The Lawgiver - RPLOG
Participants
Date
12/6/478
Log
Fenris sits near the window in the freeswords' inn, looking idly out at the clouds drifting by while he carefully tends to his instruments laid out on the table before him. A flute, a violin, a guitar, and a. . . a thing. He has a pile of soft cloths and some polish that he is gently applying to the old violin right now.
While the bar isn't this crowded - most Sweetwater folk do follow the First Text on discouraging drinking before lunch - a few patrons linger here and there amongst the tables, minding their own business. Almost unnoticed is the entrance of a leonine being into the bar, dressed simply in ragtag scraps of armour and easy, casual clothes that might be expected of any Freesword. Perhaps looking to be in late middle age judging by the grey in his mane, a heavy copy of the First Text is sandwiched in one of his large hands as he makes a beeline for Fenris, coming to a stop beside the tiger. "Might I know if I have the honour of speaking with Fenris?"
Fenris blinks and looks up in surprise. "Honor?" he asks, a little confused, "I mean, yes, I am Fenris." The fluffy feline sets aside his work and stands. "I don't say this often, but you have me at a disadvantage," he says, "What can I do for you?"
"At a disadvantage?" the leonine being asks, pulling up a stool and seating himself as if he had every reason to do so. "Well, after a fashion, yes. Allow me to introduce myself - my name is Ethelberd, and I was hoping to get your opinion on a rather vexing question." He holds up the copy of the First Text he's carrying. "I understand that it is not exactly the kind of request that one makes of a Freesword -" odd, how he stumbles slightly over that word - "But I would like to get your ah - two crowns' worth. You do appear to have accrued some fame as a Freesword, and more importantly, come highly recommended by some of my friends."
As if to emphasise his point, Ethelberd draws two freshly-minted golden crowns from a breast pocket and holds them out to Fenris.
"I am happy to help if I can," Fenris says, retaking his seat, "And pleased to meet you, Ethelberd." The tiger smiles a little at the two crown's worth crack. "If you have a question about the First Text I am sure there are priests who could be more helpful to you," he says, "But I am flattered that you would come to me." Fenris is not used to being sought out, it is a rather unnerving situation for him. He looks over the lion's clothing and mannerisms, hoping to detect some hint of who he is dealing with.
"Ah, but it is precisely because they are such that I do not seek out your priests; there is likely to be a conflict of interests," Ethelberd replies. "I am sorry if this confuses you, Fenris, but I hope it will become clearer as I explain my situation.
"In my youth, I gave little thought to such texts, but these days I have sought to understand the people whom which I deal with - and the laws and customs they live by." He holds up the copy of the First Text, and cracks it open. "There are a number of interesting verses which leapt out at me... for example, here. 'Do unto others as you would have done unto you.' Also known as the Golden Rule. A very concise guideline to live by."
"Yet, of course, we understand that what may be pleasurable to one may not quite be so to another - but in the same way, perhaps, one who takes perverse pleasure in being flogged might take the above verse as a dispensation to flog others, to take an extreme example. Do I make sense so far?"
"I think so," Fenris says, wiping away the excess polish from his violin and carefully stowing his tools, setting the instruments aside. He waves down a serving girl. "Tea please," he orders, "And setting for two." He turns his full attention to Ethelberd. He has some suspicions and thoughts about the lion, but has not seen enough to really make any firm conclusions. "Please, go on."
At length, the tea arrives, but Ethelberd soundly ignores the drink, instead focusing on his little speech. "Excellent. Let us continue, then. Letter of the law, spirit of the law - that is, of course, only one facet of the problem my friends and I are facing. I have sat in a number of courts about -" another brief hesitation - "Promise, and have has the pleasure - or perhaps, displeasure - of witnessing a number of criminal trials. Many kingdoms and nations have laws against theft, and punishments to be meted out for such. It seems simple enough - appropriating something which does not belong to you. Yet rare was the defendant who, faced with damning evidence, admitted to the crime of theft. They claimed that it was not theft when they were stealing to survive. Or that it was not theft if the plaintiff owed the defendant the goods in question, but refused to turn them over. Or that - most audaciously, it wouldn't have been theft if he hadn't been caught.
