[EVENT] It's high time to decide these high crimes...

[ironwood]

Characters: ALL
Date: May 10
Location: Courtyard of Public Opinion
Situation: It's time for the Guilds to come together and decide the list of High Crimes - and see if the Foreigners have their Guild organized.
Warnings/Rating: To be added as needed.




Part 1 - On the Matter of the Foreigners Guild

As elaborated to all Foreigners in Keeliai, the rest of the Council has set them the task of assigning leadership within their guild, including spokesperson(s) to participate in the Courtyard meetings and represent the Foreigners Guild's interests. Having been given more than a month of lead time, the assemblage is now waiting to hear the results of those deliberations.

"Who will be speaking for the Foreigners Guild? Please step forward and introduce yourselves."

Part 2 - On the Matter of High Crimes

As part of the new governing structure, the Guilds must now come together to decide a list of High Crimes which require sentencing by agreement of all nine groups. The Guilds will also lay out sentencing guidelines for each of these crimes. That doesn't mean there will be automatic sentencing, necessarily. The guidelines will help dictate minimum and maximum boundaries of punishment, such as length of incarceration, fines, and ramifications post-conviction.

While the Guild representatives will be laying out the initial proposition, all are welcomed and encouraged to partake and add their own input to help smooth out the rough edges. Although there are not designated areas for each of the Guilds, members of each do tend to congregate around their respective leaders.

The list of proposed High Crimes include, but are not limited to:

• Murder
• Kidnapping
• Arson
• Assault (aggravated and/or sexual*)
• Treason
• Terrorism
• Drug Trafficking/Selling

Guilds can propose additions or subtractions to this list, and guidelines for each. It's not a joyful task, but it is a necessary one. Despite the somewhat grim nature of the meeting, there is a sense of determination. The citizens of Keeliai are governing themselves now, and that is indeed a powerful thing.

*Mod note: This is coming up for general IC info, as it exists within the game setting but not as a game function intended to arise outside of this list.

Part 3 - On the Matter of Guild Management

The last order of business for today's Courtyard meeting is to determine if, and under what circumstances, guilds have the right to either refuse membership or revoke membership to anyone. While this thankfully doesn't seem to have been a problem while everyone sorted themselves into their initial choices, it'd be naive to think that it's not an issue that could come up in the future. Since not being affiliated with any guild carries legal repercussions -- fines that can escalate into even jail time -- it seems prudent to have a system in place before it becomes an issue.

Everyone's encouraged to volunteer their thoughts on this matter -- the official decision won't be made until the next gathering, so input doesn't have to be limited to just the spokespeople from each guild, but anyone in attendance.

Right now, the only generally agreed-upon point seems to be that this type of refusal or ejection needs to have some kind of oversight from outside the guild in question, to prevent abuse of the system. Whether that's a case where it would require the whole Council is another matter, and some seem to think that simply getting the motion seconded or thirded would be enough.

Comments

MERCHANTS GUILD

[ironcoin]

Odyni is sitting among some of her peers behind the leaders of the Merchant's Guild -- a group of about a dozen kedan who are in charge of the daily running of that establishment. While she's not in a position of authority within the Guild itself, the fact that she's still the Foreigners' representative does carry some weight. At least with the eyes of the Merchants Guild sitting mere arms-length away, she's much less likely to be her usual snappish self toward anyone who wants to have a conversation.

[backwordscompatible]

Although she was there as an official representative of the Foreigners' Guild, Zatanna would have been remiss if she hadn't devoted a little time to seeing Odyni. There had been few chances for her to make contact again after their last meeting, and she wanted to show she was a magician of her word.

"Good to see you again," she greeted with a polite nod and smile.

HEALERS GUILD

[ironcircle]

Though technically Raine is still a head of the Healers Guild, and is present, it's Suhiet who's doing the bulk of the talking and networking, providing her opinions and contributing to the discussion. She'll be fairly staunchly against any capital punishment, favoring long-term imprisonment and then attempts to help people who've fallen into their crimes because of desperate times. She emphasizes the importance of judging intent and keeping what they decide here to be simply guidelines.

[unetrustworthy]

Midii was quiet upon her arrival at the Courtyard. She had attended several public functions of this world in the past, but somehow, this time seemed...different.

