8. Character Witness
General Summary
In the morning, the party had a visitor. Torayah, who had been sick the day before, but got nervous when the party didn't return to the inn, had found out what happened and came to visit them. He volunteered to cast Zone of Truth at the trial, and vouch for their general character.
At around midday, the party was led to the town hall for their trial. The judge - the town's headman, mister Jonathan Hobb - explained that they would tell their side, and then their alleged victim would tell his side, and each could call witnesses in their defense, and then he would make an objective decision about their guilt.
The judge then introduced both parties to the courtroom, and the party was dismayed to discover the youth they had harrassed was none other than John Jr. - Jonathan Hobb's own son.
Torayah's truth spell lent weight to their testimony, and their previous good deeds regarding the Naiad, combined with the fact that they did identify the source of the recent narcotics problem was helpful. But it was not enough to make the headman less resentful of what he saw as rat-catchers coming in and causing trouble.
Not enough, that is, until a new witness appeared.
Everyone gasped as the back wall of the town hall fell down and a massive scaled head pushed in, taking up half the hall as townsfolk shrieked and rushed away from it. The dragon tilted its head to scan the room with one massive reptillian eye, its brass scales glimmering in the daylight.
The dragon was none other than the mother of the wyrmling the party had spared a few days before. She expressed personal gratitude to the party, and praised them as merciful, good creatures. She asked if anyone disagreed with her assessment, and of course the people of Hobb's Hollow assured her that her judgement was impeccable. The party was acquitted with no further trial.
Outside the courthouse, the dragon generously accepted the party's gratitude, and they laughed enthusiastically at the jovial creature's terrible puns. She advised that the town's goodwill might wane after she left, and the party agreed it was time to get moving.
Report Date
05 Mar 2018
Primary Location