Events at the court of Regens George of Casablanca, around Feb 4th, year 762

Guðrún would appear for Court one day, tidy but in her usual simple white tunic and no jewelry. She’s not wearing her usual thick layer of makeup to make herself look older. She is there to publicly present a petition similar to the one she sent privately after the first set of Shadow storms hit Casablanca, but which George and Arnhilde ignored.

She’d present the petition quietly and respectfully and wait an answer from the thrones.

There is quite a pause, during which George’s face becomes suffused with anger, before he finally speaks. “This petition attempts to call into disrepute one of the founding principles of Imperial life, that everyone is responsible for their own lives, actions, and debts. It calls into disrepute the words of the gods and the Imperial Decrees regarding debts to society. It also calls into disrepute my abilities to administer our Empire and to provide relief and resource in times of national emergency.”

There are tears flowing from Arnhilde’s eyes, but she does not flinch from listening to George’s words.

“I find this petition seditious, heretical and offensive. The fact that you are a Master Pilot prevents me in law from having you arrested and cast into slavery for this action. So I must do the only other thing available to me.”

By now Arnhilde is openly crying.

“Guðrún Donner, you are hereby banished from all Imperial Lands and Realms. If you are found again within any Imperial Realm after midnight tonight, you will be held and handed over to the Guild of Pilots. Your citizenship is revoked.”

“David Erikson. While Guðrún testified that she did not speak to any other while planning this act of rebellion, I find it difficult to believe that you were not aware of its preparation. Therefore, you position as the Advisor on Religious Affairs is suspended pending investigations to determine if you have any culpability in this foul act. I am willing to accept your resignation at this time and will allow you safe passage out of Imperial lands, should you wish to depart. However, if you exercise that option, the babe Svanhlidr may not leave with you until I have ruled on custody, as she is also the daughter of a senior and influential Imperial military officer. Your other children may leave with you, or may remain in Casablanca where they will become wards of the state.”

“This is a sad day. Guðrún, you have taken my friendship and succour and tried to stuff it up my arse with barbs on. Get ye hence, or I will see you dead.”

Arnhilde rises. “Child, you have failed your ancestors. You are not a daughter of Óðinn the Allfather. His fire does not burn in you, and I cast you out.” As Arnhilde says this there is a discernible mystical glow around her, and her voice seems larger and deeper than normal.

Gudrun rises, white with shock, tears on her face, “In the light of Truth and with the Light as my witness, I publicly declare that David Erikson had no notion of my intentions here today. He is blameless of my actions. It is not possible for me to lie in this context as your own truth seers will attest.”

George looks at an attending priest of Truth, who nods.

“It cannot be possible for me to hold Guild membership from an Aurellian God, or the powers connected with it, if I have offended so greatly. I therefore will simplify matters for you. I renounce my membership in the Guild of Pilots effective immediately.”

“We will have answer from the Guild of Pilots within the hour as to whether this is accepted. I will wait until then.” George says. Darla immediately departs from Court to run that errand.

“That my family has no use for me, and can find my desire for the freedom of children to be sedition…grieves me even more deeply than being cast aside. I grieve for you mother of my heart and for our family. ”

She returns her gaze to George, “My friendship and love has ever been yours, foster father, my loyalty as well. I have proven it before, I prove it now. I will not run. I have no home but this, and should it be no home, I will dwell no where else. My life has always belonged to my family, it has no value else. If you wish my death, order it. I will not stir from this place or flinch from the sword. If you see treason in my love of these children, take my life here before all.” She returns to her knees. This time there is a quiet, sad dignity and resolve. She does not lower her eyes or hide her grief.

“I do not wish your death. But if you still call this realm your home then you have placed yourself into its debt. If the Guild accepts your resignation, then I order that you be enslaved for a period of 100 years. During that time, you will learn that we already do not enslave children who do not deserve it. Being a ward of the state is not slavery. We simply do not fool ourselves as to the point at which a person is grown up.”

“But one thing is certain. While most children are innocent, not all are. And for those who of their own volition undertake the actions of adults, then so must come the penalty of adults. We never take their innocence from them, but if they have already thrown it away, then they cannot lose it a second time.”

Darla didn’t need to go far. She returns almost immediately with a girl wearing a black catsuit which goes right up her neck and would hide whether she wore a collar or not, and on which the only other adornment is Grand Pilot wings that appear etched onto the material over her left breast.

“I am the Contessa Kirsty Aberford, and I am the right hand of the Guild Secretary Geoffrey Aberford, head of all External Guild activities. I am here to testify that while the Guild accepts the resignation of Guðrún Donner, this situation is most unusual, and in order to ensure the validity of her resignation, we must take her before the Divine Alastyr himself, so that the abilities of a Pilot can be stripped from her. We shall petition that at the same time, talent will be blocked, such that once enslaved, she cannot bring further debt upon herself by undertaking illegal magical activities.”

“Make it so.” says George, and Kirsty leads Guðrún away.

21 comments

          1. It wasn’t just speaking her mind. This was in response to a public formal petition to the throne. The same laws that allow people to personally present petitions to the throne establish penalties for ill advised petitions. Even wasting the throne’s time is subject to penalty via slavery.

            Gudrun appears to have done more than waste. Her private petition didn’t provoke this level of response. I assume that the content was meant to either publicly shame the throne into action or bring something the throne wanted kept hidden into view.

            Basically, it sounds like she was found guilty of outing state secrets. She fully knows Empire law and was probably expecting something of this sort. The scale though, one hundred years, is way beyond the pale. I think the standard penalty is around three years.

