"The boys are going to be put on the stand next," says Roffles. "Jop, Fip, Skump and Hart. I couldn't be bothered to sit through the first half, but I have to be here for my nephews appearing in court, right? Mighty FeyLord, could you try to help them out? I didn't mind so much when they were dead, but being locked up--that's a terrible, terrible thing." He shudders in horror.
(Del could probably just whisper--you're not on the witness stand any more.)
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
"Aaaaah, come on," says Roffles. "Makin' a little booze--where's the crime in that? No one was going to ever eat those experimental potatoes, anyway."
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Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
Mindartis looks down at him, "If we were in the Feywild you could get away with an argument like that. But we're not in the Feywild anymore, so your nephew's will have to face the laws of this plane of existence. So unless you have a better excuse you better start thinking of ways to get then sent back to the Feywild."
Roffles sighs and turns to Lord Flaniet. "How about you? You're a lawyer, you get 'em off."
Lord Flaniet's eyebrows nearly rise off his forehead. "I'm the royal prosecutor," he reminds Roffles. "My job is to put people away. If you want to cut a deal, you have to talk to her." He gestures toward the defense attorney, who is pacing the floor anxiously. There is still no sign of Reglan Naica.
"All right, I will!" Roffles jumps out of his chair and takes six steps toward Rayna Aldalire, turns around, comes back, and sits again.
"Nope," he says. "She scares me."
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Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
Addressing Flaniet and Roffles Actually, though I do not have a stake in the matter - shouldn't the they talk to the prosecutor about a deal? Could they be cooperative witnesses? If so, your cousin ought not represent both the satyrs and Lord Lemmet. What is the matter at hand - stealing potatoes or selling hooch?
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Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & -Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
"Both," says Lord Flaniet. "But you make a good point. There is certainly much more prestige in convicting a member of a noble family than in locking up a band of random fey creatures. Pardon me while I consult my law books." He starts flipping through a hefty book.
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Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
"God's I have half a mind to being sueing for defamation right about now. I mean really. A zone of truth and a detect thoughts should be enough. Might as well throw them out as suggestions and when they she rebuttals bring up the academy. Certainly there is someone there who can cast that. Or look at the records of the Ellantar Court since my very existence is in jeopardy apparently. However if we want, the Nacia's are in desperate need of sugar and we did come into contact with several casks of of it. I could see maybe a deal being made to get him to admit that it was a vicious rumor he was spreading. Or at least that I am Lord Quentin and not some made up highway man."
Shaking his head Quentin replies aloud, "More than likely yes. People cannot take simple advice. If you're going to dress up and alter your clothes you can only do so a couple of times before people start to notice. It's as simple as that. Spreading rumors though, really are we in primary school again."
Eventually, a King's Guard enters the courtroom and announces, "Your Majesty, my Lords, Lord Reglan can not be found in the castle, and nobody saw him leave."
There is a stir in the room, and the judge says, "If there is no testimony to support the allegations against Lord Quentin Adiyodi, let them be stricken from the record."
"I withdraw my statement," says Lady Rayna. "Ladies and Lords of the jury, please disregard the statements accusing Lord Quentin of being the notorious bandit and highwayman, Mithven the Red-Handed. Lord Reglan's information network stretches all over Lomalos and the Westwoods, but he may somehow have been mistaken ,and as he has mysteriously disappeared before being able to substantiate his statements, I must ask you to completely forget that you've been told that the stranger in our courtroom has been identified as a dangerous criminal."
"I call the next witnesses for the defense--Jop, Fip, Skump and Hart!"
As guards herd in four terrified-looking satyrs, Lord Flaniet closes his book and whispers to you, "Don't worry, she's grasping at straws now...not a hope left."
Lady Rayna glares at the satyrs and says, "Satyrs of the western woodlands, have you ever even seen this elf before?" she asks, pointing to Lemmet Naica.
"Nope!" says one. "Never seen him," says another. "We was just down in a hole we found, making potato soup." "With potatoes we found." "And it was dark." "And anyway, he just stopped to ask for directions." "We invited him to have some potato soup with us." "But it was dark." "We never seen him."
