A Diary Entry

[kuerbis 3802]

 

✠ DOMINVS VOLVIT, SIC FACTVM EST ✠

 

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[!] This was an entry found in the Crown Princess of Man’s personal diary. It was a little, worn book, bound by leather that was peeling at the edges. The words written upon the worn pages within revealed a nervous tremor in the writer’s hand. 

These written pages remained private, never to be seen by the public eye. It was well-hidden somewhere in the Crown Prince’s Apartments. There was no chance of others stumbling upon it by accident.

 

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10th of the Sun’s Smile 642;    Today at Court the Emperor had Peter Rovare brought to Justice. I do not have sympathy with a man who rose to power through his deceitful means, but I cannot help but to feel misery whenever I recall the mangled image of his body, after he had been stoned. What sin, what senseless cruelty?  I watched the crowd. Many chose to take a stone, few missed their throw and fewer yet have declined to take a stone at all. I believe, today, during this brief moment, all of humankind has lost its humanity.  How can they reel back their arms and cast a rock at someone’s head, simply because they were offered to do so without repercussions? Is it enough for one person to start, and all others to follow?   Does an Emperor’s mere word hold that much weight? Not one person spoke up, myself included. Not one person asked for a swifter end for this man. Why do we fear his wrath so? If one of us had said something, two more people might’ve joined in. And if two more had joined in, five more people might’ve spoken up. And had they spoken up as well, perhaps he would’ve simply had Peter Rovare’s head cut off cleanly.   Today, we have all become murderers. There were no witnesses; we were all involved, I believe. Even if only through our stunned silence. I feel disgusted by those who attended court today. Those who threw stones, those who refused and watched, it does not matter.   At court, I had a whispered conversation with Joan. The question was; does the manner of an execution matter if  the end result remains the same? Do a thousand cuts stand equal to one true strike of a sword? Just the other day, I read the thesis of a young priest, aspiring to have the death penalty abolished. Can an Empire stand without death? I do not think so. But are there humane ways of execution? Can an execution even be humane? Are there ways to ease one's suffering? Do traitors deserve the same clean death as any other common criminal would, or do they deserve to be torn limb from limb and fed to the pigs as Peter Rovare was?   I believe I shall visit the palace chapel this evening, to pray for this man’s soul, and for forgiveness. I should pray more often, and perhaps visit confession soon. There are far too few people who go to confession anyhow, Valentin says.

 

[JudgeTrudy 610]

Spoiler

This is some very nice writing and formatting<3

 

[TaraJess 2848]

In that court room, rather crowded, a pair whispered. 

 

"Was he truly deserving of such a vile death?"

 

Words could not describe what Aurelian felt in her core. Rage was not enough. As Peter's limbs lay scattered upon the carpet, she pondered if her uncle bled out on carpet or stone. 

 

Did Peter make a show of it? Was it slow like his own death?

 

Crimson bled out of that body yet Aurelian's mind wandered to the crimson of wine her uncle held when she was very little, when he and her sat across from Peter at a feast, and spoke of how they were excited to get to work, how the future of Beleth shall be bright. 

 

Her uncle whispered in her ear, words about trust, about caution... yet his very lack of caution of this man, this man who so quickly went from refugee to damn near a king... 

 

Her Uncle was kind. Her Uncle wouldn't sell out his people... even if it cost him his life. How, she would always wonder, could someone turn so quickly against those who were the most loyal to them? Like man and dog, bound together throughout the histories... what a monster man is when they dispose of that dog the moment they do not need it. 

 

Did he deserve such a vile death? Some would argue it was not vile enough.

 

 

[sarahbarah 7105]

EIRENE OF MYRINE was but five summers old, yet her eyes had already beheld much. The wanton cruelty of man that extended far beyond the reach of rosy walls and pink parasols had often evaded this young girl. She could not quite comprehend why or how so many summoned the courage to gather those stones; to partake in ending a life so casually, as if it were mere child's play.

 

Eirene did not take a stone. She could not bear to do so. Instead, she wrote—throwing herself into the crinkled parchment that felt safe—felt like home, instead. She would not dare brandish a sword; she would only brandish a quill.

[Nectorist 12869]

Caius II, assured of the journey of the man's soul, finds little need to care about the body of Peter Rovare. As he returns from depositing the man's head, he looks upon the pigsty of Alba, where the animals feast unceasingly.

[Gridlock 1033]

Spoiler

S tier post. Very immersive