10 AM: The Trial of the Beast begins
The three justices who wil hear the case (Chief Justice Ambrose Khard, Judge Kasp Aldar, and Judge Embreth Diarmid) enter the courtroom and take their seats at the central podium, directly in front of a large iron chair in the center of the courtroom. To their left stands the Holy sister of Justice, a grey-robed priestess of Pharasma, there to ensure no magic is used at the trial unless requested by the Justices. To their right is the Herald of the Court, a tall humanoid in black half-plate armor with a full-face visor to keep his identity secret. He calls out official announcements while striking the great gong, calls witnesses, and in general keeps order in the court. He is also armed with a ceremonial masterork greatsword and acts to protect the Judges.
A trio of guards leads the beast into the courtroom and shackles it to the chair to the jeers of the crowd.
10:10 AM: Opening the trial
Chief Justice Khard commences proceedings by laying out the rules of the court (see previous post) in a lengthy speech, interspersed by gong strikes from the Herald. He concludes by noting that the good people of Lepidstadt have suffered many acts of terror and barbarity at the hands of the Beast for many years, and that while the Beast is undoubtedly guilty of many other crimes and numerous murders, this trial will focus on three recent cases to prove the Beast's guilt during this trial.
10:30 AM: Opening statements
Prosecutor Otto Heiger outlines his case, alleging that the Beast is responsible for the murders of 10 people in Morast a year ago, in addition to two other horrendous crimes that will be described as the trial continues.
Barrister Gustav Kaple then makes his case for the Beast's innocence; a somewhat half-hearted attempt full of stutters and awkward pauses, accompanied by jeers and boos bayed from the gallery by the crowd.
11 AM: Witnesses for the Prosecution
Prosecutor Heigel brings forward three Morast locals, two young women and a middle-aged man, who testify to the events as they saw them: over a series of nights, the Beast came to the village and took people away; that a trap was finally laid for it and the Beast was driven into the swamp and, they assumed, killed. The prosecutor then calls Headman Lazne, village elder and leader of the mob that drove off the Beast, who confirms the events the others related.
12:30 PM: Witnesses for the Defense
Your turn.
I call Mr. Lazne to speak for the defense. Vertielle begins, then pointedly shuffles her notes and waits him taking the seat.
Mr. Lazne, do you remember how you described the town's attacker to me?
When he returned in the morning, Zhiden reported what he'd learned about Vladka Kostel. He wondered how he might learn more about this individual, because that was to be his next task.
Well, they didn't look like they liked that much. Hopefully the rest of you have better luck.
Note: since Vertielle got some rest, she takes no minuses to her rolls.
No scars from bite of caiman: +10 to roll; base roll 11/12 + 10 =21/22: 1 success
"Vell, dis guy iz probably a reseller, bot he has to sell 'em to sumbody. Hy say ve payz hem a visit."
Note: I will allow other checks such as Bluff or Intimidate as well. Bribery is always helpful, too.
Zhiden smiled as fatigue began to overtake him. "It's acutally a woman, if I remember right. She has red hair, and is apparently known for wearing a scarf with a swan on it. She works for an auction house called Lodov's Chirurgery Merchants. If you want to handle displomacy, I can poke around their after dark, but I'm going to bed now, if nothing is presing." With that, Zhiden turned in, assuming nothing ridiculously pressing came up.
Vertielle does her best to track down the woman and get her alone before asking her any questions, and preferably takes along Eva, Rova, or Gkirkhan in case of trouble.
We should work in shifts. Eva and I will present evidence, track leads, and sleep. Gkirkhan, Rova, Wood, and Zhiden can form two other groups, one for darkness and one for evening. Gkirkhan and Zhiden make a good team, and Gkirkhan can see in the dark better than any of us. This way everyone sleeps eight hours and works sixteen, and we don't miss any trials.
"Uh? Ov course, I vas goink to be dip-lo-met-tik und schtoff!"
Wood will go with Zhiden, as the seemier side of the enterprise is exciting to him. He will sleep during the trial and hope to uncover evidence and catch the real culprit.
The trial opened with the prosecutor calling several University guards to describe the Beast's capture in the lepidstadt University Antiquities Department and the loss of the Seasage Effigy, the only item missing.
As for the your part in the trial, Gustav will call those of you who wish to speak to present any evidence (other than the description you've already presented) you uncovered in Morast. Eva or Vertielle, who is going to present what you have so far?
At 2 PM the Chief Justice will call the court to recess and announce that tomorrow's trial will present evidence about the murders of six children in the nearby town of Hergstag.
