[Some crimes are mild enough that they only require nagging to atone. Others deserve more extreme measures. It's good when these things are dealt with by the law, but Justice is used to a world where the law is unevenly applied at best.]
A great many things. There are those here who committed treason simply because they did not like me. There are others who murdered for little to no reason. And there is one who would flay others alive, be they friend or foe. Westeros was a realm that sorely lacked in justice, at times.
Unfortunately, that has always been true of the mortal realm in my experience. [There's a reason why he had never felt the need to visit before he was dragged there against his will.
Treason is an odd thing for Justice. It's a thing undoubtedly detested by mortals, and Justice hardly looks kindly on any kind of betrayal, but it's harder to hate when one has such a vague grasp of countries and kingdoms. Treason is the sort of crime that gains and loses meaning over time and place, and Justice has always lived outside of both.
Cruel and wanton murder, however, is always a terrible crime.] Even if they did not commit those crimes on this planet, that should not excuse them from facing justice for them.
[ a strange thought. though, stranger things have certainly happened. such as waking up in a different realm, and discovering there are two versions of your homeland. ]
One might think. [ and it doesn't sit well with him, no more than pardoning the lords who had gone into his brother's service, knowing him to be a traitor. ] Be that as it may, is it not equally important to follow the laws of the realm we find ourselves in?
I am a spirit. Specifically, a spirit of justice. I am from the land you visit while you dream, the same one you pass through when you die.
[At least that's how he assumes it works in all worlds, since that's how it works in his. He expects a bad reaction to this revelation, but he acts like it's nothing to tell a mortal what he is.]
Laws are important. They create order and attempt to codify justice so that even the vulnerable may have it. They should be obeyed when possible.
But they are also created and enforced by mortals, and mortals are flawed. They can write and subvert laws for their own purposes, to the point where laws no longer serve their original purpose. If the law is at odds with justice, then justice must prevail and the law must be changed.
[ he would say that the man was playing him for a fool, but the fact of the matter was, there were a number of odd things that he had seen. the way he had seemingly read the shopkeeper's mind. the way his gaze fell, inhuman and unblinking. ]
Then, is your purpose to inspire men to behave justly? If that is the case, then my world was sorely lacking in such beings.
[ true men were few and far between. Robert's court had been little more than a pit of vipers, and while he had done his best to follow the course of justice, even he had to make unfortunate exceptions in the name of the greater good. ]
Laws must always remain true to their original purpose, and be iron. If one changes them too much, then there is the possibility that others will no longer see their words as absolutes. Still, small exceptions may be made.
[ men may be good and evil, but laws are absolute, if the men who make them are just, and apply them evenly. ]
As it stands, we are forbidden to reveal the truth of where we came from to the locals on this planet. I know not of a way to make those who have committed such crimes answer for them.
My purpose is to serve justice. Sometimes I do so by inspiring mortals and lending them my strength, and sometimes I intervene directly, either in my world or your own.
[Justice respects the fact that this mortal wishes to respect the laws of this land and the secret of the people in the sky, but he doesn't like the idea of letting evildoers just get away with cruel murder just because.]
Perhaps you could appeal to the rulers of this land. If there are others who witnessed these crimes, they can add their voices to yours.
You cannot always depend on rulers to care for justice, however. [And thus sometimes justice has to be gained extra-judicially. Justice doesn't like breaking laws, but he doesn't believe it is inherently unjust to do so if the laws run counter to justice.]
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no subject
What were their crimes?
[Some crimes are mild enough that they only require nagging to atone. Others deserve more extreme measures. It's good when these things are dealt with by the law, but Justice is used to a world where the law is unevenly applied at best.]
no subject
A great many things. There are those here who committed treason simply because they did not like me. There are others who murdered for little to no reason. And there is one who would flay others alive, be they friend or foe. Westeros was a realm that sorely lacked in justice, at times.
[ but he had meant to change that. ]
no subject
Treason is an odd thing for Justice. It's a thing undoubtedly detested by mortals, and Justice hardly looks kindly on any kind of betrayal, but it's harder to hate when one has such a vague grasp of countries and kingdoms. Treason is the sort of crime that gains and loses meaning over time and place, and Justice has always lived outside of both.
Cruel and wanton murder, however, is always a terrible crime.] Even if they did not commit those crimes on this planet, that should not excuse them from facing justice for them.
no subject
[ a strange thought. though, stranger things have certainly happened. such as waking up in a different realm, and discovering there are two versions of your homeland. ]
One might think. [ and it doesn't sit well with him, no more than pardoning the lords who had gone into his brother's service, knowing him to be a traitor. ] Be that as it may, is it not equally important to follow the laws of the realm we find ourselves in?
no subject
[At least that's how he assumes it works in all worlds, since that's how it works in his. He expects a bad reaction to this revelation, but he acts like it's nothing to tell a mortal what he is.]
Laws are important. They create order and attempt to codify justice so that even the vulnerable may have it. They should be obeyed when possible.
But they are also created and enforced by mortals, and mortals are flawed. They can write and subvert laws for their own purposes, to the point where laws no longer serve their original purpose. If the law is at odds with justice, then justice must prevail and the law must be changed.
no subject
[ he would say that the man was playing him for a fool, but the fact of the matter was, there were a number of odd things that he had seen. the way he had seemingly read the shopkeeper's mind. the way his gaze fell, inhuman and unblinking. ]
Then, is your purpose to inspire men to behave justly? If that is the case, then my world was sorely lacking in such beings.
[ true men were few and far between. Robert's court had been little more than a pit of vipers, and while he had done his best to follow the course of justice, even he had to make unfortunate exceptions in the name of the greater good. ]
Laws must always remain true to their original purpose, and be iron. If one changes them too much, then there is the possibility that others will no longer see their words as absolutes. Still, small exceptions may be made.
[ men may be good and evil, but laws are absolute, if the men who make them are just, and apply them evenly. ]
As it stands, we are forbidden to reveal the truth of where we came from to the locals on this planet. I know not of a way to make those who have committed such crimes answer for them.
no subject
[Justice respects the fact that this mortal wishes to respect the laws of this land and the secret of the people in the sky, but he doesn't like the idea of letting evildoers just get away with cruel murder just because.]
Perhaps you could appeal to the rulers of this land. If there are others who witnessed these crimes, they can add their voices to yours.
You cannot always depend on rulers to care for justice, however. [And thus sometimes justice has to be gained extra-judicially. Justice doesn't like breaking laws, but he doesn't believe it is inherently unjust to do so if the laws run counter to justice.]