Execution of Eschatus

April, 2003

Players: Ellis, Oksana, Sascha, Quillaya, Erynne, Silvermane, Ferahli, Ki, Regnar, Eschatus, Aponi, Flimble, Sylonderiel, Fingers, Nyle, Caladrel

Ellis comes up to see this, he is frowning slightly as he moves closer to the front.

Oksana is a part of the crowd, watching the display going on with a grim look. There's certainly a bit of apprehension in this paladin's expression, expecting Eschatus to yet again figure out a way to get out of this predicament.

Sascha is near the middle of the crowd, near Oksana, but has no trouble seeing what's going on, seated as he is on the back of his rather massive black charger, in full arms and armor.

Quillaya arrives in the right place, and heads towards Oksana looking somewhere between downcast and miserable.

Erynne pushes towards the front of the crowd, watching what is going on.

Silvermane wanders up the street from the direction of the halfing quarter, winding his way through the crowd, trying to get somewhere that he can actually see what's going on... all these big people are in the way, keeping him from seeing from a distance.

Ferahli steps closer to Quillaya upon seeing the halfling scream. The girl's expression has gone from haunted to outright horrified. Disgusted. "What are they doing?" The words are growled in the robed-man's direction.

Ki stands off to the side, in front due to her size. She glances over at Eschatus, frowning and standing talls. Ok, as tall as she can. She shakes her head, holding her bow in hand and strangely, with an arrow notched in it.

Regnar arrives from the south. Regnar has arrived.

Aponi ducks into view trying to look entirely conspicuous with her white wool cloak sparkling with shiney stones billowing out around her. She does a silly tippy toe and duck behind each corner or tree she passes until she reaches a good viewing spot.

Those drums. My gods...they're omnipresent. Thrumming...Imperial...Majestic...Ominous. They line the Ashtara Street, and Black-Red-Purple streamers fly...marking the way to the Constabulary's new tower.

Reeves re-gag Eschatus and cuff him on the back of the head. "Let's go, Peck...you've made the Empire wait long enough for this..."

Quillaya sighs to Ferahli, "They're going to kill him for his crimes. I can protect him against dangers that come upon him, but Aria teaches that no one is above the law. And he has committed many acts, such that this end for him is fitting."

Regnar meanders up the street to watch, maybe even help if they let him.

Erynne looks upon Eschatus, mixed feelings playing on her features.

Oksana is certainly not against seeing Eschatus finally be executed. She seems prepared for the little halfling to escape his death sentence.

Flimble melts into the crowd. Watching. Listening. Seething.

Eschatus is out of his mind with terror as he is dragged through the street. Eyes meeting those who he has had dealings- Sascha, Regnar, Oksana searching for some pity, some respite from those who's lives he's filled with doubletalk and duplicity and finding none. His head falls forward, the time for quips and laughing denigrations couched in high language passed.

Ki seems also prepared for Eschatus to do just that and she watches him warily, without seeming to blink.

Aponi's big eyes seem to magnify as she inches her way ever closer to the doomed halfling.. as close as she can get, anyway. She's never seen a murder on display.

Silvermane finally makes his way to the front, brow furrowing as he sees the execution about to happen.

Sascha calls out, perhaps loudly enough for the halfling to hear, "Go with Lognare, Eschatus... whatever else you've done... you've certainly kept life interesting."

Ferahli glances between Quillaya and Exchatus, looking a bit sick. Despite the fact, she remains beside her 'companion.' "This is not right..." She growls, watching the halfling stumble forward. "This should not be on display..."

Sylonderiel has arrived, but stands oddly some way back, not pressing forwards at all. She has her bow with her, and those nearby will note she has a quiver too. She appears interested only in witnessing the event, and looks about from time to time, reviewing the roofs of nearby buildings.

"That's right, string the anklebiter up," comes the gruff, scratchy dwarven voice of the odd fellow, Fingers. "Deserves it, wit' what he dun. Draw and quarter him for good measure," he adds at the top of his lungs, cupping his hands around his mouth to magnify his voice.

The crowd feels differently, rocks and rotted produce start to arc through the air towards the halfling, covering him in filth and drawing blood, knocking him to a knee before he is roughly dragged up again and led towards the gallows which stand in the park to the south, thrusting into the air like a skeletal hand.

Oksana looks down to Ferahli, frowning, "He was given a private execution, once." She carries disdain in her voice, "Funny how he needs a second one?"

Quillaya shakes his head to the woman next to him. "It is right," he says somewhat sadly, "for otherwise there is no proof of justive done. This land -will- be returned to order." He looks up to the Paladin of the Rose, "A private execution?" he queries.

