A Challenge Issued

[Karma]

A Fight. A commotion. A fast and short clash of steel and flesh.

In the docks they stood. Thayne Rhaz and Talh'nae, overlooking the ships and discussing the day, when a small group came upon them. Darion. Shayde. Others. "Forgive me, M'lady" Thayne heard the man say as he proceeded to cast a dominating spell at her. "Walk North of Cear." Thayne leapt over the railing and at the Dragon Knight, trying to reach him before he could complete his incantation. He finished it and managed to Parry Thaynes blade from slicing open his throat. Darion swung at Thayne, for his leg to cleave it off, Thayne deflected and sidesteps, moving in for another attack. This time, resorting to a flask of acid, Thayne burst it in his hand and Darions face. Angered Darion struck out hard. Thayne parried but the scimitar still managed to bite into his arm.

A cloud of smoke. Escape. Regroup. Advance. Thayne leapt down over the railing of the Peier and onto a stack of crates, throwing another disabling flask of acid and limberly leaping onto the dock itself. The Tyrant sat berthed, at the end of the dock. its guards at the top of the boarding plank shouldering rifles. Rhaz briskly approached them, and they fell to formation, bearing their rifles on the quickly approaching Dragon Knight....

[Crimson]

He followed his opponent, reaching the dock where the Tyrant was tied, like a great, ominous sea-serpent.
Curse it... curse that the others had suddenly showed up! He had hesitated...

Eyeing the musketeers, he activated his enchanted cloak, and turned ethereal, then went for Thayne again.
Parry, dodge, parry... until the elven girl tried to trip them both.
Thayne fell, Darion resisted, swung his blade at the man - and stopped as the elven girl stepped in between them.

A fireball was cast from the Tyrant, catching the sails of another docked ship.
The Squire and the Fleet arrived... and weapons were put down.

A challenge was issued, as was the promise of court and judgment.

[rohenna]

They had all spoken for hours after the conflict. Shayde had taken them through all of the details she could, including who she thought might be in danger, and what they were up against. They had a couple of leads, a few avenues to explore...but things were only going to get worse now, as Thayne Rhaz had seen them all, knew their faces, been angered by them. If only she had reached Darion in time to warn him...but no use worrying about that now, it was done.

At least the waiting was over, she thought. It had begun.

[Karma]

Thayne drafts a few letters and sends them to the following offices. They are identical save for who they are addressed to. Messengers from House Rhaz distribute them accordingly.

Commodore Torquil Lamond, of the Cerulean Fleet
Captain Beatrix Flittermoon, Of the Cerulean Fleet
Sir Phelan Almaren of the Agentum Vigilio
Praetor Phillip Augustin Pontius, Imperial Ministry of Cear

Dear Sir or Madam,

I, Thayne Achius Rhaz, Steward of House Rhaz, Admittant of the Temple of Lochwar of Thralls Gate, Citizen of Cear and the Empire; do hereby request legal intervention in regards to the incident in the docks. In the early morning hours of May the Ninteenth, 640th year of our Glorious Emperor Marcus IV, I was assaulted in full view of the public City Watch and Cerulean Fleet. I humbly request a formal investigation and collection of witnesses and evidence in regards to this incident.
Additionally, I am sending this letter to the offices of any and all parties involved, including, but not limited to, the Imperial Ministry, the Cerulean Fleet, and the Argentum Vigilo. The following is my personal statement of the events in question.

I stood on the pier with one Talh'nae, Registered Elven female and a party to my person. The man known as Darion Crimson, also known as the Dragon Knight, escaped convict of the Hall of the Gavel of Lendose: cast a unlawful dominating spell on my associate, inside the City gates and within proximity of my person.
I, Thayne Achius Rhaz, stepped up to our defense, while bearing the Sigil of my House and that of the Temple of Lochwar, and by extension the Holiness of our Empire of Varana. Party to Darion Crimson, was the Half Elven woman known as Shayde Mel'for, and a Tel'gothrim female known as Xunava Melar. Shayde Mel’for additionally acted to support Crimson in his assault.
In my defense, and in that of my person and party, I clashed blade with the assailants, to the point in which I dispersed an acidic attack, and retreated to the berth of my ship, The Tyrant. House Rhaz Guards, Marcus Gentry III and Elias Vichian stood guard at The Tyrant’s boarding gantry, and aimed their rifles on the assailants by my command, but did not fire.
I signaled my men to send up a fireball, known to my house as a signal from the ship. The fireball dispersed harmlessly over one hundred feet in the air. This action more pointedly got the attention of nearby authorities.
Squire Depheant, of the Argentum Vigilo attempted to quell and disperse the clash between the man Crimson and myself. The Elf Talh'nae had her senses restored and came to aid in ceasing the altercation. Additionally, the man known as Calimus Vells, and my own brother, Maelyn Nera Rhaz came to witness the end of this confrontation after said signal had gone up.

