Anvil Court Report for Winter 382

Anvil Court Report for Winter 382

Crimes		Description		Accused & plea		Verdict & punishment
Heresy		The accused (while Conscience of the Senate) sent letters to many in the Empire in which they contravened the Doctrine of Human Destiny by claiming that [Orc] thralls reincarnate amongst other things. They went beyond asking questions to teaching false doctrine. No evidence was presented of others being swayed by or spreading these heretical beliefs.		Mel of the Mourn plead guilty with a clemency plea by Martin Orchard on the grounds of vigilance. The condemning priest was Hazel of the Shattered Tower.		Guilty. The Penance of a Freezing Brand of Irremais was taken into account and they were furthermore fined twenty five thrones.
Idolatry		The accused was invited by the Senate to take up a post designing buildings. He proceeded to do so in the Asavean style although it quickly became apparent that these involved grandiose statues to the Asavean gods. Nevertheless for a number of years the accused continued to be employed by the Senate and commissioned by various Senators to continue. Furthermore none of these commissions were vetoed by the Synod. In his defence the accused argued that if the Empire didn't like his buildings why did they keep employing him? Furthermore why did the Synod wait so long before taking action, if the buildings were idolatrous? He claimed that the Empire were crooks who were planning on confiscating his earnings and prosperity and that this was unjust.The Court was concerned that the accused, while clearly guilty, was also a priest of a foreign religion building these imperial commissions the only way he knew how. It appeared that he was being made a scapegoat while the Senate and those who had commissioned his services (all followers of The Way) had faced no condemnation for their actions.		Almodin Oktístis, Priest of the Builder and the Asavean Architect, plead not guilty. The condemning priest was Veikko Bondforger. The Court notes the probity, skill and wisdom with which he applied himself to his duty.		Guilty.No punishment was applied as the Court was of the opinion that this would not be just and therefore not in the Imperial interest. The accused was advised to leave the Empire forthwith.
Murder of Bessie the Bard and Contempt of Court		The accused were members of the Hallowed Order,a group lead by Rune who undertook vigilante justice against heretics, including among their number a group of hawks specifically tasked with assassinations. A witness had also given a statement that she had been approached by Yon (after the murder) and asked to take part in these activities. The accused gave evidence that Rune was out of control and taking things too far before his death. They admitted attempting to interfere with a Whispers Through the Black Gate to obtain testimony from Bessie the Bard. The fact that they were present at the time of the murder, that the witness evidence suggested that Rune had fled the scene in the immediate aftermath of the murder, that they had by their own admission interfered with the investigation into Bessie the Bard's death and that Yon had continued to recruit for the Hallowed Order, an organisation whose purpose was the murder of Imperial citizens all lead the court to the conclusion that it was more likely than not that the accused participated in or assisted in the murder of Bessie the Bard.		Yon of the Moon's Owl of Wyvern's Watch and Gren Wyvernson of Wyvern's Watch plead not guilty to murder and not guilty to contempt of court.		Guilty. Death by execution. Yon requested that the sentence be commuted to penal military service but this had already been considered and rejected, in consideration of the circumstances.
Murder of an unnamed Druj orc by a member of the same Druj diplomatic delegation		On the Saturday night of the Winter Solstice festival in Anvil a Druj peace delegation came to parley with the leaders of Urizen. As part of that process two of the barbarians forced the third to take a potion against his will. This potion, by some unknown Druj magics, allowed a Druj leader, not present in Anvil, to use the body of the third orc as a vessel for his communications. At the end of the parlay the leader left the body of this orc and he fell to the ground, dead. Attempts were made to bring the two remaining Druj to the Magistrates for investigation. One fled, a second was caught. The victim was protected under Imperial Law as a member of a peace delegation and the other Druj were obliged to abide by Imperial Law as members of the same delegation. The orc admitted his involvement but saw nothing wrong with his acts. The victim meant nothing to him and the court was convinced that it was the forcible taking of the potion that resulted in the death.		A Druj orc of unknown name refused to plead and so a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.		Guilty Sentenced to death by execution.After sentence was given the orc made a fight of it and was killed by the vigilant citizens of Anvil before a formal execution could be carried out.