Ki ignores the crown and their comments while she watches calmly, frowning but there's a sadness in her eyes to suggest she doesn't like what's being done, but.. it must.

Ellis stops a short distance away he may be saying something, but if he is its too quiet to be heard over the crowd.

Erynne shakes her head, her tanned face turning pale at the sight of so many people in the midst of bloodlust.

The drums cease.

The Legion-Captain holds aloft a scroll, unfurls it, and reads aloud, "By order of the King...this prisoner is now handed over to /Imperial/ justice. May the gods have mercy on him..."

The crowd's reaction is mixed...boos, cheers, confusion. This is a gesture, obviously, by the king to allow the Constabulary to flex a bit. The Reeve-Captain takes the scroll and turns to his reeves. With a nod, they head south, drums continuing.

The Hanging Bells toll again in the Tempelli.

Oksana nods to Quillaya, "This is the second time he's been ordered up for execution. The second one was not a public spectacle." She shakes her head, "His arrest was public, but his execution was not." She looks to the halfling, "He managed to slip away."

The scene here is one of construction...and chaos. At the rocky outcropping in the southwestern corner of the road, there stands a huge foundation for a building...round, solid, built of purest onyx and local obsidian. Dwarven workers now man the rim of the stone ring, tools at their sides. Reeves guard the scene and the Lord Constable himself stands at a table in the middle of the tower foundation, flanked by a pair of his Quaesitors. There are substances arrayed before him, bearing black-purple-red stripes on the labels. These must have been brought in the Lord Constable's personal belongings, since everything else was destroyed in the previous day's blast.

A pair of dwarves have prepared a taller niche out of Onyx blocks...a cornerstone niche. Hollow. And a barrow of mortar is being mixed. The gallows in the park is conspicuously abandoned here. That is the king's justice. Watch the Lord Constable's at work.

Aponi looks across the gathered crowd and spots Ki. Her little feet take her through the throng to the halfling's side, before she peeks over the shorter woman's shoulder. She quietly says, "What has he done?"

Sascha nods, saying quietly, "As he may yet escape again. Just remember, though... with his death comes a cleansing of the slate, by law. I fear we will see this today only to learn that some dark faith has offered him yet another chance for retribution."

Ferahli continues to look a bit ill, if she allows herself to be pushed along with the crowd. It's only Quillaya's words that seem to give her a bit to bite down on. Something other than the seemingly mindless cruelty. They were friends, were they not? This Quillaya and Eschatus? "Someone kill the poor bastard. Do it now... where everyone can see. This.. parade..." She shakes her head, voice hardly audible. Speaking more to herself than the crowd about her.

Ki doesn't even look up at Aponi. "He's murdered people. " is all she says.

Sylonderiel's gaze wanders across other crowd members for a time, watching, taking in, moving on. Silence and impassivity seem to be her watchwords.

Ellis speaks to Ferahli and Quillaya "he killed party memebers that he was supposed to be working with. He unleashed a troll upon the backs of his own party." he then continues his walk moving up closer to the Reeves, but not to the very front.

When the drums finally stop, the silence is deafening.

The quiet is broken by the clanging of the Hanging Bells once more...and the voice of the Lord Constable. He speaks softly...but everyone in the crowd can hear him as if he were next to them. His voice is even and almost compassionate.

"Mortar him in."

Ki keeps her bow ready with the arrow notched. She shakes her head as she watches, eyes still sad.

Sylonderiel just lifts an eyebrow. Maybe that's what passes for surprise, with her.

Quillaya chuckles to Ferahli, replying, "No, it must be done as it must. A strong show for law and order is required in these times. I was simply hired as an unwitting bodyguard by the wizard... I didn't expect him to attack anyone for I'd not met him before. Justice is served."

The Reeve-Captain walks up quietly and hands the Legion scroll to the Lord Constable, then takes his place behind him.

Aponi giggles from behind Ki and says to her, "Lots of people kill other people, but they don't get such a big party afterwards." She skips off through the crowd, weaving in and out between the people gathered to celebrate a death.

Silvermane frowns, hearing what sounds like an order to bury the criminal alive, making him a part of the new construction.

Regnar listens to the pronouncement of sentence, and smiles.

Eschatus's eyes go wide, and he starts to writhe, trying to back away. His face is a mask of filth and blood, nose and lips bleeding still from where the stones and produce struck him, his head swinging wildly back and forth, madness in his eyes put there by the sheer terror of being drowned alive in wet mortar.

Whatever reaction that gets from the bulk of the crowd, it results in hooting and cheering from the clean shaven dwarf. "'Ats right!" he yells. "Brick the bastard up! Let his bones rot in yer foundation!" The dwarf seems almost gleeful...or whatever passes for glee, among his sort.

