~ The Council of the Knights of Rinder: [Archive] [Home] [Previous Turn] [Next Turn] ~

Emma looks from Crayne to Naeron, then toward Sir Samuel, then back to Naeron. She's actually struck speechless by this strange turn of events. Crayne, after all, had been the one to urge caution in ostentatious displays of magic lest the knights be less likely to trust them. Given Sir Nair's report on the involvement of the Red Dragon School and the subsequent reaction of the rest of the room, she was inclined to agree with the Highbrow. So why would he choose to suddenly appear out of thin air in the middle of the meeting chamber and demand to be immediately trusted?

Her eyes finally focus more fully on Naeron, but her thoughts are still confused. Duke Raimead's diplomat seemed more inclined to savor a political victory than realize the tenseness of the situation. Rinder's Six couldn't just suddenly launch into accusations without proof. The assassins hadn't even attacked yet. The food hadn't been demonstrated to be poisoned. And she and Naeron hadn't even begun to explain what Rinder's Six had discovered in the Caerloon camp...namely, the Duchy of Seden's involvement in the plot to murder the Knights of Rinder.

Where could she possibly even begin to explain their outburst? The priestess' mouth works uncontrollably for a moment, but no sound emerges. 'Great,' she thinks to herself, 'Some grand speaker, you are. Valimar would be disappointed...and Frances would probably be surprised to learn I've lost my voice at a time like this...'

Hannibal watches calmly from his rather awkward perch the events as they unfold. He sees the fire in both Crayne and Emma's eyes as they are about to accuse the lady Hannah of treason. Although he was beginning to develop a nose bleed from being upside down so long, and his knee hurt from the whip of the rope, he kept the look of patience and stared the Knight down before him.

"You know," Hannibal mutters while the others conversed, "I just saved your life." He smiles broadly at the larger warrior, giving the impression that he may know something the other didn't. He rather despised nobility, what after years of being spit upon by them, and Knights were as much if not more a part of that class than any other.

Continuing, this time in a lower voice, he makes sure to add a touch of sarcasm in his tone. "Where I come from that means you owe me a debt of honor O' Iron clad one. So," he says matter-of-factly and rubbing his fingers on his jerkin (an act that must look ridiculous upside down). "If you are truly a man of honor then that means you owe your life to a common thief."

Sir Masten narrows his eyes as brings the point of his sword closer to Hannibal's nose. He is about to open his mouth in response, but his attention is distracted by the speeches of others in the room...

Emma keeps her eyes focused on Sir Samuel. Old or not, the man had to have a bit of wisdom about him. If he could be made to see the truth, surely he would understand...but it would just take time. Emma takes a step down into the inner circle of the meeting room, allowing herself to drop below Samuel's eye level in acknowledgement of her lower station. Her senses seem sharper now. The fires of justice had burned away her earlier confusion. She had always been someone that favored getting at the truth of the matter, and she simply couldn't allow the Knights of Rinder to mistakenly prosecute half of Rinder's Six for saving their lives.

Storms kneels on one knee as he surveys the room below, his bow at the ready with an arrow notched and drawn half way back. He feels the adrenaline flow as his eyes scan the room for a target, his arms mirroring the movement of his dwarven eyes. Above his concentration, Storm hears one of the knights call for his apprehension. A small pinge of panic engulfs him as he looks astonishingly toward Sir Samuel.

"Seize that Dwarf!" the man cries, and Storm's eyes go wide as a thought crosses his mind..."they mean me!" He quickly lowers his bow and steps back behind the ledge. His first instinct is to run, but then his hardened experience kicks in and he simply stops and looks around, not really sure of anything better to do.

Still breathing hard from the adrenaline, Storm unstrings his bow and reattaches it to his pack lying at his feet. "Me be needin' more practice with the thing anyways..." he mumbles in Dwarven under his breath. He then stands again and notices Canter holding the thieves' sidekick be the throat with a dagger. Seeming a little unstable to Storm, he withdraws a long sword and approaches the prisoner. He puts the sword's tip right up to the man's throat, its blade actually resting on Canter's dagger blade. "I got 'im. Ye can tie 'is hands, me guess...me figures Emma be likin' someone to answer some questions!" As Canter binds the prisoner's hands

with leather straps, Storm says low, "Aye, it be liken to chaos down there, an' one o' them old shiny types sent some other shiny types up here after us...er, well, me I's guessin', but suren they's want ye too. Heh heh...Eh...ye wanna be doin' the talkin'? Me's bound to get us thrown over this here ledge like the rest of 'em!"

