"Underbridge is not the district I'm assigned to." Kaple replies something intelligible.
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Kaple mutters something about insolence and lack of respect while moving back in a defensive posture.
Kaple looks irritated at the two as he is none the wiser about what schenanigans they are planning. "What are you planning to do?" he inquires.
"This chart is precise and has all rocks mapped that might interfere with ships. There is none. But hypothetically if there were one, then it wouldn't be under our jurisdiction. But that can change, if activity on such a rock hinders free trade." Kaple tells.
"You can't simply drop a rock some feet off the shore and call that your own land. Especially in the areas where ships move. Maybe in Underbridge. No one cares about Underbridge." Kaple tells, and you clearly hear, that he despises this lack of enforcement.
Kaple doesn't like the sound of that. His skepticism is clearly visible. He moves to a file cabinet and takes out a rolled up map. Unrolling it on his desk he weighs down the corners with a mug, an ink jar and other things found on the desk. Then he points out the borders of Magnimar, with all known districs and including the Irespan. He carefully watches Jimmy to get an idea about what he is planning. "That is the current area of Magnimar and all of that falls under our jurisdiction. So every time property of land changes the owner, or someone plans to change what is built upon it, it needs approval from our authority." "And you can't simply build something on the other side of the city walls. There is a minimum distance that needs to be kept free for reasons of city defense." "And you can't take something out of the Irespan too! Every meddling with the irespan is forbidden."
Sense Motive DC17:
Kaple is embarrassed that you managed to find out he dodged your question earlier - and so fast. "What exactly do you need to know?" Kaple asks while taking a seat behind his desk and offering Jimmy and Gwenhwyfar the two chairs before it.
Just about then a man comes around the corner and approaches the door the two are waiting in front of. The confusion is clearly seen on his face. "How can I help you?" he asks.
"That you can ask at the land registry office." Kaple replies. "If you would excuse me now Mr. Fiddle, Ma'm."
"Then the city would send someone to remove it and the administration would send you the bill." Kaple answers.
"The Irespan is a famous landmark and a cultural heritage and it is not allowed to change it's appearance by building a house on top of it. Magnimar is a civilized town and if someone wants to erect a building that person has to own the ground it shall stand on. Even in Varisia there are rules and laws for that." Kaple lectures.
"I'm Gustav Kaple from the administrative board of Magnimar. And who are you?" the man answers. He looks very formal and is busy attaching a parchment to the wall. reading the parchment: Administrative Order
Whoever erected this building on the Irespan has three days to remove every trace o fit and restore the cultural heritage the the Irespan is into its original state. Signed for the administrative board
Notary Brackenbol is highly offended by such an attitude. I have a good standing with Archbaron Fex and don't have to bear such insolence! he thinks. But out of his mouth comes "Of course, I'll do it immediately." and he grabs a new parchment to quickly write out the demanded letter of passage. Adding some seal wax, pressing the ring into it and powdering the parchment not to smear, he hands it to Moira. "Here you are." He'll be angry at himself for not standing up to her, for the rest of the day. I'll send a strong worded note about that insolent person to the Archbaron. he lives out his thoughts about revenge in his head.
Barrister Kaple takes the hands of Kendra, then Herm, and lastly Jominda and Harrold. Overexcited he shakes them and tells "This is g-g-great, w-w-wonderful, awesome! You w-w-won the c-c-case! This hopeless c-c-case! And g-g-got the b-b-beast free!"
"None that I know of." Kaple replies. "Do you need to refresh yourself? You still have two hours until we need to prepare for the day in court."
"I w-w-went t-t-to" Kaple starts but then pauses, takes a deep breath and continues "Judge Daramid and told her what happened. She wrote a court order to the guards and sent me to Chief Justice Khard to have him sign it too. Endangering due process by hindering the defense is nothing the Chief Justice takes lightly." he tells, proud of himself for getting you out quickly.
"T-t-that is s-s-serious. W-w-what h-h-have y-y-you d-d-done?" Kaple asks. His stuttering is worse than ever and it goes on for minutes where he tells that he is really willing to help you, but can't right now as there is no judge available at the moment and he has no authority to order the sergeant.
"W-w-what? W-w-who? W-w-why?" Kaple stutters.
"If you're lucky you can sway the judges. It doesn't look like you made any points with the crowd." Kaple replies. "You're going to visit the burnt down sanctuary now?" he asks. "The witness for tomorrow is a man named Karl. He lives in a small cottage at the river here in Lepidstadt."
