Section 14, Subclause 7-B
Of Reverse Innocence and the Burden of Misdeed
“It is a well-established maxim of the Courts that ‘He who is without blemish is doubtlessly polishing a mirror too frequently.’”
- Chancellor Elspeth D’Nettlefold, in re: Winter Court v. Tidyboots (Summer Court)
14.7.1 Definition of Reverse Innocence
Reverse Innocence shall be herein defined as:
“The suspicious absence of sufficient suspicion itself.”
Any citizen accused under this statute (see Rook v. Righteous) must demonstrate credible evidence of at least three (3) of the following:
- Minor criminal infractions (e.g., loitering with intent, ubiquitous acquisition of emotionally insignificant items, whistling ambiguously in a library)
- Documented but disproven allegations (must be notarized and smell faintly of scandal)
- Witness testimony indicating the defendant was at some point “up to something” (cf. The Letters of Whiffleton & Whisperent).
NOTE: Incidents involving carousing violations do not qualify unless a “Knight of Debauchery” was grievously displaced.
14.7.2 Burden of Proof
The burden lies squarely upon the defendant to demonstrate they are not unreasonably without suspicion. Proof will be prepared within 48 hours of accusation and reviewed by an assembly of the council and a panel of “anyone in good standing who happens to be nearby.” (see Journal of Preemptive Justice, Vol. 112 by Chancellor Gregory Spleen, Fall Court)
The defendant must:
- Submit a Certificate of Mild Wrongdoing to the courts (Form 32-B, Appendix L).
- Be cross-examined under The Mirror Test (cf. Honorable Guild of Barbers v. Self-Reflection, Spring Court).
- Recite, under oath and believable duress, a significant anecdote involving morally gray decisions by their person.
Failure to do so will result in a Penalty of Excessive Innocence, which currently includes:
- A monetary fine of 14? silver pieces indexed by clarity,
- Public suspicion for no less than 6 months,
- And a mandatory smear campaign, paid for by the defendant’s court, and conducted by the Department of Perception Management.
14.7.3 Historical Precedents
- Winter Court v. Tidyboots (III): Defendant’s home was “immaculate to the point of menace.” Acquitted only after admitting to hoarding expired coupons.
- Rook v. Righteous (Fall Court): Case dismissed after Rook produced a false shipping receipt from a route that had previously ceased to exist. Ergo; proof of disorientation and thus, plausible guilt.
- ?Madame Skwibbles v. The State (Spring Court): Plaintiff maintained an unbroken succession of tax filings, charity work, and proper composting and was known to “never shut up about it”. Found guilty of morality hoarding and sentenced to three weeks of public heckling.
In re: The Case of Brother Blameless (Summer Court): Priest accused of being “suspiciously bland.” After intense cross-examination, confessed to once stealing a grape from a grocer’s display resulting in all charges being dropped.
14.7.4 Exceptions & Loopholes
Clause 14.7 does not apply to:
- Grandmothers who use foul language.
- Persons naturally bearing the surname "Fuddlewump" (due to ancestral ambiguity).
- Anyone already convicted of Altruism in the Posterity Trials.
14.7.5 Amendments & Commentary
As amended in the Reverse Suspicion Clarification Act, (section 345-12D): “acts of goodness performed entirely ‘off stage’ shall be treated as potential concealment.”
Those caught “volunteering quietly” or “returning purses without fanfare” may be summoned for additional scrutiny (See Appendix 9: The Nicey-Nice Protocols).
14.7.6 Furthermore
- 120 -
Debuff: Severe Headache. (8:54)
A sharp pain blossomed in Drew’s head like a thunderstorm.
“What the heck is this nonsense!” Drew shouted.
He threw the codex back into the cart. William had just inched it forward, until they caught up to their group’s other wagon.
“Whoa, easy there!” He said as he reined in the Garnts. “What’s wrong Drew?”
“This codex must be enchanted to give you a headache! It’s easily the worst book I’ve ever read in the world!” He cried.
“It can’t be that bad.” William said, only half paying attention. He reached into the cart for the codex.
A party of Dwarves stared at them from their campsite beside the road. They were dressed in traveling clothes, and had an elaborate wagon that was built to fold out into an open stage.
