Order in the Court - RPLOG
Participants
Date
29/9/476
Log
Tis a fine evening, a bit chilly as fall weather settles in. Thankfully, the tropical clime of the city buffers it from the worst of winter's touch. Not that anyone in the court room could take too much notice of it. It's a mild gathering of about twenty souls seated in the wooden benches provided, facing the council, the king at the center on raised daias with his gavel at ready.
Sveta watches the scene from the viewing gallery, a little apprehensive after having last been here for Eldric's trial. Still, the announcement sounded important enough for her to leave her studies and tinkering - the goshawk settles down in one of the seats and sets to reading a book, waiting for the proceedings to begin.
Well fed, a good drink, and a slightly chilly night. A nice way to end a weekend, especially with something involving the king. Eager to hear the Good King's words, Dio peers down from a gallery not too far away from Sveta, chuckling a bit to himself after thinking over the multiple court and other sessions he's been through in the past few weeks. However, the lion seems a little bored, idly thumbing his fingers here and there in an attempt to entertain himself.
Alef sits in the gallery quietly as council begins, wearing mended robes she seems somewhat at ease, though awestruck to see the Good King in person. holding a cup of warm tea she got before coming into the Court Room.
Leian's tail twitches slowly as she wanders in, never having been in such a room before, she seemed a bit nervous about it while she approached a seat and took to it, tail laying behind her through the back of the chair, hanging low to the ground
The proceedings start simply enough, with various people stepping forward to air their concerns to the council, most given ruling fairly swiftly, for good or ill, until the king's scribe, Mione, the mouse, lifts his pad and skews his whiskers, "The next supplicant is an accused. A misses Petra, apostate." At his words, the accused is led in. A rather shapely chipmunk descended female is led in, head high and eyes straight as they seat her before the council. The word 'apostate' gets the crowd murmuring, perhaps already deciding her guilt.
Sveta looks up as the proceedings begin, acknowledging Dio, Alef and Leian and giving the second a stern glance at bringing food into the courtroom before turning her gaze to the proceedings. There doesn't seem to be anything particularly important about this chipmunk...but perhaps that'll change once the charges levelled against her are laid.
Unfortunate, the immediate image some get when they mention an apostate. But in such a society, it wasn't very surprising. But what he was more curious of course was the supposed crime itself, which would of course reveal itself in time. As he awaits, the lion spots Sveta and shuffles his way towards her and looks closely at her book. Interested in her reaction, Dio puts a finger to one of the pages and attempts to flip it over.
Alef finishes the cup and puts it down, the mention of a apostate gets her attention, listening to the murmuring and nodding quietly, watching the proceedings with interest.
Leian's ears twitch a bit as she sits quietly, listening in on what she can of the events as they unfold before her, tail swaying idly behind her
"Miss Petra, do you understand why you are here?" asks Mione, leveling a gaze at her with one cocked brow.
She returns the gaze, defiant, "Because I reached too high."
Mione hrms, "I was hoping you would spare me from reading the charges, madame, but since you insist," he says, not sounding pleased with it. "The accused is charged with 'indecent activities', 'assault', and 'complete disregard for the sanctity of the body'. Do you challenge these charges?"
Sveta suppresses a chuckle and shakes her head, turning to Dio. "Ah, one of THOSE things again, I'm expecting. Selena tells me all about those in the Shanties...although I'm sure there're plenty in Mange Square and even more in the Castle District, although those go by other names..."
Dio looks over at Alef and Leian, giving them a little wave to goad them over. He didn't look like he'd bite, did he? He certainly hoped not! "Oh... Oh my, some interestin' charges there," he says with a quiet breath and a small smile. "The lass don't sound like she's feelin' too guilty now. Wonder how she's gonna defend 'erself." Even now, the lion still attempts to dig a finger between one of the pages of Sveta's book, trying to flip it over once more and maybe make her lose her place if she didn't take it away in time.
Alef looks confused by the wording of the charges, but then overhearing from a neighbooring being makes her blush, noticing duo's wave she waves back abit. with court in session she makes no move to stand and move to the two. unsure if doing so would making a major faux pas. staying seated and watching the proceedings, pritty sure the outcome is foretold already though.
"He wanted it," she says, growing agitated, "He came to me. If he wants to complain about it, where is he? He didn't even have the courage to be here today," she says in an almost shout.
