Anvil Court Report for Winter 385

Anvil Court Report for Winter 385

Crimes		Description		Accused & plea		Verdict & punishment
Contraven-ing a Declaration of Interdiction		The accused cast the interdicted ritual Whispering Shadow Courtiers at the request of her coven in Summer 385. She was not present at the Autumn summit but came to confess at the Winter summit. She cooperated fully and provided information on her coven. She did not complete any of the tasks set by the Whisper Gallery.		Cordelia Assumpta Cordina di Cello-Gribaldi plead guilty with no clemency.		Guilty.Fined 1 throne
Treason		The accused was selling sausages, some of which were poisoned and others which were made with human meat and cursed by Blood on the Snow. The accused confessed to being a cultist of this eternal, by the sobriquet of “Voice in the Pines”.		Alphonse di Sausage of Voice in the Pines plead guilty with no clemency.		Guilty. Fined all the money in their possession (1T ,4c,9r) and then executed.
Contraven-ing a Declaration of Interdiction		The accused made and used an interdicted item, a Shackle of the unvirtuous in order to allow him to sleep without nightmares. If he had not done so he would not have been able to function or to serve his people. He had explored many other avenues to avoid this crime.		Konstantin Bolotinikov plead guilty with clemency plead by Martin Orchard		Guilty. Fined 2 crowns.
Aiding and abetting Slavery		Vuk the Wolfeater was investigated for handing over a child of his vale to his Sovereign. Persuasive testimony was heard from the adopted parents of General Ash, a child who returned from the care of this sovereign, having had a strange and magical apprenticeship and upbringing. All accounts were that Ash was strongly raised in virtue – a powerful indication that the arrangement was not one of slavery.		Vuk the Wolfeater attended a witness hearing.		It was determined that there is no case to answer.
Treason		The two accused were variously involved in the planning, facilitating and casting of Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths. This ritual, as a known and predictable effect, greatly increases the ease with which Day heralds of eternals not under Enmity can enter the Empire. Both accused admitted that at the time of the casting they knew this would permit easier access for the heralds of Cold Sun, which had declared and demonstrated its intent to attack the Empire, but the casting proceeded nevertheless. The accused therefore ‘aided Eternals [...] to act against the interests of the Empire’, in accordance with the definition of Treason. Evidence and expert testimony from multiple sources including Grandmaster Shuttered Lantern, Proxy Archmage Day and Imperial Seer demonstrated that the accused had ample warning of the threat, that the accused Archmage Day passed up opportunities to declare Enmity against the threat, and that the accused pushed ahead without heed to the grave risks. Both accused were fully cooperative with the investigation. The accused Anthemius Netherwatch, the ritual coordinator, had demonstrated contrition through his actions following the casting, most notably in having a Declaration of Sorcery brought forward against himself. This was taken into consideration for his sentencing. A large number of other covens and magicians of Urizen participated in the casting. They were also investigated, but they were not tried as the Magistrate determined that due to the assurances of the accused, the participants’ responsibility did not rise above the level of negligence. At the request of Magistrate Tuomisbarn, the presiding Magistrate, a Denunciation was delivered by Magistrate Abraham against the Conclave and its leadership. Under the terms of the Imperial Constitution the Conclave exists to ‘ensure the fit and proper use of magic.’ The Conclave appointed Gralka as Archmage of Day, and passed a declaration encouraging the casting of Omnihedron rituals. After Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths was cast, the Conclave elected not to endorse the casting of the ritual, but also elected not to replace the Archmage. Abraham highlighted Conclave’s unique constitutional exemption from Synod oversight and the roots of that exemption in the early Empire’s belief that its Magicians could be trusted to regulate their own affairs. Abraham reminded the assembled, speaking as the Head of the Constitutional Court, that this was an exemption that was subject to change should the Senate will it and the Throne approve it.		(1) Skywise Gralka, Archmage of Day, plead guilty with the clemency plea delivered by Herminius of the House of the Wanderer, Arbiter of the Four Winds, on the Virtue of Ambition. (2) Anthemius Netherwatch Custodian of the Lost, plead guilty with the clemency. plea delivered by Rafael Barossa di Apulian, Grandmaster Sevenfold Path, on the Virtue of Pride.		Both were found guilty. Skywise Gralka, was sentenced to a fine of 150 thrones (to be paid by midday Saturday of the Spring summit. Anthemius Netherwatch was sentenced to a fine of 30 thrones (paid)
Appeal against conviction for Subverting the agencies of the State		The conviction of Bohemond De Rondell for Subverting the agencies of the State in Autumn 385 was overturned on appeal. He was prosecuted for refusing to attend his inquisition but in fact this was his second inquisition of that summit and so he was not required in law to attend.		Bohemond De Rondell		Fine of 8 thrones returned.