[!] Written in fine writing is the whole trial of Samiylo and those who testified as witness for him. This would be posted for all to see. [!]

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[Highsun 27, 1642]

At the Feyguard tent there were many people who attended. One of which Lady Meriel appointed to testify for Samiylo was Cadayle, Atal, and Raime. Lady Meriel herself is barrister and for the judge to preside on the panel it was Ser Adrian.

"I am Captain Lazar, appointed prosecutor of this case. My squadron was the one that captured the majority of those degenerates you saw in the pit at the recent skirmish near Burrowford." The trail starts. "Has someone been appointed to defend the accused? Let's get this over and done with."

Lady Meriel pointed to each person as she spoke. "Atal, Raime, and Cadayle. I will serve as the barrister." She informed the Captain.

When asked who she was, she informed them that she was Meriel Noctis, the Seneschal of the South.

They then gathered at the stand and once they did they started. 

"Samiylo... no surname given," Captain Lazar started. "You stand accused of seven counts of murder, thirteen counts of robbery, two counts of impersonation, fencing of stolen goods, and smuggling. Five counts of kidnapping, six of extortion, three counts of assassination, and of course association with a criminal organization, causing general disturbance in the Republic of Fallstone. These crimes are attested by witnesses among the people of the Faded Steppe. How do you plead?"

Samiylo answered "It is the truth."

Captain Lazar. "The extraordinary military commission of the Falstoner Feyguard pursues the highest form of punishment for these crimes, to condemn you to hang by the neck until death. The course of this trial shall prove beyond a reasonable doubt the necessity of the punishment. Is there anything you wish to say?"

Samiylo replied: "I leave it in their hands." Then gestured to the Spirefolk.

"In Samiylo's defense stand the Reachfolk of the Spire-town, led by the Lady Stewardess Noctis, under whom Samiylo served in an official capacity and concealed his crimes for years to avoid retribution. They shall now be given a moment to make their position clear." Captain Lazar went to the bench.

"The defense shalt pursue neither acquittal nor the concealment of those crimes proven here - but rather, commutation of death into permanent exile from the Steppes, and remand into the diplomatic custody of the Spire beneath mine own guarantee." Lady Meriel started. "For the transparency of Samiylo's crimes, I call forth Sergeant Atal as the first witness."

Atal would stand and spoke. "As the Lady Senescal said, I am Atal, a Sergeant in the Militia, and acting commander of its cavalry contingent, the Pale Company. I have bled in the name of this second home, but before such, I was like many of you now. Crammed into hastily assembled tents, always looking over my shoulder- uncertain of what threats lay over the horizon. Even before the war, the Faded Steppe was no stranger to hardship. Many among you will remember that sound, that dreaded thunder of hooves, and the cloud of dust rising up from our hallowed ground. Our forefathers abandoned their old homes in search of a new one, fleeing from the meddling of the Fey, only for his ilk to ruin with greed, bloodlust, and deceit. Many have come before him and, unfortunately, others will follow- despite our best efforts. Let us not condemn our home to a similar fate. No robber should be able to flee justice in the Steppe only to look to the Reach with hope. It is only due to chance that he has not already been killed. We should not allow mere circumstances - a stroke of luck - deprive a wretch like him of the ending he himself worked so hard for. His execution ought to be a reminder that justice in the Faded Steppe prevails, even amid all this chaos."

Samiylo looked very guilty as others displayed their own emotions that was both with confusion and disapproval.

Captain Lazar had two questions to Atal. "Is it safe to assume you are considered a man of good repute within the Spire-town, considering your position as commander of its cavalry?"

Atal answers: "Decent enough standing, aye. More importantly, however, a once-friend of Samiylo's. Many moons ago, as recent arrivals to the Spire, we provided one another a semblance of familiarity in an otherwise strange place. A sentiment I reckon many of us are familiar with, both in the Reach and Fallstone, as many of us have been rooted out of our past abodes."

"Very well. That is all, then." The Captain would gesture to the defense. 

