Chronicles of Heroes ~ Judge, Jury, Executioner

[Aaronock]

((Edit: Sorry, missed one formatting one of the paragraphs correctly. Nothing else is changed.)) XD
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Ezekiel felt a tinge of amusement that the very leaders of the allegiances came forward to make speeches. But he would address them each in order to build up his own case, because that’s exactly the goal each of them had. Could anyone in that courtroom be swayed by one like himself? He did not know the full extent of his influence under the name Ezekiel Stalker. There again was little time to dwell on his thoughts, it was better to live in the moment. He stood, and gazed over to crowd that had gathered around him in Prontera's streets. Pressing a clasped hand against his mouth and clearing his throat, any previous nerves he may have had seemed to dissipate under the noise it created.

“Sir Melot, I am honored you have taken the time to write to the population at large.”

The master rogue in his suit raised his hand and gently waved it to the side, a gesture meant to further sign his appreciation. But Ezekiel hid his lack of surprise behind his sunglasses at the opinion written in the letter. After reading his words the first time, Ezekiel could only note how personal the man seemed to have taken matters. There was much to hate about Melot, but even men like him knew the value of others, at least as pawns. Losing good ones cost much to replace, and some players in grander machinations, impossible to substitute. Melot already lost many of the former, it was possible he could lose one of the later in Rajnish.

“There is much you and I can agree on. That this Golemancer Kushiel has killed many in his plots. Whether indirectly under Amdusias by providing the zealous renegade the means to wage war against his fellow fae and humans. Or even directly with his plots to destroy your very allegiance’s headquarters. But not only this, he has struck terror in others with his deeds. None of us deny his actions as cruel and inhumane. Not even Lady Thea here can say otherwise.” He folded his arms and raised his head as he continued to face the crowd around him.

“We also both agree that sealing or locking away Kushiel will do nothing to anyone’s benefit, not even the accused himself. The man is unremorseful and unrepentant, and removing him from society this way will only further increase his spite and justification for further crusades if he should ever escape.”

Next Ezekiel’s face turned downward, still facing the gathered audience. The sunglasses on his face started to roll down his nose, but before they could reveal his currently cursed cat eyes to those closest in his presence, he clinched his eyes shut. “Let me ask you, are you prepared to deal with potential unforeseen consequences if we kill Kushiel before we know the full extent of his schemes? We know that a piece of Ymir is missing. We do not know how he powers his creations. Lastly, that the Fae are bound in some way from speaking about the work he has completed for them and their defenses.” Then he gave a gruff harrumph, and pushed the shades back up his face with the pointer finger of his right hand at the bridge. “If you have answers to these realities that face us then can you tell us how you plan to mobilize? And I mean against both the known and potential unknown threats.”

“Sir Melot,” He continued with his usual business-like and impersonal tone. “Consider your allegiance’s image here. You cannot simply handwave the populace’s words and expect death alone to be satisfactory to the masses.” Ezekiel finally gave a glance across the expanse of the space and audience he spoke with. “I am not a man of power like yourself… but then, I am not obligated to answer to others the way you do because of that very fact.”

His stance shifted and he adjusted his orange, stylish cap. A small wind began to pick up in the streets but the crowd in front of him still stood there, and wondered even if it had grown in size from when he began. Some murmuring amongst the audience could be seen, but other than that, it was mostly an attentive group. A small smile crept on Ezekiel’s face, because now it was time to address the concerns of the other allegiance’s leader.

“To Lady Thea, I am also honored you also graced us with a letter of your own.”

Unfortunately for her, his words would not seem as kind as those directed at Melot’s opinion. “What Kushiel has done is deeply barbaric, Lady Thea. The man indirectly started war, and has thrown Fae and human relations into a precarious position. He planned further nefarious deeds by his inability to read the facts right in front of him that the Dark Allegiance did not awaken Satan Morroc.”

With a short sigh to catch his breath he continued, “He is a sick man, who has used his talents to cast harm on many levels to us all. I believe in mercy, look only to the events regarding Lucretia in previous months to see that for yourself.” His still folded hands now unfolded themselves and Ezekiel laid them back to his sides, “But he has been given far too much freedom and done nothing well with it.”

The master rogue still had more to rebuke against the Light Allegiance leader. “Lady Thea, You say there are others with ideals similar to his, then far better to let him be the one to take the fall. Make it a sign that others should not treat life with so little respect and value.” Ezekiel waved out his hand once more to his audience and countered at last. “Do not presume to speak for the whole of the Light Allegiance, Lady Thea. There are many members who would disagree with the given stance and find justification in the teachings of Hestia to never give this man another chance to right himself.”

His speech began to wind down at last as he spoke, "Give reprieve to this Golemancer's head while others resolve the remaining strings he has cast forth to further his vicious goals. That is all the mercy this lunatic deserves."

He, like Thea, believed he spoke on the behalf of others, especially Lucretia. She had entrusted him to handle the Golemancer however he pleased. Would she find his deeds and speeches acceptable? As he began to walk away from the crowd, and down the cobbled stone streets of Prontera, he gave a shrug of his shoulders. He only hoped he acted fairly not only in his and Lucretia’s interests, but of all the Fae.