It takes a little convincing to get Rajuna to intrude (from his perspective) on the private dinner. He generally keeps the talk light, unsure how freely he can speak in front of the history professor… no matter how much Kendra trusts him. Obliquely, and with no mention of specifics such as names, Raj does share that the team’s investigation into ‘that legal matter’ is progressing despite some twists and turns that remind him of their days in Ravengro (i.e. the case isn’t straight-forward and a shadowy group is involved). He stresses the team is making progress. He lightly touches on a curious discovery, that shoddy research is being done by the opposing counsel (i.e. the police investigation is sketchy). He tries to convey, more through looks and gestures than words, that Kendra needs to be careful – not even the constables should be trusted. He quickly follows that with, ”So, we’ll be investigating for several more days at least, possibly with a brief trip or two outside Lepidstadt, following where the facts lead us.”
With the bulk of a day to kill in Lepidstadt, Mila spends a decent bunch of it just gawking. Some of the buildings are three, four, even FIVE stories tall. And there are so many people. She doesn't trust that she'd be able to lend much to Rajuna's investigation of the fancy tools. Instead, she wanders back to near the building that houses the Beast. She doesn't try to go in, just finds a bench and turns her keen ears to listening-- trying to get some sense of why the people of the city hate the poor fellow so.
Mila also buys and eats six different pastries, each one fancier and prettier than the last.
When Park takes her and Zhandar out for dinner at the fanciest restaurant that Mila has ever been in, she is a bit of a flustered wreck. "I don't have clothes fancy enough for this place," she mumbles.
Park chuckles at Mila's comment. "There are a couple of restaurants in town with a dress code. But this is a university town. Most of the places accept almost anything because they feed the students. I picked a place that I've been to while I was a student here. They've got good food, and lots of students."
Kendra successfully receives Rajuna's message, and silently nods in acknowledgement. The professor doesn't even appear to be listening, politely occupying himself with a copy of the newspaper printed the previous day. Lots of stories about the Beast and its' alleged crimes of course, which is to be expected.
During Mila's trip throughout town she mostly hears people discussing the 'facts' she already knows about the trial, not adding anything new to the investigation whatsoever. However, about half an hour before she joins Park for dinner she overhears a mother venting to one of her friends her worries about her son not having come back from his fishery on the Lesser Moutray River that flows next to Lepidstadt.
"The Beast has been captured already and it'll be hung in a few days so I'm not concerned about anything like that happening to him. I'm just worried he's getting too absorbed in his work to come see his mother every now and then."
Zhandar sighs, resigned to the idea that she must go with Park and Mila and spend time in a public place. Still, she feels she owes them both the courtesy of trying to appear that she is enjoying herself. She wears her cloak with the hood up throughout the meal, and she says very little while Park and Mila converse animatedly. But at least she is there with them, rather than cooped up in her room attempting to brew potions and tinctures in a confined space for most of the evening.
Earlier in the day Mila frowns a bit to hear about the young man who is late in coming home from the fisheries. Even here in the big city, bad things can still happen.... And people always want something to blame. She sighs, filing the information away though not sure if there's anything to be done about it. They likely won't have time for a detour to random fisheries.
****
At dinner, she tries to be bolstered by Park's claim that there's no dress code to speak of. While she's not as taciturn as Zhandar is, it is no doubt Park whose glib tongue mostly dominates the conversation. Mila listens, and goggles at all he various people, and eats, and drinks a bit more wine than she probably should have.
But she weathers it with no ill effects, at least, other than a penchant to get a bit giggly and pink-cheeked, especially when Park is making jokes.
While Park does notice that Zhandar isn't enjoying the evening like he and Mila, he accepts her choice and doesn't try (too hard) to draw her into the evening festivities. He also notices that Mila is drinking a bit more than usual, but feels that the group could enjoy a little bit of relaxing and he drinks a bit more than usual as well....
The next morning comes quickly (perhaps too quickly in Park's case), and as the sun rises on Lepidstadt, the court readies itself. A roar of voices greets you long before the courthouse comes into view. As you push through the crowded square, the stone steps of Lepidstadt’s Hall of Justice rise above a sea of angry townsfolk. Rotten vegetables and smeared fruit litter the stairs, evidence of the mob’s earlier attempts to strike the building itself. A crude noose hangs over the doorway, swaying in the morning breeze, a painfully obvious sign of hatred likely hung by one of the mob. The courthouse doors slam shut behind you, muting the crowd but not defeating its echo.
Barrister Gustav meets you in the defense chamber at nine as you planned, and goes over the evidence you collected from Morast and the general plan of defense once more before the trial starts in earnest. He also gives you some details on the judges that'll be presiding over the trial.
Judge Kasp Aldaar: Judge Aldaar is a figure of terror for criminals on trial. He is a hard-liner in the extreme, and his merciless justice is feared throughout Ustalav. A former military general, Aldaar is infamous for his impalement of four score deserters under his command who fled a battle.
Judge Embreth Daramid: Judge Daramid is a magistrate of Lepidstadt and is already known to you.
After an hour of discussion whether you are ready or not, a young man attendant to the court comes to collect you and take you into the courtroom. A pair of guards outside the door to the main court performs a cursory inspection of the party and confiscates any obvious weapons you may still have before letting you inside.
The grand room is paneled in dark oak and its vaulted ceiling is 25 feet high. Three thronelike chairs with built-in lecterns for the presiding justices stand in front of the east wall. The witness stand is directly in front of them. Two polished mahogany desks, one for the defense and one for the prosecution, stand facing the justices’ chairs. An iron restraining chair with six sets of masterwork manacles for the accused stands in the center of the room, specially created for this trial. Behind the Beast in his chair, two rows of a dozen seats each face the front of the court. To the west, the public gallery overlooks the room ten feet above.
The buzz of the crowd in the gallery is loud as everyone is seated, but the Chief Justice quickly calls the court to order with a handful of slams of his gavel upon the podium.
"Order, order in the court." the man's voice is loud and resonates throughout the room, silencing every voice in the room. "Court is now in session. We begin this first day of trial with the first counts the Beast of Lepidstadt is charged with: the kidnapping and murder of at least 10 people from Morast."
