Objection! (Basic Law, and I can prove it!)

[Ankou]

Timestamp: Early first month of spring, Era XIII PF.

OOC: Self-modded, it seems.

Ankou peered into the classroom, there he was, his teacher Lebed Vijonek. He felt he could learn much from this man, for Ankou felt like a differerent fae when learning law. There was some delight in practicing every detail of the system of justice. Not that he would ever uphold justice, alas, no, that was not his perogative. He was more likely to deface it.

"Master Vijonek?" Ankou asked, tenatively, the elderly gentleman turned, waving him in. "Enter, please. And call me Lebed, you are... Ankou? Come to learn of the law, is that right?" Ankou entered, taking a seat. "Yes sir, um... that's correct."

"You are lucky! I have no other students for today, I had another but it seems he had to cancel in the last moments, an ill relation, I take it." Ankou gulped. "It would be an honor to learn from you, sir."

Lebed smiled as he turned towards the faerie. "Yes, I suppose it would be."

Ankou waited for the lesson to begin, soon, very soon, he would be learning all the secrets of justice, order, and most importantly, Law!

[Ankou]

The greying gentleman, Lebed, who would be teaching Ankou, paused for a moment to push his glasses up to his eyes, to better appraise the young faerie. Quite the strange speciman, that was completely certain. An odd air about him, excitment, hyperactivity, these things which humans usually forget by that age. A faerie learning law, Lebed had rarely seen that. Especially the males, they didn't seem... the type.

Hmm, but wasn't law all about serving the people? Perhaps getting a fresh perspective would be good for the trade, on a whole. Perhaps, perhaps not! One could rarely tell what would improve the practice of law, especially when it was so dynamically broken between offense and defense, two sides of the same coin of justice. Just like Law and Order were.

"Yes, very good then. Now, before we begin, I have just a bit of a question for you." Lebed said, turning towards the nervous young fae. His first day learning law, no doubt. "Have you ever learned anything about Law before, young Ankou?" He asked, the faerie shook his head: "No sir, although it has always interested me, very much."

Lebed nodded, as he thought. "Yes, yes, I see... can I ask you why you wish to learn Law?"

Ankou should have known this was one was coming, he braced himself, preparing to feed the old fool a lie-filled answer, but surprised himself with an almost genuine reason: "My lord teacher, I've seen many terrible things happen in my life, not all of them were the fault of the people who were blamed. I think, no, I feel certain, that if I can help those sinners get a second chance, even a little, I'll have improved my lot in life."

Lebed raised an eyebrow, not a very good answer, no. "You mean to say you intend to make a profession of Law?"

Ankou lowered his head: "Not really, no."

[Ankou]

"Well then?" Lebed asked, his eyes gazing down on the little fae with some interest. "It's just, my lord often finds himself in legal trouble with no basis in fact. If I could learn something of law, I could help him out, that was my primary reason for seeking education here instead of at a guild."

"Ah..." Lebed said, nodding. "Yes, to assist your lord... admirable. Or deplorable. Not for me to judge. And yet the answer is acceptable, we will move on now." Lebed turned around and began to read something from a notebook, Ankou sighed in relief.

"What is Law?" He asked, turning around, he held a book in his hands, from which he read. "What do you believe Law is?" He asked again, peering at the fae. "Law is that which governs our behavior in a dignified manner?" Ankou asked, clearly unsure of his own answer. "Wrong!" Lebed said, slamming the book down. "Law is the primary aspect of Ioannes, from which Order and Justice originate. It is the base of the triangle of the Sacred Three!"

Ankou lowered his head, theology was never this athiest's strong-point. He let his teacher continue without pausing to question his words. Although indeed, if he was in his right and proper mood, he would initiate a theological argument concerning the very existance of these 'Gods', with whom the young fae felt nothing but scorn for, when he acknowledged their existance at all.

"Without Law, Order and Justice are futile, meaningless, do you understand? It is the first layer of Ioannes' divine will. It isn't a mandate from the people that laws take effect, but a rule from the God's themselves, and therefore to break them is to do Jorel's bidding and bring chaos to the world."

He turned around, skimming his notes. "Moving on..."

[Ankou]

"Moving on... to the matter of implementation of the law." Ankou looked up, now, his head had been cast in shame, but Lebed's voice brought him to consciousness. "It's a simple matter really. The law is implemented by... well. Take a guess."

Ankou did: "Maybe... the empire?"

Lebed laughed a little. "True enough, but there's more than that! Everybody implements the law. It belongs to everybody, everybody's servant and everybody's master." Ankou nodded, that made sense. Lebed went on.

"Now you mentioned the empire. The empire executes the law. It enforces it. But everyone has a right to it's protection. The law is something which binds us together, it is only the empire's job to make sure we obey it. In a city, the job falls to a Prefect. In a province, it's a Justicar."