One of her first stops was to pay her respects to Suhiet, in gratitude for the herbalism lessons, before taking a spot near the back of the Courtyard. Out of the way of most ongoing conversations, with a good vantage point so she could see just what exactly what was going on. And watch.

SERVICE WORKERS ASSOCIATION

[veinediron]

Rosyn is one of three representatives for the Service Workers, and her considerable wealth of knowledge about individuals in Keeliai may come to bear here. She knows just where to apply pressure to sway quite a few people at this meeting, and by the glint in her eye she's making sure that everyone knows it.

Her attention, and that of her other two Guild leaders, is especially on the treatment of assault and arson. Service workers of all kinds can be subject to abuse by others, and while it doesn't happen commonly, they sincerely want to ensure it remains that way. As for setting fires? When places of employment or homes are lost, the consequences can be extensive and long-term, especially those working for lower wages.

[celticromanstone]

Heather is wearing the outfit that Rosyn had given her for this little tete-a-tete.

She's interested to see where it goes. The kedan seem unusually welcoming to people in her profession - well, except that one man - but she's still wary of being in the spotlight. In her experience whores in the spotlight are just easier targets. So, she waits. She's here to listen, nothing more, but she'll talk to anyone that approaches her.

[purered]

a. High Crimes Discussion

Klaus had arrived fairly early that day dressed in a crisp three-piece. He was seated, polite and attentive, jotting down the occasional note.

When it came time for the Foreigners to speak up, Klaus certainly had a few things to say.

"On the matter of additional High Crimes, I would like to propose torture, embezzlement and worker exploitation be added to the list."

He shuffled through his notes, expression a bit more grave as he spoke his piece. He really didn't agree with Cheym's proposal, but it seemed popular among the assembled Kedan.

"On the matter of the murders of Foreigners, I will concede that we are brought back. However, that doesn't mitigate the lasting trauma afterward, nor does it excuse the slap on the wrist Cheym proposes with regard to the murder of Foreigners by Foreigners. I would counter that murder of Foreigners, whoever the perpetrator, be treated with the same weight as Aggravated Assault."


b. Guild Management

There wasn't a lot for him to say here, but it wouldn't hurt to put forward an idea.

"Perhaps instead of removal from the Guild, there be a number of probation positions that carry less or minimal benefits," he suggested.

[jinzhong]

Jackie's standing nearby, looking a little shy. He's not totally sure how Rosyn's going to treat a Foreigner business, but he's willing to find out.

Hence why he's here, of course.

NATURAL RESOURCES GUILD

[ironcircle]

The Natural Resources Guild may end up with the smallest number of attenders, seeing as many of the members live outside the city walls, or are otherwise very busy with recovering from the loss of harvests to Dust. Most of those who live in Keeliai are concerned with water management, and are particularly vocal about the issue of drug trafficking or selling, for obvious reasons.

Cheym, the liaison, is also vocal about a very specific proposal: that there should be more severe punishments for the murder of kedan than the murder of Foreigners. His reasoning, if asked, is very simple: kedan deaths are permanent, and Foreigner deaths are not. As he's not a fan of capital punishment, Cheym suggests that kedan murders should carry a potential for life sentencing rather than execution except in truly depraved circumstances. Foreigner murders? Ten years maximum.

He also notes that, if a Foreigner murders another Foreigner, financial penalties and community service should be levied rather than prison time, seeing as they have a habit of vanishing unexpectedly.

[simulsimul]

Though there were a few people pushing the disparate punishments for murder, Cheym was the one Kratos had already spoken to, and was among those pushing it most insistently. He had to wonder what motive was behind that.

He didn't much like either capital punishment or life imprisonment, but the whole situation was alien to him. Kratos hadn't intended to speak much, but in this case, there did seem to be some perspectives being overlooked.

"What of those who abuse the Foreigners' ability to return?" he asked. "Not all Foreigners are of equal power. Should a kedan who imprisons a Foreigner and kills them, only to wait for them to revive so they may be killed again, be given a lesser sentence than someone who committed a single murder? Someone who continuously takes a life would be more a threat to the city than someone in the throes of an impassioned act of violence, regardless of species."

And, of course, there was the issue of lifespans not being equal.

[commandandcontrol]

"I feel almost obligated to object to that proposal," Sonja said.