Lady Meriel then asks, "Sergeant Atal, thou speaketh that thee wert once a friend of Samiylo's. Before Samiylo surrendered himself to the Feyguard, wert thou aware of these crimes he committed?"

Atal replied with, "I was. He confessed of his own volition."

"Didst thou report these crimes to anyone, or attempt to warn the people of the Reach that such a danger walked among them?" Lady Meriel questioned.

"No." Atal answered.

"Then despite what thou now describe as crimes worthy of immediate death, thou didst not treat him as an immediate threat at the time?" The Lady asked.

"I believe his death is overdue. Seems he is on the verge of it, anyway." Atal seemed annoyed as he huffed.

Lady Meriel then asked, "And after confessing his crimes to thee previously, had Samiylo committed any further acts of murder, robbery, extortion, assassination, or violence within the Reach?"

Atal answered with: "Not that I know of, but I was a lesser man then. It is one of my greatest regrets - apprehension seized my heart, I dared not believe that someone I cherished could be so vile. And I knew all too well what destruction his horde could bring down on us, and so I remained silent. Perhaps 'tis only a matter of time afore they come riding over the hills, and he feels free to rejoin them."

"Captain Lazar, might I pose a question to the defendant, in light of Sergeant Atal's remark?" Lady Meriel requested.

Atal muttered in a stern tone, "I only wish I could show you the razed villages and butchered corpses."

Captain Lazar agreed to the request made by Lady Meriel who then asked, "As Sergeant Atal fears, should members of the Hundred Horses come riding o'er the hills - wouldst thou rejoin them?"

"No." Samiylo said.

"Even if it meant thy death for refusal?"

"They seek my death; too." Samiylo replied to Lady Meriel and Captain Lazar requested to the Old Man sitting by Samiylo to check that.

The Old Man questioned Samiylo saying, "Have you responded in truth to the Lady Seneschal, Samiylo?"

Samiylo replied with, "Yes."

"Your prisoner speaks the truth, Captain." The Old Man confirmed. 

Then Lady Meriel pipped up. "Thankst thee. Tis all, then. Cadayle is the next witness I call."

Atal stepped off and then Cadayle would replace him who was bound by many chains. Raime stood nearby just in case.

Captain Lazar asked for them to introduce themselves and their occupation.

"Cadayle Fairweather. Hero of the Spire." Cadayle stated clearly. "I came to th'Spire a farm girl, from a distant peaceful village that knew nothing of war. I came with a dream to become it's greatest Hero, and to earn that title through feats of insane strength . I would say I have done so. It was not easy. I hath lost much of my body in tha' process. I have suffered greatly, but I hath done it. . the Spire made it possible for a nobody like me, to be someone I only ever dreamed t'be. I met Samiylo along tha' journey - he shambled into the Spire, aimless, wretched, and despondent, seeking to discover his purpose, where I had came to pursue mine. He did - Discover a drive, to be somebody, to do something. When I had eyes, I witnessed him defend the Spire in the Battle of the Garden. He wielded a sword in the defense of - others, spent his blood saving the lives of others. He saved my life. Dragged me from the crumbling ruins of that great battle, nearly. At the expense of his own. Not content simply to swing his steel in such noble pursuits, he ran 'fer public office, and won. The people he defended thought him worthy enough to be placed in trust of government. Not for any lies tha' he was running from, but for wha' he did for us. I hate all this do-gooder, thoughtful, COUNCIL NONSENSE. . . I solve my PROBLEMS with a SWORD. But, one could call HIS actions HE-RO-IC. He is a wretched fool to have killed. That is the work of cowards afraid of a rematch. He is equally as wretched for his other past weaknesses. . . But the Spire is a place to earn oneself anew, and while I think he owes 'ye a great debt for his - WRETCHED WEAKNESSES. . He hath earned his chance at paying them back. A debt he owes 'ye, Aye. BUT A CORPSE CAN PAY NAUGHT. Meriel is weak for asking him only to exile. Easy would that be for him to run. He owes Fallstone. . But he cannot pay them slain."

