King Stephen the First's page

50 diplo total and those words suffice.

The King considers this input and turns to Beaumont, who seems to have no idea what the King is talking about and simply protests his innocence again in flowery language and flattery. This doesn't seem to go over as well without the Duke's headband, however, and the King takes each book in hand again, handling them carefully, pressing his ear to them, opening them, and considering every aspect of their binding. This time, however, the king's eyes glow faintly violet as he does so.

After several minutes, the King closes both books, putting them back on the table. Then he covers his face with his hands, resting his elbows on the arms of his chair. Raising a pale face back up, he announces "I am convinced of the validity of these books as evidence. Duke Beaumont, you are convicted of High Treason. This audience is concluded and I bid you all farewell."

The King appears to dislike the Count's words and looks at everyone in the room. "I must be sure that the strictest confidence is maintained regarding the doings in this room, upon pain of my greatest displeasure." He looks at everyone in the room and particularly at you odd, investigators.

This is your chance to 1. swear to confidence and 2. give diplomacy aid to the Count's request, which of course must not be too heavy-handed.

After the refreshments, the King sits back at the table with a purpose and everyone follows suit. The ambassador from the Bishopric of Helm, a well-dressed woman in her mid-sixties, arrives and is questioned by the King about the attack on and Defense of Brookside. The ambassador confirms that the Duke had an odd degree of knowledge on this matter. The king replies "Thank you for this information and your valuable time. I look forward to our next conversation." Understanding the implied dismissal, the ambassador pays her respects to the king again and takes her leave. When she leaves, the king steeples his fingers and leans them slightly against his chin, brow furrowed.

The Duke speaks up "But surely, your highness, all of this evidence has been easily fabricated by my political opponents."

The King listens thoughtfully and nods. "Very well. I will call the ambassador. In the meantime, we will dine." Light fare and drink is brought into the conference room where you break into small knots of conversation, the largest being around the king. The Duke laughs and eats with some of the guards and other nobles before joining the large knot of conversation around the King.

The King listen intently and it is clear that he does not appreciate the dissent toward Iustian policy implied by aiding the Circle of Friends. However, he seems more focused on the books supplying evidence. "And the passwords?"

I think it's safe for me to assume that you tell him the passwords.

He scans carefully through both books for some thirty minutes while every one else in the room waits carefully, a guard occasionally shifting their weight from one leg to the other with a slight clinking of chainmail. Count Aral makes meaningful eye contact with all of you.

After a long time, the King closes both books and states "Indeed, these correspondences are treasonous in the extreme. And I recognize the handwriting of my Duke. Good sir, what say you in your defense?"

The Duke launches into an impassioned plea regarding how he has never seen these books before. They must have been fabricated upon the orders of Turick and Aral to bring him down so that they could gain control of the Council. Surely, Aral is the mastermind behind all of thus.

As always, the king listens carefully, the guards clearly on edge, sure they will be arresting someone soon but not sure whom. The king turns back to you. [b]"Since you allegedly obtained this evidence, do you have further proof that it does, indeed, belong to my Duke?"[b]

Count Aral and Viscount Turick nod to concur with your testimony while the King is more withholding. He asks for a full account of these sources outside the law.

You don't have to RP this but summarize what you tell him or, if easier, summarize what you withhold.

The King's eyebrows rise slightly as he listens to Melia's words. "And what was the reason you believed my Duke to be engaged in such treasonous activity so that you entered his home?"

Also, let's get a diplomacy check with this.

The King turns to you investigators and asks "What were the grounds for investigating my Duke with such invasive methods?"

The king begins the session "My Viscount tells me extraordinary things regarding my Duke and some... unorthodox private investigators. I take it that you all are the investigators of whom the Viscount speaks so highly?" He looks to you strangers.