"Equal actions should mean equal consequences, even if the results wind up being different. Treating a crime as lesser or more based on who the victim is will set a bad precedent."

COLLEGIATE SOCIETY

[ironcircle]

Bralon sits among the attendees from the Collegiate Society Guild, and unlike some of the other spokespeople, he seems less interested in the actual list of high crimes... he neither objects to nor presents new ones, but seems satisfied with what's being put forward. He is, however, watching everyone else very closely, albeit in that kindly grandfather way he has.

Particularly of interest in the way that the representatives of each guild are reacting, both to the Foreigners' announcement, and to the suggestions regarding high crimes. Occasionally he will turn and speak in an undertone to one of his fellow attendees, a woman named Netiku who appears to be taking notes for him.

THE BOARD OF SCIENCES

[ironthorns]

Kyde will be pushing for medical malpractice to become a high crime, proposing severe fines and up to 25 years of jail time. He’ll be generally neutral on capital punishment for any crimes, though he’ll lean less in favour of it towards the latter half of the meeting.

During break times, he’ll be talking with other members, and even people outside the guild about issues they might be having acquiring funding, resources, published documentation, lab space, etc. and how to go forward. Despite his usual casual nature, he appears to be taking this seriously, and though his notes seem messy, they are extremely thorough.

[looksfine]

Aya did not look well.

She didn't look sick, per say, but...even when her skin had yet to assume its flickering shade of blue, there was a dimness to her eyes. As if the light inside wasn't burning at its usual intensity. The way she carried herself was different as well. More cautious. Less calm.

To her credit, however, Aya made a great effort not to let her recent inner turmoils disrupt any social niceties. When approaching or being approached by a familiar face, she was quick to form a smile and nod in greeting. Her voice was still its usual soft, soothing timbre, and--most importantly--she remained fully aware of her surroundings. What was happening, and it's great significance.

The subject of malpractice drew her attention first. Curious about the precise definition, and how it would affect any future scientific inquiries in which the outcome was uncertain.

CRAFTS AND TRADES COALITION

[ironpeace]

Usayi is generally in agreement with Cheym about penalties on Foreigners murdering kedan-- old wounds are surfacing here and he is not at all in a mood to be unbiased. On the whole he supports equality, but some things don't come back.

Generally speaking he'd prefer community service to imprisonment, considering it a waste, but these are after all high crimes they're talking about. Overall Usayi doesn't seem too pleased by the day; he considers it necessary, but he's in a foul mood.

GUILD OF JUSTICE AND ARBITRATION

[ironwood]

Eliyen is in agreement with Usayi and Cheym about stricter penalties for Foreigners murdering kedan than the other way around. Foreigners at least resurrect; kedan do not. Aside from that, she is surprisingly open to discussion about sentencing for the high crimes.

She is of the opinion that many of these crimes are theft at their heart: murder/manslaughter is theft of life, assault (both physical and sexual) is theft of agency for power, kidnapping is theft of a person for power and influence, and arson and physical theft deprive others of resources.

One thing that she’ll be absolutely adamant about and refuse to budge on, however, is that treason and terrorism should carry a life sentence at the least and the death penalty at the very worst.

GUILD OF JUSTICE AND ARBITRATION

[redlightgreenlight]

Though Valdis' position was currently interesting, what with 'being under investigation', she has decided to come anyway. Her voice should be heard and she isn't exactly happy with some of the opinions regarding murder. Specifically how Foreigners should face harder punishment for murdering Kedan than Kedan for murdering Foreigners. She can't keep quiet about the unfairness of that particular opinion.

"So what you are saying is that a Foreigner life is worth less than that of a Kedan? That our lives do not carry the same meaning or rights as yours?"

GUILD OF JUSTICE AND ARBITRATION

[ninjainviolet]

To anyone who knows Sheena, the fact that she's waiting patiently for her chance to say something speaks volumes. There's no rashness, no blurting out what's on her mind. Instead, there's an aura of determination, anger, and knowledge about her--all of which is reflected in her expression as she steps up to voice her opinion.

"With all due respect, those who seek lesser penalties for Kedan who murder Foreigners don't know what the hell they're talking about."

