Episode 53

The lobby of the court house is filled with pink diamonds. Two sets of guards stop people as they enter. A rose tinted orb, topped upon a scepter, is tapped against the chest of each individual who desires to enter. It turns opaque, and the person is let through. Many attendants can be seen directing people around the main lobby. Mrs. Koates leads the party through. They are stopped temporarily by the scepter-wielding guards before continuing, and are ushered onto a circular metal plate before being shot up to the 8th floor of the courthouse.

The party enters into a chamber with many people, talking amongst themselves and waiting for the trials to begin. Large double doors are kept shut on the opposite side of the room, flanked by four guards. People look at the party as they arrive, but are quick to go back to their conversations. Everyone chats for a bit. They listen in on some of the wealthy spectators. Some hear about rumors about Do’Navan having immunity due to his family’s class, Riot being of unknown background, Justin failing to become a wyvern guard. It appears that the individuals here are wanting to be entertained by the drama of these trials.

Anthos steps away from the group to start some shenanigans among the crowd. He attempts to scam some folks and gets Lily and K involved, along with some aid from Marisol. The plan doesn’t work however, and one of the guards steps in to stop them. Mrs. Koates doesn’t look very happy. The party waits for about 45 minutes before the doors swing open. People start filtering through. The group follows after, but is soon stopped by Ingred, who freezes up outside the courtroom. She is led inside by Marisol. The rest of the group steps inside. Their magic items all go null.

Lily does her best to ease Seipora and Ingred’s nerves as they settle down in the front row. The courtroom has an average layout, the stands here are crafted from ornate birch wood. One table is sectioned off from the rest by a tall glass wall. The inside smells musky and clinical. Ten guards stand at the ready in the room, along with Dorian. They wait about ten minutes in absolute silence before the Chief Justiciar, William Furlong, is introduced into the royal courtroom by Dorian. He blesses the empress and the crowd sits as the rest of the justice arrive. In steps a tall, grey skinned Earth Genasi covered in lichen. He is followed by an older Gnomish woman, an older man, a young half elven woman, and a scaled gentleman.

The defendants, the Burning Swords, appear in the glassed off area. They are all dressed in the same simple attire, chained up together. Riot is the only one who is heavily chained; muzzled and bound with shackles on his ankles. He has a crazed look in his eyes. His horns are cut and black, his tail spiked with some sort of keratin barb, which has been chained to his side. The burning swords sit at a bench and are chained down accordingly. Dorian bows to the justiciars and stands to the side. The older gentleman speaks up. The party is tried for two counts of treason, grave breachment of the Gíománach Etiquette, and 2 counts of possession of a class three substance. They all plead not guilty. Ms. Koates points out that class three is the most illegal substance to own.

The older man says that they will begin with evidence, and introduces the High Alchemist, Madame Emoi. A blonde woman of elven heritage steps up to the court. She is adorned in teal, white, and purple robes. The gentleman asks her to prove that mage fire was used. Emoi walks over to a table and pulls out a green, egg-sized crystal. She announces it to be a tier 7 crystal, equal in power to an archmages’ wisp. She sets it in a stand, and 7 glyphs light up around it. It is essentially a lie detector. Emoi pulls up a box with two vials in it, and takes one out with a black ichor inside it. She says a violent reaction will occur with the crystal if the vial is mage fire. Her word is true. She opens the vial and the ichor launches itself onto the crystal like a magnetic slime. After a second, the crystal cracks. All light from it is snuffed out. It is indeed mage fire.

The gentleman thanks her, and she walks off respectfully. A man with three spears walks forward with the second piece of evidence. He is Mr. Anton, and he has Aerospheres of the matches from the God War Arena. He touches one spear to project an image; it shows Do’Navan pushing the tainted dagger into Seipora, and her failing to cast quickly afterwards. The second shows a projection of the waiting area. Do’Navan goes over the plan, stating that he has a way to keep the caster out of the fight. Trust me, he says. Justin shakes his head and heads out to the field. The image is zoomed in, revealing Riot blocking line of sight to Do’Navan. The rogue can be seen pouring the ichor onto his blade before sheathing it. The third shows Soulfire’s side of the arena, after the fight. Everyone is being patched up, except Seipora, who is seen trying to cast with no luck. She looks off into the distance angrily.

Reports are brought up, like the ones from the woman who treated Seipora. They will proceed with individual trials. Do’Navan and Riot stare at the party as the rest of the crowd disperses from the room. Lily splits off to speak to Dorian, and returns saying that Riot tried to kill some guards. They leave the courtroom.