Mione shakes his head, "The wronged have no obligation to appear before court unless called upon. Very well, let it be known that Miss Petra challenges her accusations. Let us begin with a simple retelling. The court already has the wrong's testimony. Would you care to share your own? We are polite people, I will remind, so please keep unseemly portions to a minimum." Mione passes a sheaf of papers to a guard, who hurries over to the council members and the king, handing each a paper.
Sveta shushes Dio, chasing his wayward hand away from her book and stowing it away before he can get up to any more mischief. "Well, my dear Lion of constant pestering...we'll just have to wait and see, shall we? It has to be pretty important for the Good King himself to preside, yes?"
Foiled! And so close... Oh well. Dio shrugs his shoulders and removes his invading hand, putting it back to his side. "Fer such... charges," Dio comments, "It's strange how the king is 'ere. I wonder if the 'wronged' was a royal o' somethin'. Now that'd make an interestin' tale would it not, Bird o' Literary Pursuits?" The lion couldn't help but chuckle, but he attempts to keep it low along with his voice.
Alef rubs her chin, curious who this wronged party might be, must be someone in rather important for the king himself to precede over the court, her attention focused on the proceedings.
Leian's ears fall back a bit as she looks up with a tilt of her head at the preceedings, tail twitching furthe rbehind her " Hard to say where this will go, with all thats been going on, inside and out of the city.. Wonder whats to be done now?"
Petra grouses a moment before raising her voice, "He saw me walking down the street, and I saw him. He looked lonely, so I offered him somewhere warmer and cozier to be," she says, frowning, "We get comfortable, sharing drinks, things get a bit hot, so we retire, and we're getting to know each other and he's suddenly crying like a mewling cub," says the chipmunk, "I figure he's just into strange things. I've seen worse, so I keep going until we're both done, and he's gone before I wake up, and here we are."
Sveta coughs. Crying like a mewling cub? Now that isn't quite something that one happens to expect during such an act...hmm. "Oh, it would be my dear lion of boundless inquiry. It would be indeed. And quite embarrassing to boot, if what we're hearing is the truth."
Did cubs really have such a distinct crying sound? Scoff! But only comedically. "Wonder what kinda evidence they're gonna bring out," Dio comments, rubbing at his chin in thought. "If we get down to it, maybe we'll get to see this 'wronged' lad. Maybe we should bet on it?"
Alef shakes her head at the comment of crying like a baby, whispering to herself that it likely isnt written in the wronged partys testimony that happened, tail twitching behind her as she watches the events proceeding.
Mione looks towards the council members, who confer with one another and the king in hushed tones before the King rises, looking at the accused chipmunk, "At any time, did the wronged ask you to cease?" he asks plainly.
Sveta just shakes her head at the whole debacle. "Talk about airing dirty laundry out in the open," she mutters to Dio. "Even if the fault indeed is all hers - something which gets curiouser and curiouser - the sheer scandal would scuttle anyone of any repute."
Dio digs around in his pockets and jingles through a few things that reside within. Finally, he pulls out a value of ten crown within his large hand. "Ten crown lass," he says, holding it in front of Sveta. "If it's a royal, ya owe me ten crown. If it ain't, then I give you this shiny one 'ere. An' just in case no one knows, then nothin'. Maybe we make some tea fer each other 'r somethin' after it's all done."
Selena slips into the hearing decidedly late, conscientious enough to try and avoid disturbing the crowd too much as she glances along the crowd. Noticing Sveta, Alef and Leian, she moves along to the goshawk quietly. "Good evening, Sveta. Leian." She greets the two, settling down - evidently not seeing fit to commont on the current situation of the chipmunk given her having not been there for the majority of the trial thus far.
Alef notices Selena and waves as she goes to join Sveta and Dio, the deliberating councilers likely hardly noticing the goings on in the court as she takes the moment to snatch her empty tea cup and slip over behind Selena to join the goshawk, wolf and lion, sitting by them quietly.
"What kind of question is that, er, your highness? He's the one that came to me, in my house," says Petra, sounding increasingly angry.
"Be that as it may. Did the wronged ask you to cease?" asks the Good King in a cool tone.
Sveta notices Selena, waving the wolfess over and patting a seat next to her and Dio. "Quite the amusing diversion we're having here," she whispers in hushed tones. "I know they're trying to dance around the subject to avoid scandal, but I really wish they would just get to the heart of the matter. This really seems like a case for a petty magistrate, from what we've seen so far."
