Jaana And The Goblin 2
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Title: Jaana and the Goblin 2
Author: Chris McCubbin
Therefore, only a few minutes after her first statement, Jaana was again confronted by a mob, far larger and angrier than the first, and they demanded that the goblin be tried under the King's Justice. Jaana saw that further argument would be both dangerous and fruitless, and furthermore she knew that while more appropriate solutions could be recommended, the King's Justice, once demanded, could not lawfully be refused to the people. So she drew her hood of judgment over her head, and ordered the goblin brought before her, and when he was there she said, "This creature has been rendered up to the law, and its life now rests in the pleasure of Justice.
Therefore let no one raise hand against him until lawful judgment is rendered." And she had the goblin moved to a strong room, and set the most sober and severe guards she could find at the door, and the trial was set for the following morning.
The next day the creature was brought before Jaana, and she called the King's Court of Justice to order. For many hours she sat and listened silently to evidence, as the people of the town recounted the many townspeople slain and plundered at the claws of the goblin and his tribe, and it was a terrible catalog indeed.
When the goblin was asked if it wished to testify in its own defense, it only spat in fury, and none of the townspeople chose to speak up for it.
At last Jaana raised her hand in token of binding judgment, and pronounced, "This creature has broken no laws. It pursued a course of warfare against your town after its nature and the custom of its folk. This is not an act that can be condemned under Justice. It must be freed."
The people were amazed, and also greatly angered at these words, and began to shout out condemnation of Jaana's ruling, and to call for the summary execution of the goblin despite the judgment.
But Jaana stood up and threw back her hood, and such was the gravity of her wrath that the crowd fell silent before it. "There will be no lynchings here!" the Druid proclaimed. "I gave you a choice yesterday to put this creature to death lawfully, but you would have your show-trial, and so you submitted it to Justice. Now it belongs to Justice indeed, and if it is in any wise harmed in contravention of my word, the full weight of the law shall fall upon this place. Worse, the blessings of Virtue shall be forfeited."
Now at this some began to call for Jaana's neck as well, but other of the townsfolk had sobered up over the night, and they began to see the shape of their impiety. So at length obedience to law and Virtue won out over passion, and it was agreed that they must abide by Jaana's judgment. But there was great discontent, for it was obvious to the people that the release of the goblin king would only occasion the renewal of the old war, at further cost of lives and property.
So Jaana had the goblin taken in chains to the mouth of the pass, and began to see the shape of their impiety. So at length obedience to law and Virtue won out over passion, and it was agreed that they must abide by Jaana's judgment. But there was great discontent, for it was obvious to the people that the release of the goblin king would only occasion the renewal of the old war, at further cost of lives and property.
So Jaana had the goblin taken in chains to the mouth of the pass, and The goblin began to lope away, and below the people cried out in grief. But after a few steps it stopped, and looked back at Jaana with an expression of malice on its face. And seeing only a lone, lightly armed young woman, the goblin was overcome by its hatred for humanity, and it attacked Jaana viciously. The Druid drew her own blade, and there she killed the goblin in single combat, in lawful self-defense, though she took a formidable wound in the process.
And when she came down from the high pass, she did not speak to any of the amazed townspeople, and she did not even return to town to tend her wound, but instead strode down the King's highway, past the town, without a word. And when next a Druid came to that town to offer judgment, it was not Jaana.
2023
September, 27
Thomas Malory