"Well, that d-d-day you b-b-bagged Heiger." Kaple tells impressed.
"You wish. But I can tell you where you get some." Kaple replies and points you to a stable around the corner of the windmill.
"No. The trial is scheduled and will not be postponed. How about you get horses?" Kaple suggests.
"It doesn't look well. You had a lot more in store than I did, but the Hudges didn't seem impressed." Kaple replies unusually stutter free. "If you want to go investigate Hergstag you need to know what that was about. The witnesses are Garrow, Starle, and Flicht, three sisters that live in a windmill at the western fringe of Lepidstadt." "Hergstag is a small village about 10 miles from here. You follow the road to the north and then west. There the beast has killed eight children they say."
Witnesses for the Defense. "I would like to introd-d-duce the assistance of the d-d-defense: Miss Lorrimor, Miss Fallenbridge, Mr. Dunlaven and Mr. Bathshforth. They will p-p-present the evid-d-dence and lead the questioning of the witnesses." Kaple tells. Then he sits down again.
"I want-t-ted t-t-to help p-p-people. And have a rep-p-pectable job." Kaple replies.
"I t-t-told you I have nothing. I'll do the formalities in c-c-court and hand over t-t-to you to p-p-present the evid-d-dence you found." Kaple replies.
"G-g-good morning." Kaple replies.
"From my view you are set. Please inform me shortly b-b-before the trial begins t-t-tomorrow what you want to bring up in c-c-court. If you want you can present that yourself. I will just do the formalities then." Kaple tells and excuses himself to go back to his office.
"I suggest that you reg-g-gister as d-d-defendants first and then you can go investigate. But everything has t-t-to be d-d-done in the proper order. You register every evidence with the court until 10 o'clock in the morning. Then you present your evidence and question the witnesses in court when it is our turn." "And you should know about the court that you have to get up when the judges come in and no magic is allowed. There is the Holy Sister of Justice who constantly checks for magic and if anyone does magic in court the person is heavily fined." "And there is the Herald of Court. The only one allowed to bring a weapon to court. He stands there in full armor with his sword and enforces the court rules. If you have any questions about due process you can always ask me, but first we need to register you now." Barister Kaple explains. It seems if he is on familiar terrain, his stutter gets better.
"You can be registered as helpers for the d-d-defense and then you're allowed t-t-to int-t-terrog-g-gate the witnesses and p-p-present evid-d-dence in c-c-court. B-b-but b-b-before you d-d-decide let me show you the b-b-beast." Kaple tells and gets up again. He leads you down into the basement of the court where the prison cells are.
Barrister Kaple looks stupefied about the confidence Kendra shows. After a long pause he starts "Well - tomorrow the murders in the village named Morast will be on trial. There several people disappeared over the time of a week or two. When the people of town formed a guard and lay in wait at night they saw the beast as it sneaked into the village and drove it off. Since then they lived in peace again. The village elder will e the witness for that case." "Next will be the murders of children in Hergstag. Eight children were killed there and the beast had the audacity to carry the dead body of one child to the people and laugh at them. There are three women who lived in Hergstag at this time will witness." "And last is the fire at the asylum of Dr. Brada. It was set aflame by the beast and killed all of its inhabitants including Dr. Brada. Only the servant of Dr. Brada, a man named Karl survived and he will witness that he saw the beast fleeing from the scene." "I'm really eager to hear what you want t-t-to d-d-do about that."
"Then you are the only one in this t-t-town who b-b-believes that." The barrister replies wondering. "B-b-but how do you want t-t-to help? The t-t-trial starts t-t-tomorrow and P-p-prosecut-t-tor Haiger has a wat-t-ter t-t-tight case for all three crimes?"
"Yes, follow me p-p-please." Kaple replies and leads through the court building to his room - which is a side room to the large court room on first floor. He takes a seat behind his cluttered desk and offers you the one chair excusing himself that he doesn't have more.
Several minutes later the door is opened again by a middle aged man neatly dressed in a black suit, hairs combed back, who greets you. "G-g-godd d-d-day. You want-t-ted to sp-p-peak with me?"
"Th-th-th-ank you. I g-g-give the floor to Mr. Varsk." Gustaf stammers.
As you visit Gustav to ask him about Vorkstag and Grine Chymic Works he tells you. "Vorkstag and Grine are well-respected merchants. Grine is a peculiar-looking fellow, though gnomes are that way, you know. But one thing is odd. No workers are ever seen going on shift at the chymic works, but the smoke from the chimney never stops."