Tracking down Miss Kostel finds her leaving a different shop, having purchased a few other items.
Let me have some Diplomacy checks, please.
It's around Noon, btw.
Which piece of evidence are you presenting? Each must be presented separately and rolled for separately.
(Same for bluff, diplomacy, and CHA)
After Vertielle's cross-examination brings out the differences in the description of the 'Beast' the town fought, the prosecutor tries to recover by having Lazne remind the court it was dark, the area was lit only by torches and the Beast emerged from the swamp and may simply have been covered by swamp plants and muck. It's difficult to determine just how the judges are responding.
Barrister Kaple then calls Eva to the stand, and after verifying her credentials and her position as his agent in gathering evidence, he asks her to review and verify for the court the items they uncovered in Morast.
1: The Beast has difficulty speaking and could not have cursed as fluently as the witnesses claimed.
2: There is plenty of evidence that there was grave-robbing involved at the same time, something that the Beast has never been accused of, nor had reason to do.
3: Someone killed and removed the face from a local hunter, possibly even skinning them completely, a delicate task the Beast would be unable to perform.
4: The Beast, as a flesh golem, can see in the dark, and therefor would not need an alchemical darkvison extract, nor could it likely make one.
5: The Beast could not even hold the surgical tools found at the site and possibly used on the hunter, nor could he have acquired them easily.
6: The witnesses all testified that the 'Beast' that committed the crimes in Morast was bitten so severely by a blood caiman that the witnesses all thought him dead. However, the Beast on trial here has no such scars, even though he shows other scarring.
Vladka is quite willing to tell you she purchased that kit for her employer, Otto Klud. She thinks she remembers the purchaser as wearing an unusual high hat and green-tinted reading glasses, but she doesn't know his name.
Gkirkhan relays this info to the rest of the party after his delightful romp around town (and more private places) with Vladka.
Note: Vertielle aready rolled on the lack of scarring, so Eva cannot present #6.
1: The Beast has difficulty speaking and could not have cursed as fluently as the witnesses claimed: Roll=27+0=27: 1 success!
2: There is plenty of evidence that there was grave-robbing involved at the same time, something that the Beast has never been accused of, nor had reason to do: Rool=10+0=10: failed
3: Someone killed and removed the face from a local hunter, possibly even skinning them completely, a delicate task the Beast would be unable to perform.
4: The Beast, as a flesh golem, can see in the dark, and therefor would not need an alchemical darkvison extract, nor could it likely make one: roll=21/22+5=26/27: 2 successes!
5: The Beast could not even hold the surgical tools found at the site and possibly used on the hunter, nor could he have acquired them easily.
6: The witnesses all testified that the 'Beast' that committed the crimes in Morast was bitten so severely by a blood caiman that the witnesses all thought him dead. However, the Beast on trial here has no such scars, even though he shows other scarring: Roll=11/12+10=21/22: 3 successes!
The Judges look very interested in what you've presented so far.
After the Court rests for the day, Barrister Kapel calls you into his office to explain the next day's case.
"This one is going to be tough. The Beast is accused of killing six children in the village of Hergstag seven months ago. He was seen, in broad daylight, carrying the body of a six-year-old girl into the town, laughing, and was driven out by the locals. The town itself was abandoned not much later, due to the children returning as ghosts. The only witnesses available are three sisters named Garrow, Starle, and Flitch. The now own a small windmill on the outskirts of Lepidstadt. The remnants of Hergstag are about 10 miles nortwest of Lepidstadt. Talk to the sisters and then head out to see what you can find. Good luck. I think you're going to need it."
It's amazing how quickly Gkirkhan's moods can swing at times. After hearing about the trial, he was practically euphoric, but as soon as ghosts are mentioned, the headiness from earlier quickly dissolves into a feeling of dread. When going to a town full of ghosts, there was only one word that came to mind for him.
"Dem."
Wood is ready to investigate the new town.
"Let us go to this windmill. Are we bringing your new friend, Gkirkan?"
"Vot? Are hyu crezy?! Hy vouldn't drag a lovely lady into harm's vay on purpose."
Pharasmin judgement would be especially welcome, however.
Zhiden seemed about as enthusiastic about the prospect of visiting a literal ghost town as Gkirkhan. "I'm not sure if we have enough holy water for this, is there a church around whose supply we could buy out?" It might have been a joke, but Zhiden said it like he meant it.
Vertielle checks her pack.
