Re: Town Meeting

[Durkis]

"Thissh is all really easshily sshettled, actually! I've sshtudied law before, or at least glansshed at a book which claimed to contain law, so I'm pretty sshure I know a good ssholution!

All in favour of eliminating the posshition of ssherriff and creating the posshition of chief of law enforcement? That'ssh actually a better desshcription of the job as I'm to udnersshtand it from the proceedingssh ssho far!"

[Lady Val]

"I agree with Grayfeard. Three law enforcers is a good number. As much as I appreciate Elder Durkis' suggestion of rounding up a posse, I'm afraid that the posse idea means that the sheriff of chief of law enforcement will have to actually find people to support them in taking down a ne'er-do-well which could impede enforcing the law if they cannot garner that support. Granted if a sheriff is unsupported it likely means that the sheriff is unwanted by the people but for simplicity I think its best to have specified deputies." She sips her drink.

"As for the titles, well we need to think about what power structure the law enforcement branch of the town should have. Presently the head of the law enforcement branch is the sheriff which implies that those below the sheriff would be deputies. Those above a sheriff will generally be called commissioners. Thus would we want a commissioner and two sheriffs or a sheriff and two deputies? Additionally, am I correct in assuming that we want the law enforcement of this town to be under the control of the council? Before deciding on who is what we need to decide how they will govern themselves."

[Degren Brightforge]

" our laws are not hard to follow. Anyone enforcing these laws would simply have to stop unnecessary violence and theft. Other than that we don't really have anything that we need to worry about, aside from a few select cases."

[Lady Val]

"True but this is assuming they will stop without a fight. There are many people in this world who are stronger than most of the people in our village. Three against one is better odds."

[Degren Brightforge]

"Alright. Whoever we put in this position should be top notch fighters, just so we're sure that we have our bases covered. Maybe one of them should have access to mind altering magic so that some fights can be ended without drawing blood. Also a medic, or someone with earth healing magic would be useful. This team should be self sufficient."

[Joy Rosewood]

"If vat I heard iz true, zen Faerie herself appointed Gurok as sheriff. Ve have a faerie circle and zey are vatching, maybe even right now. Ve have a direct connection to the faerie and zey have a direct connection to US. If you deny faerie her vill, zere vill be consequences. Zey are real and zey are POWERFUL. I beg zis of you, make Gurok a sheriff. Have ozers to help her und vatch her, fine, but do not deny Faerie." [OOG I hope this doesn't double post]

[Durkis]

"Hmmm, yessh, appointing commissshonerssh above the ssheriff or ssheriffssh issh actually quite a good idea!

Also, remind me after thissh meeting to bring up an alehall debate about mind altering magic assh a form of sshtructural violensshe sshometime. I have sshome interssting thoughtssh on the matter."

[Lady Val]

"Exactly. This is why my top three choices for the sheriff positions are Gurok, Ardin, and Hugo. Hugo is fast with his weapon, he heals quickly and on his own. He can also reportedly use psychic abilities as well AND he is level headed. Ardin has proven himself to be a capable tactician, a skilled combatant, and, if I am not mistaken, he can also heal others. Gurok is the muscle. She can subdue anyone in this town using sheer strength alone and she is very hard to kill. Additionally she has a strong sense of honour."

"I know you want some members of the Knights to be part of the sheriff team but in truth it may be better if they are independent from the Knights. The Knights are our prime defenders. They should not have to be concerned with civic matters like theft or unnecessary violence between citizens since there are bigger threats facing our town at the moment. And, to be honest, the Knight's code of honour to their brothers should not blind them to the actions of fellow members of their order. The same goes for the Fae. I would not recommend most Fae in our community because of our tendency to be very insular."

"Our law enforcement should be separate from our military and should be primarily neutral. The only reason I am recommending Gurok to be part of the sheriff team and not another neutral party is because she believes that all Fae and humans should be treated fairly. This is why Faerie has compelled and commanded us to make her sheriff. The Faerie want to see if she can back up her ideology, if she can dispense justice fairly. Gurok stood in front of our Gods and berated them for showing favouritism towards the Elves. She shouted at the Faerie. To their faces. I think the Elven code should still apply, we should send all murderous Elves to the Mists to avoid compromising the Elves of Holdfast, but believe me when I say that she will not treat anyone different because of their race. If she is willing to shout at our gods because she believes that humans and Fae are equal, I do not think she will suddenly begin to show favouritism towards her fellow Fae. Trust me when I say that Gurok is more passionate than most Fauns when it comes to racial equality and justice."