Drew clapped his beak shut and turned away.
”’D’at Skurr talk?” One Dwarf asked and looked at his ale.
A second Dwarf nodded uncertainly. A third Dwarf gave them both a shove.
”Ye two lit wits enuff swill already? A’teld you to nodda dip inta dinner ale a’fore miday!” He laughed.
Debuff Removed: Severe Headache. 254 exp.
William picked up the codex and flipped to a random page and started reading.
“When in excess of self-evident justifications a council of courts may pass a vote in one of three ways: with a 3/4 vote. With a duel (champions may be elected per article 765, sub article 7; re the selection of champions.)”
“Or by consulting an Oracle.” William read aloud. “Oh look! There’s a fold out page if you pull this tab!”
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He revealed a diagram showing the points scoring and disqualifications for a council champion to be selected.
“I think you are holding it upside down,” Drew whispered.
“Such an interesting book.” William said then pinched his eyes closed as a headache ballooned up.
“Did you get the headache?” Drew asked quietly. At William’s nod, Drew reached over to activate his healing ability.
“Okay I can see how that would get frustrating.” William said after the headache faded away.
He handed the codex back to Drew and he stowed it in his bag.
The wind blew across the grassy plains and down the line of hopeful visitors. It brought the smell of cookfires to the line of wagons and travelers. Crisp lake air ruffled his feathers.
How long were we traveling? Weeks? Months? I wonder how the kids in Aldermere are doing? Or that family of farmers?
It will be good to be back in a city. A fresh start! It will have shops I’ll have to look for a new dagger, and an Adventurers guild to explore. And Damien and I can start working on our enchantments again.
It had been nearly two hours since Drew had returned from the masquerade. But it had been days since Drew had really had a heart to heart with the enchanter. Something had changed in their friendship but Drew wasn’t able to bring it up yet.
Instead had tried to work on the memory scroll each day, and tried to make heads or tails of the codex but both repeatedly frustrated him.
Something is definitely bothering him, hopefully it’s just travel fatigue, the guy is pretty old. I’ll talk to him tonight once we find an inn.
The sun finally crossed behind the tallest towers of Valoria. The city’s shadow began its lazy progression down the road, reaching out for them.
Drew watched the boats start to head to shore. The faster ones stayed out a little longer to catch a few more fish.
Men marched out from the ale districts adjacent to the lake and started pulling rope down the piers that crowded the shore. They tossed the lines of rope to the boats and hauled them up the ramps onto their dry docks with practiced ease.
A man in the robes of the fall court came out from the gate and marched down the line. He bore a banner on a long pole hoisted high over his shoulders.
”What’s that guy doing?” Drew asked William.
”No idea.” He replied and leaned forward to ask a mercenary.
It turned out to be Monroe and he answered succinctly. “That’s the penitent man,” He said. “He will bring that banner down to the end of the shadow by the seventh hour. That will mark the last group to pass through the gates today.”
“Because it’s dangerous at night?” Drew.
A John rode by on his Garnt to check the wagons and chimed in.
“No those are the rules. The bylaws stipulate that every person who enters each day must pay a fee to the court of gate they enter through.” John says.
“It says a lot more than that,” Monroe said. “But I’m not a panelist, I couldn’t rattle off the subsections for you. And it would be dangerous to try this close to the city.”
“But he just said it wasn’t dangerous at night. So what’s the problem?” Drew asked.
“Someone may overhear us quoting bylaws incorrectly and correct us for the quest rewards.” John said.
The penitent man and his banner reached the end of the shadow. He stood stiff as a rod holding his pole steadily in the evening breeze.
Seraphina stepped out of her wagon to check her bags and make eyes at the John she was dating. Drew spotted Damien on his side of the wagon deep in his journals. The John made a kissing face at her and she shied away to hide in her wagon again.
Thrain and Krag sat idly in their cart. They hand unfurled a canvas shade hours ago to hide from the glaring sun. Krag flipped pages in a small handwritten book and Thrain sipped on a cold ale.
Marcus sat astride his Garnt. They beast was happy to have its friend back a d the two had been enjoying the open area, trotting back and forth. He meandered through the caps greeting people every so often if he knew them. When he returned to their group he stopped beside Andie. She was riding alongside one of the Johns reading a slim novel.
