Lord Julius Darnell has a long and storied career
upholding the law in Lord British’s courts. Intrigued by his position
as Prosecutor of the “FoA Leader trial”, I was assigned to meet
the man, and find out what makes him tick. We met in his estate outside
of Britain. Lavishly appointed, and decorated with many works of art,
I was struck by both the refinement and opulence of his daily surroundings.
After being served tea by his attentive staff, we began the interview....
Garth Ranzz: Can you give our readers a bit of your
background?
Lord Darnell: Certainly. I’ve served the King’s
Courts for nearly two decades as a Prosecutor, and am closing on my
one-hundredth case in that service.
GR: Your father, Lord Averil Darnell, was also a lawyer?
LD: Indeed. In point of fact, the practice of law
goes back four generations in my family.
GR: What drew you to law as a career?
LD: Well, as I said, it was a family tradition—one
I am quite proud to continue, might I add—but my course was set
quite young.
GR: Actually, Lord Darnell, I was referring to your
personal interest in the subject.
LD: Ah. I would say that I am particularly interested
in society.
GR: How do you mean?
LD: The law is a measure of the progress a society
has made towards civilization. Individuals must understand that the
actions that they take have a great impact on those around them. If
a man were to, say, steal another’s food, he is depriving that
other of the ability to feed his family. Now, let us posit the victim
of the crime is, for example, a healer—with less food he grows
weaker, and is less able to do the job he has set to do. If the thief
grows ill, he must turn to the healer to set him right—but the
healer’s ability to do his job has been negatively impacted. Do
you see? Each of us, as individuals, are dependent upon those around
us in numerous ways - some obvious, some less so.
GR: How would you answer those that say that as the
law is a creation of man, and man is a flawed creature, therefore law
must be flawed?
LD: Pish. The needs of the many are of a greater primacy
then the needs of the few. The law is merely a way of codifying that.
It is a hallmark of a civilization to address these issues as social
beings rather than to fall upon each other with open steel. As time,
and the needs of a society change, so then do the laws which they need
to protect that society.
GR: So you see the law as a form of societal protection?
LD: Order must be secured—I would argue by any
civilized means necessary. A healthy society should always have room
for debate and opposition, but such must be done within the boundaries
of the law. To remove that debate from the public eye; or to engage
in unlawful acts against the State or its Citizens—this is Treason.
It is one thing to discuss changes we would like to see in our government—in
fact, I would hope that every Citizen sees this as their duty and obligation—but
it is quite another thing to engage in unlawful behavior. The law is
the only thing that differentiates between us and, say, orcs.
GR: Your critics would charge that you’ve been
blessed with affluence and political connections—making it very
easy for you to take such a position...
LD: My personal finances have always been a place
where my foes have tried to attack, but I believe the record clearly
shows how much good the Darnell family has done for the Realm. Certainly,
I enjoy hosting parties, wearing fine clothes, eating well—but
my entire life has been dedicated to public service. Why just last night
Lady Darnell and myself hosted an event for Moonglow flood relief.
Having said that, I don’t think being a societal
malcontent has a great deal to do with wealth, or lack thereof—look
at the self-proclaimed “Followers of Armageddon”: clearly
they were both well-financed, and well-organized. I would go so far
as to say that most seditionists are in it for the personal power they
can claim in the name of their “movement”—usually at
the direct expense of those that follow same.
GR: You’re speaking of the FoA Leader?
LD: It would be inappropriate for me to specifically
comment on this man at this stage in the process.
GR: But you’re convinced of his guilt.
LD: What I am convinced is that as the State is given
the chance to present its case, we will incontrovertibly show the magnitude
of the FoA’s crimes to even the most ardent cynic. The evidence
is overwhelming—from “simple” murder and kidnapping to
attempted regicide and genocide, I don’t think by the end of this
process there will be any doubt as to whom the guilty parties are.
This trial is an important benchmark for the Citizens
of the Realm—do we let the rule of law and civilization take root
and flourish, or will we descend into mere Anarchy?
GR: Thank you for your time, Lord Darnell.
LD: My utmost pleasure.
