Kawrock lets out a warble of relief. "I was afraid I'd have to make a lot of ash tonight, good work Eldon."
"Bloody simple folk. What did they think to achieve? Blood and death!"
Arval nods to the others, glad that the problem is solved.
Wren wraps her feathers about her and heads down for the trial.
"Glad that silly business is over," Wren crows. "I'm sure my words did much to disperse the crowd. Hopefully, they are taking a good look into the shadows of their town tonight."
The grateful guards take their silver, and mutter some thanks to the party. It's clear they're not too thrilled with having to defend the Beast but appreciate the support the party provided.
The following morning you are once more ushered into the defense chambers. Although the stands are packed, the crowd is strangely muted.
Before the trial begins properly, the Chief Justice clear his throat and speaks in a booming, sonorous voice.
"Today I am ashamed to be a citizen of Lepidstadt. What has our city come to when mob rule and fear decides the guilt or innocence of a defendant? Is this trial not about the burden of proof, reason, and justice? This court will be cleared if respect is not shown from those in the gallery, and should anyone threaten violence to any member of the defense I will have that person whipped and hanged."
Scowling, he sits back down, and the trial begins in earnest. The prosecution is up first to relate their version of the events. Karb Isle Sanctuary, a gleaming white beacon of hope and progress, was attacked and burned to the ground. The only witness, the one man to see anything had his eyes taken form him, but it was doubtless that he saw the Beast fleeing the scene of the crime. Karl is summoned and although he does say he thought he saw the Beast, upon cross-examination from Kaple he admits that he just saw a large creature.
Finally, you are all ushered out of your defense chambers to take the stand. The court room has a chilly atmosphere. Kaple looks absolutely resplendent in his powdered wig and barrister's robes and cuts an imposing figure. The appointed prosecutor for the Palatinate of Vieland is Otto Heiger, a feisty, emotional man whose determination to see the Beast burn has been repeatedly undercut by your actions. He looks exhausted and miserable.
The three judges, Kasp Aldaar a hardline military general, Ambrose Khard, a venerable but respected man of 80, and Embreth Daramid, a severe legal scholar known well to you, all look at the party expectantly. A cleric of Pharasma, the Holy Sister of Justice, stands to the side, watching for disallowed spellcasting.
Finally the Beast sits in shackles, hunched over. His massive figure so large in the room it seems almost comical. He looks up at all of you hopefully.
"Mr. Appleton," says Judge Khard. "I suspect you will be speaking again. What have you and your companions to say on this, the final charge?"
"Indeed I will," Eldon says as he moves forward.
Eldon nods politely at everyone present, then turns to the judges. "I can keep this quite simple. A building burned down and a single person saw a large creature. That's it, really..."
"Saying the large creature that was spotted at Karb Isle Sanctuary had to be Bigguns equals saying a random gnome you saw at the local bakery had to be me, just because that gnome and I are roughly the same size. Besides, there isn't even evidence to prove the large creature seen by the witness even set the fire."
"That's all," Eldon says, and starts heading back toward his allies.
After three steps Eldon suddenly turns back around. "I may add that, while investigating the scene, I and my assistants found some burned documents. We weren't able to decipher all of it, but they appeared to be orders for various sorts of chemicals and the name "Vorkstag and Grine's Chymic Works" showed repeatedly on the documents. We also found an unbroken vial with "Vorkstag and Grine, Chymickal Bleach" written on it, and several deformed undead. Rest assured, the undead were put to rest."
Eldon then addresses the Chief Justice directly. "It's pretty clear Bigguns can't be tied to the fire at Karb Isle Sanctuary, but in the interest of solving the case it may be useful to interrogate master Vorkstag and master Grine."
"We gotta head they ken be talkin' to, too!'
Wren nods along with Eldon's points and wonders what she might add to the defense. In the end, she keeps quiet but she just knows that her friends badly want her to speak.
Kaple, having prepared for the witnesses ahead of time, stands to help call in Vorkstag and Grine. The two twisted, evil fey snarl and spit as they are dragged into the courtroom and brought to the stand. They stare malevolently at the group.
Kaple leans over, whispering to the group.
"Any of you can ask questions, we just need Eldon's silver tongue to give our c-c-closing remarks."
