[Dragaera] Loraan's Motives

[Alexx Kay]

> Alexx Kay wrote:
>> The Empire does seem to have a degree of
>> respect for Rule of Law which would make the notion of a landed noble
>> being "in no position to ask" for legal recourse implausible to me.
>
> What is he going to say?
>
> "Look your honor, I was at home polishing my staff (in which I had held
> captive the wrongfully imprisoned soul of the rightful Dragon Heir),
> when this jerk, her cousin, shows up (who just happens to be one of the
> most respected and powerful Dragonlords in the Empire) following the
> explicit instructions of Sethra Lavode (the most venerated and respected
> figure in the Empire, who is probably the one figure most directly
> responsible for the restoration), and tries to actually SET HER FREE.
> That's just totally grossly unfair! I have a RIGHT to that staff, since
> I, uh.. earned it doing some favors (only involving minimal treason) for
> the pretender to the throne. Oh, and they also stole my golden chain
> that I swiped off a dead Serioli (after I killed him and stole his lunch
> money)."

"Your Honor, Lord Morrolan is well known for his collection of magical
artifacts, as am I.  He had often expressed interest in purchasing the
staff in question, but I did not wish to give it up.  He then invented
some preposterous claim about it containing the soul of a relative of his.
 The story is absurd on its face, and I defy him to demonstrate its truth.
 I certainly had no good reason to believe it at the time in question. 
After my continued refusals, he broke into my home, killed several of my
guards and -- not least in the list of his crimes -- killed ME!  That his
goal was simple theft is made even more clear by the fact that another
rare artifact was stolen from me.  Does it perhaps contain the soul of a
good friend of his?  Ha!  Methinks this Dragonlord sees souls wherever it
is convenient for him to do so."

> Even if no one puts together that he helped the Jenoine, his position
> isn't exactly a strong one, here.

If my theory is correct, his position certainly wasn't strong enough to
*win* a legal case.  But it was strong enough for him to have plausibly
made the attempt.

Alexx

"To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence
 as to talk well."            -- John Marshall