The City of Alexandria vs Merek
Log Info
- Title: The City of Alexandria vs Merek
- Emitter: Solar Flare
- Characters: Merek, Seldan, Cryosanthia
- Place: A14 Noble District, Courtrooms
- Time: Monday, May 10, 2021, 9:13 PM
- Summary: Seer Merek is brought into court to face charges for crimes against the city. Silverguard Seldan is present as his legal council. When faced with his charges, Merek pleads guilty to some, and not guilty to others. Seldan has little time to intervene before the Seer digs himself deeper and deeper, confessing to things. Exculpatory evidence relating to others is blocked from presentation to avoid spoiling it for the relevant cases. Cryosanthia is present. Merek's sentence is a Geas, to uphold the laws of Alexandria and serve it until he is discharged. He accepts this and leaves to get the punishment.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Merek 5'10" 215 Lb Human Male A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes.
Seldan 5'11" 187 Lb Human Male Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol.
Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
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-=--=--=--=--=--=--= As the GM =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Solar Flare
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Mid afternoon in the Alexandria Courthouse finds a series of cases in front of the magistrates; nothing serious today, so far, mostly just procedural items. Someone built a new tavern and one corner of the building has crossed the property line. Two neibghours had a dispute about who owns an apple tree that's likewise on the property line. Several people have been in for petty thefts. A farrier has refused to pay wages to workers he felt were doing substandard labour. And so it goes.
And then, Merek's case comes up, and the sorcerer is ushered into the courtroom -- the same one Delilah Valethor was tried in jsut recently. Fortunately for him, he is accorded considerably more dignity than she was; he is not chained anything, or clad in prisoner's garb, but is allowed to sit with his council in front of the magistrate.
That magistrate, today, is Ironshield. The elderly dwarf has returned to his duties, and though he still looks pale the customary, grim set to his jaw hasn't eased by a muscle. Currently he is busy scratching away audibly with a quill pen on a roll of parchment, with just a single glance upwards to see who has entered.
"The Sorcerer known as Merek," states the Halfling scribe, without any acknolwedgement from Ironshield, "And legal council, your honor."
Merek walks along and into the place, taking the time to peek from the face wrap which he wears along the eyes, nodding a bit to the Magistrate. The man takes a look about the place, "Well, I am here, I'm told I have legal counsel, thank you." He nods a bit, then waits for any word from the Magistrate and anyone else.
Trailing Merek is Seldan, bare-headed and robed in plain dark blue and silver, much in the same way he was for Delilah's trial. It might, in fact, be the same robes, but he, too, is here, and steps forward when Merek does. "I am his legal counsel, but I would have him speak for himself, if he will."
In one of the back-benches of the courtroom sits a white-scaled Sith'makar. She was made aware that today was the day, although not the time, so she has been in the public area watching the proceedings and taking notes. Not that she has any particular interst in property disputes, or petty crime, but she still writes things down.
Her head pops up and she straightens when Merek and Seldan enter. She remains still otherwise, makes no effort to draw attention. This is important and she doesn't want to be a distraction.
The Halfling looks at Merek, then at Seldan, with a perplexed eyebrow; but she makes no comment and just writes down Merek and Seldan's words.
Ironshield, for his part, continues to scratch away at his parchment for several minutes, until there are a few more audibly pronounced motions from the pen and it is set to stand in the inkpot.
"Merek," states Ironshield, clasping his hands in front of him. "You stand before this court accused of giving aid to the escape of a convicted murderess, as well as incitement to riot, endangerment of the city guard through unsanctioned use of magic, and the use of disguise to avoid lawful capture. How do you answer these charges?"
"I answer guilty to aid of escape, not guility to incitement of riot, not guilty to endangerment of the city guard, and guilty to the use of disguise to avoid lawful capture," Merek offers then to the Magistrate. The man notices that Cryosanthia is about, he doesn't offer a lot though his eyes beneath the face wrap will notice the woman, that's all that the woman needs to know of him, while he takes the time to look to Seldan and nods a bit, then a look along to Ironshield.