Rajuna is silent and watchful as they head to the courthouse, looking for anything and anyone unusual. DH might have eyes on us. The thrown vegetables and noose that greet them at the courthouse seem premature… a mob at its most intelligent.
None of that bothers the thief too much but Raj’s chest suddenly feels tight at the pedigrees of the other two judges, especially as they enter the court itself. Avoiding courts and the eyes of the law, in any capacity, was his lifelong goal. And he can only imagine that if he were a defendant in the dock, drawing these two judges, he’d expect no mercy and even less fairness.
Park eats a greasy breakfast with plenty of protein to counter the hangover. With that and plenty of coffee he is feeling, almost normal....
He ignores the vegetables and noose. Obviously the mob is ignorant! He wonders how upset they will be when the evidence clearly shows that the Beast is not guilty of the crimes listed against him today!
Once they enter the courtroom Park focuses on the observers.
Zhandar keeps her hood up and nervously watches the crowd as they walk. She stays close to the others, certain that a murderous mob could quickly turn on others that they thought in league with the monster they were hunting.
Mila listens to the barrister's description of the judges with a bit of a sinking heart. It sounds like they won't have much luck for mercy with two of them.
She thanks Gustav for his assistance thus far, and braces for the din of a crowd as they go in. She's not disappointed.
The set-up with the special restraining chair seems over the top to her. Spectacle for the sake of it. Mila sighs and tucks a stray lock of hair behind one of her half-pointed ears. Without her bow to hand, she feels half-dressed, and her fingers restlessly fidget with a seam on her tunic.
She mutters to Zhandar, "This crowd seems ready to tear someone apart, anyway. Don't like the mood..."
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The audience in the public gallery is mostly made up of the movers and shakers of Lepidstadt; you recognize several professors of various subjects from the University, including Dr. Crowl from the Antiquities Department that you spoke too earlier. Amongst the professors are other important people of the city, some prolific traders, rich nobles, a handful of guard captains, the like. About who you'd expect.
After a few moments of the defense team (you) and the prosecutors getting settled and seated, the Chief Justice speaks again. "We shall now proceed with the prosecution's opening statement, given by Otto Heiger, appointed prosecutor for the Palatinate of Vieland." You see a nearby judicial scribe taking notes upon the events of the court, furiously scrolling down every action and word that happens.
The prosecutor rises, embellished black robes whispering against the polished floor. With a measured breath, he steps before the assembled court, his voice steady but charged with righteous conviction.
He gestures sharply toward the shackled Beast, who growls openly in reply.
“For years this creature, this 'Beast', has lurked in the shadows of our fair Ustalav, leaving misery as its only legacy. Its might is unmatched, its rage uncontrollable. The people of Morast, the scholars of Hergstag, and the grieving families of Karb Isle all bear witness to its atrocities. And now, through careful investigation and harrowing testimony, we will demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt that this thing is responsible for every death, every disappearance, and every monstrous act attributed to it.”
A murmur passes through the crowd, but he expertly doesn't react and presses on.
“We shall show that in Morast, it struck with murderous purpose, dragging the living from their beds. That in Hergstag, it stole children from their homes, extinguishing joy and future in a handful of nights. And at Karb Isle, Lepidstadt’s own center of healing, it wrought devastation and fire, destroying precious knowledge and innocent patients alike. Its trail is one of blood and ruin.”
He leans forward slightly, letting the weight of his words settle.
“The defense may try to convince you that this Beast is misunderstood. That it cannot comprehend its own strength, its own cruelty. But I will prove to you that it knew what it was doing, that it chose violence, and that it struck without remorse. This is not an animal. It is not a victim. It is the greatest threat Ustulav has faced in a generation.”
Then, his tone deepens.
“Justice demands action. Justice demands truth. And justice demands that this creature be held accountable for its crimes.
At the conclusion of this trial, when all the horrors have been laid bare, I am confident that you will reach the only verdict that protects our people. We shall start today with the crimes the Beast committed in Morast.”
He straightens, eyes fixed on the Tribunal. “The Beast of Lepidstadt must be condemned. Thank you, your honor, jury.”
Prosecutor Heiger then makes his way back to his seat, falling silent as the Chief Justice speaks again. "And now, the opening statement from the defense, given by..."
Gustav turns to the one you had agreed would give the opening statement for the defense, and nods that it's your turn to stand and speak.
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Raj hadn’t planned out a statement. This was a moment to see the other fella’s cards and how he laid them down while keeping your own cards close to your chest. He takes a moment to digest the prosecutor’s words before rising. He draws upon his best grammar (in his up-mountain twang) and what he’s heard the few times he’d been in a court. ”If it pleases the court, your Honors, I’m Rajuna Yadrov - lead investigator for the defense. And we agree with the learned prosecutor.”
Ostensibly, he pauses to allow the court reporter catch up in the transcription. In reality, he hopes the dramatic pause lets the furor of his last statement die down and get people really listening to what he says next. “Well, we agree in part. The prosecutor said Justice demands action. Justice demands truth.” Raj shakes his head at that, ”I’d change that around to say ‘Justice demands truth before action, otherwise injustices will surely be done.”
Raj steps around from behind the desk and moves toward the Beast while continuing to address the court. ”Yur Honors, as I see it, our goal aligns with this court’s duty – to determine the actual truth so that appropriate justice may be delivered upon the guilty ones. When all the facts are dragged into the light, and your Honors apply logic and reason, we believe this court will conclude that some of the many crimes attributed to this defendant,” Raj places his hand on the Beast’s arm (silently praying that the Beast doesn’t react and hoping he’d telegraphed the move enough to ensure that result), “could NOT have been committed by him.”
”Thank you, your Honors.” Raj steps back behind the table and sits.
Mila is hoping she does not have to speak publicly, and she expects Park's silver tongue to come into play. She's a bit surprised when it's Rajuna who stands, but solidarity makes her nod along several times.
