Neuvillette (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
inexorablejudgment) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
ellipsanet2024-10-20 11:46 pm
inexorablejudgment) wrote in ellipsanet2024-10-20 11:46 pm
video; un: iudex
I have a question to pose... and do take your time in considering your response. It is of no worldly importance, but I feel such a question demands more than a cursory answer.
[Neuvillette's voice is calm and pleasant and his expression is placid. He's easily recognisable to those who know him, and to anyone who might have seen him at work in the Amberfall library]
What does the term 'Justice' mean to you?
[A beat.]
Not the word alone, but the concept itself. The land I hail from names itself the Nation of Justice, and I have been the one charged with carrying out the law of that nation for some time. I have always considered the application of the law to be absolute regardless of my own feelings, at least until... recent times, but events here have brought the uncertainty of such things to the forefront of my mind once again.
[He imagines that some people here will have some thoughts regarding the question he's posing.]
I understand that 'right' and 'wrong' cannot always be quantified so easily. I am curious about the opinions of other people here.
[Neuvillette's voice is calm and pleasant and his expression is placid. He's easily recognisable to those who know him, and to anyone who might have seen him at work in the Amberfall library]
What does the term 'Justice' mean to you?
[A beat.]
Not the word alone, but the concept itself. The land I hail from names itself the Nation of Justice, and I have been the one charged with carrying out the law of that nation for some time. I have always considered the application of the law to be absolute regardless of my own feelings, at least until... recent times, but events here have brought the uncertainty of such things to the forefront of my mind once again.
[He imagines that some people here will have some thoughts regarding the question he's posing.]
I understand that 'right' and 'wrong' cannot always be quantified so easily. I am curious about the opinions of other people here.
UN: frieda
She keeps an eye on the post and takes in everybody's responses as they arrive. The thoughts of those whose usernames she recognises come as no surprise, and everyone else's contributions strike her as sensible as well. Eventually, she leaves a written comment rather than calling in, not trusting herself to stay calm on video, depending on how the conversation might go.]
In a perfect world where people cause each other no harm, justice wouldn't be needed. The need for it arises from the fact that we are so prone to injustice.
As some other people already said, the purpose of justice is to right wrongs and restore balance. However, some deeds are so atrocious that no counteract will suffice to restore justice, and in such cases, the only thing to be done is to atone.
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I find myself in agreement... There are some acts for which there is nothing to be done to balance against the harm they have caused. The abstract of 'justice' is difficult to apply in such cases.
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I remember a story discovered in the magical library: A man got corrupted by the Darkness and turned halfway into a monster. He asked to be killed, and it was done. But what if he'd wanted to live? He'd have been a danger to everyone around him. What would have been the right thing do to? Instead of murder, there could be banishment... but if all those turned into monsters were banished from civilisation, the Segments would become more and more dangerous, until nobody could leave the city anymore.
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Or would it be more just to allow those corrupted by the Darkness to remain free, posing a constant danger.
I do not believe that I, or any outlander here, have the authority to pass that judgment. We lack the context of lived history, only able to view such things from the point of view of our own experience.
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It's true that not every conundrum of this world calls for our intervention. I need this reminder more than I realise, it seems.
[Rather than constantly subject him to her own ruminations, she wants to be of some support to him as well - and in any case, she's curious, so she adds:]
Would you like to talk about the events back home and here that made you raise the matter? We can hold a call, if you prefer.
[She may still run a risk of having an 'episode' while getting into whatever occupies his mind on audio or video, but the likelihood ought to be far lower!]
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[Were this someone from Fontaine he might have... reservations about it, though he would still speak about it if asked. Someone outside of the entire region of Teyvat, however..? She may offer him a perspective he would not have considered before.]
Text => Private Call
It's good to see you, Neuvillette. I have to say, I am very curious about your homeland. To call itself the Nation of Justice, it must be assured of its ability to differentiate between right and wrong... but such a responsibility weighs heavily on those who enact it, doesn't it?
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[It is a heavy weight to bear and Neuvillette would not deny that.]
I have been the Iudex of Fontaine for five hundred years, invited by the archon herself to oversee the law of the nation.
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[He definitely can't be human, then! But even so...]
That's a terribly long time, isn't it? I hope you had a team of workmates around you to ease the task?
[Certainly, he can't have been expected to bear the responsibility all alone for half a millennium!]
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It is a long time.
[And it was not always easy! But...]
I have had help through the years, from humans and from a race of creatures called Melusines. I find both to be uniquely suited to the task in their own way.
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[Is she worried about Neuvillette having been lonely? Why, yes. How could he not be if his companions only last a fractions of his lifespan?]
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Many of the ones still in Fontaine came with me when I first accepted the position of Iudex from the Hydro Archon.
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I assume the Hydro Archon is your sovereign?
[To be hand-selected for the position of Iudex by his regent, Neuvillette must have truly distinguished himself. That aside, though...]
After serving your country for centuries, the events that made you call into question its absolute justice must have been momentous.
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[Things are... a little complicated in that regard, now. Neuvillette would not keep the current state of things a secret, but nor would he pretend that the Hydro Archon still lived.]
