Embers of the Wilds: Episode 23

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==Synopsis==
Pearl is imprisoned in the Kah-Ella dungeons for a week, awaiting her trial. During the week Tristelle bribes Bob the Bandit to take full blame for attempting to kidnap Pearl, to prove the situation was self defense. During the trial Bob testifies as he was paid to do so. Pearl is found not guilty for attempted murder, but is exiled from Kah-Ella for her other crimes she admitted guilt to.
After leaving Kah-Ella, the party meet up with their elven friends and travel back to Trog Canyon. On the way they encounter a camp of undead skeletons. The elves destroy the undead, and explain to the party the horrors the souls experience while being an undead.
==Recap==
Kyra leaves town with all the trade goods, paint, and gold, and returns to Trog Canyon. (Out of character Kyra's player was not present for the session, and has decided to lease the series, as explained at the end of this episode).
===4 to 10 November Year 20 - Kah-Ella Trial Preparation===
Pearl is taken from the Kah-Ella courthouse and back underground to the dungeons, into a solitary confinement cell. As a spell caster, Pearl is considered too dangerous to be in the general population. Tristelle plans Pearl's defense, and arranges some character witnesses to testify on Pearl's behalf. This list includes the Ranger, and the Blacksmith.
Tristelle looks for a law firm to represent Pearl. the lawyer is mostly retired and doesn't want to directly represent Pearl, instead gives advice about the legal system of Kah-Ella, specifically the requirements of proving "Self-Defence" in avoiding the "Attempted Murder" charge. Also there is a jury system.
Pearl worries that her use of magic will be seen as a disproportionate response to a threat. However it was over-six people attempting to kidnap her at the inn.
Tristelle goes to question one of the kidnappers, that were arrested, who is also in the dungeon. Tristelle meets with the bandit named Bob in an interrogation room. Bob claims his "innocence" and just trying to make money to feed his 5 children. Tristelle lays on the charm and claims to see where Bob is coming from and offers a way to help. Bob testifies he and his friends were there to kidnap Pearl while Tristelle gives Bob's family an amount of gold. They haggle over the amount of gold, and decide on 200 gold.
Tristelle, cloaked, heads to the south-side district of town to Bob's family home. This part of town looks more run-down. The door is answered by Bob's wife, Martha, who as scares on her face. Tristelle manages to be invited inside despite Martha's initial hostility towards her. Tristelle explains Bob's arrest and that this money is for his family to be provided for. Tristelle gives Martha 100 gold, saying 100 more gold will arrive after the trial. Tristelle also finds out there are only 3 children with Martha with the location of the other 2 children are unknown.
Tristelle returns to Bob and explains half the payment has been made, the other half will be delivered after the trial. Tristelle manages to convince Bob that she can be trusted to pay the other half.
During the week Pearl is visited by the Prosecutor, Lady Breanna, in the interrogation room. Prosecutor measures the length of Pearl's extended claws, and declares them concealed weapons.
===11th November - Pearl's Trial===
It is the day of Pearl's trial. For Pearl's mean she is given raw fish. A guard taunts Pearl saying that she will be executed today, but Pearl doesn't argue with the guard, and just thanks him for the food.
Later Pearl is brought to the courtroom, hands bound. There is a 12-person jury.
* Judge: Her Honor, Judge Admina
* Prosecutor: Lady Breanna
* Defence: Lady Tristelle
* Defendant: Pearl Riverdale
* Victim: Bob
* Charge: Attempted Murder
Lady Breanna's opening statement outlines Pearl as a dangerous person who recklessly uses mages like those during the war 20 years ago that brought Rabara low like it is now. Lady Breanna's words cause Pearl to outcry in her own defence, but she is quieted by the judge.
Tristelle gives out her opening remark. Outlining that Pearl only acted in self-defence, and is a kind person.
====Prosecution Witness 1: The Innkeeper====
Innkeeper testifies that Pearl stayed in the inn during the night in question, and rented 3 rooms for Pearl and her 2 friends. The Innkepper then testifies that they arrived after the event but didn't see it themself. His business suffered possible reputation loss, but Tristelle has that evidence dismissed as speculation.
