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Many divine realms or places like the Shadowlands had specific rules to them. The realm that was host to the elven gods of the Bloodwoods ensured that all inside its boundaries had bounteous life springing from within them that would heal all of their wounds. Almazoraâs realm gave all within it magic without limit. There were exceptions like Erlebnisâ realm, but most did have such quirks. Lawâs Court was not one of the exceptions. As a matter of fact, it was one of the most noted examples.
âHow would Lawâs Court change the perspective of the gods?â Annelieseâs curiosity interrupted Argraveâs deep thoughts as he weighed the pros and cons.
Argrave walked to the window of Elenoreâs office, watching the busy docks of Blackgard. âYou saw me place the Domain of Order over the whole of this city. It ensures a level of cooperation and peace that few other cities can compare to. To be frank, itâs the only reason why weâve been able to welcome refugees of such disparate cultures without massive unrest. It creates a uniform, unbiased authority. And best yet, the Domain of Order is only as strong as the people want it to be. If they hated the laws Iâve imposed, it would shatter. But they donât, so itâs as strong as itâs ever been.â He looked back to Elenore and Anneliese. âWhat does that tell you about Law?â
âItâs a rather neutral power. I believe youâve stated as much in the past.â Anneliese leaned against Elenoreâs desk and crossed her arms.
âAnd thatâs somewhat how his divine realm is used. In Lawâs Court, different parties can enter into an agreement. While is his court, they will be bound by this agreement absolutely, compelled by his power to hold up their end of the arrangement. Whether god or mortalâeven if itâs Law himselfâthey must obey.â Argrave turned around and stared intently to stress the importance of this fact.
He walked around the room as he continued to explain. âItâs the ideal place for many, many disputes to resolve themselves. Most often, itâs used for trials in massive organizations. If you promise to be fair, Law will compel you to be fair; if you promise not to deceive, the same. If you say that you wonât leave until a matter is settled, you will be bound to that plane until you fulfill that vow or cease to be.â
Elenore sighed and planted her arm on the desk. âA nightmarish place for someone like you, Argrave.â
He laughed through his nose. âNo kidding.â
âHow do you compel fairness? Thatâs rather subjective,â Anneliese said, contemplating.
âThere are third parties one can rely onâand if none are suitable, Lawâs Court provides. Do you remember those knights we saw descend on the northern beaches? White-gold armor, rather featureless and resplendent?â
Elenore hadnât seen them, but Anneliese remembered and at once said, âThe Justiciars.â
âThey fit their title, yes. Three or more Justiciars could preside over a trial, depending on how many parties are putting forth opposing ideasâone for each perspective represented, and one to remain neutral and observe facts impartially.â Argrave gathered his thoughts as he ran his hand across his face, then continued, âIâll admit, theyâre well-suited for handling these things. They have millennia of experience. To that end, most rely upon Lawâs Justiciars. Itâs much easier than getting someone intimately acquainted with the situation and trusted by all parties.â
âIt does present some dangers,â Anneliese agreed, amber eyes rolling about as she thought hard. âLike Elenore said⊠a nightmare for you, Argrave. They could compel you to be honest. Even I have some trouble doing that.â
Elenore nodded and stared up at Anneliese. âHe couldnât even omit facts. Poor thing. Imagine how the stress would get to himâŠâ
âLook whoâs talking. Youâve got so many schemes going your brain would probably melt.â Argrave shot at Elenore in good-nature, and the three of them shared a moment of amusement. âBut youâre not wrong. If we leak Sandelabara, or worse yet, Sophia, all of our efforts to do this subtly will turn to dust. Thatâs why Iâm wondering if thereâs not another way.â
âWe can set the rules of engagement, canât we?â Elenore asked.
Argrave nodded. âYeah. But the thing Iâm worried aboutâ"
âIf we set rules that are too stringent, we risk giving something away, or worse yet, inspiring further distrust,â Anneliese interrupted as she grasped what Argrave was thinking.
Elenore thought long and hard, then looked at Argrave. âCould we win without the other gods?â
âYes?â Argrave said, somewhat unsure. âWe could call in favors from the Bloodwoods and get the elven gods on board. We bring those from the Blackgard Union I know would be willing, and we just might winâassuming Sataistador and Emperor Ji Meng are kept firmly in line, which promises to be a lot to ask. But thatâs the thingâfrom the beginning, weâve wanted this to be a lot more than scraping by.â
âMmm. We need a decisive victory if weâre to become the leaders of the bold new world that lacks the Qircassian Coalition and ErlebnisâŠâ Elenore scratched at her forehead. âWell, things are simple, arenât they? We need to establish firm boundaries while not appearing to obfuscate anything.â
Argrave raised his brows in surprise. âYou really think itâs worth it to go?â
Elenore nodded. âAt worst, we can leave if they ask a hard question. It would severely damage relations, but I think that itâs something we can mend given time. The worst they can call us is an ambitious and ruthless conqueror hoping to defeat two ancient gods.â
âThey may push to make it so we cannot leave before giving the information they desire,â Anneliese argued. âI certainly would, in their shoes. I understand why we act as we do, but I cannot deny it would unease me if, say, Raccomen intended to invade someone with someone very untrustworthy, yet would not disclose the details. Am I alone in this?â
Argrave looked at her. âGood point. Almost like youâre an empath or something.â
âSo⊠will we go?â Elenore questioned.