So the group thanks the Crooked Kin and moves on to the court. There they meet with Gustav Kaple. "Good Morning. I see you brought evidence." he tells surprised. "Let us get them registered then." He leads them to the office where that is done. Every item gets a small label with a number tied to it and is written into the evidence list. Then he takes them to his own office where he explains: "The court rules are simple. Chief Justice Ambrose Khard will open the court. Then Otto Haigar will present the crime and his evidence and then one of you will be able to present evidence or comment on Haigar's. Also you get to ask the witness. You're not allowed to use magic in the court. And if you need some you have to get permission by the Chief Justice first. There is always The Holy Sister Of Justice there making sure this rule is followed. And the Herald of Court with the big sword to make sure the orders of court are followed. So who of you will present our case?"
"Yes. t-t-ten o'clock t-t-tomorrow. No there are no d-d-detailed reports. And every witness has seen the beast." Kaple answers.
"The b-b-bodies were buried. The crimes are from quite some t-t-time ago. B-b-but can we g-g-go eat first. I have some things to do now and register you with the c-c-court. You can go to the University while I do that then." Kaple suggests instead. "Also d-d-don't show this att-t-titude towards our court in court. It w-w-won't help." Sense Motive DC10:
Kaple thinks well of the justice system and thinks these outsiders are heavily prejudiced. Even though he is not even close to a good defence for the beast. He then leads the group to the inn he always takes his dinner. There is a table in the corner with no window where he can eat in peace without being harassed. There is enough space for the others too. As anyone ordered something and they wait for it to be delivered he lays out the rough outline of the trial. There are three crimes that will be looked at. The Swampers of Morast.
The children of Hergstag
he Sanctuary
"There are some inns right around the p-p-place here." Kaple answers.
"That would be really helpful." Kaple replies. "The p-p-procedure is simple. Follow my example about entering the court, standing and sitting and I'll t-t-tell you when to t-t-talk and when not. All evidence must be b-b-brought to court until 10am for the d-d-day." "B-b-besides that, don't cast sp-p-p-ells at court, that's a crime. And do what the head judge t-t-tells. The p-p-prosecution goes first and the d-d-defense after that. And then it's d-d-done for the d-d-day. At the last d-d-day the judges will tell their d-d-decision."
"N-n-no. There's an order t-t-to the t-t-trial. F-f-first the villagers of M-m-morast. Then the children of Hergstag. L-l-last the Sanct-t-t-tuary of D-d-dr. B-b-brada." Kaple objects.
"That w-w-was in Hergstag. The b-b-beast is accused of killing six children there." Kaple tells.
"The-b-beast is b-b-bound in a chair in the b-b-basement. We can g-g-go and have a look. And no I don't think it is innocent. The beast rages most of the t-t-time. But t-t-to be honest. No one really checked. You have three horrible crimes. And three w-w-witnesses. And only m-m-me to defend it." Kaple replies. "F-f-follow me." he tells and leads the group back down and into the cellar.
Looking trough some of the papers and stacking them on his desk he triesto explain the situation. "Y-y-you know there is a reason I w-w-was chosen as d-d-defense attorney for the b-b-beast. If y-y-you want t-t-to help I can r-r-register you too. It would help a lot if someone p-p-present-t-ted the evidence without a st-t-t-tutter." "B-b-but I think it is hopeless anyway. The evidence is crushing. The b-b-beast is accused of murdering several p-p-people in Morast, murdering five children in Hergstag and b-b-burning d-d-down the Sanctuary of D-d-doctor Brada. And there are eye w-w-witness for all of these crimes." "And on t-t-top of all this the b-b-beast was caught as it b-b-broke into the University. All I c-c-can do is hand them the t-t-torch to set the b-b-beast aflame." Kaple glooms about the situation.
"Y-y-y-you want to help d-d-d-defend the b-b-b-beast?" Kaple asks waiting for Stam to laugh him into the face for falling for that joke. As that doesn't happen he adds "Then p-p-p-please come in." He leads Stam (and everyone willing to come) to his office. Through the entrance hall it leads to a flight of stairs, up into a spacious room with a chair and a table, through the main court room into his office. "T-t-t-take a seat p-p-p-please." he offers clearing two chairs from papers.
"S-s-s-so are not a-a-a-asking for a j-j-j-job?"
"W-w-w-what for? It's not like I c-c-c-can hire someone. B-b-b-business is slow as it is already." Kaple replies as he accepts the business card and reads it.
"You want-t-t-ted t-t-t-to speak with m-m-m-me?" the man asks. |