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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 5003267" data-attributes="member: 4937">Well, yes, the character is getting railroaded.  That's the point.  However, in this case, it's not the DM driving, but an NPC in the game doing what nobles who have already discovered they can't best their rivals in swordplay do.This is always a danger in any big ceremonial scene.  It's often worth it though to achieve some effect.There are plenty of oppurtunities for role-play in the context of a trial.  I think it unlikely though that the questioning of a corpse would be left up to any party but the legally authorized clerical authority.  Quite obviously, the priest is going to want to cross examine the witness to follow up leads, not entertain wild questions from the defence or the prosecution.Assuming that the nobleman schemed well, the obvious questions like "What is your name?" have been handled.The big point of this scene is that it should come as a shock to the PCs (and most of the NPCs).  The PC's must figure out: what happened, who is behind it, how to prove the innocence of a comrade.Plus, for added tension, depending on a Knowledge (Law) skill check, the PC now faces execution in as little as 24 hours and must escape (this shouldn't be made too difficult) and evade the city watch (which if he isn't careful will lead to actual serious crimes that will make the question of innocence mute) if he is to solve the mystery.Well, that's the idea.  The evidence has been tampered with.  A witness has been paid to lie (and if necessary been given the magical protection enabling them to do so).  And not everyone (and maybe not anyone) on the prosecution is corrupt.  Some are just trying to do their duty.</blockquote>

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