"Vorkstag and Grine, before I ask you anything I'd like to confront you with our witness."
Eldon gives the sign for the head to brought up and nods at Whiskeyjack, indicating the dwarf should come over. "We have the head of one of your victims, and my assistant Whiskeyjack will allow us to speak to him."
Eldon places the severed head on a chair in front of Vorkstag and Grine. When Whiskeyjack's used the scroll that enables talking with the dead, Eldon asks the head the following question: "Could you describe to us in which manner you died, including those responsible for your death?"
The head jerks around on the table, to the horror of the crowd, and its eyes open. The voice, is a bare whisper, and one of the judges gets up to approach and listen, after a nod from the Priestess of Pharasma.
"I was killed in a fire when Vorkstag came as The Shambling Man to kill me and started the fire. I did business with Vorkstag and Grine for body parts, but they were cheating me. I threatened to expose their secret. And I died."
Wren grips her chair tightly as the head speaks. She awaits Eldon's next question.
"I see," Eldon says and starts pacing back and forth.
"You say Vorkstag came as The Shambling Man. Could you describe to us what The Shambling Man looks like, including his size, and how you were able to tell it was Vorkstag?"
Eldon stops his pacing to listen to the head's answer.
Arval stands with the others, staring at the ceiling.
Is it over yet?
The head continues to whisper.
"Vorkstag is a skin-changer. He spoke of the Shambling Man, a fearsome guise of a massive beast. Got the skin from a big mongrelman. Like a tall, broad man. Deformed; warts and scales."
Wren stands, looking around, pointing at the head.
"Do you hear?! That is not the Brodur! That was something else! The dead cannot lie! Squawk."
Wren sits down, almost embarrassed by her outburst.
Arval looks down annoyed at Wren suddenly speaking up. He moves a little closer to her and whispers a bit harshly.
"SSSssshhh! What are you doing?!"
He watches the crowd for any reaction.
"Let Eldon do the talking!"
Whiskeyjack smacked one fist into the other in triumph. He had been certain that the head would add additional details to exonerate Bigguns, but there was no shame in celebrating that fact now. Of course, even if Bigguns was acquitted, there was still the mob to deal with. They may have been dispersed last night, but the odds were good they would be back. Scared folks stay scared.
"Vorkstag," Eldon says as he turns toward the shape-changer. "We know it was you who set fire to Karb Isle Sanctuary. This person here tells us you and Grine were cheating him, and he threatened to expose your secret. He says that was your reason to murder him. Is there anything you'd like to add to that?"
"Or maybe you would like to react?" Eldon asks as he turns to Grine. "And remember lying won't help you. The dead can't lie when under the spell my assistant just used."
Vorkstag and Grine stare at the crowd malevolently. They look to each other and Grine finally speaks up.
"We have nothing to say."
The crowd is actually silent as they watch the proceedings. Judge Khard finally speaks up.
"I think we've heard enough. Escort the public defenders to the defense room and we will hear the final arguments."
The group is lead from the courtroom while the final arguments are heard. Kaple is actually well-spoken as he eloquently explains that there is no remaining credible evidence that could link the Beast to the crimes. The prosecution gives a fiery last word as well, arguing that the fairy tale of Vorkstag and Grine is a preposterous invention of 'out of towners' employing some 'magical friends of the bird-man', and that he sees no evidence for this wraith, just dead children.
Finally, the trial breaks, and an hour passes as the justices deliberate.
After an agonizing hour waiting in Kaple's chambers, you are all returned back into the courtroom where the Beast sits in manacles, looking forlorn as usual.
Judge Khard stands up and speaks in his booming, if slightly trembling voice.
"“We have heard the evidence presented before us, and thank Pharasma that we did so, for without this trial there would have been a most terrible miscarriage of justice. There are many cruelties in the world, but to lie and blame another for one’s crimes is the most terrible of sins. We have asked ourselves a question—who is the monster here? Is it this creature before us, with its broken body and terrible form, or is it we, the people of Lepidstadt, with our bigotry and lies? The Beast is ”
There's a brief moment of shocked silence.
The crowd absolutely loses their mind as Beast lets out a cry of joy. A guard steps forward to unshackle him and he rushes over to the group, managing to crush all of you at once in a gigantic hug.