And though you are correct, to some extent... I have always struggled with some of the aspects of my duties, even if my commitment to carrying them out has never wavered.
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What has made your duties most difficult for you over the centuries? I feel that if I were in your position, I'd often doubt whether I made the right judgement call or not, but from what you said, your nation prides itself on its juridical system. Did you come to doubt the system itself, then?
[It wouldn't surprise her. Much as she's come to learn from her ancestors' memories, no system is perfect.]
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[Because, well, it's a great deal to explain and some of it still cuts too sharply for him to really want to speak of it.]
But... what is 'fair' does not always mean the same as what is 'right'. That is something I have learned.
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[In order to atone for 2 millennia of oppression, was it not right for her people to be made to serve the formerly oppressed? But how is it fair on someone like her friend Reiner, who was born into that shackled servitude a century later and who never hurt anyone? The same dilemma could be applied to far too many decisions made by her ancestor - decisions she inherited the responsibility for.]
...
I have no solution. I suppose we can only strive to attain as much of a compromise between justice and fairness as possible.
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Quite so.
[Then he thinks for a moment, before continuing to speak.]
I understand that when the first of us began to arrive here, some chose to work closely with the governing bodies of Ellipsa in order to better integrate. I have kept myself away from such things, reasoning that my authority over justice has no relevance here.
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Are you reevaluating that decision?
[She wasn't actually aware of any otherworlders currently working closely with Nightwake's leadership... have they all returned home, or has she just not been attentive enough? Regardless, she offers:]
Despite lacking a relevant track record, I worked closely with Dawn and some fellow otherworlders to help arrange for peace negotiations in the Great Ocean Lake, and while I don't hold any official position, I visit the people there frequently to see how they're doing. It's been very rewarding.
[To see peace come about between two warring nations was incredibly meaningful, if not healing, to her.]
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That's good to know. [Neuvillette smiles at her. He did not know that, but he means his comment genuinely.]
If you wouldn't mind, I would like to hear more about that.
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It really began with the discovery of the magical library. Over the course of our investigations, Shadow, whom I didn't know before, discovered a record of what started the enmity between the people of the Great Ocean Lake. According to the entry, the murder of the siren prince was what caused a rift between the two races, who'd govered the lake together beforehand, and our allied merfolk covered the matter up. When he shared his findings on the network, we discussed them and decided to try and speak with both parties.
[She remembers meeting Shadow in person shortly afterwards and being surprised at him being a hedgehog person... by now, of course, she's gotten well used to "animal people".]
After also speaking with our guild leaders, we formed two small delegations. Shadow went to the sirens with Dawn - she took the lead of the endeavour since the Great Ocean Lake falls under her seasonal domain -, and I went to the other merfolk with my... friend Jade. They knew us there already since we'd visited before for questing and explorations.
[She and Jade still haven't made their relationship official! They'll probably drag it out forever, purely to make playfully each other's life harder. Anyway, their relationship status isn't the important part here!]
We were lucky: Both rulers agreed to meet for negotiations. It came to light that in reality, it was a third party - the Wizard - who committed the murder back then and framed the merpeople to cause division and strife. As a result, a peace treaty was signed.
[There's undeniably pride in her voice. Without her and Shadow's initiative, the deception might never have been fully uncovered, and more merpeople on both sides might have died in the ongoing conflict, not to mention the difficulties for otherworlders in the disputed territory. It feels good to have made a difference.]
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He nods, a small smile at the corners of his lips both at the pride in her voice and the resolution of the conflict as she describes it.]
You did very well. Both of you.
[But one thing about it does pique his interest.]
Who is this 'wizard'?
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I don't think we know very much about him. Before his early involvement in the politics of the Great Ocean Lake came to light, I believe his name first fell when the fairy queen was rescued from captivity. That happened before I arrived here, but I read the records of the mission. Apparently, it was the Wizard who captured her and handed her over to the sirens for safeguarding. It seems that in exchange, he promised to aid them in their fight against their enemies, but he abandoned them.
...
This leaves many questions, doesn't it? If the Wizard wanted to ensure that the fairy queen wouldn't be rescued, why did he not uphold his part of the bargain? I wonder if he merely wanted to deepen the divide between the merpeople. But why go to such lengths?
[If almost feels personal, like the Wizard harboured a grudge - but what does she know? Perhaps sowing enmity in the lake was just part of that group's greater plan.]
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[And this is part of why Neuvillette wants to involve himself in the leading parties of this world more than he has done, even if only in an entirely unofficial capacity. Something like this would never have escaped his notice in Fontaine.]
Have the remaining power holders given any information about him?
[He is not shy about admitting that he does not pay them too much heed - or has not, until now.]
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I may have missed something, but as far as I know, the Wizard hasn't been sighted again during the entire time I've been here, nor has more information about him come to light. It might be worth asking for confirmation, though. I've found the guild leaders to be very approachable.
[Who knows, perhaps such a first meeting might automatically lead to more collaboration! She'd feel gratified to see Neuvillette get more involved - not only might it be as rewarding for him as it's been for her, but he seems like an exceptionally good fit for the role of otherworlder liaison, having proven a cool-headed temperament and a measured approach to delicate and complicated situations.]
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