"There, you see?" Lady Rayna says with an air of very little hope. "The true perpetrators of the atrocities in the old smuggler's hole admit that Lemmet Naica was never one of their gang! He was an innocent bystander caught up in a web of wicked saturnine debaucheries. How tragic it is when people conspire to smear the character of an innocent young elf, guilty of nothing but happening to wander, lost and confused, into an old tunnel! If the prosecution wishes to question these simple woodland beings, the defense would like to remind him that bullying the witnesses would be a violation of the Protection of Small Fey act of ADA 2114."
Lord Flaniet walks to the witness box with a large smirk. "Interesting that the defense should mention the Small Fey Act. Are you aware that under article 723b of that act, it states that satyrs are permitted to engage in unlicensed production of alcohol for their own use? And Article 228q states that small fey and woodland creatures may not be held legally liable for trespassing. In fact, the most serious charge facing you satyrs at the moment is that of selling the product, and evading tax on your sales. None of the bartenders who bought Satyrday Night Fury report having dealt with satyrs. Were any of you knowingly involved in the sale of liquor?"
"Nope!" says one. "Never!" says the next. "It was all him." (pointing at Lemmet Naica) "We were just having a drinking party." "We had no idea he was selling it!" "It was all his idea." "And he never shared any of the money, anyways, the jerk."
"No more questions," says Lord Flaniet.
"Does that mean we can go?" asks one of the satyrs hopefully.
"Not until after your own trial," says the judge. "There is still a matter of stolen potatoes, for one thing." As the satyrs are herded out again, wailing gloomily, the judge asks, "Does the defense have any more witnesses?"
"No, My Lord Judge," says Lady Rayna.
"Will the defendant speak in his own defense?"
"May all of you rot in the nine hells with carrots shoved up your--" says Lemmet Naica.
"No, he is much too distraught by the unfair allegations brought against him." says Lady Rayna in haste.
"Then make your final statements and let the jury deliberate."
Lord Flaniet steps forward. "Your Majesty, My Lord Judge, Ladies and Lords of the jury, the crimes this young noble is charged with are many and serious. Trespassing on the Simul lands with criminal intent. Theft of experimental crops, disrupting the pursuit of knowledge and education. Unlicensed brewing of hard liquor. Exposing unsuspecting consumers to products made of potentially dangerous experimental produce. And evading the royal taxation. Do not give further credibility to those who despise the nobility by overlooking these criminal acts, or in passing them off as boyish antics in a man not yet 150 years old. Lemmet Naica must be held responsible for what he has done, proven by evidence and witness testimony. I thank you."
Lady Rayna comes forward. "Your Majesty, My Lord Judge, Ladies and Lords of the jury, Lemmet Naica is a young man, with a long life full of bright promise ahead of him. He stands accused of crimes...mostly piffling crimes, but all the same, a conviction will blight an otherwise beautiful life, the life of a noble of one of the founding families, one of your own, whom you all know and possibly love." (Lemmet snorts in the background.) "Will you see him destroyed over accusations held up by the flimsiest evidence and the least reputable witnesses? I ask you. A scattering of papers. A ring that might have been dropped by anyone over the last thirty centuries. The word of the six least reputable innkeepers in the Free City. The word of a pair of students--yes, one also of noble family--who had spent their entire day stirring up the residue of magical experiments and may not have been thinking clearly. A band of disreputable vagabonds who had all the time they would have needed to taint the evidence before the guards arrived. The words of a handful of dimwitted and disloyal fey beastmen."
"Keep adding it all up, Rayna," murmurs Lord Flaniet.
"Any reasonable jury would acquit this unfortunate, misguided young noble, striving in the only way he knew to bolster the faltering finances of his desperately poor family. His supposed crimes were crimes of loyalty, self-sacrifice, and unselfish service to his noble lineage. I thank you."
The jury of ten, two members of each of the founding families, turn in a unanimous verdict of guilty
("That's a surprise," says Beezger. "I thought the Naicas would be holdouts. I guess he never cut them in on the profits.")
"Lemmet Naica," says the judge sternly. "You have been found guilty of a host of crimes. In my eyes, the most serious of these is tax evasion. A noble who refuses to pay his due to the king to whom he owes his loyalty is no better than a traitor. And the penalty for treason is...DEATH!
