Taipan Lewra - Law, Alchemy, & Artifice Agency

[Malek]

Taipan Lewra is now offering his services. 

A noticeable promotion campaign has begun. Murmurs of the public, telling stories of a man with a magical quill, capable of writing truths into reality itself. These stories range from the man creating wonderful feats of artifice, to forging magical contracts that quell rivalries, healing the sick and wounded by writing a rune into the air, etc. 

Judging by the fast spread of these rumors, one can make a guess that their creation was a concerted effort. Still, who can say where the truth ends and the lies begin? Perhaps soon people would be given a chance to see for themselves. 

Soon indeed, as fliers and posters advertising the man's services would begin to spread. 

Taipan Lewra - Law, Alchemy, & Artifice Agency

Barsburg scholar Taipan Lewra has achieved a tremendous feat of artifice and alchemy. He has created the ultimate tool for rune inscription, one which he has dubbed "The Black Serpent Quill". Possessing a tremendously potent runic ink of his own design that would simply burn through any other receptacle, carried within a quill of Mythril, Nyeshk, and an exceptionally innovative Tyrium orb for controlling the exact amounts of mana placed in each rune, you will not find a better rune writer in all of Esshar. 

Not only is this quill capable of artifice, Taipan has studied runes themselves so intensely that he has discovered how to write law into the world. By utilizing the quill his runic knowledge, Taipan can create contracts that are capable of sensing when their clauses have been met or broken. This on its own is impressive, but the contracts themselves are capable of creating tremendous magical effects to those who willingly sign them. A tool such as this is certainly revolutionary in the field of negotiation and deal making.

Of course, Taipan is a man of many talents and so the LAAA offers several services, these will be listed below and updated as his repertoire expands. 






LAAA is currently considering locations for an office, if you would like this revolutionary enterprise to operate within your walls, contact Taipan. Currently he resides in the Waystone inn (No official affiliation, he simply rents a room as the search for a suitable office space is underway). 

If you have any business to discuss and can not find him, do feel free to send him a letter. He is easily recognized as he typically sports Barsburg fashion, and walks with a cane. 

FAQ

How do these contracts work exactly?

This is going to depend on the specific contract you wish to make. Generally speaking, these contracts draw a modicum of power from the metaphysical concept of "law". In order for them to work, an involved party must WILLINGLY sign them. Magical obfuscation of the contents (Such as use of illusions to make the words on the contract appear differently, or implanting an illusion directly in the mind of someone to make them perceive the words differently) automatically renders them moot. Furthermore, they do not function if someone's hand is forcibly made to sign them. There must be conscious agreement between the involved parties or the contract simply will not affect them. 

What can these contracts do?

This is also going to depend on the specific contract you wish to make. Simplest of the effects is informing one party that has signed the contract when a clause has been broken or fulfilled. The contract is also capable of imparting harm on a party upon the breaking or completion of a clause, of course once again this is only if a person willingly signed according to those terms. The level of harm depends on the contents of the contract. 

These are however the simplest effects to produce. For effects that somehow affect the world separate to the people who signed it, it might require materials that relate specifically to what it is you are trying to change. If you want to know if an effect is possible, simply ask Taipan. Please note, Taipan may refuse to create a contract for ANY reason.

Can't you just end all conflict by making everyone sign a contract that stops them from hurting each other?

No. Contracts require tremendous energy to create and maintain. Millions of contracts can not exist at once, nor can he create a single contract with millions of parties signing them. It is for this reason that the creation of a contract is likely going to be somewhat pricey.

Additionally, being the bearer of the quill leaves Taipan with tremendous responsibility. Many philosophical questions on the nature of freedom when creating a contract, and so, as previously stated, Taipan may refuse to create a contract for ANY reason. 

Can I pay to just borrow the quill so I can make a contract or use it in my project?

For contracts, that is not possible. Simply possessing the quill does not impart someone with the knowledge of runes necessary to write them, nor does it attune them to the metaphysical concept of "law". Of course theoretically this knowledge can all be passed down, perhaps over years, but we assume the average customer is not looking for a tutelage program.

As for projects that require rune writing, it is possible but undesirable. If you are trusted enough, Taipan may allow you to handle the quill yourself, however he MUST be present along with you for everything you wish to do with it, to take it back once you are finished with it. The reason this is undesirable, is that Taipan will be present, and so you will likely want him handling the quill. As its creator, he is intimately knowledgeable of its functionality and can be more precise with it, he also knows a tremendous amount of runes. His experience with the quill is so great, it allows him to write runes into the air with it to empower many spell effects. It is of course, an incredibly potent rune writing tool in the hands of ANY individual, and your choice is respected if you wish to use it yourself, but since Taipan will already be present along with you, it would likely be more efficient to simply request his aid. 

What do you mean by attorney client confidentiality?

Any meeting with Taipan can involve him considering himself to be your attorney. When this is the case, anything you say to Taipan is going to be STRICTLY confidential between you two and not shared with anyone. For this reason, Taipan is capable of meeting with and working from anyone of any political affiliation or history.

Attorney client privileges may NOT be in effect for every conversation with Taipan however, though you may request it. If you ask if the privileges apply to the conversation you are having, Taipan can not and will not lie to you about it. 

How do you say LAAA? 

