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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Carlo-One" data-source="post: 8222245" data-attributes="member: 7015827">Dermot told Calen that he was a watchman, not a judge...nor a headsman. This earned a curt retort from Calen that his skills would suffice. Darrow then raised the question of whether Baron Pahar would back the guard captain’s decision. As Shanni regarded the bound Tagreth thoughtfully, Calen replied that the Baron gave great latitude to his commanders, looking upwards as the skies darkened.Dermot made the additional point that Tagreth was on his way to swing, so there was no need for the guard captain to wet his sword like this. Calen, with more heat, accused the adventurers of not understanding what the loss of his men through cold murder meant, and said that Tagreth deserved no less. Calm as ever, Aerikoth then asked if he could speak before Calen took any action. The wizard stated that he understood a great deal and asked Calen to consider the fact that Tagreth had harmed a great many, beyond his two men. Did the guard captain intend to rob all the others of the justice they deserved, by continuing with his actions?At this point Garens Winnfall came out of his house, to see what was going on. Shanni explained that Captain Calen was about to murder Tagreth, although she couldn’t say she blamed him much. Desperate, the Fire Knives leader appealed first to Garens, saying that he did not deserve to be slaughtered on the farmer’s land, then broadened his appeal to all those listening, claiming he did not deserve this fate. In response, Calen looked down at his prisoner and told him to shut up.Dermot argued that it wasn’t about what Tagreth deserved, but what about Tallwell deserved: fairness, openness, a place where people aren’t taken from their cells and beheaded in the wild. The ranger pointed out that the villagers would never see the guard captain in the same way afterwards. Darrow, perhaps trying to be helpful, told them that however humans treated their judgements was on them; if Tagreth were a dwarf, he’d be left naked in the deep delves for the umber hulks to have some fun...after a proper trial, though.Throughout the exchange, the farmer Garens had remained silent, looking down at the headstone which stood next to him. As Calen put his sword to the prisoner’s throat, though, the farmer asked if he might say a word to the guard captain. Without moving his sword from Tagreth’s throat, Calen briefly indicated to Garens that he might speak.The farmer gestured to the adventurers, saying that these folk had delivered the village from tyranny, more than once. Looking down at the grave marker again, Garens also declared that no one had paid a higher price than he, mentioning the name of Aratae, his son who had been murdered at Hallton’s order. He then looked back at the guard captain and stated simply that he knew what justice was, and this was not it.Calen, who had been impassive until then, blanched in response, the farmer’s words hitting home. Shanni verbally prodded Calen again as well, asking if he was better than his prisoner. Calen’s sword dropped slowly as he struggled for a response, while Dermot’s eyes flickered as he looked around the circle of guards’ helmets, to see if they would intervene in some fashion. Darrow reminded the guard captain that sometimes shortcuts weren’t shortcuts.Finding his voice, Calen bitterly asked what they would have him do, then, as Tagreth’s kind never paid the price for their crimes. (The guard captain throughout these chronicles has shown a keen understanding of how the world in reality works, while doing his best to uphold his values and his duties. This time is no exception. --R) Darrow replied that the Baron would give the man his moment to speak, and do it right and proper. Calen nodded slowly at Darrow’s words and Dermot quickly followed up, telling Calen that he should accompany the adventurers to Turnton when they delivered him, to speak for the dead men. Regaining his composure, the guard captain acknowledged that they were right and justice would be served, as Helm would want it to be. Aside, Shanni nodded to Aerikoth and told the wizard that it might be an idea to get the prisoner there fast.</blockquote>

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