I had just been in my home town of Whithorn for a week when those mad campbells went and snuck into one of the neighboring county's towns and threatened a coup. Immediately, of course, all the various power structures mobilised and presto, Scotland is at war within itself and my character is out on the road with a bunch of soldiers again.
I had thought that my term as Steward was rather unremarkable, if anything, marked as it was by a lack of civil war. Now that I am marching off to fight another round in the interminable conflicts of the land, I realise that that achievement might be eventually seen as something of great worth.
Well. Our wee escapade in Tribal Nations came to a crashing halt when someone complained to the prosecuting authorities of their participation in our roadside sacrifices. The wheels of law moved into gear very quickly and before the following reset Brautigan was charged with Treason and Agapanther with Public Disorder.
I have reproduced in the following two posts the legal cases as they played out in the game over the following days. The cases were discharged as we refunded the victim of (some) of what we took and paid a fine to the province on top of that. I guess we were 'lucky'.
At the moment we are fishing in Tzilacaapan, waiting for the Province election cycle to swing around so that we can take advantage of the couple of days it will take the new Council to put in place a new prosecutor.
Brautigan was charged with the commission of Treason.
The sentence has been passed
Statement of accusation
The defendant has been discharged.
Case settled according to agreement.
Bill of indictment
The Defendant is charged with violating tribe law 3, Robbery.
Yesterday, Chiefed in the company of Layne was robbed while crossing into the border of the Tribe of Yohualtepec. The robbers were Agapanther and Brautigan. This bothers me extremely since these tribe foreigners think they can rob on our 5 way junction and get away with it.
Chiefed was relieved of his money vegetable and beans equaling roughly 657 coppers by market value.
As dictated by tribe law I motion for the full fine of 500 coppers, plus 657 coppers to be considered damages and the maximum allowed jail time for this defendant.
In addition to that I ask that an additional damage charge be brought upon the Defendant since the Victim has already lost 3 strength 1 intelligence and 2 charisma points due to this robbery!
The evidence:
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/3451/robberyz.jpg
Chiefed will now be called to tell us in his own words what happened.
First defense pleading
Mighty and Wise Law Enforcer, Chiefed speaks the truth. However, to further clarify the situation, I must add what Chiefed didn't witness, the events of the previous night. Me and Agapanther arrived to the node the day before, for our usual prayers in which we seek the blessing from the Gods (remote places seem appropriated to reach the Gods, thus the node). While we were praying we noticed 2 or 3 men chanting old battle songs (ooc:they were in a group, not a mob), further investigation made us conclude there was a fight there in the night before that (ooc:I had no event, but there was a mob there with 2 guys with o cp each, those guys were not newborns). We assumed we were also in danger and we believe it's the Gods will not let their children die without a fight, so we start chanting battle songs back at them (ooc: disbanded the mob, formed a group and attacked too). The fight was savage and in the middle of the dark night and jungle we seem to have attacked no wrongdoers and innocent people, unintentionally. In the morning, our attackers were gone. Of course, this is no excuse to injure and relieve hard working people from their goods, but I hope it serves, at least, as an explanation to Chiefed and Layne, who I'm willing to return their goods and compensation for their injuries. Despite this unintentionally, I did rob them, so I'm guilty.
Law Disciple indictment
Well there you have it. He admits guilt. He decided to attempt to rob a robber. Which is still robbing, except you also hurt innocent people.
In conclusion you and your friend are charged with giving Chiefed and Layne back what you stole from them and a little extra due to the fact that Chiefed lost some stats today.
You will also pay a tribe fine via the tribe fair of 110 coppers.
You and your friend must contact Tisha and arrange to give the tribe 110 EACH. After you give it to her via tribe fair have her contact me.
Then you two will also come to Cuauhtinchan where Chiefed and Layne are. When the two of you enter Cuauhtinchan I will grant you 1 wood where you shall transfer all the loot to. I expect both of you to have a grant closed to me with my wood and the amount equaling what you stole from them.
Once the items are in a closed grant and in my Clan Hall I shall transfer them to the two victims.
The Judge shall be called, you in you last plea will either accept this and complete the task Tuesday or shall be fined the maximum.
