Thorn River Bandit Camp - Round 2 - concluded
24 Graham (24/30hp remaining)
20 Alvis (15' south of Purple X)
19 Green Bandit
18 Velas (17/28hp remaining, clumsy 1)
13 Teela (mounted)
12 Quintessa (10' south of Purple X)
11 Yellow Bandit
9 Kressle (16hp dmg)
8 Faen
8 Blue Bandit
Faen steps up closer to the oncoming bandits, and sends a pulse of magical energy at the bandit boss, successfully hitting her for more damage. Kressle looks hurt pretty bad after that last damage.
Blue Bandit closes on Faen, attacking twice with dagger after dropping his bow. Neither stab comes close to hurting the agile rogue, and no damage is dealt.
End of Round 2
Thorn River Bandit Camp - Round 3
24 Graham (24/30hp remaining)
20 Alvis (15' south of Purple X, benediction)
19 Green Bandit
18 Velas (17/28hp remaining, clumsy 1)
13 Teela (mounted)
12 Quintessa (10' south of Purple X, benediction)
11 Yellow Bandit
9 Kressle (25hp dmg)
8 Faen
8 Blue Bandit
Graham races out from his cover after the leader. Oh, you can't leave just yet, this party is just getting started! Why, we brought music – here he points at the wound from Faen's magic – and fireworks! He deftly swings his sword, not to wound, but to slice through the laces on her boot.
Then he takes a backswing with the machete.
Which finds nothing but air. He works hard to make his smile mask his frustration.
Thorn River Bandit Camp - Round 3 - Alvis
Alvis note that the battle so far is going well, better than expected. He calculates how he can get closer to the action without undue risk. He maintains his benediction and tries to go closer to the others, bringing Abadar's benediction to his allies.
Thorn River Bandit Camp - Round 3 - continued
24 Graham (24/30hp remaining)
20 Alvis (15' south of Purple X, benediction)
19 Green Bandit
18 Velas (17/28hp remaining, clumsy 1)
13 Teela (mounted)
12 Quintessa (10' south of Purple X, benediction)
11 Yellow Bandit
9 Kressle (25hp dmg)
8 Faen
8 Blue Bandit
Closing the gap on the badly hurt Kressle, Graham at first tries to sever her bootlaces with his sword, but she shifts her leg out of the way, and the attempt fails. Then the fighter comes with his sword, but the rogue leader uses her hand axe to deftly turn away the blow.
Hustling forward, Alvis ends up adjacent to the mounted Teela, and is able to expand his protective ward to encompass all the party, except Graham this time.
Up on the platform, Green Bandit fires twice, once at nearby Graham, and again at Faen, who is in range, and cast a spell last round. The shot from above wings Graham, but the wound is quite minor. The second arrow flies wide of Faen - she doesn't even need the benediction of Abadar to avoid it.
hit
miss
Despite feeling slightly off-foot, Velas rushes after the fleeing bandit to tag-team with Graham. After closing the distance, he slices the air with his blade and disappears. He reappears by Kressle on the other side of Graham, finishing the attack in this new position. "Thought you could get away?"
◆ Stride
◆ Dimensional Assault
◆ Arcane Cascade stance
Teela keeps playing her harp, though she does not put her magical essence into it this time. She leads Caramel to the fallen tree nearby for a better vantage point, and hurls pieces of dry bark at Kressle, imitating wooden stakes.
"One by one, the lemmings fell off of the map unto their quicker death and one by one, children sunk into beds and dreamt,"
Thorn River Bandit Camp - Round 3 - continued
24 Graham (22/30hp remaining)
20 Alvis (benediction)
19 Green Bandit
18 Velas (17/28hp remaining, clumsy 1)
13 Teela (mounted)
12 Quintessa (10' south of Purple X, benediction)
11 Yellow Bandit
9 Kressle (25hp dmg)
8 Faen
8 Blue Bandit
Velas moves forward then magically teleports to the other side of Kressle, making a stabbing attack that misses. (but looks really cool doing it).