Thankfully he does not manage to crush any ribs. Garbage pelts into the courtroom, but you are all protected by your gigantic golem friend who continues to embrace you all just a little painfully.
"Can't......breath......" Kawrock manages weeze out.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Wren accepts the thanks from Stitches as if she did it all herself.
"Oh good, now we just need to ensure your safety until we can get you out of here," Wren says, finally thinking of something to do.
"What happens now, Kaple? Is Stitches free to leave? Can we get protection for him?"
Arval gulps as he is squashed by the giant man.
"Go-od... Man... Ple-ase release!"
Kaple is of course delighted, but too dignified to really show any emotional display. As Wren wriggles in the Beast's grasp Kaple speaks in his solemn voice.
"The B-B-Beast will be escorted back to the Dippelmere with an armed escort to ensure his s-s-safety."
Wren nods.
"Excellent, I'd like to join in that...both to speak to Stitches but also to ensure his safety. When is that going to happen?"
"Bigguns, do you wish to stay at the Dippelmere?" Eldon asks the flesh golem. "Will you be happy there, by yourself?"
People will come after him if he returns there...
Arval nods in agreement to Lena.
"Money's always good! Have my eyes on a beautiful new sword."
He nods to Bigguns as goodbye, still a bit disgusted by his body.
The guards arrange Bigguns' armed escort and begin leading him towards the east gate across the river. At least a dozen guards show up to block off the crowd as they follow, yelling threats. Bigguns wanders along cheerfully, having only nodded cheerfully to Eldon. Finally, the crowd following the group peters out, and you find yourself at the edge of the massive swamp. Bigguns crouches down to speak to all of you.
Bigguns points vaguely northeast, and with that he waves and starts sloshing into the swamp.
A guard also passes a note to Eldon surreptitiously. It reads:
Come see me. -ED
Know (Local) - Schloss Caromarc
Wren's head cocks like a pigeon's at the name, her mind instantly trying to recall what she knows of Schloss.
He hugs Bigguns goodbye...too choked up for the words to say much.
Schloss Caromarc is well-known as the dwelling of Count Alpon Caromarc. Roughly forty years ago Vieland (the county the group is currently in) was involved in a revolt along with Lozeri, Tamrivena, and eventually Canterwall which is where Ravengro and Harrowstone are located. The result was an abandonment of hereditary rule and the establishment of a cross-county parliamentary democracy which continues to tithe to the crown of Ustalav.
Count Caromarc was the last hereditary ruler of Vieland, who abdicated his seat after the rebellion. Schloss Caromarc lies to the northeast of Dippelmere Swamp, and is famously several buildings built into the walls of a gorge above a waterfall which both attracts and deters visitors. Alpon Caromarc has a reputation for being an eccentric and reclusive genius but Wren knows little more than that about him.
"Mebbe i's jest me, bu' I canne be thinkin' tha' Bigguns jest walkin' away is gonna turn ou' as well as we'd like. Still, maybe no harm in headin' off fer a visit. Somehow I be thinkin' tha' we're no' t' be too popular around Lepidstadt in th' comin' days."
Goodbye, Bigguns, Eldon says as he hugs the flesh golem back. "Take care!"
When the party's heading back to Lepidstadt and the guards are no longer around, Eldon shows the others the note he was given by one of the guards. "Someone named Ed or with the initials E.D. also wants to see me, or us. I expect this person's either a huge fan of yours truly, or someone who organized a lynch mob for us. What do you think?"
"Someone named Ed or with the initials E.D. also wants to see me, or us. I expect this person's either a huge fan of yours truly, or someone who organized a lynch mob for us."
Wren turns away from the departing Bigguns.
"Oh no, Dearie. That's my good friend, Judge Daramid. She and I are quite the pair; I've been over for tea...blahblahblah...two lumps as only heathens take one...blahblahblah...tasted like baked excrement...blahblahblah...twice as many servants as necessary...blahblahblah...a room for a wild bacchanal."
Wren continues to ramble.
"We should go there now, I think."
With Bigguns waving goodbye to the group, he sinks off into the swamp, and they turn back. The people in Lepidstadt almost seem to be in a state of mourning, and although everybody gives the group dirty glances, there are a few who come up and thank them for rising above the mob. When the group reaches the more educated University district of Lepidstadt the reaction is merely chilly rather than hostile.
