hope its not your parents they get too next. This is very unfortunate that we start off showing how easy we are to manipulate by the voicing of outside opinions. This is not a show of mercy this is a show of how disorganized and weak we are.
Tristan heads off to the stump obviously upset at the decisions made.
Kevros still in the bent over position watches Tristan stomp off, "We need to make sure we warn the lackeys that next time they will meet the same fate on the battlefield and they should watch the execution. In addition, if they change the way in how the bandits lead, we will need to adapt."
Quince nods to Kevros, "Yeah I hear you." Obvioulsy annoyed at how things have shaked out as well, "Tristan, your opinion about the Wardens is yours. But outside of the council only Saren, Oleg and Kreston know that we have changed any plans and at that it is merely the number of executions. We haven't even told the prisoners. If your concern is our image then lets project strength. You and I were out voted. Lets move on."
When the guards are ready with the prisoners Quince makes his way out with them.
The guards escort the prisoners, which are tied together by rope. Saren is not happy but follow the line of prisoners. Stalker keeps his bow ready, and stays to one side of the prisoner chain gang.
The group gets behind the Fort to where Tristan is waiting.
Quince steps out and up on to the log that will be the chopping block. He takes a deep breath, "These lands have long not known much law. As you have learned that is changing. The river freedoms that some hold say 'You can have what you hold.'" He nods as if agreeing but then contradicts, "But we say you will not long hold your lives if you will murder or steal by the tip of a sword. Some of you have said that you were coerced and threatened. Perhaps so. Be afraid no longer stand up to those who would turn you on others for their own profit you now have a choice." He takes a deep breath. "One of your number has made it clear that his only choice is the life of a bandit and killer. Today he will die. The rest of you will be shown mercy, your names recorded so that if you return to the life of a bandit you to will be picking the sentance you are about to witness." He nods to those near Happs. "Bring Happs forward. Happs you have been judged by the Greenwatch Wardens as guilty of banditry and show no repentance for your crime. God's have mercy on you," he leans in close to Happs, "I am a servant of Erastil I can pray with you if you wish."
Finally he nods to Tristan.
S'ala refrains from joining the others during the execution and so misses all that goes on out there. Instead he finds a quiet corner, and sits staring at the wall, meditating on the cost of bringing civilization and the rule of law to the wild parts of this world.
Its as if Quince was reading my mind, none of the prisoners speak out with Saren with his great sword out, and Stalker with his bow out, let alone the rest of you. Though Happs still would spit at Quince.
Tristan takes his weapon of choice for the execution, lifts it high and brings it down on the chopping block. Then two of the guards brings Happs forward. They secure his ropes to the log and hold him down as well. Tristan raises his weapon again, and this time a head rolls.
A few of the prisoners gasp, some cry, but most just stand shocked or silently.
Kevros is quickly recovering, has more coloring in his cheeks, and is standing tall as the prisoners are brought forth. He has a bolt ready to go and stands at the ready as the prisoners reach the stump.
After Happ's head rolls, Kevros speaks up in a loud and military tone, "This is WHAT HAPPENS to UNREPENTANT BANDITRY and it is true that Happ's head rolled mainly because he was an unrepentant leader of you banditry lot." Kevros points his index finger to all of the bandits. "KEEP IN MIND, just because you are not a bandit leader, if you return to banditry OR if you are unrepentant of your actions, you will be seeing the world from a different angle." At which time, Kevros points to Happ's head. "Captain Kesten, Happ has paid for his crimes. Please see to it that he receives a proper cremation." As the Guard gathers up Happ's remains, "Let our battlefield prowess, the execution of the law, and our show of mercy be a testament of our resolve to bring order to this region."...Kevros looks to the other Wardens ... "Are we finished here, we have several things to take care of and if you please, I need to be caught up on things I missed this morning?"
There is no pleasure taken in this. I live in these lands and hold the same ideals and values that most of you do. The wardens are here to install justice in the face of unjust men. Our word is law, and we seek to make the lands better for every man and woman.
He then points to the two that were spared even though they are not aware.
Now give these two dogs shovels. They will bury this one they chose to follow. If your paths are not changed soon graves will be dug for you as well.
Angeus watches the execution impassively, merely nodding her head once when Hap's head hit the ground.
Walking to the other Wardens she pauses at Tristan's side and murmur's "Well struck, you did him a mercy he did not deserve.".
To Quince and Kevros she says "Well said you two, I think your words capture what we attempt here."
