Archivist Nikitovitch,

We would like to raise with you once more the issue of our current contract status. The Order of the Pentinent Heart is no more, and yet they are listed as co-signers of the contract concerning Barak-Tor.

We have been advised that this would essentially void the contract as the responsibility for fullfilling the terms of the contract now falls fully upon the Stoutheart Clan.

Further, we have been ordered by Lt. Fawkes to desist in pursuing the source of the vermin that issue forth in seemingly endless numbers. Our first such foray to the depths of Barak-Tor resulted in retaliation by the Chosen as they abducted and murdered citizens of Sanctuary, followed by a warning to leave them alone. This is in direct violation of our contract which directs us to investigate this source, and we do not want to be in violation of these terms.

Our thanks for your attention in this matter,

Council of Elders Clan Stoutheart Thane Rollo Stoneshield

*another letter follows later that dark*

Archivist,

It seems that Lt. Fawkes feels we are in violation of our contract, and in essence that it has been revoked at his decision.

You spoke to me that I should discuss any legal matters concerning this contract with you, so I would respectfully submit Lt. Fawkes letter to us so that you may review whether our contract may legally be revoked.

It seems that Fawkes is considering us in violation of the following section of the contract:

Community safety: The Holders have a responsibility to see to the safety of citizens that step onto the Property, as well as to the safety of citizens in the area near the Pit Stairs, in regards to protecting them from creatures originating from the Pit.

As our contract required us to investigate the origin of these Chosen, and it was impossible for us to prevent them from abducting and murdering citizens, we wonder why this would constitute having our contract revoked.

Here is the letter from Lt. Fawkes informing us that we have lost the contract for our Clanhome.

https://efupw.com/efu1-forum/topic/17/17693/clan-stoutheart/index.html

My thanks for your assistance in this matter,

Thane Rollo Stoneshield Stoutheart Clan Governor of Barak-Tor

Thane Stoneshield,

Some time I'd like to learn more about Dwarven Law from you, as it seems to rely more on trust and honor and such things good, than a careful weaving of the written word that may, inevitably, trap even the writer. For now, my assesment of your concerns:

You must engage in re-negotiation of the contract to have the Order of the Penitent Heart removed. Councilor Fryar did not forward the statement, so I had nothing to give a revised contract copy any weight. I have no power over the contract; I simply wrote it, understand it, and can interpret it for you.

You have no literal contractual obligation to pursue the Chosen or other flying/floating creatures into the depths of Dunwarren, although you must perform activities which look into their nature. This has been met by keeping accurate records of how they are engaged in combat, what abilities they possess, and how best to defeat them.

Defense investigation clause The Holders have a responsibility to maintain documents regarding activities on the Property, including but not limited to investigation of the creatures known infest the area.

As no followup investigations have been launched by a pair of Watch officers, they cannot revoke the lease in this way.

Representative's evaluation note If the Representative reports that the Holders have failed their evaluation criteria and this is confirmed by a followup investigation by the Representative and two accompanying Watch Sergeants or Lieutenants, the lease on the property may be revoked at will of the Watch with one tenday's notice with which to remove possessions from the Property.

Unfortunately, there is one other provision to the highest-ranking officers of the Watch, the Sheriff and Lieutenants.

Watch Sheriff and Lieutenants rights If a Lieutenant or the Sheriff of the Watch provides valid reason at any time, the contract may be found null and void or brought up for negotiation. Ten days will be provided to remove possessions from the Property.

I'm afraid I see no way out of this. Perhaps appealing to the Council, that the loss of the Penitent Heart and the deaths of those citizens are not valid reasons to void the contract, may deter Lieutenant Fawkes. The chances of this succeding are slim at best for a number of unpleasant reasons.

Best of luck to you. Varlam Nikitovich 18 Marpenoth 151

Post Script: Lieutenant Fawkes uses some incorrect references to the contract (there is no need to "renew" the contract, for example). Unfortunately, I see nothing that indicates he is working outside the bounds of the contract. Being an officer of the Watch, he is permitted to enter the property at any time.

Entrance permissions 3 of 3 or that all law enforcers be accompanied by an officer of the Watch or Operative-level member of the Spellguard.

Archivist,

We are preparing to re-submit our contract bid using the original terms of the contract with the following modifications. We would like for you to amend the previous contract and make the following adjustments and additions where appropriate:

1. All mention of the former Order of the Pentinent Heart will be removed as participants of this contract.

2. The rent payment will be 500 coin as it was originally intended for the Stoutheart Clan to contribute as one of the two Holders.

3. The Stoutheart Clan will not be held responsible or at fault for any injuries or deaths caused by citizens tresspassing into the area in disregard of clearly posted warnings.

4. The Stoutheart Clan also will not be held responsible or at fault for any actions perpetrated by beings that might seek to leave the area and cause harm to citizens of Sanctuary if the following criteria are met: - provided they continue conducting two recorded patrols a week to monitor and/or control any threats observed. - any investigation or attempt to make an effort to remove these threats will be approved and/or accompanied by an officer of the Watch or an Agent of the Spellguard.

5. Holders will be able to terminate the contract at any time, and will be obligated to continue prior security measures to protect Sanctuarians for a ten day period - or unless the Watch provides written request that such patrols are no longer required.

