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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BSF" data-source="post: 1456933" data-attributes="member: 13098">Lord Tannerson listens carefully to Li's tale. When Li finishes, thetwo of them sit there in the quiet of the night. The sound of thetwo bears breathing provides an odd cadence throughout the clearing.Finally, Lord Tannerson speaks."I know a small bit about the Yuan-Ti. They once tried to invade ourland, back when the nearby city was founded some 1000 years ago.Indeed, their presence plays a small part in the history of thiscity. There was but a small force that tried to establish themselveshere, but those few sounded quite dangerous. I cannot imagine whatyour homeland must be like if you have an ongoing war with thesecreatures. However, I cannot believe in a hopeless war. Perhaps youmove to a higher purpose than you currently understand? One day,perhaps you will return to your homeland with knowledge that willturn the battle in your favor. But first, we must deal with thebusiness at hand."Lord Tannerson slowly stands and draws his sword, though, he does nottake a combat stance. Holding the sword before him, he speaks in asomber voice."I, Lord Tannerson, Honored Defender of the Eastern Gate, Marshall ofthe Twenty Trees, Ranger of Greerson and Paladin of Lune, hereby passmy judgement on Li Xian Gao. By the authority granted to me by theKingdom of Greerson, and the divine grace of Lune, my judgement shallbe binding and absolute."The two bears in the clearing nod in agreement. Lord Tannerson thenlooks to Li."I have spoken with those of my men that remain regarding thealtercation in the forest. By our laws, you are charged withtrespassing, failure to yield to authority, banditry and murder.Having established the charges, I must now determine what you mighttruly be guilty of.By your own admission, you are guilty of trespass. These charges arenot in dispute.You are also guilty of failing to yield to authority.I see no evidence that you are guilty of banditry.I also see no evidence that you had any part in the death or injuryof the soldiers you met.Having established which crimes you are guilty of, I will nowconsider how justice will best be served.For unlawful trespass, I will consider the following mitigatingcircumstances. You arrived in our nation unwittingly and through anunusual circumstance. You did not have the same opportunity to learnour laws that most visitors do. I will tell you now that it is notpermitted to camp within the domain of the Twenty Trees without thepermission of the local Lord or Marshall. I hereby give Li Xian Gaopermission to camp within the domain of the Twenty Trees for a periodof one month, effective 3 days ago, thus negating the crime oftrespass.However, while visiting my lands, you and your companions cutbranches from a living tree. Though you did not hold any ill intent,you injured a sacred tree. As the Lord and Marshall of this land, Imust seek judgement on behalf of this tree. Li Xian Gao, you willvisit this tree on the morrow to apologize for the injury caused.You will also seal the injury and take from the tree a seed to beplanted in fertile ground elsewhere.For the crime of failure to yield to authority, I find mitigatingcircumstances. Again, you were not given an opportunity to learnwhat device our soldiers bear. As well, you were awakened in themiddle of the night, in a strange land. I am not sure what insultyou were offered, but you intended to respond with non-lethal force.I will tell you that some of your companions behaved in a suspiciousmanner and refused to cooperate with my soldiers after being toldthat they were seeking bandits. I believe your companions had itwithin their power to avert this misunderstanding. Both the ones mysoldiers initially met on the road, and those that were awake in yourcamp. However, I am disappointed that my men did not handle thesituation better. They did not violate any laws of this nation, butI expect a higher standard out of those that serve me. In the matterof failure to yield to authority, Li Xian Gao will undertake to learnthe devices of the soldiers, watch and guard of Greerson. Further,Li Xian Gao will testify truthfully at the trial of his companions.In this manner, Justice is best served. These are my judgements,legal and binding through this land."Lord Tannerson offers a silent prayer to Lune before sheathing hissword once again. He then offers his sword arm to Li."Welcome to Greerson Li Xian Gao. I wish we had met under differentcircumstances, but such are the circumstances of life. I would speakwith you further so that I can understand what a samurai and seppukuare. Strange words from a far away land, they mean nothing to me.Please, accept my hospitality."</blockquote>

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