She doesn't know the protocols, but assumes that she and the others can't just speak up willy-nilly. Instead she watches Heiger-- the man who speaks so fervently about trying to put the Beast to death. Does he... believe everything he's saying? Or is he just playing the crowd?
After Rajuna has given his noticeably less wordy but nonetheless effective opening statement, it is time for the prosecution to present evidence and witnesses.
Otto is called back forward by the Chief Justice, and he spends a couple of minutes arranging his evidence and preparing the witnesses to take the stand. Swearing in takes the form of Daramid, who presents each witness with an elegant gold leaf-covered copy of The Bones Land in a Spiral, Pharasma's most well-known holy text.
The first piece of evidence brought forth is actually a trio of witnesses testifying together: a trio of siblings, two brothers and one sister. The trio describes events as they saw them happen—that over a series of nights, the Beast came to the village and took people away; that a trap was finally laid for the Beast; that the Beast was driven into the swamp, and, they assumed, killed. Otto then calls the village elder, Lazne, who led the mob that drove the Beast off. He confirms the events related by the other three villagers. All of this you have heard before.
His second witness is an elderly seamstress by the name of Old Beldame , who claims she saw a 'hulking, stitched-skin brute with a lantern-jaw silhouette' carrying a body through the marsh around the same time as the attacks. She didn't think much of it the first time, as she lived far away from the village and assumed it was the distance messing with her perceptions of things; when the hunter she so enjoyed didn't visit when he was supposed to, she learned the truth of the matter.
"I might not trust anyone from the village itself, but I know what goes on in my swamp! That Beast killed my Nan!" she finishes, full of righteous anger.
Otto sympathizes with Old Beldame, shaking his head dramatically at her last outburst.
"As you have heard, honored members of the court, a large figure matching the shape and size of the Beast was caught sneaking into the village of Morast late at night in an attempt to replicate its earlier hunting. It preyed on the people of the village and when they finally decided it was enough, and to fight back, the cowardly 'Beast' fled into the swamp and disappeared."
Does he... believe everything he's saying? Or is he just playing the crowd?
He does, in fact, believe the Beast is immensely guilty. It seems as if your opponent truly will fight tooth and nail in order to prove his case and convict the Beast.
With the prosecution resting for now, it is the defense's turn.
Raj stands up and recalls the first witnesses. His plan is two-fold - cast doubt on the prosecution's story and then build a more fact-based alternative.
Defense counsel recalls three Morast locals for additional testimony.Defense: By every account, a large, man-shaped monster carried out the crimes in and around your village. Did you ever see the monster close enough to identify it as the defendant aside from his general size and build matching the monster that stalked your village?
Witnesses: Not precisely, no, but there’s nothing around the area that it could otherwise be. It was the same size and shape.
Defense: ’General size and shape’ are thin reasons for convicting anyone of murder. Thank you, witnesses, no further questions.
Defense counsel recalls Mistress Beldame for additional testimony.Defense: Sorry to ask you to recall that horrible time, but all the details need to be presented to this court so they can dispense justice fairly. Going back to the day you encountered the monster… What time of day was it?
Witness: About an hour before sunset.
Defense: What was the monster wearing?
Witness: I'm not sure if the thing was wearing any clothes beyond maybe some sort of pants? It was waist deep in the marsh, couldn't see too much. It's skin was all stitched together, as if it were made from a handful of different things.
Defense: How was it carrying the body?
Witness: Was dragging the body by one leg behind it, sloshing the remains of whoever the poor victim was through the water.
Defense: How far away were you?
Witness: About twenty, maybe thirty yards. I'm surprised it didn't see me, thank Pharasma!
Defense: Did you see Nan clearly?
Witness: It wasn't Nan, I didn't learn about him becoming a victim until much later. I assume the poor fellow I saw the Beast dragging was another of its MANY victims!
Defense: Did the monster see you?
Witness: As I said before, I am not sure how it didn't see me or my little hut in the marsh. Maybe it was too distracted heading to wherever it was going with its victim?
Rajuna pauses and regards the witness for a moment. Then he returns to the desk to consult his sheaf of notes. It’s a delay tactic as he tries to piece together the witness’ story which doesn’t fit any of the other facts. It’s a set-up – one way or another – it’s gotta be. If the witness is lying, that would be the simplest problem to unravel. If it’s a set-up by the real killer… then the Beast is being tightly framed by some very skilled people.
IF Raj believes the woman is lying, he puts his notes down and says, ”Your Honors, we request the interview of this witness continue with a Holy Sister of Justice present to ensure, through magical means, that the truth is being spoken.”
IF Raj believes she is telling the truth… He’s going to have to revise his next questions quickly.
Mila listens unhappily. The case seems much stronger against the Beast than it seemed when they were out in Morast's swamps-- so many people are certain they saw him. And this Beldame!! This is the first they've heard of her. Mila wishes she knew more about how courts are supposed to work-- woulda been nice to know this lady was gonna testify, but maybe the lawyer for their side didn't know either.
She does her best to keep alert for any signs of dishonesty.
Ms. Beldame truly believes that what she’s saying is the honest to Pharasma truth. She is not intentionally lying to you, Rajuna is certain of that.
Mila, thinking upon the way courts are run here, sees that Gustav is obviously shocked by this witnesses’ appearance, indicating that even he did not know she even existed. Seems as if the prosecution doesn’t have to tell him anything, as the judges haven’t said anything about the surprise witness. You’ll have to be on the lookout for any more surprises from here on out.
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Raj feels the old lady is being honest… which means she’s been hoodwinked or is self-hoodwinking somehow. Wishful thinking, false face, illusion, some sort of memory spell… or was the Beast ordered to make itself a patsy and it doesn’t remember? Without an opportunity to investigate, he’d never find an answer. With no choice but to play it through, he slides a note across the defense table (more to his allies than Kapel) and he resumes his questioning.
The note reads: Detect magic on her when she’s out of court?
Defense counsel continues questioning Miss Beldame.Defense: Sorry for the momentary delay, ma’am. How long have you lived in the swamp?
Witness: Just my whole g@**@@n life, that's all. Dunno what you're trying to insinuate there.
