abruptly adjourned

[fairshot]

The local militia captain rapped on the doorframe, "We've found the suspect, Judge."

"Excellent! Bring me to him. Let's get this headache over with," Theod replied.

A short walk later, the captain gestured to a door. "He's in here."

Theod held himself tall and thought of the ideals that had brought him to The Judge's Order. He hasn't been out in the field long, but even a new judge's rough cloth robe and wooden badge of office can project the presence of the original for long enough to make an imposing entrance.

Stepping through the door to a suddenly hushed room, he asks "Which is the accused?"

He's presented with a slightly bruised man, hands tied with ropes.

"Do you swear to tell me the truth today, as I have sworn to use that knowledge well?"

The man growls "Yes", which Theod knows is true, and then "Much good may it do you!"

There is a feeling of overwhelming light, and cracks in it, spreading through space.

When he can make sense of his surroundings, he is... not there.

Comments

[fairshot]

"I am, yes. I sort of appeared on Kaja while she was fighting zombies. You're going to help translate and teach me some basics?"

[alicornucopia]

"Yeah. Um, what do you... want me to translate... first?"

[fairshot]

"I think we should start with basic conversational things. Like, things one might say going to the store."

[alicornucopia]

"Okay." The initiate produces reasonable generic store-related sentences in Cirth, and translates them haltingly, and writes them down.

[fairshot]

Theod interjects with questions about patterns, when he thinks he's noticed them. And as they go on, more pronunciation attempts for him to check in Cirth.

This probably continues for a while.

[alicornucopia]

Yup. The initiate has apparently been assigned to him for the next week and is also supposed to escort him to the cafeteria.

[fairshot]

The cafeteria will probably be useful practice as well!

[alicornucopia]

The cafeteria certainly contains a lot of people talking in Cirth! The kids between the ages of ten and sixteen can't even use the Winter Light's gift to lapse into Theod's language in a pinch, so there's some nonnegotiable immersion if he wants to talk to children.

[fairshot]

By the end of this week, he will probably be basically competent!

[alicornucopia]

And the initiate has gotten much better at speaking the words the Winter Light supplies in real time, too. Everybody wins!

Now what?

[fairshot]

Theod will be setting out one morning to find whatever passes for detectives or judges in the town nearby and see what they think of his services.

Possibly he should talk with someone before he does. He wouldn't want them to think he'd left entirely.

[alicornucopia]

There is always a retired paladin at the gate to take messages and receive information about where there are dark things, so that's someone.

[fairshot]

Well, then, he'll say hello to them, and make clear he'll be back before nightfall.

And then he's off to find some justice-related professionals.

[alicornucopia]

The justice system, if he asks around, appears to be skimpy on trials per se, but includes evidence-gatherers and has certain standards before someone can be brought to formal legal attention beyond just those sniffing around. There are police, who deal with more immediate and physical threats than the evidence-gatherers, do patrols, perform arrests, and so on. There are judges, who may throw out cases if there are procedural issues or the entire thing is frivolous, or assign sentences; judges usually work in pairs unless the caseload is enormous. Apparently paladins have some extrajudicial powers which only apply if they can demonstrate after the fact that they have kept all their powers (thereby proving that they have not disobeyed their Order superiors or the Winter Light's dictates) and only if there are dark things involved.

[fairshot]

Well, there's no clear equivalent for his accustomed role. But he should probably talk to a judge first, and arrange a demonstration of his value.

[alicornucopia]

The judges have a block of offices over there. They share a clerk. The clerk wants to know who the dark is he.

[fairshot]

Should he have brought a note from a paladin? Possibly. On the other hand, he can also do an impromptu demonstration.

He tells the clerk, "Give me a moment, would you?" and steps around a corner. And then he does the imposing entrance thing at the clerk.

"I am a Judge of the Order of Judges. I come from another world. I can tell whether someone is giving false testimony in some detail, determine what punishments will be effective on a convict, and calm or subdue groups of people with that thing I just did. I am confident that the judges in this city will consider me worth their time."

[alicornucopia]

The clerk blinks at him, taking in the imposingness of his revised aura. "...Will you wish to see a committee of all judges or make an appointment with one or a pair?"

[fairshot]

"If someone is available today, I will talk to them. Otherwise, I would prefer to immediately make an appointment with whatever person or group can make decisions about unusual hiring decisions; I recognize that I am well out of the ordinary and will require some deliberation, but I would like to skip as much bureaucracy as possible."

The imposing effect doesn't stick much longer; it's purpose has been served, and it's not easy to maintain.

[alicornucopia]

"The mayor is responsible for appointing new judges."

[fairshot]

"I'm sure you're more familiar with the governmental structure here. I am uncertain whether I would be most useful as a judge giving sentences and evaluating testimony, in assisting evidence-gatherers by checking for false testimony in the field, or in some other peace-keeping role; where I come from, I would do all of these things regularly in the course of my duties. Who should I speak to who would be well-equipped to evaluate what I can do, and, if they are not the decision-maker themselves, will be listened to by those who do make the decisions?"

[alicornucopia]

"...If I were you I'd want to talk to the mayor."

[fairshot]

Ugh. Politicians. Theod has occasionally had to deal with politicians.

"I suppose that makes some sense. Feel free to mention my visit; if anyone is interested in talking with me, I am staying with the Order of the Winter Light for the moment and can be found there."

[alicornucopia]

The clerk nods.

"...You probably want to do your imposing thing before the first time you see the mayor," he says helpfully.

[fairshot]

"Yes, well, I'll be sure to check which door is his before I walk in. I'm not used to having to do this to be taken seriously; the Order is well-established at home. Thank you for your help."