[Chateau Rose] Good Council, Bad Council (Keldon, Private)

[Crimson]

Continued from here ...


How did one transport a suspected assassin who was also a mage? At one point in Jaedaxia's history those mages who were suspected of any criminal act were beaten severely, rendered unconscious and then dragged to the Courthouse for a speedy trial following a trip to the Guillotine. Fortunately, those brightenings were a distant memory in the historias of Jaedaxia. That didn't make it any less frightening, however. Somehow Aidan Champoi managed to keep his demeanor: stiff, with a mask of cold fury aimed toward the Imperial Roland Moonstar. At the announcement from the Royal Marshall, the other Champois created a small ring around their kin but quickly made it evident that they would not cause any more surprises. ”We will ensure that he does not leave your custody, Marshall” the oldest of the Champois said. The woman, Cassandra, wore a frown on her oval face but her air as a noblewoman never failed her. She took a step forward, presented open palms in front of her twin brother, and Aidan reluctantly relinquished his amulets, including his rapier. ”He is unarmed now” Cassandra said, before causing the objects collected from Aidan to disappear, presumably using a field of Teleport.

Gabriella was still holding Aidan's hand, and she looked pleadingly toward the Royal Marshall. She said nothing, however, for her brother did most of the talking. ”I understand the full context of your law, Marshall” Rowan said in thick tones ”and while House Champoi has sworn fealty to your Prince, do not suspect that we will allow any mistreatment with our fellow. He is a brother to me.” He ventured a glance toward Arisa, who was still paled with shock and grief at the Council's table. Then he sighed. ”How complicated things have become” he shook his head ”You have my word also, Marshall. My cousin is under your custody. If only for his own foolishness.”

At Keldon's orders, a pair of legionnaires would (hesitantly) escort the Champois to Chateau Rose. A runner was already sent to fetch transport for the party, seeing as the scene was more likely to bring a crowd, if not a mob, very shortly. Thankfully, Keldon would find Aidan in a dungeon cell when he arrived in the Imperial fortress. The others were seated with the constable in charge of the prisoners in the chateau. The harsh surroundings of the stone castle made the luxurious attire of the Champois look even more flamboyant. It was akin to holding a multicolored torch against a bleak corridor. Henri Richelieu du Mer arrived a few moments earlier, and immediately spoke to the remaining Champois in terse Jaedaxienne.

”Lord Marshall” he greeted Keldon ”may I join you when you speak with the prisoner?”

[Keldon Elsdragon]

When he arrived he looked to Henri Richelieu du Mer, and with a brief nod and nothing else he allowed him to follow into the prison cell were the prisoner was waiting. With no in depth questions, no flamboyant explanations and nothing out of the ordinarily be it a noblemen or popper Keldon simply asked one question in a serious yet calm tone. "I think you have some explaining to do, so why don't you get started..."

[Crimson]

Per standard procedures, Aidan was placed in hand irons and he was seated on what looked like a hay covered plank which served as a bed and chair at once. There were scattered wool blankets, remnants of cloth from the cell's precious occupants, as well as an overwhelming stench of filth, grime, and mold. Henri had to lift his sleeve to his nose and mouth to keep himself from gagging. The Lord Marshall may have been more accustomed to the unsanitary environment per his service to the Crown in the Royal Army. He was a soldier after all, and the two Jaedaxians with him were noblemen born and raised in nothing short of luxury and comfort.

Aidan spat bitterly on the stone floor.

"You have heard my piece, Imperial" he muttered in accented Common "Moonstar's orders lit the flames of the Mage Hunt. He is resopnsible for the deaths of countless men, women, even children. Many were my friends, my family ..." He trailed off, his blue eyes closing momentarily as if to purge his mind of its suggestions to simply take the Marshall's life and escape.

[Keldon Elsdragon]

A sigh escaped his lips as his eyes carefully glanced briefly towards Henri and then back to their guest. It seems that this man was going to be a little more vauge then he was hoping for but he could not blame him for his attitude. After all it is the same attitude that Keldon received when he first arrived to the city sometime ago. So with a quick motion of his hand towards the door guard to hand him the small wood chair that the guards sat on outside did he place it on the ground a short distance from Aidan and then without saying a word took the seat.

"Its interesting you call me Imperial Aidan, yes I was born outside of Jaedaxia... but have given quite a bit back to the people and look to further their interests even in the royal courts. If I as the Imperial you have such distaste for... well then the natural course of action would of gone quite differently for both Roland, your house, and yourself. But... there is one thing we have in common." he said with a brief pause. "We both dislike the moronic fool thats in the other room, and frankly the man was and perhaps still is a drunkard and wouldn't remember a thing he ordered or atleast use it as an excuse... so if you are under the impression Mr. Moonstar is off the hook in anyway shape, or form... you would be very mistaken. But what I need from you is specifics..." he said with a brief pause and rubbed his brow slightly and looked to the other noblemen.

"Anyone can bring charges against someone... the biggest factor is how... and well you just attempted to murder a citizen in a room filled with city and state officials... so its going to take a little work on my part to smooth those feathers... but if you have specific information it would be greatly appreciated..." he remarked and went silent, his mind pondering just how best to deal with the situation. He didn't hide the fact from anyone his distaste for Roland. The man had attempted to slander his name and rise in power quite sometime ago and in truth it had turned on himself. He fell from grace while Keldon rose and he had been looking at a reason to get a payback.

[Crimson]

Henri remained standing, clearly unsure what to do as mediator between one of the most powerful men in the Realm versus a close friend and a very talented mage. If not for the cooperation from his own House, the Champois could have easily removed themselves from the council chambers and avoided everything. But Henri knew that Cassandra was not as hot-headed as her twin brother, despite their deep passion for the city and its people. So when Keldon managed to bring a stool for himself to sit before Aidan, the hedgemage merely flashed the Marshall a momentary glare before lowering his gaze again.