Teela rides her mount forward, then tosses a cluster of wooden shards and sticks at the bandit leader using her telekinesis. The burst of jagged wood rips a series of wounds in Kressle, and she staggers and topples falling face down in the leafy forest floor, the silver vial tumbling from her fingers unused.
Quintessa continues to move up along with Alvis, striding another 25 before unleashing another metallic barrage. She shouts ”I want one alive for questioning, if possible.”
Thorn River Bandit Camp - Round 3 - continued
24 Graham (22/30hp remaining)
20 Alvis (benediction)
19 Green Bandit
18 Velas (17/28hp remaining, clumsy 1)
13 Teela (mounted)
12 Quintessa (10' south of Purple X, benediction)
11 Yellow Bandit
9 Kressle (25hp dmg)
8 Faen
8 Blue Bandit
Continuing to stride forward confidently, Quintessa unleashes another barrage of metal shards, this time at the bandit on the tree platform (now that she is within range). The needles rip away the flesh of the bandit, who falls from the high vantage point, hitting the ground dead. Even as she says she wants one alive, she reduces those in that condition.
"Wait, Kressle's....dead?" says the other bandit in the tree platform across the stream. Looking around and seeing only a single other colleague standing, this rascal tosses down his shortbow, and drops the rope ladder down from the tree platform, slips down the rope, and starts to make for the woods.
Seeing one bandit run, Faen smiles at the one close by, drawing her dagger and attacking...
Thorn River Bandit Camp - Round 3 - concluded
Faen sinks her blades into the bandit that is nearest to her, scoring a pair of critical hits, she kills the nearest bandit outright.
End of Round 3
Thorn River Bandit Camp - Round 4
24 Graham (22/30hp remaining)
20 Alvis (benediction)
18 Velas (17/28hp remaining)
13 Teela (mounted)
12 Quintessa (benediction)
11 Yellow Bandit
8 Faen (benediction)
"Hyah!" Teela sees the man running, and kicks Caramel softly, turning him around and charging after the bandit.
She catches up and blocks his path. She gives him a mischievous look. "No!" she demands. "Stay put, or I'll turn your kneecaps into bone dust."
◆ Command Animal, ◆ Demoralise, ◆ Interact Draw Weapon (Sling)
Velas rushes to support Teela, catching up to her and the bandit. "You won't make it far. Better to stop now before we have to hurt you."
◆ Stride
◆ Stride
◆ Stride
Alvis' prayers keeps Abadar's protection up as he moves north staying on the east side of the bank.
He remarks, "The death of the leader is unfortunate, she likely knew more than any other here. Still, maybe our remaining miscreant can prove useful."
Thorn River Bandit Camp - Round 4 -concluded
As Teela rides the fleeing bandit down easily, and Velas leaps over the stream after them, the bandit sees that even running is rather hopeless now, and drops to his knees with his hands clasped behind his head. "I don't wanna die! I'll do whatever y'ask, just lemme go."
End of Combat
Quintessa doesn't hurry, her stride is measured, chin high,as she approaches the captive.
In a voice calm and deliberate, she says "Then start by telling us everything. Who you work for. Where the rest of your camp is. And why that woman was wearing a stag's skull in silver."
After a beat, she adds with a hint of chill "Your life is not guaranteed. But your honesty will at least buy you the chance to plead for it."
"Begin."
"Keep your hands on your head!"
Velas' sword remains pointed at the bandit. When Graham and Faen catch up, Velas pulls rope from his pack and restrains the bandit's wrists behind back.
"If I were you, I'd answer the lady's questions. Truthfully."
The poor remaining bandit looks about for any opportunity to make the best of his bad situation. Velas binds his hands behind his back, and Quintessa starts in with the questions.
