Start - agreed dialogue

Serapis the Quaesitoris calls the members of Oculus Seprentonalis for a meeting.

Serapis Thank you for joining me on this lovely lovely July evening. I have gathered you here to discuss the recent events in this town, by which I mean the werewolf. As you are all now aware, there have been a number of killings, both women and sheep, over the past few months, all of which occurred during the nights of the full moon. A stablemaid - Maria - was murdered right outside the Novgorod Inn. A month later, there was another murder. Jenico of Verditius was arrested under suspicion of the murder. There was no evidence, Jenico had only arrived that day but the Captain arrested him anyway. Basically because he is foreign and is not blessed with the Gentle Gift. There was another murder during the night and the gurads were forced to release Jenico. It was at this point in time that your guests conceived the notion that there was a werewolf in Lubeck. A notion that was brought to your attention - Henri - when one of Boris’ employees informed you of Jenico’s arrest. A month passes, your guests now beleive they have identified who the werewolf is. They made plans to capture, or if necessary, to kill the creature. A few nights before the full moon, Artal Bjornaer is confronted by the Captain in the Novgorod Inn, and accused of witchcraft. Artal is forced to flee town to avoid a fight which would endanger both the town and your covenant. A few nights later, in the light of the full moon, your guests put their plan into action and bring down the werewolf that has been plagueing your town. The werewolf as we now know, was the very Captain who had been harassing your guests over the past months. Although they are heroes, they cleverly pass the credit to a townsman to avoid bringing attention to the presence of the Order.

But that is not why we are all here tonight. The customary laws of hospitality, as practiced throughout the holy roman empire, have been accepted into the peripheral code of this tribunal. These laws require the host to provide for the guests - food, shelter, clothing, entertainment - as if the guest were part of their household. The laws also place a duty of care onto the host - the host is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of their guests. My observations of your covenant over the past few months leads me to the conclusion that you have been negligent in your duties as host. And I now offer to you the opportunity to prove otherwise. So, precisely what have you done during the past 3 months to protect your guests from the werewolf threat? And, what have you done to protect your guests from accusations brought against them simply because they are gifted?

Boris Well, I was not here for most of this time, I was travelling.

Serapis That is true. However, the liability is with the covenant, not with any one individual - all magi of the covenant are equally responsible. Secondly,you were present for the final full moon and in the days preceeding the that night, you were present at your inn, where the guest magi conspired. I understand they even questioned you regarding the Captain. And it was in your establishment, where the Captain made threats and accusations against Artal of Bjornaer, forcing him to flee lest his retaliation cause damage to the town, or worse, bring ruin on your covenant.

Henri Hey. Now you skip some very basic facts. Firstly, Jenico was arrested before we had even had a chance to welcome him as a guest at the covenant. Even so, we did look into the matter to see what we would need to do, but he was released within 24 hours and no action was necessary. Secondly, it is the guest’s responsibility to behave so that they do not embarass the host. Certainly, Artal did not display the civilised behaviour that is necessary in a city. The requirement to keep a low profile was made clear when we welcomed each guest to the covenant. Do not blame us for the actions of the guests.

Draft for the continuation - open for discussion

Serapis Your duty of care requires you to take precautions against situations that have not yet happened - just as you store firewood in summer, so that your guests do not die by freezing in winter. The tribunal has already taken a precautionary measure by ruling that members of the covenant must have the Gentle Gift. But this ruling is of little help when guests - who may stay here for several years - are not equally blessed. As an urban covenant, your situation exposes your guests to the mundane population on a daily basis - for those without the Gentle Gift, this presents a significant risk to both the guests and your covenant. Your duty of care is to anticipate potential threats to your guests and to take action to prevent them from occurring. While the specifics of the werewolf Captain could not have been foreseen, the inevitability of some sort of supernatural threat should habe been planned for. In this matter, you have clearly failed in your duty. Have you anything else to say before I pass judgement?

Serapis Very well. As a consequence of this covenant’s failure to ensure the safety of its guests, I rule that the vis fee that each guest paid for this years hospitality be returned to the guest. Further, that each member of this covenant will provide one season of service to the guests as compensation. For clarity, this is one season to the guests as a group - not one season to each guest. The season offered for service is at your discretion but it must be completed before the end of 1221. Only your time is required, any other resources requierd for the service must be provided by the magus you are working for. Your obligation will be quit if none of the guests take up your offer of service. If you accept these terms, the tribunal will consider this matter resolved. You may of course decline this judgment, in which case, the matter will be brought before the tribunal for public discussion. I should caution you that in this case, should the tribunal uphold my judgment, the tribual will order a fine in additon to the compensation you must pay to your guests.

Serapis Do you accept this judgment?

If they accept, Serapis will follow up with the following.

Serapis I am pleased that we do not have to take this matter to Tribunal. A record of this judgment will be held at Durnemar and at Magvillius for future reference, but otherwise the tribunal will condsider this matter closed. There are a few thoughts that I would offer for your consideration. Your guest tariff should incorporate rules about what your guests can and cannot do in town - to limit exposure and risk. Perhaps you could use your mundane wealth and influence to elect your own man into the now vacant position of Captain of the Guard. Consider moving your guest quarters out of town - the best way to protect guests who are not blessed with the Gentle Gift is to isolate them.