My thanks for your continued assistance in this matter,

Thane Rollo Stoneshield

A brief note Thane Rollo Stoneshield,

I have written two contracts you might propose. The first is a carefully structured document detailing the provisions of the bid. The second is a simplified but possibly acceptable offer, though it may be vague enough to require a bit of trust by involved parties. It is up to you which to consider, of course.

This also requires a Watch Sheriff being appointed or assuming command, though that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Varlam Nikitovich 21 Marpenoth 151

On the Twenty-first of Marpenoth, One-hundred and Fifty-one years since the founding of Sanctuary:

Stoutheart Bid for the Watch Pit and Post.

Written by Varlam Nikitovich at the request of Thane Rollo Stoneshield.

I. VOIDING OF THIS CONTRACT

A. The Thane may declare this contract void at any time.
1. The Clan is obligated to provide Section III.C. and III.D. services for ten days following the termination of this contract.
i. The Sheriff may dismiss the Clan from its Section I.A.1. obligations at any time. ii. The Thane will accept Serious criminal charges if the Clan fails to ensure Section I.A.1. obligations, unless Section I.A.1.i. action has been taken.
B. The Sheriff may declare this contract void if any two of the following sections are breached during a 30-day period: Section II.A.; Section III.A.; III.D.; III.E.; III.F.2.
1. The Clan will be provided ten days following the termination of this contract to remove Clan belongings from the Property.

II. NON-PROPERTY ARRANGEMENTS

A. The Clan will submit the sum of Five-hundred (500) standard gold coins to a Sergeant or higher ranking member of the Watch by the last day of each month this contract is in effect.
1. Members of the Clan who submit a payment, full or in part, to the Watch for the purpose of fulfilling this arrangement shall be issued a receipt indicating the amount paid and the date paid, signed by the receiving Watch member and stamped with the Watch seal.
B. The Clan will make available within ten days a full roster of its members if requested by the Watch.

III. PROPERTY ARRANGEMENTS

A. The Clan will recognize and obey Sanctuary law on the Property.
1. The Clan will recognize that the Property is rightfully owned by the Watch. 2. The Watch will recognize that the Clan may have private living accommodations on the Property, and that the Clan is defending the Property.
B. The Sheriff will be provided with keys to any and all locks on the Property, excluding private storage lockers or chests.
1. Members of the Watch, with the exception of Lieutenants, may not carry the Sheriff's keys to the Property. 2. The Sheriff may not copy the keys provided to him, but may request copies from the Clan.
C. So long as warnings, verbal or written, are maintained, the Clan may not be held responsible for the deaths of citizens by creatures declared as threatening the Property. D. The Clan must log at least two patrols of or incidents on the Property every ten days.
i. The logs of any previous month may be requested by the Sheriff at any time. ii. Any member of the Clan exhibiting unusual behavior following a patrol or incident on or concerning the Property must report to the Spellguard for evaluation, and the situation must be logged.
E. Once per month, the Clan must provide the Sheriff with a list of defensive, offensive, and/or construction structures, mechanisms or tools located on the Property, such as but not limited to gates, ballistae, or forges. F. The Clan must coordinate operations or missions on or concerning the Property with the Watch.
1. The Sheriff may request of the Clan at any time, providing three (3) days of advance notice, an operation on or concerning the Property.
i. The Clan has no obligation to perform an operation or mission requested by the Sheriff if Three-Fourths (3/4) or a larger fraction of the Clan's members oppose it.
2. The Clan must provide the Watch with at minimum three (3) days of advance notice before performing an uncontracted or uncoordinated operation or mission on or concerning the property.
i. The Clan may be prohibited from performing an operation or mission if the Sheriff deems it compromising to Sanctuary or it's citizens, or a needless risk.

A. This contract must be signed by the current Thane and Sheriff to be valid. If the current Thane or Sheriff refuse to provide a signature, Sections I.A. or I.B. are considered in effect. B. The Thane and Sheriff may come to new arrangements in the form of a revised contract, enact that document, and simultaneously declare this contract void.

Notes on this contract I would advise the Sheriff to assign someone to collecting the month's patrol logs, current defenses, etc., for him, essentially simplifying the Representative/evaluation process, and giving him the power to look into things himself when needed.

Simpler alternative No more careful and possibly treacherous wording; the Stoutheart Clan offers the following to rent the Pit and Post property from the Watch:

• 500gp paid to the Watch each month; the Watch will provide a receipt to the Clan on payment.
• Detailed logs of activity on the property will be made available at the end of each month if the Watch requests it.
• The Clan will obey Sanctuary law and recognize that the Watch still owns the property-- but the Watch must understand that the Clan is living on and defending the property.
• The Watch and the Clan will communicate with each other about any missions or planned operations on the property.
• The Thane of the Stouthearts may end this agreement at any time, but maintain security on the property for ten days while they recover their personal effects; the Sheriff can put to writing a dismissal of this obligation.
• The Sheriff of the Watch may end this agreement without question if at least two of the above conditions are not met during a month.

*Rollo takes the copy, and forwards it to "his people" to take a look at - including Ferdinand Fen*