Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

Oh! This is a very good question, and what our British cousins would call 'a very sticky wicket'.

First off, the possibility of getting killed in a practice bout is always there, so normally the guy who got killed would have to agree to the kind of weapons being used and how risky the practice bouts could be. If they did get hurt or killed, then it would be considered their problem, not the person doing the damage. There is no 'manslaughter' charge in the Tekumel lawbooks - it's either straight up murder or it's not. The parents saying that it was 'foul play' is basically accusing somebody of murder, and the clans involved would do everything possible to try and arbitrate the matter privately. They would both try very hard to keep the Imperium, as represented by the local government officials, out of the matter and settle 'out of court'. The clan of the person who killed the guy would be hugely insulted by the accusation, and may very well ask for shmatla of their own in return for the slight to their honor. The clan of the dead person would put a lot of pressure on the parents to accept the payment, and not insult anybody. My guess is that if the parents persisted in saying that it was foul play, a neutral third party would be brought in by both clans to investigate the matter and render a judgement. This is one of those situations where the Ndalu Clan gets called in, as they are about as neutral as it gets.

Both clans would have a fit if the parents filed a lawsuit in the courts, as this would bring in the Imperials to investigate, and nobody wants the OAL or even the locals poking around in the odd corners of the clan houses. The Imperium would also likely ask the clans to pay for the investigation and the court hearing, too. The official verdict, I'd venture to say, would be the same one that British courts have delivered for years - if not centuries! - in identical circumstances of 'death by misadventure', and get everyone to pay up. (This is a part of 'case law that happens to be well-know to Groan and I, due to our time in the re-enactment movement.)

The relative status of the clans involved would not change the situation; if anything, the higher status clan would be more discomfited by any scandal such as this and more eager to settle, as they would want to appear to be acting nobly. The parents would have to really prove their case, that it really was foul play, and probably get into trouble with the clan if they didn't.

Does this help?

Thank you, Uncle! If nothing else, the idea of inviting the assassins as arbiters because they're impartial, has never occurred to me before!
Admittedly, the basis of the accusation is kinda blurry. I feel I must provide some context here.

See, the boy's uncle had sent a note "don't let the boy practice with Favreng hi vuMakkochaqu", sealed with his personal seal. It arrived shortly before the practice, but Cheggucal hi Nakkolel argued that much as he respects his uncle, cancelling the scheduled practice bout, which was to be held under not really dangerous rules, might well be seen as an affront.
The problem is, Favreng slipped during a grapple, when he was holding Cheggucal's head, and the latter's neck broke. The family immediately suspected foul play and told the clan elders not to accept the Shamtla.
However, they went to see the uncle and enquire, he was found dead from overdose of Zu'ur. This is in itself troubling, as said person has been involved in breaking not one, but two rings of smugglers. All evidence spoke of him hating the drug!
It might be relevant that after the incident, another note with the same content and seal from the late uncle arrived as well. The street urchin who delivered it stated that he has been delayed by a gang that had a score against him, calculations show it has been sent almost at the same time as the first note.

Originally Posted by AsenRG

Thank you, Uncle! If nothing else, the idea of inviting the assassins as arbiters because they're impartial, has never occurred to me before!
Admittedly, the basis of the accusation is kinda blurry. I feel I must provide some context here.

See, the boy's uncle had sent a note "don't let the boy practice with Favreng hi vuMakkochaqu", sealed with his personal seal. It arrived shortly before the practice, but Cheggucal hi Nakkolel argued that much as he respects his uncle, cancelling the scheduled practice bout, which was to be held under not really dangerous rules, might well be seen as an affront.
The problem is, Favreng slipped during a grapple, when he was holding Cheggucal's head, and the latter's neck broke. The family immediately suspected foul play and told the clan elders not to accept the Shamtla.
However, they went to see the uncle and enquire, he was found dead from overdose of Zu'ur. This is in itself troubling, as said person has been involved in breaking not one, but two rings of smugglers. All evidence spoke of him hating the drug!
It might be relevant that after the incident, another note with the same content and seal from the late uncle arrived as well. The street urchin who delivered it stated that he has been delayed by a gang that had a score against him, calculations show it has been sent almost at the same time as the first note.