The party heads up to floor 11 to witness Do’Navan’s trial. Ms. Koates tells them that they may drink, but are not allowed to get drunk. One drink only. This chamber is larger than the last, filled with tables instead of benches. She gets frustrated after K insists he should split off to view Riot’s trial and Ingred tries to sneak more drinks. She waves her hand and says that no one will be allowed to stray more than 30 feet from her. She chews them out for their poor behavior so far. K and Koates have a tense moment, but he holds his cool. They have been registered for a specific trial. They will be put in a holding cell if they keep messing around. Seipora also chews them out. The party sits in uncomfortable silence for 15 minutes before the double doors open for the spectators.

This courtroom is much smaller than the last. Feels more intimate. Dorion stands in the back as Mr. Furlong steps into the room. Do’Navan is called to the stands first. A Mr. Fulton steps up to question him.

Q: Do you have any history with the woman from Basalt?

A: yes.

Q: Explain.

A: He would not like to answer.

Q: Were you a former member of her party?

A: yes.

Q: Did the group disband?

A: yes (he glances at Seipora).

Q: Why?

A: Everyone was willing to work together but Seipora. The party dissolved after an impasse.

Q: So you left Basalt?

A: Yes.

Q: Why?

A: He didn’t want to be in her company (looks frustrated).

Q: So you joined Rockhill Inc?

A: Yes.

Q: With a blemished record?

A: yes (he grits his teeth).

Q: (Mr. Fulton pulls out a vial of black ichor) Do you recognize this?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you know what it is?

A: No.

Q: How does one recognize the bottle, but not its contents?

A: (He doesn’t answer).

Do’Navan’s representatives request a sidebar. It is allowed. Do’Navan looked pissed, but his expression turns worried as they talk to him. He looks panicked until his lawyer acknowledges him. Do’Navan smirks at Seipora as they get back into the trial. He has changed his plea from not guilty to no contest. Furlong finds him guilty of the charges against him, and sentences the rogue to death. Do’Navan is pulled from the room, screaming and struggling as the guards carry him out.

People begin to file out. Ingred asks Ms. Koates why they suddenly changed the plea, but she doesn’t have an answer. She says that now, it will be unconfirmed as to whether he was actually guilty of the crime. Dorian steps up to Seipora and asks if she is still interested in a private audience with Do’Navan. She says yes. Koates mentions that they do not need to be with Seipora, but they need to be close by. They are led by Dorian down a series of halls into the holding cells. The others wait at the other end of Koates’ barrier as Seipora has her private time with Do’Navan. It gets loud near the end of it. K has a chance to talk to Riot. It’s short, but also loud at the end. Dorian leads them back on their way. Ingred insists that they leave, and the party is quick to do just that. They make it outside, and witness Madame Emoi being hounded by the paparazzi. Koates lets them off the leash, and Marisol and Ingred go join the crowd.

Seipora takes the momentary break in events to weep. Lily and K join her side to reflect. Kova makes sure to stay away from the dragon at the fountain. They all gather themselves after some time and talk about things to do in Royal City now that the trials are concluded. Koates says that there is only time to do one thing in town before they must be back at Basalt. Ingred points out that Anthos’s request was more important, so they can forgo hers. He short circuits at this remark.

They take a carriage to Anthos’s destination (Marisol is yet again delighted). Everyone is given the opportunity to change clothes. No one does. Except K rips his shirt off. Along the ride, Ms. Koates mentions that her father was a justiciar. Seipora asks about the orbed scepters. According to Koates, they are used to check for armor or illusions. Marisol asks about a permit to work with celestial bane. She says that there is an antidote for the poison, but only for those without celestial blood. She says to talk to Press about it. They travel for about 4 hours in the carriage until arriving in a heavily flowered hillscape. They leave the carriage and step in front of an iron rod gate, which holds an engraved sign that reads “Whisper Meadows”. Guards notice their arrival, but do not stop them until they approach the gate. Anthos states that he is looking for “Ugly George”, and the party is let into the gated community. Houses sit in the middle of a well maintained hillside. There are no proper roads, but tall grass, wildflowers, and many families wandering the field. A lovely mountain range surrounds the homes here. It is very peaceful. A lake rests in the center of this community, encompassed by many gazebos and docks. Koates gives them all a butterfly, which vanishes as soon as it touches their body. She says that she will know where they are if they leave.

Anthos leaves the group as everyone settles around the lake.