The Lawkeeper is the embodiment of the Law. The Lawkeeper subjects the Law unto citizens and is subject to the Law himself.

The people of Kamasyn expected nothing new of the day. It was overcast, and the small birds of the river were pecking away at the sand looking for small crustaceans. The waters surrounding the Marrish River was the city’s main source of profit during the summer when the rainbow trout would migrate south after spawning. Of course, many would escape the treacherous nets of the fishermen and return next Spring, but many more would not be so fortunate.

But the fishermen had not that to worry about. Their catch would be back, and they would repair their nets for the next season. Instead, the Lawkeeper in the Rain Bow Inn sat deep in their minds. He was constantly asking for the coveted trout, which was something the small city was not used to, especially for the year or so the man was there. Little did they know that another Lawkeeper would enter the fishing city and take over.

A well-armored man walking into the city, with his equally well-armored assembly, was not a welcomed sight. Indeed, the man was clearly a Lawkeeper, and Kamasyn’s people were not stupid.

“Not another one!” shouted a fisherman walking back with his catch.

The armored assembly did not say a word but instead kept walking to where they needed to be, and when they arrived at the Rain Bow Inn, the leading man walked in. He had to stoop to fit through the door. The innkeeper looked at the man with a raised eyebrow, fearful of speaking up. Luckily for him, the large man spoke first.

“I’m looking for Parnel ryn Pannehmer,” said the man in a booming voice. “In accordance with the Law of Corlia, you are required to tell me where he is.”

The innkeeper was physically shaken by the man’s words, his voice echoing from his helmet within the halls. The Lawkeeper was a large man, downright huge; he appeared to nearly touch the low-hanging chandeliers. His armor was surprisingly nothing to write home about; it appeared well used, with scuffs and slight dents. It also appeared thick, with many pieces to it that were connected by rivets. It looked to prove not only excellent protection but superb mobility as well. Over his left breast was a small, almost welded-on shield that had in it an image of a scale that had an axe on one side and a book on the other.

His weapon, though, was immaculately well-maintained. It was bright and clean and had no nicks nor scratches in it at all. It was also unusual for the weapons of a Lawkeeper: a large battleaxe. There were gold and silver filigrees in fittings near the shaft and butt, and the blades came to fine edges. The evidence of previous arrests was well worked out of the metal.

“What is it you want with him?” the innkeeper replied.

“The reason for my being here is of Lawkeeper concern only.”

“Oh, so you are a Lawkeeper. Well, get outta here. We want none of your kind.”

“My kind is the very reason I’m here. Now, tell me where he is, or I will take you into custody as well.”

The innkeeper sighed and pointed toward a staircase. “He’s up in the Governor’s Suite.”

The Lawkeeper said nothing else and walked away.

Kamasyn had seen Lawkeepers come and go, but the one they had at this time was by far the worst. Parnel ryn Pannehmer was a revered Lawkeeper and had a reputation that preceded him. He was a commander during the Unification War, with many battles under his belt, and he was almost appointed to lead the Order. But in the years leading up to this day, he was known as a freeloader and abuser of power. According to the Lawkeeper’s Code, a Lawkeeper was not allowed to go against the Law; if he did go against the Law, he was to be put to death, deemed unworthy of enforcing it. This, unfortunately, happened all too often these days. The mayor had sent a lengthy letter weeks, if not months, beforehand to the Order; they failed to respond, leaving him to believe they did not care and were not concerned with one of their most prized Lawkeepers, despite his lack of conduct. The Lawkeeper who scaled the staircase, however, was indeed the Order’s most prized.

As he walked toward his quarry, the Lawkeeper’s brain flipped through the pages of all the laws that Pannehmer had broken, from extortion to conduct unbecoming of a Lawkeeper to even indecent exposure. The man’s repertoire of lawbreaking was certainly something to behold. If you asked the Lawkeeper which one was the worst offense, he would say that “Conduct unbecoming of a Lawkeeper” is the most egregious offense a Lawkeeper could make. “The Lawkeeper is the embodiment of the Law. And if he is unable to uphold that Law, then he is unfit to govern and so unfit to be a Lawkeeper.” He had told this to many of his colleagues, and they all seemed to understand it but not actually believe it. After some time, the Lawkeeper began to think that he was the last bastion of rule of law in the whole of Corlia. In fact, if a Lawkeeper was in violation of the Law, he was usually sent to deal with him.

The Lawkeeper walked down the hall intently, his armor nearly scraping the walls. When he arrived at the Governor’s suite, he could hear feminine giggling behind the door. The Lawkeeper cared not for pleasantries, but he was not rude, so he knocked on the door firmly.

“Come back later!” answered Parnel.

“In accordance with the Law of Corlia, you are hereby ordered to open this door to receive your judgement,” retorted the Lawkeeper.

At that, the giggling, and all other sounds, stopped in the suite. At the sound of rustling and metal sliding against wood, the Lawkeeper busted open the door. Parnel was holding his poleaxe in little more than his underwear.

“I thought it’d be you.”

“It is always me.”

“The Do-Gooder of the Order.”

“We are meant to enforce the Law.”

“Enforce this.” Parnel then threw his poleaxe like a javelin at the Lawkeeper and immediately regretted his decision. The Lawkeeper knocked it away easily and rushed him. Before he could get away, the Lawkeeper grabbed Parnel and threw him into the hall, hitting against the wall. The Lawkeeper rushed at Parnel again and hit him with the butt of his axe; Parnel began to bleed and stood up as straight as he could. As the Lawkeeper walked menacingly toward him, Parnel bolted and ran away as fast as he could.

“My reputation will not be tarnished by you,” Parnel muttered as he ran.

When he made it to the lobby of the inn, he stopped, seeing the Lawkeeper's assembly standing at the door. Above him, he heard the heavy footsteps of the Lawkeeper looming closer. Parnel had to make a quick decision: either face the Lawkeeper and die by his hands, or be arrested by his assembly and face death by the Order. The Order would behead him swiftly, while the Lawkeeper would crush him without restraint. When he caught sight of the Lawkeeper, and gazed upon his hulking form in full, he made his decision. Parnel stood up straight and turned toward the assembly, holding out his hands. They clapped him in irons, and he turned around, facing the Lawkeeper.

“I will not be another victim in your ledger, Byldric,” Parnel said as the innkeeper's eyes widened. “I will face judgment properly.” The Lawkeeper exhaled deeply as if sighing in disappointment. The assembly walked out of the inn with Parnel and put him into an open cart, chaining him to the bed.

“Good work, my friend,” said the mayor. “What’s your name so I can tell the Governor.”

“Byldric ryn Medderel.”

“So, you are him,” said the innkeeper. “I’ve heard ‘bout you. Like an encyclopedia.” The innkeeper crossed his arms. “If only more were like you, then we wouldn’t have this mess.”

“Good Lawkeepers are becoming harder to come by these days. Good thing we are in the presence of one.”

“I only do as the Law dictates, Sir.”

“Indeed.”

“Good day.”

As Byldric walked away, the other two men watched him.

“That man is one you don’t want to get on the bad side of.”

“I’ve never heard of him. Is he new?”

“He’s been around longer than you’ve been mayor. Byldric ryn Medderel, the Axe of Judgement.”