Part 49: Understanding Local Laws

Chapter 2: Understanding Local Laws


Before you leave, Nike, there are a couple things I should mention. I have reserved a room for you at the Welcome Inn, and it will remain yours indefinitely, so don’t worry about having a place to stay. Also, if you want your dinars exchanged, the money changer is down at the bazaar.
Any annoyingly complicated directions for getting there?
Oh, I’m sure you won’t have any trouble finding it.
Farewell, my friend. In two days I will stand before the Council of Judgment and speak of peace. I would like you to be there as well. Then we can journey together to the Simbani village.
I’ll keep it in mind. Goodbye, or should I say, “kwa hera?”
That’s just the Simbani language, actually, and it’s “kwa herini” for multiple people. Goodbye, Hero.


Tarna

…Stairs.


Stairs going up.


Stairs going down.


And I’m not allowed to use Levitate.


WHAT IDIOT BUILT THIS CITY ON A STEP PYRAMID?!


Nothing I can do about it, though. I just wish “down to the bazaar” wasn’t so literal.


At least this is a real bazaar, unlike the thinly distributed Katta in Shapeir. But where is the money changer?


Bazaar and the Junk Dealers

Excuse me, sir, do you know where—
Hello, young man. You look like you could use some of our mostly-new items.
Pop, these items aren’t new, you know that.
I didn’t say they were new, dummy. I said they were mostly new. In the world of sales, you got to learn to accentuate the positive.
In other words, lie.
I didn’t say that! You want to blow this sale? Just you listen and keep your mouth shut. As I was saying, we have the finest selection of mostly new items in the land of Tarna. What can I sell you?
Nothing at the moment, actually. I need to get my money changed first. Do you know where I can do that?
Well you’re in luck, young man, because I happen to have some particularly rare old coins made back during the war! Sure they’re made of wood, but they’re just as good as royals and twice as valuable! So if you just—
Dad! Sorry stranger. The money changer is a bit to the north of here; just head to your left and you can’t miss him.
Hmph! I was just giving the man some options!
I think I’ll just be going now…



*You enter the north end of the bazaar and witness a dispute.*

What are you doing? That is not right.


Stop him! Thief! Thief!


The Thief/Hall of Judgment/King Rajah

At this point, there are a number of ways you can handle this situation. A wizard can use virtually any combat spell in order to trip the thief up (I prefer Calm because of how odd it would seem), a thief can throw a dagger into his back, or a fighter lacking either method can do this:


Kick over the fruit bowl. Awesome. Of course, if you simply leave the screen instead at either end (both end up in the previous screen), you will see the guard apprehend the thief anyway, so there really isn’t that much benefit to doing it yourself.


*THUMP*


The matter is under control. This man is to be taken before the Hall of Judgment. All wrongs will be righted. You, stranger, shall accompany us to the Hall of Judgment, as well.


The Council of Judgment has determined that you, Harami, have broken the laws of Tarna by taking things belonging to others. You have shown yourself to be without honor. Do you have anything you wish to say before you are named honorless?
Fuckin’ whatever.
Then by the Judgment of the Council and the laws of Tarna, you, Harami, are now formally named honorless. So you have acted, so you shall be. The honorless one must leave the Hall. The Council of Judgment now summons the prince of Shapeir.


Nike von Slartibartfast did willfully use magic in the bazaar of Tarna in order to apprehend the honorless one.
The use of magic in the bazaar is in direct violation of the laws of Tarna.
Well, it was with good cause. Can’t I get a mulligan?
The Prince is a stranger, and unaccustomed to our laws. A magic user instinctively uses magic.
He did use his magic to prevent the escape of the honorless one, thus aiding my guards.
However, the Prince is still in violation of the laws of Tarna. Prince von Slartibartfast, swear by your honor to no longer use your magic in the city of Tarna, or else be banished immediately.
Council of Judgment, my home is in the magic plane, and therefore exempt from this ruling.
Acknowledged. Prince of Shapeir, will you swear not to use magic in the city of Tarna, except within Kreesha’s domain?
Do I really have a choice?
*Glare*
Right, fine. “Upon my honor, I swear to never use magic within the range you just said.”
That is sufficient. Now, however, King Rajah orders Rakeesh and Prince von Slartibartfast to meet with him in his chambers immediately.


You may enter into the presence of Rajah Sah Tarna.
Rajah Sah Tarna, I stand before you.
Rakeesh Sah Tarna, you stand before me in honor.
This is my friend, Nike von Slartibartfast, the prince of Shapeir.
It is an honor to meet you, King Rajah.
Prince of Shapeir, you stand before me in honor. Rakeesh, you brought along this prince to help you bring peace. How can a human be of such service to a liontaur? So, human, how do you propose to help Rakeesh? Kreesha is the magic user of this land. Do you think you can out-enchant her?
Out-enchant? No. However, I am a fairly competent battle-mage, and whereas Kreesha, who specializes in ritual magic, is essentially bound to her home due to the static nature of those spells, I am able to act more as a free agent, investigating the countryside and poking my head into those corners which regular divinatory magics cannot reach. Furthermore—
Fine, human, you’ve made your point. So, Rakeesh, you and this prince seek to bring peace to our land? You grow too old if you must depend upon a human for help. Your age has made you cowardly and taken away your honor.
Now see here, that makes absolutely no logical sense! A paladin’s lifeblood is honor, and he would not be able to perform his job nearly as well if he, as you propose, were to be honorless.
You need a human to speak up for you now, Rakeesh?
I do not need to defend myself to you of all people, Rajah.
Rakeesh, you of anyone should be demanding war instead of talking about peace. Reeshaka is lost! Your own daughter has been killed by the Leopardmen. Do you not want revenge?
The truth of what has happened to Reeshaka has not been determined. When I know for certain about Reeshaka, I will deal with the matter myself. I do not need all of Tarna to suffer the horrors of war for my daughter. Revenge for the sake of revenge is pointless. Mindless revenge is pure stupidity.
Rakeesh, you…Human! Do you have anything important to add to this conversation?
Personally I prefer Rakeesh’s argument. Back when I was growing up, I saw many cases of poorly-aimed revenge, the perpetrators learning the truth only afterwards. The look of regret on their faces spoke volumes against the idea of a hasty retribution.
You are fortunate, Rakeesh, to have such a defender of your honor. Human, you may leave our presence now; I wish to speak further to Rakeesh.
Very well. Goodbye, king.


Well that was a fascinating experience. Now I just need to figure out what the hell just happened.