Ailson Kindler

Judge Embreth Daramid's page

12 posts. Alias of Barvo Delancy.


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1000 gold each in platinum.

Embreth pours several glasses of wine, settling down in a high-backed chair.

"I wouldn't put it quite so... eloquently," she says disapprovingly as she looks over Whiskeyjack. "But that is precisely it. The B--Bigguns, we shall call him I suppose. Bigguns broke into the University, and a grotesque curio went missing. No reason given, he has no memory of it. I believe the answers lie at the Schloss Caromarc."

She takes a long sip of wine, and nods approvingly at it.

"I've already received the intelligence of what Bigguns said at his parting, so worry not. That said, so has the rest of town. Even now a mob is forming to try to retrieve Bigguns. It will likely take them a day or two but I would recommend you make haste for Schloss Caromarc tomorrow or the day after at the absolute earliest."

Embreth adjusts her hair a little, after a long grey wisp had fallen out of her bun.

"Now, Count Caromarc. There is an interesting man. Bigguns calling him his father makes sense. He is a recluse and a paranoid, losing one's title does that to people. But he is brilliant, and if anyone could create a sentient golem, it would be him. You may be denied entry, but he is peaceable enough - and hopefully Bigguns' will grant you an audience. There, we may finally have our questions answered."

If you want to enjoy your filthy lucre to do some shopping in the discussion thread which can take place after this conversation. If you want magic items, pretty much any you can afford can be found here.


Not with those rolls! He could attempt a gather information later on though or just ask.

With Bigguns waving goodbye to the group, he sinks off into the swamp, and they turn back. The people in Lepidstadt almost seem to be in a state of mourning, and although everybody gives the group dirty glances, there are a few who come up and thank them for rising above the mob. When the group reaches the more educated University district of Lepidstadt the reaction is merely chilly rather than hostile.

Upon reaching Embreth's townhouse, they are immediately ushered in face to face with a beaming Judge.

"Congratulations! My word, that was stunning. Clear evidence, convincing arguments, eloquent presentation, and just a smidgen of blasphemy. I couldn't have done better myself."

With a sweeping gesture, and even a bit of a spin, she gestures to six neatly tied bags on her coffee table.

"Your payment. I'm getting some wine dearies, although I believe there are a few unanswered questions to look in to."


Wren:

After the astonishing turnaround on the first day of the trial, the street party is somewhat more muted. Just as many people are extremely drunk, but a little more morose. A few half-hearted chants of BURN THE BEAST strike up, but nobody is really that enthused.

You make your way to the University district and finally find yourself in front of a nice town house. Whoever owns this must be doing fairly well.

To your surprise, one of the three judges from the trial opens the door! You recognize her as Embreth Daramid, who has a reputation for great integrity and respect. She has long grey hair and a sharp face, obviously in her later years for a human.

"Come in dearie, come in. You must be Wren."

She bustles you into the room, closing the door. She leads you to a lovely parlour and gestures to a comfortable chair.

"My name is Embreth, but you probably saw me at the trial. Now. We share a mutual friend in dearly departed Petros Lorrimor, and he had given me a list of trustworthy names to call upon when I needed help. This relates to the trial, but before I begin I must have your assurance this meeting is confidential. Tea?"


Iozif:

Embreth laughs ruefully.

"You understand the time constraint we are under. The trial was arranged the day after the Beast was captured. It was also found in Dr. Cowl's antiquities department; it had quite destroyed the place and a statuette of his was missing. Anyways, last I heard they were on their way to Morast to speak with the locals. It's around a half hour's walk from Lepidstadt."


Iozif:

"Well, you'll receive the best information from Barrister Gustav Kaple, a capable lawyer with an unfortunate stutter who was very cruelly picked to defend the Beast. However..."

She takes a sip of cognac and extends a bony finger.

"The first is the murder of several locals in the hamlet of Morast. That trial is heard tomorrow; apparently the Beast is accused of stealing people from their beds. An angry mob formed up and drove the Beast off."

She ticks off a second finger.

"The second is the unfortunate murder of six children in the village of Hergstag. Children had been vanishing - apparently coming back as ghosts. The Beast was seen carrying a girl named Ellsa back to town, and laughing. It was then driven off."

She ticks off a third finger.

"The final is the arson attack and resulting deaths on the Karb Isle Sanctuary, where the doctor running the place and all of his patients died. The doctor's assistant swore he saw a gigantic shambling creature during the fire he claims was the Beast; the assistant was unfortunately blinded by the fire afterwards."


Iozif:

She smiles thinly at you as she sets her cognac to the side.

"Of course not. I need your help, and this is a large favour; one I'm willing to pay handsomely for. As you know Petros had a... wide and unusual assortment of friends. A crew of them who managed to attend his funeral were swept up into the business of Harrowstone prison, and I gather that they managed to defeat a substantial undead threat and save Petros' home town and his daughter.

"This brings us to our current concern. You have certainly heard of the trial of the Beast of Lepidstadt, an enormous man-like creature which has been apprehended after breaking into the University. It is about to stand trial for three crimes which I am convinced it did not commit. The evidence is mediocre but convincing, the defense has nothing, and the people of the city want blood. It will certainly burn."

She leans in intently.

"I am a member of the tribunal over that trial. I cannot see an innocent creature die, I have heard stories of its kindness, and so I must work secretly. I want you to help the Beast, Iozif. I have already hired Petros' other friends and would like to add you to their number as I believe you bring a certain gravitas and acumen they need. I will pay you a thousand gold if you join with them, and help clear the name of the Beast."


Iozif:

It was one of the more curious notes you had received, but the importance of the request was not to be understated.

