"Greetings to my favorite town! I have come to report that my mission to bury the Son of Silverthorne went well.
I thank Vaughn for placing the Crown back onto his head so that he would rest in peace. It was an arduous journey, and my Sylvani are glad to return home to re-join their family's and tribes. Hopefully the celebration of our return was not to unruly."

Lord Balthos puffs his pipe.

"I was able to visit the other Haven, and saw some old friends there. It was a most joyous reunion with some, and a little tense with others. I have promised myself that when this business with Spring is over, I must visit there again. "

Lord Balthos puffs his pipe.

"Ah Spring. So what news of him and his minions?"

Lord Balthos sits down,puffs his pipe, and waits for an answer.

The man from the road enters the bar and surveys the area with unfocused eyes. The man waits for Balthos to finish speaking

"Do you lead this place?"

The man's voice is calm, clear, and carries a slight accent of indeterminate origin.

"No I do not. I am merely a visitor here."

Zeira walks into the inn with a bundle of papers in his hands as Balthos and Haant Vit speak. On one of the pieces of paper there is some writing. He pins it on the announcement board and reads it out loud to everyone in the room.

The Town of Avangard seeks an able bodied craftsman. Must bring a sample of work and be able to construct fully functional buildings. Contact Zeira.

The Town of Avangard seeks able bodied town guards. Must be courteous to travelers and able to remain at their post for their entire shift. Pay is negotiable. Contact Dizzy.

The Town of Avangard seeks knowledgeable researchers for special projects. Contact Zeira.

The Town of Avangard seeks a cartographer to map out the general area. Contact Zeira.

If you wish to establish a guild or a special organization in Avanguard please register first. Contact Zeira.


Zeira tries to speak up before Haant Vit leaves

"I'm the current leader of Avangard sir. What can I help you with?"

The man stops and turns to face Zeira A short time passes before he speaks.

"I am to meet my team here. Have they arrived?"

Zeira has a slightly confused looked on his face

"Not that I know of...which team are you looking for?"

"A woman with a painted face, a man-wolf, and a bird-woman, possibly accompanied by some men.

Zeira puts up another piece of paper stating the Laws of Avangard in their final form

The Laws of Avangard

Written here are the laws of the land of Avangard. All citizens and visitors in Avangard are to be held to these laws. People who disobey these laws will be held at trial for their crimes and punished according to their severity and circumstances.

If you are accused of a crime a warrant will be issued for your arrest. If you are caught in the act of committing a crime, no warrant is necessary and you can be arrested immediately. If the sheriff shows you a warrant for arrest you are expected to allow yourself to be bound and come peacefully with them. If you are violent or incompliant the sheriff has the right to incapacitate you temporarily for your safety and the safety of others by whatever means at his disposal. You will be escorted to a waiting area to await trial and your gear shall be temporarily confiscated and stored under lock and key.

Trial will first consist of selecting a jury. The accuser shall choose one person, the accused shall choose a person, and the leader of town shall choose a person. A juror cannot be a witness in the trial.

The accused shall then present their defense. They have 10 minutes to do so. They may use witnesses, evidence, or just provide testimony. They may also request that they be questioned by a professional interrogator but the entire process must take place before the trial. The leader of town can allow other forms of defense at their discretion. The prosecutor may then present their case against the defense. They have 10 minutes to do so. They may not request that the defendant be interrogated but they may use witnesses, evidence, and provide testimony. The Jury then has 5 minutes to discuss the facts and then vote in secret. The decision does not have to be unanimous.

If the accused is found not guilty their gear is to be returned to them and they are free to go about their business. If the accused is found guilty the leader of town may determine an appropriate punishment. If that punishment is death they need a unanimous vote from the jury.

Written below are the laws of Avangard. New laws can be proposed by citizens. It takes a two thirds majority to create or abolish a law. A form marked by twenty percent of all registered citizens is needed to propose a law change.

1 – No person may steal from another person in the lands of Avangard.

2 – No person may assault or kill any other person in the lands of Avangard. This does not mean you cannot defend yourself against attack. If your life is threatened or if someone attacks you first you may defend yourself.

3 – No person may conspire to break a law. To conspire is to plan out the act of breaking a law such as murdering someone, stealing, etc…

4 – No person may hold any slaves in the lands of Avangard. If any slaves are brought into the lands of Avangard will be immediately freed.

