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Completed Chapter III: Scales of Justice

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Tharos Silverlane

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Tharos stood with his arms crossed. He reflected on what the beggars / commoners had told him about what they had seen the day that Captain Raynard discovered the body. He had heard the story before from the captain when they had their single private meet. Except Tharos only heard the very brief version. When Raynard paused, Tharos took a step forward. "I conducted a search of my own, asking the locals of the area what they saw the time Captain Raynard arrived. I wasn't too surprised to find out that our friend here was followed by three of the drakkar. They were probably the ones who killed the lieutenant and the ones who most likely brought the guards to arrest Captain Raynard. But the question is, who were they sent by? It couldn't have been the sorceress because she doesn't have too strong of a grip, nor is she paying much attention to this region. No, it would have to be one of nobility here in Ridge; or someone of high rank in the Watch."
 
Dina Ailsa

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"Are your witnesses willing to speak before the Tribunal? This could buy us some time to investigate further." Dina asked after Tharos finished. She examined the man, he seemed a calm soul but his scares were testimonies of his experience in combat. Someone to be afraid of. From the corner of her eye Dina monitored the Captain as well, curious if he would show a positive reaction to this. He should.
 


Tharos Silverlane

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"Doubtful; but maybe. If the Tribunal allows us to push the trial-time back a few hours, then I could track them down," Tharos replied to the group, a gloved hand under his chin. He looked at the Captain then at the wall behind him. Tharos then walked to the wall and hovered his hand before the wall. It was a normal wall, but something seemed... off. As if something were either out of place or hidden from sight. He turned to face the party, turning back to listen to the subject at hand but the issue with the stone lingered in his mind.
 
Violet Robbins

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"Do we have enough to convince them that that would be necessary?" Violet asked, her question directed at Tharos; for, out of those assembled as the defenders, he would know the greatest on the workings of the Tribunal. She relaxed her pose and expression, as it would be better now to be more conversational than inspirational.

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Tharos Silverlane

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"We might. Between the notes and a collaboration of witnesses, it should be enough. We just have to be careful otherwise they may suspect something that we don't want them to," Tharos said in a warning tone of voice. He looked at the Captain, the look in his eye more like he was trying to put something together. "Yes, it should be enough, I'd say."
 
Violet Robbins

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"In that case, let's try for that. Tharos, since you know about Ridge, and its inners workings, we'll be needing your help with the investigation. Also, your prescence will give us some credibility when dealing with the locals. I hope that you won't mind." Violet replied, giving the armored figured the kind of smile that said "please" without using words.

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Meric listened and then shook his head. "Commoners? You mean beggars? While they're undoubtedly a good source of information, nothing of that kind could ever be used. Not officially, I think."


"He's right." said Raynard. "I've seen my share of trials. Even if by some miracle their testimonies would pass, what have we proved? That I was followed. We can't even link that to the murder." But he wasn't pessimistic. He was realistic, and his head was held high. "We need to extend this trial to buy time for a more thorough investigation. And there's two ways to achieve that. One is to come up with solid evidence supporting our case. If we can't do that..."


"We can try to shake up the prosecution's claims enough to postpone the trial for the next day." said Meric with a clever smile.


"Yes. Exactly." The faintest of smiles escaped the Captain's face for a few brief moments. "I can't believe I let myself be followed. They must have been at it for days. But I suppose if Ferndow could discover me, someone else could have as well. But who would care enough? What was their motivation? They must be Sorceress' men, regardless of whether they operated on her orders or not."


Meric snapped out of his thoughts then. "In that case.." he began, but never got to finish his sentence. The doors to the dungeon swung open in that moment, letting through half a dozen armored guards. The room seemed smaller all of a sudden.


"Time's up." said one of the guards. An older human. "We're here to prepare the prisoner for the trial. The lot of you are to leave at once." There wasn't much choice. But at least they got what they came for, mostly.
 