Ki frowns lightly, watching. If she notices Aponi's comment, she doesn't show it. She watches fully as Eschatus is buried alive.

Erynne watches, her eyes going wide and her jaw dropping in horror as she realizes what is about to happen.

Sascha frowns, bowing his head now as he closes his eyes in quiet prayer.

Aponi's skipping takes her to the edge of the ones gathered, then she disappears down the street. Apparently, she has no interest in the spectating any longer.

Aponi leaves towards the southeast.

Aponi has left.

It's quite the day when a public hanging involves mortar. Another wash of horror sweeping over Ferahli's form, she glances about the crowd at whole. Taking in each individual's response to the halfling's sentence. She's taken a step away from Quillaya, the habitual hand having settled on her blade's hilt.

Ellis blinks and speaks up "Is this to be justice or vengance Lord Constable. I have as much reason to seek justice for this man. But What you offer is not what I wish. Make his Death Quick, and painless, Do not give him to the hands of Sslira, hand him instead to Evighet to be judged."

Silvermane doesn't speak up, though he doesn't much like what he sees.

Erynne's face regains its color and takes on a slight flush as the gleam in her round, brown eyes turns angry. She raises her right hand before her, bent at the elbow as if about to reach out and her fingers clench.

The cries of the crowd become a din over which the Lord Constable can still be heard. As Eschatus is stone-and-mortared into the niche from the ground up, he speaks, intoning, "By the Will of the Empire, Eschatus Nuadim'ne, a halfling, is hereby condemned."

The roar of the crowd is mixed in tone.

"Death of Wanted Criminals will become a foundation stone of this structure. This halfling's body will become part of the mortar... We shall build our orderly society on the crushed bones of those who would undermine it."

Tears, filth and blood wash down the face of the halfling, unmitigated terror in his beady eyes. He looks down at the small grey rat which stands now at his foot, a length of bent metal in his mouth and shakes his head sadly. The rat drops the lockpick and clings to the halfling's leg squeaking. Eschatus's head falls forward, too sad to lift it.

Silvermane turns and starts pushing his way through the crowd, away from the live-burial execution.

Ki frowns suddenly and shakes her head, looking over at Ellis, then over at Oksana and Sascha. She quickly winds her way over to the latter.

Eschatus's head is shoved back into place...it's bound, but not mortared in. The Lord Constable walks quietly over to the table, hands clasped behind his back. He begins to review the array of bottles in front of him.

Regnar makes his way towards the front of the crowd, there are really few who can stop him. One hand is on his bow, the other his hammer. He nods to some of the Reeves standing guard in the front row and turns to help, eying those in the crowd for trouble.

Ki reaches up to tug at Sascha's tunic, when she gets close enough.

The rat dances back and forth outside the wall as the halfling vanishes inside, it's running more and more frantic, suddenly trying to close it's jaws on the leg of the Lord Constable, a desperate futile attempt to lash out at the man.

Ellis Moves over tword Regnar, he speaks softly to him as he gets there. Ellis mutters to Regnar, "... permit him... be... like..."

Sascha looks down to Ki, frowning darkly as he dismounts to hear what she has to say.

Erynne narrows her eyes and moves to where Regnar and Ellis are.

Regnar mutters to Ellis, "stand... no... today.... bein... and not... it.... Tamarie when... say... being..." Erynne mutters to Regnar, "... should... him... right, no... he has done."

Ellis considers regnar for a moment and then nods "you are right" he stands beside regnar at that point, as if he plans to support the dwarf in his actions.

Ki mutters to Sascha, "This... Justice... like... undead." Ki whispers "This isn't right. Justice doesn't work like this, Sascha. Only Sslira would do this.. he will be made undead."

The Lord Constable chooses a bottle and takes the glass stopper out, lying it on a velvet pillow nearby. He takes up the flask and walks to Eschatus, pouring it on his head with whispered words.

"Blessed waters of Evighet...." he intones quietly.

Then he steps on the rat, crushing its spine slowly with a whine-squeak.

Silvermane gets to the back of the crowd, finally... and finds a good tall barrel to stand on, so that he can look over the crowd and see from back there.

Ki winces at the sudden squeak/

Sascha frowns a bit, then stands again and raises his voice, bellowing, "Lord Constable! Has the stone been consecrated? It would be a shame to base the foundation of your orderly society on the angry soul of a murderer, rife for the ShadowQueen's kiss."

Eschatus screams into his gag as the his familiar dies, and the screams are renewed again as smoke starts to rise from his flesh.

