MZA Interview with Lord Casca, Part I
Interview with Lord Casca, Part I
Early this year it was announced that Casca of Heartwood had been chosen to lead Britannia during this dark time as the 'King pro-tempore' as the first official act of a newly selected Royal Council. Many citizens were shocked by the news of his ascension, reactions ranged from bemused to fanatical feelings for or against.
Casca first entered the public eye as the lead prosecuting attorney for the Kingdom of Britannia during the trial of Ricardo the King of Thieves. After winning the case, Casca's career greatly advanced when he was named to the position of Royal Ambassador shortly after the disastrous raid on the Blood dungeon in Ilshenar. When the Royal Council was cowardly massacred by agents of the Followers of Armageddon, Casca found himself their prisoner - secreted away under the Ethereal Fortress. He was swiftly found by many brave adventurers, and eventually rescued by the Royal Guard.
After his recent public address in front of the gates to Castle Blackthorn, many questions still remained on the minds of those in attendance. Fortunately, I happened to be at the Counselor's Guild in northern Britain as he was finishing a tour of the realm and he agreed to allow me to interview him later in the week. After finalizing details with his press liaison, the details were ironed out.
I sat down with the newly-minted Lord Casca in the recently redecorated Counselor's Guild last Saturday with a small group of citizens...
MZ: How do you respond to those who feel that Ricardo was unjustly tried on a trumped-up charge of treason?
LC: I don't believe the charges against Ricardo were trumped-up. I know there is a lot of warm sentiment toward the thief - I don't understand this entirely. Maybe it is the small part of all of us that embraces Chaos. Treason is a difficult charge for some people, but not for me.
MZ: Ah, by 'trumped-up', I meant the manner in which the charge was specially created for him.. As theft has not been considered an act of treason, at least from a foreign entity.
LC: I think anyone whose actions directly harm our security and our people is guilty of treason. I know some like to have more rigid definitions, but that isn't justice to me.
MZ: What of Ricardo's sentence?
LC: Execution is very difficult for many people. And while I appreciate their compassion and respect for life I think there are also criminals who are too dangerous to keep alive. Ricardo is probably the most competent criminal of our generation. To give him a lifetime to escape and cause more problems seems foolish.
MZ: It has been many years since the trial, and as of yet the execution has not been carried out...
LC: That is also part of Justice. Appeals, briefs. The wheels of Justice can be slow. But in the end, it's will is carried out.
MZ: Many believe that Captain Avery is an innocent man wrongfully accused of complicity in your abduction, and that the 'evidence' against him is circumstantial at best. How do you respond?
LC: I have to admit his treachery hurts me deeply. He was one of us, and he betrayed us. While I wasn't involved in his arrest or the building of the case against him, since I was kidnapped at the time, I did look over some of the evidence against him when I returned and recovered. I think some of the journals taken from the members of FoA seem to indicate he worked with them.
MZ: There are those who believe those journals exculpate him as well... Especially the journal of soldier Brian.
LC: I don't have a copy with me, but I'm sure these will be discussed during a future trial. I can't comment more as that is a pending case.
MZ: So there will be a trial?
LC: I don't have the details, but I believe the Court of Justice is working toward that end. Sorry, been so busy with the invasions that I haven't been able to focus on those details.
MZ: Ah, many had wondered about that.. And where he was being held... Both the Yew and Trinsic jails stand empty.
LC: There are safety concerns about those jails.
MZ: Oh?
LC: I can't discuss the details of his incarceration more though.
MZ: Hmm. Alright, let's move on. The Royal Mage, and Royal Council member, Clainin has lain in a comatose state in the Healers of New Haven for many months. Are there any plans to bring him to Britain for more extensive care?
LC: I am not a healer, so I don't know the full details of Clainin's medical condition. However with the invasions in many of our towns, New Haven is probably the safest place for his treatment. Britain's healer's shop doesn't have the resources to provide the wonders the City of Compassion is known for. I do believe he is getting the best care possible in New Haven. Of course if you know something different, please share it with me. I would hate to have such an important ally not receive the care he deserves.
MZ: Personally, I do not.. Citizens have just been worried about his health, and the lack of any improvement shown in his condition.
LC: It is problematic to second guess the methods of healers. Time is sometimes the greatest medicine.
MZ: Aye, this I have heard.
LC: I wish him a speedy and safe recovery. If anyone is reading the news to him, tell him he has the good will of all our people.
MZ: Let us continue... In your speech, you mentioned strengthening our laws. How do you intend to do this? Which laws do you think need strengthening? You also mentioned the Virtues several times in your speech, how do you plan to bring them further into the public consciousness?
LC: I think often we think of Justice as just punishment. Hit them after they've hit you. Put them in prison after they have taken something. This is the wrong way to look at it. Justice is Truth tempered by Love if you read Lord British's book. Laws must be fair, but also keep things orderly. I think by bringing the Virtues to people, by teaching them to be better laws may not even be necessary. However, this perfect world of Virtue isn't something easy. Lord British, the greatest king we will ever have, could not make people perfect with just love and respect. He needed the steady hand that comes from the rule of law. There will be new laws or revisions to old laws. These changes will stem from the Virtues.
MZ: 'Stem from the Virtues'? Might you have an example?
LC: I can't explain all of them in detail now since the full legal explanations will take hours. However, one example is crimes of omission. People not helping their fellows. People failing to stop evil. All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing, as my father used to say.
MZ: Hmm..
LC: We can't allow Apathy to join Lies, Hatred, and Cowardice. All will be encouraged to work for the public good.
MZ: Aye, no more Shadowlords..However, this sounds as if you wish to codify Compassion as a requirement into law.
LC: To be fair, that is nothing new. Kingdoms have drafts, codifying valor and sacrifice when it is necessary to go to war. Kingdoms codify sacrifice in taxes. Kingdoms codify justice or try to in every legal text.
MZ: Taxes as Sacrifice.. Hmm.. Interesting point.
LC: Sometimes it is necessary for a kingdom to push for a little more from its people, for everyone's sake. Do not worry, I hold myself to the same standards. There will be no lavish Magincian or Nujel'm styles in my court.
Stay tuned for Part II of my Interview with Lord Casca for his response to the crowd's reaction to the possibility of higher taxes, the war against the Shadowlords, and mousetraps. Included will also be information on the new Minister of Agriculture, Lord Magnus Grey.
Martyna Z'muir, Library of Sosaria
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