Emperor Valerian
First Post
Judgements
Shaun looked about, and his mouth savored the smells that flooded into his nose. Seemingly thousands of bakeries were all about him, all smelling of muffins, fresh coffee, jam, strawberries and cream. It was enough to make his mouth water...
...and realize his head was on a chilly, deep carpet. He opened his eyes, and blinked... and to his joy, the smells still charged into his nostrils.
“Mmmmm...”he sat up, his eyes finally focusing on Siabrey, who had a tray of biscuits, rolls, strawberries and cream, laid out on the small table in the room. The fighter, clad in a loose runic as opposed to armor or royal robes, turned to Shaun and smiled.
“My... aren’t we quick to wake when food arrives,” she grinned. “Did you see the paper?”
“What paper?” Shaun scratched his head, and Siabrey pointed to the white slip that had flowed off of his chest as he had sat up. He looked down in confusion, as a muffled “mmmm” came from Elenya, who slowly began to stir beside him. Shaun grabbed the paper and read.
And jabbed Elenya in the shoulder, rousing her.
“That was rough! What wazzat for?” she asked, sleep still slurring her speech. He handed her the slip, his own eyes wide with fear and loathing. So... that bastard wants to see me? After all I did, after he drove me away nearly eight years ago! Stupid stonehumper, his mind snapped.
Elenya’s brow furrowed as she read, and reread, before her eyes looked at Shaun... and the rogue could see a mixture of happiness, and worry in her green orbs.
“How did daddy react?” she asked guardedly, causing Siabrey to laugh.
“Oh, Elenya, your dad was confused at first... but then he babbled proudly and happily... I think he was most grateful that you were safe. Coffee?” Siabrey asked, and both shook their heads no. “Shaun... pardon me, but your dad was a slimey bastard. He kept disparaging you and calling you everything from a ‘good-for-nothing’ to a ‘thief’ until I told him you had noble rank... and then suddenly he wanted to meet you. He wants your money, I think,” Siabrey blurted out her mind, before quickly added, “No offense.”
“None taken, Siabrey... he’s a money grubbing bastard that gets cash in any way he can.. legal or non. Hey... it says here they were fighting about something... what was going on?”
Siabrey proceeded to relay the details of what she knew, as Alexander, Tess, and the rest of the party slowly roused themselves from slumber. Along the way, a mini-rant appeared from her lips about how rabid petitioners could be.
“Pethithionerth are the curseth ob tha Emperoth,” Alexander spoke through a muffin. He held up a finger, and finished chewing before continuing. “So you have two cases to judge today?”
“Yes...” Siabrey sighed. “I don’t know how to judge them, either.”
“Well,” Tess said, taking a sip of the rich coffee, “I can take one of the cases... there’s some spellchords I know that can detect people lying.”
“And, you can borrow my Sword of Justice,” Alexander offered. “Allows you to detect people lying nearby... and its not like I’m going to be up and swinging it around anytime soon,” he grinned.
“Speaking of which,” Siabrey motioned for Grumki, who started his ministrations on healing the Emperor.
“Ahem,” Siabrey, now clad in regal robes, cleared her throat in front of Lords Varron and Wychilis. At her side, beside Kelir, hung the golden Imperial longsword... its own voice now quietly conversing with Kelir.
“My Lords,” she started, “I am ready to hear both of your full cases. As Lord Wychilis spoke first last night, Lord Varron can speak first this day.” She winced as she saw Varron strutting forward like a peacock at the news, while Wychilis glowered at the smaller man.
Varron and Wychilis both delivered obscenely prim and proper cases, filled with flowery words and cunning linguistical subtexts. Once all of the poo-poopery was cut away, all that remained was the bare bones of their dispute... both claimed the other’s ancestors signed contracts signing the deed over to their family. The entire time, she felt an increasing sense in her mind... that not just were both men stretching the truth, but that they were lying themselves out of house and home.
Finally, recounting the forty minutes of her life that could never be regained, she raised her hand, interrupting Lord Wychilis.
“Gentlemen, I am tired of hearing your stretched lies. The truth, now,” she gently pulled the Imperial sword from its scabbard, and held it level with them. The sense that they were telling tales exploded even larger in her mind... and both backed away. “Truth. Now,” she said sharply.