Flimble is about to bust a nut. (Lack of a better way to put it..sorry to the squeamish) He flits to and fro in the crowd, darting unseen for a better place to do..something. He cringes, but feels powerless.

Quillaya bows his head as the screams start up. He touches a hand to the silver symbol of Aria on one shoulder, as if drawing comfort knowing that justice is and must be above all else.

Ferahli's gaze flickers toward the crushed rat, then to the steaming halfling. Teeth clenched against the words that threaten to break free, she nonetheless keeps a steady gaze on the execution.

Ki tenses, glancing over at the Constable.

Eschatus collapses into unconciousness from the pain.

Erynne closes her eyes and lowers her head, relief coming to her as now the victim at least doesn't know what is happening.

Volis Nydaulth takes a rag from the table and wipes his hands clean...almost symbolically. Slowly. Methodically. Calmly.

He takes up a different bottle and walks up to the halfling. "Merciful waters of Kukka..."

This time, the liquid doesn't do so much damage as it does numbing. He doesn't want the condemned to pass out from pain.

Eschatus's eyes meet that of his executioner, not seeking pity any more. He works his teeth at his gag, trying to spit it out before his final end.

Ki looks up at Sascha again, murmuring. Ki whispers "Sascha...he will bring Sslira here.. her cultists are already here. They could very well kill Eschatus in a ritual and do what they are doing now. No amount of holy water will help them."

A priest on the stone dais hears Sascha and pauses, considering. He walks up to the Lord Constable and whispers. Nydaulth shakes his head and moves back to the table, replacing the bottle. He walks back to Eschatus slowly, hands clasped at the small of his back as his robe brushes the ground. He intones a single word.

"Confess."

Sylonderiel watches with perhaps a shade more interest now. Probably she's just curious what Eschatus might confess to.

Nyle arrives from the southeast. Nyle has arrived.

Sascha moves up through the crowd, until he joined Ellis and Regnar. Sascha mutters to Regnar, "he's... tried.... hells... they... was... hanged... not tortured." You whisper "he's already been tried. Why the hells can't they just prosecute the /lawful/ sentence? He was to be hanged... not tortured." to Regnar.

Eschatus's eyes meet the Lord Constable and says, "Hemlig whispers to me your secrets. I am his brightest flame, when you snuff me out. You invite his wrath. Your secrets will come clear." he winces and coughs and stops, "But I'll confess, Yes. I will." he pauses a moment, "I stole the Razor's sting, I took the artifct as my own to smite the tiny minds around me, to rule with a terrible might, I released the troll. I cut that bitch Tarwi's throat killed her dog and tore her throat out. I robbed the house of lore, convinced an angel of Lognare to deal cards in a brothel, robbed the high priest of Evighet and sold his amulet to a minion of Korinthar, fenced the mistwards, stole a golem's heart. I've killed and maimed and murdered, I tortured Ardus for hours and I say this now. In my wake a new evil will rise the likes of which Vintermor has never seen. I go to meet Hemlig and know that I will rest knowing that only I know what I else I've done! Hemlig hear your servant, ensure this filth's secrets come clear." and he starts to laugh.

Regnar turns from Sascha to listen for a moment. Regnar mutters to Sascha, "... get's... reward for... he... must... and... out..." Regnar whispers "he get's his just reward for the life he has led. An example must be made and no better to make it out of."

A late arrival, Nyle finds himself a spot somewhat to the back of the crowd, squinting a little as he tries to see, not with any great success though.

Sascha mutters to Regnar, "... to... is... mock..." You whisper "An example, fine. But he was sentenced to /hang/. This is not lawful, nor is this mock trial." to Regnar.

Ki winces, trembling as she stands there, looking over at Eschatus. She murmurs softly. "Oh... gods. " then begins to glance around, searching the roofs.

Ellis glances to Sascha, and very slightly nods, his expression closed, his eyes move over the crowd and the surroundings, examining the faces there.

Sylonderiel nods, just slightly, as well.

Silvermane remains standing on the tall barrle he found. He can't really hear much from back there at the far back end of the crowd, but he can hear the laughter... which makes him frown again.

Quillaya shakes his still-bowed head sadly at the lengthy list of misdeeds. "Hemlig, God of Treachery, seems to have forsaken you to your doom, little wizard." he says quietly.

The gag is replaced into the laughing jaw of Eschatus. A dwarven cleric steps forward, Emissary of Kivi in the enclave. He holds a hammer in his hands. In his gruff voice, he intones, "Kivi commands your further silence as you become one with the earth..." He takes the hammer and smashes the gag into Eschatus's mouth. Not enough to kill him...just enough to make sure his smile doesn't look good for portraits anytime soon. (not like it looked that good to begin with)

Teeth and blood fly.

