Trinia looks doubtfully at Tolenn, Pyron, and Daud, but continues to march dutifully towards the Citadel, looking about on occasion for a posse or another mob. At this point, it seems almost as though she doesn't care.
The disguised Zart walks up to the first guard who looks like he will stop the group, and snaps a salute (or whatever greeting he's seen the guards do before), "Good afternoon. I am taking this group to see Field Marshall Croft. She's expecting them, and me for that matter. We know the way. Have a good one."
Zart will attempt to just move past, but will stop and listen if the guard moves to stop him.
Ya'know for a shadow-person-thing he draws a lot of attention to himself.
The guard looks at Zart and the group behind him suspiciously, then impatiently waves them on, having better things to do than chat with a guard that already seems to be about his business. Even if the fellow seemed all self-important, like he was the ONLY guard seeing Field Marshall Croft these days.
It is only after the group has passed for several minutes that the guard realizes what has been nagging at him...even though the sun was bright and full in the sky, the other guard cast no shadow...
Pyron follows suit allowing our guard bring us directly to Lady Croft (yes it is a nod to Lara Croft).
It is only after the group has passed for several minutes that the guard realizes what has been nagging at him...even though the sun was bright and full in the sky, the other guard cast no shadow...
Tolenn follows Zart into the Citadel, smiling a bit at Zart's behaviour.
She stays close to Trinia, trying to reassure the girl by her close proximity.
They march up to Croft's office and inform her assistant that we need to see Croft, We have performed Field Marshall Croft's duties and are here to give her our report as she has instructed us to do, so that we may get paid.
Hmm? The Courtesan's bureaucratic nature is actuallly coming in handy... I'd bite my own tongue off before I said that aloud though.
When they are allowed in, Amaranti conveys Zart's telepathic message to Field Marshall Croft, "WE HAVE RETRIEVED THE GIRL AS YOU HAVE REQUESTED, MA'AM. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE US TO BEST ENSURE SHE REMAINS SAFE WHILE SHE IS GIVEN A FAIR TRIAL?"
Raamanti glares at Zart with his blank, expressionless face that just screams "I dare you to pull me up on that one. I know you said 'sir', but you're wrong, okay?"
Insolent thing! I ought to dismiss you more often... Zart jokes mentally, perhaps a little harshly.
The woman does not appear to be comforted by Tolenn's proximity. She grows visibly agitated at Pyron's comment about getting 'paid', glancing nervously at the rest of you.
The guard at the entrance chuckles at Pyron's statement. "Kind of straightforward about it, aren't ya? Alright then, you know where her office is." The man glances at your group with a dull expression, already having dismissed you from his thoughts.
As you make your way to Croft's office, you find her at her desk, looking quite stressed. She looks up at you all, her features hopeful, yet confused as she sees new members among your group. She remains seated, furrowing her brow at the eidolon as she looks about for Trinia.
Turning to Zart/Trinia he speaks with a serene tone. "See? Everything is going to be okay."
As I explained before we left, we would disguise her when we brought her here. We were able to deliver her without harming her. We have not questioned her. We informed her only that you intended to give her a fair trial. I hope you are satisfied with the results.
He motions for Trinia to be brought forth.
Bugger the trial, we're here to find out the truth.
Gaius leans in close to Croft, speaking low.
The Queen got the response she wanted. The people rose up, ready to take matters in their own hands, and we only just spirited Trinia away. She won't last five minutes on the streets. You spoke of magic that could determine the truth of Trinia's words. Whoever you trust to do such a thing, you may want to send for them to come here at once, and discreetly, or you won't get a chance.
Sh*t. Here I was hoping we could figure out some more about Croft's intentions first. You have to get better at communicating, Zart.
Zart quickly closes the door to the office, and removes his disguise, "Sorry for the deception, Field Marshall, but you said she had enemies everywhere."
Zart continues once Gaius has said his bit, "I think the Field Marshall wanted the trial to discover the truth. Not much point placing her under a truth spell in private is there? Now, I guess the real question is: what would you like us to do? More to the point, how can we help keep this poor girl safe until a proper trial can be had?"
Raamanti sits in the corner in a cloud of shadow, My one chance to do the talking for once, and of course my master takes over again.
Daud will mumble to Gaius, "She's mad with grief. It can... Warp a person..."