Lessa's serpent ring is perched on Val's left ring finger. It glints in the candlelight.

[Degren Brightforge]

" I don't doubt that Gurok is courageous at heart, and, as I've said on multiple occasions, I believed her to be a prime candidate for the Order of Iron, but she is a woman ruled by emotion, something proven very recently with her run in with the imperial . She is calm until things grow out of control, which is when control is of the utmost importance.  She might be acceptable in a support role, but I don't think it would be acceptable for her to be in charge. That is only my opinion, though. I know Ardin very little, and I, like many of you, saw potential in him; but, I must remind you that he is very new to this area. We have yet to have an opportunity to measure the true worth of him, and while I don't doubt that he will rise to do great things in the future, I do not believe that he should be afforded such an important position this early. I do agree with you, Val, that we should keep the Knights separate, though. Asher should return soon from her trip, and she does have the second most experience in the position. Hugo would do well, as well. I'm undecided as to the final person I would see in the position. "

[Lady Val]

"Faerie wants her to be made sheriff. As long as she has the title sheriff and has the capacity to enforce the law within this town I believe the Faerie will be satisfied. They want to see her uphold and enforce the law and have the capacity to make choices regarding the distribution of discipline with regards to the breach of laws within our town. As long as she is in a position with that title and the ability to make those choices it should fit their requirements. If she has a superior to guide her then so be it, she just needs to be able to test of her decision making abilities. If we appoint a commissioner and have two or three sheriffs below them she can be one of the sheriffs. A sheriff enforces laws, a commissioner would oversee the sheriffs and ensure that they are acting appropriately and in line with the laws of Holdfast. Additionally, it would mean that there is a two step failsafe system for law enforcement in our town. The commissioner and the council would both ensure the sheriffs uphold the laws of Holdfast. If they don't, the commissioner can bring the sheriff before the council and hold them accountable for their actions or alternatively their failure to act depending on the circumstances."

[Durkis]

"Thussh you can sshee how the esshtablisshhment of the comissshionerssh sshysshtem is quite the clever way to deal with the problem presshented to you by that basshtard entity"

[Grayfeared the Whitehawk]

Grayfeared sits forward, "As I have already stated, I am against Gurok being sheriff. However, If a power structure is put in place to take power away from the sheriff, and to make them answer to someone higher, I would change my vote. The names put on positions matter little. I can agree with Lady Val's proposal of a commissioner system. If that is what the town wishes to implement, then I shall change my vote. Therefore, with the commissioner system in place, I vote Gurok as a sheriff. As it was also stated before, Ardin is very new here. This meeting is the first interaction I've had with him."

Grayfeared turns to address Ardin, "Ardin, I like the spirit and sense of good that I've seen from you here today. I hope to see amazing things from you in the future. However, I can not vouch for someone that I do not know. It would not be putting the best interest of the town above all if I did. It would be betraying those that trusted me with this position."

Grayfeared begins addressing everyone again, "My vote for law enforcers, with the stipulation that they answer to a higher power, are Gurok, and Hugo. For commissioner, I am open to suggestions, but as it sits now I believe Volk or Asher would be a good choice. They both have experience being sheriff. While the position doesn't directly have power to enforce the law, the knowledge made from past mistakes would serve them well in the position. "

[Durkis]

"Ah yessh, ah yessh, the tried and tesshted method of appointing people becausshe they can't possshibly make the sshame misshtakessh twisshe.

. . . I made that misshtake before, which hassh sshhaken my faith in the consshept, but becausshe my faith in the consshept hassh been sshhaken, I am open to making that misshtake again"

[Volkihere Malacalo]

Volk sits up again.
"To oversee future individuals to carry out law? As apposed to allowing the sheriff ultimate power, I have previously mentioned that I didn't want to take a official position, but it appears I'm changeling my mind, if people would see fit to place me as commissioner I would accept the newly formed position, as I agree that it's needed, and if they don't think its a good place for me then I maintain that the sheriffs office needs regulation."

