[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

1. Why/how did this happen?

[onlyhymns]

[Cade explains, for the umpteenth time, that his memory of the event is fuzzy. He is, however, aware that he is in the wrong, and that he is a liability to the Inquisition.

He seems genuinely torn up as he struggles to remember what happened; his account goes from standing guard to being tackled off the elf by Alistair, with a large gap in between. He timidly admits that this is not the first time such a lapse has happened; there are entire battles that he apparently won but doesn't remember.

Despite this, he acknowledges that the incident was his fault. He humbly puts himself at the mercy of those seated before him.

After he's finished speaking, he clasps his hands and looks down at the floor again.]

2. What should be done with him?

[onlyhymns]

3. Anything else?

[onlyhymns]

[equanimiti]

[There's not a hint of warmth left in Alayre's steely gaze as he listens to Cade's accounts. Judging from what he heard of the ordeal from Beleth, Cade was provoked into attacking the elf.

According to Beleth, she remembered Cade telling her to leave him be but ignored the warning. If the man was still in sound enough mind to give warning, then maybe there's still some hope left for Harimann. However, Alayre isn't about to offer this man a pardon.

Hell no.]

[equanimiti]

[The awkward silence prompts Alayre to speak.]

Harimann has already been stripped of his duties as a Templar but is this enough?

[He looks to his fellow Knight-Commander.]

What say you, Norrington? Our decision here today will define our future here as Templars and allies of the Inquisition.

Re: 1. Why/how did this happen?

[judgemewhole]

[Norrington just sits there with one hand braced against the side of his face, his green eyes stormy. Clearly, anger is running deep here, but so is disappointment. He thought the young man was getting better, turning himself around.

Clearly, this was not the case.

The fact that he was blacking out and not telling them? Was a disturbing revelation.]

[judgemewhole]

What I say is that he should be thrown in jail for assault.

[Is Norrington's stony reply, but he sighs as he sits up in the chair.]

However. I respect Cullen's judgement, so I will honor it. No weapons. Heavily restricted duty.

[Green eyes narrow on Cade.]

In fact, I think he needs to take the time to seriously reflect his actions. I am going to recommend a few days in Vigil, before he takes on strictly secretarial duties until further notice.

[tactical_alert]

[A Seeker in the room generally makes any Templar nervous. Or angry. A Seeker with his hand so firmly grasped about the hilt of his blade, though still sheathed, moreso.]

Whether he was provoked into action or not, that he could not show more restraint coupled with this dangerous lapse in memory a liability at best, a danger to everyone around him. A blade is not the only thing that makes a Templar dangerous, and simply stripping him of it and of his duties does not guarantee anything.

[Though he has yet to put the actual words out, it's clear the direction he's suggesting.]

[equanimiti]

[The Seeker's demeanor certainly warrants some wariness from Alayre. The Knight-Commander has been watching him.]

Are you suggesting that we toss Harimann out of the Order?

[He takes a moment mull over that idea.]

[lifeofendurance]

[As always, Aleron is an unreadable wall. An imposing one, with his arms folded, eyes locked on Cade. But he's neither frowning, nor scowling, nor anything one would expect in an outward show of displeasure. Rather he's internally sorting and sifting the facts and disliking the whole of what he hears front and back. The templar is taking responsibility for his actions which is a good step.

The lapses in memory, however... those are a problem and he has a concern. Several. All tied into one.]

Is this woman you attacked a mage? [She damned well better be, son. And right to the point:] Was there any evidence of a malificarum in the area at any time you suffered one of these memory lapses?

[Yeah. Aleron just went there. He wants all the facts.]

[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 realizes where he's going with this, and looks a little ill as he shakes his head.]

No, ser. ...a Dalish scout. [At least he thinks she was a scout. Previously he'd thought she was a servant, and he only assumes she's Dalish because of the tattoos on her face.]

I... there were in Redcliffe. We encountered them all the way down from the Waking Sea. Rebels. [He rubs the back of his neck uneasily. His men are the other half of the 'we' here, and all of them are since deceased.]

[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.]

[equanimiti]

[Alayre cuts his gaze over towards the Seeker briefly. He's not liking how this manner of questioning is going.]

That was prior to you joining the Inquisition, was it not?

[No, guys. Cade is not under the influence of Malificarum. Nope. Nope, nope, nope.]

[onlyhymns]

[Cade nods wearily.] Yes, ser. We were making our way down from Kirkwall.

[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]

[Sweet Maker, what in the world could provoke a templar to attack a Dalish scout. Other than madness or blood magic? Aleron's certainly going to exhaust the possibility of one before exploring the other.]

How often have you suffered these gaps in awareness? When did they begin? Before or after the encounter with the rebels?

[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]

[When addressed again, Cade looks shyly in Aleron's direction.]

Since... [He thinks a moment.] ...since the Qunari invasion of Kirkwall, ser.

[Before that, it had been pretty standard Templar duty, and nothing too upsetting beyond the occasional Harrowing gone wrong. Something about watching his brothers in the Order, and innocent townspeople, burned and dismembered and brutalized to death-- battle was different now.]