âWant to consult the others, but Iâm leaning toward it. I think they will, too.â
âWho will you bring?â Anneliese asked. âFor something like this⊠smaller may be better. Fewer people means fewer points of weakness for the gods to prod.â
Argrave pondered that. âIâm not sure. Melanie always seems to do something that works out in our favor, and sheâs proven able to tell gods to eat dirt. You and Elenore are probably the most persuasive people, though.â
âMost persuasive perhaps after you,â Elenore shook her head. âWhy not go alone? It would send a powerful message. And I am in your head, always.â
âBut I like going with Anneliese,â Argrave narrowed his eyes.
âWould you like to die together, fighting Gerechtigkeit?â his queen reminded him practically. âForgive me, but I wouldnât.âcontemporary romance
The more that Argrave considered it, the more sense it seemed to make. As the last bit of resistance drained from his body, he sighed as a new burden settled upon his shoulders. âAlone, huh? Whatâs it they say⊠only a fool represents himself, or something to the effect? Well, fine. If you two are comfortable placing the fate of the world with me, I can only humbly bow and jump to the snap of the whip,â he flourished his hands.
âJust go consult the others,â Elenore huffed.
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Argrave stood alone in Merovin, the domain that Raccomen had claimed per their arrangement. It was a towering gateway constructed from the flesh of one of the godâs Architects. Argrave had been present when the creature quite literally tore itself apart to build this gateway, signing its name in blood upon the top. Thereafter, this land inherited his name, the great gothic gateway in the center of this vast steppe bearing âMerovinâ in bloody red.
He had consulted with the rest of his confidants, and most of them were in agreement that this was the ideal path forward for their goal. Argrave was frankly shocked how many of them enthusiastically agreed with the notion that he should go alone. He expected that sort of unilateral support from Orion, but nearly everyone expressed the same sentiment. If not for that, he probably would have brought Anneliese.
Word had been delivered to all of the other gods in the coalition using Liraâs exceptional ability of communication. She seemed pleased that Argrave had taken her up on the advice. Now, one of Raccomenâs servants would come to escort him through the realm of the god of space. Lawâs Court was not too far of a journey, he was told.
As Argrave watched, one of the gargantuan lizardmen that heâd seen before as Raccomenâs delegate emerged from the gateway. The divine servant took quick, heavy steps toward Argrave, and inclined his shark-like head in a polite bow once he came near.
âI have come to bring you and your party, Argrave. Am I to wait for others?â His voice, as with the last, came from nowhere at all. It simply manifested in Argraveâs head.
âItâs me alone,â Argrave gestured. âLead on.â
The lizardman looked at him closely in what mightâve passed as surprise, then gave a word of affirmation and led him onward. Argrave felt his stomach whirl as nervousness brewed. He never felt nervous giving speeches in front of othersâinstead, he felt most nervous in the time before the speech. And now, that had come in full force.
When Argrave passed beneath the large stone gateway, he felt a strangely pleasant sensation as the force of gravity left him. Then, he was afloat in an infinite nothingness, his only companion the lizardman and distant, twinkling stars. Instinct told him to hold his breath, but he found the air still functioned here.
âSee you the golden star?â The lizardman pointed. âThat is the gateway to Lawâs Court.â
Argrave looked at him. âAre we to use spirits? ThatâsâŠâ
âOf course not,â the lizardman shook his head. âSimply move there. I shall demonstrate.â
The lizardman oriented his body, and then was gone. Argrave looked at the distant star, but saw nothing. Move there? How?
Despite his confusion, the moment Argrave tried to move, he did. The vastness of space compressed down into nothing more than a single step, and Argrave felt a wave of nausea assail him. He was complete certain he had travelled millions of miles in a second. Another gateway much the same as the one heâd come from stood before him. Beyond it, a world of gold awaited. Argrave drifted into this gateway, then felt the ordinary weight of the world return. His feet again met solid ground. He looked up and around, taking in this new divine realm.
Lawâs Court was a giant, complex building, that had neither entrance nor exit. There was order to itâstructure. If someone paid attention, they could find their way around this place without any trouble. That didnât change the fact it was the single largest building Argrave had ever been in. It was stately, dignified, and the stone was all a rich gold that soothed any who looked. Written upon the walls, the floors, the ceilings, was a code.
This entire building was built of Lawâs Code. It served to restrain him in this realm, that he might never act against any who enter this plane without sufficient and codified reason. He was rather unlike most deities in that outside his realm, he was unrestrained, while within, he was bound tighter than any other. He was impartiality, neutrality.
He was Law.
Argrave could see the lizardman that came with him no longer, but soon felt pounding footsteps. Eight gargantuan suits of armor without occupants aside from a glowing gold inside walked through the halls of Lawâs Court. They bore swords that had their hilts fashioned in the image of a scale. Their mere presence was intimidating, but Argrave stood firm as they surrounded him.
âKing Argrave of Vasquer. You have been requested to participate in a trial,â an even voice called out from all of them at once. âIf you desire, we shall escort you to the requester.â
It seemed that the gods of the Blackgard Union had wasted no time in establishing the meaning of this visit. Argrave raised his hand and pointed down the hall. âLetâs go.â