The Trial of a Wirefur - RPLOG
Participants
Date
20/9/476
Log
Within the halls of the castle lies the high courts, a place that few go willingly. Here sits in the far back King Good himself, in a regal chair. Before him sits five others, must be nobles. And infront of them someone who must be a judge. All about are beings, here to watch the trial. Down in front stands Lord Eldric, with a few of his around. In front of him stands a pair of people. On the right, in another pulpit stands Angel. She looks around, and gives a very slight whimper. But after she streightens herself back up. She may stand alone, but it wasn't the first time. A page annouces, "The charges braught before Lord Eldric Wirefur are, conspiracy to commit murder, murder, conspiracy to start war, conspiracy to destory a national landmark, unlawful buisness practices, and fainlly, attempted murder on a noble. How do you plea?" To which Eldric and company reply "Not Guilty!" The judge bangs a gavel, "Then let this court commence."
Sveta is standing in one of the audience galleries, trying not to get pushed around too much by the crowd that's gathered. Trials are one thing, trials of a noble are another, and it would be a lesson indeed to observe the proceedings. Now if only she could get a good look...and besides, the charges appear to be quite severe.
The high courts! Dio never thought he'd be in here a second time. Or at least, he hoped he wouldn't under negative intentions. Yet this day, the lion wasn't the one under examination. In the crowd himself, he curiously watches the proceedings with intense interest, wondering just how the defense will pull themselves out of this mess.
Eldrics trial? ...Angus wouldn't miss this unless he was rolling in his own grave. "Excuse me." The fox murmurs as he shuffles his way through the noble's gallery as he finds a seat. Despite the serious atittude of the room he was actually smiling, about to finally see the demise of one of the most vicious and appalling nobles he has ever had to cross blades with.
The crowd murmurs some more at the charges before the judge bangs the gavel again. "Prosicution, do you have any witnesses to call?" A raccoon stands, "The prosicution would like to call Angel Longstout to the stand." A lot of murmering, more then a few loud whispers "The assassin Angel Longstout?" "Why isn't he on trial?" "Wait, that is a wolfess, maybe... no, even in a disguse, you can't fake that pregnant walk." "That's a female." the judge looks over to the raccoon, banging the gavel a few times, "Are you sure you have the right witness prosicutor?" The rhino asks. Looking over some parchment, he looks paniced a bit, "I.. I believe this is Angel Longstout." he says looking around franticly. Lord Eldric smiles, saying, "If the prosicution can't even make sure they are bringing in the right beings, how can we be sure I'm the one who should be on trial?" he asks. A few more bangs, "Order in the court!"
At the sight of the confusion, Sveta only shakes her head and folds her arms. There's no explanation for this that the judge would reasonably accept, or at least, not like this. Sighing, the goshawk ruffles her feathers and had decided this is going to be a long trial when she spots Dio not too far away and beckons him over. There's nothing that cures misery like spreading it around, after all.
Dio slides both hands behind his golden and tangled mane as he awaits for the excitement of ligation to hopefully begin. And so it did! A former assassin that jumped the gender fence hopping into the witness stand would certainly provide something interesting. With everyone doubting her identity, Dio wasn't too sure how to respond, but he knew a certain fox-kit would be in the audience and would probably do something about it. Noticing Sveta, he begins pushing his way through the crowd towards her and eventually reaches his destination. "Good day to ya, lass."
Angus smiles as Angel walks up to the stand, Eldric was done for now. His ears perk up as he notices the confusion, was Eldric going to get away? Unlikely considering the fox stands up, and employs the same voice that he uses to give orders at the train grounds. "I can verify that the wolfess before you is in fact the assasin Angel Longstout!" No way he would allow Eldric to slink away without a fight, his fangs sharp as he tries to actually get ready for this...
That only causes even more confusion, lots of talking everywhere, "Silence! Silence!" Shouts the Rhino, banging her gavel a few more times. The 'coon thinks quickly, "Your Honor! The prosicution would like to call..." he looks round and secritary comes up whispering to him, "Would like to call Angus Solacious as a character witness for Angel Longstout." More whispers, more murmors, this was more then highly unusual. "Bring forth Angus Solacious." Calls the judge.
