A stranger in Rimwood

Bryanna arrives late, taking a seat near Valtore as she joins the proceedings.

Liliany takes her place at the same table, and places her white mask, the one she always has on her nowadays, on the table in front of her, then looks to the table with the merchant, waiting for the trail to begin.

As soon as everyone found their place, it becomes obvious that there will be no other judge. Instead the merchant sits on the seat where you would expect a judge and finally he begins to speak for the first time:

"Greetings, Shade and friends. We are here because you are accused of murder and this will be your trial and finally the day of your judgement. I am the accuser and I will be the judge."

The man pauses a moment before focussing on Liliany and speaking:

"Years ago you have been living in Neverwinter. You became known as "The Shade" and it is known that the Shade is responsible for the death of several persons. You might wonder why a merchant like me should care about that? Well one of those persons was the son of a merchant, Benton Dorse. He was my son and I am here to bring justice to you finally."

Iwean sees all the people in Rimwood. He will observe from afar, maybe the hill to the east if he can see from there.

Durmla's stern gaze falls upon the Merchant-Judge as he speaks. Frowning deeply at his words, her expression softens a bit at the mention of the merchant's son. Now conflicted, she looks very tempted to speak out, but she holds her tongue, trusting her Elders and her kinswoman to know the situation better than she...

Bryanna pipes up quite quickly.

"The scales of justice are balanced. If you are the accuser and the father of a victim, how can you also be judge? Let us find a neutral arbiter to oversee these proceedings. One free of influence in their decision, one who has nothing to gain from any outcome of this proceeding."

Thane Valtore stands up, "Sir. I am sorry, but can not accept you as both accuser and judge. I will not allow this woman to place her fate in your hands when your own Son is a possible victim of this Shade you believe Liliany to be. I know the pain you feel and desire for someone to pay for the crimes that have transpired, but you can not be adjective. A third party must be brought her to listen to the facts and pass judgement. That is the only possible way forward. We are close to the Elven fort. We can have the Commander sit in as Judge, or send word to Coronal Ilsevele Miritar of Myth Drannor to request a judge."

Liliany looks between bryanna and valtore while they speak, before then looking back to the merchant, waiting for his answer.

The merchant turns his gaze towards Bryanna and Valtore while they speak and after they finished he only shakes his head and speaks with a loud voice:

"I don't care what you think you can accept and what not. That the Shade is getting a trial is nothing but a courtesy from me! Why should I accept any third party that is probably chosen from you, people who have no idea what they are dealing with here? Why should I accept any third party at all?"

The man pauses before he leans forward speaking again:

"None of her victims had a trial! I have hired people to catch her. I could have just as well hired them to kill her. The only reason why she gets a trial at all is because I am better than her! You will accept the trial as it is now or I will go back to where I came from and your friend can spend the rest of her life running and hiding!"

The merchant leans back again into his seat.

"Sir you have traveled far to be present for this. We understand and appreciate the inconvenience you have taken upon yourself at our request. Yet I must ask you why you have come at our request for a trial?" Kitara steps out from behind the table, choosing to walk as she talks, freeing her to use gestures to emphasize her points. She keeps her back straight and her pose dignified as she goes about revealing a side of herself she hasn't put on display since the end of her tenure as deputy mayor.

"A trial by definition is the pursuit of the truth. Look to the very teachings of Tyr the god of justice. He charges his own to reveal the truth, punish the guilty, right the wrong, and be always true and just." She motions to the table with Lilliany. "The purpose of this trial, is to reveal the truth of her past. To expose her and all she's done, to provide the opportunity for her guilt to be punished and her wrongs righted."

"Those things, require a neutral arbiter. If you are confident in her actions, if you are confident your cause is just, Tyr will guide the arbiter to side with you in your pursuit. I know surely that a man of Neverwinter would never question the teachings or power of the Maimed God, lest he never be able to look upon the Halls of Justice again." Kitara turns to face him fully, her hands moving to emphasize still.