Defense: <raises eyebrow> Not trying to insinuate anything, ma’am. Just asking questions. How far is your hut from the village and in which direction?
Witness: ’Bout thirty minutes walk northeast-ish. Sorta kinda between Morast and the boneyard.
Defense: For how long did you watch the monster? How far did you see it move roughly?
Witness: Not very long, I didn't and don't have a death wish. Maybe half a minute? I'd say about 100 feet or so, through the difficult to traverse terrain of the marsh.
Defense: Where did the monster seem to be heading – deeper into the swamp, towards the road, towards town, or somewhere else?
Witness: Seem? I knew where it was going: the Boneyard. Couldn't be any other place.
Defense: Understood. How often did Nan visit you – once a week, every fortnight, once a month, or did it sort of depend?
Witness: About once a month, always on the way out of Morast after making his monthly trading there. Would always have something sweet for me, shame the Beast put an end to that prematurely.
Defense: How long was it between when you saw the monster and Nan missed your visit?
Witness: A couple of days at most. Not very long.
Defense: You mentioned you don’t trust anyone from the village itself, why is that?
Witness: I have never been welcome in the village, on account of them thinking me a witch. I'm not, of course, but I don’t like spending time around them.
Defense: You testified you think you saw the monster around the same time as the disappearances. Do you recall if it was before the disappearances started, while they were happening, or afterwards? Or are you unsure?
Witness: I would say it was around the same time as them, while they were happening. A handful of days after we found the first person missing.
Defense: When you saw the monster, you were close to your hut, is that right?
Witness: I was on my front porch, yes.
Defense: When you saw the monster, in which direction were you looking?
Witness: Looking southwest, then it walked past my hut to the northeast. Again, towards the Boneyard.
Defense: How did the prosecution’s investigators or sheriffs find you?
Witness: When the sheriff visited, I saw them walking out in the marsh and volunteered my story after I learned what they were doing.
Defense: After you saw the monster, who did you tell about it and what did you do?
Witness: Tried to tell the village about it, but as I said before I'm not well liked. May have blamed me for it instead of being grateful I warned them. Superstitious bastards, the lot.
Defense: Thanks for your patience, Miss Beldame. I’ve only got one more question. So, you were standing on your porch nearing sunset and the monster appears 20 to 30 yards away. It is moving SW to NE through the swamp... wouldn't that put the sun in your eyes? You testified you saw the monster in silhouette, seeing it with the sun in your eyes would certainly make sense.
Witness: Partially, but I also saw it walking away from my hut towards the boneyard, with the sun at my back. I know what I saw.
Defense: A wise fella once said “Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.” It was a sharp way of saying you shouldn’t trust what you think you know because even your eyes can deceive you. That’s why just courts want evidence, not just witnesses. Your neighbors look at you and see a ‘witch’, but you know that isn’t true. I imagine your life would be a lot easier if your neighbors weren’t so cocksure about their opinions. Thank you, Mistress Beldame, for your testimony. You have our sincere condolences on the loss of your friend. I have no further questions for this witness, your Honors.
Defense counsel recalls Elder Lazne for additional testimony.Defense: Master Lazne, according to the prosecutor, the monster fled into the swamp and disappeared. Is that your recollection?
Witness: Like I told you when I took your party out to the graveyard, it didn't disappear. The blood caiman snapped it up and was dragged under the water. We assumed it was dead after seeing that, especially after having seen the caiman the next day.
Defense: After your people sprung the trap, in which direction did the monster flee?
Witness: Again, as I told you yesterday to your face, we knew it was heading towards the graveyard island. Dunno what it wanted there, and none of us particularly wanted to go back after we thought we watched the Beast die. Shame it didn't, if you ask me.
<court attendees applaud>
Defense: <Counsel waits for applause to die down> I’m sorry I have to repeat some of what we talked about, Master Lazne. I’m not losing my memory… we believe it’s important that the court hear the facts straight from you. To answer why it fled to the graveyard of all places, we have an old hunter’s theory. Most creatures flee toward their lair or familiar ground where they feel they may have the advantage. Now, while the caiman attacked him, what did the monster do?
Witness: Bastard swore up a storm, hadn't heard anything like it! Must've been hurting real bad.
Defense: Switching topics for a moment… The prosecution’s investigators came to Morast, didn’t they?
Witness: Not the prosecution exactly, but they sent the sheriff out after having heard about our tale. We didn't even know the Beast had survived, or even that it was in Lepidstadt, until the sheriff came out and asked me to testify.
Defense: How much time did they spend in your village conducting their investigation?
Witness: Wasn't much to investigate, having come out nearly a year after the event. We take care of things on our own out in Morast, so we didn't think to report anything to anyone. Best not to have city slickers out in our village, you said that yourself.
Defense: Don’t mean to be disagreeable, Master Lazne, but there was plenty to investigate if they wanted to put in the effort. How long did they spend investigating the island graveyard?
Witness: Don't think they ever went to the graveyard, didn't seem super interested in it. More just asking us what happened.
Defense: Miss Beldame testified that she tried to warn the town about the monster she saw in the swamp. Do you recall that? What happened?
Witness: I’ll admit, no one believed her. This was before a ton of people had gone missing, so we didn’t really give credit to the stories of a marsh witch.
Defense: Can you tell us about the bite wounds the caiman put on the monster before he got dragged under? Size, location, and maybe the angle of it?
Witness: Left shoulder, right on the collarbone.
Defense: Thanks for your forthright answers, Master Lazne. I’m curious and I bet you are too… let’s see what that caiman did to the defendant.
Rajuna heads over to the Beast and says, ”The court needs to see what sort of wounds, if any, you have on your left shoulder.” He carefully pulls the Beast’s shirt off his shoulder, exposing the monster’s muscled flesh and steps away to allow the Judges, Lazne, and anyone in the closer part of the gallery a chance to see his shoulder. ”I see some stitches from his creator but I don’t see anything that resembles a caiman’s bite. Not even scars from a healed bite.”
Once the court has had a chance to see the area, Raj concludes. ”The defense has no more questions for Master Lazne. We excuse this witness with our thanks.”
