Rolgan was an Uthgardt warrior who got into trouble with the Lord’s Alliance soldiers at Beorunna’s Well. He was witnessed to have killed a soldier one night and ran into a nearby temple of Tyr to seek refuge after committing the crime. Rolgan claimed that his actions were purely out of self-defense. Though the high priest of the temple, Neurik, was providing him shelter from the angry soldiers of the Lord’s Alliance, he felt a trial must be conducted to shed light on the truth of the events and justify whether Rolgan was innocent or guilty.
The problem was that no one in the area would take up the job of defending Rolgan during his trial. The prejudice by the people against the Uthgardt was too strong, not to mention the Uthgardt tribes knew too little of the laws and customs. It was not until I arrived at Beorunna’s Well on a mission and decided to take up the job of defending Rolgan.
I took my time to go around the area, speaking to the jurors and witnesses selected by the high priest and made careful investigations. The jury was made up of five people: two of them were Lord’s Alliance soldiers, two were from the Uthgardt tribe and one was the high priest’s acolyte. The witnesses were two other Lord Alliance soldiers and the wife of the accused. After a long and careful preparation, I was ready to defend Rolgan in his trial.
Neurik summoned all the participating members of the trial in a private courtroom with him as the judge. Each of the five jury carried a sword and a torch. If the jury think Rolgan was guilty, they’ll hold out the sword. If they think he’s innocent, they’ll hold up a lit torch. At least 3 torches was needed to prove Rolgan’s innocence. Otherwise, he’d be declared guilty and executed.
So starts the trial.
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Igland: My name is Igland of the Swift Sword. I am the special prosecutor in the investigation of the death of the Lord’s Alliance mercenary known as Griff, and I would like to remind the jury that I have never lost a case. **Never.***
Igland: The witnesses have been sworn in, and may the light of Tyr’s justice shine down on this trial and expose any lies in their testimony. To begin my case, I would like to question Lodar, an eye-witness to these events.
Lodar: I’m here, yer honor.
Igland: I’m not the judge, Lodar, just the prosecutor. You don’t have to be so formal. Just call me sir. Please tell us what happened in your own words.
Lodar: Well sir, it was night and Griff was outside the barracks. All of a sudden we heard this shout, and we ran out and Griff and that Uthgardt there are going at each other with weapons drawn.
Lodar: Before we could step in, that savage stabs Griff right in the gut and runs off. We ran to get the cleric but by then it were too late. Griff was gone. That savage killed him!
(Jury reaction- Sword: 1, Torch: 0)
Igland: That is all I require from this witness. Were it up to me we could end the trial right now and declare Rolgan guilty. But custom dictates I allow the defense to question the witness if they wish.
Lodar: I’m ready for your questions, Lady Anamosa.
Anamosa: Can you tell me how Griff felt towards the Uthgardt?
Lodar: He didn’t like them much. He was always complaining about them as ‘damn savages’ and ‘filthy Uthgardt.’ Always picking fights with them, looking for trouble.
Anamosa: So this fight could have been started by Griff?
Lodar: Wouldn’t be the first time he let his temper get the better of him. Always was a bit of a hot-head, especially when it came to those Uthgardt. He hated them something fierce.
Anamosa: Isn’t it true that Griff spiked Rolgans drink earlier that evening?
Lodar: Yeah. He wanted to mess the Uthgardt up so he could beat him at cards, you know? Makes him not think straight.
Anamosa: So Griff is partly blame for his own death?
Lodar: Well, it was his fault the Uthgardt was doped up. Maybe if Rolgan was in his right mind he wouldn’t have killed Griff.
(Jury reaction- Sword: 0, Torch: 0)
Anamosa: [Insight] Maybe Griff thought that since Rolgan was drugged the Uthgardt would be an easy target in a fight.
Lodar: I guess he could have thought that. He didn’t like the Uthgardt much. He would have jumped at a chance to kill one of them off if he thought he could get away with it.
(Jury reaction- Sword: 0, Torch: 3)
Anamosa: Did you see who actually started the fight?
Lodar: No, they were already going at it by the time we got there.
Anamosa: So maybe Griff started the fight and Rolgan was just defending himself.
Lodar: Yeah, I guess. Could be Griff started it. I don’t know, I wasn’t there.
(Jury reaction- Sword: 0, Torch: 4)
Anamosa: I have no more questions for this witness.
Igland: If the defense council has finished trying to obscure the truth, I will call Zed, my next witness. Zed, tell the court what you witnessed on that night.
Zed: Right, sir. Well, it’s like Lodar said. Griff was outside, we heard him shout, we run out and the Uthgardt strikes a blade in Griff’s belly. Then that savage runs off to the Temple for sanctuary like some kind of coward!
(Jury reaction- Sword: 0, Torch: 3)
Igland: Well spoken, Zed. He ran off like a murderous coward. Obviously he’s guilty. This case might be my easiest win yet. Your witness, Anamosa.
Zed: I’m ready to answer this woman’s questions.
Anamosa: You never actually witnessed the start of the fight, did you?
Zed: No, I didn’t see who started the fight. So yeah, it could have been Griff, if that’s what you’re getting at.
(Jury reaction- Sword: 0, Torch: 4)
Anamosa: Griff had spiked Rolgan’s drink that night, right Zed?
