Meetup: Courtroom Blues: Prelude
=======================> Tenebrae: The Emblem of Ea <======================= Player Sex Alias Idle Location dbref ============================================================================== Veloria........ F Vel 11m A07: Fernwood Pub........... ...... Stirling....... M Silve 1m A07: Fernwood Pub........... ...... Setiawan....... M Seti 0s A07: Fernwood Pub........... ...... Kailin......... M 1m A07: Fernwood Pub........... ...... ============================================================================== There are 4 players connected in location A07: Fernwood Pub ==============================================================================
<OOC> Setiawan says, "Welcome, again." <OOC> Setiawan says, "This is a prelude to a social-based plot that I'll be running in the near future." <OOC> Setiawan says, "As participants in the prelude meetup, you get priority over other signups in the main event!" <OOC> Setiawan says, "Please, please note that it won't be a combat-based plot." <OOC> Setiawan says, "Apparently, since this is a meetup, I'm obliged to remind y'all /not/ to +request/rpp from today. You will still get your reward." <OOC> Kailin resists urge to submit more requests...
The Fernwood Pub is looking busier than usual today, when an exotic-looking character --- presumably from the Jade Islands, with a face like that --- enters, hurriedly. He looks flustered. Looking about, he spots a table with a few likely looking tar...er, /peers/ on, and heads over. "Greetings, friends," he says, brightly. "Nice to meet you." He extends a hand.
<OOC> Kailin says, "Are we all at that table? Or is that somewhere else?" <OOC> Setiawan says, "I think it should be you :)"
Stirling does not extend his hand, his massive chrome titanfists looking like they would be quite uncomfortable to shake even if he extended one. None the less he does not release his grip on his own mug of ale. "New in town?" Stirling grumbles.
Kailin sits at the table, his attention focused on the food in front of him which includes several plates that don't stand a chance. When the gentleman approaches, he turns and wipes his mouth, a smile matching the stranger's. He takes his hand with his own large one to shake it. "Greetings to you as well friend," Kailin says in his deep rumbling voice. "What brings you to us today?" His attention is pulled to the man and he is fully engrossed in his sudden appearance.
Veloria looks up from her own drink and her eyes side shift towards the stranger. She eyes him warily and gives a nod. "Random choice for new friends? Or does someone here know this one?" He looks to the others at the table to see if there is an acquaintance among them.
You paged Kailin with 'Ah, I'd forgotten that you knew Georg.' Kailin pages: Oh, that works well then since Kailin is usually friendly by default!
The Jade Islander beams widely. "Kailin!" he cries. "It's me, Honorable Georg!" He looks pleased to see him, genuinely. "But listen, I've got a bit of a problem. Maybe you'll be able to help!" He makes a sweeping gesture with his right hand. "Maybe you'll all be able to help."
Stirling looks up from his drinks with a raised eyebrow "Honorable Gearge? Thats the name you go by? It includes 'honorable'?" he says with a warry look.
Kailin raises a brow at the mention of help, but contains his skepticism and motions to a chair. "Have a seat." He looks to the others at the table and explains, "I had the... opportunity to work for Georg some time back. It was a bit of a twisty, turny type of adventure. Someone almost got murdered - but they survived." He shifts back to Georg. "And you're looking for what kind of help, exactly?"
Veloria relaxes a bit more when it is known that someone at the table knows the man and she gives a polite smile. "Ah. Well met." She nods to the man, listening for whatever the problem might be. If he was friends with Kailin she would give him the benefit of the doubt.
"Yes..." Georg looks carefully at the arvek nar with the chrome fists. "Nice gear, by the way. Honourable Georg, they call me --- Honourable by name, honoura---well, you get the picture! Listen, that help? A friend of mine has been arrested, accused of something that he ain't done. Only..."
Stirling grins "Alright, so your friend has been arrested? I take it you want us to prove that he is innocent or some such? Whats the crime, this isn't something that he's going to spend a week or so in jail for is it?"
Kailin tilts his head slightly and asks, "Only... what? How do you know that he has been falsely accused?" He pushes back his plate and sits up in his chair, his attention on Georg. "Its fine. You can tell us..." He urges the information forth as best he can without being too abrasive.
Veloria opens a hand, wondering what the hesitation is for. "Out with it, man. We can't help if we don't know the details. Just tell us what you think we won't like to hear. Get it done with."
"Okay," Georg looks as though he's about to impart something delicate, so hustles his head down towards the table, ushering the others to do the same. "With all of this talk of demons and possessions, some people have taken it upon themselves to name everybody in the city as potential suspects. My friend has fallen foul of this. They claim he's in league with the demon, and, as everyone's totally terrified, they're all gunning for him to be found guilty. It's terrible!" He looks at them conspiratorially. "Only---I know he's no demon. He's certainly innocent. There's something else to this."