Sveta shifts her eyes this way and that as Angus is called up, and gives Dio a nod. "Horrible thing, this. Horrible thing, don't you think, my lion of trial watching? Next thing you know, they'll be calling up the one who brought in the evidence - I know that technically was the Lady Solacious, but still...I'm getting the sinking feeling that I should've stayed home today instead of going out to see what the fuss was all about." She gives the soul gem on her pendant a tug. "Interesting, perhaps. But not good."
Things have definitely started to kick up when the fox-kit decides to make a stand, causing Dio to give a little smile at the corner of his flat lips. "Of course, Bird o' Flawed Foresight. At least I probably don' have to worry 'bout bein' called up there, yeah?" The lion chuckles and gently taps Sveta's ribs with the side of his elbow. "But still, I wonder how he's gonna explain this one."
Standing up Angus walks out of the noble Gallery and right up to the prosecuter, and gives a bow to the judge. "Your honor, as you already know I am Angus of the Solacious noble house. And I can explain how the wolfess in front of me is the infamous Assasin Angel Longstout." He waits, seeing of anyone was going to contend his claim. "It was caused by the Fleshcrafter malfunctioning, she had climbed into it after it was damaged at an expo by a Goshawk named Svetlana Kuznetsova."
Listening to Angus' claim, the judge looks to the prosicutation. "Is there anyone willing to back his claims? In the mean time, sware her in." she says, and a book is pused up toward Angel, "Do you sware to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, before crown, king, and country?" She is asked, "Yes." She says back. "Then please explain, your connection to that man." The prosicutor asks, and Angel explains that he used to be her employer, used to give her jobs, and braught evidence of the crimes. THe evidence is presented, including papers, charms, and even the head of a wolf! Lots of gasps and lots of talking now. The judge pounds away some more. "And can anyone verify this, what Lord Solacious says?" The judge asks.
Sveta grumbles and scowls as Angus names her, but elbows her way to the front of the audience gallery. "Yes, your honour, I can. I am the aforementioned Sveta Kuznetsova, and I was present at this fleshcrafter's event that he spoke of. The wolfess was there with him and the fleshcrafter, and it was about to be put into operation. I caused the machine to malfunction, and was subsequently charged and confessed to charges of vandalism, disturbing the public peace, and resisting a lawful order by a guardsman. The court records will show all this."
Dio wasn't sure what he would do if he were called upon! But luckily for perhaps everyone, he didn't get named despite being involved in the mentioned incident. "Good luck to ya, lass," he says before Sveta recounts her involvement at the expo. Considering how well Angus told his little fib and Sveta's truthful speech, there was little need for interjection at the moment.
Angus nods as he calmly stands there at attention, his hand clasped together and held at his waist as he watches the proceedings. Clearing his throat he leans in and whispers to the prosicuter. His tail flicking as he gives Eldric a rather bland glance, before turning his attention back to the judge and keeping his calm. Even if he knew that Sveta would probably kill him after this trial.
Angel continues to talk about all the crimes she committed for Lord Eldric before finally she is asked to stop, "Thank you, and thank you Lord Solacious, Miss Kuznetsova. Does the defence have anything to add." At this a snake and a badger walk up, "Ladys, Lords, beings of the court, we contest that this wolfess, if she even is this Angel Longstout, acted on her own accord. What evidince do we have besides her word at this point. Do we have other witness? Where other witnesses even take? Or are we to believe only this and these," the snake holds up the documents as the badger continuous, "forged documents, why, even the seal of the house is all wrong!" He says. "Angel, if that is your name, tell us. You were in the Solacious house not long ago. What was your business there." Angel looks to Angus and answers, "I was there to make sure a witness to Lord Eldric's crimes would not speak of them." "And what did you do while you were there?" She looks more then nervous, "I... I ended up killing the witness... along with.. with.. My Lord Angus Solacious.." a great many gasps!! "Then your honor! If anyone here is guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, it would be that one right there! If she even is who she says she is!" A great many more gasps, and lots of talk. More banging again, "ORDER! I say ORDER In the court!" Even the king looks displeased.
Sveta shrugs, and seeing that she's not needed any more at the moment, steps back from the front and considers the situation. That, she knows nothing of, and probably isn't going to be of much use either way anyway.