Seldan's eyebrows shoot into his hairline at the answer, but he says nothing. Not yet.
"Then we shall focus for the moment on the charges to which you plead your innocence," Ironshield answers grimly. "In the first, the incitement to riot. A riot did take place; this much cannot be disputed. Further, the rioters rose up against the city guards while they were in the process of performing a legally mandated, public execution. An execution that you have just entered a guilty plea to the charge of thwarting."
The dwarf inhales, and leans back in his chair; and he definitely sounds... congested. "Any riot is a serious matter. Did you have prior knowledge that any person or persons had intent to incite a riot?" He pauses. "I will remind you that this is a court of law, and by speaking here it is implied that you agree to tell the whole and complete truth, and if is found that you have done otherwise, that is its own legal infraction -- as well as contempt of the court."
Merek seems to think about it, then he nods to the dwarf, "Well, I can't say that I knew there would be a riot. We went in and only did what we did non-lethally. Meanwhile, the people we came with were shot at, had spells thrown at them, in addition to the fact that another guard member almost was killed by friendly fire. I will state that our own intention was to keep the calm and peace."
Seldan listens to the exchange between the two, his eyes going to Merek at the threat of contempt of court. He seems to have adopted something of a hands-off approach to this, hands folded placidly in front of him. "Tread lightly, Seer," he warns, very quietly.
"I will remind you," The dwarf intones, "That the only individual who's actions are to be discussed before the court at this time, Sir Merek, are your own. The actions of the guards, and any who may have acted improperly, will be dealt with seperately -- after the matter with Delilah Valethor and her compatriots is resolved."
Yes. Resolved.
"So you state you were unaware of any intent to incite a riot. However; it was you who erected amagical wall around the scaffold, was it not? Thereby trapping all within, and cutting off aid from those without, to the guards within. Do you deny this?"
Merek thinks about the question, and listens. Well, it looks like he's trying to get a simple answer. The man nods a bit to Ironshield, "While the actions of the Guards are not in question, I will state this, it was a protective measure. They had guns and magic, I erected it for protection of not only us. I wanted to make sure that none of the actions we took involved anyone else. The intent was only to rescue Delilah. I don't deny that I put up the magical barrier."
Cryosanthia is watching more than writing. She is skilled at hiding her reactions, and her reptilian features minimize her expressions. It is obvious that she's staring at Merek, then Seldan, keeping not only quiet but absolutely still. There were some statements she collected from random members of the public, but they were for Mikilos' benefit, so while she has some idea of what is going on she has nothing helpful and her understanding has gaps. Lots of gaps. So, she listens.
Seldan seems more than content to let Merek defend himself, thus far, and he, too, listens carefully to each word said, keeping his expression neutral and even impassive, but when Merek gets to the last part, his eyes lower, almost a silent gesture of defeat. _Damn it._
"Sir Merek. It is difficult for this court to accept that the erecting of a magical barrier around a murderess' execution and only those in the immediate vicinity of her, and those intent on freeing her, would be a protective measure -- or indeed, anything other than a action undertaken to improve your odds of success in thwarting Miss Valethor's execution. Further, wether intended or not, such an action must by its consequence endanger all those within the barrier who were not aligned to your cause."
The dwarf perks an eyebrow upwards. "One of those who had come to rescue Delilath Valethor was her sister, Donna Valethor, yes? An individual who is known to be exceptionally loyal to her sister. Can you warrant that if you had been unable to rescue Miss Valethor through non-lethal means, that Donna Valethor would have allowed her to be killed, and not resorted to lethal measures to enact her rescue?"
Seldan's head snaps up at that demand, and he draws breath as if to speak, pauses, then shakes his head and returns to silence, looking to Merek for his answer.