So I want to get a letter from Tisha saying you both bought wood logs 1 at a time that turns out to be 110.
I also want to see you in my clan asap. Layne and Chiefed shall mail me a description of what they lost. I expect those items, cash and 50 copper to be in the grant with my wood.
If I dont receive a mail from Tisha and the closed grants of returned items by Wednesday then the Judge will give maximum sentence.
Last defense pleading
I have concluded my duty with Tisha as I've accepted earlier in the trial. Ive left there 110cp and brought 2 pieces of wood. Im now in Cuauhtinchan struggling with the grant paperwork, hoping to be able to conclude it before the deadline set upon me.
The Law Disciple called Chiefed to the witness corner
His statement: I was just coming home again from Toliman, knowing that it is "stupid" to travel alone, I asked Layne to accompany me round-trip on my journey.
As Layne and I crested the small hill, near the boarder node, we were set upon by the villians, who had a FC of 10. Layne and I are no match for such strong villians and they pounded us sensless before releaving us of our hard earned coppers, harvests, and travel food. We only wanted to come home and have not had trouble between Toliman and home in the past.
The Defendant is charged with violating tribe law 3, Robbery.
Yesterday, Chiefed in the company of Layne was robbed while crossing into the border of the Tribe of Yohualtepec. The robbers were Agapanther and Brautigan. This bothers me extremely since these tribe foreigners think they can rob on our 5 way junction and get away with it.
Chiefed was relieved of his money vegetable and beans equaling roughly 657 coppers by market value.
As dictated by tribe law I motion for the full fine of 500 coppers, plus 657 coppers to be considered damages and the maximum allowed jail time for this defendant.
In addition to that I ask that an additional damage charge be brought upon the Defendant since the Victim has already lost 3 strength 1 intelligence and 2 charisma points due to this robbery!
The evidence:
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/3451/robberyz.jpg
Chiefed will now be called to tell us in his own words what happened.
First defense pleading
My Lord Chief Knower of the Law and all that pertains thereto, humble obesiances to you and your ranking colleagues. I admit the basic facts of the accusation, that I did relieve the victim of their possessions of which approximately half found their way into my feathered pouch. I ask that you consider the facts as put to you by my traveling companion of the time and accept them as put forth in the related case. I might further add that worshiping the road gods is at times a most adventurous occupation and that we were indeed most flummoxed to have observed corpses and rich bandits upon the site upon our arrival. For our failings we beg thy understanding. To the victim of our ill advised venture I offer something akin to the aztec version of an apology, an offer to return the half of his goods which found their way to my feathered pouch, sufficient compensation (when added to that of my traveling companion) to return his health to its previous state, and the promise that I will not forget his name in my future prayers. Nor will I forget the name of the Law disciple who has already spoken in those same prayers. My Lord, the extent to which I recall your name with fondness will depend muchly upon your judgement. In this manner, I plead guilty.
Law Disciple indictment
Well there you have it. He admits guilt. He decided to attempt to rob a robber. Which is still robbing, except you also hurt innocent people.
In conclusion you and your friend are charged with giving Chiefed and Layne back what you stole from them and a little extra due to the fact that Chiefed lost some stats today.
You will also pay a tribe fine via the tribe fair of 110 coppers.
You and your friend must contact Tisha and arrange to give the tribe 110 EACH. After you give it to her via tribe fair have her contact me.
Then you two will also come to Cuauhtinchan where Chiefed and Layne are. When the two of you enter Cuauhtinchan I will grant you 1 wood where you shall transfer all the loot to. I expect both of you to have a grant closed to me with my wood and the amount equaling what you stole from them.
Once the items are in a closed grant and in my Clan Hall I shall transfer them to the two victims.
The Judge shall be called, you in you last plea will either accept this and complete the task Tuesday or shall be fined the maximum.
So I want to get a letter from Tisha saying you both bought wood logs 1 at a time that turns out to be 110.
I also want to see you in my clan asap. Layne and Chiefed shall mail me a description of what they lost. I expect those items, cash and 50 copper to be in the grant with my wood.
If I dont receive a mail from Tisha and the closed grants of returned items by Wednesday then the Judge will give maximum sentence.
