Feb 13: The Mayor’s Minutes: A Hostage Crisis, Chase, Charge of Treason, plus Letter to Prelate Lheren
The paperwork is piling up on Mayor Cruxophim’s desk this week, making more paperwork for him. The Hostage Crisis, Chase, and Charge of Treason were in his report submitted to Judge Renpaw. Then a formal letter to Prelate Lheren Hochstib of the Church of Koar. It’s all at the officials:
Category: Towns
Topic: Wehnimer’s LandingDate: 02/13/2018 06:27 AM CSTFrom: FLAYED-ANGELSubj: Mayor's Minutes [RE: A Hostage Crisis, a Chase, and a Betrayal(?) BONUS: A Lhetter to Lheren.]The following report, one of a copious number of such documents, was submitted to the Court of Wehnimer’s Landing on the evening of the 11th of Fashanos in the Year 5118:
To the Honorable Judge Renpaw and the Court of Law of Wehnimer’s Landing, As my other reports have no doubt indicated, the vigilante calling himself “Rone” struck again this evening, murdering in cold blood several mercenaries hired by Stephos DeArchon for the purposes of safeguarding our citizens and allies being targeted. To be fair, he no doubt included himself as a priority among those number. Ultimately, however, victory lies within our grasp… as we were able to obtain several samples of his blood left behind by an injury incurred during the attacks. Soon, we will use those to enact one (or more) of several plans to deal with this menace. The following is an outline of my full report and testimonial regarding the events of this evening, which are — to the best of my knowledge — largely accurate: Stephos was sighted shattering a yellow crystal which negated magic throughout the town (estimates on the object and its actual effects are still be collected), temporarily prohibiting Rone‘s teleportation abilities. Rone was injured while attempting to make his getaway, and perhaps driven to foolishness by desperation, he took Lady Lylia Rashere as a hostage. Several present tried to talk him down, but he managed to drop another prism (an explosive device of the sort encountered before in Burrow Way during his assaults there) and used the ensuing chaos to drag Lylia into the environs of Lower Dragonsclaw. Following the trail of blood from his injury, we eventually cornered him again; however, the effects of the magic-nullifying crystal had worn off, and he was able to make his escape via the ethereal mists once more. Advisor Leafiara and an individual named Stonmel eventually tracked him to his hiding place, arriving before others could catch up. The matter which may (or may not) concern the Court pertains to the events which were reported as having occurred immediately thereafter, which I later reviewed in my office with the gathered crowd, collecting what testimonials I could. Stonmel claims that his attempts to subdue the terrorist with magic were thwarted by Sanctuary spells, which Leafiara claims were being maintained to try and prevent hostile action from being taken upon Lylia, the hostage being held at knifepoint. Stonmel also claims he witnessed Leafiara tending to the terrorist’s wounds, and thus accused her of aiding and abetting a known enemy of the Landing considered to be a current and active threat to our citizens. While it is my belief that these charges are ultimately frivolous and misguided, and that the accused’s actions do not conceal any more sinister motive than a misguided attempt to ameliorate a dire situation, I will leave the decision of such in the hands of the Courts. Should any of the individuals involved be wanted for questioning to investigate the validity of these charges (Leafiara, Lylia, and Stonmel, as well as Neovik and Subarashi, who were also present), I am sure they would volunteer such willingly. In closing, it is my opinion that these charges do not bear enough weight to pursue, nor do I like the precedence attempting to do so would set; however, I submit such regardless, in the interest of remaining unbiased as required by my incumbent position. Signed and Sealed, – Cruxophim, Mayor of Wehnimer’s Landing The contents of a formal letter, addressed to Prelate Lheren and delivered to the Hendoran Outpost, are as follows:
Esteemed Lord Lheren Hochstib, Prelate of the Church of Koar: I have a proposition for you, which has also been sent in kind to Lord Breshon Caulfield, as Interim Commander of the Hendoran Outpost. I am pleased to hear that you intend to replace the blood marble altar with something perhaps more befitting the rightful worship of Koar, as opined by many; however, by my estimation it seems a shame to waste such an artifact by simply destroying it to make way for the new. As an alternative, I would like to request that you allow us to transport said altar to a safe and reasonable location in Wehnimer’s Landing or its environs, so that those who might be amenable to worship at such will still have the opportunity to do so. We welcome all faiths and walks of life here in the Landing, and celebrate the diversity of such… and I believe it would be senseless to waste such a beautifully constructed altar of the Chuch of Koar, when it may find a more appropriate home here. If you would both be amenable to such, simply send word to my Office and I shall arrange a time at your convenience to perform this task. I have in mind a means to do so with little effort on your part, of course; as is right and proper, I seek only permission for such. Signed and Sealed, – Cruxophim, Mayor of Wehnimer’s Landing
— Wheels & Skulls Department
You see Blood Mayor Cruxophim the Blood Reaver.
