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."
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Kawrock rushes over to look out to the front of the courthouse, and casts his spell. Immediately there's a roar of fear from the crowd as their vision is completely blocked by swirling ash and falling cinders. Their organized chanting falls into chaos. However, people still keep banging on the doors. Kaple blinks as he looks at Wren, his stammer rising up badly in the stress of being attacked by an angry mob. "Well.. ah, we would req-q-uire a st-statement from Vorkstag or Grine to really c-c-clear the Beast but we have enough for r-r-reasonable doubt. We have d-d-demonstrated the Beast was impersonated at Morast, and have evidence that Vorks-s-stag and Grine were doing b-b-business at Sanctuary. I'm reasonably c-c-confident. This is the last ch-charge unless the University decides to p-p-press charges for the breakin at the Antiquit-t-ties department."
"I d-don't know. Find out," snaps Kaple.
Gustav sighs at Lena. "Arson attack. S-sanctuary on Karb Isle - some sort of asylum or something. Man named K-karl was blinded, claims he saw the Beast. And the B-beast will be locked in the dungeon again. I doubt the crowd could h-harm him anyways."
Although Eldon's words mollify some of the crowd, it's clear the group's actions have clearly angered a good deal of the city populace. However, with more guards moving in and a lot of gavel-banging, order is restored. You are lead out to the defence chamber to wait out the rest of the day. After another hour or so, Gustav Kaple strides into the chamber, shaking his head ruefully as he removes his ornate wig. "T-t-that was i-i-incredible again. The lack of i-i-nvestigation into this is a-a-ppalling. The witness st-st-story was confusing, it may have h-helped a bit if you had interviewed them but the s-speak with dead spell was vuh-verified as legitimate. I think we have that one!" Kaple heads over to Wren, he is an austere, older man cutting an imposing figure in ceremonial robes, although his gravitas is severely hampered by his stammer. "And wuh-we haven't met. Gustav Kaple, you are Wren? Th-thank you so much for helping with the c-c-case. But nonetheless there is o-one more crime to investigate." After introducing himself to Wren he settles in and produces some papers. His stammer eases as he becomes comfortable. "The l-last crime is the Karb Isle Sanctuary, an arson attack which killed D-doctor Brada who ran the Sanctuary and blinded his assistant Karl. A large, shambling creature was seen during the fire. Do you have q-questions?"
Kaple blinks and nods agreeably, he pulls some documents out of his desk, leafs through them, and begins reading. "The Beast's second alleged crime is the murder of six children in Hergstag, which was once a small religious farming community in the Dippelmere. The village was abandoned after the deaths. The witnesses are three sisters; Garrow, Starle, and Flicht. I couldn't tell you where they are though since the village is apparently a ghost town - literally." Kaple flips through a couple of more documents. "Apparently the children vanished one by one, and returned as ghosts. Then one day, the Beast walked into the village, carrying a dead child named Ellsa. The witnesses all recall the Beast laughing as it carried her body. They chased it off with pitchforks. Apparently the 'ghosts' were too much and the village was abandoned."
A couple of hours later while you wait patiently in the defense chamber, Gustav bursts in, his normally severe expression replaced by one of joy. His stammer appears to have vanished in his excitement. "That was a knockout! Noticing that scar on Vorkstag probably won us the case. We won't know until all three charges are heard but fantastic job! If you ever want to take up work as a lawyer, Eldon, then let me know." He slaps his hands on the desk. "Get to Hergstag next. That one is trickier because the Beast was seen carrying a child, and he always seems to react to her name. Something happened there with Brodur, I'm sure of it. Good luck!"
By the time the day is full swing, an enormous crowd has gathered in front of the Punishing Man, and the carnival atmosphere engulfs the courthouse. The clerks arrive early to prepare the courtroom and chambers. As the massive clock over the courthouse approaches 10:0am the three justices arrive in black coaches with several guards in attendance.
A trio of guards lead the Beast up from the dungeons below into the chamber and a [i]frenzy erupts outside as it is spotted through a window. The chants of the crow dare deafening. Gustav meets privately with all of you. "One of you will have to s-speak on the evidence you've found. Someone eloqu-quent. Our witnesses and evidence will start around an hour in. Think of what you have found at the factory and the island. If Vorkstag and Grine did this p-p-prove it. If you can get them to confess, all the b-b-better although they don't seem like they want to talk." You are all escorted into the trial chamber. Vorkstag and Grine have apparently been awakened and thanks to the evidence from the cabinet of skins and faces, and their true faces shown to the world, the skin stealer and dark creeper are likely to be charged with dozens of murders in the town. The gallery is now crammed with a jeering, braying mob.