Tharos Silverlane

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Tharos looked at Violet but before he could respond, Meric had cut in. He was right. A good source of information they were, but poor testimonies they'd make. Tharos was interested in this postponement idea but it would be tricky to work. Before he could question, the guards had swung open the door. He glanced to Raynard before leading the group out of the cell and into the prison hall. He waited to make sure everyone got out of there. Postponing a trial is not such an easy task. What does Meric have in mind? Tharos thought to himself curiously as he walked with the group up into the barracks.
 
Having done all they could in such a short time, the group of defenders set out to attend the trial that was about to start. Meanwhile, back at the Academy, straight down the hall and right at the first intersection led Eltheron exactly where he needed to go. In front of a large wooden door with a metal plate which labeled the cabinet of professor Szentcz. The elf had no time to knock or try the door however, because it suddenly opened to reveal the startled face of a middle-aged man with brown hair and glasses.


"Oh, hello there! Can I help you with something?" he said, regaining his posture. He even managed a smile.

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At roughly the same time, on the third floor of the Academy's west wing, Henvei had just finished the climb that led him to his destination - the study of professor Dain. On the way he must have been aware of the strange looks he was given by passing students and scholars. But the further he climbed the quieter it became, and there were less and less people. No one approached him. The hallway of the third floor was nearly empty. Well, this hallway.

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The professor's study was indeed easy enough to find, just as the man at the reception had said. The hallway split into a T turn not far from the stairway, but there was no need to turn anywhere. The double wooden doors in the middle had professor Dain's name on them, along with the appropriate titles, and more interestingly they were slightly open. Just enough to shed a tiny bar of light on the doorstep, but not enough to peek inside. It was quiet up here, really quiet, and the only sounds were the footsteps of a passing student now and then. Nothing could be heard from inside the room itself.

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Henvei Relkor vech Daltzen

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A lone door, a single hair of light. But a gentle draft, and not a single sound. Ah, how poetic.


How dull.


Down the corridor came creeping, crawling, edging along the walls a deep, dark chill: the biting frost of a cold winter from which there none escape. The feeling washed up against the walls, down the halls, and through the very heart of anybody it touched, lingering in every corner of the body before it finally faded away. With it, however, came the subtle tones of a pine-needle tea, brewed hot in the smouldering remains of a ruined library. Charred wood and kindled paper, mixed with the sweet smell of tea, frozen forever in the cold of winter's dead. It was the scholar's calling-card. Every Folk had one: a magical sensation which named them, described them, and made them whole far better than any greeting could. Among the ice, it was used as a common form of greeting, to a people who otherwise had trouble telling one another apart. Out of the sleet, the scholars used it as a form of shock and awe, magnifying their presence and further emphasizing the legends that every Folk relished.


Besides, what self-respecting scholar knocked on doors?


The frost would slip through the crack and into the room: the historian inside, no doubt, would know the feel, or at least have heard of it. Lack the clarity, yes, to distinguish one card from another, but even common folk knew a chill when they felt it. The scholar, at least, had some faith in man's learned men, as shaky as it was. Why else would he waste his time with one of their book keepers, then? Henvei had fallen to deep thought as he walked, pacing through the corridors with an urgent tempo, and having no real rhyme or reason to do so. Why indeed? His feet cried out for rest of some sort; a quick nap in a strange bed had done little to ease his soles, nor his mind. The scholar dared not show his fatigue, for the lashing the tome would give him. But, damn frost and sleet, why a historian, why now, and certainly why so one shrouded in still air?


He paused at the door, letting his card flow into the room for a few moments, before he silenced it once again. The right- The right place, yes. The right man? Yes. Yes? Yes. The scholar closed his eyes for a moment, tucking away his thoughts and locking them in his own little treasure-box, somewhere far behind his forehead, where they would not see those bright blue lines. Bid them farewell, lingered for one last moment on the smell of tea. Then, he opened the door, and let the tome in.
 
