thirteenth rune; frost; video

[deadelfwalking]

[Hello, friends. A cold-eyed elf with a fairly significant skin condition stares at the camera, his jaw set, his mouth a thin, inscrutable line.]

Talk of a council is all well and good, but we have another matter in front of us.

As many of you have pointed out, there is no formal system of law in place. At present, those of you who acted as peace officers have simply continued as you were in your own worlds. If you brought others to justice, if you spoke about justice -- you have continued to see this as your right.

[His eyes narrow, drawing his long eyebrows together.]

But it is not your right. Your laws are not universal. Your morality is not sacrosanct.

We must decide on appropriate conduct as a whole, with consideration given to perspectives outside of our own.

I propose that any code we settle on be simple and direct. For example:

1. Murder shall be abolished. In the case of murder, execution.

2. Theft shall be abolished. In the case of theft, the hand shall be cut off at the wrist. Repeat offenders shall lose both hands.

3. Conspiring with the United Earth shall be considered treason. In the case of treason, suspected or actual, execution.

4. Bodily autonomy shall be respected. Knowing efforts to mind control, telepathically invade, steal, or otherwise forcibly take spiritual or physical authority over another sentient being will constitute assault. In the case of this assault, execution.

And so forth.  These are merely ideas, of course.

[His lower lip twitches, suggesting that he's perfectly aware of the extremes he's recommended. Suggesting that he's just trying to get your attention, to get you to think about how you would define your own terms. What constitutes murder? Theft? Conspiracy? Justice? He's only asking.

Maybe.]

[After several hours, the post is edited with a very carefully recorded text attachment.]

Proposed countermeasures to theft:
public humiliation 
fines
time locked away

Proposed countermeasures to murder:
temporary exile
(where?  to a safe place?  to a random location in time?

General countermeasures
better jail system (?)
compassion (???)
mercy (???)
trials (how?  who receives authority?  who takes what position?  what verdicts should result?)
jail time (general solution?)
punishment via the VR room (?) 

Comments

[deadelfwalking]

But there are other crimes to consider. More likely crimes. Such as murder, for instance.

[theguideless]

Mmm.... [the sound drags on for a couple seconds. he stops.]

Murderers were executed where you're from, right? But...here, people can come back still. [half-squint. right?]

[deadelfwalking]

In some cases. Certainly that would be the punishment for a knight of the Ebon Blade. What about your homeland?

[theguideless]

Uhm, well...if it's people, you mean? Humans. [wincing a little, putting it like that.] I don't really know. I mean, it never happened, for what I can remember...But maybe it's like if you killed another Darkov.

You get taken away. Away from the compound, I mean. I'm not sure what happens after that, but you're not seen again.

[deadelfwalking]

Taken away, eh. Exiled, or killed, I wonder.

[theguideless]

[frowning, looking downward.] I don't know... [he hopes not.] It doesn't seem right. I mean, what we did was too important to waste resources...[looking back up.] And that's what we were. Even the bad ones.

[deadelfwalking]

[Oh, Martin ... this is getting into something far beyond the scope of his original purpose. He kneels down so that he's eye level with Martin, shakes his head.]

You know now, Martin -- that is not true.

[theguideless]

[smiling, a shade apologetically. he puts a hand on the wrist still at his shoulder and nods.]

Mm, I know now. But that's how it was before. And I don't think it's something that can work here... [a thoughtful pause.] But...everyone came here as a resource, kind of. Right? Except it wasn't to fight monsters like the ones I know. [frowning.] But...we still get to live around people, and that's different, too.

I don't really...have the head for this... [obviously.]