I've three vials, and still a pair of undead-bane arrows, as well as some ghost touch left. I never did use the potion to detect them, either... I'd say if the priestess agrees to help, we'll be well situated to deal with any undead.
She checks the position of the sun.
In any case we ought to get moving about now.
"Vait, hyu meant Imrijka. Jah, haffink her vould be good."
Gkirkhan sprints off to see if he can find the inquisitor.
Imrijka hears you out then goes to speak with her superior. She returns shortly, well equpped for undead combat.
"My superior OK. Not likely that Beast could raise dead, though curse on Ustalav could. Still, could try commune with them to gain eye-witness report. Should know who killed them. If not Beast, or death-shock, important know who raising dead here."
She pauses, looking thoughtful. "Also, often called monster when think I can't hear. Will give Beast chance. Only fair, but will punish if guilty."
Given the need to meet and plan and wait for Gkirkhan, it's 4 PM before you can locate the sister's windmill and speak to them.
They seem upset that you are working to aid the creature who murdered the children, but Imrijka's presense reassures them...somewhat.
The sisters are all in their late forties and had lived their entire lives in Hergstag. They remember the deaths very well. The village children vanished one by ne, only to return as ghosts. Finally, one horrible day, the culprit was revealed as the Beast bodly walked into town carrying the body of Ellsa and laughing. The villagers promptly attacked with pitchforks, but couldn't catch it, merely driving it into the swamp. When the poor innocnt victims continued to haunt the village, it was abandoned, leaving the poor little ones to roam their old home.
Gkirkhan narrows his eyes in suspicion as the sisters spin their tale.
"Are hyu sure dot is everytink? Ve is tryink to make sure dot de right monster is keeled for de right crimes, und Hy do not vant to do dis twice."
After the sisters reveal that the sixth died days later, Gkirkhan once again narrows his glowing red eyes.
"Vell dot is not good. Dot sounds like she died of a sickness."
"Hy don't tink dot beast vas laffink. Hy tink he vas cryink. Remember vhen ve saw hem in de cell?"
A low growl rumbles in the half-orc's broad chest.
"Hy tink hyu iz goink to be doink a lot ov inquisitorink, Imrijka"
Zhiden was surprised to learn of the sixth death. That changed things considerably. "I wonder where they were disappearing to? He said idly. "I suppose we should explore the swamp," He added, hoping to divert the group's attention from anything involving dealing with ghost children. He also couldn't help wondering if every town in Ustalav was built on the edge of a swamp.
First, we examine the place where the sixth was killed, then we find the body of the fifth and interrogate the corpse. Then we explore the swamp.
The trip out to Hergstag will take about 5 hours, putting you there just as the sun begins to set.
The local farmland has fallen to ruin, and now the crops have gone to seed, the corn grows high, and even the well-trodden pathways are overrun, transforming the once well-kept village paths and fields into light undergrowth.
Evangline
Gkirkhan
Rova
Vertielle
Wood
Zhiden
Imrijka
As you approach the town, Rova is the only one to notice something odd on the tangled trail ahead.
"Huh, sods 'ere thought th' beast wuz 'ere. There's a bear trap 'n th' thicket, see th' chain?"
Rova clears the brush carefully to show the others the trap.
"Best keep yer eyes open fer more. No'un sets jes' one trap."
How inconsiderate of them, Vertielle says halfheartedly, but she keeps her eyes out for any further dangers hiding amidst the tangled trail.
"Gotterdammerung. Hy hates cowards."
Gkirkhan moves deeper into the undergrowth taking point and letting his vision fall into the monochrome of darkvision.
The wizard nods in agreement with Vertielle and Gkirkan.
"We need to be alert in this desolate area. A good place for an ambush."
Vertielle squints into the darkness.
I can't see much, but a light would betray our location immediately.
You cautiously move on into the village. The streets are overgrown, the houses seemingly empty, the doors to some swinging open, others still shut tight. The buildings fronting onto the main street seem to be shops and workplaces, and the fading light glints off the spire and roof of a temple at the very end of the street.
Where do you want to go first?
Wood heads to the temple looking for anything interesting along the way.
"Temple?"
"Vouldn't de house ov de little gorl dot died be better?"
Imrijka comments "Yes. Which house hers? Records at church, perhaps. Learn where all six lived."
"Well then, I guess temple it is," Zhiden said, that old familiar tension welling up in his voice.
The temple seems the most reasonable place to start. We should be on the lookout, though, someone or something doesn't want us here.
"Sounds like we're heading to the kirk then."