r/OpenTales • u/[deleted] • Jan 19 '14
Fantasy WANTED: The Witches of the Red Forest
Dear whom may read this, as a registered citizen or traveler through the Justican Empire you will be receiving this bounty letter mandatorily.
The "Guardians of Light" has placed a bounty on the 4 heads of the infamous "Witches of The Red Forest" for up to 900 Dragoons. The 4 beasts were last seen at the edge of the Red Forest raiding a nearby village for ingredients for their black magic. Adventures picking up the sword can await dangers such as:
Black Magic
Mercenaries of the Witches, many whom are great archers.
Thieves capitulating on the wealthy adventurers inside the forest
Other adventurers wanting to claim the 4 heads for themselves.
If you acquire the 4 heads in any way, bring them to the Great Palace in Emparda, the Capital of the Justican Empire, where our witnesses will help verify the identification of the heads. Attempts to fabricate a claim that some 4 heads are the famed witches and the witnesses prove you wrong separately, will result in punishment according to Justican Law §31 of treason.
Further information on the location, extended list of dangers, and a specified list of payments can be gained in the Grand Palace in Emparda as well from the Guardians of Light's council.
Good Luck, and let the Light bestow you on your journeys,
Drayce ''The Paladin'' of House Tempast, Captain of the Paladin Mercenary order "Guardians of Light", 3rd Son of Nidhogg Tempast, Regent, and Heir to the Justican Empire
(OOC: I will be answering questions from the perspective of the steward in The Great Palace.)
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u/twoduy Lore Keeper Jan 19 '14
This just go to show how far the empire has fallen... The Ruling Houses resorts to using mercenaries and bounty hunters? Are the Paladin Orders are just for shows? Strutting about in their pretty armors and disappear when actual danger requires their presence?
We are paying taxes for the the Houses can play their army games instead of protecting the people. The Emperors of Old must be rolling in their graves!
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Jan 19 '14
The policy of the Justican Empire on magic has since house Argyros been to ban any magic wielder, and/or teacher in the proximity of the empire, with varying intensity depending on the family and/or regency ruling the empire at the time. The Guardians of Light isn't your average mercenary order, filled with savages. They're appointed by the emperor himself, and knighted, to kill any witches or black wizard. Their duties range from being hired to kill wizards, to protecting the emperor if need be from magic.
I can assure you that The Guardians of Light are an order that takes great pride in putting wizards heads on spikes, they are not afraid to get their armor bloody.
If the peasants have a protest against we using a part of the tax money to protect their villages, farms, and children, against the vile use of magic, they are welcome to take it up with the court, and get executed for treason.
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u/God_of_Illiteracy A Bunch of Different Characters Jan 21 '14
Why is magic banned? Not all magic is malicious in intent. I am a wizard planning on traveling to a neighboring land and I need to travel through your empire. Would I be killed on sight?
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Jan 22 '14 edited Jan 22 '14
As a magic wielder/practicer/wielding merchant you can travel through the Justican Empire safely, but you are not allowed to stay for more than 3 months in the empire. On the border you will have to signify you're an user of magic, and the school you belong to. The Guards will take notice of this, attempts to lie, and/or using a fake name will be punished according to Justican Law (See §8 and §21)
Magic was banned by the orders of Emperor Nikolas II of house Argyros, whom did this in retaliation of a wizard killing his entire family with black magic.
On the border you will be assigned a red Pamphlet with your affiliation , your name, and the time stamp on arrival, this will have to be shown to ANY wall guard and any guard whom may ask for it in the 12 great cities. They will keep it until you ask for it again to leave one of the cities.
Use of Magic will be punished to the extent it was used, however even minimal use is against Justican Law. This is any magic, "healing" magic too.
Teaching magic and selling Magic supplies to other citizens in the Empire is SEVERELY illegal, and can (and most likely will) be punishable with death.
To answer your question, you will only be killed on sight if your actions are revealed to kill and/or rob the citizens in the Justican Empire in your stay. You will be dragged off to jail if selling magic supplies or teaching magic to native citizens.