Upon reaching Embreth's townhouse, they are immediately ushered in face to face with a beaming Judge.
"Congratulations! My word, that was stunning. Clear evidence, convincing arguments, eloquent presentation, and just a smidgen of blasphemy. I couldn't have done better myself."
With a sweeping gesture, and even a bit of a spin, she gestures to six neatly tied bags on her coffee table.
"Your payment. I'm getting some wine dearies, although I believe there are a few unanswered questions to look in to."
"Thank you, thank you," Eldon says smugly. "Why, of course! Of course, indeed!"
While the judge leaves to get her wine, Eldon opens his bag of gold to count how much he got for the job.
Arval thankfully receives the reward and starts counting to see if he has enough money for his sword.
"Hope its well worth all the near deaths we had this adventure!"
Wren bustles into the Judge's home like she's been there before and had lived there all her life.
"Oh, so good to see you, Dearie!" Wren coos. "That was a fun experience, the most fun I've had since...blahblah...oranges as aphrodisiac...blahblah...twice as many as was necessary...blahblah...and so the dwarf was ritualistically shorn."
Wren looks for offered coffee or tea, sipping it while they discuss the trial and the news that the Judge might have. She has yet to touch the reward, as if still deciding if she should take it.
"What are the questions you might have, Dearie?"
Whiskeyjack grabs his bag and puts it into a pouch for counting later. "Angradd may be th' god o' war an' battle, but justice is also high on 'is list o' things t' go after. Ain't a paladin nor a constable, but in this case, i' been th' righ' thing t' do. An' ye right abou' one thing. There be too many unanswered questions."
"Bigguns may have been innocent o' th' killin's, bu' 'e were caught fair an' square bustin' up th' university. There jest ain't no cause fer tha'. an' i' ain't like i's 'is nature t' be doin' tha' kinda damage. An' wha' o' th' other clues we found? Th' missin' statue an' the open window an' such? By Angrad's hairy ba..." Whiskeyjack caught himself up short from using one of his favorite oaths and continued, baggage, i' jest dinnae make any sense!"
Embreth pours several glasses of wine, settling down in a high-backed chair.
"I wouldn't put it quite so... eloquently," she says disapprovingly as she looks over Whiskeyjack. "But that is precisely it. The B--Bigguns, we shall call him I suppose. Bigguns broke into the University, and a grotesque curio went missing. No reason given, he has no memory of it. I believe the answers lie at the Schloss Caromarc."
She takes a long sip of wine, and nods approvingly at it.
"I've already received the intelligence of what Bigguns said at his parting, so worry not. That said, so has the rest of town. Even now a mob is forming to try to retrieve Bigguns. It will likely take them a day or two but I would recommend you make haste for Schloss Caromarc tomorrow or the day after at the absolute earliest."
Embreth adjusts her hair a little, after a long grey wisp had fallen out of her bun.
"Now, Count Caromarc. There is an interesting man. Bigguns calling him his father makes sense. He is a recluse and a paranoid, losing one's title does that to people. But he is brilliant, and if anyone could create a sentient golem, it would be him. You may be denied entry, but he is peaceable enough - and hopefully Bigguns' will grant you an audience. There, we may finally have our questions answered."
"There, we may finally have our questions answered."
Wren clears her throat, a clucking sound emerging.
"What questions would those be, Dearie? Anything more than what 'Jack uttered?"
Wren sits up, thinking about what else she might want to know. And then takes the pouch of offered platinum.
"Oke we'll see that he gets a warm welcome."
Arval says in reply to the judge.
"First a good nights rest though! And maybe a good drink."
As he says the last he elbows Whiskey to see if he is up for it.
Kawrock picks up his payment. "Glad that business is over with, and the real problems have been corrected. I do not like those that pick on someone based purely on appearance." He looks over at Arval, "I agree with getting a good nights sleep as well."
"I do not like those that peck on someone based purely on appearance."
Wren titters as if laughing at some funny thought she had.
"Yes, splendid idea. I, of course, just had the exact same plan formed in my mind."
Eldon jumps from his chair. "I don't want to buy anything, so I'll go straight to bed."