Settled behind the large bodied male lion, the smallish kitten stands inconspicuously, tiny in the chamber and timidly unnoticable. She had tried before, to stand on the pads of her footpaws to peek over the lion's shoulder at the proceedings, but eventually settled for listening intently with perked ears. She had been out finishing her daily errands and messaging for her mistress before the call for the public hearing was sounded. Believing there might be something inherent in the case that would need mentioning to her lady, Eriene set foot in the building and took her place near the back wall.
With his bet ignored, Dio slips the ten crown coin back into his pocket and shrugs. "Good evenin', lasses," he says and waves to to the incomming wolfesses. "Interestin' trial, ain't it? Ain' goin' no where it seems 'til one side slips somethin' they shouldn't." Feeling that someone was direcly behind him, the lion turns around and comes face to face with Eriene. "Ah! Lass! Sorry 'bout that if ya couldn't see over me. Let me scoot over a bit an' ya can sit right next to me if ya want," he says, scooting over a bit.
Selena tsks quietly, taking the seat she's offered by the goshawk. "I couldn't say. After all, I did only just get here." She replies a little awkwardly, peering down at the accused and the other courtgoers. "I think Dio's likely to be right about that comment I caught the end of. This seems at least a bit excessive..."
Alef sits down near the group, using a hushed whisper as well to speek. "it is a interesting trial yes, I wonder how it will turn out." looking back on the proceedings with interest.
"Well, yes..." admits the chipmunk, "But that's hardly that strange. Lots of people like saying 'No no no,' when they really mean 'More more more!'"
The Good King nods, looking to the council, but they seem to already be in agreement, "Then it is a simple matter and we need not concern ourselves longer. I find the defendant guilty, and her sentance wil..."
"Wait!" comes a voice from the crowd, a priest rising to his feet and hurriedly advancing, "Mercy, Good King, mercy."
Eriene is take aback with surprise but nods meekly regardless, tentively moving to settle on the bench, paw pressed into the wood as she leverages herself onto her small tush, soon afterward adjusting her skirts properly.
Ah, now some drama! It's one thing to read about it in the books, and another to see it in the flesh. Sveta looks from Dio to Selena to Alef, then leans back in her seat with all the grace of a preening bird. This should be good.
Dio looks at Eriene as she settles down. Looking. Staring. One of those shy types. He liked to mess with two types of people: The shy and uptight. His head seems to get closer and closer until finally... His forehead bonks lightly against Eriene's head, quickly pulling back with a chuckle. "How are ya lass," he says lightly to Eriene with a smile soon disrupted by the sudden drama.
The priest bows from outside the court proper, just at the dividing line between it and the audience, "I apologize, your gracious lord, but please, hear me. This woman has wrong another, but I feel it was done in ignorance, not malice. Allow us to educate her and reform."
Mione addresses the intruder to the proceedings, "This is very unorthodox, sir. The Good King is the maker and enforcer of laws in the land, not the church. By what right have you to question his decisions?"
Selena furrows her brow as the situation suddenly escalates. "Well, that still doesn't explain why this was taken to such an extreme." She murmurs, looking back around for a moment as Dio greets Eriene, thgouh the priest's admission almost prompts her to interject - though Mione's own question seems to satisfy her.
Alef looks at the priest curiously, at the King and the other councilers reactions, then at the priest again, curious about the development, watching the scene unfolding before her.
Eriene flinches, mewing softly in awkward discomfort and shifting to the side so she was now nearly sitting off the edge of the bench. She tries to focus again on listening, the interjection of the 'church' drawing on her intincts that the next few moments would likly be of interest to her mistress.
"D'aww, I'm sorry lass," Dio comments while looking at Eriene with a smile. "Let's see.... 'ere!" The lion holds out a hand in front of the kitten and waves it a bit. "'ow 'bout a little handshake, yeah? Yer always so shy!" He lets out a tiny chuckle and turns his head to watch the proceeedings as he awaits a response. Things just keep getting more interesting it would seem.
"I claim no such right," says the priest deferringly, "I only propose an alternative. If the Good King does not agree, then that is all that I can do. I only ask that my voice be heard and considered."
Mione cocks a brow towards the Good King, who slaps one hand with the gavel held in the other a moment, considering, "Very well. The church has done much good for my people. Take this one, but let it be marked on the court record that you stand for her as representative. If she should stand before us again, you will pay for her crimes as well."
