A Condemnation of the Theatrical

[joglak]

---

---

House Valloaan's seal is printed on all original copies. This includes those that hang from noticeboards.

---

​

​

It is not a trial. There will be no criminal proceedings. You are not obligated to be here, though do know that you will be judged in your absence. If you are guilty, you will be punished. If you are guilty, you will be able to find redemption. This is not a trial.

These are all statements made, verbatim, this evening by the Celacy. However, anyone with eyes and ears could see that the "Inquest" against Count Norinn, his House, and Countess Nayëlen (although the latter two not formally charged) was, indeed, a trial. Nay, not a criminal trial where one is found guilty and finds his physical being put to death, but one where members of this esteemed peerage can find their reputations wither and die. What we, the Nobility, Aristocracy, and Common People, the poor and rich, the sworn Knight and dutiful servant saw was a charade in which the accused had no chance to find innocence or redemption. The fault lies with a select few.

I condemn the purveyors of tonight's false trial. This includes:

1. Charikleia Fotakis
   1. For playing a part in the theatrical and predetermined judgment of Count Norinn.
   2. For accusing adultery and later admitting a lack of proof, thus dropping the charges. The damage had already been done.
2. Emmerich Reidel
   1. For playing a part in the theatrical and predetermined judgment of Count Norinn.
   2. For betraying Inquest protocol and only allowing protocol to be followed under Sister Fotakis' guidance.
3. Baldewin Braunschweiger
   1. For playing a part in the theatrical and predetermined judgment of Count Norinn.
   2. For betraying Inquest protocol and only allowing protocol to be followed under Sister Fotakis' guidance.
4. Myka
   1. For playing a part in the theatrical and predetermined judgment of Count Norinn.
   2. For allowing themselves to be part of the counsel determining Count Norinn's guilt despite having an established grudge against the "voiding" Count Norinn.

It is clear that even if Count Norinn had been found innocent today, that the result would not have mattered. The damage had been done amongst the gathered Peers, most of which urging a guilty verdict and speculating rumor against Countess Nayëlen and Count Norinn. I do not, cannot, and would not condemn all gossip. We are people whose lives revolve around a world of politicking, and as such it is one of our many and few guilty pleasures that we can share amongst each other as a common ground. However, I will condemn the most distasteful.​

I condemn the following Peers for slander and improper etiquette in State halls. This includes:​

1. Lady Vittoria von Rolanthe
   1. For continuously making improper commentary on Count Norinn's and Countess Nayëlen's political relationship, insinuating and outright stating that Countess Nayëlen is Count Norinn's "plaything."
   2. For attempting to sway the Celacy's opinion on the matter despite her own biases in favor of Count Norinn's former wife.
   3. For insulting myself and other titled members of the Peerage.
   4. For promising herself to Unionism, yet clearly not knowing her own teachings. The God-Empress Elia teaches self-control, of which you had none. The God-Empress Ness teaches compassion, of which you had none. The God-Emperor Theomar preaches patience, of which you had none.
2. Count Adagio von Rolanthe
   1. Control your household.

Furthermore, I condemn one final Peer, though for different reasons than listed above:

1. Countess Amber Silverberry
   
   1. For showing cowardice in her refusal to attend the Inquest. Those that levy the accusations should speak them.

With everything said and done now, it is easy to move on our way and forget. It is easy to read this and claim that you know best, that Count Norinn is truly guilty or truly innocent. The point of this condemnation is not to claim Count Norinn's innocence, but to point out that there was no real opportunity for those unattuned to the true facts to know for certain whether he is or is not at fault. What we, the bystanders and flies on the wall, have is the mockery made today and the scorned voices of a few who have all too much to gain if they are slanderous and victimized. Many will make their assumptions and cut their ties with Count Norinn, the "oathbreaker, adulterer, and betrayer" and Countess Nayëlen, the "adultress, homewrecker, and sinner." These are titles they will carry almost as officially as their State-given ones. ​

---

​

The truth seeks out all men, even when you do not seek out the truth.

From the hand and mouth of:
Laerilas Vorhaal Valloaan Bel-Sol Solleria-Tal Morrlondasseïävasso
Count of Tal Morrlondasseïävasso
​

 

[joglak]

(I have literally no idea why the formatting is messed up. tags: @Reading5993 @weatherbyrd @Drahydra @KrakenLord01 @vulnyacura @Fluuudd @Sorc3r3ss I think that's all of you teehee)

 

[Drahydra]

(A singular response is left on a public notice board in Crookback, an ink sketch of a moth left near the top as a denoting its author.)