"And I know perhaps that you seek vengeance rather than justice in this, but the trial is for justice. The sentencing is where your vengeance ought to be sought. I would direct you to the teachings of Hoar himself which tell us to uphold true justice, to avenge all injustices, yet also cautions to not become deluded into evil in one's pursuit of justice. He even teaches us that the greatest justice of all is poetic and ironic." She smiles slightly and motions back to Ironhouse's table. "Would not the greatest irony be if even in a court headed by a neutral judge, this woman you call Shade is found guilty not only by the arbiter of the event but also by the people who would call her friend?"

Kitara draws herself up more fully, letting her height and battle-honed stance add gravity to her words. "I tell you this as a knight of faithful and secular ethos alike; it can be easy to let yourself be drawn into the trap of thinking your actions are the pursuit of justice. Yet I tell you that unless you take the actions ensure that justice is truly what is being served, that you will know the ire of the gods. That I can promise you, as I have failed to take those actions and felt that ire. If one favored by them is not spared that ire, surely they will show their ire if a trial which is suppose to be the essence of justice itself is perverted with injustice."

She begins to move back to her seat, turning partially to say a final comment. "Do you wish to risk losing your chance at justice, in your haste to get it? Do you risk drawing forth the ire of both Tyr and Hoar at profaning the sanctity of these proceedings by letting your own desires rule? Or will you embrace the nature of what this trial should be and take the short delay to bring forth a neutral judge?"

She retakes her seat, glancing to Valtore a moment as she settles her attire.

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((I'd like to tie a diplomacy check to this. She has a +45 modifier in the skill))

Iwean tries to get a feeling of whats going on without approaching, thinking it odd they bring all this indoor furniture outside (is it raining here?) and hold some kind of meeting. Still kind of steaming about what has happened to Rimwood.

Thane Valtore just nods in agreement waiting for the merchant to speak. It is very likely clear he is not going to just stand by for a mock trial.

The merchant rolls his eyes as Bryanna speaks. Apparently he is not interested in hearing anything she is saying and interrupts her by shouting loudly:

"Stop wasting my time! Keep your talk about justice and gods for those who want to hear it."

Then the man looks at Liliany and says:

"You wanted the trial to be brought here. Now it is here. Either you tell your friends to shut up and we proceed or I will just end this farce."

Iwean returns Mineva's greeting with a nod of his head and a smile.  Continuing to watch the gathering. The shouting has his attention.

"He will not harm me kinsfolk without just cause. Either ye accept a neutral third party as judge or there will be issues. She will atone fur her crimes, but not be used tax satisfy yur thirst fur vengeance. Ye may think yur gold grants he special privileges but trust me...not here."

The merchant visibly angry now stands up from his chair and says:

"Fine, I offered you my courtesy but you don't want it. Better for me as time is gold."

He motions to his guards who immediately start to pack up the things they brought with them and gather around the merchant closely to protect him.

"Your judgement will be death, Shade. And I will do what I can to make sure you won't live a peaceful life until you got what you deserve."

The group starts to move towards their small ship.

"Know this fool. Yur chance at a fair trial ends when young e set foot on tha bridge of ye ship. At that point any who ye send will face all in tha Clan. She doesn't stand alone. We be a House of Iron with bonds as strong." With that Valtore singles the crossbowmen to keep the group in target. Once they have moved well out of earshot he just mumbles..."be a darn shame if tha boat sunk in the overflowing river. Might never see em again." He then heads toward the tower whistling a silly toon he learned from a friend.

Bryanna listens to the exchanges glancing over to Lilliany before looking to Valtore. Her expression has been a very schooled neutral ever since the man yelled at her.

"You know, they're on our lands and by our laws they need to respect dwarven traditions Thane. Is not trial by combat one of those traditions? He and Lilliany could both name their champions. The fellow is bloodthirsty enough he may go for it."

She then looks to Lilliany.

"You never mentioned Shade was a vigilante, not merely a killer."

The big group of people board their ship and the last thing the merchant says before they sail away is:

"You are all protecting a murderer, you righteous people!"

Iwean returns to his river patrols.