Mione quickly scribbles this down, quill dancing as the chipmunk is released from her bindings, still sour looking, into the priest's care.
Selena quirks an eyebrow and shakes her head, looking back to Dio and Sveta. "Something about this still doesn't feel quite right..." she murmurs, then adding to the goshawk; "Well, I suppose we'll know if they stay in firmament or not."
Sveta leans back in her chair and looks to Dio and Selena. "One can only wonder. You know, I'm wondering what sort of precedent this will cause. It's not as if the Church doesn't already exert a good measure of political control already."
Alef watches as the chipmunk is released into the church's custody, nodding as its probobly better then the alternative would have been, just sighing softly as she listens to the others around her give there input, having little to give herself.
"Too bad," Dio comments. "I was hopin' we'd get a better hint as to who the missin' victim is, but that'll be fer another time I suppose." With a shrug, the lion crosses his legs and leans back into his chair. "Guess that 'about wraps it up 'less someone else comes burstin' through the door."
As the priest guides the chipmunk away, speaking softly at her, Mione announces, "The next order of busi..." It seems a bad day to finish sentences, as, coming from the air itself, a hand, then the rest of a body, seeming to somehow slip into existance, like a spirit, but this is no spirit, it is a Creator, and one known. Doctor Sinclair stands just beside a Mione startled enough that he gives a most undignified and girlish squeal, dropping his pad and quill.
Eriene also finds herself slightly concerned about a progressive effect the ruling might have, filling away that tidbit for later... She looks up at the Lion and hesitantly nods, her ears flicking about to catch any further utterances of clarity and insight offered by the remaining spectators, some beings who were barely lingering around the doorway already beginning to depart, the exitement of the priest pushing through them and the passed down ruling over and done with, by all appearances.
Sveta blinks, the goshawk displaying a rare bit of suprise as the Creator just pops out from nowhere straight into the proceedings. If they could do such things, then why need a ship in the first place? Besides, hadn't they left already, summoned away by their laws? Such strangeness...but there definitely must be some pressing reason for this return, in that case.
Selena blinks for a moment as the doctor and child suddenly appear in the courthouse, rising to her feet and calling out in her own right - out of turn or otherwise; "Sinclair!?" Then in a slightly lower voice and blushing a little at her decidedly undignified outburts; "Oh no, what's Juliana done this time..." With that, the wolfess sighs, shaking her head and rubbing her temples for a few moments.
Alef looks just as stunned, leaning into to Selena, Dio and Eriene "isnt that the same Creator we helpe!" Nearly falling back when Selena jumps up and blurts out the Creator's name. "Thats what I thought..."
Nod detected. Approval recieved. Dio takes one of Eriene's hands in his much larger one, giving it a slight squeeze before shaking it up and down a bit enthusiastically. "There ya are, lass. A good handshake, no? Always good fer breakin' the ice." And then the creator came in! The lion lets go of Eriene's hand and thinks of what else could come through the door. An old one? No, best not to tempt fate this time.
The doctor adjusts her glasses a moment as most stare at her incredulously, "Apologies for the sudden appearance. My ability to subsist independently was grossly miscalculated," she states with her usual scientific cool even tone, "I require a place of residence and sustenance. In return, I will assist your priests in keeping their 'artifacts' in acceptable condition."
Mione takes a few steps back, regaining some personal space, "Ah, yes? Doctor Sinclair was it?" he asks, glancing towards the source of the voice that shouted the name, "We thought you had departed? What brings you here? We did not see one of your great vessels."
Eriene was sitting there, flexing her little paw and staring at it, marvelling at how big the lion's was, at least four times the size of her own! Maybe even fi- The kitten's indulgent train of thought is interrupted by loud murmurs of surprise and then an outburst from a wolfess in one of the front rows. She bolts up and tries to see whats going on, whispers of a 'creator' spreading like warning fire throughout the audience. As much good as it did her, standing or even stretching her hight she could barely peek over the figure of one the atendee in front of her.
"Calm down, Selena," Sveta says. "It's just the good doctor, all alone...although if I'm not wrong, "independent sustenance"...don't tell me she stayed behind while the others left? Are we that fascinating?
