Tok-Tok-Tok

[DM Hawk]

In the early dawn of Greatgaunt a rooster cock-a-doodle-dooed and Waric's stomach grumbled. Maybe a fried chicken biscuit for breakfast. But not yet. First there was work to do. Not carpentry unfortunatelly, but it would pay him a few silvers until one of the farmer's needed a new hay loft. Or a fence mended.

With a practiced hand, the craftsman gingerly placed a few nails in a nice even row between his lips. He was careful not to bite down on the nails with his teeth. One of them had been hurting for a while and he was still scrounging coin Merris would charge for healing or some remedy.

He placed the parchment flat on the post and centered it by eye. He was good at estimating distance and proximity. It was a helpful skill to have in his trade.

His calloused hand plucked one of the nails from between his lips and he centered it (again by eye) near the top of the parchment. Tok-Tok-Tok went the hammer in three successive strikes and the nail was driven home in the wood. At the bottom of the parchment he repeated the procedure. Tok-Tok-Tok. Not so much as one finger smacked. It was going to be a good day.

Waric made his way down the path to the crossroads, where he'd nail up another sign visible to the town square. He nodded to Karl as the guardsman passed by on the road, making his rounds. Guess Karl drew the short straw and got the night shift. Bentin would be taking the watch just after dawn. He's going to want to be paid for winning at cards last ride...

Better hurry if a chicken biscuit was to be had. Behind Waric the rays of the sun struck the face of the parchment, illuminating flowing script...

---

Citizens, Visitors, and Loiterers of Greatgaunt,


Certain acts of violence were carried out this tenday in and about the town, by adventurers wielding both steel and magic. Please direct all eye witness accounts, testimony, and grievances to the Greatgaunt Barracks, addressed to my attention.

Further, I will stand in the Red Ravens Outpost and expect all those who participated in this conflict to attend me therein. Witnesses, victims, and others bearing testimony or evidence of this bloodshed are encouraged to make appearance as well so that the whole truth might be discerned.


In Service to the Council,

Sir Callen of Greatgaunt

---

Hail Cormyrians!

I'll be in game on Sunday evening from 8 PM to 10 PM US Central Time for players involved in PVP taking place last night and today in and around Greatgaunt. If this is a bad time slot for you please send me a PM and we can schedule a time to meet.

In the meantime, please forward any logs or screen caps of what took place to me via forum PM, along with any questions or concerns.

Thanks

[Abii]

//HAwkie woudl be sweet if you coudl set time of next meeting, but please do it earlier

[DM Hawk]

In Greatgaunt a second notice is put up beneath the first. The words are written by the same hand. The parchment is held up by similar nails to the those supporting the original.

---

Citizens, Visitors, and Loiterers of Greatgaunt,

On behalf of the Council, I hereby summon the following individuals to report to the Red Ravens post and give testimony in the matters of the aforementioned bloodshed. All individuals involved will have weapons peace-bonded before being permitted on the premises.


~Shiv of Talos

~Cassius, also known as the Milkman

~Digger the Half-Orc

~Chell Paladin of Milil

~Lucien Rein




In Service to the Council

Sir Callen of Greatgaunt

---

Please check your PM boxes

[DM Hawk]

Later in the day a third notice is posted, increasing the summons...

---

People of Greatgaunt,

On behalf of the Council, I hereby summon the following individuals to report to the Red Ravens post and give testimony in the matters of the aforementioned bloodshed. All individuals involved will have weapons peace-bonded before being permitted on the premises.


~The mage known as Mystogan

~Aubric of Ilmater



In Service to the Council

Sir Callen of Greatgaunt

[DM Hawk]

On the fifth day of Flamerule, another noticed is nailed atop the stack in Greatgaunt.

---

Citizens, Visitors, and Loiterers of Greatgaunt,

On behalf of the Council, I hereby summon the following individuals to report to the Red Ravens post and give testimony in the matters of the aforementioned bloodshed. All individuals involved will have weapons peace-bonded before being permitted on the premises.


