Information Leaked on d'Kridis' Trial

[*WriterOfFiction]

A long letter was recently dropped off at our office by an anonymous source, supposedly taken from the Free League's board, explaining how the infamous d'Kridis has found himself in yet another legal dispute.

As you all must have heard by now, Hildmor has been deposited into Harmonium custody for a number of capital crimes. I am not ashamed of the part I had, and stand behind my actions. Rather than await rumors and hearsay to leak out, I wish to candidly explain the situation and why I did what I did.

To begin, I have known Hildmor for a very long time. We have worked together many times, helped each other in many ways, and shared many burdens. I do not enjoy this outcome, nor am I saying I have not made terrible mistakes as well. I realized however how much we differed months ago, when he attempted to sell myself and a half dozen others to a devil for power. I found myself asking myself since, how was that even a possibility? I accepted it as an exception, something that he would not do quite so terribly again.

That is not the case. He continued doing such terrible things, but I was not being harmed or involved. It was not my business, was it? I thought the Bazaar was safe. I was wrong.

NatashaÂ’s Kith had existed for some time, but only recently did they mobilize to become true competition to the DÂ’Kridis Consortium. Rather than simply provide better prices, services, and goods- Hildmor approached Natasha with an ultimatum. Either she would join the Consortium, or be destroyed. Nastasha declined quite vehemently, as any free woman should, seeing the demands as an insult.

Hildmor lashed out after the refusal by kidnapping NatashaÂ’s delivery girl. The girl was new on the job, still clueless by Sigilian standards, and she had not even received her first pay. He chained her up without food or drink, kept alive only by a ring of sustenance. She was then interrogated about the Kith, threatened, and told how she would be given piece by piece to Natasha. The poor girl genuinely knew nothing.

Hildmor was good to his word, and approached Natasha with a lock of the girlÂ’s hair and the Kith emblem she once held. His new terms were even more vicious, if Natasha did not comply, the girl would be killed.

I realized then, Hildmor had gone too far. Not only had he imprisoned an innocent clueless, but he also demanded control of a private business on penalty of death. I was able to convince him to let me hold the girl on his behalf, in return for telling no one of her. I then began to actively collect the evidence that could stop this madness for good.

Natasha eventually found out of the girlÂ’s situation by way of a third party. Natasha confronted me, and while I could not release the girl without breaking my word, we both spoke of working together to see a safe resolution. However, the many day situation had worn Natasha down too far, she ceded to Hildmor under great coercion. For the girlÂ’s safety, Natasha gave him all of her information- including our discussions. The deal also included, in some way, Natasha's freedom in addition to her free will.

Later that day, Hildmor met me outside of Sigil. He confronted me, we fought, and I won. Rather than kill him, I petrified him. In the days following, I turned him over to the Harmoniun with the girl I was entrusted with. While I loathe working with hardheads, it is a time to look past prejudices.

Natasha had managed to save her delivery girlÂ’s life, but when Hildmor had access to her, she would be his to control. Natasha decided that her independence was worth far more than her life... and embraced death.

These events occurred because Natasha refused to yield her business in the bazaar to an Indep. Rather than cut her losses, she fought to save a prisoner of an Indep. She chose death, instead of slavery under an Indep.

That isn’t what an Indep is, that isn’t what an Indep does. There are few things our ‘faction’ agrees on, and that’s the respect of individuality and freedom. It’s an appreciation for the freedom the bazaar brings. In her last week alive, Natasha was more of an Indep than Hildmor was in his entire life. It pains me now how her life ended.

I did not betray a member of our faction, I stopped a man who wanted nothing more than absolute control of at any price. You may disagree with my methods, it is your right and your choice. You may not believe everything IÂ’ve written, thatÂ’s for your own scrutiny to decide. Please, however, do not doubt my reasons.

This may very well be the end of me, and I accept that possibility. I would rather die a free woman, than bow my knee to a tyrant. It has been a pleasure to share Sigil with you all,

~Nienna

[*ManyFaced]

Nienna pinches the bridge of her nose while she reads the latest issue. "I suppose- this should not be surprising."

[*shadowblizmasta]

*Ishana finishes reading the report* Hn, lookin' like tha Free League's gonna live up ta it's name soon 'nuff now tha' 'e's out o' tha way.

[*Reptiller]

Free?

Hildmor d'Kridis has been recently let go, on bail and geas. Word is, he cannot use magic do any other kind of violent acts. The crime lord also has been rendered...Crimeless! He cannot cause or personally perform any criminal acts. We'll keep you in touch.

-Anonymous Reporter.

((Per OOC conversation with Ceremorph))

[*CaCO3]

At the forge, Lance Marshby drops a heated blade into an oil bath and goes about scrounging for some paper to soak up extra oil once the blade is removed from the bath. Finding a couple discarded copies of S.I.G.I.S suitable, he spreads them out on his work bench and sets the oil drenched blade on top. However, just as the papers begin wicking up the oil, the letter regarding d'Kridis catches his attention, so he pulls the page free and takes a closer read.

After finding the letter all-too recognizable, he mutters to himself. "Heh... Bloody hell, nothin' stays buttoned up very long 'round here."

Smirking, he spreads the paper back onto the workbench and takes a pull of Scotch from his flask before going back to work.

[*Goatrider]

Kethira flicks through a copy of the news rag over a traditional breakfast of mead and verbal abuse, interrupting her harangue of the local wits with a caw of laughter as she scans a rather familiar letter. Rather than discard it as usual, she cuts the article carefully from the paper and tacks it to a wall in the Foul Olde Spirit, laughing the whole while.

[*Favea Catena]

Lilura the Enchantress flips through the paper, almost skipping over the letter until the name under it catches her eye. She proceeds to read the letter, a slight frown forming on her lips. "Hmm, if all that is true, better be wary. I should show Cael."

[*Sareth675]

Ea'ral on one of his now rather infrequent trips into Sigil, reads the article and thinks to himself...

Hildmor up for trial again... bail, again... Gods, if nobody can realise the law system here is ridiculously botched, then everybody must be clueless. Somebody going to court this often has to be guilty...

[*Mr_Otyugh]

Due to Public Distress the Harmonium would like to ensure the safety of Sigilians with increased Harmonium activity prior the trial. The witnesses to case may contact Harmonium for receiving further protection to their person if they feel they are in danger.

Through might we'll reach harmony,

Cadaveus
-----Mover Two of Harmonium
-----Public Safety Department