Selena shakes her head as the doctor makes her 'opening statement'. "Something happened." She observes, peering back at the doctor with all the curiosity she could muster at the time before pursing her lips - what she wants to ask isn't necessarily for the time and place she's in, but - "Doctor Sinclair, what happened to warrant your return so soon? And in particular, why here? Don't you have a place to live back with the other creators?" She asks, whether out of turn or otherwise before she sits back down. "I don't think that's the case, Sveta. If she stayed behind, I have a feeling she'd have kept some of her machines with her, and she didn't know how Juliana's 'trick' worked when they left. But, I suppose she could've figured it out?"
Standing up from his seat, Dio attempts to see what that ol' creator is on about. Considering she's asking for a place to stay, it would seem she doesn't have her ship with her. Or does she? "I wonder how far away that creator lass can to the whole appearin' thing," Dio says under his breath. "At least she's come back at a good time, without the threat o' war an' all that." Noticing Eriene's struggle to see, Dio quirks an eyebrow and chuckles. "I could give ya a boost lass, if ya wanted that is."
"You are correct," speaks the Doctor, "I elected to remain behind without my associates' foreknowledge. Though they have certainly noticed my absence by now, they cannot return." She looks up as the question comes, and others beside, the council having their own demands, "Patience. I will comply with your questions, but first, my demands. Shelter, sustenance." Never much of the socialite, this particular creator.
The Good King rises to his feet, "We are honored to continue being host to our Creators. You will indulge me in the tale of your presence," he says in a tone that does not leave much room for doubt, "It is the least my people deserve. Bailiff, see to her needs and have her housed in the guest wing."
Alef more supprised by the sudden reappearance and the requests, then she is about the reason behind it. she was sure the creator's left, this one remaining being odd not clicking with her as she keeps enough wit not to speek out of turn before the King speeks up, just watching this turn of events.
Eriene is irked to find her self tempted by the suggestion, and contemplates it before the thought of the embarrassment the situation might bring overrules her ideas and she shakes her head fervently, giving a weak apologetic, yet thankful, smile, nearly distracted from the words being spoken. She quickly adjest her focus to take all the proceedings down to memory, things had definately recieved the weight of import on them.
Sveta frowns and riases her hand. "A question, if I may. Word around town was that the Creators had been recalled due to something to do with your laws. While I'm sure I speak for all when I say Im glad you've elected to stay, do you not fear reprisal when it's discovered that you chose to do so?"
Selena clicks her tongue quietly at the Doctor's admission, though the king's order isn't met with as much enthusiasm, the wolfess going so far as to mutter 'you could ask.'. Though given the setting, it's clear enough she's biding a little time before she draws attention to herself again - probably not a good plan at the moment, then Sveta speaks up and again, the Wolfess corroborates with a simple, "Sveta's right, Sinclair. There are your own laws to account for."
"Bah," Dio emitts. "It's fine lass, nothin' but a suggestion." Balling his hand into a fist, he lightly taps Eriene's shoulder in that friendly, brotherly kind of wayy. The 'it's all good' bump. "Ain't they gonna be worried 'bout ya up there? Especially the creator-cub. But anyways, good to see ya lass. Didn't think we'd ever see ya again!"
"They can do nothing," speaks Sinclair directly to Sveta, "Until the world's legality is settled, and at that point, any legal proceedings against me are the discretion of the new owner. I will face that when the time comes, and no sooner." And with that said, it is almost visibly dismissed from her mind as she moves out of Mione's standing space, to his relief, and approaches the Bailiff without waiting for the poor soul to approach her, practically commanding him to get on to the food and shelter.
Sveta nods and settles back down, although she clearly isn't comfortable with the answer. "For her to contravene her own laws..." she mutters to Selena. "Just what it is about us that's so fascinating? There's definitely more than meets the eye here."
Selena looks back to the Doctor as she asks for her food and shelter - then back to Sveta. "I'll ask if something can be arranged later... It's worrying to say the least, but I don't think now's the time. But that said..." The wolfess glances back over to the main floor. "Doctor Sinclain, one more thing before you go - the method you transported yourself here through - Would you be willing to explain it at a later date?" She inquires, though it's fairly clear she doesn't expect the doctor to give any kind of response due to her predisposition to the unfortunate Bailiff.
Sinclair glances up towards Selena on her way out, "Transport? Ah. Fascinating." she says, which is all the answer she gives before she is out the door, presumably to eat. Alas, few have enough familiarity with creators to say if she looks underfed, but she certainly isn't moving slowly about it.
Mione clears his throat, "As I was saying, the next order of business..."