Croft's eyes light up as she realizes what is going on. "Ahhh, I see. I was expecting only one newcomer." She looks at the blond woman sternly, but not unkindly. "Trinia, you have been accused of regicide and named by many witnesses. You will stay here until a trial is held to determine your innocence or guilt."
"Well done, you all. You are quickly becoming my most reliable help. Please keep that between me and you." A ghost of a smile makes its way to her lips. "I'll arrange for transport for Trinia to Castle Korvosa to await her trial. Sit tight, and we'll talk about business."
She exits the room, speaking with a guard just down the hall.
Sh*t. Here I was hoping we could figure out some more about Croft's intentions first. You have to get better at communicating, Zart.
Zart quickly closes the door to the office, and removes his disguise, "Sorry for the deception, Field Marshall, but you said she had enemies everywhere."
Zart continues once Gaius has said his bit, "I think the Field Marshall wanted the trial to discover the truth. Not much point placing her under a truth spell in private is there? Now, I guess the real question is: what would you like us to do? More to the point, how can we help keep this poor girl safe until a proper trial can be had?"
Are you truly that naive? The point of placing her under the truth spell here is to see if she is innocent. If she's telling the truth, then someone important set her up and we are all in danger. If that's the case, a trial is the last place we want to be.
Gaius' anger once again clouds his senses.
Daud's eyes narrow in agitation. "We would effectively be sending her to the Lion's den. Can't we do the interrogation and trial here?"
Be ware, my master, Croft is very uneasy with the situation.
Thank you, Raamanti. I will pay attention.
"Field Marshall Croft, with respect, I think that perhaps the situation is a little more complex than sending her to the Castle will cover," Zart shows genuine concern, "She is not likely to be overly safe there. Gaius perhaps has the right of it - we should test the truth of her words before sending her to the not-so-tender mercies of the one who accused her in the first place. I think you know this, and I think that's why you sent us after Trinia to begin with."
Croft's head is shaking in the negative before you finish your objections as a couple of guards come filing into the room. "I understand the truth of your statements, and wish I could carry them out. However, I have orders to send her to the Castle as soon as she is secured." She is clearly uncomfortable now, but her resolve has steeled. Each of the guards takes an arm of Trinia, and she is led down the opposite corridor, looking over her shoulder at you all with a terrified expression.
"Here is your thousand pieces of gold." Croft produces a bulging sack of clinking coins. She hands it to Pyron, her brow furrowed. "A better group I could not ask for. And who knows, maybe it will turn out that she didn't do it."
Daud glares at Croft and the sack like she comes bearing plagues straight from Abaddon. "Keep it. You'll need it for all the lube you'll be using when you bend over for the queen again... Or is your ass so used up that's no a longer a bother for you?"
The dark-haired woman glows an ugly red at that. "My orders come ultimately from the Queen. If she says to send the woman on to her Castle for safekeeping, that is what I will do."
She seems to get more angry, then all of a sudden the woman deflates and she rubs her hand over her face and through her hair. "I don't like it, I admit. But what am I to do? She might not be guilty, but she might be. I'm not just going to let her go, regardless of what any spellcaster might say. Justice must be served."
Daud keeps his glare leveled at her. "Executing an innocent girl isn't justice, it's catering."
Zart places what he hopes is a calming hand on Daud. After the excitement and success of their endeavors, cheer had almost managed to break into his voice of late. So it is a sombre sound indeed that comes from Zart's mouth when it is only Raamanti who has ever heard him that sad.
"Field Marshall, we will take the gold, even if Daud refuses his share. We can put it to some good, or at least put the equipment it buys to some use in the fight for good," Zart turns his sad eyes over the rest of the group and then back to Croft, "But I think I speak for all when I say that I am supremely disappointed at this outcome. However, perhaps Daud is forgetting that you did at least see that Trinia was kept safe from the mob - providing us all that we needed in order to extract her in a timely fashion. Still, I feel certain that all of us would rather you kept that sack of gold and we found a way to determine her guilt or innocence in private and then found a way to get her out of the city. We are not your pawns.
"That said, may we at least be allowed to see the trial? I imagine it will be a vicious one. If not, would we be permitted to see Trinia in the cells while it is going on. We do not believe she did it, and we would not see her suffer unnecessarily unless we are proven wrong."
