Expedition 57.5: All is Fair in Law and War

We hold a trial with both councils on a boat to sentence Xardir Vaxilondrav for the murder of Torr Bottomhill. The fiend sneaks aboard, kills several, and wounds all.

### Detailed Writeup

We set out to sentence Xardir Vaxilondrav in the murder of Torr Bottomhill, by gathering the Council of Vrall and the Elders of Tidelight on a big boat in the middle of the ocean.

We start the day in Vrall, casting zone of truth on everyone going on Verrlex's ship, The Lavender Diamond. We ask them "Are you a fiend?" and all say no. Notably, Menau and Dalxar both come, Menau has taken Dalxar's seat.

Bartholomew Eld smells like a fiend to Bast, although he answers the zone of truth fine. Uzmir does detect magic on him, and detects a magic aura. He doesn't know who cast it on him. The creature has to be willing to accept Nystul's, so we aren't sure what's going on. Yezra dispels magic on Eld to calm Bast down from hissing at him.

Bast still smells a fiendish smell on the boat, but we assume it's just left over from Eld. How wrong would we be.

Nexrin asks Eld if he's met Ferrar, and he hasn't.

We explain the trial process to the Vrall Council, and say that the Elders have found a suspect. It is made clear that we are treating New Tidelight as a separate state, rather than a subsidiary of Vrall.

We get to New Tidelight, the Elders board the boat, and we go through the same process. All answer "yes, we are not fiends" and all is okay.

On the way to the middle of the ocean, Uzmir detects magic, and notes that Madira, Mara Klein, Verrlex, and Arbock all have magical items on them, but none of these worry him. Lindsay carries some magical potions.

Once we drop anchor, we determine that Mara Klein is the prosecution, Valorie is the defense, Xardir is the accused. With the prompting of the council, Xardir immediately confesses to killing the man.

Valorie prepares the defense that Xardir was under the influence of the fiend, and cannot be held responsible. Ven'Cartwrite responds that he's suspicious and we are using the fiend as a bargaining chip, seeing as we counseled the council not to tell the townsfolk. He says we could blame any crime on the fiend. He is worried that the Compact will instigate a coup and take over the city.

Valorie relays all the things the compact has done for the town, and challenges Ven'Cartwrite and insults him, calling him dumb. Ven'Cartwrite says that this is not just his idea, and is what a lot of the council thinks. Marz's insight suggests that it's his own belief that he and a lot of the council really doesn't like the Compact.

We move on with the questioning of the accused. Yezra asks the council if they would prefer her Zone of Truth or Lin'dsey's truth potion. They answer the potion, which Xardir drinks.

Valorie questions him, and gets a recap of his actions on Healer's Day.

* Xardir wanted to apologize with a flower, after having argued with Bottomhil.
* He visits the Broken Dubloon, as well as talks with Johan Ferrar
* Apologizes, but his apology is rebuffed by Bottomhill, who says that his clan is responsible for the dragon attacks
* He goes back to bar, feeling bad, and talks with some guy and feeds sausage to a stray dog.
* He becomes extremely enraged, goes back to New Tidelight, gets his spear and rope, and comes back over and kills Bottomhill.
* He flees to New Tidelight and seeks out the council.

Valorie proffers Arbock's testimony of how he was cursed at Healer's day, which he corroborates.

Menau agrees there might be a similarity, and that we might be telling the truth.

Gram Jalil stands up. He believes there is a fiend that has influenced the boy. But he still calls for execution, since there are no laws about fiends, and if anyone could claim that their crimes were influenced by fiends, then laws would fall apart.

Mara Klein pulls out the law books, which are based on Imperial law. Manslaughter is 40 years in prison or execution, murder is execution. Valorie studies these books.

Valorie makes remarks that this situation is outisde of the law, and that the governors should decide how to proceed. She also brings up how this will affect relations between Vrall and Tidelight.

The two councils separate and decide their consensuses about which sentence they would suggest. The Elders suggest exile from the continent, to the Silver Valley, and the Vrall Council suggests imprisonment in the wellwatch jail for 60 years. Valorie raises the issue of Xardir getting murdered in jail, and she urges the council to be careful in his defense.

Voting: Elders of Tidelight: All votes for exile Council of Vrall gets interrupted by ---

Delphi, appearing from below decks. Everyone is stunned. She is wearing her large dress that has the ocean and a ship on it.

Yezra casts Detect Evil and Good, and detects a fiend presence. Nexrin shoots her.

The dress explodes in a fountain of acid. Everyone makes dexterity saving throws. Valorie shields Bast. All the council members go down except Menau and Dalxar.

People see a buzzing creature hovering where Delphi was. We all roll initiative.

* Uzmir hexes and eldritch blasts fiend.
* Madira, Ven'Cartwrite, Verrlex, Mara Klein DIE.
* Dalxar casts cure wounds on Arbock.
* Nexrin attacks fiend.
* Marzipan tries to banish the fiend, and barely fails.
* Yezra cure wounds Neiverac.
* Fiend attacks Nexrin and attempts to drag him away.
* Neiverac stabilizes Kelligor.
* Korrin wakes up.
* Valorie pockets Bast, inspires Nexrin, and rushes behind cover.
* Gram Jalil, Eld are stabilized
* Uzmir Eldritch Blast fiend.
* Dalxar cure wounds Menau.
* Marzipan banishes the fiend.
* Nexrin heals his mom Zinnia.
* Yezra heals Valyx.
* The elders who are up heal the rest of the elders.
* Valorie summons the ghost Persephone and instructs her to inform Clarity to gather the compact because the fiend has moved against us. The guards and soldiers seem suspicious of Persephone.
* Valorie cure wounds Vanis.
* Everyone else is stabilized.

Yezra sends a message to New Tidelight to warn them of the fiend's actions and to stay alert. Mother Dalxar revivifies Mara Klein, and asks Marzipan to help revivify the rest. Marzipan revivifies Verrlex at the request of Valorie.

On the way back, Arbock adds, "To simplify matters, I vote for exile." Xardir is sentenced to be exiled from the continent of the East.

Valorie talks to Mara Klein, saying that we should tell people about the fiend. "Yes, Delphi should be found," she replies.

Madira and Ven'Cartwrite are the only dead, but are revived on the return to Vrall with the help of the riches of their families.

**Marzipan gets 1 renown roll, New Tidelight gains 1 community renown.**