Knowledge, Local (Mord murders):
Master Ardolan never spoke much of the trial...he never mentioned any of you, either... Nymeria says, frowning uncertainly.
What is this talk of us all dying, Master Halgrak? Why should we? I do not rightly understand this situation... she sits on one of the still-intact benches and thinks.
Knowledge, Local (Halgrak):
Knowledge, Local (Ebin):
Knowledge, Local (Patrissa):
Knowledge, Local (Killian):
Knowledge, Local (Malgrim):
Knowledge, Local (Sir Rekkart):
After a while, she stands and stretches dramatically, sighing. Well why don't we leave then? This old place is...creepy. She turns and walks over to the door, trying the handle.
The place you are now at must be Beldrin's Bluff Courthouse. Bedlrin's Bluff is a district that was abndoned after massive earthquake destroyed most of the buildings in 4697), however, it once was one the district of Absalom's nobility and many of the buildings still possess an air of wealth.
Jarbin Mord was the last man that was sentenced before the earthquake. He was charged with the murder of his wife and his small boy. Jarbin Mord himself was the executioner working at the courthouse and so many of those he had punished before by chopping of their hands or flying them, were there when he was hanged.
Five years after the earthquake a band of adventurers marched into the courthouse, led by a paladin of Sarenrae, to find out what all rumours of supernatural happenings were about. Only one, Grisom Two-Axe escaped, his mind shattered...the place has never been entered since then.
You have also heard that Mord's trial was held very swiftly since the first signs of the earthquake were already recognizable. There was only little evidence and he danced much faster on air than usual.
You don't know anything of Halgrak, but since you know the city quite well, you guess he's a very ordinary cittizen.
Ebin has a record of performances that went very bad. He lost several teeth since no one found his jokes funny. People whisper that hatred has taken grip of his heart.
Patrissa is known for her good looks, besides that she is a lady of society and often visits theatres, museums and galleries. Some people think she got some arcane talents.
You haven't heard of Killian before.
Malgrim is known criminal and leader of a dangerous gang. A bounty of several hundred gold coins is offered for his head.
You don't know anything about Sir Rekkart.
** spoiler omitted **
Nymeria stops in her tracks, looking around wide-eyed. This is...This is the Beldrin's Bluff Courthouse! This district used to be the seat of nobility and government...but it was abandoned after an earthquake destroyed most of it...
Jarbin Mord was the last man that was sentenced before the earthquake. He was charged with the murder of his wife and his small boy. Jarbin Mord was the executioner working at the courthouse and many of those he had punished before were there when he was hanged...
I heard that Mord's trial was held very swiftly since the first signs of the earthquake were already recognizable. There was only little evidence and he danced much faster on air than usual...
Five years after the earthquake a band of adventurers marched into the courthouse, led by a paladin of Sarenrae, to find out what all rumours of supernatural happenings were about. Only one, Grisom Two-Axe escaped, his mind shattered...the place has never been entered since then...
So how comes it that we are all here? Nymeria asks herself, turning around and looking up at the mural.
Well, you have some big muscles my friend.
"And you have a really pretty face!" the Ogre replies, beaming his warmest grin, it appears friendly enough.
"And why am I here? I didn't do nothing wrong yet!" his happy smile is rapidly replaced with a flash of anger and a scowl, although it is clear he can't work out who to be angry at. "If I'm not in trouble then I want to go home, am I in trouble? What does Mordy have to do with me, I never danced with the guy, I never even met him! And why does Grisom have two axes? Did he steal one? Is he in trouble?"
Jez looks at the six jurors, slowly looking from one to the other:
Why did you all find Mord guilty? There was a trial, you were the jurors, what was the evidence. According to the elf, the trial was fast. What evidence was there that caused you to find guilt so quickly, and perhaps more importantly, what evidence would have been necessary to find Mord to have been innocent? Was there someone on the jury, or not on the jury, who was putting pressure on you all to find Mord guilty?
Ragnvald stares down the old man. "Then you know nothing of Gorum. He does not spare even contempt for cowards and pacifists. He smiles on the mightiest berserker or the lowliest mouse so long as they do but one thing." Turning back to the half orc he asks again. "Will you fight?"
I admire your passion, Master Ragnavald, but...what exactly are you planning on fighting? If I may ask?
The Ogre stops for a moment to see what the repsonse is.
I admire your passion, Master Ragnavald, but...what exactly are you planning on fighting? If I may ask?
"To start, the wretch who thought to drag me here in my sleep for an injustice between him and my uncle. After that, it doesn't matter. Life is to fight and to fight is to live. The moment you cease either you have succumbed to death."
Good Ragnavald, until we find out why we are in here, I do not think that fighting each other is likely to help matters. If you would like, I will arm wrestle you, or we can fight unarmed and wrestle. Perhaps the winner can take on the wee ogre. That way you will get your fill of fighting in. But until we find out why we are here and how to get out of this hellhole, it would seem that bloodshed amongst ourselves would be ill advised.