"Yeah, I'll tell ya wha' I know. Tell it true, eh? I ain't resistin'. I ain't lyin'. Jus' set me off inta t'woods when yer done which me, eh? Jus' let poor Elly go, wontcha?" He moans this last, while tears seems to run down his dirt-stained, unshaven cheeks.
He goes on to tell you several things in between blubbery and basically pleading for his life. "It's t'Stag Lord, it is. Tha's who we's be workin' for. Right scary fella, he is. Monster of a man. Seen him crush a fellas skull wit' one hand, I did. Come t'think on it, I ain't never seen ol' Stag Lord wifout his creepy skull helmet on. Some say he ain't got no face under! No face! I reckon tha' creepy helm is his face, I right reckon! Tha's where t'bonny necklaces come from too, eh. I got one meself. Looky yerself." And you can see the leather thong around his neck that sure enough has a silver stag amulet dangling from the end, same sigil in most every respect as those you already have from the assailants at Oleg's.
The captured bandit, Elly apparently, continues, "Camps all over, missus. Beggin' yer pardon an' all, but Elly tells it true. But Stag Lord stays in an old fort. Right on t'shore of Tuskwater, it is. Strong old place, lots of blokes there, I reckon, an' that monster of a man, too. Bad mojo that."
The fight, such as it was, comes to an abrupt end. As the interrogation starts up Alvis pulls out his medical tools and says, "Anybody hurt, Graham, Velas, anybody else? Just take a few minutes, after we should search the camp then talk amongst us."
He thinks, No promise was made but I'll see to a fair trial.
Teela leans forward to pat Caramel as the man speaks, then starts scratching the horse's neck and remains in a resting position.
"Sooo...", she speaks up when the bandit seems finished. "...why are you working for this man, exactly? You are giving me the impression that you wear brown pants when visiting."
She attempts to be as nonchalant as possible, but the mockery shines through the facade. "What does this Buck Baron want? Why are they organising? Who do they answer to? Are they forming an army of some kind? Why? What was your assignment in this camp, exactly? How do you receive orders, and how often?" She launches a tirade of questions.
Under his breath, Velas gets Alvis' attention. "I took a decent gash to my shoulder. Think you can patch me up quick?"
Alvis repiles to Velas, "We'll need to take the armor off and then about 10 minutes of time to do mundane healing. No telling what else lurks in these land so I'd like to save my lord patron's divine favor for a future difficulty."
Alvis will help Velas out and into his armor and spends some time fixing him up.
Treat wounds. DC 15
Over the next few minutes, Alvis' ministrations have a healing effect on the wounds suffered by Velas, and when the work is done, the magus is fully restored.
The trussed up bandit looks up at Teela with a squint. "Yar, above my paygrade, lass. I jus' work 'ere, dontcha know. My work were bustin' up fellas and takin' their loot. Paid well enough...till now. Took me orders from Kressle yonder, but she ain't givin' 'em no more, I reckon."
He lowers his voice looking around nervously, "But I reckon even Stag Lord's got a boss, don't he? He keeps a strange old man locked up in t'basement o' that fort, he does. I reckon tha' old fella might be runnin' t'show an' he keeps ol' Stag Lord 'round as a puppet or what not. Could be...I got a peep into tha' ol' man's eyes once, I did, an' it put the fear in me somethin' fierce. Not someun I'd wanna cross, no lass. Elly tells true. Now you lemme go, there's a good girl." He gives a wink and a hopeful nod at this last.
Graham keeps silent as he sets to collecting the loot of the fallen brigands, keeping a close ear to anything the captur3d man says, including if he gets too willing to try and escape.
Quintessa regards the man with a flat expression as he pleads and blubbers. She says nothing for a long moment, allowing the others to speak.
She quietly walks a half-circle around him, stopping behind and to the side of him. Jusssttt far enough to be out of easy reach, just close enough to unsettle.
"You saw the eyes of a man who commands the Stag Lord. That is very interesting."
She tilts her head, studying him as one might an untrustworthy servant.