It is L triple A phonetically not "LAAAAAAAAAAA". Misuse of the agency's title may lead to a magical DMCA.

[Malek]

The Lewran Case Files: Taipan Lewra V Alwin, Governance of Osrona, 1891

PREAMBLE

We had hoped the first announcement of the LAAA would be... more pleasant than this. Though it would appear that crime does not wait, it will spring up on the innocent when they least expect it. Taipan Lewra, (the man who can only walk with the help of a cane, mind you), was on his way to meet with an Osronan associate to discuss how he may aid Osrona in constructing the bridge. This was meant to be the first of many of LAAA's philanthropic exploits, nothing could be more symbolic than the literal building of a bridge. 

On his way there however, Taipan was accosted. Two youths with some dedication to Osrona, Kendle and Alwin, ACCUSED him of being an occultist. Why, might you ask? For being nearby when another man they were capturing, one known as Searlas (We are unsure of how this individual's name is spelled at this time.), was present. The two claimed he had colluded with him, that he was an occultist themselves. Taipan Lewra does not know this "Searlas" personally, and so he will not make any comments in any official capacity on his guilt nor innocence of the crimes he is accused of. 

So, these two teenaged magi encounter a cripple whom they assume to be an occultist. What do they do? Fight him of course. Nevermind that Taipan simply asked to leave, that clear to all present he did not wish to fight, the boy named Alwin simply thrashed and defeated this crippled man, one who is not a fighter whatsoever. Had the boy kindly requested Taipan accompany him to Osrona, he would have gladly cooperated, as evidenced by the fact that when an Osronan knight arrived on the scene, Taipan immediately opted to come willingly rather than to run or escape.

...This however... came at a dreadful loss. The boy showed Taipan no mercy, permanently infusing his arm with magic that would render it useless. Permanently, Taipan's arm would limp, he would no longer feel it nor be able to move it whatsoever. This was a death sentence to a crafter.

TURNABOUT: JUSTICE

Naturally, Taipan requested a fair trial, which he was granted. His evidence was staggering, all who were present could attest to his desire to not fight, the knight that took him in witnessed Alwin attempt to sucker punch the cripple once he had already announced that he would willingly comply, were it not for her providing a barrier to block the punch, Taipan would have fell on the floor. Additionally, Taipan had letters on hand from his associate, CLEARLY detailing that he was on his way to offer his help to the Pelleaux family to help fix the bridge. Something that will have to be delayed due to what occurred to his arm. It did not help that his attacker made no excuses, ADMITTING that he had not even thought things through before he took the cripple's livelihood from him. 

Law itself needed Taipan to endure this it would seem, as it was the perfect chance to show the world that the powerful can not hurt the weak and never have to live with the consequences. Taipan wrote a contract in the trial, one that would force him to be truthful. Of course, forcing an innocent man to speak a compelled truth is not quite justice, and so the energy for the contract was drawn from Taipan himself rather than Law, rendering unable to compel others in this way for quite some time. If he lied, the contract would take his life. Using this, he proved to the knight of the order of the first light that he was no occultist. 

The trial was complete. Taipan proved he was not guilty, and in doing so proved the guilt of his aggressor, Alwin. 

THE WEAK MUST NO LONGER FEAR THE STRONG

It would seem an approximation of justice has been met no? As close to justice as we can produce? The boy, Alwin, will be made to pay for prosthetics that Taipan will be forced to utilize. Note that if Taipan was not against the use of prosthetics, he would have fixed his leg long ago, a fear of losing himself drives him to avoid them at all costs. This... does not sound like justice does it?

Well, true justice may be met. "An eye for an eye" is one of the oldest tenets of law, and therefore it is a contract that Taipan can easily forge. True justice can be met, the boy is capable of acknowledging his wrongdoing and signing a contract. This contract will move the injury the boy placed on Taipan onto him. Healing Taipan, and allowing the boy to experience what he was willing to inflict on his fellow man without a care in the world. 

This... can become proof of a better world. Proof that simple strength and the ability to fight and hurt others does not allow you to hurt as you please, without a care in the world. Proof, that the weak now have the option to survive against the strong, that they do not simply have to live with the pain inflicted on them while aggressors run free with slaps on the wrist for their power. Proof, that you do not need to fight in this world to survive, that Taipan Lewra was willing to fight for YOU instead. 

The knight that held the trial, in her magnanimity, offered to accept the injury on behalf of the boy. To this Taipan responded with an answer befitting of one that represents justice. Offer the boy a choice. Let him prove that he has learned from his mistakes. 

Will he shoulder the responsibility of his actions? Or will he divert them on others?

Taipan does not wish to hurt the boy. He only wishes to enact justice, he wishes for the boy to reform. Making the right decision is part of that reformation. 

So do not attack Alwin, instead guide him to the right decision. Teach him to take responsibility for his actions... so that we may build a better Esshar. One where the powerful can not attack the weak without a care in the world. 

An Esshar, where you can all be safe and protected, under justice.

If you still wish to contact Taipan Lewra for any inquiries, you may still send him a letter, additionally, he has purchased an office space within the Waystone Bazarr (No official cooperation between management and LAAA as of yet). His office is on the second floor, third room from the stairs. A mailbox is placed outside for when he is not available at the moment.