Basic Law (Private, Vince only)

[Soldier]

On the appointed day, room 301 was brightly lit. The class was full of students taking their first lessons on the law of the Empire, and the class was buzzing with the low drones of voices. Vince found himself sitting in a seat up front, where a large desk was situated. At precisely the time given to start, the door opened and in padded a rather slender Dorin. His fur was a striking white-silver, and he eyed his students with eyes so light blue, they were almost white. After looking his class over and studying faces, he picked up a sheaf of papers and started to speak.

“Good morning, class. I am Professor Gerren Kay’leth. I am your instructor in Basic Law. I have here some papers I want to discuss with you, but as I pass them around, I want each of you to tell me who you are, and why you wish to learn law.” He handed a stack of papers to the person sitting at the front of each row and had them take one and pass it down so each was given a copy. Finally, it was Vince’s turn to speak.

[Vincent Tind]

Vincent came in, and sat in the front row. Looking up as the Dorin entered, he was amazed. He hadn't seen one quite like this in his entire life. The professor said his name, and then began to hand out papers. Vincent looked down at them, and read the title to himself. When it came his time to state why he wanted to go into Law, the young man said, "My name is Vincent Tind. I want to go into the practice of Aelyrian Law because i don't like to see the injustices in the world... and would like to do something to fix them, either defending those needing defended, or prosecuting the wrongdoers..." He looked up at him, and then awaited the rest of the class to finish, and the teacher to respond to them...

[Soldier]

“So you wish to persue the noble art of law, then, do you?” the Dorin asked with a huge, tooth-showing grin. “The law is a bit more complex than that. There is black and white, but there is also gray. Sure, the subject stabbed his larger victim to death… but what’s to say the victim wasn’t attacking the subject to begin with? Would you put a man in jail for defending his own life?” The small books Gerren had in his hands were passed around. “Tonight, I want you to read these and be able to discuss them on the morrow. For now, I want a student to come to the front of the class and explain what they know of the law. You, Master Tind.” He pointed a paw at Vince. “Come forward and explain in your own words what the three official bodies of Government are.”

[Vincent Tind]

Vincent listened to what the Dorin was saying. In his mind, he thought about it, but knew that the person who defended his own life shouldn't be punished for defending himself. Looking at the front of the book he was handed, it said on the front, Annarian Code of Law He had barely enough time to glance at the other papers he was handed when the Dorin teacher asked him to come up, and explain what he knew about the three official bodies of Government.

Standing up, he made his way to the front of the class, and looked towards the Dorin, and then to the class. Getting put in the spotlight was not his idea of fun, but he wanted to learn, and he knew the only way to learn anything was to mess up a few times. The only real thing he knew about the government was what he had learned in earlier education. "Well, i know that there are three bodies of government, namely the Senate, the Court of the Crown, and the Consulate... I believe the Senate is the one that settles disputes between the Consulates and the Court... but beyond that, i'm not really sure of their entire purpose..." he said, honestly, being a newcomer to the study of law, and government...

[Soldier]

“So it is,” said Professor Gerren. “As you know, the government consists of the Senate, the Courts and the Consulate. The local governments are also set up in such ways. For example, the city of Archadoon has a Thane (the Crown), the Adile (The Courts), and a Senate (The Consulate). The courts and systems are similar, but are the laws?” The Dorin cleared his throat. “We are here to learn of local law, and the larger picture will wait for a later day. As you are already up here, Master Tind, explain to me what would happen when someone is arrested. What is the process that the subject will go through?”

[Vincent Tind]

Vincent listened as the Dorin explained about the local government, and compared it to the empire's main government. It was quite interesting how things could look exactly the same on a local level compared with an empirical level. He was stunned at the next question proposed to him, not only because he wasn't prepared, but also because he didn't think he'd have to answer two impromptu questions directly in a row. "Uh, well, i've never been arrested, or seen the process that goes on, but i imagine that they would arrest the person, hold them in the goal, until the courts are ready for them, try them in a court, and depending on whether they found the person guilty, or innocent, release him, or delve down a punishment according to the crime commited..." he said, and then glanced towards the teacher, as well as the rest of the classroom, hoping not to get laughed at for his inexperienced knowledge of the procedures. It was beginnger law after all, and he was definitely inexperienced, and a beginner...

[Soldier]

“Well enough,” said the Dorin as he gestured for Vincent to sit. “The subject is arrested, detained and held until the courts are ready to see him. During this time, witnesses are questioned, evidence is collected and the subject is allowed to seek council if he desires it. He is, of course, presumed guilty until proven innocent. Therefore, it is the defense’s duty to find the evidence needed. Young Master Tind, as a defendant, you would, indeed, go through that process, but there are many things that go on during this time.” He got to his feet and waved his paws at the class. “Class is over for today. Return tomorrow at the proper time, and I wish you to study your papers tonight. We will go over them in detail tomorrow. Until then, I bid good day.”

[Vincent Tind]

Vincent smiled as the Professor allowed him to sit back down. Making his way to his seat, he indeed sat down, and then listened as the Professor explained the workings of the arrest procedure to the class. He seems to have a liking for me, the young man thought, but it didn't bother him. He was glad that his teacher at least wanted him to participate. It looked as though the class would be a fun one, but a serious one at the same time. When the professor dismissed the class, he picked up the pieces of parchment that had been handed out, as well as his book on the Annarian Code, and left the classroom for the brightening.