"Elly, was it? Listen carefully." Her voice lowers, precise and clipped. "You live because you have some use. When that usefulness ends, so does your protection. So, start thinking like a man who wants to stay alive. Names. Ranks. What traders you’ve hit. Who’s paid off. How many are in the fort. Show me you're worth more breathing than buried."
She steps back, her tone softening slightly. "Help us tear down the Stag Lord, and you might walk away with your head still on your shoulders."
Then, without waiting for his answer, she looks to the others.
[b]"Graham, be a darling and check Kressle’s body. See if she had any notes. Orders. Maps. Anything personal. If we’re lucky, she kept correspondence."
Graham nods and makes a beeline for Kressle’s corpse, searching it thoroughly.
Teela sits upright on her horse with a face of disgust as she pierces the man with her gaze. "I am attempting to be cordial here, but if you speak to me like that again, I will nail your ballsack to your sternum."
She lets the threat hang in the air for a second and turns Caramel around. "Answer the lady." Teela adds and heads back to the camp proper to help Graham search.
Out of earshot, she sighs with relief, then starts looking around for clues with Graham.
Keeping half an ear on the interrogation and the other on the surrounding forest, Fean drags the bodies of the slain bandits into a row near the fallen leader, Kressle.
Then she concentrates and casts her innate spell, detect magic . Anything that emanates a dweomer, she puts aside.
If there's anything, she spends a bit of time determining their nature.
Alvis goes over the Kressle body as Graham does. He swiftly notices that Graham's wound is not a mere trifle, so quietly says, "I think it best Graham if you let me take care of the cut, it's deeper than you let on. No reason to suffer, and it will be safer for all of us if you are at your best. If you like I could use Abadar's gift to heal instead, you'd be as good as new."
While most of his attention is on Graham Alvis will see if he notices anything about Kressle, or the bodies Faen is bringing up.
The fallen bandits are outfitted much like those that attacked Oleg's fort - daggers and shortbows with some arrows. They wear rather worn leathers, but each has a silver stag skull amulet like the ones you've already seen. No purses or coins are found on the bandits, nor is anything they carry magical. Faen's initial study on the magical fluid does not reveal it's characteristics, unfortunately.
Kressle's body carries the two hatchets, studded leather armor, another silver stag amulet, and coin purse with at total of 8gp and 5sp inside. The only thing magical is actually the small silver flask she was trying to imbibe when cut down.
The actual bandit campsite (near the fire-looking area on the right side of the map) has the remains of a burned out fire and a pile of cut logs and kindling. There are haphazard bedrolls laid out there, but nothing more of interest in that location.
Elly looks rather distraught at Quintessa's questions and insinuation. "I done told all I know s'true s'I can, I did. I ain't no big-wig, an' don't know plans an' such. My head don't wanna roll, I gave you all I know, your ladyship." And he starts sniveling and crying in a rather irritating manner. When you suggest he will help against the Stag Lord, he blubbers a bit more. "No, please, lady, please! Elly ain't goin' 'gainst ol' Stag Lord. I tole you true, but tha's all I can do. Please!" It's clear that the Stag Lord holds a fearful sway over this one.
As Alvis, Faen, and Graham search the bodies, Velas continues to keep an eye on the captive, making sure that Teela and Quintessa are safe.
While still keeping on an eye on Elly, Velas motions for Quintessa to come closer and he speaks to them quietly. "What are you thinking? Show some mercy and let this bandit flee? Or, send a message perhaps?"
Quintessa watches Elly sob and snivel without any sympathy. Her expression doesn’t change. When Velas motions her over, she steps to his side, eyes never leaving the prisoner.
At Velas's quiet question, she tilts her head thoughtfully, considering. "He is pathetic." Her voice is low and measured. "Letting him flee would gain us little. Either he flees away from the Stag Lord or returns, either way he would never stand against him." She taps a gloved finger against her chin. "However, he might still be useful. A coward can spread fear just as easily as any hero can spread hope."