The two nobles stammered, stuttered, and backed away, as she rose from her chair and advanced on them. A few seconds later, Varron broke his stunned silence, holding his hands in front of him as he shook. The man confessed his claim to the land was fradulent... the land had originally belonged to a monastery, and the father’s of both nobles had conspired to steal the land and raze the monastery. After the dirty deed was done, both proceeded to squabble over the spoils, a fight that extended even to this day. Wychilis, also shaking, confirmed the tale. Siabrey lost her sense they were spinning tales, and gave them both a smile.
“Very well, gentlemen... I am glad you decided to be honest with me... and my judgement is thus: Neither one of you will get the land with the mill. Instead, it will go to the remains of its former owners. Should they not be found, it shall fall to the state. For wasting the government’s time with frivolous petitions and forgery, you shall both pay fines to the survivors to the tune of five thousand gold each. Should the surviving monks not be found, that too will devolve to the state. That is my judgement. Leave,” she motioned to the door, sick already of dealing with nobility.
Tess had volunteered to adjudicate the case between Abraham Dice and Quinnias Barachis... as Siabrey was absolutely sick of seeing Abraham Dice. Someone had unwisely put the two in rooms next to each other... which fortunately made rounding them up easier.
Quinnias was nervously whittling in his room when Tess fetched him, while Abaraham was busy shouting at a woman, who by his references Tess deduced she was his wife. The woman flitted about Tess, airily complimenting her on her earrings and dress, only earning the bards contempt. Deducing the woman was easily distracted by shiny things, and needing her to leave so she could hear the case, Tess informed her that several clothing merchants were selling new wares outside the palace. The tale worked like a charm.
“Now,” she sighed. I want this to be short and sweet. “My name is Baroness Keldare. Her Highness has assigned me to adjudicate your case... she has informed me of the background and basics. I shall use some magical means at my disposal to determine your guilt or innocence... Mr. Dice, you said you have a contract that Mr. Barachis signed. Please produce it.”
The merchant, with a flourish, pulled out several pieces of paper, and airily handed them to Tess. “The papers this cur signed, handing over his business,” he said dryly.
Tess gave a grunt, humming some notes to herself as she read. Suddenly, in her mind, the words on the page seemed to leap out, red and flaming, as her mind screamed “FORGERY.” Tess gave another grunt (instead of the whoop of laughter she wanted to give), and handed the piece back.
“Why do you give me forged documents?” Tess growled, putting as much anger in her voice as possible, “Do you think that I am a fool?”
“But.. but...” Abraham stammered, as Tess continued her verbal assault.
“Mr. Dice... I have heard of you. They say you are a liar... a cheat... a scoundrel that can only just barely keep yourself clean. They say you hire thugs to beat information out of people, and rough up people’s businesses... correct Mr. Barachis?” she added, thanking Shaun for the inside information he’d given her on the way his father operated.
“Yes, ma’am,” the old man said, “he sent two oafs into my store three weeks ago, who knocked over shelves and caused harm. I never brought it up because I was worried about Elenya.” Notes hung in the air as Tess’ humming confirmed he was telling the truth.
“Mr. Dice!” she turned to the merchant, fairly snarling now, “You not only have wasted my time, you did it with a forged document, accusing an innocent man of trying to cheat you! To my knowledge, that means you’ve committed... perjury, forgery, filing a false report... in addition to the unreported assaults, burglaries and other crimes committed at your behest.” Tess paused, thanking Alexander for taking some time to explain a few possible charges to her earlier that morning.
“For these, I could have you imprisoned for twenty years or more... but instead,” she gave a wicked grin, “I’m going to hit you at a place that hruts a little more. You will pay Mr. Barachis fifteen thousand gold pieces, over the next five years, for the pain and suffering you’ve inflicted on him.” The merchant started to stammer, which caused Tess’ voice to merely bulldoze on, “Should you not pay this, I will level an immediate fine of forty thousand gold pieces... and the state will seize your properties if necessary.”
It gave her great satisfaction to see his face collapse.
