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Lilac Dreams
Planetoid
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2016
- Location
- UK
It was still a little while before the public punishment was due to begin, but already the spectator’s square was starting to fill up. Years ago the square had deserved its name, but ever since the popularity of such events had started to increased, the original structure had become too small. Nowadays the term ‘coliseum’ was probably more accurate in describing the large circular building. In the center was a raised stone stage, most days this would be empty as the square was used for a whole range of displays and not only punishments, and so had no real permanent fixtures.
For today though, a marble table had been moved into place (with no small effort), and of course everyone knew what that meant even before there had been announcements. Around this table staggered rows of seats were arranged in circles, each a little higher than the last so that everyone sitting there would be able to see the stage. The building was large enough that when it was completely full it could hold around a thousand people, though today there were perhaps only a third of them number – with most of the seats vacant. It was still early morning though, there would be plenty of time for it to fill up.
Most of the seating areas were exposed to the sky above, as the building hadn’t needed a roof, with the exception of the fifty or so seats set aside for nobles. That section was empty today, as the upper class didn’t bother themselves which such petty affairs usually. Most who attended were commoners, some who had come for the express purpose of watching, and others simply used the square as a convenient place to hold gatherings when the weather was good. As a result, there was quite a lot of talking and loud conversation going on, at least until a small procession came out from one of the doors near the stage.
Several armed guards, mostly human but with a few unfamiliar faces, along with an officiously haughty woman in a dusky grey robe were arranged around a human woman who had her arms bound behind her back. Silence was near impossible with so many people here, but the conversations dropped to a whisper as one of the guards took a bundle from under her arm and spread it over the marble table. It was a sort of soft rug, quite thick, but of course not enough to make the hard stone below truly comfortable. There was a sewn on pillow at one end though, where the prisoner’s head would soon rest.
It might have seemed odd that a soon-to-be punished criminal would be afforded such luxury, but the reasons were simple. The crime the human was about to be punished for was adultery, a crime which did not carry a punishment intended to harm the victim physically. Abrasions from the stone, or risking injury from having her head accidentally knocked against the hard table then would have been a breach of her punishment – thus the rug. The guard finished placing it, then stepped back into line with the others.
The haughty looking woman, a perhaps fifty year old human woman with a wiry build and greying hair, raised her hand it waited for silence. It didn’t come, and so muttering something under her breath she simple raised her voice and spoke over the crowd in an empirical tone. “Citizens, we are gathered here today to witness the punishment of a crime against civilization” the woman began.
“Speak for yourself, I’m here to fuck a slut!” a voice called out loudly from near the back of the coliseum, earning laughs from the crowd, and even a smirk from a few of the guards. The woman on stage scowled, but carried on as if there had been no interruption.
“The guilty party stands accused of adultery, the act of fornicating with a married woman without the consent of her spouse. The punishment for this crime is to be publicly stripped, then reminded of your shame you have brought upon yourself and your victim by having your body given over to the people of the city”.
Turning to face the prisoner now, the robed woman demanded “State your full name for the court’s records, as well as how you plea for your crime. Already you have been judged guilty by a jury of your peers and the punishment will take place. However, by admitting to your guilt and treachery, you redeem yourself slightly. Should you cling to your false claims of innocence, your punishment’s duration will be extended by one hour”.
For today though, a marble table had been moved into place (with no small effort), and of course everyone knew what that meant even before there had been announcements. Around this table staggered rows of seats were arranged in circles, each a little higher than the last so that everyone sitting there would be able to see the stage. The building was large enough that when it was completely full it could hold around a thousand people, though today there were perhaps only a third of them number – with most of the seats vacant. It was still early morning though, there would be plenty of time for it to fill up.
Most of the seating areas were exposed to the sky above, as the building hadn’t needed a roof, with the exception of the fifty or so seats set aside for nobles. That section was empty today, as the upper class didn’t bother themselves which such petty affairs usually. Most who attended were commoners, some who had come for the express purpose of watching, and others simply used the square as a convenient place to hold gatherings when the weather was good. As a result, there was quite a lot of talking and loud conversation going on, at least until a small procession came out from one of the doors near the stage.
Several armed guards, mostly human but with a few unfamiliar faces, along with an officiously haughty woman in a dusky grey robe were arranged around a human woman who had her arms bound behind her back. Silence was near impossible with so many people here, but the conversations dropped to a whisper as one of the guards took a bundle from under her arm and spread it over the marble table. It was a sort of soft rug, quite thick, but of course not enough to make the hard stone below truly comfortable. There was a sewn on pillow at one end though, where the prisoner’s head would soon rest.
It might have seemed odd that a soon-to-be punished criminal would be afforded such luxury, but the reasons were simple. The crime the human was about to be punished for was adultery, a crime which did not carry a punishment intended to harm the victim physically. Abrasions from the stone, or risking injury from having her head accidentally knocked against the hard table then would have been a breach of her punishment – thus the rug. The guard finished placing it, then stepped back into line with the others.
The haughty looking woman, a perhaps fifty year old human woman with a wiry build and greying hair, raised her hand it waited for silence. It didn’t come, and so muttering something under her breath she simple raised her voice and spoke over the crowd in an empirical tone. “Citizens, we are gathered here today to witness the punishment of a crime against civilization” the woman began.
“Speak for yourself, I’m here to fuck a slut!” a voice called out loudly from near the back of the coliseum, earning laughs from the crowd, and even a smirk from a few of the guards. The woman on stage scowled, but carried on as if there had been no interruption.
“The guilty party stands accused of adultery, the act of fornicating with a married woman without the consent of her spouse. The punishment for this crime is to be publicly stripped, then reminded of your shame you have brought upon yourself and your victim by having your body given over to the people of the city”.
Turning to face the prisoner now, the robed woman demanded “State your full name for the court’s records, as well as how you plea for your crime. Already you have been judged guilty by a jury of your peers and the punishment will take place. However, by admitting to your guilt and treachery, you redeem yourself slightly. Should you cling to your false claims of innocence, your punishment’s duration will be extended by one hour”.