            She’s far from a friend, but I’m not taking any pleasure in either of these overreaches.

          2. I choose not to live in the Empire. I also have chosen not to live in Amber, Thelbane, Sarraban, and Per Hathor, or the Federation. Each of these realms has customs and laws I find reprehinsible. So I live elsewhere and speak my mind. Condemnation of these policies should be loud and constant. But how do you best support a martyr like Gudrun?

          3. Good question. I don’t know.

            I’ve found keeping some cash in the Empire makes sense, just in case. I can’t think of anything I’d be likely to do that would cause problems, but money has to be kept somewhere and this works as a backup, just in case.

          4. At this point, I think the only one that can really help Gudrun is herself. The best we could manage is to petition for the chance to talk to her. I’m the wrong person for a lot of reasons. It would need to come from someone respected in the Empire and respected by Gudrun. I’d also suggest doing it in writing and not pushing the point if a respectful no is the response.

            As for a plan in case of trouble in the Empire, some cash is a good idea. If you are connected to an acknowledged group, which includes Spec Ops of Saint James, name dropping is a good thing. Their law is pretty respectful if you aren’t completely on your own.

          5. I would not. The question here is whether or not Gudrun wants help. Trying to help her without her consent sounds like a very bad idea to me.

  1. Hm. Interesting. Interesting!

    I’m seeing the crime committed being “debts to Society”, “not provid(ing) relief and resource in times of national emergency” I’m also seeing “act of rebellion”? — Is there specifics to this? Curious on the details.

  2. Okay. Sometimes it’s useful to have someone ask the newbie questions; we’ll see if this is one of them.

    I have the Empire tagged as “when in doubt, assume the penalty is slavery” and “not yet showing evidence of containing anything I value enough to take that risk for”. So, my knowledge is sketchy.

    1. If I remember correctly, there is an Inside Empire and an Outside Empire, and Casablanca is part of the Outside. Is this difference significant to this case? Am I remembering correctly that this puts it on the same segment of the multiverse as St. James?

    2. Gudrun was, in fact, a legally knowledgeable and voluntary resident of Casablanca? Rumor indicates that she pursued this with full knowledge of the possible consequences, is there reason to believe otherwise? St. James has multiple real arcs of idealogical prisoner-martyrs. Is there any similar memetic concept for conscientious objectors-slavery in the Empire?

    3. Isn’t Casablanca a hotbed of Light and Dark activity? Do we have any indication that this is being influenced by Light and/or Dark powers?

    4. Is there any way to get text of the petition?

    5. I am given to understand that the status and role of slave in Imperial lands is possibly more complex than most American St. Jamesians are likely to envision.
    A. Is that understanding moderately accurate?
    B. Is my understanding accurate that slavery does not necessarily limit one from all roles of status, power, and/or responsiblity? Are there roles that only slaves are allowed to hold?
    C. It’s been implied in my presence that there are freedoms lost with enslavement, but also specific protections gained? Are the trade offs anywhere near at parity?

    Those are just the first few questions that occur.

    1. Ok, I’ll try to answer what I can.

      1/ The best way to think of the Inside and Outside is like a walled city and the countryside outside. The Inside is the Walled City with the Powers and it’s Multiverse hidden behind it’s ‘Walls’.

      At points, there are ways into the ‘Inside’ which are Gates to allow access. These are the ‘Gateway’ Worlds, Casablanca (Empire), Murray (Sable), Sanguine (Reich) which are all linked to Powers Inside. These are the points where Pilots can transport to, and then from there Inside.

      I believe there are the Gateway worlds and a small area around them Outside which allows them to be self sufficent.

      2/ Gudrun chose to live there having left Spec Ops, I believe. I would guess she knew exactly what she was doing but I have no idea exactly what it was…

      3/ No idea if it’s a hotbed. But I have heard of some Demonic stuff happening there.

      4/ No clue

      5/ Slaves are slaves. Due to some of the rulings by the Aurellian Gods, they have certain rights in some regards but it’s a pretty minimal amount of rights (but major issues) in comparison.

      It’s a penal system based on monetary compensation for crimes. If you can’t pay the amount, or commit a crime that does not allow payment for recompense (not sure on what might be in the category or even if there are any), then Slavery is a way to pay off your debt.

      I only spent a little time in the Military there, so I don’t have the greatest understanding of all of the ins and outs of civilian life and the criminal system.

    2. I agree with Bill pretty much down the line. I’m just giving more info where I can.

      2/ Gudrun was better informed than most of the people that run Casablanca. She knew what she was doing. I think it is closer to whistle-blowing than conscientious objection.

      3/ Gudrun has an interest in the Light and tends to make it relevant. It is a factor, even if it isn’t a thing in Casablanca.

      4/ There’s no way they’re going public with it now. Individuals might get a peek, but they’d be bound from sharing the contents.

      5/ Imperial slaves are closer to indentured servants than St Jamesian slaves. Anything beyond a punitive period, five years or less, is generally by mutual consent. There are also a great number of laws preventing mistreatment.

      It basically breaks down to putting your life and well being into the hands of someone else. They’re bound by law to take care of you, but you are now a slave. It is a lesser evil that appeals to some.

  3. Animus regrets the loss to Casablanca of Gudrun’s freedom, and wishes to emphasize to the Asgarde and to the other free peoples of the Empire that we are a realm founded in freedom of expression, freedom from want and freedom from fear. We welcome those considering immigration to learn more at our Embassy on Via Quadrati.

    – Jade Fang, Foreign Minister of Animus
    – Daniel Russ, Ambassador to Casablanca

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