View from Benacia/Issue 20: Elections for Praetor Begin!

This imported article was originally posted at http://viewfrombenacia.blogspot.com/2004/10/issue-20-elections-for-prtor-begin.html at 10/21/04.

The Kaiser opened the elections for Pr�tor yesterday at the Landsraad Front Gate. As per standard procedure, nobles and honorary nobles each list the three candidates for the post of Landsraad moderator in order of preference. As always, we here at the View are tracking the course of the election, and will keep you updated with the results as we find them out.

As of the present time, the following votes have been cast: Yardistan, Goldshire, Kaiser, Kildare, Kitanus Fields, Goldshire Honorary, Kildare Honorary, Lothlaria, Kaiseress, Brookshire, Hyperborea. Assuming that the current votes are calculated in the same manner as last time (first choice = 3 points, third choice = 1), the current vote count stands thus:

Eoin of Hyperborea: 25 Jadie of Goldshire: 23 Joseph of Kildare: 18

Although none of the three contenders is yet obviously set to lose, it does appear that Joseph is currently trailing behind a bit further than the other two candidates. But with Amarr, Lunaris, Hallucination, Amity and Mirioth, Lac Glacei, and possibly Elwynn yet to cast their votes, this remains anyone's race.

The Return of the Steward

Well, folks... heeee's baaaaaaaaack.

Kaiser Raynor XI decided to take an LoA, and so appointed Shyriath of Brookshire to be Steward for the second time during his reign. Although the Kaiser will be gone for only seven days, Shyriath will be Steward for one Shirerithian week (14 days). As the end of the Pr�torial elections will fall within his jurisdiction, Shyriath will have the duty of closing and tallying the vote.

Because there are currently Pr�torial elections ongoing and it is the duty of the Kaiser to preside over the functioning of the Landsraad until a new one is selected, the Steward will apparently also take over these functions as well. Greeaaaaat.

Trial by Fire

Well, that's it... the trial is over. At last!

Avocatio v Steffke ended today after Duke Nick dropped two of the three charges against Harvey, leaving only the one (disobeying a Ducal Decree) to which Harvey had already plead guilty. This having been settled, the Provost proceeded to mete out the punishment:

"P1 - Mr. Steffke, the accused, is to be restricted to 5 posts a day for 1 week, after which time he shall regain another post per day every two days until he has been limited to 10 posts a day for 2 days at which poin the censorship is lifted. P2 - Mr. Steffke is to recieve the brand, 'Traitor of Yardistan', and this shall be branded into his official title from this day forth."

The Kaiser was the first to comment, legitimizing the use of branding as a punishment; in his written response, he also suggested that though both punishments were valid ones, the Provost might wish to use only one, in keeping with the relatively minor nature of Harvey's infraction.

The response of the defendant himself was rather odd, incorporating into one post hilarity...

"This is the best punishment of all time. I get a legal excuse not to do anything around here and I get a nifty title to prove that I think Nick is no good? And this counts as a PUNISHMENT?!"

...and dissatisfaction...

"Granted, the Duke of Yardistan has gone against the throne countless times, threatening real rebellion and secession on numerous occasions, whereas I believe I proved my case so soundly that the Duke of Yardistan had no choice but to abandon the charges, so giving me ANY punishment is almost a perversion of justice on the magnitude of making me sickening. On the upside, you (the courts and the Kaiser they represent) are blatently unfair and biased, but at least you are open about it."

...and it ended on a rather spiteful note, saying that Harvey

"will continue to not pay attention Shireroth (and not pay it money, I think that will go toward cool sunglasses) until such a time that Gman becomes the Duke of Yardistan and generally things change."