Judge Embreth Daramid wrote:

Dr. Drabardi,

I pray this letter finds you well. I request your attendance at my townhouse at 56, Oak Way. I have an opportunity for you to do a favour for an old friend, and make some money as well. This is a private matter. I trust you will destroy this letter and speak of it to no-one.

E.D.

You recognized the stylized initials at once, having had visited a few gatherings at the good Judge's house, sharing some mutual friends.

It is now late afternoon in the month of Rova. The walk to Embreth's isn't too far, and it's a nice day after all. THe city is still in a state of obnoxious celebration over the capture of the Beast, a curious creature rumoured to be a golem of some sort who was captured after breaking into the University and ruining poor Dr. Montaigne Cowl's department of antiquities.

Embreth's townhouse is a stately, if smallish residence in the University district. You are greeted at the door by her valet, who quickly checks the street before seeing you in. Embreth stands up to meet you in her living room. She is a tall, severe woman in her late sixties with keen eyes and a precise, if haughty way of speaking. Most certainly the finest judge in the city.

"Iozif, it's good to see you." She smiles and hands you a snifter of cognac. "Gauthe, from Cheliax, 14. Please, have a seat. I trust you have heard about what happened to our dear friend Dr. Petros Lorrimor?"


Embreth smiles widely.

"Splendid! If that is it, then I will take my leave. We have not had this converastion. Gustav will be with you shortly."

The spindly woman stands, and sweeps past you to exit the room, leaving you alone.


"Good, good. Please, stop by my townhouse once you have delivered the books to Dr. Cowl. Your full payment will be delivered at that time." She sighs for a moment. "Poor Petros, he deserved better."

She brightens and smiles thinly at the party. "But still, let me to the point. If Petros trusted you so dearly, then I shall as well. There is... there is a cancer in Lepidstadt. A darkness that lurks behind a popular scapegoat. For years, bloody hell decades the people of this area have laid their ills at the door of the Beast."

Her voices becomes animated as she waves her hand back and forth.

"Murders, thefts, terror, runaway children, cows who don't give milk, disagreeable chickens, all of these have been the fault of the Beast. It became a running joke amongst the barristers here. Many of these stories are exaggerations or fabrications. I... I have heard different stories. Of a gentle giant; a secretive creature who helped those in distress. Well, it has been captured and I believe that kindness must be repaid! However, nobody will defend the Beast, the popular sentiment is so turned against it.

"I know this town. And I know the Beast will receive no fair trial. And there are many unanswered questions. The Beast was apprehended during a break-in at the University; why would such a shy creature, apparently intelligent, just charge into a University to be captured? But I cannot make my suspicions public, it would destroy my reputation. And frankly, I am a justice presiding over the Beast's trial. I cannot openly intervene."

She smiles and points a finger at the group.

"You can though. A group of people with intelligence and the ability to brave danger can actually investigate what has happened and uncover the truth. Gustav Kaple, an intelligent enough man but dreadful in a courtroom thanks to his stutter, has been appointed the Beast's attorney. I will pay you an additional 100 platinum each if you take on this task for me. Gustav will explain everything, the timelines you are under, and at where you can start if you are so interested."


You walk into a well-appointed office and come to face to face with a woman in her sixties, with gray hair pulled back tightly into a bun and icy blue eyes. That said, she smiles warmly and gestures for the party to be seated.

"Close the door, please."

She settles down and looks over the group. Her voice is dry with the posh accent of the rich, educated, or noble in Ustalav.

"Quite a sight, the lot of you! I am Embreth Daramid, one of the Justices here in Lepidstadt. I have learned what I can of you, so welcome. You must be Arval, Vladlena, Eldon, Whiskeyjack, and of course Kawrock. Please ignore the stares dear. And don't let anybody at the University try to study you. Wonderful work in Ravengro, that was the stuff of legend I must say."

She folds her spidery hands as she regards the party.

"Now dearies. I have an arrangement with Barrister Kaple that the purpose of your meeting will have been to meet with him. In fact, this is his office right now. In the future we will speak at my townhouse, if at all. I will explain all in due time. First things first, I believe you ahve a book for me? And have you completed the other tasks set forth in Petros' will? "

The tasks are to deliver a single book to Judge Daramid, a stack of books to Dr. Motaigne Cowl, and to guard Kendra for a month; the latter of which you have done.


Sorry guys, brief bit of retroactive mayhem with Rowena, we are now all back in the main room. :D

Judge Daramid smiles thinly over to Rowena.

"Rowena dear, you haven't spoken up. Can you tell our friends a bit about you? And of course, if any of you have questions please let me know before you leave for Morast."


Judge Daramid finally enters the room, a severe-looking older woman. She smiles thinly at the arranged group.

"What an odd bunch you are. Well, the trial has begun and there is no time to lose. As some of the public defendants of the Beast have left, I've reached out to recruit replacements. So if you please..."

The Judge points to each of you in turn.

"Araxiel and Rowena have already been working on the trial. Please meet Sir Otis Songblade of Ragathiel, Modus Secondous - whom I believe has a history with Araxiel, and Professor Drau Bel... Professor Drau of the University of Lepidstadt. Araxiel and Rowena have already visted the scene of the Beast's capture and interviewd the Beast iteslf."

She clasps her hands behind her back as she speaks in a crisp, strong voice.

"Your friend Maximillian was kind enough to deliver notes of your research and interview with The Beast for perusal. All of this may be important evidence when it comes time to defend The Beast. You now have to uncover evidence at the three sites of the Beast's crimes. There has been no effort by our guard to find evidence for the defense and that poor lawyer has been hung out to dry. The locations are Morast, Hergstag, and Karb Isle. I'd recommend visiting Morast first."

She smiles thinly at all of you. "Now is a time for questions and introductions. Please go ahead."

Please describe your characters as you post. A summary of your investigations thus far will be provided in a link shortly.