Suddenly, Storm's eyes shoot open, as if he just remembered something important. He rushes over the edge, but recinds a little so as to keep out of view. "Hannibal!" he yells in his raspy dwarven voice. "Ye's be needin' a lift back up here?" He waits crouched out of view behind the ledge of the broken window, by Hannibal's rope.

Hannibal looks up to Storm as he hear's the dwarf call his name. Then he casts a glance back to Sir Masten, who is shaking his head and glaring at the thief. "Uh...no thanks, buddy!" Hannibal responds to Storm, not taking his eyes off the Knight, "I think I'd better stay here for now!"

Emma clenches her fists at the sight of Lady Hannah. It's the first time she's seen her since the Caerloon camp...and even then, it was from a distance. The noblewoman relatively reeked of corruption now. The priestess narrows her eyes again, focusing Anhur's god-given sight upon Duke Elgar's daughter in order to ascertain how fully evil had tainted her soul.

Recoiling from the presence of such obviously evil intentions, Emma looks back to Sir Samuel. "Indeed we were about to get to the bottom of this...," she says. As she moves closer to the table, she performs a simple invocation, gesturing with her hand and saying, "Let Anhur's Justice be revealed this day, and may evil hide its face! Listen well and comprehend! For wisdom is imparted by Anhur's voice and not my own!"

Following those simple words, Emma launches into her explanation with all the righteous fire of her god flowing from her lips. "It is written in the Scrolls of Anhur that 'Patience is the weapon that will reveal evil's treachery', and so I ask that you grant me patience Sir Knights and all will be made clear to you.

"At the request of Sir Nigel, Council-Knight and loyal advisor to the late King Garith the Third, Rinder's Six was asked to come before you this day to prevent a great tragedy from taking place...a tragedy that was maliciously planned by those that would plot your death while smiling to your face," Emma says. Her eyes scan toward Lady Hannah, but she doesn't point toward the noblewoman just yet.

"Sir Nair has reported to you that Rinder's Six infiltrated the Caerloon camp in order to uncover the perpetrators behind the war that brews along our border...and it is true that we were successful in identifying the Red Dragon School's involvement, the name of the Baron General that leads Caerloon's troops, and even their tenuous alliance with the Orcs from across the Sinele River. But, what he failed to mention...because he did not know and Sir Nigel preferred that we keep silent until now...is that the Baron General of Caerloon's northern army has offered an alliance to the Duchy of Seden. He offers to spare them, set them up as victorious co-rulers instead of defeated prisoners...if...and only if...they see to it that the Knights of Rinder are murdered in this very hall today.

"Upon our arrival in Seden," she continues, confident that her enthrallment spell will hold the attention of everyone present and prevent any outbursts, "We divided ourselves to uncover the depth of this treachery...and to prevent it by capturing all involved. Three of Rinder's Six stands before you now. I am Lady Emmalya Serralund, daughter to the noble Serralund estate in this very same duchy. This is Cyveiliog McKinley, Cavalier of Anhur and a sword-arm of righteousness. And this is Crayne, our mystical ally who has done much to uncover how deeply this plot runs. Lastly, Naeron Thess has accompanied us in this mission, appointed by Sir Nigel and not simply Sir Bryant, Duke of Raimead. His honorable intentions have helped as much as Rinder's Six in getting to the bottom of this matter."

Emma's arm sweeps toward the broken glass windows above, taking everyone's attention in that direction. "The man that dangles upon that rope is Hannibal Smith. The Dwarf upon the roof is Storm. And Canter Tarp, the last of Rinder's Six, should also be with him. Those three sought out the criminal elements of this city in order to discover who would be brave enough to make an attempt upon your lives. I would say they were quite successful in not only discovering who these murderers were, but in infiltrating their ranks, and preventing the successful completion of their mission as well.

"But who is behind all of this, you ask?" Emma says, her voice rising, "Who would dare to strike at the very heart of Rinder during such a time of great uncertainty? Who would defile the honor and memory of good King Garith so soon after his death by eliminating those that loyally served him? Who would make a deal with the enemy for such personal gain?"

The priestess looks about the room, her eyes fiercely peering at those that are present as if to judge their very souls. Finally, her angry gaze settles upon Lady Hannah. "Who else...but the ambitious daughter of Duke Elgar? A woman with a heart full of evil and greed. A woman that would poison the very food you eat. A woman that would hire a man named Rayton and his assassins to mercilessly slay you by the sword while you lie dying. A woman that would ride to the Caerloon camp in order to meet with the Baron General directly to seal such a treacherous pact. And a woman that just happened to have easy access to the palace kitchen, the meeting agenda, as

well as the locked doors which would have provided escape from this very chamber. It is by her hand that these things have come to pass..."

Emma looks around once more to judge the reaction of those gathered in the room. What would the public reaction to such an accusation be? Shame? Anger? Her head whips around to look squarely at Sir Samuel.