Under Tristelle's questioning, the Innkeeper says they saw the bandits after the incident took place. The inn has no security measures. 
====Prosecution Witness 2: Lieutenant Dex====
Lieutenant Dex testifies to the situation. The Prosecutor objects to Lieutenant Dex calling Bob a "Bandit", but Lieutenant Dex points out that Bob had been already found guilty of banditry in the past, so the moniker fits. 
Lieutenant Dex testifies that he arrived incident took place. Bob told him that he had been attacked by monsters in Pearl's room. Other witnesses corroborate that monsters had appeared, describing the Draconians. Lieutenant Dex says that the bandits had to have been threatened badly for them to abandon their job and flee the scene. Tristelle objects to all of Lieutenant Dex's speculation. The judge rules that Lieutenant Dex is an expert in banditry so his expert testimony will stand, but his referring to Draconians as "Monsters" will stop.
Lieutenant Dex continues to testify. The bandits were there to kidnap, and expected some resistance, so for them to abandon their mission and flee would mean there was something terrifying that scared them off. Lieutenant Dex observed no injuries upon Pearl at the time, but was emotionally shaken.
Lieutenant Dex then testifies to past cases where he dealt with rogue spellcasters, including a necromancer who was in the area recently who made some undead alligators.
Lieutenant Dex testifies at least 4 draconians were in the room with Pearl, based on testimony. The Prosecutor asks if this was summoned with murderous intent, given how outclassed the bandits were by the draconians. Lieutenant Dex concedes if you summon a group of 4 to 6 people with full armor and weapons, you are looking to cause violence.
Under Tristelle's questioning, Lieutenant Dex testifies that Pearl was outnumbered by the bandits, and the bandits attacked first, while armed with clubs. Also Pearl did not resist arrest.
====Prosecution Witness 3: Bob the Bandit====
Bob testifies that he saw Pearl's fur and decided he could make a lot of money selling Pearl. He also saw Pearl's claws when she was stretching one time, and knew he was a spellcaster. Bob considers Pearl a danger to the town, so kidnapping her and selling her to one of the warlords, would be good to the town. 
As they were picking the lock to her door, Pearl opened the door. After they jumped her, she summoned the monsters. Then Bob was arrested.
Under Tristelle's questioning, Bandit Bob testifies that he was with 5 others, all armed with clubs. And the outcome for Pearl could be slavery, or flayed for her fur.
====Prosecution Witness 4: Inn-Guest====
The Inn-guest, middle-aged male, testifies that they were staying in the inn with his husband and son. He saw the draconians though a door crack during the incident.
Tristelle has no questions for this witness.
====Defence Witness 1: Griz Guts the Ranger====
Griz Guts testifies to Pearl's character. He helped fight off Zombie Crocodiles in swamp and saved everyone. He never saw Pearl use her claws as a weapon.
The Prosecution just thanks Griz Guts "for his service".
====Defence Witness 2: Pearl Riverdale====
Pearl testifies that she was in her inn-room. She says he was nervous since she saw bandits following them earlier in the day, and heard rumours about them.
Pearl testifies she heard someone picking the lock. Pearl flung the door open to see many scary people out there. They then tackled her. Pearl panicked, not wanting to be kidnapped or flayed, so summoned the Draconians into her inn-room.
Pearl testifies that in the past she has been threatened with being sold into slavery in the past.
Pearl testifies that the appearance of the draconians was not intentional, but an accident in her panic. None of the bandits were badly injured. Pearl kept the draconians in the inn room to stop the incident from escalating. She spoke with the town guard about escorting the draconians out of town peacefully when the draconians vanished.
The Prosecution cross-examination Pearl. Pearl admits to recognising one of the draconians. The Prosecution asks if Pearl was inteionally summoning help. Pearl says she was trying to make herself move elsewhere (), but with Reckless Casting she summon the Draconians by mistake. Pearl was in a panic over this summoning, and was trying to future out ways for the draconians to peacefully leave down.
The Prosecution asks about Pearl's claws, but this evidence is thrown out by Tristelle's objection, pointing out it is the same as the punching force of a fist or the length of a human's canine teeth.