Raj straightens his clothes. ”If it please the court, we will now present the results of our investigation and call three expert witnesses. Defense counsel calls Dr. Montagnie Crowl.”
Defense calls Dr. Montagnie Crowl for testimony.Defense: Please state your name and credentials for the court…
Witness: Dr. Montagnie Crowl, Professor at Lepidstadt University’s Antiquities Department.
Defense: It’s good to see you again, Dr. Crowl. Due to your fields of study, you are an acknowledged expert on golems. I’ve got some questions about them. Could you start by telling us how golems, like the defendant, are ‘born’.
Witness: <Dr. Crowl describes how golems are created in magical or alchemical ways, and differentiates it from natural birth.>
Defense: I see. Since they aren’t ‘born’ naturally, do they eat, drink, sleep, and heal like regular people?
Witness: They do not.
Defense: How do golems heal?
Witness: They can be repaired by specific means and/or spells. Each type of golem usually has a specific type of damage that actually heals them. For example, the Beast is a flesh golem, and would be healed by electricity.
Defense: Just to be sure I understand this… he doesn’t heal naturally over time like a living person does or by healing magic, correct?
Witness: Some might but the Beast, as a flesh golem, almost certainly does not.
Defense: Are golems susceptible to magic?
Witness: Some types are susceptible to specific magic, yeah. For your purposes, the typical healing magic or potions would have no effect.
Defense: Some golems are susceptible to specific magics… does that mean that golems are generally immune to magic?
Witness: It is a property common to a lot of golems, yes. The flesh golem does have it.
Defense: Tell the court about a golem’s senses? Are any of them particularly good or poor?
Witness: Most golems have exceptional senses, being able to see in the dark perfectly fine, although it would be the typical black and white vision of darkvision.
Defense: Are golems particularly dexterous, capable of doing fine tasks like sewing, for instance?
Witness: Not exceptionally, no. You were in my office, saw what it did while trying to steal from my display.
Defense: Your office was wrecked. Clearly, they aren’t dexterous. What about brains? Are golems smart enough to engage in a highly intellectual profession… like a wizard, alchemist, or doctor?
Witness: Most certainly not, except in extremely rare occasions far outside the realm of normal.
Defense: How does a golem, like the defendant, fight?
Witness: Usually by smashing things with their hands. A handful have special abilities in combat, usually added in creation. Flesh golems do not.
Defense: Do golems stalk or ambush victims?
Witness: Not the larger ones, like the Beast and its ilk.
Defense: What is the relationship between a golem and its creator?
Witness: Unfortunately, I can't speak to that specific question. The relationships vary broadly, ranging from a father-son bond, to merely a servant, to being forgotten. Not much I can know without knowing the creator of the Beast, which we do not.
Defense: Thank you, Dr. Crowl. We have no further questions for this witness.
”According to Dr. Crowl’s testimony, a flesh golem, like the defendant, only heals when hit with electricity. If the caiman at Morast had bitten him, the wound would still be present. It could only be healed – and might still reasonably leave a scar – IF he was struck by lightning or someone (like his creator) had cast an electrical spell on him. Recall that Dr. Crowl also testified that a flesh golem wizard is almost unheard of, so he couldn’t heal himself. As you saw, your Honors, the defendant showed no evidence of having ever been bit by the caiman that multiple witnesses saw attack the killer in Morast.”
”As our next witnesses testify, please bear these additional facts in mind: Golem don’t eat or drink. They aren’t particularly dexterous or likely able to follow intellectual pursuits. These facts will become relevant shortly.”
Raj pulls out four neatly-penned and identical documents. He leaves one on the defense table, presents one to the Judges, places one on the prosecution table, and keeps the final in hand. ”If it please the court, we will be referring to the defense exhibits found in this document and the associated items that will be presented to this court.”
Defense Exhibits
All evidence collected on the graveyard island near Morast on <date>.DE #1 : Sworn statements from the defense investigation team certifying what they found and where along with a map of the Boneyard Island.
DE #2 : Statement about the six empty graves.
DE #3 : Statement about the camp (southern end of isle) with: firepit, waterskin (still half full of wine), some trail rations, and a glass vial with residue (DE#4).
DE #4 : Vial with remnants of extract of Darkvision.
DE #5 : Statement about the hidden coracle (southwest shore of isle) with: blood spatters across the bottom, an oar, a moldy leather travel bag containing an artisan’s outfit (a shirt, breeches, shoes) along with a cloth apron (DE #6) all in normal human size, and a mask made of a detached human face (DE#7).
DE #6 : Cloth apron (normal sized)
DE #7 : ‘Face’ Mask
DE #8 : Statement that, through questioning, the ‘Face’ Mask was positively identified as belonging to Nan Keblem.
DE #9 : Leather-bound surgical kit (southwest side of isle), of high quality [silver and amethyst] and valued at 300 GP.
DE #10 : Statement about the hidden stash tied to the coracle, which contains: a blood-soaked human-sized cloth sack containing rope, a gag, a rusted lantern, a trio of heavy knives, and a rusty shovel.
DE #11 : Affidavit from Dr. Crowl, stating facts on golems
DE #12 : Affidavit from Miss Baelwick, stating her opinion about DE #4 (vial)
DE #13 : Affidavit from Dr. Richleau, stating his opinion about DE #7 (face mask)
”Defense counsel calls Alchemist Gretna Baelwick.”
Defense calls Alchemist Gretna Baelwick for testimony.Defense: Please state your name and credentials for the court…
Witness: Gretna Baelwick, proprietor of Baelwick’s Bottles & Balms.
Defense: Miss Baelwick, you are the proprietor of a very successful alchemy shop and an acknowledge expert in your field. Earlier today, we presented you with a vial and asked for your analysis of the contents. Note, your Honors, I am referring to Defense Exhibit 4 found in the campsite spoken of in Defense Exhibit #3. Miss Baelwick, what did your analysis conclude?
Witness: It was an extract of darkvision, created by an alchemist. I know my profession.
Defense: I don’t doubt that, ma’am. You said it is an extract. For a layman, such as me, what is the difference between an extract and a potion?
