This is no April Fool's Joke
There is a miscarriage of justice under way in Bangor, carried forward by Lazarus Aleander under the bogus claim of 'internal covenant business'. Let me share with you the details of this incident, so you can judge for yourselves how shameful his behavior is.
A month ago, Victor -- longtime resident of the city and brother to our own, highly regarded Heinrich -- joined the Carthian Movement. Part of his 'initiation' was a public announcement of his intent to join the Movement, and the reasons for it.
Aleander took some offense to this act (perhaps understandably -- Victor was once a member of the Invictus) and had Brogan 'discipline' Victor for the public embarrassment. Later that same evening -- after we performed Victor's official induction ceremony, he was attacked, beaten, staked, and taken into custody by some of the Invictus visitors to our city.
Let's talk about the number of things wrong here. A member of the Carthian Movement was attacked and kidnapped by the Invictus -- First Estaters who are not residents of Bangor, and do not have any idea how we do things here, or the reputation the Carthians have for working with other covenants in the best interest of the city. This attack and detainment was supposedly carried out because of Victor's announcement earlier that evening -- an incident that Victor had already been disciplined for at the Prince's request.
So these visitors took matters into their own hands, trumping Aleander's right of domain. They also attacked a resident of this city, and a member of another covenant -- one that is under my authority. They did this without approaching me, or any of the other Carthians in the city about the perceived slight (and how they could perceive Victor's statements in court as a slight, when he said nothing at all that was derogatory about the Invictus, is beyond me).
At this point, I would be willing to chalk this up to visitors getting above themselves (as is so often the case when dignitaries visit). I would be willing to work within the system we have in place, giving Lazarus the opportunity to correct the errors, return Victor to his covenant mates unharmed, and offer whatever compensation his honor deemed necessary for this bit of political tomfoolery.
How did he respond? I'll share with you the verbatim text of his message to me, delivered a mere three nights ago.
Mr. Walker,
This letter is to provide you with new information regarding the brother of Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Victor Von Heinrich. It has been decided that Mr. Victor Von Heinrich remain in torpor for the period of one month from this eve. This will be revisited at the next meeting of our Regional Council.
I will assure you all that Mr. Victor Von Heinrich will remain under closely monitored conditions and will not be harmed.
As a reply to your former missives, this is not a violent act against any covenant. This is lenient penalty for a traitor to the covenant. Others have been laid to permanent rest for less severe offenses.
I do hope that you will understand the severity of being a traitor and that we have been lenient with the punishment and open with information on the condition of Mr. Victor Von Heinrich.
Sincerely,
The Most Esteemed Sir Alder Lazarus Aleander
Prince, Rightful Viscount of Bangor, ME
Knight of the First Estate
I have a couple of questions for Lazarus Aleander. First of all, in what way is Victor a "traitor" to his former covenant? He publicly left the Invictus months ago, and has been a known associate (and 'probationary member') of the local Carthians for almost as long. In all that time, he has shared no Invictus secrets with us, and done nothing that in my opinion would be considered anything remotely resembling 'traitorous' behavior to his former covenant.
After all that time, months of independent (or 'unaligned') status, you choose now to declare him a traitor to your side, and take him into custody? There was no warning, nothing to indicate that he was treading dangerous ground through his association with us. How can that act be anything more than petulance over his public announcement? Explain that to me, Esteemed Alder, because I don't understand it.
Second, I'd like to question your willingness to abdicate your right of domain in Bangor. You had already punished Victor for his statement. He came to our covenant meeting that evening bearing the scars of Brogan's lash (figuratively speaking). But with this letter, you are indicating that the actions taken by these visitors are not only condoned by you, but you are deferring to the will of these outsiders in the administration of justice in your domain.
"Revisited at the next meeting of our Regional Council"? Don't make me laugh. Where was this council when Victor left the Invictus months ago? What authority does that council have over Bangor, and when did we cede it to them?
This whole affair reeks of political sour grapes, and you, Most Esteemed Alder, are hip deep in it.
In closing, I ask that my fellow citizens -- Lance or Crone, Dragon or Unaligned, look at how Lazarus has handled this matter, examine his response to our requests to have Victor returned to us, and watch how he treats those who have given much to Bangor. Given the detail I have brought to light in this letter, ask yourself, are we being unreasonable? Or do these acts -- initially performed by outsiders, but supported and condoned by our own 'prince' -- demonstrate a shameful miscarriage of justice?