[Gurok]

I do worship Faerie. She is my God, and I believe she is a benevolent, and merciful God. I wish to do right by her.
HOWEVER:
My primary concern will always the wellbeing of this town and its people. Health, security, and justice.
This comes before the will of my God.
This comes before my emotions towards any Particular Individual.

Greyfeared.
I've heard your concerns about my temper, and tendency to speak and act rashly. I agree with you. As I am now, it would be a mistake to put me in a position of power. I have come to realise that letting my emotions control me, and acting before I think has, and will continue to put the town in danger, especially if I am given the traditional responsibilities given to the sheriff. For the good of the town, I can not allow that to happen.

Datura and Auron.
You have both expressed concern that the town should not be "bending to the will of faerie" when many of the townsfolk are not her people, do not worship her and are not under her protection.  I agree that it is not fair to expect everyone here to treat faeries word as law. I am sympathetic to the fact that you suspect faerie of malicious intent, and if I were of that mind, I wouldn't want to do what she told me to either.

Degren.
You said that you suspect that some of the folk around here are not in their own mind. I am sure Faerie would be able to do that if she wanted to. I would be worried as well if a god had given an order, and suddenly the people who she spoke to were in favour of it, despite reasonable arguments otherwise. But the other cause could simply be that those who spoke to her witnessed her power, and are frightened. They do not wish to see her unleash her wrath upon us all. (Now, I personally believe she would not punish an entire town for not taking her suggestion, but my personal beliefs are of no consequence here) but if you are set in your suspicions that some of us are under her control, I do not blame you, and id like to hear your suggestions from eliminating that possibility.

I cannot deny that what I have seen leads me to believe that Faerie could easily kill us all with a snap of her fingers, as punishment for ignoring her orders. It's understandable that some of you would be frightened. (Again, I think Faerie would never do that, but we're not talking about that.) In order to please all of you, here is what I suggest.

Name me sheriff.  But give me no real power. For now, treat me as a minion, a tool of the Council. I would answer to the council, and possibly to a Commissioner if we want to put that position in place as well.  Put me on probation. Give me a babysitter.  Give me a mentor, someone to train me in the art or restraint, and self-control.
Only ever give me the option of being nominated for any real responsibility if I:
A) Prove that I am not under Faries control, and
B) Prove that I have learned to control my temper, and think before acting.
How does that sound?

[Zar/Herr]

Herr applauds

[Malva]

"Sounds like a great plan to me."

[Phineas J. Pennefeather]

Phineas looks up from his quiet doodling, in one of his alchemy books, of little images of somewhat familiar individuals with added tails and tinted complexions.

“That might actually work!”

[Durkis]

Durkis pulls out a small notebook from their robe, and opens it to a page with a scrawled table.

The columns are labelled "Faery" and "Orcish legal jibber jabber". The 1st column has three marks in it, and Durkis proceeds to make the 1st mark under the 2nd column.

[Gurok]

Durkis what are you writing?

[Durkis]

"Oh, I'm jussht keeping sshcore!"

[Joy Rosewood]

*Joy stares at Durkis confusedly for a moment*

"..."

*Joy regains her composure and looks away*

"Yah, I don't see anyzing vrong vith zat proposal... "

[Degren Brightforge]

Degren sighs and visibly relaxes , he nods and speaks , " Alright. If you can keep yourself under control then we can work together as you as Sheriff. I hope that your faith in Faerie is not misplaced. I'll not argue the issue further, If the people still wish to see Gurok as Sheriff, then I will not oppose it."

[Gurok]

Shall we get on with it, then? There is a lot that needs to get done. If the people are to vote, put a note on the Noticeboard. If it is just for the council to decide, let them discuss, and promptly post a note as to their decision. Please excuse me.  Degrin, can I talk with you outside?

[Degren Brightforge]

"Alright. I'll be out in a second." Degren finished his discussions on the topic of Sheriff before leaving to speak to Gurok.

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