[closed] a templar's reckoning

[onlyhymns]

WHO: Closed to Seekers and Knights-Commander. And Cade!
WHAT: A meeting and/or hearing to determine the future of Knight-Lieutenant Harimann.
WHEN: Early Drakonis
WHERE: in that one empty tower
NOTES: everyone dies

[Cade has been temporarily released from Nerva's supervision to attend a gathering in the sparse but appropriately isolated tower where the Templars last met. There is a small half-circle of chairs facing a single chair, which he is escorted into by a fellow Templar, who promptly takes their leave.

Dressed in plainclothes and in possession of nothing that could be construed as a weapon, Cade looks rather smaller than usual. He folds his hands, looks at the floor, and waits for it to begin.]


OOC Note: It would probably be easiest to do this in the style of other meetings, more of a rapid-fire discussion than a log with full paragraphs. Having said that, let's still use a turn order just so nobody gets left behind or talked over.

Comments

[lifeofendurance]

[The other Seeker in the room remains impassive in demeanor. His arms are folded over his chest, rather than on his own blade, which is the only external expression one is like to see of how displeased he truly is.]

I believe we're suggesting that we do with him what is done with any Templar gone rogue.

[Which is put them down. It's not necessarily a cruelty either. Just tossing him out of the Templars, and leaving him alive with a lyrium addiction, could be seen as unjust.]

[onlyhymns]

[Cade seems pained by, but resigned to, the idea of execution. Since the get-go, it's been in the back of his mind, and indeed, he would rather be dead than useless. He still shivers and glances around as they discuss it, but nothing evokes a reaction from him until Alayre suggests just tossing him out.]

NO-- [he yelps, but catches himself before he can make a bigger fuss. He looks imploringly from one man to another, visibly beginning to lose his composure.]

[equanimiti]

[The suggestion doesn't surprise Alayre in the slightest but he's honestly not about to execute the man.]

Far too harsh of a punishment. [He replies shortly after Cade shows his...displeasure over his previous idea.] You still think of yourself as a Templar still?

[A frown settles upon his lips.]

Cade Harimann, do you effectively believe you can possibly fulfill your duties as a Templar as you are? Surely you're not blinded to the state of your ailment.

[onlyhymns]

[Cade looks like he's been slapped. He's shocked by the implication, and that it was made by Alayre, of all people; Alayre, with whom he's fought side by side, Alayre who first had faith in him when they met in the Hinterlands. Stunned into a devastated silence, he only breaks it to say, weakly:]

I am a Templar.

[It's all he knows how to be.]

[equanimiti]

[A sigh escapes him once he hears Cade's answer. A Templar can only be a Templar, nothing else. That reply doesn't really surprise him much but he's not eager to see this man executed despite the gravity of the situation.]

You do realize that there's only three options before us, Harimann. Your prolonged absence from duty, your leave of our Order or your immediate death.

[It's clear that Alayre isn't fond of the last idea. Seekers be damned.]

[tactical_alert]

If he's going to be absent from duty, I would rather it be permanent. In which case, we're down to two options. Is he to be watched, guided and guarded at all times, lest he black out and kill a mage for bothering him?

[equanimiti]

Unless you can predict the future, I doubt it will honestly come down to such a scenario!

[Of course there's no shortage of Templars around here in Skyhold but Alayre vehemently objects to them executing Cade. The Seeker, Malcolm, makes a good argument for a more 'permanent' solution but for Alayre, that's simply far too barbaric.]

Granted, Harimann hasn't exactly won himself any favors here but are we prepared to kill him for this transgression? If that is the case, then I know of many others who should've been hung for their past crimes.

[lifeofendurance]

[Aleron shoots Malcolm a look which clearly reads, 'and which one of us will get saddled with that?'

Arguably executing the young man for a non-lethal attack is to some degree excessive punishment. But when he took his vows, he was given a higher standard to live up to. With greater responsibility comes greater accountability.]

[tactical_alert]

[Not now, Al. If they get their way, nobody will need anyone to babysit anyone else.] How many others of your order lose all sense and all memory in battle or when receiving little provocation? Do we need to hold an inquiry to determine how many are no longer fit to serve as our swords and our shields?

[He does feel he has the authority to carry out the sentence he's already mentally passed, but thankfully for everyone here, he's just a little more tactful and diplomatic than that. So he turns to the other voice in the room.] Commander Norrington. This is not merely a matter of a Templar having some unfortunate issues. This is also about the safety of the entire Inquisition and those who work for it.

[judgemewhole]

You forget something very basic, gentlemen. [And this is said with all due courtesy, and coldness.] To execute him would be too harsh for the crime - I myself have only executed rogue templars when they have committed murder and rape. To throw him out of the Order, in the condition that he is in? Would be reckless endangerment to any innocent person who he comes across.

[He leans forward, shooting a pointed look at the Seekers, and then over at Cade.] You admit to blacking out. You admit that combat triggers these states of non-awareness. Yet you are still a Templar. And a Templar deserves a Templar punishment deserving of the crime.

[He presses his fingers together, looking more thoughtful.] We have removed his weapons. Why not remove his standing as well? It is a dereliction of duty, after all. From Lieutenant, back regular rank. [He pauses.] And since this is going to strain our relationship with the Dalish, I suggest that we offer him as labor to the Dalish.

