The Ancient Paths - Path I

[hippocrachus]

~ Dowkan ~

"Grogor. Or Sunder. Judging by the empty mug and strong stench of alcohol, it's Sunder. One who keeps his mouth open and doesn't look after what comes out of it. No matter. As a member of the Town Counsel, Master Sunder has the right to disclose the history of Silverdown." Syrriel waves Dowkan to the seat across from hers. "I wish he had a bit of discretion," she adds as an ineffectual after-thought.
"To tell you the truth, Dowkan, I'm not quite sure what it is you saw. Your description of this 'phantom Hrolf' matches very closely that of the one given of you after you were seen jail-breaking. One young cleric actually wanted you chased down and tried for the offense; no matter that he saw you leave through the north gate an hour before." She shakes her head at Tyr's justice. "It all seems as if it were from a dream..."
"As to 'what is going on,' I may know more or less than would be good for your own safety to hear. The Silver Marches are far from tamed, Dowkan. The fact that Silverdown survived out here for as long as it did amazes me. Your 'portal room' I might have an answer for. Are you sure you told me everything you can remember about it? Do you remember any particular runes? They would be in Dwarven..."
Oddly, the harder Dowkan tries to remember details of the Portal Room, the cloudier the image in his memory.

[sblock]Let the record show that I rolled a natural 1 for Dowkan's Bluff check [/sblock]

 

[Legildur]

"Ahhh, so Capn' Gregor be knowing about this stuff as well," he deduces.

"And I don't be seeing how knowing more about all this makes it any less safe for me!"

"I don't be rememberin' any runes. Don't remember much now at all. I remember a round room with six portals, most with some element at their foot, and a sagely type who pushed me through one. But naught else."

 

[ae1vart0n]

After a standing there a moment, trying to understand what Hrolf might have meant by what he didn't say, Hildor gathers his belongings and begins over to see Lady Syrriel as instructed.

 

[hippocrachus]

~ The Adventurers ~

Syrriel rolls her eyes at Nae'talis' silence. She might as well have been discussing the weather for as much interest the arrogant mageling had in Dowkan's well-being.
Thayans have no respect for life, she thinks to herself, turning from the wizard to find Hildor entering the magic shop. She gives him a knowing smile. A fool caught-up in a wizard's game...
Harad doesn't waste any time ushering Hrolf, Nae'talis, and Hildor out of the Surreal Harpist and over to the garrison after Hildor joins them. Suspects deserve a quick and speedy trial, whether they want one or not. While Harad shows the three companions to their respective places in a makeshift courtroom, he rambles on about formalities being overlooked due to haste.
"I want to apologize to you both, Nae'talis and Hildor. Proper protocol has been glossed-over to insure you both see justice in a timely manner. I assure you that we have in no way risked the integrity of your innocence...or lack there of." He eyes the elf and Thayan in turn. "I will start with the list of indictments."
Harad shuffles through a few papers atop the podium he stands behind and the three adventurers have a brief moment to get acclimated to their environment. The room is relatively cramped and chairs are set in a small number of meticulously placed rows and columns with a small aisle between them leading to the front podium Harad stands behind. In one of the back corners, a Tyrran in military garb lounges lazily against the wall. For a bailiff, he doesn't seem too concerned with the proceedings; for him, the act of hindering Justice is simply unthinkable. Another Tyrran sits scribbling on parchment in one of the front corners of the confined room. Ink vials, quills, and all manner of stationary are set out in evenly spaced increments in front of him. The stenographer seems more interested in his work than the defendants.
“Nae’talis, you have been charged with absconding the nation of Thay and its indictments against you; a delinquency punishable by forceful deportation.” Harad looks to the mage. “How do you plea?”

 

[Majin]

Nae'talis stands in silence, his eyes set on Harad, his lips a thin slit. He waits patiently without giving a reply, awaiting the court's reaction.

 

[hippocrachus]

~ The Adventurers ~

Harad waits a few moments to make sure of Nae'talis' intentions.
"Let it be shown that the defendant 'stands mute.' Should the court find you guilty of the listed offense, Nae'talis, arrangements will be made for your immediate removal from the lands governed under Silverymoon." Harad nods to Nae'talis and turns to Hildor. "Hildor, you have been charged with conspiring against the sovereign state of Silverymoon, perjury, consorting with known malefactors, and espionage. These crimes are punishable by incarceration. How do you plea?"

~ Dowkan ~

"Let's just say, if I told you, I'd have to kill you." Syrriel flashes a sheepish grin at Dowkan. When they say "unspeakable horrors," they mean it literally. The sun elven bard looks over at Wizzop and nods to him. His impervious grin melts into grim determination and he leaves Syrriel and Dowkan to their conversation. "Before I go any further, I want your word that you won't go running your mouth to any of your drinking buddies or anyone who just happens to lend an ear about what I tell you. Swear it, Dowkan. By Moradin's left boot or your mother's beard or whatever else dwarves hold in reverence, will you swear it?"

 

[Legildur]

Dowkan grumbles something unintelligible under his beard and sighs. "Alright, I'll swear on Moradin's forge. But I'll be up front wit ya and say I'll be telling me buddies, Hrolf, Hildor and Nae'talis, IF we be into sometin' bad and IF I be thinkin' they need to be knowing. That's only fair, if that be alright by you. But I swear to keep me trap shut otherwise."

 

[ae1vart0n]

Hildor looks at his fingers. Lets see.

He looks at his index finger. Conspiring against the sovereign state of Silverymoon. No, he couldn't think of a thing he did recently which whose motive had anything to do with Silverymoon.

Then his middle finger. Perjury. He hadn't really lied to anyone. He may have misled one particular party, but Mars deserved it. All he had promised Radcliff was to follow the Thayan. Technically, he was still doing that.

His ring finger. Consorting with known malefactors. That was a point of view. Tyr didn't like Thay, Thay didn't like Tyr. In any case Hildor didn't know Mars was a "malefactor" until recently. Up til then he was just a disgruntled customer.

Espionage. That was a matter of perspective. Though he hadn't gone out to do so, he had communicated information to the Tyrrans that Mars probably didn't want them to know.

"Not guilty, Not guilty, Not guilty, and ummm...", he paused for a moment. "espionage against who?"

 

[hippocrachus]

~ The Adventurers ~

Harad smiles judiciously at Hildor.
“The Church of Tyr and the martial wardens of Silverdown.”

 

[Dhes]

After herring the charges lead down against Nae’talis and Hildor, and hearing there plea. Hrolf stands. ”Your honor, If I may. It is my opinion that the allegations against my charge Nae’talis Ves’aru should be dropped. It stands as fact that Master Ves’aru did not commit any crimes inside the jurisdiction of Silverymoon. Seeing that my client momentarily resides within the state Silverymoon, he can only be convicted by the Law’s of the state of Silverymoon and only convicted for crimes committed within its jurisdiction. I am of the opinion that the only legal action that can and should be taken against Master Ves’aru, is an independent hearing to determine if my charge should be given diplomatic protection from his former masters.”

Steping away from the table to stand next to Hildor, “Your honor, as for the charges laid against Master Tooron. I am of the opinion, -that I formed while fighting next to him in the Ogre’s cave – that Hildor can only be found guilty of ignorance. It’s true that ignorance by itself is not grounds for dismissal, but I do urge the court to take this into consideration when speaking out there justice over him. I am sure that with Tyr’s guides, that Hildor can be rehabilitated into a productive member of the state of Silverymoon.“ with that Hrolf takes his seat and awaits Harad’s verdict.
[sblock]+6 Diplomacy, +9 Knowledge (Region)[/sblock]