Zed: Yeah, he put something in Rolgan’s drink. Made his mind fuzzy, so he didn’t really understand what he was doing.
Anamosa: Don’t you think that that’s a mitigating circumstance in what happened?
Zed: I don’t know what “mitigating” means, but Griff shouldn’t have spiked that Uthgardt’s drink. That’s wrong… Griff was always doing stupid stuff like that.
(Jury reaction- Sword: 0, Torch: 5)
Anamosa: I have no further questions for this witness.
Igland: If the defense has finished with their blathering, the prosecution has only one witness left. I call on Vanda, the wife of the accused.
Vanda: I am here. Ask your questions.
Igland: I sense some hostility on your part, young lady. Please remember, I am only doing my job. It’s not my fault your husband had to go on a killing spree.
Judge Neurik: Igland, I have given you a lot of leeway in this case. But you are coming very close to crossing the line of what is acceptable!
Igland: Sorry, your honor. But this woman is looking at me like she wants to kill me. Must run in her family.
Vanda: Neither my husband nor I would ever commit vile murder. We Uthgardt are an honorable people!
Igland: Yes, you Uthgardt take honor very seriously. Wasn’t Rolgan ashamed at having gambled away everything he owed? Didn’t he do anything to wipe away that shame?
Vanda: Yes, but he would’t have killed that man!
Igland: So you say. But we know how strong Uthgardt honor is, and Rolgan is a proud warrior. Surely a jury as intelligent and attractive as this one must realize that his pride would have driven to kill Griff in a desperate attempt to salvage his wounded honor.
(Jury reaction- Sword: 0, Torch: 4)
Igland: Defense may cross-examine now. I have no further questions for this witness, since she all but admitted her husband is a rampaging serial killer.
Judge Neurik: Igland, don’t push me.
Igland: Sorry, judge. I won’t say another word while the honorable Lady Anamosa tries to defend these crimes.
Vanda: I’m ready for your questions, Lady Anamosa.
Anamosa: Tell me why you sent your husband to see Griff.
Vanda: I told Rolgan to speak with Griff… to beg him to return the heirlooms he had taken from us. To appeal to Griff’s sense of decency. My husband is no killer. He only went back because I sent him there to talk with Griff.
Anamosa: *nods* I have no further questions for Vanda.
Igland: If it pleases the court, the prosecution rests its case. Can’t we just start the execution now? No? Okay defense may call their witness if they wish, though I hardly see the point.
Anamosa: I would like to question Rolgan.
Rolgan: Yes, my lady. What do you wish to know.
Anamosa: Tell us what happened that night, Rolgan.
Rolgan: My wife convinced me to speak with Griff, to beg him to return their heirlooms to me. But when I approached Griff, he attacked as soon as he saw me. I had no choice but to defend myself.
Anamosa: *nod* I have no further questions.
Igland: Since the defense called the accused to the stand, I claim my right to cross-examine this killer. I will keep it brief, much like poor Griff’s life. Rolgan, you are an Uthgardt warrior?
Rolgan: I am a true Uthgardt warrior of the Black Lion tribe! I hae earned the honor and respect of all my people!
Igland: And you earned this honor and respect on the battlefield, with the edge of your blade. What would happen to your precious honor if people found out had gambled away everything you owned?
Rolgan: I would be shamed by my actions. I *am* shamed by my actions.
Igland: But you thought if Griff were to die, you could recover those heirlooms before anyone found out. Too bad his friends caught you in the act, killer! Wait, nevermind, don’t answer. I withdraw the question. I wouldn’t want to prejudice the jury.
Igland: I shall move to my closing arguments. This will be short, since the Uthgardt is obviously guilty. Rolgan owed Griff money. Two witnesses saw Rolgan kill Griff. What can be more simple?
Igland: Do your duty, members of the jury. Find Rolgan guilty of murder, and let justice be done. Such is the will of Tyr. If it pleases the court, the prosecution rests.
Judge Neurik: Anamosa, you may make your closing arguments now.
Anamosa: The prosecution witnesses never saw who started the fight, so we must accept Rolgan’s claim of self-defense as truth.
Igland: Hmph. Hardly a convincing argument.
Anamosa: We know that Griff was a violent man who hated the Uthgardt. He probably started the fight himself.
Igland: Luckily there are no witnesses to disprove this claim!
Judge Neurik: Igland! You already had your say! Be quiet.
Anamosa: Griff spiked Rolgan’s drink, making Rolgan more prone to act irrationally.
(Jury reaction- Sword: 0, Torch: 5)
Igland: Sure, blame the victim!
Judge Neurik: I’m warning you, Igland!
Anamosa: The defense rests its case.
(Final Jury reaction- Sword: 0, Torch: 5)
Judge Neurik: Then as Tyr’s representative overseeing this trial, I proclaim judgment in this case. By the light of Tyr’s truth, may justice be done!
Judge Neurik: The verdict is clear, a unanimous five to zero decision to acquit. Rolgan, you are free to go, as the rest of you. The court thanks you for time.
Igland: Impossible! But I *never* lose! This is an outrage! The jurors must have been bribed!
Judge Neurik: Igland, your work here is done. I suggest you leave before I write you up for your loutish behavior during these proceedings. You are a disgrace to the hallowed halls of this temple!
Judge Neurik: Anamosa, come speak to me when you wish to receive your just reward for your service here.
gaia_crown
