• View
• Edit
• History
• Print

A Murder Trial. No, wait...a Divorce!

The Murder Trial

The next day, the party gathers to bear witness to their handywork, as a trial is rapidly convened in the lower room of Tower Lynx, in the Middle Baily. The Keep has been rocked by the news of Jarl's arrest, and word has spread quickly. The Tilted Keg Inn has a full house, but the staff is subdued, going about their jobs with no surety of a paycheck at the end of the day.

Jarl, a tall redhead with pale skin and a promonent scar on his face, sits in chains to the side of a desk, charged with murdering his wife Ella Ellensdottor. Kaymar Hackinmoore, a military commander of wide girth with a gray mustache, sits in full plate, preciding over his trial. Flanking his bulk are various officials of the Keep; Yadris and his adjutant sit to off to one side. A few busibodies, idlers, and ne'erdowells have come to watch, and a few officers stand witness.

A clerk is just announcing the beginning of proceedings in a slightly bored tone when a loud banging is heard at the door. The Commandant looks annoyed at the interruption and motions to a guard, who cracks open the door. It is pushed aside and two women enter. The one in the lead makes an imposing figure, especially given that her face bears the bright colors of old bruises and she walks with a slight limp. She's followed by a shorter, plump woman in gaudy clothes and scarves. The woman in front marches down to the front of the room and announces in a loud voice, "I'm Ella Ellensdottor, and I ain't ded! I want a DIVORCE."

Back up a bit: we need to mention something from the day before

As Yadris sent soldiers off to arrest Jarl, he ordered Yamilet taken into protective custody. She looked timorously at Vanessa and managed to get out "please?" Vanessa announced that she would go with Yamilet. This threw the Seargant into confusion - the Keep jails were no place for a priestess. Vanessa was adamant - she would go with Yamilet. The officer found a way out: he checked with Jameson, who had Yamilet released to Vanessa's custody.

  ♥Vanessa♥

Once they were on their way back to the Inn, Yamilet told Vanessa she wanted to become a follower of Sumar-Fareen.

At the inn, people were all going about in a state of semi-shock - would they have jobs tomorrow? What was going to happen? No one had shut them down yet, so everyone was still going through their motions, although none of the curiousity-seekers coming by the Inn received prompt service. The night passed slowly.

Morning dawned, Noer was too late for breakfast, everyone gathered to watch proceedings and then Ella's dramatic appearance shook up everything. Hackinmoore banged angrily on his table until he got some order and then announced in a gruff voice, "Very well! I'll oversee divorce proceedings on the morrow! Today's proceedings are adjurned!"

Our Heroes continue Investigating

Madame Kandaree

In an effort to be friendly and helpful (and perhaps get out of their bar tab), the party greets Ella and her friend. Ella is called away immediately to deal with paperwork, but her friend introduces herself as Madame Kandaree, a Fortune Teller. And she looks the part: stereotyped gaudy garb, scarves, bangles, rings, heck, she has a big turban on her head. (I'm sure the Keep residents eat it up - they're not exactly...well, they tend to be straight up racist and are happy to objectify any culture they can :P Anyway. Our story.) Madame Kandaree thanks them deeply for their help in bringing Jarl to the attention of Keep officials. Noer makes a flippant remark, and Kandaree shoots him a look that says "I see right through you, boy, don't try me." She goes on for a bit, and manages to strongly imply - without saying anything explicitly - that the party would be well served to make sure Jarl doesn't come out of the divorce smelling like roses and that any charges against him stick. She then says she must stand by her friend in this time of her need, and twirls off to the group of clerks and Ella.

(For the record, Noer quietly offers to off Jarl, but Kandaree quietly turns down his offer.)

Back to the Tilted Keg

Now that Jarl has been arrested, the party seems a little more willing to explore during daylight hours. This lets the party narrow some of their potential leads down. For example, there is no blood on the firewood, so they cannot present it as evidence in the trial (nice try). They do find some blood somewhere else, tho! Noer picks the door lock to Jarl's room again, and a second examination of the room reveals the pile of bloody clothing Jarl tossed in a corner and somehow never got around to cleaning. Certainly a damning start. Noer passes this along to Jameson, and the search for more evidence continues.