Treason by treating with the Whisper Gallery (First Trial)		Between the Autumn and Winter Festivals a hospital in Morrow was attacked by Druj orcs. The head of that hospital had made a deal with the Whisper Gallery for them to provide a magic shroud to protect the hospital from the Druj, in return for which secrets were being given to the Whisper Gallery and rare books were being burnt. Those who gave up their secrets then found that they had forgotten them. Eight Imperial Citizens came to the Magistrates at Anvil at the Winter Festival to confess their crimes. Six were tried collectively and a seventh tried separately afterwards, one did not face trial. All of the accused accepted their culpability in that they carried out the ritual required to satisfy the Whisper Gallery, taking part in the giving of secrets and burning of books. The Court was convinced that the accused were not treating with the enemy with treasonous motives, and that their loyalty had saved the lives of several hundred wounded Imperial Citizens. However the Court was not convinced that the act was Virtuous enough to totally mitigate their actions.		Aquilllian Effugere of Urizen, Redhand Gezzar, Ptolemy Ravensfell, Aethelric of Sieghold, Tamar of Enlightenment Spire, Raelyn Holdfast and Sadiq.All pled guilty with clemency. Viekko Bondsforger, Cardinal of loyalty made the clemency plea for the most of the defendants, except Sabilla of Highguard for Redhand Gezzar and Pan Edgestalter for Sadiq. All pleas were on the basis of Loyalty.		Guilty.A joint fine of fifty Thrones. This fine shall be allocated to Virtuous endeavours of the Citizenry. The defendants were encouraged to make suggestions, and my decision as to how this will be allocated will be announced at the festival of the Spring Equinox at Anvil. (Magistrate Reinholz)
Treason by treating with the Whisper Gallery (Second Trial)		The facts of the case were identical to the previous case, except that the accused had both lead the ritual, and also voted against carrying it out (unlike the other defendants). She did so on the grounds that it was an unvirtuous act. The accused initially plead guilty without clemency but following legal advice from the magistrate the trial was delayed to allow the accused to consult Conclave and priests of the Synod. An accused who pleads guilty has the right to choose whether to request clemency or not. However at trial the question of the Virtue of their acts is determined by the Clemency priest and the Magistrate, not the opinion of the accused.		At trial the accused plead guilty with a clemency plea given by Maarit Suvidottir of Sieghold.		Guilty.No additional punishment. The fifty Throne fine from the first trial was considered sufficient for the entire act.
Treason by treating with the Whisper Gallery (this is unrelated to the previous two trials)		The accused did a deal with The Whisper Gallery. This deal was in the form of a letter that the accused had kept for some time. The accused replied to this letter and made a deal with the Whisper Gallery. The accused said that they only did so after coming under the influence of a magical effect. It should be noted that committing crimes while under the influence of magical affects is not a legal defence. In law we are held responsible for our own actions.		Benedict Pacelli Von Holberg plead guilty with no clemency.		Guilty.Sentenced to Death by Penal Military Service.
Subverting the agencies of the state		The accused wrote directly onto a Synod Judgement posted in the hub. This judgement belonged to another member of the Synod. Their unauthorised addition to the judgement was intended to change Synod voting behaviour.		Vivianne de Couerdefer, Cardinal of Ambition plead guilty. A clemency plea was made by Irada Von Temeschwar , Cardinal of Vigilance.		Guilty. Fined seven thrones.
Subverting the agencies of the state (both accused) and assault (Ancel Weaver only)		An aide to the Throne held an Imperial Favour which contained the power to dissolve Conclave. Syn Nighthaven grabbed the Imperial Favour from their hands and ran out of Conclave, allegedly ripping up the document as she did so. She claimed to have burnt the remains, but this is unverified. Ancel magically repelled one citizen who had blocked Syn's way so she could not get past. At trial, when pressed, Syn stated that she would have struggled to get past this final person otherwise.		Syn Nighthaven of Navarr and Ancel Weaver (formerly Vexille) of Dawn plead guilty. Clemency was plead on their behalf by Jared of the Suns of Couros and Irada Von Temeschwar, Cardinal of Vigilance, respectively		Guilty. They were jointly fined thirty Thrones for subverting the agencies of the state. Ancel was also fined three crowns for the assault.
Poisoning		At the Autumn equinox the accused slipped Bite into the drink of Thorn, a friend, with no warning. Note: They have already been convicted and punished for possession of bite. They voluntarily presented themselves to the militia and cooperated fully.		Aron of the Levy pleaded guilty without clemency.		Guilty.Fined three crowns.
Murder		The details of this case are unclear although it appeared to involve a killing on the battlefield among the Navarr this case will now be reviewed and reported upon when the facts are known.