#earthrunes

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Norm is brought before the throne. He tried to escape earlier, trying to chew out of the hold...but he was discovered and the muzzle over his mouth in place.

Mr. Layton is with him, dressed in his suit.

Coradel is in her throne, in a blood-red gown with a corset-belt of silver stitchery. Her hair flows like a mane around her face...and her expression is severe and unforgiving as she looks down at Norm.

Sir Sergei has dental equipment. Normally he uses those skills irregularly, on beasts that have toothroot, but it will work just as well to yank out healthy teeth.

Norm is getting at least one steely-grey, cold, stare.

When all are gathered, Coradel stands, looks to August at his scribal station, then slowly gazes around the room, making eye-contact with each person there (if they can stand it)...her expression is not welcoming or gentle in any way. She is fearsome and silent.

"The redcap Norm stands before this court. He has the hunger of his kith, and for this there is no shame or blame. He is unseelie; again, there is no crime in this. Let none who hear of these proceedings attempt to declare otherwise." A slight pause.

*Scratch scratch scratch*

"The redcap Norm is a Ravager. He has not merely ravaged on occasion, out of dire need. No...he has manufactured opportunities to ravage, separating mortal from beloved companion, and manipulating them to prime them for his eventual bitter harvest. And he has taken glee in recounting his repeated crimes, and the methodology thereof. All this has been recorded." Again, a small pause. Her voice is clear and dire as a funeral bell.

Mutters mumbles but mostly quiet

"But more than this...the redcap Norm has spilled salt tears. He has, by his own admission, murdered a pooka by biting off his legs and then throwing him into a pig sty. For you see, as he explained," she adds, each word bitingly enunciated, "pigs will eat anything."

the pooka in the crowd growl and hiss respectively

"He is unrepentent! He is proud of his cruelty and sadism...and he has no intent of abiding by the Escheat. We cannot allow such a fae to walk freely to harm other mortals or other fae!"

Mr. Layton steps forward

Coradel looks down at Layton with a haughty disdain.

"Your ladyship, if I may speak? "

A pause. "Speak." It's not kindly said.

"His gravest crime was done in fear for discovery and punishment, this does not excuse it, but that and time passed my be factors yet. More recently, he has been of use to you in helping undo crimes. I ask this last at least taken into account, and though it is your right as a ruler to send him to his next life if need be, I pray you do not. He should be punished in THIS life long enough to remember it in the next, and so have a chance to be a better man"

A small smirk down at Layton. "All of these factors have, indeed, been considered, and his sentence has been adjusted accordingly. Indeed, we were considering sending him to his next life, cursed to live seelie throughout it. That was the second worst penalty considered. But...as you say, he has proven useful...and so his sentence has been lessened. He will live, and he will walk out of here." A pause for Layton's reaction.

"Thank you, Baroness, both for that, and for heeding a voice speaking on behalf for even the basest and most vile among we common folk" Layton says //"Hey" Norm says from behind his muzzle!//Layton continues "Whatever pronouncement you declare, you have been open in ear, eye, and mind. " Mr. Layton seems sincere, "Again, as a man of the common folk, I thank you"

Coradel nods to Layton, accepting the thanks graciously if still haughtily. She returns her attention to Norm. "Your sentence, Norm, is as follows: First, today your teeth will be pulls from your head, each and every one, and you will be cursed that they never regrow. Next, you will make Oath that you will follow the Escheat as a seelie fae would, whether or not you are seelie yourself, for the remainder of your life. The violation of this Oath will make you seelie in truth. And finally...for the remainder of your days, if any ask you how you came to your sorry, pathetic state, you will describe honestly the crimes that brought you here today. Do you clearly understand your sentence, and the crimes which have earned it for you?"

August jots something down on a seperate slip of paper, and rises to offer it respectfully to the Baroness.

Coradel takes the paper and looks it over. "Ah, yes...I forgot something...thank you, Sir August. The curse not only will prevent your teeth from regrowing, but will prevent any prosthetic device from being effective."

Reactions vary amid the crowds, which are extensive, some came in just to see this. One group of redcaps curse, but the word 'hardcore' comes up

"Layton, you're my lawyer, do something?" He turns.

Mr. Layton nods, turns to the Baroness, "Judging by his reaction, I would say my client understands, your ladyship"

Coradel addresses Norm, her voice rising slightly, "Your lawyer has done something. You will recall the greater fates that awaited you? That still await you should you not submit to these consequences?"

"... I understand" He whimpers

"Then...let us begin. Thanes, secure him to a chair." She looks to the assembled crowd. "Those who do not wish to see and hear this may depart."

A few do, and childlings protest as the few sneaking closer are led out by the warders

Coradel watches especially as Isis goes, but her expression does not change.

The redcap is secured to the chair, and shackled by the neck and held so he cannot lung or wiggle. Sergei turns to the Baroness, "My liege, if you could dictum him not to bite me? It would make this easier"

Coradel slowly comes down from the dais and paces toward Norm, bringing a finger to her lower lip. When she gets to him, she reaches out and touches his chin under the muzzle, and says, "Open. Wide." It's a menacing little singsong.

The muzzle is removed as his jaw opens and... the dictum takes effect.

And Sergei goes to work. First an injection to the gums, a mercy.. Varich are said to be cold, ruthless, and sometimes unfeeling. One could easily believe it as tooth by tooth is removed. Numbning or not, it cannot feel nice as each large razor sharp tooth is torn one by one out.

Tink.Tink. Teeth hit the steel platter. One by one. Tink. Tink.

August carefully notes the time surgery began, those present, makes a careful record.... but at some point, there's little to do but watch. So he does.

Coradel has returned to her seat and sits there to oversee the proceedings, an alert and attentive witness.

Oh, the near screams trying to escape Norm's throat ccan't focus through an open mouth.

Her jaw is tight. She doesn't seem to take any sadistic pleasure in this, but there is a strong suggestion of satisfaction on her features.

And then, all thirty two teeth are laid out in a circular pattern. the Dictum ends with the job ,and Norm lunges to bite at the Varich! And...gums him.

the Varich snorts "It's done, your ladyship."

The Oath, carefully prepared by the Seer, is brought out by him on a scroll and shown the baroness first.

Coradel carefully takes the scroll and looks it over...then nods and hands it back to the Seer. "Proceed."

The exhausted redcap reads it aloud, though most hear mumbling and muttering , it is clear the glamour of the oath is taking effect an oath to swear him to uphold the Escheat "As the Summer Sun shows it"

Coradel has stood again to witness the taking of the Oath.

August likewise stands, as should most of the court, to witness.

And the contract it self sparks with magic, the binding upon it adding to the already tremendous power of an oath given.

And then the redcap spits, not in derision, to yield up his blood which marks the contract flares. There's something almost fausian about it.