...
...
...
"Judge Vithan," says the king mildly. "Sentencing is the prerogative of the crown."
"Just a suggestion, your majesty," says the judge, turning redder in the face than normal.
King Celairatar turns to his son and asks, "Prince Lintelér, what sentence would you recommend for young Lord Lemmet?"
Looking a little surprised, the prince answers, "Well, there is no question, is there? We have laws to prevent having to make these decisions ourselves. According to the law, the penalty for tax evasion is either a hefty fine--which the Naicas can't afford--or to cede part of the family lands--which the Naicas can't afford--or to serve a term in prison. By the law, Lord Lemmet must serve a term in prison. The one thing to determine is for how long."
"Rubbish!" says the younger prince, Kalrondo. "Locking up a strong, healthy man while others are fighting the wars in the south? Send him off to fight the gnolls, let him prove himself and atone for his crimes through battle!" He adds, in a not-really-a-whisper to Lemmet, "Don't say I never did you any favors, Lem." (Lemmet looks like he very much wishes the prince would NOT do him any favors.)
"Prince Kalrondo has a point," Princess Anarórë begins formally, but quickly devolves into a more familiar speech pattern. "But, oh, seriously! This is Lemmy! He won't last five seconds against the gnolls! There are plenty of useful things he could do here in service to the kingdom. The Free City always needs people to clean the streets. The highways always need repair. The royal stables always need mucking out. The Thamasaille has all sorts of mole damage and spell side effects to repair. Why send him out to die with a spear in his ribs when he can make himself useful around the kingdom?" (Lemmet looks even more horrified at the Princess's suggestion than at the idea of being sent off to war.)
"Wish someone would send ME off to fight," Prince Kalrondo grumbles. "Boring old Edeleth has killed more gnolls on his tree-planting holiday than the border patrol has seen all year."
"All interesting ideas," says the king. He turns to look at you. "I am curious. This band of adventurers has done so much for our kingdom in the brief time they have been here. They are still largely untouched by our inner squabbles and conflicts. I ask you-- Lord Quentin Adiyodi...Mister Elwin Cold...Mister Galanodel Tosh...Miss Raven Blackblade...Mindartis Liadon of the Feywild..."
"What sentence would you suggest for Lord Lemmet Naica's crimes?"
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Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
"If the Court would give us just a moment we would like to discuss it and come up with a unanimous answer."Quentin tells the Judge before turning to his friends and saying, "I just want the rumors to be ceased. I mean really, some sort of highway robbery man. We could put him through some hard labor. Make him help us find his Uncle who is mysteriously disappearing and I'd love a second word with. Put him on the task force to find the rest of the missing kids and the Auntie. There's a lot of options."
"The only bad thing he did was getting caught." raven said with a soft whisper. "It wouldn't hurt to give a less-difficult task for him to do, and maybe get some good will from his family in the bargain."
"Do we really want to trust this guy with hunting down an entity kidnapping children?" Mindartis asks, "Why don't we make him repair all the damage the moles caused? Seems both a fitting punishment and an easy way to keep tabs on him."
"If we want their favor we can buy it with the sugar. They're obviously pressed for cash right now and we got the resource they need the most." Quentin adds before saying, "And as long as you don't mind me using one of your friends Raven I can probably muddle up the nasty rumors now that I think about it."
"not interested in buying the Naicas love, but that's separate from the question anyway. You'd like that he uses his skills for good, but what has he got but lying, stealing and snottyness? Maybe he has to work for the tax agency, uncovering fraud until it makes up what he cheated. Certainly cannot make him do anything important, cannot be trusted"
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Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & -Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
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Mindartis raises his eyebrows as Roffles enters, "What exactly are you doing here?"
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Del tries to get Q's attention to use Message so he can reply
You'd think that someone in the court would know Zone of Truth. Would that be a good suggestion?