The man Darion Crimson challenged me to a duel in the Arena of Cear to settle what he believes to be some kind of debt or honorable disagreement. I obliged his request, under the terms that he face any charges for his action prior to said fight. The man agreed. Those who had gathered dispersed. As I was wearing the Sigil of the Temple of Lochwar and that of my House Rhaz, known supporter and servant of the Empire, this is an act against a member of the Temple, and by Extension an assault on the Church of Lochwar itself.

I wish to Lawfully and within my standing as a citizen accuse and charge the man Darion Crimson with:
• Assault on my person
• Unlawful use of a spell within the city limits
• Brandishing a weapon in the city limits
• Unlawful assault against the Church of Lochwar and Citizen of the Empire of Varana.
• The Law Articles of the Empire, Section 9, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 3
In regards to Shayde Mel'for, I wish to Lawfully and within my standing as a citizen accuse and charge her with:
• Unlawful brandishing of a weapon within the city limits
• Unlawful Assault against the Church of Lochwar and Citizen of the Empire of Varana.
• The Law Articles of the Empire, Section 9, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 3

I call on Tahl'nae, The elven woman. Calimus Vells, The Human Merchant of The Enchanted Cloak and Cauldron(sp?), Squire Depheant of the Argentum Vigilio, The Tel'gothrim female known as Xunava Melar and Maelyn Rhaz, Marcus Gentry III, and Elias Vichian, of House Rhaz, all as witnesses to this incident. Additionally any and all members of the Cerulean Fleet and City Watch that were present for the incident to testify as witnesses in regards to this case.I ask that those accused be barred from leaving the city limits until the investigation is over. I beleive there is a high risk from both of these individuals to flee the Justice of the Empire of Varana. May Etoth, The Lawmaker, Brother of Mighty Lochwar, see that Justice is done. Hail Varana! Hail Lochwar!

Signed and sealed by the hand of Thayne Achius Rhaz, Steward House Rhaz, Admittant of the Temple of Lochwar of Thrall's Gate
Witnessed by Ward Aylows, Priest Curator of the Temple of Lochwar of Thrall's Gate

[Cypher]

Red-garbed messengers deliver several elegantly written letters to offices in Cear and Lendose. Each letter is addressed to a different recipient:

Commodore Torquil Lamond, of the Cerulean Fleet,
Captain Beatrix Flittermoon, of the Cerulean Fleet,
Sir Phelan Almaran, Knight of the Agentum Vigilo,
Praetor Phillip Augustin Pontius, Imperial Ministry of Cear

Honored Sir or Madam,

It has recently been brought to my attention that one Thayne Achius Rhaz, Steward of House Rhaz, and Initiate of the Church of Lochwar was assaulted within Cear's city limits by a known lawbreaker named Darion Crimson and an accomplice.

A matter of civil and criminal law has escalated to involve the entirety of the Lochwarian Church. An attack, by any means, on a member of the Church of Lochwar is an unconscionable transgression. The Church stands by its Brother in this grave matter. I, Ward Aylows of the Temple of Thrall's Gate, take it upon myself to act, on behalf of Admittant Rhaz, as the arbiter in his case, and hereby officially sustain his accusations.

It is a certainty that this matter will be settled with great righteousness. May the guilty parties be held responsible for their actions, and justice be dealt swiftly and mercilessly.

Brother Etoth bless you. Lochwar Eternal! Hail Varana!

At the bottom is writen in large, stylish letters: Ward Aylows, Priest Curator of Thrall's Gate

[Elrith]

Beatrix read through the two letters multiple times before letting out a hefty sigh. With all the other preparations going on to defend the city, a bunch of upset clergymen was the last thing Cear needed.

"Constable, I'd like you to round up the witnesses in this letter so that I may interview them. You may also bring in the suspects for questioning and if they attempt to resist, arrest them."

Getting to the truth of this matter is going to take some time.

((I'll try to catch most of you in game, but it may be more preferable to send me a private message. I'm going to be rather busy these next four weeks or so.))

[Peregrinus]

Phelan takes the letter offered him from Miriam, opens it and grimaces.

"Damnable slaver," he mutters, "Miriam, see that Depheant is made aware of this matter and that he is to fully cooperate with the Fleet concerning this matter."

He picks up the letter and shakes his head.

"Darion, you fool, what did you do this time..."

[Sahji]

From a quiet perch, the figure watched as Darion approached Thayne. It saw the vial flung, saw the blades drawn, saw Shayde unable to pry them apart. Fleet were busy, either uninterested or unaware. Attention would need to be attracted, something beyond merely reporting a brawl.

The opportunity was ripe: The Sun Glory docked so near the Tyrant. Fading from sight and sound, the shadow made its way to the ship.

They were battling before the Tyrant when it went up in flames. Sailors began to swarm, Fleet too. Soon the authorities had their eye on the suspicious brawling troublemakers and moved to intervene.

The shadow escaped; the official ruling blamed a stray fireball.