Count Valloaan, your accusations confound me to no end, and your accusations against me in particular do nothing but betray your ignorance. You claim the decision as to the accused was made already preemptive to the inquest itself, and that the inquest itself is nothing theatrics. This is false. I myself took all of the facts spoken as well as my own research into the matter into my account. We deliberated. That time left outside of the court was not just for decoration. We argued. We compared our thoughts. A conclusion was reached. Of course, to someone like yourself who seems dead set on our bad faith in the matter and will not be convinced otherwise (if our exchange in the Willow that evening was any evidence of), it would look like all of this was for show.

This ignores the slap to the face that this inquest was really about. I did not take this matter as the playful theatrics you, and every crow and call and jeer from the peanut gallery that was the non-Unionist people clearly did. I am friends with Count Norrin. I still am, if he would allow for it. I married Lady Constance Norrin and Lord Alfarin Norrin together just weeks ago. Count Norrin asked me in particular for counsel regarding this inquest. He has even done a huge favor for me that he did not at all have to follow, but he did, and I am grateful. One of my first secular jobs when arriving in this city was acting as a personal advisor to Lady Bronwyn Norrin. I am close to this family. This has done harm to that relationship, regardless of the verdict we reached, and I am regretful it even came to this. I have no reason to do any of this over light matters. Do you really think I would waste my time with such decorum? No. To the loudest people in that hall however (who were overwhelmingly non-Unionist) this was just entertainment and a pretentious corrupt court. To this I have to say: Why did any of you show at all if you didn't understand what was at stake?

And as a final matter, I did not call Count Norrin a "voidling". Ailred did. And in fact, he did so to mock a direct threat to my life made just one month ago. I said the slur to someone that I probably shouldn't have, but I haven't apologized for this. Why is that? Because four of my colleagues were found dead that very same night, and there is overwhelming evidence that it is connected to the fact I said this word. I will not apologize to murderers, only to the victims, whom I have mourned. If this fact is just as "entertaining" to you as this inquest was, then you are about as worth speaking to as the Draconist Contrarian Extraordinaire himself. A contrarian who, need I remind you, is a non-Unionist chiming in with their opinions on Unionist issues, and does so while making light of my fear, and the suffering of those four in a manner I expect from EVOLISTS, not a Draconist.

As usual, if you, or anyone else wants to discuss things in good faith with open minds, I am willing. For those that just want entertainment, and to interpret every word I say in the worst possible ways: I am tired, and you will have to seek amusement elsewhere.

Celate Myka

 

[weatherbyrd]

---------------------------------

The Anglers Lure

He who cast all day, tempting the bite of the most tepid of fish.

Why does thou blame another for setting the hook, when thou would do the same?

A hook unbaited and water most pure, a stroke of fate or luck?

You cast your line and set your hook, but yell come! See this angler and look.​

Signed,
Charikleia Fotakis
Sister of The Lampra Asteri
Wandering Blade

---------------------------------​

 

[MonMarty]

To the Valloaan, or to whom else ever it may concern,

I cast no judgement on the trial or those submitted to judgement, as I am both dispossessed of interest in the urban matters of politics, but also blessed with lack of knowledge about the intimate proceedings. However, upon doing my usual rounds to fetch the ingredients for the celery soup / pun intended /, I felt compelled to at least write a short commentary on your publication.

I do not mean to presume your faith, though given your reflections on the Lady-Knight von Rolante and name, I find it within reason to assume you of the Elven faiths. It is not your place as a lay person to cast an interpretation of the words of Theomar on the faithful, especially as an outsider of the faith, as you are failing to see the fundamental point of the concept of Sin in Unionism. Sin is not a transgression or a gotcha that can be used to discount every word of expression of another the moment one is displayed, and Sin is not found in the momentary expressions of emotion or sentiment. Theomar does not demand forever patience, Ness does not demand forever compassion, and Elia does not demand forever patience. Virtue and Sin exist in a constant struggle back and forth over the soul, where not the single transgression casts shadow, and the single repentance brings cleansing luminance. It is your prerogative as a peer to publish condemnation and slander of your fellows, but you are bidden to hold your tongue on matters of the faith which you do not have the authority or latitude of wisdom to speak of.

Celate Theodoric von Greifenwaldtahl, of the Celery of Copsefold.