A private conversation (Stephan, closed)

[Roland Moonstar]

OOC: continued from the gate thread.

IC:
Roland escorted Stephan from the gates of Paxia. He paused once, when they were in the middle of a ruined street, desolate walls all around them. Motioning for Stephan to be silent, he listened for a bit to make sure no one else was around: it was impossible for even the best thief to be quiet in a city where rubble was forever being crunched underfoot. Even so, he went into clara, taking the better part of the candlemark to through out various reveal and awareness spells, using various arcanomechanics to make sure he didn't miss a trick. The various permutations and combinations were what took the better part of the candlemark, and once he was absolutely and most positively sure that no one was watching or listening, he motioned for Stephan to speak.

Roland turned to Stephan, a dubious and confused look on his face. "All right, what's this really about? What's going on? And what's this about a will? You're standing right here."

[Stephan Woulofen]

Stephan was surely not impressed by the nature of Paxia after he had entered, it looked completely ruined since the last brief visit he had here many patterns ago. Even the office of Roland looked much more like a disaster area than an office for someone looking over the affairs of the city. However, it seemed Roland was still being as careful as he could be, and doing what he must to ensure their confidentiality. He knew when someone was trying to enter clara, and Roland was doing his best to enter, though it was taking so very long. Much time had passed until finally Roland nodded and asked him questions revolving around the current situation.

Pushing back the hood of his cloak Stephan finally fully revealed his face that looked only vaguely familiar to what it had once been. Now quite bearded scars were still visible as they stretched where the beard could not cover. Scratching his head, thinking how to first answer the question, finally he found somewhere to start. "I have said the same thing to you that I have said to a few others way too many times already, even though it has only been one other who has heard the full story from my lips. Bringing me back to that moment in time, that cursed moment, makes me fill with a sadness and rage that scares me. This will be the last time I speak of it."

"My wife is dead, and my son, is crippled, maybe for life. It all came about with their kidnapping from my own home by a noble, from where I do not know, who took them to an old windmill just outside of Mystique. Tracked them down and it was then I made the fatal mistake for my wife. It was there that I learned who this man was and why he did it. My infidelity had finally caught up on me when I slept with and impregnated his wife, producing a son not of his own. He had killed her by his own hands and with such knowledge I knew I could not bargain with him."

He only looked down at the ground for a moment now though his right hand clenched so tightly that the blood quickly stopped flowing to it. "I made the wrong move, the first I ever had in combat I can note, and for that it cost my wife's life and the life of the son I had with the man's wife. He killed them both without mercy as I struck. The fight was brutal and in it I lost four of my own men before finally, I got my revenge with the life of that man. The memento of that moment this blade I will carry with me always," he said, patting his sheated sword on his left hip.

"It was in that carnage, in my sorrow and rage that I burned that place down, leaving my old blade behind and sending my last remaining guard to bring my son to his new home with his grandfather. In that fire burned my visa and my old life. I knew that I could never walk away from that disaster the man I was for my father-in-law would have my head for what I did. And though I know it is his right to do so and for a moment I almost allowed it, I am too much of a coward to end my life like that. And so, I died and will be hiding for the rest of my life, a condemned man." That is why I need this new visa."

Slowly he released his clenched fist and looked at Roland. Stephan was not the man he had once been.

[Roland Moonstar]

As Roland was still in clara, he linked to Stephan's mind and sent a simple [i]suggestion[/] that the man forget the past moment. He didn't have Duncan's ability to wipe out the past or see the future, and did not think he could do anything for the pain Stephan already felt-- for that they would in fact need to find Theying or someone like that-- but he did not want Stephan suffering on his account. A bit of alteration on a few neurons, no different than the effect of slapping someone or shaking their shoulders, that he could manage, though.

Whether Stephan acted on the suggestion or decided to remain stewing in his own juices was his choice.

"That is some tale. It explains much. Especially why you are tossing away crowns and mansions like they are going out of style." He shook his head sadly. "Though I think you should have come to me first. I am a Justicar Emeritus, and could have sorted out the legalities for you, especially as you acted in self-defense.

