In Regard to Recent Events

[CaptainHaense 1154]

In Regard to Recent Events
A Response Issued by His Majesty, Koeng Josef

 

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Greetings denizens of Haense,

These past few months have been tumultuous for all us Haeseni, indeed. My hope in penning this letter to the public is to help clear up my stance on these issues, and what is being done about them. 

 

First and foremost, I understand the grievances that have been expressed, and after looking into the issues and investigating them more closely, I have come to share my findings with you; my people. 

 

On Krawn z. van Gelderhode

 

This is a trial I find to be most disturbing. Upon first reading the missive penned by Oskar Wick, I was angered and admittedly indignant to his claims. Personally I had not attended the trial, but had full faith in our court system to carry out their duties efficiently and properly.

 

Initially after looking into the issue in Reza, I gathered that the punishment prescribed by the Aulic Court wass removal of an arm for the severe offense of banditry. This I found to be acceptable, and is a legal punishment as written in the Haurul Caezk. 

 

For me it was not the ordered punishment that was disturbing, but the fashion it was carried out. I was told by multiple accounts that the convict’s arm was removed in one go, and later chopped to make it easier to burn. But this was not the case. As I have now found, the arm was chopped twice — once in the forearm, and then at the shoulder. This caused unnecessary added pain to the convict, denoting borderline torture. In the Haurul Caezk, torture is a punishment bound only to treasonous offenses, not severe offenses as occurred here. 

 

But it gets worse. Then I came to find that the trial itself was invalid, something that seemed to have been conveniently withheld when I was searching for information. There was no legitimate prosecution in this case, nay, the Deputy Palatine had no right to step in and take on the duties of one.

 

This trial was a complete mockery of our legal system!

 

Do not misunderstand, the convict was certainly guilty of the crimes he was accused of, but the trial and punishment were both equally mismanaged.

 

Today I vow to you — the Haeseni people — that such a botched trial shall not occur again in my domain. Both the Lord Justiciar and myself were understandably outraged when we unearthed these details. In response, Deputy Palatine Osvald Barclay has been removed from his position.

On Krawn z. Boniface

 

In regard to the Crown v. Boniface, I stand by the Aulic Government’s ruling and the execution of the heretical Boniface. The Pontiff and I both attended the trial, at least in part, and I still believe it to have been fair and properly conducted as outlined in the Haurul Caezk. 

 

Boniface was given the chance to recant his openly heretical views after his conviction — an opportunity requested by the Pontiff himself — in return for a commuted or acquitted sentence. This was his chance at appeal. Instead he doubled down on his heretical belief, and denounced the Pontiff and the Crown. There was no possible route for appeal left, when he perpetrated his crime in front of the Crown, Church, and Court.

 

On the Roughness of the HRA

 

This is a matter I take most seriously. Whereas I believe the slander and insults thrown at Lord Marshal Barclay are unwarranted, inflammatory and unproductive, I decided to look into it regardless.

 

Again I will admit I initially was offended by the claims being made against the HRA, and I still sustain that the majority of our soldiers are good, loyal and peace-loving men and women. However, after witnessing the way Lord Hektor Stafyr was taken into custody — being physically assaulted during his arrest despite showing no signs of resisting — shocked me. On top of that was the botched severance of the convicts arm as previously discussed.

 

In response to these issues, involved soldiers have been dealt repercussions — including lashings, suspension, and demotions — and a new Etiquette Course of training is being introduced to the HRA to properly ensure the presence of civility and reason into all our soldiers.

 

On the Perceived Crime of Thought

 

Finally, a new term has been developing with increasing popularity throughout the streets of New Reza, of course being “Thought Crime”.  I assure you, there is nothing illegal about independent thought in Haense.

 

As has always been true in Haense, all men and women are free to their own train of thought and beliefs. But as any society holds true, there are limits on what can be said or done to ensure safety remains paramount.

 

Calling for the harm or killing of any subject of the Kingdom has always, and will always remain wholly illegal. Calling for disorder and chaos has always, and will always remain wholly illegal. And finally, defamation and sedition have always, and will always remain wholly illegal.

 

These laws exist for the safety of all subjects of the crown, whether they be man, woman, human, elf, commoner, or noble. Whoever it may be, these laws intend and succeed at creating a safe environment for all Haeseni to enjoy and partake in.

 

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I hope that this missive brings some comfort to those most outraged by these recent events, and know that I too share in your feelings. I am willing to sit down and meet with any Haeseni subject who wishes to speak on these issues further, or who has more information to present.

 

Krusae Zwy Kongzem

Signed,
Koeng Josef of Haense

 

[argonian 14254]

"Men call the King a heretic, a beast, a tyrant... and His Majesty punishes his loyal subjects instead. Insanity." Ailred scoffs.