Dina Ailsa

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Dina was a little jumped by the arrival of the guards. So soon. Taken everything into account our chances are really slim. She thought walking with the others. Suddenly Dina became aware of her heart racing. This was her first public performance after all and she was nervous. Just be calm, don't rush into it and stand straight and proud. What you're doing is just, you shouldn't be afraid or shy about it. Dina encouraged herself and did straighten her back so she reached her full height. She sent her hair flowing down her back, the look in her eyes determined.
 
"I was not aware that we had a Frigid on Academy grounds." said the only person inside the room, a shadow elf sitting at a table by the only window that let in significant light. All the other windows had the curtains drawn, shrouding most of the place in half darkness. Even so, some things could be made out. The room looked like a historian's study ought to: there were books everywhere, papers, geographical maps, small statues and artifacts of all kinds.


The elf spoke calmly, with but a faint glimpse of interest in his tone. "Had I known," he continued, "I would have sought you out myself." He rose from the table then, and faced Henvei. As with all members of his race it was difficult to even remotely guess his real age, but his pupils could not lie. They were a medium gray, placing him at roughly around two hundred years old. "Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am professor Dain. And you are of course of the Frigid Folk. A long way from home then. Might I know your name, and what good brings you to my study?" The elf seemed genuinely pleased to meet the scholar. He stood there with his hands behind his back. The light of day broke over him through the window like water against a rock.
 
Eltheron Delioss

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As the door so suddenly opened Eltheron's immediate reaction was to take a step back, resisting the instinct to draw his blade. This was an Academy after all, not a battleground.


"Ah, yes you can, are you by chance Professor Marin Szentcz? I had some inquiries in regards to the shadow realm and I was told you were something of an expert, or be it the closest to an expert I'd be able to locate here" Eltheron's voice was steady, though the words still sounded absurd to his own mind, Shadow Realm.
 
Henvei Relkor vech Daltzen

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"Well met, Historian."


Henvei gave a little half-bow, half-nod - all according to the proper ways, naturally.


"Far indeed, and I have come seeking what I have lost. My travels have sent me far and wide across the lands, and from clear knowledge I have been cast into doubtful rumor and fluttering gossip; each passing day I spiral further into the deep pit of ignorance. A malady, which has wasted its welcome, and which I now would seek to remove." The scholar's eyes glittered. "Vech Daltzen. Henvei. Your host is welcome."


The power of names occurred to Henvei in passing thought, but he dismissed it as idle musings. The Daltzen line was wide, and Henvei knew of a few family Folk who wandered as well. Relkor would stay hidden for now, and the scholar would be careful with his subject matter...but Henvei did mean to get answers of some sort, even if it would take the slicing of a social scalpel. The scholar finished his intro with a subdued flourish, and then regained his posture, standing tall and most certainly proud.
 
The elven professor nodded with a grave expression at the Frigid. It was unlikely that he could even begin to fathom Henvei's deep, inner concerns, but a thirst for knowledge - that he could understand.


"Well said. And Daltzen, you say." He paused for a moment and smiled. "I have of course heard of the line. I am most honored to host one such as yourself here. Now..." he began, then looked aside for a few moments towards the ground where most of the white light spilled from the window. "What ails you only time can heal, but perhaps I could offer a... temporary remedy? Something that would benefit us both in fact, and possibly many beyond, actually." There was a curious look in his grey eyes and a hint of inner fire, the kind that is sparked by passion of a professional caliber. "If you're interested, of course."

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"I am indeed." said the professor in reply to Eltheron. The initial surprise from the unexpected near-bump at the threshold faded only to resurface again as he repeated his words. "The Shadow Realm? Might I know your interest, sir?" The man regained his posture almost immediately after, but it was evident that the topic roused his own interest. It looked like Eltheron was in the right place. He had no idea just how right yet.

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Henvei Relkor vech Daltzen

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"I would consider it." The scholar had always tread carefully around public works, but at this point, he could not avoid such a perfect opportunity to win over the historian's allegiances. Even if it did mean some work. "A fine opportunity to restart a rusted mind; certainly a welcome change from traveling. You have my ears." What could it be? Research? Fine. Analysis? Perfectly acceptable. Diagnostics? Not as pleasing, but quite enjoyable in its own right. Henvei beat his feelings of nagging suspicion with the pleasing idea of a return to scholastically pursuits - There would always be time for questions later, and perhaps even as he did his work. The books could wait.