====Closing Statements====
The Prosecution gives her closing statements about how dangerous Pearl. Pearl is lying about not being able to control her magic, and summoned her friends on purpose. The Prosecution claims that Pearl wanted to murder the bandits and guards with the Draconians.
Tristelle gives her closing statements. Pearl was in fear for her life just for the way she looks. That the bandits were picking the lock in the middle of the night. Tristelle acted only in self defence.
====Jury Deliberation====
The Jury go into deliberation. Tristelle and the Prosecutor (Lady Breanna) are to wait in the chamber. Pearl and Bob are to be taken back to cells while they await verdict.
====Jury Verdict====
The jury (chat) deliberate during the break, and come back with a not-guilty verdict.
Pearl however is still pled guilty from "Recklessly Casting Magic in Town" and "One count Endangering the Population" so is sentenced to exile from Kah-Ella for 20 years. 
Pearl is let free, and escorted out the Northern Gate of town.
===Leaving Kah-Ella===
On the way out of Kah-Ella, Pearl gets the map the party paid for. Outside of town the party meet with their elven friends. The elves are still interested in traveling to Trog Canyon to investigate the source of magic, as well as the friendly water elemental, .
The party rest outside of town, letting Pearl to rest after her experiences.
Tristelle returns to Kah-Ella to see Bob's Wife, Martha. Tristelle isn't there to give Martha more gold, but to offer her and the 3 children a place in Trog Canyon, since Bob is going to jail for a long time. Tristelle gives an impassioned speech about how Martha and her children will have a better chance in Trog Canyon, if they choose to go. There is no urgency to this offer, since Tristelle will be coming back to Kah-Ella to trade in the future. Martha needs more time to think about it. Tristelle is understanding.
The party then set out north for Trog Canyon. 
===12th November - Lesson in the Undead===
On the night before returning home, as the party travel homeward, they spy a camp 8–10 miles south of Northridge. The party can spy 5 different fires, but they are 2 miles away do don't have more detail.
The party without the elves, with their night vision, sneak up to the camp to investigate. Pearl goes ahead of Tristelle with and spies that it is a fake camp. The people at the came are just motionless skeletons with cloaks put on them. The tents are empty with no bedrolls.
Pearl returns to Tristelle and reports what she saw, and they conclude it is 's doing, but not sure why. They return to camp. The party explain to the elves about the Necromancer Stuka who lives in Northridge.
, the leader of the group of elves, explain to the party about the truth of Necromancy. It binds the souls of those in the afterlife to their mortal form, splits their post-death cognition between what the after life aught be and the horrors of the reality of inhabiting their skeletal form. The very nature of undead causes suffering to those who are raised. Undead are innately an abomination. Sprits enslaved to physical beings. 
Pearl is shocked by the reveal, thinking Stuka to be a good person. Tristelle concludes they should intervene, but he has raised the entire graveyard of Northridge, so they will need help to deal with him. Faely warn that if the Necromancer gets the source of magic, he potentially could raise all the read armies from the war 20 years ago, causing untold suffering.
Faely explains more about the Afterlife. Souls enslaved are the worse version of the dead person captured inside a physical form. The elf goes into detail about the horrors of those who are enslaved in this way would feel, and will taint the soul of the person in the afterlife, even if they are eventually freed. Stopping the undead would save then, and stop their suffering.
The party is distraught by the depth of their mistake. Pearl wants to tell Stuka this is happening, but Faely the elf assures Pearl that he would have to know, since he is a necromancer he would use the process of trapping the souls in his raisings.
Pearl asks if they can just ask Stuka to undo all of this, so they can end this peacefully. Faely thinks that impossible. 
The elves then go slay the undead skeletons in the fake camp. Pearl is left in contemplation, looking up at the night sky.
The elves come back after an hour. Faely explains there were not complicated undead, so their souls wouldn't have suffered too much for a small period of time. The stronger the undead, the stronger the suffering. An undead raised will be raised to obey the will of the necromancer that raised them. 
Tristelle asks about elderly 's situation of coming back to life, and Faely finds that situation troubling, but will not act inside Trog Canyon without consulting the party first.
==Experience==
No experience given this episode.
Category:Embers of the Wilds Episodes