Uh-oh. If there's Zu'ur involved, you're going to have to report this to the Imperium; this is a very, very serious problem. I'd still run the 'private' investigation, to show the Imperium that I was doing something about this, but things have taken a very, very serious turn. Expect a visit from the OAL, in the very near future...

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

Uh-oh. If there's Zu'ur involved, you're going to have to report this to the Imperium; this is a very, very serious problem. I'd still run the 'private' investigation, to show the Imperium that I was doing something about this, but things have taken a very, very serious turn. Expect a visit from the OAL, in the very near future...

But Uncle, surely that's only if you report it as Zuur instead of a simple overdose on another substance, or cardiac arrest. Right?
Besides, he didn't die in his clan's property, but in an caravansarai, so plausible deniability would exist.

Originally Posted by AsenRG

But Uncle, surely that's only if you report it as Zuur instead of a simple overdose on another substance, or cardiac arrest. Right?
Besides, he didn't die in his clan's property, but in an caravansarai, so plausible deniability would exist.

If you're sure you can get away with it, okay. But if the OAL even THINKS you lied, they will invent whole new ways of slow death by torture just to try them out on you.

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

If you're sure you can get away with it, okay. But if the OAL even THINKS you lied, they will invent whole new ways of slow death by torture just to try them out on you.

Point taken. But still, what does his death have to do with the clan?
We're very sorry he slipped away to indulge in this vice, too bad his death prevents him being questioned, but there's nobody else who does that here, and can we talk about the fund for retired officials we mentioned we're planning to set up?

Originally Posted by AsenRG

Point taken. But still, what does his death have to do with the clan?
We're very sorry he slipped away to indulge in this vice, too bad his death prevents him being questioned, but there's nobody else who does that here, and can we talk about the fund for retired officials we mentioned we're planning to set up?

Oh, ho!!! Another kettle of fish entirely, and an exceedingly juicy scandal that all parties concerned will want to deal with very, very quietly!!!

As Mr. Laurel used to say to Mr. Hardy, "Here's another fine mess you've gotten us into." Mayhem will ensue, I can tell you!!!

Wonderful!!!

Originally Posted by Hermes Serpent

I hate to be pedantic but wasn't it the other way around?

Stan Laurel (the thin one) was always being berated for getting things wrong and causing the mess.

It was the other way round.

You are both quite correct, which will teach me to post in a hurry and distracted; I had guests over last night, gamers who are interested in my running a Tekumel campaign for them, and I was quite distracted. I'm also trying to handle the preparations for the Dave Arneson Day event at the FLGS, where I'll be on display and answering questions about Dave and the early days of gaming.

Sorry about that!

Last night was quite fun; I talked to the group for a very little bit about things, they took The Tour, we had a nice little buffet dinner, and then we watched one of the movies on my 'Tekumel movies' list: "Thief of Baghdad" - 1924, with Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. in the title role. A very good time was had by all, and they'll be back for "Thief of Baghdad" - 1940, next time.

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

Oh, ho!!! Another kettle of fish entirely, and an exceedingly juicy scandal that all parties concerned will want to deal with very, very quietly!!!

As Mr. Laurel used to say to Mr. Hardy, "Here's another fine mess you've gotten us into." Mayhem will ensue, I can tell you!!!

Wonderful!!!

Yeah, I suspect at some point in resolving said mess,adventurers shall be needed.

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

You are both quite correct, which will teach me to post in a hurry and distracted; I had guests over last night, gamers who are interested in my running a Tekumel campaign for them, and I was quite distracted. I'm also trying to handle the preparations for the Dave Arneson Day event at the FLGS, where I'll be on display and answering questions about Dave and the early days of gaming.

Sorry about that!

Last night was quite fun; I talked to the group for a very little bit about things, they took The Tour, we had a nice little buffet dinner, and then we watched one of the movies on my 'Tekumel movies' list: "Thief of Baghdad" - 1924, with Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. in the title role. A very good time was had by all, and they'll be back for "Thief of Baghdad" - 1940, next time.

Glad you had a great time, Uncle! And I'm also glad you have found people that would appreciate your style, I just knew it was bound to happen.