[4e] The Wolfcrown, Chapter 1

[industrygothica]

"Bah!" Baern spits in rage. "They didn't confess to nothin' but havin' a dream, right here and right now!" The dwarf bolts out of his seat, and stomps across the floor. "An' since none of us seen 'em go to sleep, there's only one way to be havin' a dream while yer still awake, an' it's because some prankster is playin' with yer head!" He finds his short, stubby finger only inches away from Teach's smug face. "An' here sits the second-best prankster there is!"

 

[DistractingFlare]

Judge Zephyr stares astounded at the bewildered faces of those in the courtroom. He looks down at Teach.

"Explain yourself, villain."

"Your honor, if the knight said that he did it, then he must have done it, right?"

Zephyr looks down at Torath.

"Sir Torath, consider the consequences of you actions. Are you absolutely positive that you murdered Lord Hood?"

He then looks at the rest of the adventurers.

"Are you certain that he is not the criminal?"

[sblock=ooc]Skill check time! You can do your best to convince the court that Torath isn't the assassin. Good luck![/sblock]

 

[Rathan]

Doren sighed and saw this was yet again trickery. There was only one in his vision yet it seems Torath and some others if not all of them saw themselves doing the deed of death to Lord Hood. This could not be, and as his brows down turned his anger tried to rise within his soul. Doren quick to know this was not the time for this anger buried it long enough to stand with a fist to the table hard to get everyone's attention.

"Your honor how can this be that Torath was the murderer when I too saw a vision that *looked* as if I was the killer? If the reports I have read were correct, there was one killer and one killer alone. How could we *each* see ourselves doing the deed if there was only one murderer? And if we are all accused why did we not see of us present, as I only felt myself there, no one else. Perhaps more of my companions also saw this vision, they will have to speak on this matter for themselves though." Doren spoke with clear head and diplomatic charm.

"This is yet again part of what I spoke of before, weather it be Teach's actions of Mansu's himself, this is *part* of a grand scheme to cause chaos and strife. I will have none of it here. I ask that before this proceeding continue that a ward of magics be placed upon the courtroom so we can continue *un-interrupted* and get to the BOTTOM of this.

"As for Torath committing the act of murder I cannot see it happening in this lifetime without just and righteous cause. He is a man of steadfast values and honorable ilk. I cannot and will not believe it is his hand that felled the king, no offense to him, but he does not have the evil wiles within him to commit such an act." Doren said calmly and collectedly.

"If this does not convince you, set forth before Torath a zone of truth. A ritual if you will to tell his *true* intentions, yet I have *no* doubts the answer of innocence will reign true." Doren added before taking his seat once more.

[sblock=Skill Rolls]Diplomacy Check (1d20+9=27) +1 more from my Gem of Colloquy which would give a total skill roll of 28![/sblock]

 

[Phaezen]

Squeal looks around the courtroom bewildered at the rapid flow of events opening its mouth and closing it several times as if it wants to say something.

 

[Shayuri]

Thorn nodded along with Doren until his last point, whereupon she nearly choked on her own tongue before she could gasp, "Wait, just...lets not jump to conclusions. A Zone like that would find him guilty, if he truly believed in his heart that he was. However, Torath is a simple man, who follows the signs of the gods without prejudice or...much thought, really. These visions we saw are all mutually incompatible...each of us saw ourselves, alone, doing this deed."

She wasn't actually sure that was the case, but it certainly seemed to be from what she'd heard so far.

"We can't have all done it. In particular, I am fully aware of my whereabouts on the night of the King's death. I know I didn't do it...yet this vision attempted to compel my belief that I did. We are dealing with supernatural forces here, and deception of a near divine-level. To combat it, I suggest we begin with a thorough and rigorous determination of the truth."

She looked at Torath. "Where were you, the night that the King died? Don't think on the vision. Use your own memories."

 

[HolyMan]

"Where was I?" Torath tries to remember what seems like years and not months ago. The vision still plays in his head the king, the blade. But also he sees the pilgrims heading off to thier rooms and a fireplace he sat mext to.

He remembers the guards coming into the common room, he remembers struggling with the king as he stabbed him a second time. Torath remembers being shackled and takin away, he remembers watching the king breath his last breath in a pool of his own blood.