Captain Lazar questioned her self claimed title as Hero. Both Icarus and Nia vouched for her and Atal along with others didn't agree. Lazar requested no one to interrupt the trail and then clarified that the question was directed to Cadayle and for her to answer.

"I am a violent woman. Quick to violence, hot-tempered, and with strong opinions." Cadayle started." She turned to the council. "But I have never lied. Verify tha', with 'yer old man."

Captain Lazar spoke. "So, in short, you would describe yourself as a chaotic, violent individual. The sorts of qualities which guided the accused down the path he took, leading him here."

The Old Man would confirm that Cadayle does not lie. 

"Do you believe these qualities are immutable? Can you change them about yourself?" The Captain questioned.

Cadayle replied with, "Aye. Only I do not wish to be less violent. Samiylo wishes otherwise now. I believe. Before he did not wish at all. That has changed. Used to be he would be like a dog. Only ordered. Sometimes he would nae even eat unless I told 'im to. Now. He has done much for 'imself. The do-goodery." 

Captain Lazar claimed they had no more questions and then requested the next witness for the defense to take over.

Lady Meriel agreed. "Alike how the prosecution asked if thou believed such qualities to be immutable - dost thou believe a dead man restore what he hast taken?"

Cadayle answered. "No. It is why I have never killed anyone either. What good is a corpse for a rematch?"

Lady Meriel thanked them and then asked, "Can they rebuild a home? Provide testimony against those whom he once rode? Labor beneath sentence for the benefit of these he harmed? What debt, Cadayle, may Fallstone collect from a corpse?"

"All a corpse can do, is rot. Samiylo can do a great deal more than tha'." Cadayle pointed out.

Lady Meriel starts with, "I only seek to state a single matter - afore moving on to the final testimony. Ser Chimeg. How many more must be bled into the soil, afore we look 'neath us and see naught by the red stain? Tis all from Cadayle, Ser Raime Escher is the last witness."

With that, the last witness was called and Cadayle was replaced with Ser Raime Escher.

"I am Ser Raime Escher, Lawkeeper of the Spire. Before that, I was Squire Raime Escher, a boy in a world much too big." Raime introduced himself. "I met Samiylo when I was standing up to Cadayle. Our first exchange was a duel. He was measured and focused where she swings wild and broad. I say this because Samiylo has admitted wholly to wanting me dead when it seemed I slew Cadayle." Raime explained. "He raged for days, aimless after finding purpose in her: then he came down to meet me. We became friends with time. I am not like many you will see; I do not collect the kindhearted or the good. I see purpose in blackhearts and brutes. I see second chances in them that I would never grace myself. Samiylo told me with some tears about his history, asking if I had thought someone who had done ill was only to be that. I was naive, looking at the world as a child that believed in shining knights would. I told him yes. I knew the extent of some of his crimes. All of them are laid bare before me now and I understand why guilt ruled him so. Why he needed to hear that it was not all he could be. He became focused, then, on bettering the town. He was a successful public servant as exchequer. Yet now, given the chance, he has resigned to punishment; I mislike to see that spirit broken in anyone, but it bids me to ask: do you intend merely to be punished, Samiylo--or do you mean to make things right?" He asked Samiylo.

Samiylo looked to Captain Lazar for permission to reply, who nodded, but Raime continued: "We have heard that dead you cannot help fix things, but wallowing in guilt to sloth is as good as death for this purpose too." Then he paused for Samiylo's reply.

"With whatever-" Samiylo was interrupted by coughs. "-Remains of me, intend to mend- what yet can be." 

Raime would continue. "I consider him my friend. I believe that people can change. That others need not be their worst deeds. But you may ask your questions of my character or contradictions and make that decision yourself."

Lazar replied, "I intend to. I assume, with a title of responsibility as Lawkeeper of the Spire, you are in good standing with folk and considered a citizen of repute within the town?"

"My position is divisive, as would any hand charged with keeping others in-line." Raime started. "You will find any that view me unfavorably, but I have not held executions. I do not believe in them."