Dio had heared a bit about Angus' touch with death from the man himself, but he didn't get a lot of detail as to why it happened. As the proceedings went on, it seemed that he finally got what was alegedly some of the backstory for the event. The lion shuffles behind a nearby being and uses his hands to form a small cone to amplify his voice a bit. "Remember who's on trial now lads. Don' be shiftin' defendents now 'til the verdict's passed," he shouts, moving back over to Sveta's position.
Angus frowns as his near death is used against him and Angel. He reaches up to his collar and undoes the buttons, revealing the scars that nearly cost him his life. "I will not deny that Angel nearly took my life, but can you blame a blade when it's the hand that wield it? Eldric has already shown that he will silence anyone that can give any evidence to his crimes, he just confessed it by asking Angel such a question. As she was sent to murder a witness to Eldric's crime was she not, before I intervened."
The prosicution looks a bit edgy, but as the defence steps down, the judge looks to Angel, "You may step down now." He says to her, and carefully she stands and walks back, still in shackles. "Strike from the record what was said by Lord Solacious, he was called to testify if this was Angel Longstout and nothing else." She says. The defence stands, "We would like to call Lord Eldric to the stand." then, the Wirefur stands and walks up, "Do you sware to tell truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth before the council, country, and by the knowledge you swore to protect?" He is asked, "I do." he repsonds, "So, tell us, do you know this wolfess?" "No, never before today." He says, "And have you ever seen that fox?" he is asked next, "Never before he and my cousin had me arrested." he says again. "And, do you know anything about these papers, with their false seals?" "Never saw them before today either." Lots of murmering, "The defense has no more questions for this witness."
Again, Sveta continues to watch. The one with skin in the game appears to be Angus, not her, and he'll be calling the shots here. If he needs something from her, he'll have to ask.
"Well, Dio. Looks like this might be turning all pear-shaped. What do you think our dear lordling is going to do now?"
"Not too sure lass," Dio comments, crossings his arms over his chest. He had to wonder just what that evidence consisted of and how it was relevant if it was just shot down with so few words. Hopefully the offense for the proceedings would shed a little light upon the matter.
Angus scowls darkly when his words are so easily ignored, biting his tongue as he holds his words back. Taking a step back he looks to Angel before he turns back to stare at Eldric, his tail flicking as he turns his gaze towards the prosicuter. Waiting to see if he can give any help as he just sighs and clenches his fist.
The prosicution walks up to Eldric now, "Now, that can't be completely true, remember when you were here to help an investication? Wasn't Lord Solacious with you that day? I remember quite a few were, in fact, Lady Mirana Solacious helped orginise the investigation, did she not?" He is asked, "Lord Solacious, if I may your honor, do you have any questions or others who could help verify that this is true, that he has seen you before, and even worked with you?" seems the prosiciution is reaching out for some major help at this point. The judge looks to the kin and nobles, who simply wave a hand, "Proceed Prosicution, Lord Solacious."
Angus quirks an eyebrow. "Angel can verify, and if I remember right the raccoon Arimia dropped you to your knees after challlenging you to a duel. There were a number of beings there that could verify that we have met before." Taking a step forward he frowns at Eldric. "In fact one of the Good kings own kin can verify you were at the scene." He smirks. "You came here to investigate our claims that Cliffside troops were attacking us, attacks that you organized."
Sveta listens to Angus' little speech and runs his words through her head. Not something she's familiar with, either. That little lordling sure gets into a lot of adventures...giving Dio a nod, she turns and pushes her way back through the audience. "This is getting boring, and I think I've got some work that I really ought to be doing back at my workbench - this fact-finding expedition has been quite the disappointment. Tell me the verdict, okay?"
To be honest, Dio wasn't very sure what they were talking about up there either. "Alright, good luck to ya lass," he says to Sveta, giving her a wave on her way out.
The prosicution smiles a bit and Lord Eldric sweets a bit, "I.. must have forgotten that, of.. of course, the Solacious house helped with that." he says, then the prosicution steps in again, "And about other investigations, weren't you under investigation for how your business was being ran, Lord Ictus and Lady Mirana Solacious were working on that." He asks, "And when you were arrested, weren't there others around? Besides the Lord Angus? Wasn't there a.. Dio... Selena, and a few others? Couldn't they tell about the guards at the Solacious house?" This has the wolf really nervous, "Is there anyone around who can attest to this? Please step forward!" THe judge looks furious a moment, but the king looks down with a nod.