"I am no mind reader sir, all I can say is that going in, people wanted to be non-lethal as possible, everyone agreed to it," Merek offers that simple answer. He doesn't add a lot to it.
"I see. So you erected a magical barrier around a group of people, without assurance that they would not turn to lethal means, if less harmful methods of achieving their ends were thwarted."
Ironshield takes up his pen, and falls silent for several minutes, as he makes a series of notes on his parchment. The scratching of the pen becomes the sound that dominates the courtroom, making it almost palpable in the absence of anything else.
"I am willing to find you not guilty on the charge of incitement to riot, on insufficient evidence," he states at last, setting his pen back in the pot. "But I find your guilty on the charges you have plead guilty to, and on the charge of endangering the city guard." The dwarf inhales, and sighs audibly. "Now then. The question is what best to do with you."
"Ah, you see that's the thing. What I did, I did... Because they were going to execute an innocent woman. In fact, we found who the real killer is, an assassin, skilled in magic." Merek nods a bit to Ironshield, "In light of that, I think it would be worthwhile to listen to me. Going in almost everyone except Donna had no reason to do what we did expect that we thought she was not guilty."
"Seer, there is much to be said on that, but it is not the matter at hand. We will not be heard in this place, not now." Seldan looks up and over at Merek.
"Stop." Ironshield glances sideways at the halfling scribe, who has anticipated this order and already paused in her recordings. The khazad magistrate returns his severe glower to Merek afterwards. "Listen to your council, Seer. The courts are a system of proceedings, and what concerns us today is your actions, and your motivations. If your defense for your actions is to say 'I believed Delilah Valethor to be innocent' then certainly, say so."
Ironshield draws himself up. "However. And, I shall warn you of this only once. The court will not hear evidence concerning an appeal against a conviction without the accused present, and it will not hear any evidence concerning such during the proceedings against anyone else -- in this case, yourself. If you utter any evidence concerning Miss Valethor's case, then the court will consider it to have been heard against proceedings, and it will be lost to you -- and Miss Valethor -- *forever*."
Merek looks then to Ironshield with his words. The man seems to think about it, while he peeks from beneath the face wrap. "Well then, I will say only this. I did what I thought was right, what I know to be right. I put a lot of effort into making sure it was non-lethal. For the crimes I did commit, I apologize." The man inclines, then he takes a look to Seldan, "I will of course accept any punishment you deem necessary. Though, I will ask you to speak to my legal counsel, as a witness to evidence on past behaviors, to assure you that although I broke the law, no ill will was present."
"Peace, Seer. Let His Honor speak." Seldan holds up a hand, palm out, towards Merek, as if to forestall him.
Ironshield nods his head once. "I understand," he replies. "And because I believe that your intentions were morally grounded, I will consider this in sentencing. However -- understand that a law broken with good intentions is still a law broken, and that must carry consequences, Sir Merek. It *must*."
The dwarf settles back in his seat, and sighs once again, letting a breath out that conceals a bit of a rattle in the lungs. "So," he intones. "This is what we will do. You will be released, on the condition that you accept a Geas. You will be compelled thus; that you, Merek, are to uphold the laws of Alexandria and to serve its interests until such time as this duty is discharged from you. Accept this Geas, and the city of Alexandria will consider this matter settled."
Merek nods a bit to Ironshield while he thinks about it. "I will accept the Geas, in that case, as that pleases the court," he offers, while he smiles a bit to the dwarf. The man seems to think that will work well enough, while he watches and listens.
It seems that Seldan had been about to speak, for he'd turned his head again towards Merek. In this case, though, whatever he had been about to say dies on his lips at Merek's answer. Instead, he snaps his mouth shut and nods approval at Merek's words.
What are you saying, what are you saying? Oh Merek! Her thoughts chase themselves around inside the whitescale's head. If only she could get them out. Stillness and staring do not make for telepathy, yet Cryo's thoughts are so loud she's surprised no one can hear them. Say you only feel guilty, that you confessed to things they have no evidence to prove you did because you feel responsible, you want to save everyone. That Guilty in a legal sense is not the same as guilt feelings. If intentions are irrelevant, do not offer them as proof.