Raamanti just stands there, his grip on his hammer tightening until his knuckles go black.
Daud jerks his head the moment Zart touches him, his face more a snarl than even Vuk could pull off. Waiting for the fetchling to finish his visage begins to crack, turning into a full on cackle as the other man finishes. "How stupid are you? You think there's going to be a trial? We saved her from a lynching just to hand her over to the headsman! The best we can hope for is for them just to kill her. Otherwise they'll torture before they do. No questions. No trial. Just pain and death... She trusted us, and we as good as killed her ourselves."
Croft looks upset at this point. "The time for sneaking out of the city is past. That ship has sailed." Her look is accusatory...as if to say 'why did you not do that, instead of bringing her here?'.
"As for Trinia, her fate in the Cells is up to the Queen and Sabina...I have no say in that, and won't make promises I can not keep. That goes for the trial, as well, however symbolic it may or may not be." The Field Marshal does not dispute or argue any of Wednesday's points.
"This is done, and you performed well. Can I keep in touch, in case you are needed again? Or would you like to terminate our arrangement?" Croft folds her arms. She looks very shamed, but still manages to meet all your gazes.
We didn't sneak her out 'cause we thought she would be safe in a citadel full of armed guards you vapid biwaughg...
Daud merely shakes his head dejectedly before throwing his hands up. "If the others wish so, nothing I say matters at this point anyway."
"Feel free to contact us, Field Marshall. I know you have the best interests of the city at heart. We will try better next time to read between the lines, but if you have a request do feel free to make it," Zart looks to Daud and steels himself before turning back to Croft, "Just don't rely on our compliance. As always, I want what is best for the city and its people. I do hope that you are able to convince the Queen to do things fairly. You will at least try, won't you?"
Croft nods. "I will certainly pursue a fair trial and justice, you have my word on that. And I will pass along both your group's and my own opinion that the girl is innocent, or at best a pawn of something larger."
Daud simply shrugs, his face downcast. "It won't matter, the voices of the rabble don't reach the ears of royalty. Trinia's dead... And we killed her."
Tolenn has observed the debate, and now makes her own comment "Wednesday, leave off." she says gently , then addresses Croft "Field Marshall, I can see that this has affected you as much as us, I am confident that you'll do as you say....sometimes , those of good conscience can do little in the face of duty or the machinations of those of higher rank. I for one echo Zart, i wish to continue working with you."
At Tolenn's admonishment his mouth begings to move to form a counter but instead his whole body slumps as he gives one last shrug.
After taking the bag, Pyron waits for eveything to play out. I have three questions. First, is there any other suspects or witnesses that you need us to retrieve? Second, is there a way we can speak with the queen? Third, if we are able to find her an alibi, do you think that it would help with Trinia's case?
More heads to the chopping block...
Probably...
Not in the slightest...
Croft thinks for a moment. "I know of no other suspects or witnesses, beyond the guard who says Trinia seduced him and then cast a spell on him so she could poison the King's drink."
She shrugs at the second question. "Anyone can petition for an audience with the Queen. I personally don't see this happening any time soon."
"If you can find a fool-proof alibi, it might. Hearsay will not cut it, I am afraid."
She looks to all of you. "That is all for now, I am afraid. I will call upon you if I should need your assistance again." With that, Croft walks back into her office and the mounds of paperwork.
Gaius does not intervene on Croft's behalf at Daud's rage, accepting with anger that the girl's fate is sealed.
We can do nothing for the girl at this point, but something good may come from her misfortune. Field Marshal, you spoke of a guard who confessed to assisting Trinia with the murder. Can we speak to this guard, while the queen's attention is on Trinia? Perhaps you could send us in to record the official confession? We could learn much from a brief visit...
A brief, Painful, visist he thinks to himself as his thoughts give way from outrage to merely rage.
Croft shrugs. "I could perhaps arrange a visit, though the man himself currently resides in the dungeon of Castle Korvosa. Alas, his 'official' confession has already been taken. His claims that he was ensorcelled by Trinia have never varied."
"Actually, the dungeons might be a good idea anyway," muses Zart, "What better place to start finding Trinia's alibi than by asking the girl herself? Would we be permitted to see her? I'm sure someone of your standing should be able to arrange a quick interview, Field Marshall? With her securely behind bars, of course."