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"Excellent!" The professor's grey eyes sparked as he hurriedly left the table he was standing by and moved into the dark part of the room. Pausing by another table, much larger, he said: "Let us start by shedding some light on things." And with that he drew back the curtains from the window behind him, letting a great amount of light into the room. The illumination revealed that the desk was covered with a map of Ridge. On it were half a dozen scattered notes and sketches, one of which looking like a rough map of an interior.


"A week ago..." began the elf, then interrupted himself. "Come closer, please." he said, motioning towards the big table. But he immediately continued. "Lumberjacks in the forest near the South Gates reported a strange discovery which turned out to be some kind of a structure buried underground. Naturally, being a professor of archeology among other things, I led the excavation." His face turned grim then. "The initial expedition was a disaster." He pointed his finger at the location in the middle of the forest southwest from the town. He sounded worried, his voice edged with caution. "We could immediately tell something was terribly wrong with the place. We took things nice and easy. Didn't get far on the first day. But on the very first night our camp - we pitched camp at the site, mind you - was attacked by bloodthirsty wolves. I tell you, it was unbelievable. Dozens of them, incredibly hostile, swooped down on us without warning or provocation. No one's ever even heard of that many wolves ever coming that close to Ridge." He glanced at Henvei then, before looking aside. "And there were sightings in the forest, Henvei vech Daltzen. The workers swore to seeing ghostly apparitions materializing around the trees with twisted faces and wretched whispers. We lost nine men by morning, and three of those mysteriously disappearing. Their bodies were never recovered."


Professor Dain remained quiet for a while before speaking again. "But I didn't call off the expedition. We sent for more workers and hired a few guards on the next day. The excavation continued. And so did our troubles." He sighed, running his hand across the parchment. He stood leaning against the table with both arms. "On the second day we uncovered the entrance to the structure. The men... Those who did the actual digging... They will swear they felt a presence, like a breath exhaled from the earth itself, when we opened the sealed entrance. There was an earthquake. It ruined the passage and killed two workers in the process. I should have called off the expedition then." The elf looked down in dismay. "But I still held on to scientific facts. I believed all the difficulties to be no more than unfortunate accidents and everything else wild speculations. I was wrong." He directed his gaze at Henvei. "I have come to believe there is indeed some kind of magic involved here. Something quite unnatural. I guess I just thought we could handle it. Maker help us."


The professor remained silent after that, apparently staring down at the map on the table but actually looking past it. Lost in thought as he recollected the events of the past week. But there was probably more.
 
Henvei Relkor vech Daltzen

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The scholar's toothy grin had slipped off, oozing out under the crack in the door and into the halls beyond. He he sat, eyes forward, locked on the historian, and brow gently drawn, as he listened. When the historian finished, the answer came on its own time, and in measured pace.


"Perplexing. Right indeed were you to suspect magic as the culprit, but I would make no other assumptions. Perhaps a guardian curse of some kind, perhaps a prisoner now free. Dangerous in equal measure." Henvei folded his hands and began to pace, gently.


"Share with me" He suddenly said, spinning again to face the historian, "Of this ruin's make, and its trappings. What you know about its origins, if anything at all."
 
Seemingly encouraged by Henvei's resolution, the elven professor continued.


"On the third day we reopened the entrance that the earthquake ruined. It took time, but we made it inside. Nothing came in our way. We explored a little of the interior." He moved some papers around as he formed his words. "The ruin is old, that we know for certain. Probably dates back to the First Age, even. But the architecture itself is peculiar. A cross between human and elvish. As if both races built it together. If that's true, then this is the oldest known structure of its kind. All others are fairly new, built after Eldshaw joined Asgard. But this ruin is much older than that. Odd. Men and elves didn't even inhabit the same land back then, let alone work together on something of this magnitude..." Professor Dain stopped there, shaking his head with a smile. "I'm sorry. I digress. In any case..."


