#pawn guild

[askthenyarisen]

"We decorate the guild and later have one big feast, nya!"

[asksersavan]

[Fic-ish] Halls of Justice [2]

A continuation, a bit short admittedly…

Want to read the first part? You can find it in my fic digest thingie; http://asksersavan.tumblr.com/fan-stuff

— “Ser Bow…” Jasper’s green eyes darted around the courtroom for indications of reprisal, having spoken out of turn, “What are you doing? ‘Tis not the way of pawnlaw to hold human trials.”

"Perhaps it should be." Bow replied resolutely, however, upon noting the other’s confusion the Ranger elaborated; "We are tools… Weapons of the Arisen, to be guided by their hand. I’ve heard arguments between humans about such matters: A sword does not intend to kill a person, ‘tis the wielder’s intent that does. Also, ‘a bad workman blames his tools’ is a popular adage on the streets of Gran Soren."

"…" Jasper’s mouth opened, then promptly closed. He had no argument to chastise the Ranger with, beyond that it was ‘the way of the pawnlaw’ and, clearly, Bow had no interest in such a position; so the pawn fell silent.

Bow continued; “I know the pain of losing one’s master…” For a moment the Ranger’s steely eyes looked to a far off place; a private one that Jasper felt it would be impolite to intrude upon. “I know its dull ache all too well. My master was a rash one… And foolish too.”

"Ser Bow… you should not speak ill of the Arisen — of any Arisen!"

"My master would be the first to call himself both those things. No doubt he’d find my disparaging comments to be something of a novelty. He used to oft enjoy a good nagging from me…"

There was something about Bow that stood out in Jasper's opinion; a certain oft-sought quality in the pawn community. The closest word he could think of was ‘authenticity’, but it also extended to the more abstract concepts of ‘fluidity’ and ‘naturalness’, too. Things that a pawn lacked, but eagerly sought through emulation and study.

He found himself wondering all sorts of things, as irresistibly inquisitive as a pawn ought be, and before he could stop himself he asked;

"What makes you the way you are, ser?"

Bow ran a hand through his long black mane and mulled over the question, “What makes me the way I am? I’d of thought it to be the least of your concerns right now.”

Whilst it was a fair point, Jasper was persistent, “You’re avoiding the question Ser Bow…”

"Aye… You’ve the right of it." Bow laughed, "We’ve no time for idle chatter, for we must make a choice."

"A choice?" Jasper found choosing things a challenge, from armour to underwear; he’d relied on Kiltia to do all that.

A brief recollection of her, laughing and smiling at him, entered his conscious at the trivial thought. She had seemed happy, for the most part, yet all had ended in tragic circumstances. She was dead and he faced the brand, and exile; not that he particularly cared for his own safety, though he’d heard the brand was fiercely painful.

"Aye, a choice," Bow spoke in hushed tones, out of the earshot of the nearby guard, "We stay and plead your case, or we run."

"What?" For once Jasper had an answer, "I should stay so that justice can be done."

Bow sighed, perhaps a little disappointedly, “I thought you might say that. Fine, let’s battle it out in court then.”

"We shouldn’t fight the Ladyser, ser. Her magick is well fierce."

"Oh. You took that literally," Bow smiled, "I didn’t mean that, I meant a proverbial battle; a battle of wits."

"How can you not mean what you say as literal?" Jasper wondered, aloud.

"I’ve seen human folk bend words as often as I’ve bent arrows. Maybe that’s why?"

It was a poor reply, even by Jasper’s willing-to-embrace-all standards but he had no time to query it as the Judge’s chamber door opened and in marched 5 of the Hall’s most senior Judges, the wizened crone being one of them. Something about the row of ancient pawns, swathed in formal robes, seemed truly terrifying to Jasper. It was as though he was stood before a gathering of Lich’s who were ready to rend his flesh with their cruel magicks…

"We have discussed the matter," the Ladyser said, "And have come to a conclusion…"

—

To be continued…?

[asksersavan]

Remember, Arisen

Don't take your pawn apple bobbing. T'will end in mass complains of "Soaked to the bone!" and "This looks interesting" and "What's that?"

You'll have no panaceas and your inventory will be stuffed with apples. 'Tis a horror story for truth. 