“Young miss?” Marcus said to Andie.
“Oh yes?” She said and put aside her book.
”Sorry to interrupt you, but I wanted to speak with you about your employment here in the city.”
“Oh? Thank you I guess. But why? Why do you ask?”
“Well you see, I was rather impressed with how you carried yourself and I rather think you could work in one of my shops.” Marcus said.
Not a bad idea. She’s too young to be around drunks every night.
The girl gave him a discerning look, and really took an opinion of the ageless elven man before her.
”Why me?” She said again.
“It’s hard to make it in this city if you don’t have connections. You have a knack for speaking young lady. If you’d only practice some,” Marcus said. “Have you considered working in a pastry shop? I am a chocolatier, and my shop is on the mezzanine.”
“Oh no thanks. Sir. I can’t stand sweets.”
Cant stand sweets! She has t tried Marcus horse biscuit yet!
“Oh there are other deserts than sweets!” Marcus said, only mildly offended. “Why we serve a bitter savory bun that many consider strange but it is delightful.”
Drew flew over to their wagon and peeked inside at Damien. The old man was still scribbling away at his notes, but Drew knew he was aware enough of his surroundings to track the conversation happening behind him.
“I have a letter of introduction for the Boars Head inn, that’s Summer district.” She said. “The owner is the cousin of the family that ran the ale house I worked at in Sandlebar. My mother is the town guard there.”
“That’s remarkable,” Marcus said. “I doubt you had an easy time of things, growing up in an ale house. What did your mother think?” Marcus said before he could stop himself.
“My mother loves ale houses,” she said crossly. “She loves adventurers, and sweets too, especially if her boyfriend is buying them.”
”But that’s a rowdy group,” Drew said earning him a brief glare from Andie.
”They can be hard to handle,” She said.
“And yet you would still work in a bar and serve ale to adventurers?” Marcus said.
“As much as it is distasteful, dealing with drunks, well it’s what I know.” She said after a moment’s consideration. “It feels like home.”
“Yet here you are far from home in many ways,” Marcus said. “I am not one to brow beat someone into a decision, but I would feel better if you atleast tried some of the fare in my shop before deciding.”
“If you try them and don’t like them then don’t sign on. You could send customers over from the Boars Head once you are situtated.” He said.
“I already followed your advice blindly once today,” She said hotly. “Thank you for your advice, but no thank you.”
-
Within the hour the shadow of the city passed their wagon relieving them of most of the heat from the sun.
Drew returned to working on the stone scroll and William opened a couple crates to find something to do while the line idled.
The only new development was that their group was close enough to see the city gates.
Robes officials stopped each group and changed something on the gate. Only after the gate was modified, could the group enter. Sometimes the groups were split into thirds and the gate was changed twice before all of the people could enter. The only time that the line made any significant leap forwards was when a merchant moved through, since the gate was never changed for merchants.
I don’t even want to ask. This gate process is holding up the whole line.
By the time a bell tolled five times the penitent man had long passed them.
The were about ten groups away when Drew set down the stone scroll to get a good look at how the gate operated.
The guys in robes are changing out medallions! They are swapping out medallions over and over again.
”Are they actually changing the enchantment for each group?” Drew asked.
”They are, indeed.” Damien said. “They change them for each person moving through. Look closely and you will see they are sorting groups into their court alignments and sending them through 2 or three at a time.”
He's right!
Drew watched as the officials held back a mother and daughter from one group and had them stand to the side with an old dwarf from a previous group.
There has to be a faster way to achieve what ever enchantment that is.
“Except merchants, mercenaries, and un-aligned visitors.” Thrain said with a laugh. “We get to pay our mana tithe to whichever Court is on the gate.”
“Listen up.” The Mercenary captain said. “Just a little farther until we enter the city. on the other side of this gate is the Hero’s square, holds a big fountain of four heroes. We will meet up there. You cannot miss it, just go through the gate and go forwards.”
“Forward never straight.” A John chuckled.
“John’s local guide should meet us there.” The mercenary captain said with a sigh. “Now group up by courts or we will be here all day.”