On the Nature of Law and Order in Ephia’s Well

[ADashofHope]

[These writings find their way around the Well in the author's signature style]




In a day's time by the positioning of the stars and the time of this writing, two warriors of the Cinquefoil Rose will clash with two of Frostport's favored, the Skargrimsson lads, in a battle to determine their legal and personal futures within this humble settlement. Should the brothers be victorious, their records will be wiped clean and they will be allowed to join our community as one of the unwashed and much-maligned Voiceless. Should they fall in battle, they will never harm another purse again.

The powers that be deemed this to be a fitting resolution to the problem presented, and the Moon quite agrees– I can tell you, as someone touched by It, that It's been laughing long and hard about this. And if It's laughing, then the League of Purple should be apoplectic with rage. They should be biting their damn fingers off at what their replacement Legate has allowed.

In her last campaign speech on Tabbah 26th (a campaign in which she lost) Legate Crueltzer declared:

...'Laws'. 'Regulations'. These things, in truth, are powerless.

For it all depends on the convictions of those entrusted with crafting them and enforcing them. It all depends on the people willing to tolerate them...

In this speech, she emphasized how she, and her League, could be held apart from the League of Gold, whose 'overstepping' had allowed chaos to reign on the Stele for weeks. But with the precedent being set tomorrow, she has only revealed her true nature as no different from those she criticized. And it only took a month!

Let us speak of the precedent. The Moon applauds the Skarsgrim brothers. Why? Because they proved that with enough grit, persistence and of course martial might, any man may seize the sanctity of the Sultan's peace, the principles of Justice and Order and bend them over their knee.

I'm not afraid to admit that I've clashed with the raiders twice, and neither fight went well for me. I've also been directed to the Legion, along with so many others in the same boat, to provide my statement to be used as evidence against them for a number of crimes. Theft, Assault, Unlawful Resistance, Kidnapping, Serious, Capital...all or nothing, who knows anymore. And who cares! All of that testimony from all those witnesses might as well be rolled up and smoked with the finest mizzar for all the good it's going to do. It's hard to believe that the Fourth Legion signed off on this, considering they've had to compile all that evidence in the first place. Maybe our Legate bought their silence with the release of allotment for (wait for it) 'improvements in performance.'

But I digress. We were speaking of the precedent. Break the law once, and you will be summoned to the Garrison. Break the law twice and they may exile you, trial you in absentia, hunt for you in the Gutters and low places of the Disc. Break the law repeatedly– get really good at it– and eventually, the Well will pay for their peace. Our Legates are war heroes I have heard, but perhaps Iakmes took the wrong tact. Had he put a price on peace, he might still be alive today.

I'm no anarchist, I enjoy a good rule now and then (especially in the bedroom). But I don't need to be one, because the ones who claim to care about the law don't. Not really. Rumor has it that should the brothers prove the victors in their bout tomorrow, they will join the Fourth Legion, to enforce their version of the law on our own people. To 'usher us into an era of honor and glory.' The Moon smiles on an age where the conquering criminal becomes the peacekeeper, and it is one our Legates freely welcome. Who voted for this? (No one did.)

Faith has a lot of things. A great speechwriter. A sturdy shield and a deft arm. Eyes a man would drown in. But she has no conviction, and that's why I'm voting for Buster Grimes next election (which can't come soon enough!). I hope you join me.



Vaskr Moontouched

[Random_White_Guy]

Wherever these writings are found, a companion piece is left

A Rebuttal to Student Vaskr

Though a legend in his own right, Student Vaskr's valiant efforts to understand the subtle nature of State Craft is not lost. Yet In response to his reaching legal treatise I felt compelled to offer a rebuttal. As a Frostport dweller himself, famed for bringing Frostport Fillet to the streets of Ephia's Well, I do not know if it is envy or true critique which spurns his quill. As after all when it comes to legendary raidings many speak far more of the Brothers Skargrimsson than Vaskr the Vandal.

That one of the White League, and Cinquefoil Rose, would take such aim at an avenue of peaceful resolution to strife is a coy and novel consideration... when one factors in such actions are the very same while the Cinquefoil Rose exists in the first place. For is it not said the same of La Banda Rossa, and the other efforts of the Cinquefoil that violently and robustly cheer for slaughter and bloodshed and conquest? For even in Baz'eel did the strife over the fabled "Pipe" reach our broadsheets and news, as the Brooking Balestriere defended within the Castle of the Last Hearth. Oh but he was useful against the Legion, and the Tower, and so all forgiven. And what of the many dangers unleashed in Trek below, the tensions of Ka'esh and the Sisterhood, the near-catastrophic feud with Tlonssya, and on, and on.