<OOC> Setiawan says, "You could always ASSUME IT has something to do with recent plot arcs." <OOC> Stirling says, "Skip me, work, is being stupid"
Kailin lowers his voice as well, giving Veloria and Stirling a quick glance. "I'm aware of the problem with the possessions, but I don't know that one can simply accuse someone of being in league of a demon and be taken seriously. That's..." he can't quite find the word for it, especially knowing that the fear around the rumors grows stronger every day. Instead, he shakes his head and says, "Well, what else is there to this?"
Veloria nods faintly, her patience under practice. "Yes, I can see a simple accusation being more than enough for people to act on. I've seen worse in this world and Alexandria is no beacon of morality. If it were, it wouldn't be suffering from this particular demonic problem to begin with."
Georg nods sagely. "You're right, friends, you're right. Give them something to be scared of, they'll see it everywhere. No honour! Not like me." He looks at Kailin and Veloria again. "Yes, there's probably more to this, but of course, you can't proove anything. Maybe you've heard of my friend, Miss Jan'ros Teolwren?"
<OOC> Setiawan says, "If you want to know, go for a Knowledge/Local roll."
GAME: Kailin rolls 4: (12)+4: 16
<OOC> Veloria doesn't have that.
You paged Kailin with 'You have heard of her. She's a local merchant big-wig, with designs on getting onto the Alexandrian council. This is turning out to be tricky, 'cause she ain't a noble.'
Kailin has come across her name in his dealings with people of late. "I have heard the name. Merchant lady who wants to be on the council despite not being nobility." He raises a brow and asks, "Friend of yours? How does she play into this?"
Veloria takes a moment to try to think of the name but nothing rings a bell. She wasn't into local politics much. She spent almost all her spare time at her temple.
"A dear friend! Well, we have dealings from time to time. She's the one who's been arrested, Master Kailin." His face winces, and he lowers his tone. "Only, it's not quite common knowledge yet. As an honourable fellow, obviously I have the inside track." Honourable Georg looks at the two of you, in turn. "So you see how she might not get an entirely fair and just trial."
Kailin nods to Georg and admits, "I can definitely see the possibility of people rushing to judgement. People can be very harsh and irrational when they are scared. Mind you, that doesn't mean that she isn't guilty on its own. Even a broken water clock is correct at least once a day." The saying went something like that. "Many people in the city have sold their souls for a measure of power. There's no telling who may have bought into it."
Veloria mentions with a shake of his head, "Proving something like that must not be possible. If so, they would prove it and be done with it. So how does one justify arrest for something like that? And what is the punishment? It seems like something this current could have people just going around accusing everyone. Certainly some innocents would fall to rumor. But also some would be justified."
Georg shakes his head. "I wouldn't know, miss. I'm guessing it's a lot of circumstantial evidence. X did this, so she must be Y. Y would do this, so X must be Z. And so, so on." He shrugs. "At a time like this, the punishment could be anything. If she is imprisoned, that's bad enough, but she could be exiled, or worse---executed!" With that, he shudders. "And /you/ could be next, friend!" He jabs a finger at each one.
"Theoretically, anyone could be next," Kailin replies and shakes his head. "But I don't think I'll be under that kind of scrutiny anytime soon." He adds belatedly, "Not in a situation that I wouldn't be able to help. The Guild of Explorers has been a fine reference for me so far." He motions towards Georg. "So what can we do at this point? How can we help?"
Veloria shrugs her red robed shoulders. "Anyone could be next. But it wouldn't stick on just anyone. Also, you might just have to prepare yourself for the possibility that she may very well have sold her soul. If you want us to help and we find that out, I for one, wouldn't hide it."
Honourable Georg looks closely at Veloria. After a few moments, he seems satisfied. "Good," he says, carefully. "I appreciate honesty. And yes, there are many ways you can help. If you believe in honesty, and truth, and justice---all traits I've consistently noticed from the Guild---then you'll believe in her case. I am certain of her innocence." He weighs things up, visibly. All of his little gestures are very exaggerated. "The problem is that she can't find anybody in the city who'll represent her in court. No lawyers will touch the defence case. But adventurers such as yourself with excellent scruples and good social standing---perhaps a team of you could do the job. Investigate where you can, then turn up on the day and defend her. Make sure the crowd are on side. You know how it works?"
<OOC> Setiawan says, "It's another Knowledge/Local roll, if you want to know about the legal process. But it's nothing special."