Shaun looked about, and his mouth savored the smells that flooded into his nose. Seemingly thousands of bakeries were all about him, all smelling of muffins, fresh coffee, jam, strawberries and cream. It was enough to make his mouth water...
...and realize his head was on a chilly, deep carpet. He opened his eyes, and blinked... and to his joy, the smells still charged into his nostrils.
“Mmmmm...”he sat up, his eyes finally focusing on Siabrey, who had a tray of biscuits, rolls, strawberries and cream, laid out on the small table in the room. The fighter, clad in a loose runic as opposed to armor or royal robes, turned to Shaun and smiled.
“My... aren’t we quick to wake when food arrives,” she grinned. “Did you see the paper?”
“What paper?” Shaun scratched his head, and Siabrey pointed to the white slip that had flowed off of his chest as he had sat up. He looked down in confusion, as a muffled “mmmm” came from Elenya, who slowly began to stir beside him. Shaun grabbed the paper and read.
And jabbed Elenya in the shoulder, rousing her.
“That was rough! What wazzat for?” she asked, sleep still slurring her speech. He handed her the slip, his own eyes wide with fear and loathing. So... that bastard wants to see me? After all I did, after he drove me away nearly eight years ago! Stupid stonehumper, his mind snapped.
Elenya’s brow furrowed as she read, and reread, before her eyes looked at Shaun... and the rogue could see a mixture of happiness, and worry in her green orbs.
“How did daddy react?” she asked guardedly, causing Siabrey to laugh.
“Oh, Elenya, your dad was confused at first... but then he babbled proudly and happily... I think he was most grateful that you were safe. Coffee?” Siabrey asked, and both shook their heads no. “Shaun... pardon me, but your dad was a slimey bastard. He kept disparaging you and calling you everything from a ‘good-for-nothing’ to a ‘thief’ until I told him you had noble rank... and then suddenly he wanted to meet you. He wants your money, I think,” Siabrey blurted out her mind, before quickly added, “No offense.”
“None taken, Siabrey... he’s a money grubbing bastard that gets cash in any way he can.. legal or non. Hey... it says here they were fighting about something... what was going on?”
Siabrey proceeded to relay the details of what she knew, as Alexander, Tess, and the rest of the party slowly roused themselves from slumber. Along the way, a mini-rant appeared from her lips about how rabid petitioners could be.
“Pethithionerth are the curseth ob tha Emperoth,” Alexander spoke through a muffin. He held up a finger, and finished chewing before continuing. “So you have two cases to judge today?”
“Yes...” Siabrey sighed. “I don’t know how to judge them, either.”
“Well,” Tess said, taking a sip of the rich coffee, “I can take one of the cases... there’s some spellchords I know that can detect people lying.”
“And, you can borrow my Sword of Justice,” Alexander offered. “Allows you to detect people lying nearby... and its not like I’m going to be up and swinging it around anytime soon,” he grinned.
“Speaking of which,” Siabrey motioned for Grumki, who started his ministrations on healing the Emperor.
“Ahem,” Siabrey, now clad in regal robes, cleared her throat in front of Lords Varron and Wychilis. At her side, beside Kelir, hung the golden Imperial longsword... its own voice now quietly conversing with Kelir.
“My Lords,” she started, “I am ready to hear both of your full cases. As Lord Wychilis spoke first last night, Lord Varron can speak first this day.” She winced as she saw Varron strutting forward like a peacock at the news, while Wychilis glowered at the smaller man.
Varron and Wychilis both delivered obscenely prim and proper cases, filled with flowery words and cunning linguistical subtexts. Once all of the poo-poopery was cut away, all that remained was the bare bones of their dispute... both claimed the other’s ancestors signed contracts signing the deed over to their family. The entire time, she felt an increasing sense in her mind... that not just were both men stretching the truth, but that they were lying themselves out of house and home.
Finally, recounting the forty minutes of her life that could never be regained, she raised her hand, interrupting Lord Wychilis.
“Gentlemen, I am tired of hearing your stretched lies. The truth, now,” she gently pulled the Imperial sword from its scabbard, and held it level with them. The sense that they were telling tales exploded even larger in her mind... and both backed away. “Truth. Now,” she said sharply.
