Session 52, Part One - The Show Trial
Session Soundtrack:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGNILpVcgz4
Atsla had sought them out to tell them that on the night of Rock’s murder, Thisraldion ordered his servants to burn a blood-stained coat. One of them brought it to her instead and she performed a divination on the blood, confirming it to be Rock’s! She told them they could have the evidence if they visited her chambers, then departed. When she had gone, Gupta said, “She’s trying to frame Thisraldion. Whether the evidence is real or not, her motive is to displace him.” They did not bother to retrieve the coat.
Overnight, in their lodgings, Korrigan considered all the evidence. While a lot of it pointed towards Copperhat, he was unhappy at the idea of accusing him without hard and fast proof, simply to be done with it and earn passage back to the Waking. It would be necessary to interrogate Copperhat first, but that presented a problem, as Copperhat was very much on his home ground and had demonstrated a knack for disappearing at will.
One thing Korrigan knew was that the fey liked to judge things on the basis of their entertainment value rather than their intrinsic merits, and this gave him the idea to present their findings in the form of a dramatic spectacle. Despite her initial reservations, preferring a more serious approach, Gupta nevertheless lent her support and advice, having accepted Korrigan’s decision. As requested they invited Copperhat to attend and, at Uru’s insistence, the Borenbog too!
The following day, the Unseen Court faced off against the Hedgehog Court in the grand foyer of Thistle Palace. Chairs were laid out, but no one save Darbony was seated. The Unseen Court was drinking to celebrate the first public appearance of their newest member: Leon the Clever. His mask was bright red and entirely smooth and featureless, save for narrow eye-holes and quite dramatic curved horns. He acknowledged the others with a nod, holding his wine glass aloft with a gloved hand.
Overlooking them all was a decorative dragon made from floral wreathes and purple silks. In the same place in Torfield Palace, there stood the skeleton of a dragon tyrant. The skeletal version would have been more in keeping with the brooding, tense atmosphere. Though Thisraldion tried to maintain a sense of levity, it was clear that bringing all of these rivalrous nobles into one room was asking for trouble.
In keeping with tradition, Thisraldion had forbidden anyone else to be present during the unit’s presentation. No guards or gawkers were allowed even within earshot of this vital business. Rangale stood a respectful distance away.
When Korrigan told them he was waiting for Copperhat to arrive, all the courtiers groaned in unison and Thisraldion objected in the strongest terms. Korrigan explained, “he will assist us in our performance”. This piqued their interest and, as if on cue, Copperhat arrived, skipping up the steps excitedly, followed by the damp slapping footsteps of the Borenbog, who for reasons best known to itself carried a truly enormous amphora strapped to its back.
All eyes were on Copperhat now and he relished the attention, producing a bottle of truly exquisite eladrin wine. This proved irresistible to the members of both courts, and Copperhat was asked by several of them for a refill. The unit, however, declined. They were already having trouble shrugging off the oddly stupefying aura that had followed the Borenbog into the chamber. The creature now sat slumped against a pillar well outside the central circle, swigging from a noxious gourd. Once he had ingratiated himself with the vintage wine, Copperhat moved to join the Borenbog, whereupon Korrigan surprised him with his central role in the forthcoming drama:
Uru would be playing the part of Rock, transforming himself through magic to re-enact the disappearance. Korrigan and Gupta would present their findings in dramatized form, and Copperhat would play the part of the ‘murderer’. Copperhat was horrified. “It’s too much for me,” he wailed, “I can’t bring myself to do it. Please, I…!” But Thisraldion and the other courtiers loved the idea, and Copperhat was compelled to join in. He whispered to Korrigan that his performance would be better if they told him who their prime suspect was, but Korrigan was not to be drawn.
Once the audience was hushed, Korrigan presented the information they had gathered in the most dramatic way possible, pointing at each courtier in turn with, “You might have done it...!” before presenting evidence to contradict that conclusion. As the noose tightened, the courtiers who had not yet been dismissed began to squirm uncomfortably. When they reached the point where they re-enacted the ‘murder’ in the tunnel, Quratulain watched Copperhat closely, and drew her own conclusions (as she had for so many clergy hierarchs five centuries ago). Uru, too, up close, noticed something he had never noticed before – that wisps of cobweb clung to Copperhat’s hat, cuffs and coat tails…
Korrigan reached and dismissed the final possibility, ruling out both Olazdor and Thisraldion simultaneously. Then he announced their key finding: “No one can be guilty of this murder, as Rock Rackus is not in fact dead!”
There was uproar. Chaos. Thisraldion was outraged with this outcome, but his remonstrations were lost in a tidal wave of bitter recriminations. Members of the Unseen and Hedgehog Courts were on their feet, yelling and threatening one another. Furg and Sallin were toe-to-toe with Lerina and Lavac; Karrest was assailed by both Atsla and Beshela. Olazdor breasted his way through the crowd to come face-to-face with Thisraldion. It was evident that violence could break out at any moment, and once unleashed, it would be difficult to stop. Copperhat stepped out of the limelight and leaned against a pillar near the Borenbog, watching the mayhem with apparent relish. At the centre of it all, Leon stood looking at Korrigan and his impassive mask seemed to say, “What have you done?”
Quratulain stepped up to Korrigan and whispered in his ear, as did Uru. Now he had all the information he needed, and raised his voice above the tumult to command the nobles’ attention. Taken aback by the force of his command they turned to regard him collective outrage. “This had better be good,
mortal,” said Thisraldion, offended by his tone.
“One more thing…” Korrigan began. ...