Witness: Potions can be made and drunk by anyone. Extracts can only be made by alchemists, and usually only drunk by them.
Defense: Your Honors, as stated by Dr. Crowl, a flesh golem has darkvision, it doesn’t need an extract of darkvision, its immunity to most magics would prevent this type of extract from working, and an intellectual job like alchemy is beyond all but the rarest of golems… Now, Miss Baelwick, this extract affects a person’s vision – allowing them to see in the dark. Are there other extracts that affect different physical aspects of a human being, for instance, their size?
Witness: There are plenty of extracts that do a ton of different things, yeah. The defense asked me to bring an extract of Enlarge Person, and I did so.
Defense: Your Honors, we ask the court’s indulgence for a small demonstration… Miss Baelwick, you are a dwarf and roughly 4’ tall. Would you please stand and move away from the witness chair.
The witness complied with the request and, standing near defense counsel and the defendant, drank an extract. She immediately grew to massive proportions, easily dwarfing defense counsel and was a comparable size to the defendant.
Defense: Well, it seems like any alchemist with this sort of extract could become as large as the defendant. Thank you, Miss Baelwick, and please be careful as you leave the courtroom. No further questions for this witness, your Honors.
”Your Honors, much of the prosecution’s case linking the defendant to the crimes in Morast hinges on a single thread that the killer there was – as one of the first witnesses said – “the same size and shape” as the defendant. The defendant is man-shaped. By that standard, many of the strong sheriffs in Lepidstadt and even a number of men in this court could be suspects. And as for his size being so unique that no one else could possibly be the murderer… that has just been disproved as well. Any alchemist can grow to huge proportions. The defendant lacks a caiman’s bite, he doesn’t need an extract to see in the dark, and as Dr. Crowl pointed out, golems lack the capacity to be alchemists. We believe that is evidence enough to cast serious doubt on whether the defendant committed the crimes in Morast. However, we will provide even more evidence for this court to consider. The defense calls Dr. Leis Richleau.”
Defense calls Dr. Leis Richleau for testimony.Defense: Please state your name and credentials for the court…
Witness: Dr. Leis Richleau professor at the university's School of Medicine.
Defense: Thank you, Dr. Richleau, the court appreciates your time and acknowledges your expertise in the field of medicine. Before we begin, your Honors, we’d like to advise the court that what Dr. Richleau is going to speak about is horrifying. We would request that anyone with a delicate constitution leave the court now. It may also be particularly painful for citizens of Morast to hear this testimony, brief as it will be.
<Defense counsel waits for their Honors to deliver instructions. Some citizens leave the courtroom.>
Defense: Earlier today, Doctor, we presented you with a mask made from the facial skin of a single person. It is unblemished, complete, and appears to have been cut from the face in one single piece. Your Honors, this refers to Defense Exhibit 7 and 8, specifically. It is also tied to Exhibits 5, 6, and 9. Doctor, based on a close examination of the mask, what can you tell us about the skills of the person who…uh… ‘made’ it?
Witness: Yes, you did show me that...thing. Grotesque. Most certainly required an extremely specific set of skills to remove so cleanly, and preserve for a full year where you found it. Not any blade could cut this precise, you'd almost certainly need some sort of surgical tool and the learned skill to use it correctly in order to pull this off.
<Defense counsel retrieves the mask (DE#7) and surgical toolkit (DE#9) from the box beneath the defense desk. He reluctantly shows them briefly and discreetly to the prosecutor and gallery before presenting the items to the Judges.>
Defense: Thank you, Doctor. Your Honors, let the record show that our team, through collection of personal descriptions of the missing folk, have identified the ‘mask’ as removed from the skull of Nan Keblem, citizen of Morast. And we believe this ‘operation’ was performed using Exhibit 9 – a collection of extremely fine and high-priced surgical tools found in proximity to the mask.
Rajuna is tired but he keeps going. Now was the time to weave all the evidence into a story that made far more sense than what the prosecution was selling. He straightens his jacket and collects the defense’s copy of the evidence list. He offers the two copies in his hands to the judges so they each have one now.
”Yesterday, we visited Morast and the small island where their boneyard used to be – the site of the villagers last encounter with the criminal that stalked their community. Our findings on that island are discussed in Exhibits 1 through 3, 5, and 10. You can read them, but let me sum it up. The one thing every witness has agreed to is that the killer headed to the Boneyard – whether he was being chased or not. We found strong evidence that the island was his ‘lair’, his base of operations. On the southern end of the island, away from the graveyard itself, we found an abandoned firepit. Near it, we discovered a half-filled skin of wine, half-eaten trail rations, and the extract vial in evidence. On the southwest side of the island, a short walk from the campsite, we found the killer’s hidden boat. Blood was in the bottom of it along with an oar, a moldy travel bag with some clothes, the horrible face mask, and a cloth apron – which he presumably wore during his butchery. All those clothes fit a normal sized person, NOT the defendant. There was also a rope going into the water. When we pulled it ashore, we found tools of the killer’s trade: a blood-soaked cloth sack big enough to hold a human, some rope, a gag, a rusted lantern, three heavy knives, and a rusty shovel. Finally, a short distance from the hidden boat, we found the set of expensive surgical tools (also in evidence), seemingly lost, among the bushes. I don’t think there is any doubt, this was the killer’s lair.”
”And this is where the prosecution’s case falls apart. The defendant doesn’t eat or drink and sees fine in the dark. Why would he have a skin of half-drunk wine, half-eaten food, a lantern, and the extract of darkvision? Why would he have normal sized clothing, particularly an apron for butchery that won’t fit him? Dr. Richleau testified that the killer had to have specific medical training and skill to remove an entire face. Dr Crowl assured us golems aren’t capable of becoming doctors or alchemists. Master Lazne testified that the real killer in Morast probed the town, stalked people – including experienced hunters – and took individuals or families without a trace. That shows skills and thoughtful premeditation. In comparison, Dr. Crowl told us that golems are not ambushers and that they lead with their fists, not their heads. The evidence found in the lair and the killer’s behavior indicate the defendant is NOT a reasonable suspect in these murders and disappearances.”