She glances toward the woods. "If we release him, it must be after we brand into his mind the memory of what happened here. Let him run back into the wilds whispering of Kressle dead, his comrades slain without mercy, and strangers carving a path through the Greenbelt. It will unnerve the lesser bands, and perhaps force the Stag Lord’s hand into a mistake."
She looks back at Velas, her tone hardening, crisp. "That said, I'm not above killing him here and now. Slitting his throat and hanging his corpse from a tree with that stag amulet clenched in his teeth. It would send a message-an unmistakable one. But without certainty the Stag Lord will ever learn what happened here... it's a waste. We don’t need more bodies. We need impact." Her voice sharpens slightly on the last word.
"Still... if any of you feel differently, speak now. I’m not about to weep over him."
Teela weighs the options. "I am not a military strategist, so stop me if I'm saying something stupid. Does announcing ourselves do us any good? From what the man is saying, this is a large operation."
She looks at the bandit briefly, then continues. "If this Stag fellow has enough influence, it might become open season for a signifficant part of their people. Like, you know... "Whoever brings me their heads will take over after Kressle" type of deal. With the trading post suffering consequences. Potentially. Again, these are assumptions. I still have questions for him. Just had to cool down a bit. So whatever the final vote is, let's first squeeze out as much information as we can. It's not like we have a deadline or anything."
Alvis malls over Lady Quintessa's question as Teela expresses some of his thoughts. "I agree that haste is not completely necessary. A lot depends on wither you wish to continue from here or return to Oleg's. Most important, at some point he needs to have a trial, though I admit it's mostly a formality, but such is valuable for us if nothing else. The key thing is the man repentant of his sins or not? I'm of a mind he is not but perhaps he might be persuaded. Right now, if released, there is no justice for his undoubted victims, and he would return to his unlawful ways. He is guilty of banditry, and I suspect, because of his unbecoming treatment of Teela, guilty of much worse."
Alvis draws breath, "Please pardon my length. If repentance is possible a sentence less than death is desired but how to make that happen is a problem. I'd like most to have him do heavy labor for his clear victims, the Levetons but hard to do so safely without a standing garrison. Maybe Lady Jamandi can arrange such for them or take him for such in Restov. Of course, a writ of seizure may already exist for him to face justice elsewhere."
Alvis directly replies to Teela's statement, "I agree that announcing us would not likely be of any use. This so-called Stag Lord, an insult to Erasil in such a name, does not strike me as caring about those who fail him. Generally, such men as this coward describes think failures should die and would kill them himself if somehow, they lived. And certainly, he would try hard to have us killed, any that challenge him must die, otherwise he would be seen as weak."
Alvis finishes with, "If Ellys is unpenitent then the law is clear, after fair trial, with your milady presiding, upon likely conviction, the only lawful sentence is death by sword or rope, giving a wide latitude in execution. We could hold the trial here and have it over quickly. Or wait on that and do it later. Guarding him would be a bit of a pain if we do not immediately return to Oleg's. And with that overly long speech I ask our remaining members of our band to voice their thoughts."
Graham listens for a long while before saying anything. Death's too good for him, he says simply. But if Alvis wants a fair trial...his own words have already condemned him.
Alvis agrees with Graham, "Absolutely true, Graham. By fair I do not mean objective that really isn't part of the law here. I mean consistent and by that, I mean we convene a lawful court. Just slitting his throat is indistinguishable from banditry. With a court it becomes justice. I understand the difference may seem subtle, but it does have power by divine blessing and bringing to light misdeeds and provides a completion of the events step by step. Also, we align with our charter, it is clear if we determine he may be repentant we can pose a lesser sentence than death, if not we pledged to carry out the clear requirements of that charter and the law."