"Despite all our caution, we lost a few people to the traps inside the ruin. Standard mechanisms. Nothing revolutionary, just well hidden. Some didn't even work after all this time. The interior is not all that well preserved." A short pause as he ransacked some more papers. "We took plenty of notes. Hell, even started mapping the place but we didn't exactly get far. Not on that day, nor on the following." The elf walked away from the light to pick something up from another table in the shadows nearby. It took him a minute. After that, he continued with the story. "On the fourth day we delved into the ruin proper. Several hallways rigged with traps, a few rooms. Turned up little of importance. Until we found the wall." Silence. "Well, some kind of door actually. A barrier we couldn't get through. Judging by the markings on it, we thought it had to do with magic. A few local wizards tried their hand at it. One got burned, another one shocked. Nothing really worked."


"And that's as far as we got." he said. "We spent a few more days, up until yesterday, examining what little we uncovered of the place. I spent hours staring at that wall, trying to make sense of it. It's unlike anything I've ever encountered in my life." He smiled. "And now when you came I thought perhaps the Maker himself had sent you. The wisdom of the Frigid Folk is known far and wide. Perhaps you could succeed where we failed." He hurriedly added then: "Of course, should the sole satisfaction of an important discovery coupled with the knowledge behind it prove insufficient, I am prepared to offer additional... compensation... for your service to the Academy."


So that was that. An expedition stuck at the doorstep of something probably much bigger than themselves, in desperate need of professional help. Enough to force a smile on Henvei's face as his mind weighed in the necessary calculations. Or was it? Either way, it looked like he had chosen a much more fitting path by choosing the Academy over the pointless Tribunal that must have been in session by now. He remembered Dina and the others at that moment, though only briefly. There were surely more important matters to attend to.
 
Henvei Relkor vech Daltzen

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"Most perplexing..."

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The scholar fell to thought. Perplexing indeed, and yet, he already had a few theories. It would be rather exciting to test them out, and if so, to subdue whatever unruly magic lay within the tomb. The scholar's thoughts turned to matters of archeology...and then, violently back to the matters at hand. He had, at the same time, prior commitments. News to gather. Stories to acquire. A book to be analyzed.

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Books. The scholar grumpily thought of the journal he had been given to study. Unwise, perhaps, to share it with common folk, but at least he could ask of mundane topics from its pages. The other book, a secret, yes. But still, the university would have plenty of private knowledge to access. With the ungodly excitable nature of his party, time was, indeed, at a premium.

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And yet, such an adventure seemed so exciting itself! The scholar could feel old memories of his own wanderings bubbling back up, and how fun those were! Not to mention the credit to earn and the pay to be gotten. Yes, yes. It was worth the price in time.

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"I will examine the tomb," came his ultimate reply. "Whatever lies within is of far greater power than mere protective charms, and I would not sit by and let the structure's knowledge go to waste."

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Professor Dain nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent. And thank you. Now..." He started piling up the scattered research notes. "If it is in agreement with you, we should make for the dig site as soon as possible. It's nearly noon..." he said, checking the time. "So let's say, in half an hour? I need to reorganize but most of what we need is already there. I've left some personnel at the campsite."


The elf smiled at the scholar, catching his breath. "I'm excited. I have a feeling that with you we will get to the bottom of this." The look in his grey eyes was that of determination and faith.
 
"The Tribunal is now in session." said the judge.


Justice Square was crowded, though not as much as one might have expected. Spectators surrounded the action that was to take place in the center, divided from it by a circle of guards. The accused, Captain Raynard, sat alongside Dina, Violet, Meric and A'kal at the defense's table on the far opposite side from the prosecution's. There was only a single prosecutor. In the end, it only took one. The witness stand was currently empty in the middle, facing the judge's table which was elevated on a three feet-high wooden floor. Two guards were posted alongside the defendant, as if he could attempt an escape at any moment. No one looked happy.