How swiftly, how eagerly, are two sentences pulled from a speech to cast aspersion. What if, in all things, turnabout fair play?

"Ho Vask, share a midnight draft!
Let's shake the sands with rousing craft!"
But though his grin was broad and wide
Within his eyes all mercy died.

For Djinn may dance with borrowed bone
and wear a man's bright mirth as loan
So I held tight my drink and jest
and let him swagger on, unblessed

As after all what says it of the Cinquefoil Rose that their newest Student treats with Djinn and lets them pass unhalted? What says it of the many praises to the Moon, to Gellema, to the Sabotage in his own writings? These the vaunted Errantry of the Knights of the Last? These the righteous howls laid forth by Lyrist Domergue of sundering a corrupt system? As Balladeer Onion calls him to join? As Champion Myl offers him congratulations on enlistment?

As the Sisterhood offers him their blessing?

Vaskr Farsong
Live and drink! I've a mind to join the Balladeers of the Lost Hearth, and have been directed to seek a Sister for their approval into their number. Amelie, Selsi or Jamei were the names I was given. Vaskr Farsong seeks ya. /That/ one, aye.

To speak of precedent, as Vaskr does of his works in this treatise on Law, I wonder. What precedent sets his arrival to the College?

To quote him once more,

"The Moon smiles on an age where the conquering criminal becomes the peacekeeper"

Hark, Moon-Knight Vaskr. Fluttering 'neath once proud banner.
With Sister's Approving Seal and Balladeer Glee.
The Sabotage rallies to thee.

Behold the Rose of a new age, no longer feeling a need to hide its intent behind honeyed words and lofty ideal.

Ruital ibn-Kharim

[ADashofHope]

Gentle Reader,

I was roused from sleep, induced by a most pleasing and potent strand of mizzar c/o Elossi's to the news that my think-piece on Law had received a response from a Citizen of Baz'eel itself! So spurred, I threw on my pants, grabbed my quill and immediately set about scribbling a response. It is unfortunate that I have more cause to set the record straight about myself, rather than take further opportunity to hurl more biting truths towards the League of Purple. Alas!

For it must be said– at no point in Ruital's Rebuttal does he offer or even pretend to defend the actions or decisions of our government, our Legates or their Leagues, choosing instead to dive into the ear-pulling, ankle-biting, grimy and bloodied avenue of a personal attack. I am also given the dubious honor and curse of attempting to defend the actions and deeds of an organization I have been pledged to for less than a week! The man is familiar with my faith, so he is also cunning enough to guess that I have no small amount of difficulty in recalling the events of last month, to say nothing of Pipes, of Kha'esh, of feuds and follies of yesteryear...

But all of that is well and good. I am more than game to provide the good man with a parchment playmate to trade barbs with– let us call that a bit of Charity, for that is a term he is quite familiar with, rather than the Pity we might name it instead. 

First, a correction! Though I may often be the subject of 'The Legendary Tales of Vaskr Farsong' (available at all vendors) I am not the author. That distinct honor belongs to some special fan who will remain anonymous– and knowing that, it falls to the reader to determine the meaning behind each tale for themselves. In 'The Man in the Bottle', the aforementioned Vaskr encounters a Janissary on a cold, foggy night and recognizes him for what he was– a skinwalker, a man possessed. And it just so happened that the very day these writings made their way around the Well, the good Lyrist Domergue publicized what was apparently an open secret at the time– that the Sergeant Hanson had been corrupted and consumed by some manner of accursed bottle, one which had been disseminating itself throughout our community for some time. I was quite ignorant of this at the time and I have even less idea how the author might have known. It does seem clear, though, that the Legendary Tales provoked the Accord into motion (as all decent prose is capable of) and that soon brought about the restoration of the Sergeant and his freedom from vile forces.

We do not speak, of course, of the deeds the Sergeant committed during his possession. We do not speak of the trials urged into court before Magistrate and Prelate at Hanson's direction– of Wischard Landgrave and Boni Bep'bep, trials which Legate Crueltzer rewarded with government funding. I've spoken enough of Landgrave already, and of the latter– a man who died in the Garrison's cells under mysterious circumstances following a very strange trial and an even stranger ruling– well, that's a topic for another time. We do not speak of the fact that all the time the Sergeant was made to dance to the djinn's tune...our fine Apothars on the Mount were either ignorant or incapable of doing anything to help him.

So many words for such a deafening silence. And it is, perhaps, something you can come to expect from me, Ruital. The Moon smiles when a lie is caught as well as when a lie is crafted, and She always smiles on me. The sweet words are best reserved for sweeter maidens; for you, I will provide the same wake-up call I received earlier today. The ice-cold waters of truth, delivered by bucket, carried by an only slightly miffed roommate.

Splash.