You received a raven

Dorian, who had been sipping his ale and listening, leans forward and sets his mug on the table. "As it stands, the current way of things is that the Knights uphold the law and determine punishment for grievances. Until now, we knights have used our own judgement in fitting the punishment with the crime and determining if a crime was committed at all."

Dorian folds his hands in front of himself on the table. "Perhaps, with your new written laws, lesser offenses can result in... let's say a predetermined fine. Then perhaps for more serious offenses, a knight is called in. For the next step a Knightmaster is called. And finally for your most serious offenses, the King himself can determine punishment. It isn't such a drastic change to things that it would be met with any resistance and it makes the whole crime and punishment thing more organized."

He strokes his beard. "Punishment for your more lesser offenses should probably be as predetermined as possible to prevent any misuse of power though. That is, afterall, what we are trying to prevent."

Maximilian takes a loud, slurping sip from the cup garnished with the severed tongue.
"Thank you, my shimmering friend, for your thorough--albeit skewed-- analysis. However, if I may, perhaps we should better define things, hmm?"

He stands and begins to pace behind his chair, "I mean, sure, Arson is bad. I'm sure we can all agree on that. Rape is unseemly, yes. And murder, well, who wants that, right?"

He stops and leans against the back of his chair, "But perhaps we should define these words you're tossing about such as 'Slavery'. I may be mistaken, but didn't we, only days ago, sentence a human woman--a human mother, at that-- to slavery? Who here is prepared to tell your King that his ruling was immoral and unlawful"

He locks eyes with Miquella, "Does your precious Guild pay fair wages to your guardians? Your constructs? Are they not empowered with the same energy that gives you breath? Are they not slaves?"

With a sweeping gesture he addresses everyone gathered, "What is assault? Is it the intentional act of harming another? How many of you have suffered injury upon the field of battle? How many of you have sought the comfort of healing magics? Where do you think those come from if not the study of the suffering of others?"

He turns to look at Jade, "If we are to agree on a set of governing laws, perhaps we should begin by identifying that need and defining those things that we want to moderate. Otherwise, this land will be ruled by the personal preferences and idealistic morals of a select few."

Miquella sits in his chair listening to the lingering words of Maximilian. "I can understand your confusion on the term of 'slavery'. Claire Bakers sentience is without a doubt extreme. However, it was your mistress who sought that form of punishment. The King simply agreed to the notions of the people in the room. After listening to the defenses of both sides." He sits up straighter than before. "Slavery can be seen as ownership of a being against their will without the prospect of release. Clair Baker is no slave but is a temporary servant to the Faceless One set to be released when her allotted time is up." He takes a sip of his drink and places it down calmly. "This notion would be classified as imprisonment with due course of release."

He keeps his eyes locked with Max has he beings to speak about the guild. "Do you think WE are so heartless?" He signals to himself and Rachelle. "We are willing to take care of any being that walks through our doors. Those guardians and constructs you speak of. We tend to their needs. Nurture and mend. They are far from slaves. WE take care of our members. WE see them as members of our guild. In regards those members. Payment is in the form of housing, food, and teachings. WE choose to be there on our own freewill."

He holds his hand up to signal a pause as he takes a drink, and places it back down. "You speak of war and assault to be equals. Yes, they can be seen as the sides of the same coin. But do not play on words about the assault we speak of today. The assault we speak of is the notion of two or more citizens fighting amongst themselves. Not two nations."

He looks around the table and takes another sip of his drink. "I do agree that the defining nature of these laws need to be examined. They do not need to be biased in any way."

(OOC: please disregard any spelling mistakes. I am on my phone while doing this lol)

Selena clears her throat and sets her cup down, sitting up to address the table. "Our purple friend here has a point about slavery though. It does need to be defined a bit, especially if the undead get their way and get rights. I feel we should, instead of making slavery illegal, make the mistreatment of slaves illegal." She turns to Miquella. "Just because you take care of your constructs, doesn't mean they aren't still slaves to the guild, same as an undead army who must follow the commands of their masters." She picks up her drink again, leaning back in her chair once more with a sip and a shrug. "Not sayin, just saying. Slavery isn't bad by itself."

Jade looks up from the parchment when the argument starts. She points her quill at Miquella and Maximilian.

"You two stop! We just had to deal with one child throwing a tantrum. Let's not start this again. I know we all have out different ways of thinking but for fuck's sake! Debate like adults!"

Jade lowers her quill to the parchment again and clears her throat.

"I agree with the knight master. We need to pin point a solid definition of slavery and go from there. Slavery of sentient beings is wrong and shouldn't happen. But maybe we could meet in the middle and say created sentient beings, such as constructs and undead, is to be allowed. As long as guide lines of treatment are met."

Miquella nods his head in agreement to Jade’s request. He sits back and looks at the others at the debates continue.