"The law is plain for all who can read, yet they all interpreted their situation in ways to absolve themselves of guilt. To be able to interpret a law, hence, may as well be the power to rewrite it. And if a law can be freely rewritten...well, it is no law."
"And that is why we trust in priests and judges to interpret the First Text and law books for us, do you not agree?"
Fenris is not sure what to make of this philosopher. "I think I understand what you mean," he says, "Each individual thinks themselves an exception, and so we turn to objective judges to interpret the law and to see that it is carried out fairly. I understand that this is the practice even beyond Planet P12 Beta." He slips that last bit in as casually as he can, hoping to catch a reaction. "So far I am with you," he continues, "Though I am not sure exactly where you are going with this or why you have brought all this to a musician for consideration."
Ethelberd nods. "Yes, I imagine it would be. As for my point, I am coming to that, so please bear with me and my long-windedness. I must make sure that there is no ambiguity in your understanding before I pose the question.
"So, let us return to my point. If we allow everyone to interpret laws and lore as they see fit, we have anarchy. The alternative, then, is great trust placed in a body, a person, a council, a judge. We believe the ones entrusted with interpreting words to be just and incorruptible; from this, the interpreters derive their legitimacy.
"But what if you went to the highest court of appeal in the land, and discovered that it was unjust? That while they always stuck to the letter of the law, the spirit of such was always applied in favour of a certain group? That some people always managed to escape punishment by a creative interpretation of the law, and or had their sentences commuted, their pleas granted? That while the law was kept, the lore was flouted? That is my question, Fenris. There is no higher body, no one for you to seek recourse with. What do you do then?
"Do not undersell yourself, Fenris. You have accomplished quite a lot in a short span of time... more than what is reasonable for a mere musician. And that is part of why I am seeking your opinion right now."
Fenris considers the being across the table. Not an offworlder, but still unfamiliar with Sweetwater terms. . . the Tiger begins to form a new hypothesis. A worrying one. "You ask a difficult question," he says, "Philosophers and wise men have debated this across centuries and millenia." The tiger closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before continuing, his own tea cooling on the table. "I believe," he says, opening his eyes, "That a higher law is ingrained deep within each of us. One that we all instinctively know and that we instinctively know when we have departed from it. The spirit of the law is greater than the letter of the law." He looks the lion in the eye. "I am no judge," he says, "And I think that anything depends on the situation, but it becomes the responsibility of the judged to bring a corrupt judge in line with the law."
"A higher law." Ethelberd looks at the copy of the First Text in his hands and slowly runs his fingers over the leather-bound cover. "I wish it were that simple. That I could be like a - a Shralestan and say 'the Creators said so, and hence it is right'. Or like some of you - 'the spirits say so, and hence it is right'.
"Well then, Fenris. You have answered my question, and not unfairly. I have achieved what I came for, and I thank you. As promised, your two crowns' worth." He slides both coins across the table.
"I have achieved my purpose, and time grows short. Unless there is something more you wish to add, I intend to take my leave."
Fenris shakes his head. "Nothing is right because someone SAYS it is right, Ethelberd," he says, "There is more to right and wrong than can ever be written on paper or argued in court." The tiger thinks he knows what all of this was about now. "I am grateful that you would come to talk to me," he says, "I am always happy to make a new friend." The fluffy feline stands and extends a hand to the lion. "I hope to see you again, Ethelberd."
Fenris cracks a smile. "And did you really read the whole First Text, just for this conversation?" he asks.
Ethelberd nods, and rises from his seat to take Fenris' hand. "It is good to have someone to speak with. And as I mentioned, you did come recommended by my friends. Although it is not a certain thing, we may have cause to meet again in the future."
"And as for the First Text... I believe it's important to understand people before dealing with them. Not necessarily you in particular, but I am sure you understand the general principle. Farewell, then." With that, he pulls his tattered cloak about him and sweeps out of the inn, the door swinging in his wake.