"For the consideration of the panel, then, what would be the sentence applied to the accused by your laws?" Lazar questioned

Raime explained, "Penance; a hex placed upon the guilty. If not that, I would bid he toil to the aid of others until he cannot."

"Understood." Captain Lazar would write something down. "No further questions, I believe there has been enough said. The Lady-Steward may take over and make any closing remarks, after which the presiding judges shall come to a decision."

"I shan't name Samiylo innocent, nor ask that his crimes be forgotten. Yet this commission must decide more than just if one man wilt die. If justice and law across the Steppes is to endure, it cannot only be known by the enemies it hangs. It must be measured, recorded, and applied with purpose - or it shalt appear no different from victory enforcing itself." Lady Meriel states. "A gallows may bring an end to one man's wrongs, yet lasting reach is built through judgments that serve the realm beyond the moment. I ask the judges, to consider the order they wish to see endure across the Steppes as a whole."

The Captain stood. "The judges will now briefly convene to determine the verdict. I remind the public that the accused's guilt is not in question, merely the severity of the punishment. The rest of you may reconvene."

After some time, the Captain returned and spoke. "Following the consideration of this extraordinary tribunal, the Feyguard military commission has resolved in a two-to-one vote to commute the death sentence of the accused, Samiylo of the Hundred Horses gang, to hard labor in service of the Fallstone Feyguard for the duration of the conflict in the Faded Steppe, plus a period of five years thereafter. The same sentence shall be applied to the other members of the gang presently in captivity."

Then Chimeg would stand up to the crowd and addressed them. "Friends. Reachfolk. Countrymen. Today, this trial - a trial not of just one man, but of the principles that we and our enemies fight over - marks an important date for us and our future as Fallstoners. We have seen destruction and death for many long years. The foreigners here today have posed the question to us: is that the future we seek to build and cement as the foundation of our future nation? Will whatever follows the Republic be stained in the same blood? We have made a choice today, to stand above our enemies not only in spirit but in principle. Retribution and redemption as one, neither compromising the other. For if someone like the accused today can leave such an impression upon the hearts of mortals, what is there that any one of us cannot do to build a better future?" They glanced to Lady Meriel briefly. "I wish to thank your delegation for your presence today. I hope the outcome, in line with your principles of justice, has been satisfactory. And there is one other thing I must say- I believe our future should be one of cooperation and coexistence, not belligerence, as we have demonstrated the capability to pursue today."

Lady Meriel graciously replied, "Then upon that, we art agreed. Cooperation need not demand submission, nor coexistence the surrender of principle. Let this day stand as proof that the Steppes and the Reach may meet as peers - and choose accord without yielding the ground beneath either."

"In this spirit, I shall be frank with you on one other matter. I recall, I tasked my lieutenant with finding the leader of the star seer caravan within your lands." Chimeg admits.

Someone large spoke up. "You have decided that it will be stained with the blood chosen by criminals rather than the blood of the criminals themselves. The choice you made was one of submission. That you will allow evil to rule and pretend that your support of it is not a refusal to address it, but instead some act of... mercy." The last words were said with a smirk. "That precedent will be hard to overcome when others see it for what it is." After all that, they left.

Then, Chimeg spoke up again. "The true goal of such was to gain access to the magicks beneath the Vale of the Fallen, contained within a rumored portal to the ether used by the ancients. It is an old myth, but one believed by both sides to have some use in bringing about the end of this war. With our recent string of successes against the Republic, we no longer have need of the routes through the Vale that the Star Seer is reported to know. I would instead invite your scholars and arcanists to assist us in unlocking its secrets." They raise a hand. "Your decision need not be immediate - but consider the boon that cooperation on such an endeavor could bring."

Lady Meriel replied with, "It is one I am familiar with. Something to consider."

Then Chimeg offered arrangements for some to stay if they wished to not travel in the dark and thanked everyone for coming.

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Written by Nia Belot
Advisor to the Magister