Sascha frowns, looking down toward Regnar, He mutters to Regnar, "... needless..." Regnar senses "Sascha frowns, looking down toward Regnar, "I was unaware Kivi commanded needless cruelty.""

Sascha turns and starts walking away now, back toward his horse.

Nyle purses his lips a little bit, not managing to see much in the ways of details back where he is standing, but still manages to get the general idea of what just happened.

Sylonderiel purses her lips, and her gaze narrows.

Flimble purses his lips, just to be like everyone else.

Caladrel finally makes her way up the hill and toward the long silenced bells. She seems a bit winded from the long walk but takes her place at the back of the crowd and looks to see what's going on.

Ki gasps suddenly, her eyes going wide at Eschatus' treatment.

Caladrel frowns a little as she watches the spectacle, she scans the crowd and starts to slowly wend her way through the mass of people towards Quillaya or Nyle, whichever is nearer.

Nyle, who is standing somewhat to the back, slips towards Caladrel when he spots her coming along, nodding his head to her in greeting, leaning in to whisper something.

Sascha comes back to Ki, taking the reins of his horse again. Before he mounts, he says darkly, "Mark my words. This man will do the same to anyone else he pleases. The days of Vintermor as we have known it are over."

Ellis isnt watching eschatus, so right now he only hears what happens, he winces though.

Caladrel inclines her head to Nyle's comment, murmuring in response.

Ki glances up to Sascha, frowning and murmurs. "Kunnia help us. "

Caladrel mutters to Nyle, "... where silk gloves may... even... criminal... swift... not... slow..."

Eschatus just laughs behind the gag, eyes wild, body convulsing as he gurgles and laughs at the crowd and the Constable. Sascha's comment reinforcing his prediction. A great evil comes in the wake of Eschatus.

Nyle tilts his head from one side to the other, eyes drifting back to watch the scene as it unfolds, He mutters to Caladrel, "... list... were... against..."

Ki trembles as she turns back to Eschatus, looking sad but now silent.

Regnar says "perhaps the days of lawless abandon are over, perhaps order comes at last. Justice against those who would murder and kill at their whim. Perhaps this city shall change, but for all of those that Eschatus killed, maimed, and tortured, will it come soon enough to take their pain away, or restore their lives and life? No, it has not come soon enough to give back what he took from his victims. He has recieved today nothing which he has not earned through his own choice of action."

Caladrel shakes her head in response to something Nyle whispers, "Not in my opinion, but... that means little, in truth." A wry smile as she glances over to the madly laughing halfling.

And with that, Lord Constable Volis Nydaulth orders his head mortared in and he pours the last of his bottles. Smoke rises from the niche as the dwarves work to obscure the view of the carnage...but bubbling skin and smoking bits of bone can be seen. Nydaulth seems...satisfied. He clasps his hands at the small of his back and slowly paces the tower foundation, waiting for the slow end.

The voice of Flimble joins many others - mostly old women - in a scream of horror and mercy. But mercy doesn't come, and the horror is already upon this place. Flimble cries audibly and runs from the scene, sobbing.

Flimble leaves towards the north. Flimble has left.

Nyle blinks his eyes slowly when the punishment comes is delivered, he looking more surprised than outraged or horrified, he giving

Caladrel a sideways glance, speaking out the corner of his mouth, He mutters to Caladrel, "Now,... We deffinately... this... has..."

Quillaya stays for the bitter end, forcing his chin up to watch the final moments.

Sylonderiel watches Flimble's departure thoughtfully, and nods quietly to herself as well.

Ellis stands quietly, his eyes moving to the Constable now.

Ki stands next to Sascha, then looks up at him. She tries to get his attention.

Sascha looks down to Ki, cocking his head silently.

Ki furrows her brows and motions Sascha down again. She looks perhaps annoyed by something, or perhaps that she has to crane her neck all the way back to look up at the other ranger.

Caladrel nods to Nyle, "Certainly ... however, carefully." She scans the crowd as the dwarves finish the bricking, looking for any more of the crew. Spotting Quillaya after a few moments searching she begins to head that way.

Fingers has left.

Sascha dismounts again, dropping to one knee.

Ki unnotches the arrow in her bow and puts the bow on her back, in its shealth behind her quiver. She reaches up as if to ask Sascha to lift her up, then stops when he dismounts and leans in to whisper.

Nydaulth mills about the area. Crowds disperse as the dwarves all get back to work.

Ki whispers "Can... you take me to Kragshold? I have made my decision and... I think the Order should know of the shadow crawling over this city."