Then, the sentence is offered, and she sits even straighter. It grows colder around her. Words jumping out and fixing in her mind: compelled, serve. Her hands tighten and she squeezes her lips together. It's not the same thing as serving Her, it's not. Yet she is losing sight of the colours.
>>THUMP<<
Her tail strikes the wall behind her when Merek accepts the Gaes. Silence follows, then a quiet, "Apologies. Muscle spasm." She looks down at her notebook. Draws a circle that keeps circling, chasing her thoughts.
"Very well." Ironshield nods to the scribe. "Make a note that the defendant was cooperative, and that he has accepted his conditions for release. The matter of Alexandria versus Merek may now be considered closed, and the bounty for his capture can be paid to the involved parties, if it has not already, and all further bounty offers are rescinded." The dwarf gestures to one of the guards in the room, "If you would please--" he pauses, and glances in Cryosanthia's direction for a brief second, "--See Sir Merek to the wizard currently on duty, and give him my instructions, then once the Geas is performed, Sir Merek is free to go."
Merek looks along to Ironshield, while he notes that Cryosanthia would be reacting that way. The man nods a bit in the woman's direction. He doesn't like it, all the same... Well, alternative will be to feel like he's back in chains. Then he follows along to meet the wizard. Not a lot to say about his reaction and all, he doesn't seem to be all that keen to show emotion at the moment, while he nods to Seldan also.
Cryosanthia stares down at her notebook. She does not look up, at the dwarf, at Merek when he passes, at Seldan, at Magistrate Ironsides. She's acutely aware of all of them, the whole courtroom. Not only her periphery vision, she could close her eyes and sense the whole space. Everyone moving around her. An instant that will fix and freeze as a memory.
Why did she come? To witness? She wasn't a supportive friend, to either. Not a visit to Merek... although she has many reasons for avoiding That Jail. She didn't even hand out candied crickets. There is too much world needing to be saved, and her efforts seem spread even more thin.
While most of life is simply showing up and she accomplished that, there is nothing laudible about her being here. She avoids everyone's eyes. If she can't will herself invisible, she has a spell for that.
Chain upon chain, traded one for the other. Merek seems to wonder what it all means. The man keeps trying to do what's right, and every time, he is chained for it. An eternal chain. His chaotic mind can't process it, nor can his angel. He's been broken. While he walks away. At least there was a friend here for him. That's probably about the only thing to keep him going forward while he waits.
Public Defenders
[Public] Merek says, "Freedom."
[Public] Merek says, "Finally."
[Public] Liadra says, "hooray!"
[Public] Liadra says, "Time to commit more crimes?"
[Public] Seyardu says, "Just you wait"
[Public] Seyardu says, "Merek is going to get out of jail and immediately open a letter not addressed to him."
[Public] Stjepan says, "SHOCKING"
[Public] Merek says, "He can't anymore."
[Public] Cryosanthia says, "Urgent Business Confidential?"
[Public] Merek says, "Like it's physically impossible for him to now sadly."
[Public] Liadra says, "can't do what why?"
[Public] Cryosanthia says, "Admited Guilty and Geas'd"
[Public] Seyardu says, "Ouch"
[Public] Cryosanthia says, "Uphold the Law!"
[Public] Cryosanthia says, "He'll be Judge Merek"
[Public] Seyardu says, "Merek's life becomes hell as he realizes how many tiny laws are in the city most people break anyways."
[Public] Liadra says, "Remove Curse, Limited Wish, or Wish?"
[Public] Liadra says, "Is he required to make others uphold the law?"
[Public] Cryosanthia says, "he probably has to check in regularly to prove it's still active"
[Public] Stjepan says, "THESE PAWS UPHOLD THE LAWS!"
[Public] Stjepan says, "...Paw Patrol crossover time!"
