Book of Surface Occurrences and Phenomena

The Book of Surface Occurrences and Phenomena was opened in Kalgachia in 1714 AN on the initiative of the Ketherist Church in response to fears that the writ of the chthonic realm no-longer wholly ran in the surface portions of the Garden and that, in light of the War of 1712, predatory neighbours might soon seek to exploit the situation.

24.XV.1714 AN

Report received from a certain Credant who rejoiced in the name of Lory Whirgig, resident in the primary parish of Fort Candycane.

On Pleaseday 22 of the Harvestfall, Kitsu Hapohovy and Nerit Kazarova, both Laqs not native to this parish, were convicted before the bench of the Abbot of the March, the former in penalty of two Kalgarrand and costs, having an unregistered gun and dog, the latter a single Kalgarrand and costs for trespassing upon the ecclesiastical domain in pursuit of game. Both persons, being foreigners from the Lieutenancy of Schlepogora, were recognised by the verger, Izaak Timms, as hailing from outside the community, and for their being such as he, Izaak, had long made it his business to remain on the look-out to recognise and prosecute such malefactors.

It should not be considered a great surprise that the Laqi have come to be viewed with suspicion as of late. Poaching, petty theft, and swindling, are very much bread and butter to such of that ilk - frequently shading into highway robbery and outright brigandage in those areas where the absence of prefectural patrols on the less-frequented surface roads has afforded them opportunity. The prevailing sentiment amongst those of Kalgachi and Lywaller stock is that these Laqi petty-criminals, roaming abroad outside of their registered lieutenancy, are acting as scouts in advance of the passage of a more serious band of organised brigands through the region. The local partisan contingents are likely to be on edge and extra vigilant in the area over the coming weeks. The two felons were very fortunate to be fined, rather than say be summarily strung up from the nearest tree at the next market fair. As it is, the fine is likely to be ruinous and beyond their means. Unless they wish to suffer the penalties of default, assigned to the labour battalions which languish in the fathomless depths of Lapivril, their most prudent recourse may be to plead for the commutation of their fine in return for service in the Black Brothers amidst the local difficulties of their brethren in the Upland Confederation.