”Here, we believe, is the true story of the crimes in Morast - a story that fits the evidence. Our killer was an alchemist and a trained surgeon lairing in the Boneyard. He was a clever and cautious predator. He used the extract to give him darkvision when stalking his victims at night. He used an extract to increase his size so that he could more easily overpower and carry off his victims. He based himself in the boneyard because few people came out there, it granted him privacy, and his hidden boat would let him escape quickly, if needed. Enlarged, he captured and transported his victims to the island. When he shrunk down to normal size, he’d put on his apron and ‘get to work’. I don’t think we need to specify more about that. Everything was going along fine until Master Lazne and the villagers outfoxed him. He fled to the island, hoping to grab his gear and escape. The blood caiman was the one factor he couldn’t predict as he waded through the swamp. As Master Lazne and the other villagers initially believed – the caiman finished the murderous bastard off. Had the killer lived and managed to escape, he likely would have slunk back to the island to retrieve his expensive tools and his other ‘prize’.”
Closing Statement
”Your Honors, witnesses, and esteemed visitors to this court… The victims of Morast deserve justice. The killer of Morast needs to be punished, and those who brought him to justice need to be thanked. As the evidence strongly shows, the defendant did NOT commit the crimes in Morast, and the prosecution and sheriff’s office deserve no credit. The citizens of Morast, however, deserve our thanks. They hunted down the killer and set him on a course to receive his well-earned desserts… ‘justice’ passing through the guts of a blood caiman. Your Honors, we ask that you affirm this opinion and dismiss the charges related to Morast from the defendant’s record. Thank you.”
Mila listens in admiration. Rajuna lays it all out so well! She'd thought Park was the one with the golden tongue - and to be sure, he is-- but while Rajuna doesn't say things with flourishes or drama, he lays things out flat and factual in a way that resonates with Mila's own 'non-fancy' upbringing. It's all very convincing to HER, anyway. She hopes the judges find it so as well.
Zhandar nods as she listens to Rajuna's summary. He's very wise, she thinks. That should play well with the judges, at least. Likely the townsfolk cannot be swayed from their closed-mindedness no matter what.
Park watched his friend, in awe of the work his friend has done. Park knew how to talk, to move, to act, to convince someone that he was speaking the truth, whether he was or not. But Rajuna was just spelling out reality, with clarity such to convince.... anyone.
Rajuna's words do seem to have at least some sort of impact on the judges, as the three do listen intently to each point of presented evidence. You earn yet another part of the Lepidstadt justice puzzle, as the judges inform you that their decision will not be made until all charges are heard and all evidence filed, which won't be until two days from now.
At 2:00 PM, Chief Justice Khard brings the first day of the trial to a conclusion. As the Beast is led away once court proceedings are over for the day, the baying crowd attracts your attention, who bring their hatred to bear on anyone defending the Beast. At present, such abuse is merely vocal, but you can tell the pot is close to boiling over.
After the trial, Gustav Kaple is available to meet with you in the Defense Chamber. Since you have not yet done so, he suggests that you investigate the scene of the crime in Hergstag before tomorrow’s trial. There is also the matter of tracking down the purchaser of the surgeon's tools, should you wish to put a little bit of time into that.
Rajuna is glad the day in court is over. It was, in some ways, as harrowing as fighting that phasing spider in the swamp. As he's used up his word allotment for the day, his comment in the Defense Chamber is short, "We should get to Hergstag first. That's about saving the Beast. The tools can wait."
Park nods. "I'm not sure that person is dead. No body and all.... But being ready for tomorrow is more important."
Mila claps Rajuna heartily on the back when they adjourn. "That was awful impressive! I don't know if I could do half of what you just did, keepin' it all clear.... "
She shakes her head. "I jus' hope you din't put a big target on yourself. That crowd there is hateful. Don't go nowhere alone, okay, Raj?"
She nods her assent to the logic of both Park and Rajuna. "Guess we get set to hit the road again, huh? Didn't know trials involved so much walkin'."
Park chuckles at Mila's words. "Nope. Trials don't involve walking. That's why the older lawyers tend to be out of shape. It's the investigating that involves walking, and occasionally fighting."
She shakes her head. "I jus' hope you din't put a big target on yourself. That crowd there is hateful."
A tiny snort emerges from Raj. ”Someone was going to draw the lightning. I figur’d I was the right choice… so I gave’em a name, a face, and a lofty title. Who’s gonna bother with piddly investigators when the lead investigator is the puppet-master? I’m not so worried about the crowd, but we got enemies in this town an’ I more-or-less cast shadows on the motives of the prosecutor’s investigators. Worry less about the crowd and more about the sheriffs.”
Zhandar nods at Raj's logic. "Wisely reasoned," she murmurs, grateful that the man has likely drawn some of the crowd's ire away from the freakish tiefling. "We had better hustle if we want to reach Hergstag with enough light to investigate."
"....well all the same, don't go nowhere alone," Mila repeats. "Zhandar has the right of it though, we'd better hoof it."
The Beast’s second alleged crime is the murder of six children in Hergstag, formerly a small, religious farming community in the Dippelmere Swamp.
The three sisters are not present at the courthouse, as they are being brought to court for tomorrow's session. You'd likely have to go visit them at their windmill.
"I have heard that Hergstag was abandoned several months ago, probably after the attacks," Zhandar recalls. "They were a farming community, mostly, if I remember correctly. Probably some hunting, too."
"The witnesses for the prosecution from Hergstag, three sisters named Garrow, Starle, and Flicht now own a small windmill on the outskirts of Lepidstadt. They weren't in court today. Maybe we should stop by there to interview them so we know what to look for in Hergstag?"
"Right. Quiet, little town. Hopefully there will be something to find. We won't find any testimony in favor of the beast if the survivors are all witnesses for the prosecution."
"Maybe if we talk to them we can see if there's holes in their story before we go, yeah," Mila echoes uncertainly. She hopes the Beast is innocent, but she's learning how hard it is to prove negatives.