"Everyone knows of it" Aidan Champoi returned in dark tones "one Roland Moonster issued the order to close down the academy - the Prefect's offices carried out his orders - and the Mage Hunt ensued. Those mages who tried to flee the city were arrested, others beaten, some killed where they stood ... we were hunted down. My House was turned into traitors. And for what? For some paranoia? The man stood there --" Aidan hissed "he stood there and spoke as if he had no recollection of the incident. The man is a liar! And a murderer!"

Aidan was almost screaming now, but after a muttered phrase in Jaedaxienne from Henri, the mage fell quiet for a moment.

"I took the liberty of asking the captains to look at their records, Your Excellency" Henri added in Keldon's direction "All orders approved and carried out by the guards are penned and archived just for this purpose. I hope Alsaille and Moran can find what we're looking for ..."

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Listening to what Aidan had to say gave Keldon more then enough reason to hold Roland until it was confirmed otherwise, a Prefect of a city had absolutely no authority to order the death of anyone only their arrest. High Justice so it was commonly referred rested in the hands of the Minister of Justice and the Provincial Justicar, but something of the scope the mage was talking about was a order that would have to of come from the empress or the minister. Room was perhaps given for the Prefect to take affirmative action to arrest people on large scale, but if his men broke rank and took actions into their own hands and

Looking to Henri when the man advised him of what the Captains where looking for he glanced back to Aidan. Roland proved to Keldon he was a sneaky little bastard when he published the herald article and he found himself in the Consuls office to review the situation and explain the mans idiocy. But that also told the Marshal that the other man involved in all of this was sly, and if the documents were missing it would not overly surprise Keldon. But turning his gaze back to Henri the Marshal began to speak with a firm tone yet one that questioned if they would actually find anything. "That would help the case against Mr. Moonstar, as I can't move forward with simply word of mouth even if I would like to." the marshal finished and let out a small sigh as he rubbed his brow slowly. "Many people believe the chaos caused at Narim is my doing, but that does not make it so gentlemen... do you know of a single person who was in Rolands office during the issuance of those documents?" he asked slowly and then went silent.

[Crimson]

"The prefect and his staff" Aidan mumbled after a moment's pause.

"Moonstar presented his orders as prefect. His staff would have carried it out" the sorcerer looked to Henri, who nodded briefly. "The Protectorat would have carried out the arrests. If you could summon the captains, Marshall ..." Aidan trailed off, then looked down. His instincts told him that an Imperial was just as likely to prosecute one of his own as a dog was to kill its own. But as much as the Champoi hated Imperials with a passion, there was something in the Marshall's demeanor and attitude that struck him as ... different.

The Elven Lord could have had him arrested, charged with any number of crimes, and locked away with due diligence. Instead, the Marshall was before him now - discussing the matter like civilized men. If only their surroundings were less bleak, then perhaps Aidan would have bought into the sense of justice Keldon brought with his words a little more easily. "They would have documents. Signed orders." Aidan looked between the Marshall and Henri. If they needed to prove this Moonstar's crimes against a just court of law, then perhaps justice would be reign after all.

Justice without blood.

If there was a first in Jaedaxia's long and cruel history, this may be one of them. And Keldon hung at the pinnacle, in his hands the balance between morality and convenience.

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Listening keenly to the man before him Keldon nodded slowly several times during his response. It was true that there should be paperwork that could be dug up somewhere regarding the accusations against Mr. Moonstar. Although there still was the problem of the transgression of the gentlemen in front of him towards the entire council.

As Aidan finished Keldon rubbed his hands over his face and then glanced towards Henri with a small sigh as he considered the next few steps. "Milord Champoi, you have been co-operative and forward with my questions. For which I appreciate, legally speaking your outburst in the council thread was not illegal as you did not directly harm Mr. Moonstar other then suggestive actions of hostile intent... and frankly if I or any force was required to drag in those who get frustrated half the country would have problems..." Keldon remarked with a small yet visible smirk towards the pair but it was quickly followed by a sigh. "However, there is still quite the ramifications as I am sure you can foresee gentlemen. As you stated the Captians and likewise the Hall of Records will be contact and information regarding these accusations made against Mr. Moonstar will be reviewed in the fullest, and that I personally promise you. I find no reason to charge you with any crime, however that also rests on the shoulders of Mr. Moonstar, if he wishes to proceed with a formal complaint and issue a charge against you for your actions that is something I will be required to address. But for the time being I will need you to remain in my custody here, although I see no reason to have you moved to more suitable quarters where you shall be restricted for the time being." he paused and waited to see if there was anything he had to say before he left and if there was anything else to be addressed on the mages mind.

Turning to Henri he offered him to have any type of conversation with the Lord of House Champoi while he was here. However it was going to need to be done in his presence. If they wished to discuss anything Keldon would of sat and listened contently and waited until he was finished then when both Henri and Keldon were out of the room and away from the cell he would stop the councilmen and rest his hands gently in front of his waist. "You and I do not see eye to eye, which is acceptable and part of life. However Lord Champoi's outburst in the council chamber is unacceptable by any standard, for which I am sure you agree with. The situation with Mr. Moonstar aside, I believe it would be suitable for him to make a apology to the people and her grace for his actions this brightening. Your thoughts?" the Lord Marshal finished briefly and then awaited the noblemens response.

[Crimson]

	This plot has been halted due to Roland Moonstar's absence. + 1 Experience Point in Politics for Keldon Elsdragon awarded!