She then stops to look at the assembled prisoners, "Think well on what you've seen and heard this day. You've been handed an opportunity, you'd do well to seize it."
Kevros looks at Tristan, "Please hold that request Captain, I obviously missed something this morning while recovering from my 24 hour flu?" In a whisper, "So we decided to bury the bodies? Personally I think we should cremate them. This significantly mitigates the possibility of the bodies rising or being risen as undead. The body can not be exhumed and the corpse buried somewhere else to become a martyr. In addition of helping to mitigate rising corpses and Happ may not be of martyr status, others may and we may not know. Lastly, although we have a lot of space, Graveyards waste valuable space. Besides, all of the bandits just saw Happ's head roll, try to take a breath, eyes blinked, silent words uttered, and blood squirted everywhere. If that is not a good image to burn into the back of their memories, I am not sure a grave will enhance that memory?"
Kevros nods and smiles to Angeus for her compliment and nods in an agreement to her last statement.
Kesten and the guards look for instructions. Appearing not caring what to do with the body until decided on by the Wardens. The two guards holding down Happs, have untied the criminal from the log but left the body at the moment.
Both Saren and Stalker appear to be apathic about the whole situation.
Angeus says "Good points all, Kevros." she hums a bit as she thinks "I think that though your reservations are excellent ones, we may err on the side of allowing remains to be disposed of in the traditions of the deceased. Quince, you mentioned that Hap followed Erastil....any thoughts?"
Quince thinks about the situation again, "I have no idea what Happs believed I just offered to pray for him. The burial was to serve as work for those who were one time bandits. Kevros makes a point. I will get axes instead of shovels they can build a pire chopping logs is work too."
Kevros nods and in a low voice, "So we are all in agreement? We burn them now instead of bury them? If we are in agreement, let's us use scrap wood first before tapping into good wood. Then we spread the ash across our fields for fertilizer since people probably would not react well if the pyre ash was made into body or tooth soap."
A pire and burning are fine. As long as those other accused are doing the task so they remember what comes if they falter. Now so we don't waste the day. Should we ride out and say gather raddishes for Svetlana, I'm sure they both would prefer a comforting meal after the last days worth of activities.
Kevros nods, "I am all for it, however when do we need to pay our retainers for their services? Did we all agree for Stalker to become a Warden? And did I miss anything from earlier this morning?"
Saren and Stalker both nod in confirmation. Saren unties a section of the bandits and over sees them with a guard while they collect wood.
Kevros looks to Angeus, Tristan, Quince, and S'ala for a response.
Quince looks back to Kevros, "When I spoke to Saren after breakfast to make arrangements for . . . all this . . . he said that he would be leaving. When I asked why he said that he objected on principal, figured we had made up our mind and said he would not want to be associated with the dogs of Restov. I told him that I will make sure he is paid through today and he can get on his way." He pauses a moment. [b]"S'ala spoke to him and determined that his pride was wounded that Stalker had been invited to join the wardens and that he was not asked for a report on the prisoners. Mind you he was sitting next to Kreston when you asked about the prisoners on our return. After S'ala's intervention we listened to Saren's report. I believe S'ala will also be recommending we make him a member of the Wardens. I am not so keen on that. If he wished to make his voice heard on the prisoners he had but to speak. We are barely a week into this endeavor . . . I'll stop now nothing more I would add will be objective."
Soon enough the wood is collected by the prisoners with the guards and Saren watching over them. There are still quite a few fallen logs in the area that are used as the primary part of the pyre.
Stalker listens to the group discuss and talk, but also watches the prisoners with bow ready.
Saren comes over to Quince, "What else do we need to prepare for the pyre? Should I collect some oil from Oleg?"
Quince looks up, "Keep your bow on them I will get some oil."
Quince heads up to the outpost to get some oil.
Kevros nods in understanding while looking at Captain Kesten, waits for Quince to return, and Saren to continue with his prisoner pyre building detail before continuing. "Captain, please have your men continue their normal duties and you can either stay with us or conduct your daily duties. It appears that we will build a pyre after all but use the prisoners."
If Quince asks Oleg, he says, "I hav' several small barrels of oil in the back, how much do ya need?"
Otherwise perception check, and where do you search?
________________________________
Collecting the timber for the Pyre would take about 3 hours. Please state your actions in that time. As the prisoners, guards, Saren and Stalker have stated their actions already.
Quince thanks Oleg, "This'll do nicely thank you."
He returns to the chain gang. "Here you go."