It doesn't take long to reach the triplets' windmill, maybe half an hour. They are more than willing to speak to you once they know who you are.
All in their late forties, the three lived their entire lives in Hergstag. Each remembers the deaths. The village’s children vanished one by one, never to return. Then one day the culprit was found—the Beast of Lepidstadt. It boldly walked into the village with one of the dead children, a girl named Ellsa. The witnesses all recall seeing the Beast laughing as it carried the child’s broken body. As soon as the locals saw the Beast, they set upon it with pitchforks, but try as they might they couldn’t catch it, and the Beast escaped into the swamp. The poor innocents it killed continued to haunt the village, and before long became too much for the locals, who soon abandoned the cursed village.
While Park feels that the group is wrong, they don't seem to be lying? "That sounds just terrible. Being.... Well, I can't hardly bring myself to say the words. Torn apart? Did he have any sharp weapons? Or was he just that strong? I've seen the Beast in the prison, but free and.... just strolling into your town? Carrying a child's body! Horrible! You say that you attacked him, chased him into the swamp with pitchforks? Good work there. You must be very brave to face such a monster. Did any of you hit him? Did he bleed from your pitch fork wounds? I've heard that the Beast does bleed."
"Do you remember anything else about his attack? Did he make any other sounds? Yell out any threats? Were you the only survivors?"
Zhandar squints at the women, and whispers to Park: "I think they're holding something back."
Aloud she asks (when there is an appropriate break in the discussion), "You say that the person you saw was laughing. Was there a noise, or was it silent? How sure are you that pleasure was the emotion that they were expressing? Could they have been agitated or angry, perhaps calling out for help?"
Rajuna had clearly missed the subtext that Zhandar spotted. He gives her a tiny nod to acknowledge what she said. From then on, he watches the women closely as they are peppered with questions. For the moment, he holds his questions.
Mila's not sure what Zhandar picks up, but is willing to trust the other woman. She tries to add her voice to Park's queries, gently, teasing out whatever is being unsaid.
"Is there anything else you can think of? Can you describe the kidnapper as you saw him, t'us?"
The three sisters hesitate for a few beats before speaking again, revealing that of the six children who died, one—a girl named Karin—died in her own bed 2 days after the Beast was driven from Hergstag. Her father heard her screaming but by the time he reached her she was dead, without a mark on her and with no signs of entry. The three villagers can also give directions to the house in Hergstag where Karin died, directing you to a house on the western side of the village.
The sisters weren't directly at the front of the Beast being driven off so they can't identify what happened when it was hit with pitchforks, if it even was. They do, however, identify specifically the Beast itself, not some imposter or another sort of monster. Their description fits the Beast to a tee, leaving no doubt as to the Beast being in Hergstag in person. Rajuna's strong sense of their intentions confirms this, they saw the Beast there.
"You say that the person you saw was laughing. Was there a noise, or was it silent? How sure are you that pleasure was the emotion that they were expressing? Could they have been agitated or angry, perhaps calling out for help?"
"I suppose it could've been some other emotion if you stretch the imagination, but the damned thing was grimacing with glee. It was laughing at the poor girls' death."
Park nods at the woman's words. "That's just terrible. Thank you for the information. It was very useful information."
Rajuna takes the sisters up on the offer to provide directions to Karin’s house. He follows that up with a few questions of his own. ”Where was Karin’s father when he heard her screaming? I don’t have kids but I’m guessing he raced in, right?”
”Thinkin’ back to that time… were there any other strange events that happened in town before or during the murders? Anything that just seemed odd? You talked about the children’s ghosts haunting the town. Were they seen anywhere in particular? Did they say or do anything?”
”About the Beast… so it walked into town bold as brass, is that right? How was it carrying the girl: over its shoulder, in its arms? You said you saw it laughing but you didn’t see the fight? So did you see it laughing with your own eyes or did you hear about it laughing from the others?”
”Thinkin’ back to that time… were there any other strange events that happened in town before or during the murders? Anything that just seemed odd? You talked about the children’s ghosts haunting the town. Were they seen anywhere in particular? Did they say or do anything?”
”About the Beast… so it walked into town bold as brass, is that right? How was it carrying Ellsa: over its shoulder, in its arms? Could you show me where Ellsa’s house was on the map? Where is the lake? Was Ellsa close to anyone in town, anyone she confided in, that might still be around?”
Mila listens for the answers to the questions, thinking that gosh, Rajuna sure is good at this investigatin' stuff... She tries to think of additional questions to ask.
'What, um, happened to poor Ellsa's body? Did it drop her when folk attacked with the pitchforks-- did she get a proper burial?"
Not likely that a corpse would retain any signs of what killed it after so long, but she's still curious.
”Where was Karin’s father when he heard her screaming? I don’t have kids but I’m guessing he raced in, right?”
"We, uh, weren't there when it happened. Wasn't our house, of course."
Thinkin’ back to that time… were there any other strange events that happened in town before or during the murders? Anything that just seemed odd?
"The only thing I can think of is some apiary on a hill southeast of town burned down a couple weeks before all this started. Some outsider, newer to the town than the rest of us, couple years. Not much happens...happened in Hergstag before all this, so it was interesting at least."
You talked about the children’s ghosts haunting the town. Were they seen anywhere in particular? Did they say or do anything?
"I, uh, we...we didn't stay long enough to know any of that. Definitely left way, way, earlier than talking to any ghosts."
"About the Beast… so it walked into town bold as brass, is that right? How was it carrying the girl: over its shoulder, in its arms? You said you saw it laughing but you didn’t see the fight? So did you see it laughing with your own eyes or did you hear about it laughing from the others?”
"We didn't stay to watch the fight, but it was surely laughing as it brought the body in to town, we saw that with our own eyes sure as day. Was carrying her cradled up in its arms, like some sort of sick imitation of a baby."
"What, um, happened to poor Ellsa's body? Did it drop her when folk attacked with the pitchforks-- did she get a proper burial?"
"I'm afraid I don't know what happened to her...after, unfortunately. If you're headed there maybe you can find out and put her to rest permanently."