~The elven adventurer known as Alyndra

~Hans the Snyderman of the Triadic Order



Furthermore the following individuals have been summoned previously but have not made an appearance. Their summons remains outstanding. If these individuals do not report to the Red Ravens by the end of the Tenday, a warrant will be issued for their arrest.


~Digger the Half-Orc

~Chell Paladin of Milil





In Service to the Council

Sir Callen of Greatgaunt

[DM Hawk]

In the days following the recent Greatgaunt Hearings another notice is posted atop the stack of weathered parchment.


Citizens, Visitors, and Loiterers of Greatgaunt,

The Council of Greatgaunt hereby summons the Red Wizard Salazar of Thay and High Mage of Valkur's Roar and the Red Wizard Phelzaron Malzaron to report to the Red Ravens post for further testimony in recent bloodshed and crimes in and about Greatgaunt in recent rides.


In Service to the Council,

Sir Callen of Greatgaunt

[DM Hawk]

Opening the door, he stepped inside the Regal Griffon’s meeting chamber. The old knight’s eyes adjusted to the dim room. The candle had burned low. The council had met again tonight for more hours of deliberation, long after the tavern room had closed. Even Ogden had gone to his bed. Slowly he looked about and noted that all of the seats were empty, except for one. The Council must have retired for the evening, leaving one of their number behind to meet with him.

“Sir Callen. Thank you for coming.”

“Yes sir. You drew the short straw I see.” The old knight gestured to the empty chairs.

“Someone has to and I didn’t mind. I don’t have to get up at the crack of sparrows to milk the cows like MacDunald. I suppose he’ll be taking over deliveries now.”

“Really, sir?”

“Lighten up man, the job is finally done….or is it? What have you got there?” The Councilman nodded, indicating the slip of parchment in Sir Callen’s gloved hand.

“It’s another petition for the Triadic Knight, sir.”

“Have you read it?”

“Yes, I’ve read them all.”

“How many has it been? A dozen? I’ve stopped counting.”

“Eleven, sir.”

“And does this one provide any facts having a bearing on the case?”

“No sir, like the others it’s a statement of the writer’s opinion of the prisoner. An opinion of the Triadic’s character.”

“It is irrelevant, then? I’m glad for it. I’d rather not revisit another verdict.”

The old knight was silent.

“Oh, come now, Callen. You know as well as I do that justice must be weighed impartially by the facts of the case. One’s judgement fails justice when there is bias. That is why we cannot judge when we have a conflict of interest. It’s why you had to forego your vote. We went over this at length.”

“Of course, sir. I know these youngsters. Saw some of them come into their own. It’s just that someone took the time to write the letter. It should be read.”

“I think we’ve all given this nonsense more time than it deserves.”

“With all due respect, sir…there is foolishness and worse…but this business isn’t nonsense. It means life or death in the end.”

“Very well, pass it to me.”

The Councilman read over the words in the dim, flickering light of the candle. After a quiet moment, he moved to feed the parchment to the candle’s flame.

“Sir, please…”

“What? It has no bearing.”

“Still, it should remain as part of the record. Sir.”

“Very well. Have it then. And this.” The Councilman slid another parchment along the surface of the long table, towards the knight.

Sir Callen took both leaves in hand and glanced over the second one. The verdict. It’s done.

“Any questions?”

“No, sir.”

“Any surprises?”

“No, sir.”

“Good, then. Good night, Callen."

The old knight nodded and opened the door as the Council strode out of the conference room. He watched the man as he crossed the tavern’s floor and then stepped into the night and undoubtedly to a warm bed.


***


In the gloom before the dawn, Waric walked beside the old man. Sir Callen had slowed with age. Waric had seen it every day. But tonight the fatigue and age were showing. In Selune’s light, the plentiful wrinkles and creases were lined in shadow and seemed more pronounced across Callen’s face.