"I..I.. I'm not sure exactly," Torath says to Thorn. "I thought I was staying at Blackmoor's Haven an inn near the church."

 

[Shayuri]

Thorn nods. "So if we can talk to the innkeeper there, perhaps some of the longer-term residents...and establish that you WERE there, then you'd know that your vision was a false sending, and that you are innocent of the crime. To say nothing of how you'd have done it in the first place. I mean, lets face it, Torath...you're not an assassin. You're neither subtle, nor amoral. You haven't got the skills to get past the King's guard, and you haven't got the disregard for life to kill a man in his sleep."

"Still, if someone could get the statements from Blackmoor's Haven, then we'll have what we need to lay this false confession to rest once and for all."

 

[DistractingFlare]

A quiet voice pips up from the back of the room.

"I was there at Blackmoor's Haven. It's true - this knight was there. Didn't really look like a knight at the time, but, yeah. He was there."

The voice belongs to a meek little halfling.

Judge Zephyr sighs a breath of relief.

"Thank Blackmoor. I was afraid we'd have to throw this man in the galley again. What is your name, good halfling?"

The halfling, now stood up (although you can hardly tell the difference), speaks a bit more confidently.

"My name's Sil. That's short for Silvio, which was my father's name. Silvio Brig - proprietor of Blackmoor's Haven."

"Thank you, Mr. Brig. You've been most helpful in clearing this up. Indeed, we've confirmed all of your alibis. Captain Teach - answer the question directly, or face the most severe consequences I can conjure up."

Teach, who has just now stopped laughing, sits up straight.

"Well, I guess my life is forfeit anyway. Plus, it's not like he can't get away from you."

Teach stands up and raises his shackled hands. His eyes lock onto one of the people in the crowd. He glares with an incredible intensity. The links that chain the tiefling jangle as he points vigorously across the room.

"It was him!"

Suddenly, a hooded man leaps up and draws a long, curved, wicked-looking dagger. He hurls it faster than the speed of thought. Before anyone can act, the knife pierces Captain Teach's heart. The hooded figure vaults over the bench behind him and bolts for the door. When he reaches the guards who have blocked the door, he raises his hands, and a great magical force smashes them out of the way. The assassin kicks the heavy doors wide open, and within a moment, he is gone.

Judge Zephyr stands up in a panic.

"Captain Scultone! Alert the guards!"

The judge looks at you.

"You! Find that man!"

[sblock=ooc]Time for a skill challenge! You must use your skills in order to track the man who killed Captain Teach. Once you find him, perhaps you'll be able to engage him.
[sblock=Suggested skills]Arcana: to learn what kind of magic he was using.
Heal: to lessen Captain Teach's pain.
History: to know facts about the make of the attacker's throwing dagger.
Intimidate/Bluff/Diplomacy: to question the dying Captain Teach.
Nature: to determine the attacker's species.
Perception: to figure out which direction the attacker fled.
Religion: to cross-reference these clues with the church of Munsu.
[/sblock][/sblock]

 

[Rathan]

Doren jumped the table with one fell lunge and scrambled to Teaches aide. "Thorn get the assassin... someone give her a weapon!"

Doren reached to tear the sleeve off his tunic and moved to wrap it around the dagger that had plunged into the heart of Teach quickly to stop the pour of blood flowing around it. From his belt he plucked a few healing herbs he was allowed to carry and quickly popped one after the other into his mouth to combine them and before stuffing them under the sleeve to dull the pain and numb the wound.

Doren looked down to teach and sighed softly... "Teach... you don't have long.. repent and Blackmoor may spare you. You and I are much alike in many ways deep down, don't settle for the underworld in eternal damnation. Perhaps Blackmoor may give you a chance redeem yourself. If you ask for forgiveness I will give it to you." Doren said feeling a bit saddened that this as the way a man of infamy was going to die.

Doren looked up to his other companions. "Go help Thorn I will catch up!"

[sblock=Skill Checks]Heal Check... (1d20+10=28), History Check... (1d20+8=20), Religion Check... (1d20+8=11), Diplomacy Check... (1d20+9=23), Passive Perception is 15[/sblock]

 

[Phaezen]

Squeal springs into action confronting the mortally wounded Teach "Who was the being you know tell us"

[sblock=action]
Intimidate 10+4=14

[/sblock]