LoF: Lockesville

[Larry_OHF]

Simon Locke

His voice carried the frustrations of a long day's work in it as he spoke to the defendant in the courtroom. He looked down from the podium and eyed the scraggly man who stood there before him, two guards just behind him. It was time to pronounce the ruling.

"Wylan Elmtree, I have reveiwed your case, listening to both sides to determine what has occured.

This court has reserched the incident but has been unable to prove the existance of any religion that worships horses in the manner as described in your defence.

It is this court's ruling that you be found guilty of having improper relations with Thomas Wilson's horse and lying about being involved in such a religion as one that would condone such practices.

Two months in the Hold will hopefully do you some good. Guards, take him away."

Simon made the notes on his parchment as the man was escorted out of the room. The parchement already contained the ruling summaries of several cases and this was the last one for today. It was time to close shop on the judgement seat for the day.

He rolled the parchement, sealed it with a wax stamp, and handed it off to his secretary.

"To Edward, please."

Simon always logged the events of the day's court rulings for review by Edward. Simon grabbed his books, and left the room to go about his other duties.

[Sever]

Sever landed awkwardly on the solid timbers of the pier. He silently cursed as he glanced around quickly - no one had heard his fumble. Thank Mask.

Three painfully long weeks aboard that rotting old hull and he'd nearly botched it all with sea legs. Taking a moment to reacquaint himself with a stable footing, he discarded the possessions - the identity - that had enabled him to get this far. With luck, the disappearance of Jorvan Taite, the reclusive businessman from the big city, would not be noticed until the ship was several days into its next leg of the journey. At least that's what Sever hoped. He wasn't very good at this whole disguise thing. He was just glad to finally be in a place where he could mimic a simpleton if need be. No chance for that on the ship without some sailing skills. With a soft splash into the waves, the identity of Jorvan Taite ceased to be, and Sever weaved the shadows into Lockesville.

OOC>>Edited the reference to Cyric in the first paragraph to Mask (bit rusty on the FR lore). It should be noted that even though Sever offered thanks to the god of thieves, it was only a figure of speech and he holds no real belief in a religion.

[ 12-06-2005, 11:40 PM: Message edited by: Sever ]

[Morgeruat]

Oley

The old mage grimaced erasing his nearly toothless grin and nodded. "Aye, I miss the old days, back when a ring of cataclysmic avoidance and a nuklear winter fireball meant something, other than horrible flaming death that is..." He took a long slow drink from his cup. "I found a treasure map near my bed this morning, apparently someone scribbled it out in ashes or coal while I slept last night, do you have any young'ins who'd be interested in a quest?"

[dplax]

Vindson

Vindson examined the crumpled map, wondering what area it detailed and what treasure it might contain, along with guardians and traps.

"You mind if I keep this for some time? I can study it more in detail then, and ask around whether anyone is interested."

[Kazilan]

Pandaros

Pandaros chatted with some of the patrons around him as he finished his second ale. After the last drop was sucked dry he stood and walked over to the bar. There he produced a small metal flask from beneath the armor stretched over his chest and handed it to the barkeep, along with one of his remaining coins, and asked for "the strongest stuff you've got." He replaced the full flask after it was returned to him, slung his bow and quiver over a shoulder, and walked out the door.

Looking into his belt pouch and eyeing the few coins sitting there he muttered, "Looks like I'll be sleeping under the stars tonight." He shrugged as he headed away from the town at a quick pace. "At least I've got something to keep me warm, and if I'm lucky I'll find something to eat."

Pandaros continued out of the town, pausing only to secure his quiver to his belt and stretch his bowstring into place. His pace slowed the further he walked, and he kept his ears and eyes open for any quarry that might appear. He was ready to give up and find a place to sit down when he saw a house in the distance. He crept slowly towards it, keeping an eye out for any movement. At a range of twenty yards he stopped and crouched down, attempting to blend in with the surroundings.

"Rule number 1: Wait and see."