The finally find a real breakthrough when they hunt down the pot boy who was on duty that night: Jerry. It turns out that while Jerry is rather loyal to Jarl, he is a bit dim, and Noer talked circles around him until he slipped up and said something about the night in question. After that slip up, getting him to spill the beans was relatively easy, and Noer and Vanessa hear how Jarl came and told Jerry to come help him in the basement. They were going to hide the body in an empty barrel, but Ella disappeared before they returned. This, this was the testimony they had been looking for. Jerry is placed under arrest and a statement is taken.

A visit to Ella at Kandaree's

They party returns to visit Kandaree. They let her know everything should go okay, but detailed notes were not taken, so exact words are no longer known.

She did have a neat trick where the door opened right as they were about the knock. Noer couldn't figure that one out - the door and walls were pretty darn solid, no room for a peep-hole or anything. Maybe she is psychic.

The Divorce

The next day dawns, and the not-to-be-missed event is the divorce. Unlike yesterday, the courtroom is packed. A juicy murder is great gossip, but a juicy murder that turns into a big ticket divorce case? That’s *theatre*.

The party manages to get decent seats early and settles in. After a while, the various dignitaries file in and take their positions and the Commandant Hackinmoore rolls his way to the front of the room. He chats briefly with a few other officers and then issues an order while gesturing towards the door. His intent becomes clear when the doors are closed, with people outside still trying to squeeze in. Despite extra seating, there are no free places to sit.

Hackinmoore calls the proceedings to order and slowly, the weighty business of Law moves forward. Witnesses are called, evidence is presented, and as these things go, spectators get bored. Then Hackinmoore asks the question why Ella Ellendottor’s plea for divorce should be granted.

Vanessa, who has been paying closer attention than anyone not actually involved, doesn’t even try to keep her peace.

"HE TRIED TO MURDER HER. That's a very serious thing, and is a very good reason for a divorce, and a restraining order. At least a restraining order!"

Hackinmoore cranes his neck to see who in the crowd has interrupted him, and finally spying Vanessa asks, "Remind me: who are you?"

Our Heroine takes a deep breath and says a quick prayer for authority and eloquence, and stands up. "Vanessa Laska, Priestess of the great Gawdess Sumar-Fareen, from the temple of Whichever Whatever."

This announcement is greeted with some applause and even cheering and whistles from the audience, many of them off-duty soldiers watching free entertainment. Clearly, Vanessa has some fans in the Keep. However, a tall figure in a black robe stands up from a seat in the front corner and demands, "What, are you really a priestess of Sumar-Fareen??"

As the room quiets, Hackinmoore looks over at him and then says "very well, Benyar," and then asks Vanessa, "can you prove this?" This must be the Keep's Priest of Benyar!

Vanessa takes her holy symbol from around her neck and holds it up. Just at that moment, the sun climbs high enough that a ray of light shines through a window and for a brief moment, the holy symbol is the brightest object in the room. The dark robed Priest mutters a "harumf" and sits back down, and then loudly adds "who would have expected a priestess of HER here?" There are a few chuckles and some lewd comments that quickly are shushed.

The Commandant takes this to mean the question is closed and invites Vanessa to explain what she means.

Regretfully, neither party has honored their marriage vows. Even in the most kind of cases, it would be best to dissolve the marriage regardless of any other issues. In light of the fact that Jarl tried to kill his wife, for a proximate cause completely unrelated to her fidelity - not that that matters - he should be appropriately punished and Ella should be granted her petition - that's the minimum the court can do; after all, Jarl has demonstrated his willingness to sever his marriage vows by way of Death.