[asksersavan]

[Fic-(ish)] Halls of Justice

Yeah, I don't know... ----- "Do you understand the charges?" Asked the wizened pawn, who amongst their lot was accepted to be one of the most 'worldly experienced' and therefore worthy of the title 'Judge'. "Aye. I understand them, your Ladyser." The pawn, known to his master as Jasper and to his peers as 'murderer', was a plain pawn. His hair was a dirty golden shade, likely darkened by a spell in the Rift prison, and matted in wild curls around his strikingly angular face. His cheekbones were high and his nose slightly pointed at the base. His upper lip had a slight hook to it, something his master had referred to as 'a little beaky' but she didn't seem to mind either way. "Then, Jasper, you are aware that you have committed a truly heinous act of treason. That you have murdered one of the blessed few, an Arisen?" "Aye. I did." Jasper had no reason to lie. Though he'd seen plenty of humans do it to 'save their own skin', he thought it to be a strange endeavour as the human's skin always remained (whether caught or not). He'd not seen a skinless human in all his life, surely this meant that losing ones skin was a rarity? "Then I see no reason to delay matters further. You plead guilty to the cardinal sin of murder. You know the punishment, do you not?" "I believe it to be permanent exile... And, the brand." "Aye. You've the right of it, pawn Jasper, murderer of Kiltia the Arisen." Hearing her name stirred diluted feelings in his core. He repeated her name; "Kiltia..." "You've no right to say it." The wizened pawn, sat in her elevated seat, said. Her voice lacked the distain it would have undoubtedly held were she a human judge, but pawns were typically impartial to everything. Even murder. "... Aye." Jasper's head hung, he looked at his hands and the irons that hugged his slim wrists. On his right hand his pawnprint glowed dully, in the gloom of the Hall of Justice. The soft light reminded him of his master as he pierced her chest, her Arisen's scar. She had smiled warmly at him. And whispered to him; "'Tis over now, Jasper..." Yet, as she fell into his arms, it did not feel over. Indeed, it was not over. He had whispered "Stay with me..." to her as she bled in his arms. Though he had pierced her with the knife, he had not wanted to do it. "I did not want to kill her." His voice was soft, but it reached the wrinkled ears of the Judge all the same. "What?" Jasper continued, "I wanted her to live. I wanted to fulfil my duty to her, and the legion." "Yet here you are, with blood on your hands and no master. Precious few are permitted to travel by an Arisen's side, you squandered it." "Hold, good lady." A new voice filled the hall and all heads turned in unison toward it. Jasper vaguely recognised the man, of the Ranger vocation he believed, stood in the middle of two imposing doors. He thought his name might be 'Bow', as in the same he drew and shot arrows from. "And you are?" "I am Bow, I served the Lady Arisen and her Right pawn for some six moons near the end of their journey." "A witness to the crime, then?" "No, your ladyser. I did not see the moment in question, but--" "Then you are of no use to these proceedings." "BUT." Bow's voice rose a little higher, cutting off the Judge and causing a brief ripple of confusion, "I wish to represent this pawn." The Judge, who did not look particularly affronted by being cut off, now wore a confused expression on her crinkled face, "Represent?" "I've seen much of the human cities. There is such a thing as a fair trial. A chance to explain what happened." "To what end? His crime is known and he does not hide it. 'Tis as straightforward as all our business." "Then mayhap we are too straightforward." Bow replied, "This man deserves a trial. Did he not just say 'I wanted her to live'?" "What of it?" Bow looked at Jasper, the accused gave the Ranger a look of utter confusion, perhaps even fear, "'Tis not the words of a murderer with intent, is it?" The court erupted into confused chatter: Some onlookers agreed that it was out of keeping with a murderer's profile, others believed the Judge to be right. "Enough." The Judge held up her skeletal hand, adorned with magick rings, and silenced the hall, "This is highly irregular." "I know." Bow looked unashamed of his actions. "I will call a brief recess to discuss with my colleagues." The Judge promptly rose from her chair and walked towards the door that led to her chambers. The collective murmuring returned once she disappeared behind the heavy door. Bow approached Jasper. "Well met, Jasper. It has been a while." He offered, what Jasper thought to be, a realistic smile. ----- To be continued...?

[asksersavan]

We've a new Ask Blog in the fold!

How surprising, we've a newcomer to our midst!

Ask Barnaby leader of the Pawn Guild.

Come now, Arisen, ask my little caretaker of the Everfall a question, won't you?

((Welcome! :D ))

[asksersavan]

A message from Salde:

"Wolves hunt in packs!"

[asksersavan]

Savan: ...

Salde: ...

Savan: ...

Salde: ... Quiet night.

Savan: ... *Gets up and walks off*

Salde: ...

[asksersavan]

Salde: I'll ill miss this dank place when we move on.

Savan: ... You've been saying that for the last 1'000 years, or so.

Salde: Oh.

Savan: *Rubs temples* Arisen, have mercy on my weary soul.