Good Ragnavald, until we find out why we are in here, I do not think that fighting each other is likely to help matters. If you would like, I will arm wrestle you, or we can fight unarmed and wrestle. Perhaps the winner can take on the wee ogre. That way you will get your fill of fighting in. But until we find out why we are here and how to get out of this hellhole, it would seem that bloodshed amongst ourselves would be ill advised.
"I did not ask you for a wrestling match." Ragnvald says curtly. Turning back to the despairing half orc he again presents the hunting knife handle first. "I asked him. Again I ask and my patience is growing thin. When the doom you so fear comes for you, will you fight?"
"Hmmmm well if something is coming for me it can wait until after lunch. Why are you so unhappy Northman, did someonesay there was no lunch? Are you hungry? I have some food spare."
The big Ogre shuffles around in his pack and pulls out a large loaf of semi-stale bread.
"Sharesies?"
Sir Rekkart: There was strong evidence, wife and boy were killed with his axe...and...I mean...Jarbin Mord was the ugliest human you can imagine, and his wife a sheer beauty. I guess she found a new lover and Jarbin killed her in a fit of rage. No one pressurized us.
Halgrak: Us? And yes, northman. I will fight if I have to, I just think it will be useless against the one we will be facing.
Patrissa: Oh thank you, darling. I could really need a strong protector. She gently caresses Attalas' forearm.
Killian: Jarbin was no monster...maybe a killer, but no monster.
Ragnvald finally nods at the half orc and puts away the hunting knife and ignoring the ogre's proffered bread.
"The Lord in Iron doesn't care about odds. Only that you fight."
Relaxing a bit for perhaps the first time since his arrival Ragnvald gives his assessment of the situation.
"And so fifteen years ago six people gathered here to sentence a man to death perhaps too hastily for fear of Gozreh's mild annoyance. The earthquake comes and this place becomes a haunted ruin that has already claimed several lives. Now these six people appear here again fifteen years after the fact with several others that are here purely for being related in some way to the rest."
Moving from the circle he checks the exits out of here. It's clear that he does not wish to stay here.
"So now the question becomes why? Vengeance from an angry spirit? Or maybe justice from a wronged one? And what matter of beasts and abominations must I slay to remove myself of this?"
Patrissa: No, mighty warrior, not six, but twleve jurors. Exactly as many as we are here now. That's the reason why Halgrak here assumed that your relatives were also somehow involved.
Halgrak: No beast, just the spirit of a vengeful, poor man.
Ebin: Nowhere to hide, nowehere to go, Jarbin Mord will rock the show, heh.
Sir Rekkart: We should stay together. I'll help you Ragnvald. Which door shall we try?
Do you mean to say that we were brought here by Jarbin Mord's malicious spirit for vengeance!? I do not like the sound of that! Nymeria says, turning around defensively. She, too goes with Ragnvald to check the exits.
Perception:
"The ghosty of a man named Mord
I reckon it must have got bored
So I'll share me bread
with this Goblin instead
And if Mord shows his face he'll get floored."
The Ogre pauses a moment and then laughs.
Breaking off a chunk of bread fopr the Goblin, he also sticks another great chunk in his mouth before standing tall and stretching out. He looks around at the jurors again as though with fresh eyes.
He looks down at Patrissa in a bit the same way he looked at his bread a minute ago as he absent mindedly chews. It is rather easy to deduct what he is ACTUALLY thinking, and it probably has something to do with half ogres. After an uncomfortable minute, he looks over to the pair examining the exits.
"Those doors locked?"
Although he has enquired about the exits, he simply starts moving around the room picking things up and examining them.
Jez listens to the the rest and shakes her head wondering what type of insanity she has become involved in.
Halgrak, you say it is useless to face this Mord, why? Have you faced him before? Do you all end up trapped here often? And if you did, how did you escape previously?
Neither acknowledging those who follow him or drive them away he simply nods and starts towards the doors. Then stops. "No, that would be what is expected. I will not be led like a trained dog again."
He says this last bit almost to himself before he head straight to the windows ready to bust through one should it appear inviting enough. "I am not so bound as to not consider the alternative before the obvious."
"Well this Mordy might have put us here, so if he has then he wants us to see something here, so what is it he wants us to see? Is there something in this room? Thats what I am looking for. I don't suppose it is our lunch"
The Ogre looks a bit sullen at the thought food might not be laid on.
"Isn't trials supposed to have judges? Where's the Judger at? And wheres the hanging man?"
At the ogres last question Ragnvald stops for a second. Clears his throat and rubs it as if he was freshly strangled then continues towards the windows.
Numeria returns to the old jurors. Can you tell me exactly what Jarbin supposedly did? I had... I had a dream about an axe...and...body parts. And blood. lots of blood... does this sound familiar?