The two nobles stammered, stuttered, and backed away, as she rose from her chair and advanced on them. A few seconds later, Varron broke his stunned silence, holding his hands in front of him as he shook. The man confessed his claim to the land was fradulent... the land had originally belonged to a monastery, and the father’s of both nobles had conspired to steal the land and raze the monastery. After the dirty deed was done, both proceeded to squabble over the spoils, a fight that extended even to this day. Wychilis, also shaking, confirmed the tale. Siabrey lost her sense they were spinning tales, and gave them both a smile.
“Very well, gentlemen... I am glad you decided to be honest with me... and my judgement is thus: Neither one of you will get the land with the mill. Instead, it will go to the remains of its former owners. Should they not be found, it shall fall to the state. For wasting the government’s time with frivolous petitions and forgery, you shall both pay fines to the survivors to the tune of five thousand gold each. Should the surviving monks not be found, that too will devolve to the state. That is my judgement. Leave,” she motioned to the door, sick already of dealing with nobility.
Tess had volunteered to adjudicate the case between Abraham Dice and Quinnias Barachis... as Siabrey was absolutely sick of seeing Abraham Dice. Someone had unwisely put the two in rooms next to each other... which fortunately made rounding them up easier.
Quinnias was nervously whittling in his room when Tess fetched him, while Abaraham was busy shouting at a woman, who by his references Tess deduced she was his wife. The woman flitted about Tess, airily complimenting her on her earrings and dress, only earning the bards contempt. Deducing the woman was easily distracted by shiny things, and needing her to leave so she could hear the case, Tess informed her that several clothing merchants were selling new wares outside the palace. The tale worked like a charm.
“Now,” she sighed. I want this to be short and sweet. “My name is Baroness Keldare. Her Highness has assigned me to adjudicate your case... she has informed me of the background and basics. I shall use some magical means at my disposal to determine your guilt or innocence... Mr. Dice, you said you have a contract that Mr. Barachis signed. Please produce it.”
The merchant, with a flourish, pulled out several pieces of paper, and airily handed them to Tess. “The papers this cur signed, handing over his business,” he said dryly.
Tess gave a grunt, humming some notes to herself as she read. Suddenly, in her mind, the words on the page seemed to leap out, red and flaming, as her mind screamed “FORGERY.” Tess gave another grunt (instead of the whoop of laughter she wanted to give), and handed the piece back.
“Why do you give me forged documents?” Tess growled, putting as much anger in her voice as possible, “Do you think that I am a fool?”
“But.. but...” Abraham stammered, as Tess continued her verbal assault.
“Mr. Dice... I have heard of you. They say you are a liar... a cheat... a scoundrel that can only just barely keep yourself clean. They say you hire thugs to beat information out of people, and rough up people’s businesses... correct Mr. Barachis?” she added, thanking Shaun for the inside information he’d given her on the way his father operated.
“Yes, ma’am,” the old man said, “he sent two oafs into my store three weeks ago, who knocked over shelves and caused harm. I never brought it up because I was worried about Elenya.” Notes hung in the air as Tess’ humming confirmed he was telling the truth.
“Mr. Dice!” she turned to the merchant, fairly snarling now, “You not only have wasted my time, you did it with a forged document, accusing an innocent man of trying to cheat you! To my knowledge, that means you’ve committed... perjury, forgery, filing a false report... in addition to the unreported assaults, burglaries and other crimes committed at your behest.” Tess paused, thanking Alexander for taking some time to explain a few possible charges to her earlier that morning.
“For these, I could have you imprisoned for twenty years or more... but instead,” she gave a wicked grin, “I’m going to hit you at a place that hruts a little more. You will pay Mr. Barachis fifteen thousand gold pieces, over the next five years, for the pain and suffering you’ve inflicted on him.” The merchant started to stammer, which caused Tess’ voice to merely bulldoze on, “Should you not pay this, I will level an immediate fine of forty thousand gold pieces... and the state will seize your properties if necessary.”
It gave her great satisfaction to see his face collapse.
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Fun stuff!
