220 / 10 / 14 - Stonewall Fired!

At 11:00 in the morning of 13th Saum, the members of the council voted by 6 to 2 to remove Stonewall from his position of Commander of the Chirin Guard. The vote, proposed and seconded by Councillors Merryweather and Factor respectively, was brought in an emergency session as a result of actions taken by the former commander on the day before. Stonewall had already seen a reduction in the power granted to him by the council as a result of his inability to effectively lead both the patrol and the outer guard. The role of commander of the guard was also due to be removed entirely when Stonewall reached the end of his current term, allowing him the opportunity to leave gracefully, but in light of today's events that change will now be implemented immediately.
The events leading to Stonewall's dismissal show a being desperately trying to cling to the remnants of their authority, and clutching at whatever fanciful threats might keep them relevant. Stonewall had clearly been feeling his reduction in authority that morning as he ambushed the council with a request to join the meeting with an envoy from Caresnas. Although this was in no way a meeting that required the presence of someone whose skills are in fighting rather than diplomacy, the council permitted him to observe the meeting. With unbridled arrogance, Stonewall abused the council's generosity by interrupting the discussions with the envoy with his own questions and comments, disrupting hours of careful debate. This interference in the work of elected officials would have been enough to call into question his suitability for remaining in his post but worse was to come.
A group of mercenaries, whose leader is known to have a grudge against members of the council, had brought a tale of a grand conspiracy to Captain Vyken of the Patrol. Though the evidence they presented was at best questionable, the good captain determined there was enough potential for a threat to require further investigation. Captain Vyken authorised a search of the office of a councillor who the mercenaries claimed was linked to the conspiracy. Whether this search was within the Captain's authority will likely be debated by the council, but the fact that it did reveal some letters that could be interpreted as supporting the mercenaries' claims is likely to influence the outcome.
Captain Vyken is still relatively new in his post and given the possibility of a threat to the council he approached Stonewall for advice. Stonewall immediately seized on this opportunity by instructing Vyken to put in a curfew and delegating an excessive amount of powers to the mercenaries. Having no reason to doubt his former commanding officer's motives, Vyken had no idea that Stonewall was exceeding his authority or the true motivation behind wanting to identify a conspiracy.  Using the potential threat as an excuse, Stonewall brought in units of the Outer Guard to help enforce the curfew.  As if putting the streets under his direct control was not enough, Stonewall was observed gaining a private meeting with Baron Aiden Kilve, an envoy from Caresnas.  While his earlier actions could have been explained by an excess of enthusiasm in protecting Chirin, this unauthorised meeting between the commander of Chirin's defenders and a representative of a hostile nation has no reasonable explanation other than an outright betrayal by Stonewall.
Along with stripping Stonewall of the rank and priviledges of the Commander of the Guard, the council has also ordered the return all the equipment issued to him in that role, including the distinctive black armour that few if any have ever seen him without.  With crinimal charges highly likely to follow, could we soon see this once repected figure exiled or possibly even executed?