Pandaros balanced his bow against his shoulder and relaxed into a sitting posture, his eyes scanning the house and the horizon for any sign of inhabitants.

"It could be that I will have a roof over my head after all." He smiled to himself, but kept his eyes on the dwelling before him.

[Keal]

Kasimno

Kasimno said "Lockesville" to answer the adventurer's question and then ate his food.

When He was done he noticed a map in Vindson's hands. I'll bring it up tommorrow he thought to himself, but today he was gonna relax and hopefully make some money doing it. After he decided that Kasimno walked by Vindson to let him know that he would be stopping by tommorrow to work and to say good-bye and he left. "Maybe the guard could use some help today..."

[Cyril Darkcloud]

Edward Locke

But one minor matter requires his attention before the administrative work of the day is finished - with the possible exception of the man who arrived earlier this morning completely unannounced and demanding that his appointment take place immediately. That, however, is a matter that is simply handled – as all things should be, with simple efficiency. The man has apparently waited long hours since this morning and if indeed he has done so he can certainly wait a while longer, for such breaches of protocol are not things to be encouraged. Fortunately the personnel he has chosen are well able to continue about their affairs without being unduly distracted by such things as this.

Reaching for the package that had arrived earlier, he cuts through his brother’s seal and removes the papers outlining the recent proceedings Simon has overseen. He takes his time reading through them, pausing in a few places to edit the grammar of the text or to note a point of clarification. One ruling, however, requires a sharper comment, for it would otherwise set a dangerous precedent. Taking up the quill and ink reserved for the most formal of matters he writes:

Certain things require neither tolerance nor research to determine whether they might be tolerated, for certain things are simply wrong. Such is the matter here. Be it known, therefore, that under no circumstances shall such behavior as described in this case be considered either permissible or acceptable within these lands, regardless of what claims to religious devotion might be made. Indeed, any belief system which endorses such conduct as this shall likewise be allowed no freedom either of expression or of practice within these lands.

Beneath this addendum to the decision of his brother he adds a personal note:

Simon,

Your willingness to engage all sides of an issue is commendable, but at times short sighted and overly idealistic. Need I remind you that to the South the madness of shadow worship has once more asserted itself and, if rumors are to be believed, and I have reason to consider a number of them to be credible, far to the North another power has begun to act, a power that also claims faith as its source. Such religious toleration as you imply in your ruling, a toleration of even the basest of things should one claim reasons of conscience, is a myth best reserved to the philosophers and those who pretend to live in a world free of the darkness that rises in our own.

Still, however, this issue aside, your decisions have been both clear and insightful these last weeks and need little additional comment from me.

- E.

Calling to one of his messengers he asks that his comments be delivered to his brother directly. The bulk of the day’s work finished, he rests a few moments to collect his thoughts and then sends word to the outer chambers that he will meet this visitor in one of the smaller offices. He moves to the outer office and takes his seat to receive his appointment – late by exactly the amount of time that his visitor had arrived early.

[Larry_OHF]

Game Note:

As was indicated by certain previous posts...the time within the game is late evening. Everyone seems to be in the same time period, so let's try to keep it that way for now.

[Larry_OHF]

For Pandaros:

The small home you have spotted on the outskirts of Lockesville does not appear for several minutes to have any inhabitants at all...but just then you spot a silhouette of somebody walk past the window, carrying a lantern.

This person goes out the back door and down a trail on a small embankment towards what appears in the dim evening light to be a barn. It would take him a few minutes just to reach the barn.

[Kazilan]

Pandaros

Pandaros squinted in the waning light to make out the figure moving away from the house. His shoulders slumped for a moment before he noticed the shape of the barn.

"That'll work."

He made his way slowly towards the glow of the lantern as one eye watched the person carrying it. He noted the entrance to the structure and then found a spot to hide while he waited for the man or woman to head back towards the house. Images of a comfortable bed of hay filled his mind.

"I've been on the road too long," he mused.