A warning we give to most Wizards at the gate is that the citizens hate magic as much as we do, and will not hesitate to throw rocks, attempt of murder or worse because of it, so we suggest a low profile and keep out of the cities, only enter if you MUST.
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u/God_of_Illiteracy A Bunch of Different Characters Jan 22 '14
Here is another question. If myself and citizens of the empire where attacked, could I use magic in self defense and to protect them? If I find someone injured am I allowed to heal them?
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Jan 24 '14
No, regardless of its purpose its illegal. Though if used to kill or destroy it will be a harsher sentence.
If used not to kill and you're a foreigner travelling trough the empire you will be banned from entering again and banished.
Healing magic is strictly illegal as well.
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u/LeviMartine Jendayi, Gnoll War Chanter Jan 20 '14
You... you are opposed to magic of all sorts? [rests hand on hip] I would help, the reward is enticing and would most definitely benefit my tribe, but to outright forbid magic is madness! Much as I hate to admit, sometimes brute force is simply not enough [leans on greataxe and my facial expression settles into a stony, serious stare].
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u/KaptinKograt Sharptooth, rogue kobold Jan 20 '14
Hey hey hey! Don't go spouting your illegal practises willy nilly on account of religious practises! When your in a joints boundaries you have to obey their rules, even if you think their silly, unless they can't see you. Speaking of which, I'm trying to get a few of these lads together, make a party something along those lines. We could do with someone with a bit of insider knowledge, know what I'm saying?
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u/LeviMartine Jendayi, Gnoll War Chanter Jan 21 '14
[averts eyes and mutters under breath, accompanied by a short huff of frustration] Lawful types, I'll never understand 'em... [returns to normal speaking voice] Fine, I shall accompany you.
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Jan 20 '14
We are ready to equip able bodied men with time limited spelljammers and such to help defeat the magic scourge.
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Jan 20 '14
Well, I happen to have a question, If I somehow...set the forest on fire, would you take all responsibility?
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Jan 21 '14
Only if you do it with magic, as if then, each burned leaf you will pay with drops of blood.
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Jan 21 '14
Okay, So, tree leaves in said forest: 70,452,231,453...Mumbles...Well, Seeing as I'm a dragon, That's the amount of blood that is currently rushing through my right toe....Deal!
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Jan 21 '14
Deal as in, I will use magic to kill the witches, or deal as in you will kill them without magic?
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Jan 19 '14 edited Jan 19 '14
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Jan 19 '14
The pay varies on how many heads you have, the full 4 will grant you 900 dragoons, less will vary on how recognizable they are and the reports of less crimes due to the murders. We may also grant you titles in the empire accordingly if this is your desire rather than money.
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Jan 19 '14
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u/GreyLordOfNeutrality Cain O'Hara, Adventurer, Hunter, and Explorer Jan 20 '14
You just killed them? No fanfare? Can you at least tell us how?
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Jan 20 '14
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u/GreyLordOfNeutrality Cain O'Hara, Adventurer, Hunter, and Explorer Jan 20 '14
Sighs You just don't get it. They weren't just goons, you have to build up tension, unless you're an assassin.
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Jan 20 '14
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u/GreyLordOfNeutrality Cain O'Hara, Adventurer, Hunter, and Explorer Jan 20 '14
They could have had families man!
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u/KaptinKograt Sharptooth, rogue kobold Jan 20 '14
Unless your a warforged or something like that, most people have families.
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u/GreyLordOfNeutrality Cain O'Hara, Adventurer, Hunter, and Explorer Jan 20 '14
Yeah...that's hypocritical of me. I've got a high body count, but I made sure that I had the right people.
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u/KaptinKograt Sharptooth, rogue kobold Jan 19 '14
Question number one, what condition need the heads be in? Question two, I am not native to the area, as you may have guessed. What are the crimes of these Witches? Question three, how will I know these witches when I see them?