Alvis stops for a second then follows with, "I see a problem in one part of what you said though Graham, you implied he should suffer a fate worse than death. Current thinking is that sending a miscreant to the Boneyard is the ultimate punishment because it denies him any chance at redemption. His place in the afterlife is judged by the Lady of Graves and it is final. If punishment he deserves then it is eternal, a greater terrible fate than any mortal can provide. But there are those who say that making someone suffer in this life is more instructive to others. I just say again if you wish him to learn to be better by suffering so that he can prove repentance so be it, but if not, the law says he should die."
Alvis halts and somewhat sheepishly says, "I hope I'm not boring anybody with this; I'm just passionate about following by divine lord's path for the good of all."
Quintessa listens carefully, her arms crossed over her chest. When Alvis finishes, she bods once and speaks, her tone crisp but measured.
"You're not boring anyone, Brother Alvis. The law matters. It gives us purpose, even out here where civilization is thin as the morning mist."
She glances toward the kneeling bandit, Elly, her face unreadable. "But mercy for its own sake is not justice. I have no illusion this man would reform if given freedom. He chose this life. He knew what it was. And now he pleads because he's lost. Not because he regrets."
"We will do it properly. Here, in these woods, because we carry the law here. We will hold a court. We will judge. And then we will carry out the sentence according to his deeds and his soul."
A slight tilt of her head.
"Gather the others. We'll make it swift."
His only regret is that he picked the wrong side. He'll say anything to save his own skin.
Graham internally sighs as Alvis asks the group to convene to pass judgement. Formalities, and all that. Gods, just kill the wretch and get it over with.
He stands with one hand on his rapier and the other behind his back as Tessa convenes her court.
Velas nods in agreement with Alvis and Quintessa. "While I wouldn't balk if the group decided in favor of backwoods justice, a trial sets a solid legal precedent for the future as oversees of this land."
Velas frowns as he realizes that his understanding of trials and such is purely theoretical, and he has no idea how to proceed. He stays quiet and alert to any wiggling away the prisoner may attempt.
"Weeellllll..." Teela calls out and she drags the word for a while.
"Look. I'm going to say it outright. This specific man tried to kill me with a bow. Taking it from me, someone who sort-of conned people once or twice, I think he is scum and deserves the noose. In spirit of fair play, however, I will say this." She pauses.
"In this case, I feel a fair trial is not in the realm of possibility."
She starts enumerating on her fingers, adding emphasis by tapping each finger with her other hand. "There's no legal framework to work with. The quote-unquote laws you would reference in a fair trial are nonexistent, and as such, the accused can not be familiar with them. Nobody speaks on their behalf, so it would be very one-sided. There is no impartial party available to oversee the process. Or judge fairly for that matter. Should I go on?"
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Alvis shakes his head wondering how he failed to adequately explain what seems so obvious to him. First Velas, "Thank you Velas, what you said is most salient point."
He turns to Teela, "Teela I understand your point but as I noted earlier it doesn't really apply here. Under the laws that we are trying to establish here, fairness is about applying existing law in a consistent way. Objectivity is not part of Brevic legal tradition. A willingness to examine any relevant facts is somewhat there, in no small part due to the efforts of many priests and scholars of Abadar to restrain the often-arbitrary rule of the House of Rogarvia."
Warming up to his sermon he continues, "What do you propose as an alternative? Let me put it this way. Look around you at the corpses we made here, remember those we left at Oleg's. What is the word some people use to describe soldiers of fortune that kill as they please over whatever offense they care to take. Oh yes, murderhobos. Is that what we are or want to be? Is that our morality? Does this 'Stag Lord' have any less right to rule here that we do. Is this only a contest of strength, that the best murderers win?"
Drawing a shaky breath Alvis finishes with, "The formality of a legal ceremony reminds all that a recognized law that has some legitimacy allows us to do that which without is just robbery and murder and turns it into justice. It is not perfect in a imperfect world but better than anarchy. And further are you an oathbreaker? You did take a charter the charges you to uphold Brevoy's claim to this land and to enforce its laws. Did you do so falsely or with contempt? What would that make you?"
