Part the Thirty-Eighth:
In which: the party goes to court.
The inquest takes place later that day, in a small courtroom in the Temple of Justice. Tenacious the Just oversees the proceedings. Also present are Professor Alexandra and Immobile the Just, who is there to speak to Aegosian interests in the proceedings.
Thatch shifts in his seat. Although it is autumn, the afternoon has grown uncomfortably hot. He whispers to Dennis, “What are we doing here again?”
Although Thatch had tried to pitch his voice for Dennis alone, Anvil turns around in his seat. “So that we might see the workings of Kettenek’s Justice, and so appreciate His Law.”
“Yeah,” says Dennis, looking rather nervous, despite not being a defendant in the proceedings, “what he said.”
A few minutes later, Amelia is led into the courtroom, escorted by two monks of Essela’s order. She is followed shortly thereafter by Tenacious. An acolyte declares the court to be in session, and Tenacious begins to cast.
(Note: I love D&D double-think. At this point Fajitas describes Tenacious casting and then says, “Okay everyone make me two will saves. If you fail the first one, you can’t lie. If you make the first and fail and second and you do lie, raise your hand.
Additional note: this session Tenacious was being played by our first EN World guest star, Orichalcum. After the trial, she’ll pick up as Dennis for the rest of the session.)
Reyu watches the proceedings with great interest. She cannot help but sympathize with Amelia, who fell victim to the very plot by which she and Thatch were so nearly ensnared. Although Anvil has assured her numerous times that Kettenek’s Justice is fair and impartial, Reyu is still somewhat skeptical.
The party members are all called to testify as to their discoveries in the sewers under the Academy, and as to their knowledge of the defendant. The three scrolls they discovered with the zombies are all given into evidence, as well as Essela’s observations that the livery worn by the zombies was that of House Morjene.
Under oath (and the effects of zone of truth and discern lies) Amelia admits to having found a scroll in the library of House Morjene, and, in a desperate attempt to escape the abuse she was suffering at the hands of her mistress, using it to raise six zombies from the Morjene family crypt.
At the revelation that Lady Morjene was beaten to death by her own undead relatives, Reyu is fairly certain she spots a small smile slide across Immobile’s features.
However, the true question before Tenacious is the murder of Randall Cheswick. Although everyone is the courtroom is soon convinced that Amelia is almost certainly responsible, no one knows quite what to do about it. Normally, under Pykosain law, she would be executed, however there are certainly mitigating factors.
Professor Alexandra argues for leniency on two main points. First, Amelia never would have raised the zombies in the first place had she not been suffering under a gross miscarriage of Justice, in which the Temple of Justice itself has already been directly implicated.
Second, since the attack on the Mages’ Academy, the mood in the city has not been exactly friendly towards arcane casters. If Amelia were to be tried and executed for the crime it would almost certainly serve as a flashpoint for riots and further violence against the academy and other arcanists within the city.
When the Professor finishes her plea, Immobile asks to address the court. While he is certainly sympathetic to the Professor’s point of view, he points out that Pykosian politics aren’t the only ones at issues here. Simply put, if Amelia receives only a slap on the wrist for this crime, he will be under intense pressure to move for her extradition to Dar Aego where she would face execution or, quite possibly, enslavement. “While I am personally horrified by young Miss Morrin’s plight, The Powers That Be in Dar Aego can’t allow slaves to get away with killing their owners. And, quite frankly, that the killing did not stop in Dar Aego would indicate that she was not merely trying to defend herself.”
Tenacious leans forward. “Are you saying that the people of Dar Aego will not respect the ruling of a Pykosian court?”
“Not at all,” Immobile shakes his head adamantly. “But if certain parties are dissatisfied with the results of this proceeding, there will be political consequences, not only for myself, but for the Universal Law Caucus.”
Alexandra rises again. “Your honor…”
The arguments drag on for several hours. Anvil sits patiently, secure in the knowledge that this will be handled by his superiors and attempting to lean whatever he can from their deliberations. He notices that Tenacious is careful to listen to everything said by everyone addressing the court. As befits a Justicar of his stature doing the work of Kettenek’s Justice, Tenacious’ face is largely expressionless, although Anvil observes that his practiced neutrality occasionally slips for an instant. In those moments, he seems quite unsure of the best course of action, and his eyes dart back and forth between Immobile and Professor Alexandra.
Thatch looks over at Dennis, who looks like he would like to leave, or be sick, or both.
Suddenly, Reyu asks to address the court. “Your honor… I am… unfamiliar with your practices, but, may I make a suggestion?”
Tenacious rubs the bridge of his nose wearily. “I am sure that any light you might be able to shed on this matter would be welcome.”
“My grandmother is a wise woman and… a leader among my people. Your… concern is for the safely of the citizens of the Confederacy. In that case, sentence her to exile. I will send word to my grandmother and she will take her in.”
Tenacious’ brow furrows as he addresses the elf in his courtroom. “Are you not concerned she will be a danger to your people and your grandmother?”
“A danger would concern me,” Reyu replies, “but Amelia does not.”
“She is already responsible for six deaths.”
“You do not know my grandmother.”
With this as a cornerstone, Tenacious is soon able to hammer out a deal. Sentence is passed of lifelong exile from the Confederacy, along with a fine of 6,000 gold pieces, to be paid out to survivors of those killed by the zombies in Dar Pykos and Dar Aego. In recognition of their own culpability, the Temple of the Justicars in Dar Pykos pays 4,000 gold, and between them, the Academy and the party (using funds from the sale of the jewelry found on the zombies) makes up the rest.
As Amelia is taken from the courtroom back to her cell, Reyu tries to catch her eyes. Amelia, however, maintains her usual fixation on the ground before her. Reyu makes a mental note to speak to the girl before she is escorted from the city. The court cannot force Amelia to go anywhere specifically as long as it is outside the borders of the Confederacy, but Reyu hopes to make a compelling argument on behalf of her grandmother.
As the party is leaving the courtroom, Thatch mutters, “Seems like she got off kind of lightly to me.” Dennis shrugs, non-committal. Essela doesn’t say anything, but gives a sympathetic nod.
Lira stops dead in her tracks. Although she does not raise her voice, everyone in the party hears her as she says, “To leave home, knowing you can never return, is no easy thing.” And with that, she turns on her heel, and strides off.
Thatch stands, blinking for a few seconds. “Umm… What was that about?”
Anvil snaps his fingers, as though this has just recalled his memory to some detail he had meant to share. “This Friday, I have been summoned to a meeting at the castle. I will require your attendance.”
And without further explanation, he hurries off on his own.
There is a long pause.
Reyu finally breaks the silence. “Do you suppose that is the same meeting at the castle on Friday that the rest of us were invited to, or another one?”
Dennis shrugs. “I guess we’ll find out on Friday.”
Thatch nods. “Umm… But how does that have anything to do with Lira and the whole exile… thing…?” Thatch trails off, uncertain.
Dennis pats him on the back sympathetically. “Come on, let’s go get a drink.”