They drew up to the post. The weather had done its work on the previous notices. That was fine, they had done their work. It was time for the ne—

“Doom, Doom, Doom. Tree Bark Cyric Milk of Doom.” It was Sir Callen who read it aloud. Well, except for the Black Sun’s moniker.

“Frubo’s handiwork, the little fool.”

“No, not Private Frubo’s…none of the letters are backwards. Someone else is having their laugh.”

Waric removed the parchment from the post only to see another -

Thayan Bowl – Salzaron vs Malazar – place your bet

And upon removing that, another -

Abii for Greatgaunt Council

Sir Callen rubbed his eyes standing beside him as the carpenter took each sign down in turn. Using a practiced eye, Waric centered the new parchment on the post and then adjusted its height.

“This look good, Sir Callen?”

Waric reached into his pocket for a nail and found the pointed end. Swallowing a curse he reached again and withdrew the nail, placing the tip against the parchment, readied his hammer, and waited.

And waited. He glanced back over his shoulder. Sir Callen was looking at the ground, his eyes were pockets of shadow in the gloom.

“Sir Callen?”

“Oh, yes. That will be fine Waric. Thank you.”

Tok-Tok-Tok. Waric smiled and looked at his handywork.

“Not bad eh?” He grinned at Sir Callen.

But the old knight was gone. Waric blinked and looked about. Callen was halfway to the barracks and fading into the early dawn.

“Well, guess he’s tired. “ Waric shrugged and looked at the verdict.

“What did they decide anyhow?”

---

Citizens, Visitors, and Loiterers of Greatgaunt,

The Council has judged and pronounced verdicts for thirteen violent engagements between adventurers taking place during the moons of Kythorn and Flamerule, The Year of The Starving, 1381 DR.

This disorder between members of the adventuring community must end within Greatgaunt and her vicinity. Towards that purpose the Council has judged each case and each individual and hereby makes known the following verdicts.



Abii the Adventuress is hereby found guilty

For Crimes of the Second Plaint
Creating Undead, Greater
Summoning Fiends, Lesser
Illegal Worship, Cyric
Threatening the Crown’s People
Failure to Comply with Law Enforcement
Murder

For Crimes of the Fourth Plaint
Assault
Torture

And will hereby be sentenced
Incarceration, 44 days from day of arrest or until convenient to perform high justice
Fines, for coin or material worth no less than 41,000 gold lions
Death

Should the higher powers in their wisdom see fit to restore life, Abii the Adventuress is hereby branded an Outlaw of Cormyr.



Cassius the Milkman is hereby found guilty

For Crimes of the Second Plaint
Incitement & Disturbing the Peace
Creating Undead, Lesser
Interfering with Law Enforcement
Murder

And will hereby be sentenced
Incarceration or Banishment, 19 days from date of arrest or until convenient to perform high justice
Fines, for coin or material worth no less than 16,000 gold lions
Death



Sir Chell of Milil is hereby found guilty

For Crimes of the Second Plaint
Murder

And will hereby be sentenced
Incarceration until convenient to perform high justice
Fines, for coin or material worth no less than 14,000 gold lions
Death



Haven the Adventurer is hereby found guilty

For Crimes of the Fourth Plaint
Assault

And will hereby be sentenced
Incarceration, 7 days
Fines, for coin or material worth no less than 7,000 gold lions

And is hereby summoned to present himself to face sentence.



Sir Holance Tanars, Marshal of the Triadic Order of the Divine Resurrection is hereby found guilty

For Crimes of the Fourth Plaint
Assault

And will hereby be sentenced
Incarceration, 14 days from the day of arrest
Fines, for coin or material worth no less than 14,000 gold lions.



