[WP] News Report of Police Brutality set in Medieval/Ancient Times

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Doterra Capital News:

ALLEGED WAGON THIEVERY INVESTIGATED! CIVIL FORFEITURE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!

"They stole my Wagon! Hitched it up to a demon, and drove off with it!" Says Trader Row Vetra, regular traveler on the Southern Highway now seeking compensation from the Royal house. By his word, as well as several of his convoy travelling north-bound towards the Capital city, a forced seizure of his private goods was executed by ruffians under the Royal seal.

"They wouldn't take no for an answer!" Says Row, "Some Elf waved the Royal crest, shoved a bag of coin in my hands and off they went on their merry way like that was enough! It's not right I tell you. A bag of coin won't make good for my clients. Gold won't bring the goods to market either. They took everything but the horses, told me I could get it back if I went to the city and filed for it: I had to ride with workers the rest of the trip!"

Though some might call Row's plight above a rare practice or an uncommon fluke, the lesser known Civil seizure of goods has a growing trend in the recent years. Legal and upheld in the current courts and Chief justices of Capital enforcement, the practice was brought under scrutiny during the case of Holy Knights Versus Redstone, and upheld under certain conditions. According the the Seventy-Fifth Creed: If Church or Royal forces are in dire need, it is their legal right to strip civilians of their goods or possessions, so long as adequate payment is offered. Publicly frowned upon as it may be, the reported tallies of civil forfeiture incidents has been on the rise for three straight seasons in a row. The most in recent history. The explanation for this trend, though, is anything but simple.

"Ever since the Holy Gates failed along the Western Border, there have been shortages, and that's something which hasn't happened much in recent memory." Says Adventuring Guild Leader Plato Kasar. "We've been seeing a huge influx of contracts for work normally left to the military or Noble forces. The breaches along the Holy Walls were estimated to have numbered in the upper range of ten thousand ghouls, and after the Crusade failed to return, the regions have been hard-pressed to find the man-power and materials needed to deal with it. It's not a matter of Gold- most of the Crusaders never returned to collect pay, so there's actually a surplus of Gold even after the widow rights have been paid. Money's not the issue: It's a matter of urgency."

A terrifying and profound statement to the stress still being felt along the Governing forces of Doterra's holy territories. Though a large portion of the Ghouls were famously dealt with along the Capital city in the great battle only a few seasons passed, the shockwaves are still rippling though the local areas, especially those closest to the larger breach. Still, despite the hard times, not all of the residents are complaining:

"Those damn Ghouls are roaming about everywhere, and there ain't enough Soldiers to be dealin' with them." Says Welsa Kulot, a Midwife in the Southern Territory village of Scanel. "But the Queen and that Captain o' hers are doin' their best, I imagine. Wall's been fixed up nicely. New gate, new stone, hard workers- but those undead stragglers are still wandering about. If the Guard come ta' me needin' help, I'm inclined to give it. Better than putting a sword in ma' hands, surely."

"Everyone's thinking of Ghouls, but the Outpost down the Road a ways took a terrible beating to Goblins just the other day. Takin' Row's Wagon was probably so they could get the wounded back to safety." Says Fellow Trader Halder Getra. "They loaded up a handful of men into it, caught back up to them down the road for awhile. All those soldiers were Bloodied to the nines and gods, that they were. Must have been a hell of a' battle."

Still, many like Trader Row feel much more conflicted.

"My Father gave me that wagon. Been' in the family for fifty years, fixed it more times than I can count. The wheels, the spokes, the covers and floor boards. I don't care how badly they needed it, that wasn't theirs to take. I'm filing for its return the moment the Royal office of Law opens on the' morrow."