Vanessa bows towards the Priest of Benyar and continues,

I understand the Keep is the domain of Benyar, but I cannot ignore the prompting of my goddess because situations such as this are a close concern of Sumar-Fareen and of her priestesses. In the experience of Sumar-Fareen and her clergy, when a situation has become as dire as between Ella and Jarl is, forcing them to remain together usually only results in more violence, sorrow, and death. And wouldn’t it be great if they could have had some more counseling? But that doesn’t matter now.

Vanessa sits back down and Hackinmoore moves the proceedings forward. Noer jumps in with a long list of the injuries Ella suffered and helps Ella with cross-examination of some of the witnesses. Throughout the proceedings, Jarl glares at everyone, Benyar’s priest glowers and looks bored, and Hackinmoore keeps a slightly bored, above-it-all expression on his face.

Ella's friend Madam Kandaree closes her arguments for Ella and Noer adds the following remarks:

In the tragedy that has unfolded, with the assault, attmpted covering up of what was believed to be murder, and conspiracy in time of war, I would like to remind everyone there is a need in the keep that the Tilted Keg provides. Ella, daughter of Ella has proven capable of managing and providing this need and has proven this covering after Jarl's first murder in the keep. With this impending war, the people need the security that these comforts provide.

He is interrupted here by cheering from the soldiers.

The Keep should consider whether brutalizing our upstanding citizen is acceptable especially when facing an external threat. I would recommend conscription: let the man's strength provide protection.

A friend of Jarl's argues for leniency as Ella will heal, and his arguments draw to a quiet close. The Commandant asks the officials attending if anyone else has comments to add. "Yadris? You started this. No comments? Relgus? Does Benyar have anything to add?" The Benyar priest stands up and making a slightly mocking bow to Vanessa. "Let us hear what Sumar-Fareen has to say."

Vanessa stands and answers,

Well, in some jurisdictions, such as those ruled by Sumar-Fareen, such an offense would be a capital offense. But I recognize that Benyar and the local authorities have jurisdiction here. I would recommend conscription, perhaps, or exile, with all his goods reverting to Ella.

Hackinmoore says only "Well, then. Anything else?" Benyar's priest Relgus looks at Jarl and says only "Oh, I think he would make a poor conscript, attacking people in the Keep and all!"

The Commandant nods curtly and announces in a bored voice that he will consider the case and issue a verdict. This draws spattered applause which he ignores as he checks over the notes an attendant has been taking. After a few minutes the Middle Baily Commandant announces his ruling:

Jarl Pakor is guilty of attmpted murder, and assault against his wife. Ella Ellensdotter's plea for divorce is granted. Let all of Jarl Paror's goods be transferred to her. Let Jarl be branded with the mark of Sumar-Fareen and exiled from the Keep.

This announcement is greeted with cheers from the crowd, gleeful hugs from Kandaree and Ellensdottor and irreverent swearing from Jarl. Hackinmoore bangs once on his table, although no one can hear what he says, but it's not important. The trial and divorce is over.

Aftermath

Everyone involved in the trial gains at least one honor.

The dancer Maya had a pretty good thing going, being Jarl's favorite (at least for today), so she is pretty ticked at the party and feeling kind of crushed.

Ella is pleased as punch, and the party's rent has been waived. There is an implicit understanding that they will be getting a hefty discount ongoing. Ella is more than a little startled by her new dancer, Zana (a half orc - Ella might even be a bit offended by a different race). Noer uses his fast talking and points out that the new hire is a decent dancer and will do well with a niche market, and by the time he is done, Ella is pleased with her new dancer.

Vanessa gets into several discussions about Sumar-Fareen's positions on marriage oaths, and has the comment "Sumar-Fareen's position is that if you're that unhappy in your relationship, you should leave it." This will pique some interest in the Keep as word gets out.

QOTD

Runner up: "We were hoping for destruction of evidence, resisting arrest, conveying a threat, conspiracy to hide a body, etc especially during wartime."

Runner up2: Stabby McStabface is really stepping up to keep things going. She knows how to use a knife and not for eating.

Clear winner: Sumar-Fareen is not against a little death. "A little death."

<< Session 10 | B2-LittleKeep | Session 12 >>