The Mage Mystogan is hereby found guilty

For Crimes of the Fourth Plaint
Attempted Suicide (Assault on Self)

And will hereby be sentenced
Incarceration, 7 days
Fines, for coin or material worth no less than 7,000 gold lions

And is hereby summoned to present himself to face sentence.



Magus Salazar, High Mage of Valkur’s Roar and Red Wizard of Thay is hereby found guilty

For Crimes of the Fourth Plaint
Assault

And will hereby be sentenced
Incarceration, 7 days
Fines, for coin or material worth no less than 7,000 gold lions

And is hereby summoned to present himself to face sentence.



Shiv of Talos is hereby found guilty

For Crimes of the Second Plaint
Failure to Comply with Law Enforcement
Murder

For Crimes of the Fourth Plaint
Assault

And will hereby be sentenced
Incarceration, 20 days from date of arrest or until convenient to perform high justice
Fines, for coin or material worth no less than 22,000 gold lions
Death



Sir Velisario Chrysosnomos, Grandmaster of the Triadic Order of the Divine Resurrection is hereby found guilty

For Crimes of the Fourth Plaint
Assault

And will hereby be sentenced
Incarceration, 7 days
Fines, for coin or material worth no less than 7,000 gold lions

And is hereby summoned to present himself to face sentence.


By Authority Derived by the Crown of Cormyr,

The Council of Greatgaunt

---

Sir Callen quietly closed the barracks door behind him. He could hear the snores of the unmarried men. It was nearly as dark inside as out. The fire in the hearth had burned down to embers. Someone rose from a chair.

Kentin was looking at him, standing beside a chair next to that dying hearth. He must have sat up waiting. He couldn’t have slept no more than the old knight that evening. Nights like these were too close to the feeling that comes on eve of battle, when the camp quiets and one is left alone with their thoughts on what could be their last night on Faerun.

Life and death.

The younger man made to speak, but Sir Callen shook his head and held a finger to his lips, nodding towards the sleeping militia.

They would be up with the dawn and needed to be ready for anything today. Kentin gave a single nod as he moved across the barracks to the door, slipping out into the morning. He would not wait. The old knight couldn’t blame him.

The floor boards creaked beneath Callen’s heavier booted feet as he walked to the comfortable spot Kentin had abandoned. He settled down to rest his bones, gazing into the last embers of the fire.

They’ll never know how close it was, all depending on the statement of a Thayan politician of all the witnesses …so nearly compromised…and the single most important word said in the whole hearing.

The old knight offered a prayer to Tyr the Even Handed, thanking the god of justice for both the slimey Thayan and the dusky skinned wild elf who could hardly speak the common tongue but had said the one word that made the difference.

It would be a quarter glass or so before the men woke. Sir Callen would claim that time for himself as he settled into the comfortable corner, gazing into the hearth, and remembering.

[Rane]

Shortly after the verdict. Salazar turns himself in without much complaint.

[erratic1]

*After talking with friends and catching up on the whole affair, one matter draws Lars' attention and he scoffs aloud for all to hear*

"Assault... on self?! Ya get charged fer that now? Best not try ta actually rob yerself or incite yerself ta call yerself mean an' nasty names! Bloody hells , this is stupid!"

[StabbingNirvana]

A letter to Greatgaunt would be sent sent and delivered to the Greatgaunt Council.
-----

To the Prosecutor of Greatgaunt,

The testimony made demands that the crime against myself is not consistent with the punishment nor the sentence.

The testimony and evidence shows that I had charged on my celestial steed, Reinhardt, while armed at an innocent Abii with my own weapons drawn. The charge and punishment should be for attempted murder, one that carries higher weight against than simple assault.

Also, this sentence does not take into account that it was stated that Abii had occupied and terrorized the village prior to my entering it. That your town of Greatgaunt was actively under siege by Abii when I arrived. How does one assault another that is currently laying waste to a village and forcefully occupying said village?