"Now, the main body of law is the Annarian Code, let me lecture on that for a bit..."

[Ankou]

The door opened, and a few humans wandered in. All related, by the looks. "Ah, Mr. Elbin, Mr. Elbin and Miss Elbin, so kind of you to join us... and as class started near an hour ago, too!"

"Sorry sir." They chimed in unison. "Well," Lebed said, apologizing to Ankou. "I must clear their initial matters first, once they're caught up, we can continue with the lesson on the Annarian Code."

He did that, and it took time, so much so that just as he was ready to continue...

"Alas, time's up. Do read these papers, class, they list the Annarian code in full. Please try to read up a little for next time!"

-Next time-

This time Ankou wasn't the only one at all. In fact, besides the Elbin triplets, there was a tall elf and a mean looking dwarf. Ankou arrived early, himself, having traveled here mostly to take this very class, and without much else to attend to in this city.

"Settle down, class, settle down." Lebed said, wandering into class on time. Everybody else had taken the precaution of arriving early.

"Ah, good to see everybody here, let me quickly catch you up, Valn, and Gro." And that took some time too.

But eventually, Lebed was ready to talk about the Annarian code.

"Queen Anna the Strict wrote these down, many years ago, and they have guided the Allerian thinkers for generations! Quiet now, as I write down the first law!"

The Sacred Three shall be thy Primacy

"Now, what do you think of that class?"

Ankou piped up: "It means that, no matter what we do, we hold ourselves true to Law, Order, and Justice. That, even if it interferes with customs, we must serve these three unerringly?"

"Correct! And any questions?"

He answered a couple of other student's questions, before getting to Ankou's: "Yes. What if the course of action is unclear, or if you may jeopardize the greater good by the short-term good?"

Lebed thought a moment before answering: "A fine question. You must follow what you really believe. Remember that if it benefits more, it is of greater importance to the empire! Always, always the empire first! Unity."

Lebed went on...

[Ankou]

Thou Shalt Swear Fealty to the Empire

"Yeah, that ones kinda obvious." One of the Elbin's said. "I mean we gotsta do what the empire dudes tell us to right?" Lebed cried a little, inside. "Yes, of course, Mr. Elbin, that it does."

"However, it means much more than that! It's an ancient pact, as old as the empire! We, the citizens, obey the officials in exchange for the protection offered us by the state! The law represents us, and in exchange we obey and respect the law. It's a cycle in which our whole organization is based upon! Without it, we are nothing but anarchist children beating each other with sticks!"

"Good point." Valn said gruffly. Gro smirked, Ankou laughed.

"A problem with this law, Sir Fae?" Lebed asked, his eyes bearing down on Ankou with a steel precision. "Not at all sir, but I have to wonder. If this fealty is mandatory, then it isn't really a freedom, we're forced into a position of respect to an organization assured of our loyalty... doesn't that leave room for abuse?"

"Perhaps, perhaps." Lebed said. "But there is a system of checks and balances within the system. Only the emperor has complete power. And he is appointed by the Gods, and ergo, is foolproof."

Ankou kind of wanted to argue that point, but didn't press it.

[Ankou]

Take not what is not Thine

The Truth shall be Thine Liberator

"These two codes shouldn't be of any great strain upon your intelligence, gentlemen and ladies. Now, these are obvious, no?"

"Yeah, it means tell the truth and don't take what ain't yours, right?" One of the Elbin brothers said. The whole class generally nodded.

"Indeed. Simple laws, but with powerful impact. Lies are the worst. And in some societies, it was deemed to be only a minor, non-criminal offense. However, this solidifies that lies are indeed to be avoided. And that stealing is an equally deplorable crime. Remember! Everything people own is by hard work, when you steal, you destroy their work, you deface their ideals.

And by doing that, you threaten the integrity of the empire.

Moving on."

[Ankou]

The Weak shall be Defended - Those of limited means, spirit or capacity, either physical, mental or otherwise, shall be protected from those stronger than they are who prey upon their weaknesses, in the name of Justice and Righteousness.

"Well?" Lebed asked, his eyes roaming the classroom.

Ankou, the brightest one there, ventured a guess: "Fairly logical, right? Similar to the two previous. You shouldn't stand by and allow others to bully and intimidate the weak. I know a thing or two about that..." Ankou stopped and thought about it a little more.

"Maybe it also means that we owe each other more than that. Maybe there's a bond of protection against those who would prey upon us."

Lebed nodded, fairly logical indeed.

"Well, any other thoughts?"

There weren't. "Yes, Ankou pretty much covered it, but don't let protection become vigilanteism. There's a fine line.


Moving on."

[Ankou]

The Law is Common and Public, not Thine to Monopolise - Allerians shall not take the law into their own hands, or dispense with Justice in their interpretation. Powers which are limited to the State alone - the power to kill, incarcerate and eject through banishment - shall never be exercised by a Citizen without approval from the Imperial Government, or in the pursuit of Honour.