"I implore you, Sir Knight...and all of your fellow council members. Seek the wisdom of Anhur in this matter," she offers, "Truth is ever revealed by him. Evil cannot bear his presence and it cannot lie when he is near. If Lady Hannah would seek to refute these accusations, allow me to call upon Anhur's divine assistance. He shall come to us and provide a Zone of Truth where no lie may be uttered. In such a way, she may be questioned by you and condemned by her own voice...or by her silence, should she choose not to answer truthfully."

Realizing that the enthrallment will soon end, and that with the departure of the charm Hannah may very well attempt to flee, Emma mentally prepares one of her most powerful enchantments...a Dictate directly from Anhur himself that will hold her and her accomplices in place.

Crayne smiles at Emma for he, himself, had intended to present this case in a different manner. However, Emma had now plunged into the deep end and there was no climbing out now. This was what Crayne had feared all along--and it was now that Rinder's Six would have to tread carefully. He, himself, would have preferred that the evidence be collected before the accusations were made against the Duke. But now Emma had chosen to attack this in her own manner and there was little he could do to stop her. He respected her enough, anyhow, to let her speak and bring the case to the Knights standing before them.

And how well she carries herself, Crayne thinks to himself as he stands there listening intently. It was then that the scene through Craynes eyes shed a different light in his mind. As he looks up he sees Hannibal swinging in the air with a sword pointed at his head, he tries his hardest to stop himself from laughing and succeeds. Although a sly grin does make its appearance later on. 'The situations we get ourselves into....' Crayne thinks to himself.

It is then that Emma comes to a close with her arguments, and Crayne adds, "Lady Emma puts our case forward perfectly. Just to extend on her point a little further though: I have come upon some evidence that will back our case up even further. The man who deposited the poison was the Master Chef and if somebody would escort me to the kitchen before the the Master Chef rids the kitchen of important evidence, I would be gladdened to say the least."

Emma's eyes widen just a bit. So that was what prompted the Highbrow to make such a grand entrance after he had cautioned her against the use of too much magic in front of the Council Knights. At least now she understood what prompted such a move on his part, but still...

'He could've whispered the information to one of us, couldn't he?' Emma thinks to herself, 'And thereby skipped the part where he tipped off the assassins on the rooftop!' The priestess pauses to think further on that, then realizes there probably just hadn't been enough time. Crayne had done the best he could, and at least the attack had been foiled. She might have done the same had she been in his place, anyway.

"Please! Now! We must hurry!" Crayne says with a worried and anxious look upon his face. "The Chef, on his return, can then be asked some questions through the Zone of Truth. I am more than sure that you will find that he was put upon by the Lady Hannah to administer this posion. Such a dispicable deed! One of such greed and hatred." Crayne looks at the Lady Hannah through his dark gleaming eyes. "You will pay..." Crayne whispers under his breath.

"Crayne speaks the truth, Sir Knights," Emma agrees, "If justice is to be served in this matter, it would be wise to question all involved in the presence of Anhur's blessing. Or, summon forth a priest of Nire and let them divine the truth. I am confident that either course of action will bear out our accusations..."

Inwardly, Emma's mind is awhirl with thoughts of how to gather supporting evidence...how to capture Rayton, the man that hired the assassins and assisted Lady Hannah...and how to determine if Hannah's father, Duke Elgar, knew anything about the plot in the first place. 'Things have gone off poorly,' she thinks, 'All of our careful planning will be for naught unless all of the guilty parties are brought to justice. Help us to perform our duty, Anhur, so your will may be done!'

Naeron watches the developments with a detached calm, something learned from his elven mother, estranged though she might be. He strokes his narrow beard and thinks, "The Six do not tread with subtlety." This brings a grin to his face, but he saw this possibly leading to a frightening conclusion if not handled carefully.

He addresses the knights calmly. "These are fantastic accusations, are they not?" He pauses, taking in the knights' concerned, angry and confused looks. "In Rinder we look to Anhur for Justice. These Six have followed the paths of Justice, following a Sword-Bearer of Anhur, then upon his death, given valiantly in service of Rinder and in the protection of this priestess, walking side by side, looking to Emmalya for Anhur's guidance. Do you think these people who have risked, even given their lives for the sake of Rinder would risk their very reputation on outlandish tales? Nevermind that the penalty for wrongly accusing a member of a ruling family carries with it the severest of penalties." He glances at Crayne and Emma, hoping it was clear just how thin was the knife's blade they were walking.