[Public] Liadra says, "Oof. Geas is nasty"
[Public] Whirlpool says, "In fairness, it is not like Merek has an encyclopedic knowledge of all Alexandria's laws but yes it could cause him some discomfort :)"
[Public] Liadra says, "now goal: have annoying laws passed to annoy Merek."
[Public] Liadra says, "*new"
[Public] Seyardu says, "Someone needs to in that case start a new court case about how upholding the law as a geas is cruel and unusual punishment."
[Public] Seyardu says, "I never thought about a geas being subject to personal knowledge, though."
[Public] Stjepan grins.
[Public] Stjepan says, "Constitutional challenges to Geas, huh"
<OOC> Merek says, "appreciate it!"
[Public] Liadra says, "Does Alexandros have a constitution?"
[Public] Merek says, "Merek, trapped in hell for months."
[Public] Seyardu says, "Modify memory says it can't affect memory of a geas, but could you use it to just forget all the laws that exists?"
[Public] Merek says, "Trapped in chains for weeks."
[Public] Merek says, "Now mentally chained down once again."
[Public] Seyardu says, "ignorance is bliss as they say"
[Public] Merek says, "Local man goes to Iron Hells, comes back to be arrested and chained again."
[Public] Liadra says, "it's an open-ended Geas, so only lasts 1 day per caster level."
[Public] Merek says, "Only Greater would work on him."
[Public] Merek says, "Which is permanent until dispelled by miracle, wish, etc."
[Public] Merek says, "or remove curse at..."
[Public] Merek checks merek
[Public] Merek says, "Caster level uh."
[Public] Merek says, "idk"
[Public] Seyardu says, "if the person is casting on merek"
[Public] Seyardu says, "I don't know if there's many people that could remove curse it"
[Public] Seyardu says, "Since I'm assuming he's pretty high level."
[Public] Liadra says, "Obediance to the law is an uncompletable task, therefore it will wear off in 20 days or less."
[Public] Cryosanthia says, "that might tie in with the 'check back regularly so we know it hasn't worn off (and can re-apply as necessary)'"
[Public] Merek says, "Ya."
[Public] Merek says, "Could just make it a ruling he has to come back was just thinking of that"
[Public] Merek says, "then he'd have to follow for reapplication"
[Public] Seyardu says, "If you make the geas "follow the laws until you come back in for reapplication on X date", I guess it's no longer open ended."
[Public] Seyardu says, "Honestly, it sounds pretty interesting though. If unfortunate for Merek."
[Public] Liadra says, "The spell IMO is poorly worded. A caster could simply say 'obey the law for a thousand years', not open ended, but the time restriction is utterly meaningless."
[Public] Cryosanthia says, "well it was ' uphold the laws of Alexandria and to serve its interests until such time as this duty is discharged from you.' So, it's not open-ended, it merely doesn't have a clear end."
[Public] Liadra says, "the moment they worded it 'until such time as this duty is discharged from you' it made it open-ended. By definition that statement is open ended."
[Public] Cryosanthia says, "see Liadra, now you're talking about Copyright laws being limited. :)"
[Public] Cryosanthia says, "no it implied the duty can be discharged at any time"
[Public] Seyardu says, ""Hello Merek, I hereby discharge you from the duty put on you.""
[Public] Seyardu says, "Spirit of the law vs letter, I guess. Sounds fun."
[Public] Merek says, "idk"
[Public] Merek says, "as long as drinking is legal"
[Public] Liadra says, "The ability to discharge does not imply the possibility that it will be discharged. Absent stated terms allowing the victim of the geas to complete the geas without outside intervention I would at a personal level see the geas as open-ended."
[Public] Solar Flare says, "You're in luck! Drinking is legal. Well, in most places."
[Public] Seyardu says, "drinking is illegal. Merek dies of dehydration."