“Blood for the Blood Mayor! Skulls for the Skull Office!”[ Storyline: https://goo.gl/VQkXAZ ]
[ Order of the Shadow: https://goo.gl/88Ojff ]
Leafiara’s Account
By request from Mayor Cruxophim, I’m issuing this public statement.
In the early twilight of Fashanos 12, the vigilante “Rone” was wounded and cornered on South Ring Road. There he took Lady Lylia Rashere hostage and retreated after detonating a prism that killed or injured more than six dozen people, including myself.
After ensuring that our fallen were well cared for, I left to search and found Rone and Lylia inside a hollow tree in the Lower Dragonsclaw, where he had her restrained with some type of magic and unable to use her own. There Rone asked for help with his wound and opened his cloak to show me. Seeing a fleeting chance to save her, since he would need to release her if he wanted treatment, I agreed.
Just as I was beginning to tend to him, a ranger by the name of Stonmel arrived and prepared a spell. Thinking it might be an attack that could make Rone detonate another prism, like he just had minutes earlier, I created a sanctuary and finished my work.
I might have saved Rone’s life–there’s no reason for me to deny that accusation. But I definitely saved Lylia’s, since Rone let her go immediately afterward and retreated.
Hostages and Hope, Heroism and Hubris
This was a difficult and tense situation that needed quick action. Was I too quick? Maybe. Was there a better option I didn’t see? Maybe, but nobody’s convinced me yet. I’ve never claimed I made the best possible decision, just a good decision in the heat of the moment.
So many can vouch that Lady Lylia is strong of magic and will. She is a fearless, powerful, and amazing person. She was also unable to do anything against Rone. In the heat of the moment, I thought that either I could help him or watch him kill her before my eyes. I helped him and saved her. And I believed that was the only option.
I’d act the same to save anyone else in Miss Lylia’s position. I’ll never play a game with someone’s life and see how crazed a captor can become. I want to bring hope in these desperate situations.
However, some say I should have killed or captured Rone and that the blood of his future victims is on my hands. To them I ask:
* Should I have believed that whatever Rone did to bind and disable Lady Lylia wouldn’t work on me?
* Were there not just eighty people cornering him on South Ring Road, many trying to kill him and unable to?
* Did Stephos not have over twenty more mercenaries still hoping to collect a ten million silver bounty?
Hundreds have been trying and failing to kill or capture Rone, but apparently some people believe I could have done that on my own. I don’t know whether I should be more flattered or flustered by that idea, but I believe people who say that are only dreaming about what they think they could have done.
I do sympathize, since I’ve had those kinds of naive dreams. I often dreamed about ending Chaston or Dennet or even Carenos. I still dream about ending Raznel. I understand–but I also know these are only fantasies. Taking Rone down was unrealistic. I was helpless to do anything except save the one life I knew I could: Lylia’s.
Yes, that came with tending to Rone’s wound. I think it was a price worth paying.
Still, I’d like to add that Rone’s weaknesses have become much more clear now and there might not be many future victims–he is much closer to being captured than ever. And if and when that happens, it will take the effort of many people.
In Conclusion
I am a cleric, my work is saving lives, and Lylia’s was at stake.
Unless we’re talking about the likes of Grishom Stone or Raznel, I won’t ignore a person in need. Not Lylia when Rone took her, not Shinann when Dennet and Quinshon took her, not Rodnay when Quinshon and Naimorai practiced on him, not Reannah when Dennet asked for our help, not Cyph when Dennet asked for our help, and not Larsya when her brother Breshon will ask us for help soon.
Come whatever cost may, I freely face you all and submit to any formal investigation if the authorities see fit to pursue.
Thank you for your understanding.