Think this is about your exchange in the lounge 4 days ago? Could Lord Reglan get rumors spread so fast? I
f you're safe enough, telling the prosecutor might get a legal mind on your side
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & - Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods
Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
"The boys are going to be put on the stand next," says Roffles. "Jop, Fip, Skump and Hart. I couldn't be bothered to sit through the first half, but I have to be here for my nephews appearing in court, right? Mighty FeyLord, could you try to help them out? I didn't mind so much when they were dead, but being locked up--that's a terrible, terrible thing." He shudders in horror.
(Del could probably just whisper--you're not on the witness stand any more.)
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
"Your nephew's were helping a criminal," Mindartis whispers, "why should I help them when they were assisting in crimes?"
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"Aaaaah, come on," says Roffles. "Makin' a little booze--where's the crime in that? No one was going to ever eat those experimental potatoes, anyway."
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
Mindartis looks down at him, "If we were in the Feywild you could get away with an argument like that. But we're not in the Feywild anymore, so your nephew's will have to face the laws of this plane of existence. So unless you have a better excuse you better start thinking of ways to get then sent back to the Feywild."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
((what's the sense of being a spellcaster, or having one for a friend, if you're just go around whispering like some whisperer))
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & - Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods
Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
((LOL!))
Roffles sighs and turns to Lord Flaniet. "How about you? You're a lawyer, you get 'em off."
Lord Flaniet's eyebrows nearly rise off his forehead. "I'm the royal prosecutor," he reminds Roffles. "My job is to put people away. If you want to cut a deal, you have to talk to her." He gestures toward the defense attorney, who is pacing the floor anxiously. There is still no sign of Reglan Naica.
"All right, I will!" Roffles jumps out of his chair and takes six steps toward Rayna Aldalire, turns around, comes back, and sits again.
"Nope," he says. "She scares me."
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
"Sit down, shut up," Mindartis says, "and maybe, just maybe, I'll ask about getting them sent them back home."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Addressing Flaniet and Roffles Actually, though I do not have a stake in the matter - shouldn't the they talk to the prosecutor about a deal? Could they be cooperative witnesses? If so, your cousin ought not represent both the satyrs and Lord Lemmet. What is the matter at hand - stealing potatoes or selling hooch?
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & - Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods
Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
"Both," says Lord Flaniet. "But you make a good point. There is certainly much more prestige in convicting a member of a noble family than in locking up a band of random fey creatures. Pardon me while I consult my law books." He starts flipping through a hefty book.
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
Raven sits back and stays quiet.
Returning Del's message Q says,
"God's I have half a mind to being sueing for defamation right about now. I mean really. A zone of truth and a detect thoughts should be enough. Might as well throw them out as suggestions and when they she rebuttals bring up the academy. Certainly there is someone there who can cast that. Or look at the records of the Ellantar Court since my very existence is in jeopardy apparently. However if we want, the Nacia's are in desperate need of sugar and we did come into contact with several casks of of it. I could see maybe a deal being made to get him to admit that it was a vicious rumor he was spreading. Or at least that I am Lord Quentin and not some made up highway man."
Shaking his head Quentin replies aloud, "More than likely yes. People cannot take simple advice. If you're going to dress up and alter your clothes you can only do so a couple of times before people start to notice. It's as simple as that. Spreading rumors though, really are we in primary school again."
Eventually, a King's Guard enters the courtroom and announces, "Your Majesty, my Lords, Lord Reglan can not be found in the castle, and nobody saw him leave."
There is a stir in the room, and the judge says, "If there is no testimony to support the allegations against Lord Quentin Adiyodi, let them be stricken from the record."
"I withdraw my statement," says Lady Rayna. "Ladies and Lords of the jury, please disregard the statements accusing Lord Quentin of being the notorious bandit and highwayman, Mithven the Red-Handed. Lord Reglan's information network stretches all over Lomalos and the Westwoods, but he may somehow have been mistaken ,and as he has mysteriously disappeared before being able to substantiate his statements, I must ask you to completely forget that you've been told that the stranger in our courtroom has been identified as a dangerous criminal."
"I call the next witnesses for the defense--Jop, Fip, Skump and Hart!"
As guards herd in four terrified-looking satyrs, Lord Flaniet closes his book and whispers to you, "Don't worry, she's grasping at straws now...not a hope left."