[Public] Liadra says, "A more forthright geas of 'Be my obedient slave until such time as I discharge you' has the same time limitations, and clearly is an open-ended service."
[Public] Liadra says, "reading the SRD: 'If the instructions involve some open-ended task that the recipient cannot complete through his own actions, the spell remains in effect for a maximum of 1 day per caster level. A clever recipient can subvert some instructions.'"
[Public] Derecho points a thing out, Liadra;
[Public] Derecho says, "This is a major story beat for a character, not a roadblock to be immediately removed."
[Public] Derecho says, "There's supposed to be narrative ore to be mined out of dealing with this."
[Public] Dubtle says, "Merek got himself in a LOT of trouble, multiple times. xD"
[Public] Whirlpool meant to say thgat here!
[Public] Liadra says, "I'm just saying make me the NPC lawyer :P"
[Public] Whirlpool laughs.
[Public] Whirlpool says, "<3"
[Public] Seyardu says, "High level spellcasters need geas lawyers."
[Public] Seyardu says, "like lawyers for wording Genie wishes."
[Public] Whirlpool says, "What do you think this is"
[Public] Whirlpool says, "Untitled geas game"
[Public] Derecho says, "..."
[Public] Whirlpool :D
[Public] Derecho pick up this Whirlpool.
[Public] Seyardu groans
[Public] Derecho yeet into lake.
[Public] Seyardu says, "that was a good one."
[Public] Solar Flare says, "Also, important to note; just because the character (Merek) has been given a punishment, does not mean the player has. I am commending the player for RPing through this and rolling with it, and I expect to see him get some of that ore that Derecho was talking about mining, and I'm confident it'll be great."
[Public] Liadra says, "Just confirming, that a Geas can only be ONE command (per Geas), allowing long, run-on sentances, but not lists of unrelated commands?"
[Public] Stjepan says, "I'd like bulleted lists, please :D"
[Public] Seyardu says, "I don't see any restrictions such as that in the spell description"
[Public] Whirlpool says, "Geas is simply a task they have to work towards that can be open ended or not, though it has to be recast daily if its open ended."
[Public] Whirlpool says, "This may be the first time we've had a PC ever get himself geaed like this, though!"
[Public] Liadra says, "A lesser geas places a magical command on a creature to carry out some service or to refrain from some action or course of activity, as desired by you... (I saw only a command in the singular)"
[Public] Liadra says, "I wouldn't be rules-lawyering, but it's a LEGAL punishment. Urge to make a lawyer alt rising..."
[Public] Cryosanthia says, "that would be what... a bard... a paladin... a rogue?"
[Public] Whirlpool says, "I mean, a lawyer alt can't argue the OOC text of spells, though! ;P"
[Public] Seyardu says, "depends on if it's a defence lawyer or not."
[Public] Whirlpool says, "More serously, however."
[Public] Whirlpool says, "You could probably geas someone to do the 12 labors of Hercules, for example, as that seems in keeping with the spirit of the spell."
[Public] Whirlpool says, "The more important distinction, I think, is 'open ended' versus 'finite' tasks -- a ques with a goal, or an aversion."
[Public] Liadra says, "My arguments are that the SRD is badly worded - and for the sake of brevity the SRD has to be lacking."
[Public] Liadra says, "It seems that the aversion aspect of the spell is by its nature open-ended, yet the spell wording doesn't address that properly."
[Public] Seyardu says, "it depends on what definition of Open-ended you use though."
[Public] Liadra says, "Open-ended by dictionary would be: 'having no predetermined limit or boundary.'"
[Public] Seyardu says, "but "Until being told that you are done with what you need to by X person" is a determined limit. Unless the person becomes incapable of conveying this message to the person"
[Public] Liadra says, "That's why I say that the wording is bad. The later paragraph about the recipient being able to complete the task seems to define the limits of open-endedness. I mean technically 'until the mountains are eroded to dust and the seas boiled dry' would be a non-open-ended geas time, but also outside the spirit of the spell."