The next brightening...

After having spent the night studying, he made his way into the classroom, feeling much more prepared for class, granted the book and papers he was given were a bit extensive, he made sure to try and cover what was needed in preparation for the next class that day. Taking a seat in the front again, he looked up and awaited his Dorin professor, while flipping through a few pages of the book on the Annarian Code, trying to look at least a little diligent compared to some of the people in the class, whom no doubt had no trouble sleeping through it...

[Soldier]

It was several moments before the Dorin entered the room, taking a few moments to arrange the items on his desk. Standing next to his desk, he pointed to different students. “Master Stonewater… Explain what the Laws of Justice have in common.” A large Half Orc stood up in back of the class and blinked, looking somewhat surprised that he had been chosen. He stuttered for a few moments before Kay’leth gestured for him to sit down. “You didn’t study, I see. Very well, it’s your crown. Master Tind! You did well yesterday. Perhaps you can do better. Explain to the class what each of the laws has in common with the others.”

[Vincent Tind]

Vincent stood up, to answer the Dorin professor's question. "The Laws of Justice have one major thing in common, and that is to maintain order throughout the empire of Aelyria. As such, each of them was designed for a single purpose. The first of the Laws, 'The Sacred Three shall be Thine Primacy' was created to make sure that all citizens abided by the following laws. The Second of the laws, 'Thou Shalt Swear Fealty to the Empire' was created after the first, to ensure that all citizens of the Aelyrian empire were citizens, and only become citizens by swearing their fealty to the empire. By swearing their fealty, it ensures that they will abide by the laws set before them. The third law, 'Take not what is Thine' makes it so that people have ownership of their own things. It says you cannot take what isn't yours. By creating this law, it will prevent looting of any sort. If everyone looted, order would not stand within the empire, and people would have no sense of ownership, or have any truly personal belongings. The fourth law, 'The Truth shall be Thine Liberator' states that all citizens of the Empire have to tell the truth when infront of the State. With this law in place, people cannot lie, and therefore, are supposedly unable to do any wrong since they have told the truth. This law also will make it so that everyone is able to be honest with each other. The fifth law, 'The Weak shall be Defended' states that the weak are to be protected from the strong. This way, everyone is equal, whether they are strong, or weak. The sixth law, 'The Law is Common and Public, not Thine to Monopolise' means that the law is everyones, and not just one persons. It is all of our duties to uphold the law, and not one persons to take into their own hands. We have a system for upholding the law, and it should be strictly followed. The seventh law, 'Mankind's Cruelty Must be Vanquished' states that states that everyone under trial is guilty until proven innocent, by Nature's predestined will. By this law, we must search deep within ourselves to vanquish the cruelty that is within us. The eight and final law, 'Thou shalt comport Thineself with Honour', states that we shall act with honour towards our fellow man. By acting with honour towards our fellow man and woman, we are able to make it so that each of us respects each other. This will help us learn to work together to uphold the laws, and help each other out. Without any one of these laws, it is possible that chaos instead of order could ensue the empire..."

After he finished telling the class about the eight Laws of Justice, he reseated himself, in hopes that he had answered the question correctly. Only the dorin could let him know that though. He had studied the night before on the books that he had recieved from the Dorin...

[Soldier]

Professor Kay’leth nodded. “Very good, Master Tind. Civilization is run on order, and with order comes law. Without law, civilization would cease to exist. One more question to think on before we move on, shall we? Should our laws just pop out of existance one day, what would happen to our society?” He settled comfortably on the corner of his desk, a heavy paw dangling an inch from the floor. “Moving on. Master Tind. Explain the workings of the coutroom. Explain who officiates, what each person’s role is, and how he or she does their work. After he explains, Mistress Glendeil, you will explain the workings of a trial.” He crossed his arms and nodded, waiting for his students to begin.

[Vincent Tind]

The question struck him as an easy one to think about. Without law, there would be no order, and chaos would reign down upon them. There must be law in this country, and they must maintain it. As he was asked another question, this one was not one he would have to think about, and brood over, he stood up once more to answer the Dorin teacher's question. "In the courts of Aelyria, the Judge is the one who officiates. They preside over their courtrooms, and judge the people that are brought in. The Prosecutor is the one in the courtroom that holds the evidence that the defendent is guilty, and the public defender has to prove that their defendent is innocent. In Aelyria's system, all people are guilty until proven innocent. That is the basic roles of the courtroom..." he said, hoping, and thinking that most of his answer is right, if not all of it...

[Soldier]

“Correct, Master Tind,” Professor Kay’leth said cheerfully. “Each trial proceeds smoothly thus. Mistress Glendeil. How is a trial conducted?” A small Halfling blushes before standing, evidently uncomfortable being in front of the class. “Mistress Glendeil… if you wish to conduct trials, you’ll need to learn to speak in front of an audience. Is this not so?” The Halfling girl nodded.

“First, a defendant is arrested for his crime, then sent to gaol. During this time, an investigation is conducted and evidence collected. When the trial begins, the Magistrate will hear the evidence. Ummmm…” The Professor chuckled and gestured for her to sit. She promptly sat and tried to hide, abashed that her fun-loving Halfling nature had made her miss her homework.

“Does anyone wish to explain how a trial works?” The Dorin grinned ferally. “I’ll give a prize to anyone who can tell me correctly.”