"In such manner have they negated their Right of Safe Passage while here in the very heart of Seden, to bring you the truth." He raises a hand in emphasis. "You know the power of Anhur, and it is to Anhur that we look to judge right and wrong. On the one hand you have the ruling family. On the other the esteemed Rinder's Six. Between them the Knights, the Right Hand of Rinder's Might and Justice. You, Knights of Rinder, must choose. But do not quickly dismiss the words of those who have risked everything to fight for that which you yourselves are sworn to protect based on the inherited nobility of those who have the most to lose, and possibly the most to gain..." He let his words ring off and fade, turning to Sir Samuel with a deferential bow.

Sir Samuel takes a deep breath, processing all of the information, revelations, and accusations just aired before him and the Council. He turns back to look at Lady Hannah of the Great House of Seden. Then, with a deferential bow similar to that of Naeron Thess, he addresses the royal lady.

"My Lady Hannah, I believe it to be in the best interests of this Council, your personal interests, the interests of our fair Kingdom, and the wish of Anhur himself that you remain here in the presence of this Council until this matter be resolved."

Lady Hannah, still standing in the doorway, towers over the scene, as most of the Knights and the action is in the center of the room, which is a couple of steps lower than the outer circle. She narrows her eyes at Emma and Crayne, setting her jaw stiffly. She then responds to Sir Samuel.

"Sir Samuel, these slanderous accusations cause me great distress! I agree with you and the Council, and will, at your request and of my own volition remain in the presence of this Council so as to defend myself and see to it that Justice is properly brought to the fore."

"On behalf of the Council," Sir Samuel replies, noding, "I thank you for your cooperation. Now," he continues, turning back to Emma, Cy, Naeron, and Crayne, "shall we summon the Master Chef?"

"I would insist upon it," Lady Hannah's voice resounds from her position across the room.

Turning to Sir Pagek, Samuel says, "Will you?" Pagek nods understandingly and makes haste for the eastern door, quickly disappearing from the Round Room.

"Hold it!" Sir Shannon shouts, emerging on the roof, sword in hand. His armor glistens in the sun.

Canter and Storm spin around at the sound of the voice, with Storm holding the sidekick at swordpoint and Canter finishing the knot on his manacles.

"Come with us in peace and we will not harm you, the gods be witness," Bowman says.

"We are of Rinder's Six! We are not among the assassins. This man here is the one you truly seek!" Canter says, dropping his sword and raising his empty hands. Storm growls, not wanting to drop his weapon.

"That is for the Council to decide," Shannon says, stepping closer. He grabs the sidekick, shoving him toward the edge of the roof where their ropes are located. He then grips Canter's arm strongly.

Bowman moves toward Storm, but the dwarf backs up, keeping some distance. The dwarf shouts, "Arr, back off ye hunk o' metal! I be on yer side!" Bowman exhales loudly, stepping aside and motioning for Storm to go first, which the dwarf does.

Sirs Shannon and Bowman, along with the sidekick--still bound--Canter and Storm, then reenter the Round Room. Shannon and Bowman stand very close to their three prisoners, indicating that they are not yet cleared from their association with the assassins.

Moments later, Sir Pagek returns, dragging the Master Chef along with him.

"Hey!" the Chef shouts in protest, "I'm coming! Take it easy!" The Chef is silenced as he sees the room-full of Knights, royalty, aides, squires, and dignitaries. He quickly takes off his tall white cap, squeezing it to his chest. He looks to the knights, bowing in their presence. He then bows toward Lady Hannah, who glares at him.

"Sir Samuel!" Hannah shouts, "Let us dispose with these slanderous charges made against me one by one so as to be sure they are all lies. And when they are proven thus, I will formally request that this Council administer the appropriate punishment upon Rinder's Six!"

Samuel nods to Hannah, "The charges will be appropriately examined. Should they all prove to be untrue and, indeed, slanderous, you may claim your royal right and make such a request."

"Good," Hannah says quickly, as if hardly paying attention to the Knight's response. "Then let us approach the first charge: that of poison. Has it been determined that the food located before you is, indeed poisoned? And if so, what evidence does Emmalya Serralund claim will associate myself with the treacherous act? Once that charge is dispensed with," she continues, clearly taking charge of the conversation, "we must continue by disposing of the charge that I arranged this assassination attempt. Are there any witnesses to my involvement in the plot? If so, I demand they be brought before me and this Council to bear their story before all present and the gods themselves!

"And finally, I demand of Rinder's Six with all the rights and privleges afforded to me in my station that they substantiate the charge of treason!"

Sir Samuel nods as Lady Hannah finishes her speech. He then turns to Emma, looking also to Crayne and Naeron. "As per the Royal Lady's request, and at the insistence of this Council, you are hereby ordered to produce the evidence necessary to substantiate the charges you have pronounced here today. Let us begin with the poison."

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