11 Rova 4715

Starday

Session 19

With hours of time to kill before the trial, Lucius discusses with Ham about his life, art, and his love of tattooing. Ham goes back to meditating while the rest of the party suffers a bout of prolonged boredom. Eventually the group is met with a hulking orc figure who brings them out of their cells, leading them to a massive and beautiful ballroom which has recently been repurposed as a courtroom.

The trial starts with the three judges Justiciar Polondrixus, Judge Banatrix, and Judge Fingle setting the expectation that they have formed strong opinions and the defense must shake them of those ideas.

The two identical devil barristers begin an avalanche of back and forth legalese citing all manner of devilish stricture and law to set their cases. It is an impressive and horrific display of the convoluted legal system in Cheliax. After a good 4-6 hours of this back and forth with the judges listening intently, Justiciar Polondrixus finally calls off the back and forth, praising the barristers for their display. He then asks the defendants to make statements if they so wish, barely veiling his derision for the four on trial.

Vazra steps up, taking on the persona of a poor, beaten down, humble Tiefling shop owner and plays the part of a mild mannered man. Lucius takes the stand next, claiming never to have killed a man, and leaning on the virtue of his house and reputation. Ham and Larc refuse to speak. At this point, the judges adjourn to discuss sentencing.

After a breif time, the judges return, and Judge Banatrix gives the verdict:
Murder of 5 CCG: Acquitted
Murder of 1 Dotarri: Guilty
Rebellion: Acquitted, barring a full production of the play “Rebellion” put on by Lucius within 6 months.
Resisting Arrest: Guilty
Defrauding the government: Acquitted
Espionage: Only Larc found guilty, other 3 subsequently charged with accessory to Espionage based on an ancient legal code buried in sub-sections and clauses.

With the charges laid out, the group is levied a fine of 2300 gold pieces each due immediately, jail time, and deportation. The group scrambles to find an option out, but one is conveniently provided by the defense barrister who drudges up another ancient legal document claiming that trial by combat would be an appropriate substitution for fines and deportation. The judges seem to like the idea, saying they’ve lacked entertainment as of late. The terms are set, 6 combatants, chosen by the judges, versus the defendants and 2 allies of their choice.

The group frantically discusses their options for 6th participant, and Lucius tries to get one over on the situation by requesting Octavio Sabinus, however is quickly shot down by a code denying hell knight participation. After discussing the risks and benefits, the group choose Ayse and Korva.

Lucius sends a silver Raven to Laria to ask the two to aid if they are so willing. Both accept, and upon acquiescing, all 6 are immediately teleported to a hellish arena of lava and brimstone. The voice of the barrister speaks as an announcer, going over the rules, saying that Ayse and Korva can leave at anytime if they so choose, but the four accused have no such right. They are given one minute to prepare.

The party readies themselves with magical and mundane preparation, and as the minute ends, 6 devils appear suddenly before them. Combat ensues.

The enemies consist of 5 lemures, which Ayse readily identifies, and a 6th more commanding devil that none had any knowledge of. The fight starts out relatively easy for the group, as the devils seem confused by their suddent transportation, but they quickly overcome their new environs and the battle becomes heated. The lemures prove an annoyance, but are steadily mopped up my a concerted effort from the team. The more difficult 6th devil proves quite crafty and dangerous, spouting cones of flame, tossing embers, and teleporting around the arena via the lava pools.

As the fight progresses, Ayse and Lucius hear the lemures begging for the party to kill them again and end their suffering caused by thir new devil forms. Lucius realizes that they are fighting the souls of the victims that got them arrested. Finally, the party downs the last lemure, but the lava devil remains evasive, nearly killing multiple party members before finally going down to a celestially charged bow shot from Perfidus.

As the last enemy falls, the barristers voice can be heard over the arena again, congratulating the party, and expressing amusement that they managed to pull it off. The party is acquitted of all charges, and teleported again, back to Kintargo and left in front of the castle gates.