[simulsimul]

"What of theft of will?" Kratos asked, standing somewhat to the side, and having been thoughtfully silent during Eliyen's conversations. "You say that most crimes are theft. I agree with that." It was a neat way of describing each situation; but there was one thing missing. "Coercion, the ability to render a person incapable of choice -- this seems to me to also be a theft."

He did not mention the water tainting. The comparison would be obvious enough without him wielding it as an accusation.

FOREIGNERS GUILD

[ironwood]

Drumroll please...

[backwordscompatible]

"Zatanna Zatara."

One of the two elected representatives chosen by popular vote, the 19-year-old magician took a confident step forward. Her head was held high, displaying an outward confidence that betrayed nothing. For all she had preciously voiced her doubts about being "Leader" of the Foreigners Guild, she did at least seem prepared to answer any questions that may be thrown her way in the minutes to come.

"I work at the Welcome Center, and have a lot of experience aiding new arrivals." Further elaborating on her introduction. So that anyone who did not immediately recognize her would know who she was, and what she meant to the Foreigners already. "I've also been in Keelai for quite a while. More than five years now."

[commandandcontrol]

"Hello, my name is Sonja of Yellow Comet. I'm the other co-representative of the Foriegner's Guild."

She made sure to avoid the word 'leader.' She also didn't have quite the resume that Zatanna had in Keeliai, and she was also hesitant to brag about her past experience but... well, if ever there was a time to brag...

"I am the daughter of Emperor Kanbei of the Yellow Comet Empire back home. I am an accomplished military and civilian leader and diplomat, having commanded forces in three international campaigns, and coordinating a large rebuilding effort between mine and three other allied nations."

[commandandcontrol]

{ a. High Crimes }

"Everyone seems to have their own philosophies on crime and punishment, so I thought I'd take a moment to share mine. I believe that justice should be practical, but compassionate. It should serve two purposes: to amend for damages caused, and to discourage future crime. What I want to avoid is punishment, which serves neither practicality or compassion.

"In the interest of that, I believe that intent and remorse should be great factors in sentencing. Imprisonment should be held only in the most extreme cases where we've determined that there is little or no remorse, and that release would likely result in a continuation of problems. In particular-"

She can't help but look at Eliyen as she says this. "-we would not be prosecuting people under the involuntary influence of foreign substances to the same level we would a fully functioning individual."

{ b. Guild Management }

"It seems to me, given the way the guild system seems to have been implemented, and the likelihood of someone being expelled from one guild having trouble applying to others, that expulsion shouldn't really exist, unless the intent is to expel someone from the city entirely."

b

[annihilist]

Devin is mostly here to observe - he's not all that interested in the politics of it all - but knowing the laws in any given place is important. If nothing else, he'll have a better understanding of how the kedan view the world, as well as each of the Foreigners that speak.

"You might find yourself thinking differently if a Foreigner under your representative leadership turns out to be a dreadful troublemaker," he says, appearing at Sonja's elbow.

[choiced]

Despite being a member of the Foreigners' Guild, Zelos is pretty much all over the Courtyard throughout the day. He doesn't talk to Guild leaders much. Instead, he talks to the kedan who don't hold positions of authority, the ones just along for the ride or avoiding the spotlight. It doesn't always work, because it's a pretty obvious play that comes with ulterior motives, and not everyone appreciates that. Still, Zelos manages to make a couple friends.

There's really only one issue he does get involved with, and only because every single Foreigner so far has the same strong feelings about it.

"Oh, come on," he says, arms folded. "Foreigners can come back from the dead. Not to mention most of us can defend ourselves better than the kedan can. What's the big deal? If they want to let people who kill us off the hook, they'll be the ones dealing with the consequences, not us."

[ruinsprofessor]

Raine herself hasn't been very vocal today. She accompanies Suhiet, and stays with the Healers' Guild rather than the Foreigners' Guild, and she generally feels that she and Suhiet understand each other, and it should be her counterpart who is the face here-- since Raine herself may be whisked away to return to Aselia at any moment.

She does, however, mingle. And stop to talk to Zelos, who seems peculiarly passionate about this topic. Raine tends to agree, though in moderation -- the weight of life shouldn't be discounted, but Foreigners are a little outside the norm -- but being that it's Zelos saying it...

That's a little concerning. "I wasn't saying they ought to be treated precisely the same," Raine says, a little carefully. "Only that it has the potential to cheapen death."