GAME: Kailin rolls 4: (20)+4: 24
You paged Kailin with 'Excellent roll! Sounds like you're a legal beagle. The legal process is slightly unusual compared with something more modern. The courtroom is presided over by a single judge, who decides whether the defendant is 'guilty', 'not guilty', or 'not proven', which is somewhere in between (i.e. the court thinks they did it, but there's not really enough proof). Prosecution and defence lawyers are expected to make their own investigations outside of the courtroom, and call and question any witnesses they might wish to. Any witnesses can be cross-examined, as well. Defendants cannot make their own defence in court, but as a balance, the City Watch cannot be involved except as witnesses. Of note is that the use of all and any magick is expressly frowned upon, and may result in additional convictions or calls for a mistrial. If you have any further questions, page me!'
<OOC> Setiawan says, "Sorry! Just paging Kailin."
Kailin nods to Georg and confirms, "I'm familiar. I read up on it when I got to the city just in case. I had heard horror stories. I'm also aware that guilt and innocents don't always have to do with only the facts. Sometimes a bad defense can damn you, and we're not experienced legal experts. So that can be a problem. Depending." He nods faintly and says, "Still, this sounds like something the guild could handle. If not us, then another more suited. But you should go by there and request it yourself, though. There's a matter of payment and such for hiring on adventurers." He holds up a hand and claims, "Guild rules. Apologies. Wouldn't want to be cutting anyone out. Wouldn't be fair. In good faith, however, I'm more than willing to start investigating immediately, so as not to waste any time."
Veloria nods and says, "Sounds like a job. Not much more or less on that end... And I'm getting on board with more and more work." She shrugs and nods to Kailin, "It might even raise more interest in your own gathering. Especially if you have to meet and talk to other nobility. Just don't piss them off in the process..."
Georg looks at them both again. "I'll be straight, chaps, because I'm honourable. /I can't pay you/, and Teolwren's assets have been frozen, so she can't pay you either. Unless... or rather, /until/ you find her innocent. So I'll go to the Guild, and tell them this, and if they still want to get involved, that's great. But, well, maybe you can get involved on that basis." He smiles, almost apologetically. "On that 'no win, no fee' basis."
Kailin waves a hand and says with a smile, "I'm sure that won't be a problem. Considering the guild assigns jobs of a 'no win, no live' basis regularly, this shouldn't raise any eyebrows." He looks towards Veloria and gives her a nod. "I've never done this kind of work before, but I'd like to be able to learn. I am sure I could be of service in one way or another."
Veloria smirks and adds, "Well, if she's innocent, she'll be able to pay. If not... well all those merchant assets will probably get forfeited and I'm sure the guild can collect from... whoever would control those assets. It'll all work out in the end one way or another."
Georg shifts uncomfortably, and smiles uneasily. "Yeah... sure. That would happen. So, you're interested. That's good news. There are plenty of places you can check out to get information about Jan'ros, but I'd recommend her offices to start with. They're down at the docks. If you meet me down there tomorrow morning, I can show you the place."
Kailin nods to Georg with a smile. "I'll be happy to help out, so long as nothing else pops up to get in the way, which in this city tends to happen on occasion." He glances to Veloria and says, "And if not me, someone else certainly will. You'll find the help you need, I'm sure of it." He gives Georg a smile and another firm nod, turning back to his food, now cold, but determined to finish it anyway.
<OOC> Kailin has to pass out. "Thanks for the scene."
Stirling has connected.
<OOC> Stirling says, "SOrry work is just gotten far too busy for me to participate. XD"
Stirling goes OOC. Stirling has left.
Veloria sits back in her chair and says, "It should be interesting to see the legal system in this city at work. It will verily determine what kind of people are in charge and whether or not Alexandria even deserves to be saved from this demon menace."
As Kailin goes back to his food, and Veloria agreees, Georg nods. "It'd be interesting to see how the courts operate from the outside. I mean, as an outsider, not... oh, never mind. Do you have any more questions?"
Veloria shakes her head and says, "No, I think I'm good. The questions will come when the investigation starts and things pick up. But until then, I think we'll just need to start out on the ground floor and feel out who we're dealing with, accused and accusers."
Georg nods carefully. "I am not sure who has accused Jan'ros, but she was arrested by the city watch. I believe she is being held by them. If your group registers as Jan'ros's defendants, then you will be able to visit her in the prison. Possibly." He seems a bit uncertain. "It may make a difference who is acting as judge. This may be something to investigate, because if they are outwardly biased, then our job will be more difficult."
Veloria nods to Georg and says, "That's all in the plan. I wont' worry about it overly much until we actually get into it. Until then, I'll be carrying on as usual. This demon's plan is offensive. If it wants the city it should raise an army and do battle as is proper." She shakes her said and finishes. "But I must take my leave and see to my work for now. Farewell."
<OOC> Veloria turns in as well. "Hope to make it to the plot scenes!" <OOC> Setiawan says, "Thank you Veloria, Kailin." <OOC> Setiawan says, "There will be several scenes, because I have to run them in short bursts." <OOC> Veloria waves and poofs for sleep!
Veloria has disconnected.