Lady Rayna glares at the satyrs and says, "Satyrs of the western woodlands, have you ever even seen this elf before?" she asks, pointing to Lemmet Naica.
"Nope!" says one. "Never seen him," says another. "We was just down in a hole we found, making potato soup." "With potatoes we found." "And it was dark." "And anyway, he just stopped to ask for directions." "We invited him to have some potato soup with us." "But it was dark." "We never seen him."
"There, you see?" Lady Rayna says with an air of very little hope. "The true perpetrators of the atrocities in the old smuggler's hole admit that Lemmet Naica was never one of their gang! He was an innocent bystander caught up in a web of wicked saturnine debaucheries. How tragic it is when people conspire to smear the character of an innocent young elf, guilty of nothing but happening to wander, lost and confused, into an old tunnel! If the prosecution wishes to question these simple woodland beings, the defense would like to remind him that bullying the witnesses would be a violation of the Protection of Small Fey act of ADA 2114."
Lord Flaniet walks to the witness box with a large smirk. "Interesting that the defense should mention the Small Fey Act. Are you aware that under article 723b of that act, it states that satyrs are permitted to engage in unlicensed production of alcohol for their own use? And Article 228q states that small fey and woodland creatures may not be held legally liable for trespassing. In fact, the most serious charge facing you satyrs at the moment is that of selling the product, and evading tax on your sales. None of the bartenders who bought Satyrday Night Fury report having dealt with satyrs. Were any of you knowingly involved in the sale of liquor?"
"Nope!" says one. "Never!" says the next. "It was all him." (pointing at Lemmet Naica) "We were just having a drinking party." "We had no idea he was selling it!" "It was all his idea." "And he never shared any of the money, anyways, the jerk."
"No more questions," says Lord Flaniet.
"Does that mean we can go?" asks one of the satyrs hopefully.
"Not until after your own trial," says the judge. "There is still a matter of stolen potatoes, for one thing." As the satyrs are herded out again, wailing gloomily, the judge asks, "Does the defense have any more witnesses?"
"No, My Lord Judge," says Lady Rayna.
"Will the defendant speak in his own defense?"
"May all of you rot in the nine hells with carrots shoved up your--" says Lemmet Naica.
"No, he is much too distraught by the unfair allegations brought against him." says Lady Rayna in haste.
"Then make your final statements and let the jury deliberate."
Lord Flaniet steps forward. "Your Majesty, My Lord Judge, Ladies and Lords of the jury, the crimes this young noble is charged with are many and serious. Trespassing on the Simul lands with criminal intent. Theft of experimental crops, disrupting the pursuit of knowledge and education. Unlicensed brewing of hard liquor. Exposing unsuspecting consumers to products made of potentially dangerous experimental produce. And evading the royal taxation. Do not give further credibility to those who despise the nobility by overlooking these criminal acts, or in passing them off as boyish antics in a man not yet 150 years old. Lemmet Naica must be held responsible for what he has done, proven by evidence and witness testimony. I thank you."
Lady Rayna comes forward. "Your Majesty, My Lord Judge, Ladies and Lords of the jury, Lemmet Naica is a young man, with a long life full of bright promise ahead of him. He stands accused of crimes...mostly piffling crimes, but all the same, a conviction will blight an otherwise beautiful life, the life of a noble of one of the founding families, one of your own, whom you all know and possibly love." (Lemmet snorts in the background.) "Will you see him destroyed over accusations held up by the flimsiest evidence and the least reputable witnesses? I ask you. A scattering of papers. A ring that might have been dropped by anyone over the last thirty centuries. The word of the six least reputable innkeepers in the Free City. The word of a pair of students--yes, one also of noble family--who had spent their entire day stirring up the residue of magical experiments and may not have been thinking clearly. A band of disreputable vagabonds who had all the time they would have needed to taint the evidence before the guards arrived. The words of a handful of dimwitted and disloyal fey beastmen."
"Keep adding it all up, Rayna," murmurs Lord Flaniet.
"Any reasonable jury would acquit this unfortunate, misguided young noble, striving in the only way he knew to bolster the faltering finances of his desperately poor family. His supposed crimes were crimes of loyalty, self-sacrifice, and unselfish service to his noble lineage. I thank you."