I do not intend to forfeit myself to the village of Greatgaunt. I do not intend to forfeit myself to the Crown. This is not law. This is not justice. This is idiocy at its finest. If you seek to enact this judgment, I could be found at the Bastion of Three Truths in the Pilgrim's Path. The soldiers of the Triadic Order will stand down and you will be free parade me across country for my criminal act of defending your village when you and your own couldn't or wouldn't.

I await the Crown official who sentences me to come and fulfill his duty.

Triad's blessings,
Velisario Chrysosnomos, Paladin of Torm
Grandmaster of the Triadic Order of the Divine Resurrection

[Animayhem]

Marister read the verdicts.  He wondered at least in regards to Abii, if it will be a repeat of Darius, He knew he and Raven were safe as long as she was not raised.  At least for a time they could breath a bit easier.

[DOT]

~Tal would ponder deeply, having just recently become familiar with the going ons and the verdicts~

"so many executions" ~he would think to himself~ "somehow avoided this all... luck? I dunno"

~feeling rather heavy, he'd make his way to a room within an inn~


//*feat: luck of heroes

[gathera]

A snippet of a tavern conversation in Valkur’s Roar. Amidst the clinking of mugs and waggling tongues talking of the day’s verdict.

“I tell’s yah it ain’t natural likes, no siriah. She been der fer the whole day just a starin and a sittin and thrown stones inta da fountain. Nar moves nar speaks and well be right peculiar she done never runs out of dem stones either not a once. Just a sittin n glarin with da fury o da seven hells at da Great Hall. I tell’s yah da DoomBringer be a sittin on dat one shoulder. Some one donna crossed her n I feel a sorry fer da ones who has.”

[horatio]

The guard paused briefly in his measured patrolling to become aware of the notice once it had been posted and word of it had reached him by way of a letter with the details. Sighing sadly as he read over the words that spelled out the verdicts, the man began to pray for both the victims of the crimes and the convicted alike, hoping each would now be able to find peace. There had been much harm, one person against another, until all was turmoil. He would go to visit each person who was receiving visitors, he decided, and offer what comfort he could, if such was even possible at this point. Beginning to patrol once more, his expression was carefully neutral, his thoughts his own.

[Rane]

Lucien the bard remains near the Red Ravens to interview any who would come forward and observe.

[teddybear]

Kanti enters the Ravens, Leaving a letter for Sir Callen. *PM sent*

[Defunct Fiddlesticks]

A white rider stops in Greatgaunt, the figure on the horse grunts in the celestial tongue as he swings down from the saddle of the big mare. The healer looks over the notices with a grimace and goes into the inn.

The priest gives Kale a letter to be given to the Council of Greatgaunt before making his way to Valkur's Roar, muttering.

//PM sent to DM Hawk

[Dobian]

"And this is why I keep to the forest as much as possible," Cat'lyn says before heading off...into the forest.

[quelunia]

* Aron upon hearing of the verdict and punishment would come to see Lord Salazar. *

" My Lord are you well? Is there anything I can do? "

[Rane]

Salazar had walked into the Red Ravens and directly approached Pett. He stated his crime and signed his papers. He told Pett that laws exist for a reason and payed his fine. Salazar followed Pett to the cleanest Jail cell that they could provide. After Pett opened the door, Salazar walked through then turned at the entrance and closed the door on himself.


When Aron approached, Salazar was sitting on his cot in a relatively relaxed manner. Many papers are spread about the floor as he does not have a desk in his cell. He reviews some notes and stands with them in hand when Aron approaches. 


"Ah yes, it is good of you to come visit. I'm doing quite well. Pett has promised me that I may receive all correspondence relating to my duties. If you would be so kind knight, I ask that you deliver my mail from the Enclave if there is any. This stay temporary. I will use this time to reflect and plot our next moves."

[PhatDorf]

Dreshae enters Greatgaunt, clad as normal in her full Purple Dragon regalia, checks into the Ravens briefly, before continuing on to the barracks, with a letter in hand.