OttD Session 22: Trial, Part 1

General Summary

Vun Roade, Zerrof, and Pestle discuss strategy for the coming trial. Izzik arrives, and lays out the charges: Balinor v. Zerrof & Mazu : Desertion during the siege on Neprius Bhaal v. Tornac : being a threat to all existence Izzik also explains that, to defend against a charge, the party must establish any of the following:

The plaintiff lacks standing
The defendant did not do what they are being charged for
The defendant was justified in doing what they are being charged for
The action described is not illegal

Thulmir arrives during this conversation and participates a little in strategizing, but when the trial actual comes around he sits in the stands alongside Adoven Woodsoul. Tornac is facing his trial in a separate location. Dukes of Air v. The Celestial/Murderers

illegally starting a war without proper notice
unprovoked destruction of a religious structure
theft of an extremely dangerous holy artifact
possession of an extremely dangerous stolen holy artifact

The party spends some time strategizing, then proceeds to trial.

Balinor v. Zerrof: on the charge of desertion

Initially, the plaintiffs present an eladrin man who introduces himself as "Smee" and the Satyr Snon. However, Zerrof renders these two irrelevant in his opening argument by saying that Balinor does not have standing to bring this charge. Balinor himself comes to the stand and explains that his charge was filed on behalf of his ally Deep Sashelas, because he did not want to face his own sister in court. Zerrof refuses to accept this, and so Deep Sashelas takes the place of the plaintiff. Deep Sashelas explains that he filed the claim not for his own benefit, but for that of all of Mazu's abandoned followers. He says that they came to him demanding answers, and he could not give them. He heard about it when Mazu woke up, and yet Mazu never came home. As such, he decided to do something he knew would get her attention, and file charges. Zerrof deftly argues that Mazu was acting in self defense, and preparing for a future encounter. Some arguing ensues, in which the entire thing sounds like a petty grievance between siblings. Deep Sashelas eventually capitulates and drops his charge.

Dukes of Air v. The Celestial/Murderers: charges of starting a war by destroying the Temple of the Four Winds

These charges invoked a considerable amount of back and forth, most of which resolved around philosophical argumentation and petty nitpicking. The party begins by arguing that the dukes were always at war with the Kenku, but the plaintiffs insist that The four curses of the Kenku were imposed as a punishment for the attempted theft of "an extremely dangerous artifact". The party attempts to argue this point, but The Bronze Prince brushes them off, stating that that particular claim is valid but refusing to specify what the Kenku had attempted to steal. Pestle then attempts to argue that the party is not closely affiliated enough with Penguin to start a war on his behalf, and besides that made their move without actually being ordered to do so. This point is argued at considerable length, but eventually the plaintiffs say that, if the defense was really unaffiliated in all of this, then that meant they had even less justification for their attack. At this point, the defense claims that they do not need to justify an attack at all. Instead, they argue that it is natural in the course of war to attack without warning. At this point, The Bronze Prince explains that the gods are subject to a treaty that mandates, among other things, 24 hour notice before starting war. This was apparently formed as a direct result of The Shattering. At this point, the party reiterates their independence. If they are not working on behalf of gods, then they are not subject to that treaty. Yes, Mazu is a god, but since she was assumed dead at the time that treaty was formed, she had not signed it either. The plaintiffs then attempt to argue Penguin is a god, and therefore subject to the law. The party shoots back that Penguin had also never signed that contract. The charges are abandoned.

Dukes of Air v. The Celestial/Murderers: charges of theft and possession of an extremely dangerous holy artifact

Vun Roade immediately attempts to challenge the plaintiffs for standing. Through continued interrogation, he gets them to admit the spear was not theirs, but instead entrusted to their care. It was not inherited, but instead was spoils of war. Ownership of the artifact is debated at length, until The Bronze Prince finally steps in to explain that the spear does not have a rightful owner, exactly, as the former owner was deceased. Instead the gods, including The Bronze Prince himself, agreed to place the spear in the care of the Dukes of Air. They were effectively the assigned guardians of this extremely dangerous relic. The Celestial/Murderers argue that if the spear does not technically have an owner, then nobody truly has standing to say it was stolen. The Bronze Prince says that the dukes are the closest thing they have to someone with standing, because the original owner of the spear is now deceased. This point is argued some more, but ultimately goes nowhere. Instead, the party switches strategy and claims that they took the spear to serve as its new guardians, since the Dukes of Air were clearly not up to the task. Considerably time is spent arguing semantics on exactly what constitutes theft, and then Zerrof demands to know why the Dukes of Air would leave something so important underground in Sigil instead of destroying it. The Bronze Prince explains that the spear is heavily warded against immortal beings, and the gods found themselves unable to relocate it, let alone destroy it. This shocks the group into silence for some time, but they eventually press onward. Zerrof points out that the spear was seen in Tornac's possession in one of the tapestries in the temple of Istus. In response to this, Istus is called as a witness. She explains that the tapestry did not make moral judgements nor depict the future. Instead, it merely showed that at one point of time it was very important that Tornac was in possession of the spear. The party argues that this is justification enough for their belief that they were "meant to have" the spear. The Dukes of Air continue to argue that this is insufficient justification, so Pestle prompts The Bronze Prince to issue a ruling. There is a long silence. The Bronze Prince explains that he is in an unprecedented and difficult position. He says he cannot rule in favor of the defense, however he also cannot disclose the reason he cannot rule in favor of the defense. It seems this entire thing revolves heavily around the spear, but the gods have agreed not to discuss what it is, where it came from, or what it does. Ultimately, The Bronze Prince says, he cannot issue a fair ruling at all unless someone else would come forward to clarify matters. Thulmir does exactly that, using his shadow step ability to appear directly adjacent to his party and present impassioned philosophical arguments in their favor. Ultimately, claims Thulmir, it is clear that the party has good intentions in all of this and it would therefore be unjust to charge them with any crime. After some more debate, The Bronze Prince finally presents the party with an option: They must either relinquish their claim as guardians of the spear, or the gods would have to collectively charge them alongside Tornac as a threat to all existence. Zerrof demands to know why the party is being charged without being given proper details on their charges. The Bronze Prince explains that, due to the nature of their agreement, they cannot properly discuss the charges without condemning the party to the same fate as Sconce, which is to say they would be removed from the mortal world due to their forbidden knowledge. The remainder of the session is spent debating this, and the party requests a recess to discuss amongst each other and their lawyer. They also hope that Sconce will arrive soon and they will be able to get some answers out of him.