Alvis' tone turns apologetic, "Sorry I should not attack you so, I sure you have not had much reason to think about these matters but now you must." Alvis turns to everyone but most to Lady Quintessa Orlovsky. "Milady, you have noticed my formal treatment in company. I do this in recognition of you birth station which gives you, deserved or not, power, authority, and privilege. That also bring with it a burden of responsibility that is not always kept by the nobles of Issia. I am Rostland born, the lords of the north are not well-liked there but did what I did to remind myself and you and everyone, that though the rule of northern great houses was established through conquest, it has become law, like it or not. But it matters as do our charters or we are nothing but another problem for this wild and troubled land. If law does not matter then let this murderous Stag Lord try to rule here, if he succeeds then a century or two from now this could be a better place, many nations started from less."
Alvis seems short of breath, "I've spoken all I can without endless hours of debate. You know the stand I must take. Lady Quintessa, I will call you court in order. A meadow is as good a place is any for it."
Graham knows what's coming from Elly, trial or no, but resigns himself to it, particularly after Alvis' impassioned speech. Let us get this done so we can move on, he says.
"Whoah, whoah, whoah!" Teela steps back, raising both palms in a defensive posture. "You're misunderstanding. I am saying there's no point in a trial if we're all biased judges and executioners. I don't have anything against ending the man's life. 'Execution by sword or rope'. That's what it states. But we have an opportunity to at least offer the man a departure from the world with some dignity. A sham trial is just that. A sham." Teela sighs. "Give the man a good last meal and let's get it over with." she points to Graham. "I agree. Clean your blade, let's feed the man, and cut his head off."
Alvis looks tired at Teela's complete lack of understanding. He says quietly, "No Teela, you misunderstand me. It would not be a sham trial because you seem to think that its purpose is only to determine guilt or innocence of the charged. That is not the case. It is also to establish that law was followed by whoever and that whatever is done is done without being arbitrary. What you see as sham or falseness is the procedure by which a act of whim becomes an act of justice. As I would see it by divine grace, the less pious as tradition or legitimacy. A trial judges more than the criminal, it judges everyone involved in some way, by it being done and how it is done. Again, my objective isn't the life of one man, it's the actions taken in regard to it the gives meaning to what is done. To slit his throat for no regard to law just because he harmed you is not justice, it's vengeance. The Savored Sting is no friend to Abadar, or he to her. The ceremony of the trial matters, believe it or not. It is not fake."
The ceremony of the trial matters, believe it or not. It is not fake."
Graham shakes his head. It is absolutely a sham if the decision is already foregone, he states. You might as well dress up as Horse and prance about the camp, it would be no less performative.
He counts off his points on his fingers. This man admits he was among a group of brigands seeking to waylay the unsuspecting. There is zero chance he wasn't aware that what he was doing was wrong. He has demonstrated his lack of loyalty by providing information on his comrades in an attempt to spare his own life. And he has only those he attempted to rob and maim to hear his side of the story, however meager.
Graham hold up his hand with the four fingers raised. This is one side, and the facts are irrefutable. On the other – here he holds out his other hand, palm up – a desire for a performance to bestow some illusion of civility where none can see it. In a village square? Well enough to conduct a trial, where the people can obsereve and know what it means. Here? He scoff-laughs. It would hold as much water as a boot with a hole.
He looks even more weary at Graham's comments, "You are so very wrong Graham. It is performative but that matters. There are two types of witnesses I would consider paramount now. The second is Abadar, Lord of Justice himself. The most important is us. Starting now, we are the law, if we act in form and substance, lawfully. And that sets the future from now on. I'll say it this way, if one form good habits early on they carry on throughout life, do bad habits and they last painfully as well. And again, you referred to the facts of the case. As I said, while reviewing them is good, it is not the heart of the matter. Carrying out the law, in a lawful manner has weight, more than you now know."