[TheIchorDruid 1986]

"Curious when Lord Ruthern sought to cause public chaos through his slew of taunts and slander against myself, Lord Ruben and Lady Rozalina yet remained utterly overlooked by the crown. There is no justice in ignorance." A young Wick commented with a shake of her head, setting the parchment aside whilst resuming her idle reading. 

[bumblefina 2766]

The Grand Wick, leader of the many clans of Wick, one Juniper Wick, reads the missive from her office. She gives an approving nod, and speaks to her companions and family members. 

"I greatly appreciate this response from the Koeng. While the last few years have been troubling for this family, Haense is and always will be our ancestral home. I hope to see continued improvements in the nation, so that it might rise to the great status in which it is held in the hearts of many. The Wicks, while loud and vocal about their opinions, do so with heart and desire for justice, fairness, and the rights of all men."

[EmbryoGod 823]

Oskar read the missive, nodding to himself. "The ancestral homeland of my family seems to have been well placed. As long as we recognize that we as a nation can do better, and that we must work towards being better than the sum of the mismanagement of recent events, we will truly show the world that we are deserving of the most esteemed title of the strongest human institution culturally and militarily." Oskar rose a glass of proud Haeseni Carrion Black, toasting to the name of Koeng Josef I.

[AnonymousAlexa 3890]

"An outrage!" The Duchess of Reinmar cried out to her husband, Manfred, after skimming through the missive. The woman slammed the document down onto a nearby table, before cradling her head in the palms of her hands. "What has become of Haense? Traitors and criminals roam free, while good, law-abiding citizens are punished?"

@Coolcod77

[Drew2_dude 2636]

Sigmar Baruch would look over the missive with a nod, "wha' a good lad, standin' with LAW AND ORDER like a good Koeng would, justice will ALWAYS be served in HAENSE! we are TOUGH ON CRIME!!!" he'd smile sipping his carrion black as he watched a peasant boy get flogged for tresspassing, a peace would come over him.

[gavyn 1362]

Corbin scrunches his nose as he placed the letter to a table he sat before, letting out an annoyed sigh while leaning back in his seat. “Hypocrisy.. Nonetheless it is good to see initiative towards change.” He’d scoff to anybody listening. His hand went up to pinch the bridge of his nose, his other retrieving his journal and quill. His posture straightening as both hands fell to the parchment and quill, setting off to begin writing.

[Lickspittle 695]

Ionian would frown upon seeing this from the Seven Skies. He'd think about how he and a few other HRA soldiers brutally tortured and murdered someone over a way less grievous offence than the one stated, and to whom nobody found out about.

 

"Justice was achieved, in the end, was it not? Isn't that what matters?" he'd say, in remarks to the case of Gelderhoe, who was not in the seven skies.

[BobBox 3798]

Amthalion rolled his neck before going to refile the books that had been tampered with in the library. "Is it our turn to press charges?" He'd ask no one as he continued on his work

[ReveredOwl 5639]

"I think a more pressing issue not addressed is the removal of the aurum line as ordered by the King, will it return to all entrances to prevent demonic incursions?" Asked Hubert.

[0zark 60]

Ozark Mondblume would scoff at the statements made in the mistreatment of Hektor Stafyr he'd speak to himself in front of his fire hearth, "While it may be true the HRA is not perfect in all arrests made this arrest was by far and away conducted in a responsible manner despite Lord Stafyr publicly slandering the HRA prior to arrest and continuing to moan and cry like a child from deep within the dungeons so loudly it could be heard across the entire city. I assume this 'assault' he must be referring to must have been when he was poked during his interrogation." scoffing to himself whilst feeling his bristle, "Some nobles have become so soft these days. It's a wonder if he could even pickup a sword to man the wall."

[Pureimp10 5691]

3 minutes ago, 0zark said:

Ozark Mondblume would scoff at the statements made in the mistreatment of Hektor Stafyr he'd speak to himself in front of his fire hearth, "While it may be true the HRA is not perfect in all arrests made this arrest was by far and away conducted in a responsible manner despite Lord Stafyr publicly slandering the HRA prior to arrest and continuing to moan and cry like a child from deep within the dungeons so loudly it could be heard across the entire city. I assume this 'assault' he must be referring to must have been when he was poked during his interrogation." scoffing to himself whilst feeling his bristle, "Some nobles have become so soft these days. It's a wonder if he could even pickup a sword to man the wall."

 

"Actually they're talking about when he was kneed in the groin for no reason," commented Viktor, who witnessed the whole arrest!

[winterblood 11181]

Alexandria Karina breathed a sigh of relief at seeing her nephew's treatise.  "Thank Godan.  His Majesty is proving to be quite the decisive and just King."

[shortchangehero 4217]

The young Leufroy d'Amaury finished reading the missive with a frown, "I was wrong," he'd mumble. He'd stare at the paper in his hands for a moment before gently folding it and putting it away in his pants pocket. "He is a good King. I hope he succeeds."