Oh no... It looks like Dio was finally called upon. Being involved in the incident in question, he had awaited such in silence. However, he certainly didn't complain. It was his duty to confess the truth when called upon for justice and all that wonderful heroic stuff. The lion pushes his way through the crowd towards the front and gives a wave. "Dio the traveler at yer service," he says rather proudly. "I was there at the Solacious manor where we 'ad a little run it with what I'm assumin' were guards with stolen uniforms. Not only that, but a bounty on a poor lasses' 'ead if I remember correctly. Now this is just my opinion, but all that stuff happeinin' right before this Eldric lad came sailin' in is quite the coincidence."
Angus smiles as he watches Eldric squirm underneath the questions, his arms crossing over his chest as he can not help to throw a barb. "It's ironic really, if I actually payed attention to Terrances words before I ran him through. I would of learned of your plan sooner." He was lying through his teeth, the only truth to that claim was that he did take the bulls life. But he wanted to see how Eldric reacted, watching him out of the corner of his eye as he nods approvingly in Dio's direction.
Continuing to sweat it out, Lord Eldric smiles a moment, "Terrence didn't know near enough to..." then a loud gasp. The wolf blinks a few times! "Order order!! Prosicution, do you have any more?" The 'coon smiles, "None at this time your honor." Looking to Lord Eldric, the judge says, "You may step down. Do we have any more evidence or witnesses to call?" She asks, waiting for anyone to say anything.
At Dio's words though, the nobles murmer among themselves, the King looking over to him and giving a nod as well.
Dio takes a moment to wipe his brow. "Phew," he exhasburates. Seems that his account helped things at least a little bit. "I gotta wonder though," he mumbles under his breath. "That head is awfully interestin'." The lion shrugs, and with his duty finished, returns to his spot in the crowd.
Angus nods as he turns a bland glance in Eldrics direction. "Terrance died an honorable death in battle, something you would never understand." He says coldly before turning to the judge and bowing. "I have no further questions for Eldric, and nothing to add at the moment. Thank you for hearing my testiments." He takes a step back, standing at attention as he flashes a smile at Angel before watching the trial.
The judge looks back to the nobles and king, "Then you lordships, the decision is yours." They all look to each other, muttering, murmering, whispering, discussing. The first noble speaks up, "Not Guilty!" A few boos and hisses. Then the next "Guilty!" He calls out, some cheers and applose!! "Not Guilty!!" "Not Guilty!" "Guilty!" Then.. the king. He closes his eyes, Good King Good, whos word would count twice, focuses on the evidence. Thinks about all he has heard and seen here before opening his eyes, "GUILTY!" The judge bangs her gavel! "Then with a vote of 3 to 4, Lord Eldric Wirefur, you are found Guilty of crimes against Sweetwater! Guards! Please take him away!" The disgraced lord calls out, "I"ll get you!! ALL OF YOU! YOU HEAR ME!" He shouts, "All I wanted was crown!! If we got to war! Where will you get your weapons now Sweetwater! My company sold almost all of them to you last war!" He calls out as he is taken away, "Next, the beings of Sweetwater vs. Angel Longstout, court to resume in the morning." Says the baileif. Angel closes her eyes and sighs, "My turn next....."
How intense! Yet, he knew King Good was wise enough to make the correct choice. However, the entire court proceedings didn't pave a very safe path for the assassain wolfess that pulled the evidence in. A hard battle ahead it would seem. Seeing that there was nothing left for the time being, Dio slips out of the courtroom and heads back for the inn.
The verdict is given, and the fox releases a pent up breath as his shoulders slump a little bit in relief. As Eldric is taken away he smiles, turning away to ignore him as his fate was already sealed...But then the baileif reveals who's head would be on the chopping block next, his ears perking up before folding as he takes a step forward and puts a hand on her shoulder. "....That, will be an intresting trail." He murmurs, hoping that since she helped put Eldric away.