The group gently gathers the disgusting flayed skins from the cabinet, and with Vorkstag and Grine both bound and unconscious, drags them over to the courthouse the following morning. To say that Kaple is surprised to see the group is an understatement as they barge into his office hauling what to all intents and purposes look like a couple of horrible monsters. Under Kaple's instructions, the guards cautiously lock up Vorkstag and Grine, not really thinking twice about it considering their gruesome appearances. Vorkstag sits back and listens as the group tells him the story of what they came across and he shakes his head in amazement. "You b-b-broke in and slaughtered the factory workers and knocked out the two owners? I'd call you m-m-mad but by Gods we may have the Morast crime in the b-b-bag because of that c-c-lever bit of work tracking down the tools. Even the c-c-clues you found in Morast may have been sufficient." He looks at the exhausted party and shakes his head, chuckling. "Get a nap. We'll have a c-c-cleric attend to the two prisoners and have them brought in as witnesses. Whether they want to or not."
Gustav looks at the Best curiously. "We need more than this, its word to the contrary won't hold the weight of a witness. But we're already at a good start. Do you have any more questions for it about anything else? There is also the arson at Karb, and the fact it was captured in the University."
Gustav throws his hands up helplessly. "This is what I've been dealing with. It's huge, t-t-t-terrifying and unc-c-cooperative. You can try some of the details from the cases, I've managed to get some varying replies doing that."
Gustav nods, and stands up to lead the group out of his office. He leads them down from the courtroom, through the barracks, to the front entrance. There, he opens a heavy iron trapdoor, and everyone descends into the cellar. A steep stone stair descends into this large cellar, its ceiling some 15 feet above the flagstone floor. A narrow, iron spiral staircase stands in the center of the cellar, leading up to the prisoner holding room. A cupboard along the southern wall contains numerous small torture devices such as thumbscrews and choke pears. A large cage that may be held for groups of prisoners holds a massive being, indistinct from shadow. Gustav plucks a torch from the wall, and with it reveals The Beast. A towering abomination sits in an iron chair, bound with no less than a dozen sets of manacles. Stitching holds together this grotesque patchwork of flesh and bone, beast and man, though the wires are so taut they look as though they may fly apart at any moment. Its mouth is twisted in a permanent sneer, and a shock of lank, dark hair clings to its scalp. The creature slumps in its chair, a despondent expression upon its monstrous face. At least ten sets of chains and manacles bind it to a massive steel chair, which is bolted to the floor. It turns its head away in the light. "Go ahead, speak to it if you wish," says Gustav.
Gustav waves a hand to the side impatiently. "Well figure someone out. Do you have any other evidence or theories about what happened? You have time to examine and interview The Beast as well if you wish."
"Well, the Beast is not on trial for the b-b-break in. They just want to go straight to the murder charges. So the Beast was attacked? Where? Would he show s-s-scars?"
Gustav smiles nervously at the five of you as you are seated in the defence offices. "So in an hour we will begin to hear the charges relating to M-M-Morast. You will have the op-opportunity to present any evidence you found to argue for the B-Beast's innocence. We expect quite the crowd today. The entire city wants to see the B-B-Beast burn. Let me know what evidence you have unc-c-covered and we can see what arguments to make. It is advisable for the most well-sp-spoken of you to present the evidence. My st-stammer won't d-d-do you any favours." He looks at the party expectantly.
Drau: Gustav relaxes a bit at your easy demeanor and stands up to shut the door. He waves a hand at a chair, indicating that you should sit. As his irritability and anxiousness fade, his stutter goes with it. "I'm no fool you know. I know that-that-that Embreth put all of you up to this hopeless cause and I do hope you understand how severe the consequences will be if you associate her with this case! With that goblin and wizard vanishing I thought she'd find more friends to get involved. Do not mention her name around this courthouse ever if you want to have any hope of acquitting the B-B-Beast. If you asked for her at the front desk, do your charming fool act and say you got the name wrong." Gustav steeples his fingers and stares intently at you. "The Beast is a magical construct of some kind. It has basic intelligence and can communicate, but is distraught or insane - I can't tell which. Hard to get meaningful information out of it. The charges were read earlier today, here's the information." He shuffles through his papers and pushes some notes to you.
"As 'public defenders' - if you sign here - I'm hoping you can go to these three sites and unearth any evidence. There is nothing positive here and a guilty verdict is al-al-almost certain. Questions?"
Drau: The man stares at you incredulously he has a rich, booming voice marred by a stutter. He looks anxious and exhausted. "D-d-do I look like my name is E-e-e... damnit Embreth? My name is Gustav K-k-kaple, barrister and the defendant of the B-b-b-east for this wretched trial! Judge Daramid is n-n-next door! N-n-now if you'll e-e-excuse me I have to fill out all this damned paperwork for the public d-d-defenders!"
"C-c-c-can I help you?" |