The jury of ten, two members of each of the founding families, turn in a unanimous verdict of guilty
("That's a surprise," says Beezger. "I thought the Naicas would be holdouts. I guess he never cut them in on the profits.")
"Lemmet Naica," says the judge sternly. "You have been found guilty of a host of crimes. In my eyes, the most serious of these is tax evasion. A noble who refuses to pay his due to the king to whom he owes his loyalty is no better than a traitor. And the penalty for treason is...DEATH!
...
...
...
"Judge Vithan," says the king mildly. "Sentencing is the prerogative of the crown."
"Just a suggestion, your majesty," says the judge, turning redder in the face than normal.
King Celairatar turns to his son and asks, "Prince Lintelér, what sentence would you recommend for young Lord Lemmet?"
Looking a little surprised, the prince answers, "Well, there is no question, is there? We have laws to prevent having to make these decisions ourselves. According to the law, the penalty for tax evasion is either a hefty fine--which the Naicas can't afford--or to cede part of the family lands--which the Naicas can't afford--or to serve a term in prison. By the law, Lord Lemmet must serve a term in prison. The one thing to determine is for how long."
"Rubbish!" says the younger prince, Kalrondo. "Locking up a strong, healthy man while others are fighting the wars in the south? Send him off to fight the gnolls, let him prove himself and atone for his crimes through battle!" He adds, in a not-really-a-whisper to Lemmet, "Don't say I never did you any favors, Lem." (Lemmet looks like he very much wishes the prince would NOT do him any favors.)
"Prince Kalrondo has a point," Princess Anarórë begins formally, but quickly devolves into a more familiar speech pattern. "But, oh, seriously! This is Lemmy! He won't last five seconds against the gnolls! There are plenty of useful things he could do here in service to the kingdom. The Free City always needs people to clean the streets. The highways always need repair. The royal stables always need mucking out. The Thamasaille has all sorts of mole damage and spell side effects to repair. Why send him out to die with a spear in his ribs when he can make himself useful around the kingdom?" (Lemmet looks even more horrified at the Princess's suggestion than at the idea of being sent off to war.)
"Wish someone would send ME off to fight," Prince Kalrondo grumbles. "Boring old Edeleth has killed more gnolls on his tree-planting holiday than the border patrol has seen all year."
"All interesting ideas," says the king. He turns to look at you. "I am curious. This band of adventurers has done so much for our kingdom in the brief time they have been here. They are still largely untouched by our inner squabbles and conflicts. I ask you-- Lord Quentin Adiyodi...Mister Elwin Cold...Mister Galanodel Tosh...Miss Raven Blackblade...Mindartis Liadon of the Feywild..."
"What sentence would you suggest for Lord Lemmet Naica's crimes?"
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
"If the Court would give us just a moment we would like to discuss it and come up with a unanimous answer." Quentin tells the Judge before turning to his friends and saying, "I just want the rumors to be ceased. I mean really, some sort of highway robbery man. We could put him through some hard labor. Make him help us find his Uncle who is mysteriously disappearing and I'd love a second word with. Put him on the task force to find the rest of the missing kids and the Auntie. There's a lot of options."
"The only bad thing he did was getting caught." raven said with a soft whisper. "It wouldn't hurt to give a less-difficult task for him to do, and maybe get some good will from his family in the bargain."
"Do we really want to trust this guy with hunting down an entity kidnapping children?" Mindartis asks, "Why don't we make him repair all the damage the moles caused? Seems both a fitting punishment and an easy way to keep tabs on him."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"If we want their favor we can buy it with the sugar. They're obviously pressed for cash right now and we got the resource they need the most." Quentin adds before saying, "And as long as you don't mind me using one of your friends Raven I can probably muddle up the nasty rumors now that I think about it."
"This is all based on the assumption that the sugar isn't already tainted," Mindartis says.
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"not interested in buying the Naicas love, but that's separate from the question anyway. You'd like that he uses his skills for good, but what has he got but lying, stealing and snottyness? Maybe he has to work for the tax agency, uncovering fraud until it makes up what he cheated. Certainly cannot make him do anything important, cannot be trusted"
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & - Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods
Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky