PRELUDE:
After a general introduction to all assembled and explanation of how the court proceedings will take place, you are brought in for your chance to stand trial.
As you (Gerhard) enter the courtroom, it is hard not to notice that your hands are securely bound with rough and thick iron shackles. You are pretty confident that you could not break them and the chafing and slight bruises being formed are sign that you won’t be able to wriggle free.
You take your place in a small box with a podium that sits facing a raised seat with a larger podium. In that raised seat is the honorable Judge Vincent Avan, Senior Judge of Lictor Mary Cul Tricuspis and the appointed judge for this trial. He is weathered but not old, with a non-aggressive yet stern looking face and demeanor.
You look around the room and notice the jury, all 12 of them, sitting off to the side of the judge. You pick out representatives, two each, of the clans and colonies assembled. You are hoping that the mixture of ulven and colonist jury members gives you a fair verdict in the trial. The main person that sticks out to you, clad in armor and a wolf fur despite the heat, is Khulgar Graytide. The Warleader of Clan Grimward is in attendance, surely to report how the trial goes back to his Clanleader. The significance of this is not lost on you.
You take one last look behind you to see a courtroom packed completely full of onlookers. People came out to witness the trial and seem to hail from all corners of Mardrun. There are almost two hundred people backed into the courtroom pews or standing in the aisles. Almost a dozen fully armored Lions of Arnath stand resolute and vigilant, keeping security during the trial.
The judge’s voice grabs your attention as you face forward again.
“Gerhard, you are being charged with conducting undead research, collaborating with agents of corruption, willingly being in possession of undead on Mardrun, attempted murder for necromantic research, and sacrilege of corpses for necromantic research” reads the judge from a scroll.
“The maximum punishment for crimes such as these are severe physical punishment, long imprisonment, hollowing, indentured servitude, and/or execution. Do you intend to confess or state your defense? You may plead guilty to each charge or you may state not guilty to each charge and state your defense. This is also when you may provide evidence and proof for the court to consider. You may speak, but do not ramble on for too long”.
The judge grabs a feather quill pen and waits for you to speak.
GERHARD:
“I plead guilty to all above charges. It is because of narrow minded fools like you who push their own ‘morals’ on the rest of us that knowledge shall be stunted and progress halted. The only true form of ‘evil’ is stagnation and that is all you monsters wish for our world. A death through stasis. We, or at least I, was close to achieving great progress through means you all would find hard to stomach.”
JUDGE:
Gerhard, your defense is noted to the court.
To clarify the charges…
Conducting undead research, having the knowledge of undead and research pertaining to them and their creation, and actively hiding it from the rest of Mardrun and specifically our Ulven hosts
Collaborating with agents of corruption, specifically undead vessels, the lich that was discovered and destroyed on Mardrun years ago, and the red eyed Syndar seen with and working alongside the Mordok.
Possession of undead, having them physically in your possession and actively hiding it from the rest of Mardrun and specifically our Ulven hosts.
Murder, specifically of members of the Brotherhood of the Long Winter and others to use as undead vessels, and others to expand necromantic research.
Attempted murder for necromantic research.
Sacrilege of bodies and corpses for necromantic research, specifically for the purpose of expanding undead research or the empowerment of the undead.
Gerhard, you stated before that you are guilty of all the charges. There are no testimonies, for or against you, in regards to this trial. This court requires that you fully understand the gravity of these charges and the penalties and will give you one final chance to defend yourself. You may state a final defense at the end, which then the jury will decide your punishment.”
GERHARD:
“Of course none would testify, because I knew how to not get caught. The only regret I have is that I didn’t do more, that I didn’t go to greater lengths to expand my necromancy. What does it matter what I say to you fools. You have made your decision on me already and found me whatever amount of guilty you want. This trial is but a farce. Do with me as you will, for I have seen the horrors of death and no longer fear what you can do to me. I put my life’s work into what you so easily discarded aside.”
JUDGE:
Your final statement is given and the judge and jury listen intently.
“The court will now take a recess to give the jury time to decide your sentencing. The court is now in recess.” he says plainly as he bangs his gavel on the wooden pedestal.
The jury is out for several hours and the waiting is excruciating. Then suddenly the court herald announces that the judge has returned and then the court is back in session. The jury members return from the back room and hand a piece of paper to the judge. He takes a moment to read it, his face displaying no emotion… no hint of what your fate will be decided.
Gerhard, you have had charges placed against you, a full investigation into your actions and your character, a chance to state your defense and a to hear out the testimonies of your peers and other free peoples of Mardrun.
On the charges conducting undead research, the jury finds you guilty.
On the charges of collaborating with agents of corruption, the jury finds you guilty.
On the charges of possession of undead, the jury finds you guilty.
On the charges of murder to obtain corpses for necromantic research, the jury finds you guilty.
On the charges of attempted murder, the jury finds you guilty.
On the charges of sacrilege of bodies for necromantic research, the jury finds you guilty.
There is a moment of silence as the gravity of the charges and decisions made hits the stunned audience. The judge scribbles down some notes on a piece of parchment, reviews the paper that was handed to him by the jury, and says nothing else for a time; the void of silence seeming to last for an eternity, framed by the hushed murmurs of the audience in the court room. The Judge speaks, finally breaking the silence.
“Gerhard, this court has given you every opportunity to explain your actions and your involvement with the undead at Serai. Although this court recognizes and appreciates your honesty, your crimes cannot go unpunished and your complete lack of remorse or even attempt to explain any benevolence in your actions is appalling.
Regardless of your potential with knowledge, both intellectually or magically, the court finds you a danger to Mardrun and cannot allow the continuation of your existence. You are hereby sentenced to execution. May your soul find peace in whatever afterlife you hold dear.”
“Your trial is concluded.” ends the Judge as his gavel strikes down on the plate; the noise echoing through the courtroom.