"Yeah I had a odd dream too. Some cloaked figure enters this attic. A bumpy woman with dark features was sitting in a rocking chair, humming and knitting a sweater for wee one. So she looks up, all scaredy like as the figure closes in, its had its back to me as it went at her. The scaredness changed to brick-pants as the figure stood over her. I want to punch the cloak-man now"
The Ogre goes back to searching the room, whether for clues or the elusive lunch is not quite clear.
Sir Rekkart: What Mord did? He killed his wife and son with his axe...no, he didn't only kill them; he slaughtered them, hacke dthem into pieces, it was just terrible, believe me.
Ebin: Maybe he liked to puzzle....hah!
As Attalas moves closer to the evidence table suddenly a piece of the mural breaks free above him and lands on him and the evidence table, from which it sends an axe whirling towards the juror's box. The blade bites deep into Ebin's shoulder and the gnome is catapulted against the wall.
Halgrak: Whoa!
Sir Rekkart: Oh?!
Halgrim: Heh
The handle to the northern door in hand Ragnvald pauses to look back.
Attalas...What are "Brick-pants?" Nymeria asks, frowning. Did the cloak-man have an axe?
Knowledge, Arcana:
As the piece of ceiling falls, Nymeria gasps and stretches out her hand towards it. She attempts to stop it from hitting the Ogre by pushing it to one side so it will land next to him.
Cast Feather Fall on the chunk of mural.
Perception:
Initiative:
Nymeria does her best to waste all her spells on rocks.
Waste Spells:
As you approach the window, alarmed by the block that hit the ogre, you notice that outisde is only a jet-black void...
Neither opening the window is possible nor shattering it, looks like you're trapped.
Cursing Ragnvlad steps away from the window. "Blood and steel. The door it is then. Seeing the gnome on the ground he frowns at him as he strides toward the door. "Watch your tongue. In this place we cannot be so far from Pharasma's realm as to go unheard. Are you well enough to stand?"
Ebin slowly scrambles into a sitting position. There is a deep wound in his shoulder and his jester's costume slowly turns dark around it.
Oh f.cuk, what the hell was that?
Halgrak: Listen to Ragnvald, his words are wise.
Is the evidence table empty? Or does it have evidence?
Surprised by the sudden flying axe, Jez draws her falchion while carefully looking at the ceiling to see where the plaster came from and whether there is any more that looks like it may fall. Also, is there any more plaster lying on the ground or does this look like the first time that anything has fallen from the roof?
Perception:
What the heck was that? Did anyone see anything up there? Is there any more that is going to fall?
I look for a table or something to hide under if more of the ceiling begins to fall.
Nymeria approaches the evidence table.
Perception:
Seeing Nymeria approach the table, Jez shouts: Be careful, the roof collapsed when the Ogre approached the table, it might be a trap!!!
TThere are no other parts of the ceiling lying on the floor, yet there are enough cracks and fissures that it looks like it was just a matter of time until this will happen again.
The piece of stone that came down was exactly the one with the Iomedae figure carved into it.
The evidence table if empty and full of dust, only the outline of the axe is visible.
Perception:
Guys, check this out, the piece of stone that fell - well, it is the one showing Iomedae, anyone have an idea why that would be? Does not seem like a coincidence to me.
Sir Rekkart: Are you sure? the paladin hastens over to you to inspect the stone. He sighs More and more Halgrak seems right...
Halgrim: I don't care about Iomedae, I'll get out of here by my own powers. Hey Ragnvald, what about this northern door? The hobgoblin points at the door and tightens the grip around the haft of his chain.
Suddenly Jez realizes something:
Hey, did y'all also have a strange dream before this? Several of you seem to indicate that the dreams were all bloody, how was it bloody?
Mine was not about blood, rather it was this Courtroom. And I saw all the jurors sitting there, although I cannot remember what they looked like, I recall a lack of forgiveness in rendering their verdict. And then the magistrate pronounced the verdict of being hung by the neck until Jarbin Mord was dead. Were your dreams not the same?
Perhaps these dream are like pieces of a puzzle, not that I was ever very good at puzzles.
"I know nothing of dreams. I'm a priest of bloodshed and battle not dreams and portents." Ragnvald checks the north door with the hobgoblin. Checking the handle to see if its locked he prepares his blade and nods to the others as he gets ready to kick it down.
Jez looks at the mad warrior priest and rolls her eyes. Speaking to nobody in particular: You would think that the fact the city outside the windows is completely black would be a sign that exiting trough the front door is unlikely to work.
She then looks around to room hoping that someone else explains their dreams so that this can all be figured out.
With a creaking sound the door opens as you press the handle down.
Sir Rekkart: That's the judge's room.
Malgrim: Whatever old man, maybe there's an exit.
The hobgoblin pushes past you and stumbles back a moment later. Books fly through the room and Malgrim is hit several times.
Malgrim: Argh! I hate reading!
After about ten seconds the literary vortex ends, but the whole floor of the room is strewn with books.
Besides a large okan table and some now empty bookshelves the room is empty.