The judge was an older-looking human with a strict face that held a quizzical look at the moment. He studied the defense and asked in a tone of genuine curiosity: "The defendant has four defenders?"


"Yes, your Honor." said Meric as he stood up and signaled the others that he was taking care of this one. "I am Meric, and these are Dina, Violet, and Tharos. The four of us will be representing the accused in this trial."


The judge nodded. "Unusual, but so be it. Is the prosecution ready?" he asked the man at the opposite table.


"Yes, your honor." The prosecutor was a human, no older than thirty. The defending party overheard earlier that his name was Thorne, a young but already famous prosecutor with an unbroken streak of convictions. He had never lost a case in his career. Not particularly encouraging for them.


"Very well. Let us hear the opening statements."


"What the prosecution will prove in this completely unnecessary trial is that the accused, Captain Raynard of the Ridge City Watch, murdered his superior, Lieutenant Ferndow, in cold blood only three days ago. Of this there will be no doubt. I will uncover his twisted motives in front of this Tribunal and expose the truth. Justice will be done." The way Thorne spoke, he was obviously a man fully aware of his talents and reputation.


And so it had begun. The trial that already affected several important things by its mere existence.
 
Violet Robbins

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Not one who by Thorne's Violet stood up to her fullest heght, clearing her voice quietly, and stated in her best orators voice "We on the defense are here to prove that the allegiations against the defendant are false; and to prove that he was in fact framed. My co-defenders and I believe whole-heartedly in this man's innocence and will prove as such before this Tribunal."

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As Violet resumed her seat, she shot a quick glance at their opponent; flashing him a smirk to say 'You don't scare me one bit.'

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Violet's statement caused an uproar throughout Justice Square. Up until that point it was unknown on what the defense would even be based, so naturally everyone was surprised and affected in one way or the other. It took some time before peace was restored and the judge continued.


"Sounds promising." he said. "Prosecutor Thorne, you may begin."


Thorne nodded. "The prosecution would like to call its first witness - Inquisitor Herondale - to the stand." Murmurs echoed through the square as the Inquisitor approached from where he was standing. The fellowship hadn't even noticed him by then. It made sense though, that the prosecution would call on him. He looked exactly the same as when Dina, Violet and Meric encountered him earlier. When everything was set, Thorne asked: "You were the chief investigator in this particular case, correct?"


Herondale nodded with a faint smile. "I was in charge of the initial investigation, being the Inquisitor and all."


"In that case," Thorne replied without pause, "Please testify to this court about the night when the defendant was apprehended."


"Certainly." The Inquisitor first cleared his throat, then continued. "Some time before midnight, a squad of guards arrived at the crime scene to find Captain Raynard with his sword drawn standing over the dead body of Lieutenant Ferndow. He did not put up a fight and was immediately arrested."


"The prosecution requests that the murder weapon, the sword belonging to Captain Raynard, be submitted into evidence." Prosecutor Thorne looked content. For him, this trial was a done deal.


The judge accepted the evidence and, seeing Thorne sit down, announced: "The defense may now cross-examine the witness, if they wish."


Meric leaned towards the others. "Not a very good start. Thorne has already made it look like the Captain did it. But if he's really innocent, if that's the truth... Then the prosecution's case must be riddled with lies. We have to point them out, or at least find holes to exploit. Now, Herondale may actually be telling the truth but his testimony seems awfully vague. At the very least, we can press him for more details. Anything to cast some doubt on the matter."
 

Dina Ailsa​



http://www.rpdom.com/threads/dina-ailsa.53054/



"Could you tell us more about the crime scene?",

Dina asked standing up,

"Where there any signs of struggle?"

She wanted him to start the topic but she had many questions she thought would be hard for the Inquisitor to answer.

And the sword mentioned is clean of blood, not much of an evidence if you ask me.

Dina examined the Inquisitor's face, getting to know it so she could catch signs of a lie if they'll be there.
 
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