A man had your family hostage. You attempted to rescue them. Things went awry. The law is not concerned with what you may have done to precipitate it: those accusations would be mitigating factors at the kidnapper's trial, had he been caught." He shook his head again. "And with his death, only you know the truth of why he did what he did: your father-in-law would only know you tried valiantly but failed to rescue them, but you did kill the man responsible."

Roland did not much believe in fidelity, being as his parents did not: considering he was Vagaran, he had somehow ended up with Kemite and Nairu brothers and sisters, and he was rather of the medieval mindset that boys will be boys.

All lawyers had a specialization, be it in immigration law, divorce law, tort law or business law. Roland's field of expertise was treason and sedition: he had, to the best of his reckoning, never presided over a murder trial. He would have to consult with Looie and Grishin at some point, make sure his understanding was accurate. He still did not quite see why Stephan was on the run, and eventually decided that it was the alchemy of guilt working through the man. He was punishing himself much worse than the law ever could.

"All right, let's go to my office and sort this out. I operate out of the Aedile's office, so we'll be able to straighten this all out, as far as getting you a visa and whatever you require."

OOC: We'll stay in this thread.

[Stephan Woulofen]

Much like Milo, Roland was talking about legalities and how one could protect him through the law. He knew the man's words were genuine and he truly did believe what he said, but the man was not thinking outside the box. However, it wasn't as if he knew just how many enemies Stephan had that did not care in the least bit about the law. He did not even know if Duke Serra-Kane would deal in law when it came to Stephan. He had tested the duke's support in him too many times and he did not know how much the man could take. Afterall, Stephan had caused him the life of his beloved only daughter, and was sure no man would think rationale after that, Stephan knew he wouldn't.

"You sound so much like Milo, and I thank you for your words and the whole legality and what you think may be true, but then again you do not know the history of the relationship I had with Duke Serra-Kane. Plus, the stories of my infidelity are not that secret, and he will learn the truth behind the whole affair if he does not already. If I were him, though Tenance was indeed not a child of his wife as well, I'd still kill me as well. Him and I are not too different in this, I hope the sending of my son and his daughter's son to his care will calm things, but I have no real hope. Also, being most vulnerable now, my other enemies will act as well when they know they can get to me and deal with me."

Soon after Roland led him to the office of the Aedile where he said he would work everything out. This was indeed a good step to finally kill Stephan and start anew, and hopeful redeem his soul through a new identity. He had lost all favor with Aslan for sure, though justice surely had been done to Crithain and he did carry the burden of his crimes through rememberence and the sword at his side. Though his thoughts were not always directed in such way, his subconscious was going over everything over and over again, the whole event that led to this continued on repeat and it was eating away at him ever so quickly. Sanity hadn't been impossible to hold onto for now, but his will was surely being broken the longer he tried to hide.

"I require only a visa for the name Tristan Leone. After this I shall be off to continue my journey wherever it should lead me."

[Roland Moonstar]

OOC: Sorry, been a wacky couple of weeks. I have been waiting on some other threads so as not to get either Roland or Stephan in a FT lock.

IC:
Roland nodded. "All right. I'm not really concerned with why you want that name. You can call yourself whatever you like, there's no rule on the books that prohibits it. Believe me, I've researched the Articles of Imperium in this matter when I researched the feasibility of intelligence operatives.

I believe you when you say no fraud is intended, and that you are not evading any local governmental authorities. Your affairs with your father-in-law are a private matter. That being the case, I shall authorize the name change and the new visa."

Roland escorted Stephan to the Aedile's office, then to his private office, and he went ahead and filled out the requisite paperwork. "Of course, getting you a new name is only half the battle. You have a most distinguished and recognizable visage, and you have been a Lt. Governor and various other high-profile positions.

Stay here a moment, I need to consult with someone who is a bit of an expert on disguise and makeup. A few pointers for you will help you get your new life in order much more rapidly."

He had Looie guard the door so that no one would bother Stephan while the transformation was occuring.