There was a silence in the classroom as Lebed scratched out the next code. The sixth code. Ankou was in an almost awe-inspired silence as the words of this code took shape. It was quite explicit, but again, Lebed felt the need to speak up as he looked around the room. "Now, who can tell me the most basic meaning as this code states?"

The dwarf spoke up: "That's got ta mean that if we see a wrongdoing that we cannae do anything aboot rightaway, we need ta go through the propa channels ta repart the crime, insteed o' rushing about on our ownsees." Lebed looked at him and nodded.

"A fine example of this code in action, although I have to wonder why you have such a thick accent." The dwarf shrugged. "Ah, well, can anybody tell me perhaps why this code is in effect?"

Ankou spoke up: "How about as a precaution to protect us from ourselves? Rather than risk our lives attempting to stop crime, we respect the law and ergo the empire by going through the appropriate channels."

"Very good," Lebed said, turning back to his board.

"How about we move on?"

[Ankou]

"Actually, that's all the time we have for today, isn't it?" Lebed asked, looking around, and indeed how time flew. The class grumbled and got up to reconvene at a later date. "Next time, ladies and gentlemen, we shall cover the FINAL TWO CODES and then have our Competency Examination, so study hard!"

~NEXT... TIME!~

Mankind's Cruelty must be Vanquished - Life is inherently selfish and self-serving, for benevolent or malevolent intent, and as such, all citizens and subjects shall place forth an effort to vanquish the cruelty and evil present in us all. Those under trial must prove that they are Innocent, for their Guilt has already been established through Nature's predestination.

That was waiting on the board when Ankou and the others shuffled in. "Sir, I've been thinking about the sixth code, actually." Ankou said, and Lebed stared at him, waiting for his response.

"Well, I was thinking that perhaps it also serves to benefit a Guilty Criminal. Benefit is the wrong word... more like, bring to appropriate justice. Some vigilantes may want to exact more um... how does one say this? Violent and harsh punishments then fit the crime. True enough?"

Lebed nodded. "A fine point, Ankou, anyone else care to add to that sentiment?"

No one did.

"Very good now what can you people tell me about the statement on the board? What does it mean for those tricky fellows, the students of law, and their adversaries the criminal element?"

"Seems simple enough." The tall man who Ankou had forgotten about said. "We are evil, and so must be watched carefully."

Lebed nodded, waiting for someone else to say something.

Ankou thought a moment then dived in: "It seems to indicate the empire's belief in our immorality foremost, that we must constantly fight to contain this immorality as we are corrupted by the dark gods from our onset. Ergo, the defenses job is made easier... sorry, the defense's job is made more difficult by this implication. Although how much is actually believed and how much was fabricated to make conviction easier, I could not tell you."

Lebed frowned, a troublesome young fae, to say the least. "So, expand on the latter part then."

"Uh, yes, the latter part, as I said, a logical continuation of our natural guilt is our natural um... Criminal Guilt, I might say. The code says we're guilty because as citizens of alleria, we're shady individuals." A chuckle from somewhere. "The downside of which is we can be accused for any crime, and some may find it difficult to escape un... un... um... wrongful imprisionment and punishment."

"But, it is the student of law's job to prove his client's innocence. Yes? If your client is innocent, the evidence will prove it!

Moving on."

[Ankou]

Thou Shalt comport Thineself with Honour - Subjects and citizens shall act in Honour, to do pride to family and friends, and to ameliorate through success, prosperity, benevolence and temperament the very gifts of consideration and respect inherent in life's creed.

"Now, class, who can tell me what honor is?"

Naturally, the whole class was stone-dead silent, the very concept of honor having fled the minds of the Allerian youth as soon as it was introduced. Honor? Hah, honor was nothing to these people.

"Well, perhaps I should start then? To me, composing yourself with honor means acting, above all, with respect to your name. However long a man may live, his name lives on long after he's gone. Honor means your name is remembered as a good one."

Ankou was next: "Honor to me is loyalty, loyalty to the organizations and people on whom your actions reflect, you must conduct yourself in a manner which will reflect kindly on those whom you represent."

And they went on, talking about their personal views of honor, a very solemn and intricate ceremony.

"Finally, I'd like to test your knowledge of the Annarian Codes, in this little two parchment test, quills out, and begin!"

Ankou looked down at the test, 10 dizzying questions, including a hypothetical situation, eight code questions and an essay question.

With a heavy heart, he plunged in, scribbling away until time was called.

Lebed looked over the papers with a harsh and intricate eye, and Ankou couldn't help feel a little nervous. "Ankou, 70%, good work, you pass."

Ankou breathed a sigh of relief and thanked his instructor.

[Grim]

Approved.

-Grim