5 – No person may practice the art of necromancy in the lands of Avangard. Necromancy is creating or controlling the undead, destroying another’s essence to permanently boost your life essence or that of another, and taking away a person’s life essence against their will permanently to bolster the life essence of yourself or another.

6 – No person is to commit treason against the land of Avangard. Treason is conspiring with an enemy to attack, hinder, or otherwise harm the people or lands of Avangard.

7 – No person in the land of Avangard is to knowingly aid someone who is committing a crime or has been charged with committing one. Lying to enforcement officials on a criminal’s behalf, hiding or helping a criminal get away, and providing a criminal with gear or money are illegal. Healing a criminal is the only exemption of this law.

He then turns back towards Haant Vit

"You're going to have to be a little more specific friend. We live in a land where all of those things aren't too uncommon. Do you know what they're names are by any chance?"

"Ah the laws. Good to see you taking a firm hand on the lands, Ziera! Well done.
What I do not see being addressed is how one would go about becoming a citizen? I know that you are busy just now, but I would like to know if my application to become a citizen has been accepted or denied."

Balthos leans forward puffing his pipe, waiting for Ziera to answer.

Zeira looks over at Balthos for a moment

"You know I have been thinking about it actually. In the past you were a bad man, you killed innocent folks. Probably did some downright awful things. But then again so did I. Why do I deserve a second chance and not you? It would only be fair to give you the same opportunity I was given right?"

"In a perfect world the answer would be yes. But that is not the case. There is a stigma attached to you Balthos. You are one of the undead and as such there is a darkness within you. When the people learned that I allowed you to become a citizen they would be struck with fear. Fear that I am under your control or that I will allow you to attack them in the night."

"The people here to trust me to make good decisions on their behalf. I want them to know that they are safe...that their growth and prosperity come first."

"Let me ask you some questions. Why do you wish to become a citizen?"

Haant Vit is silent for a moment before replying

"You would know them if they were here. They are not. I will wait."

He walks over to a table and seats himself, careful to not walk between Zeira and Balthos. He appears interested in their conversation

Lord Balthos smiles and sets his pipe down.

"I find it interesting that you want to know why I wish to join the town. Is this part of how you interrogate/invite folks to join?"

Balthos puffs his pipe.

"Ah well. I'll answer your question then. I wish to join the town in order to enjoy the legal protection of the town system, in case I run afoul of the law, in my doings. I also wish to porvide the town some assistance with my "tax". Through my various business dealings and some long term investments, I have become quite well off. I will be able to provide the town with assistance. And I have to admit that it would please me to be able to do some good deeds with what I've accumulated.
"However I also understand your reluctance and that of the town to have an individual such as myself become one of you. If that is the decision, then so be it. But I trust that the hospitality that I have so recently enjoyed is not being revoked."

Lord Balthos smiles at the last sentance and sits back puffing his pipe.

Zeira listens to Balthos's response intently

"Balthos I remember when I first met you and we spoke of making a deal. You told me that you were evil and that to make a deal with you would be costly. Those words have stuck with me. But your actions have spoken louder."

"I will grant your request for citizenship. To start picking and choosing who can become citizens is wrong and unfair. However should you be found guilty of any of the laws it can be revoked. There are no taxes and we will not be making any special requests of you."

Zeira pulls out a piece of paper

"This is a proof of citizenship document. Sign it and you will officially become a citizen of Avangard."

~: It was at this very moment upon the declaration of the magnanimous Lord Balthos as a member of Avanguard that our aforementioned spider-like individual Danimoth Tyraeni came creeping down from the ceiling on a thin white chord. Hanging upside down he has perfectly placed himself directly behind the mandeity they call Balthos, supporting himself while a sign hangs from his neck. He's written a note upside-down to him, perfectly right-side up for Zeira. :~

~: "GOOD MOVE!" it reads in Common :~

~: He continues to hang there, seemingly weightless as he uses one arm to pull the noteboard up and begin writing a new message on the reverse side. All the while he can't help but steal the occasional glance at the newcommer who had been asking for quite an interesting band of people as per his description. :~

~: Well, he had to deduce by a glance into his pants that he was not female, so he obviously wasn't the painted woman he was looking for. He couldn't remember ever having any wolfish features save his pointy canine teeth. And he certainly wasn't flying around trying to eat worms during the early hours of the day. Nope, must be looking for someone far less interesting than himself. :~