[He looks from Alayre, then to the Seekers.] A broken sword is no use if you just throw it away.

[onlyhymns]

[Cade is an expert at knowing when to be seen and not heard-- such as now, not that he would be able to- or have the wherewithal to- interrupt and state his opinion. His opinion is that of his superiors, and always has been.

He has had a desolate, vacant look through the proceedings as he listens, but when Norrington addresses him, he meet's the man's eyes. Nothing Norrington says seems to upset or surprise him, and when the Knight-Commander addresses the others, Cade looks back down again.
He hadn't wanted the promotion anyway, though it had been an honor. Any idiot can see he's not fit to lead, and the massacre at Redcliffe proved that.]

[equanimiti]

[A sound of distaste was heard when Malcolm posed that question but he dares not answer it. Instead, he turned his gaze towards Norrington in hopes that his fellow Knight-Commander would voice his opinion.

As usual, he is not disappointed by Norrington's more levelheaded approach. Killing Cade would be too extreme of a punishment and his suggestion of excommunicating the Templar from the Order is a foolish one. The best they can do is keep an eye on Harimann, not toss him away.]

Agreed. Perhaps we could perhaps reforge this sword anew if given enough time to do so.

[He gives Malcolm a quick glance.]

[tactical_alert]

[He slowly crosses his arms over his chest, considering the proposition. Should not piss off the Templars, of course, but in years before all of this, he knows what his solution would have been, should it have pleased his superiors. Giving chances can be...dangerous (a rogue templar is a rogue templar, after all). But so is having a very singular mind on the matter. Intractability started all wars.]

I am not certain that we should offer him to the Dalish. Not for any point against them and reparations to make, but because they may not want his presence if there are no guarantees, on either side, that another incident won't happen. But he should do something quiet. And something in direct service to the Inquisition. Whether it is minor labor, cooking in the kitchens, delivering letters--the specifics I leave to you, Knight-Commanders. As for the Dalish, I suggest asking the woman who was attacked what she would like out of this. The injured party ought get an opinion on how to relieve her injuries.

[He looks to Aleron with a tilt of his head. Not to steamroll over whatever opinions he might have on the matter, of course.]

[lifeofendurance]

I concur with Seeker Reed. Giving him to the Dalish is inappropriate. It is not our duty to placate the tender feelings of wronged parties, but to see that justice is served.

[Had Cade attacked a farmer, would he then be given a plow and delivered over to the nearest farmstead?

His eye falls back on Cade and he sighs. Which is an unusual level of expression for Aleron and indicates just how terribly difficult he finds this situation. Even having only just met the young Templar, there's a sense of responsibility for him moving forward. Because clearly he should have been removed from service long ere this and somehow he managed to slip through the cracks of responsible leadership.]

I am not certain how his superiors managed to miss his adverse reaction to battle, but I find it a dereliction of duty on their part that he should have been allowed to continue in such a state. He is not the first to have their mind harmed by harsh events, but we need not continue to inflict damages by putting him into the path of repeated shock. It would be cruel.

I propose he be given secretarial duties - so his training need not go to waste - and no longer be deployed in any fashion.

[He looks then to Malcolm for agreement or dissent.]

[judgemewhole]

Well, that should be easy enough to remedy. Alayre has a good relationship with the woman who was harmed. He can speak with her personally, and see what justice she would like to have done.

[Norrington stated, leaning back to give both Seekers a continuing cool stare.]

[If Cade attacked a farmer, the farmer would have stabbed him with a pitchfork. But then again, Norrington is from the Free Marches. Farmers tended to be former sellswords most of the time.]

I am not entirely certain that Meredith cared -- or perhaps she simply honed it. [His look towards Cade was now brooding. After all, he still was in the room.] For hurting an innocent, Templar, I still say you need to do penance at our lady's feet, as well as your simple secretarial duties. That, however, is up to the Seekers -- and Beleth -- to decide.

[onlyhymns]

[Luckily, penance is on the docket already; if he weren't under constant supervision, Cade would have gone to the chapel already. But it's a private and sacred place, and he hates being watched when he prays.]

Yes, ser.

[Penance. Secretarial duties. Cade would be angry that he got himself so worked up over things that aren't so terrible, but he's too tired, has been running on sheer adrenaline for too long.
There is one question, however, that he asks before he stops himself.]

...will I remain in the Order, ser? [He can't leave this room without knowing for certain. His tone is pleading.]

[tactical_alert]

[He doesn't like the implication that he's being too eager with his duties, as if this is merely a case of being perpetually late to duties or not keeping up his equipment. Dereliction of duty can have a great many meanings. And the situation is more complicated than something as straightforward as rape and murder.

If something else happens with Ser Cade, he'll bear some of that responsibility.]

He seems of the opinion that losing his status is worse than death. [He's sure this, too, is more complicated, but his words are chosen deliberately.] I leave the decision to the Knight-Commanders to deliberate. Otherwise, I am...satisfied with his punishment and the suggestion he not return to the field of battle. [With a small incline of his head to Aleron.] If the wounded party takes issue, I suggest she take it up with you, Ser Norrington.