Last defense pleading
I have presented myself in fair Cuauhtinchan to honour thus my side of the bargain. I have sent runners to the fair Tisha of whom you speak, to the aggrieved that has cried forth his woes in this hallowed hall.
I shall remain steadfast in my prayers before the shrine of the beflowered wanderer on the priestless outskirts of Cuauhtinchan until released from this burdensome duty, thus satisfying that which is conveyed upon me by this my acceptance of the terms proposed.
Unto the omens and the gods of law I do thus surrender and accept my fate in concordance with the precepts of justice fairly served.
The Law Disciple called Chiefed to the witness corner
His statement: Layne and I were traveling home to Cuauhtinchan and as we crested the small hill near the boarder node between Toliman and Cuauhtinchan, we were set upon by robbers!
They beat us to a bloody pulp and it is truly a miracle that we were able to arrive home! I am so very hungry and the mine is full, so there is no work...and I feel weaker, dumber, and less popular by the minute!
I realize that robbery is a constant threat to all of our neighbors. I took the precaution to form an Armed Mob, arming myself with a shaft, and inviting my friend Layne
I found a new clan on Crossfire which seems a bit more streamlined than the last. Less time spent being nice, more time online combating. Makes sense i guess, their name being 'blood bath'. The bossman of it says that there are now six aussies in it, so maybe we'll get a scrim team together that functions at times useful to me (as the bulk of organised events are framed around Western Hemisphere or European timezones).
I came across it after putting up a forum post enquiring about aussie clans. The thread seems to be drawing a bit of return posting from other anzacs, though they appear to be scattered across the clans. So maybe we can generate a subclan culture with suitable timezones for me?
Had a cool game of Tigris and Euphrates last weekend. It's been over a year since Nancy and I had last played it, Wayne had never played it. We were spending Easter in a big farmhouse up in the riverland and were at loose ends for something to do once wee Blake was in bed. I'd brought T&I (along with Caesar's Legions, while Nancy had brought along Pass the Pigs, Rook and Farque, and we had acquired Where's Wally Wordhunt from a Jumble Sale on Easter Saturday, so we were well equipped). So we fitted in a quick game.
The rules were easy enough to grab the second time around, and easy enough to explain to Wayne as we played. Considering neither myself or Nancy are fluent with this game, I don't think the noob suffered a disadvantage.
In any event, 'twas me came last, then Wayne, and Nancy won easily.
Paul was around this evening and noticed the game amongst the other things I haven't unpacked since our holiday weekend. Although we couldn't fit in a game straight away I'm sure that means we'll get one in over the next week or so.
In my Crossfire world of online FPS I recently joined my first traditional 'clan' and was quite excited by it. The possibility of being able to develop alongside fellow players over time was (and is) one I found exciting. For about a month the Blighty Clan existed, utilising the official ingame Crossfire message board and clan page, it's original 'soldier front' site, and a new one at 'excision'.
I observed that none of them seemed to be well maintained. I was patient, these things happen to any long term site at times during its existence. I was pretty loyal however, joining games where I could where another blighty member was playing, collecting experience points, getting better, keeping an eye on the forums/sites for activity.
And then, yesterday, I looked at the 'my clan' page to be informed that I am no longer in a clan. Checking the clan page, I discover that Blighty Clan has been shut down and everyone except the founder and his sidekick have been booted. From the wording of the 'farewell' message it seems that this was within their intent from the start (contrary to what their recruiting message had said on the crossfire forum).
I was not impressed, to say the least. Maybe I've been spoilt by my time in RK (where, most of the time, if someone says they will do something they at least try and do it). I didn't like being treated like a mug. I have taken a note of the organisers online niks and will be rather uncompromising in my opposition to them if I ever bump into them again.
And, as big as cyberland is, it's amazing how karma works...
I have completed my term as Steward of Scotland in the Renaissance Kingdoms and was about to write something of the experience while it is still fresh in my mind when I came across the following series of reviews of RK here, here and here.
Thought I'd give them a plug before I wrote my Steward's memoir, just in case anyone is wondering what Renaissance Kingdoms acutally is.
