Seriya DeLacey
17th-February-2003, 16:58
A few days ago, a rather bedraggled-looking pigeon arrived on my window ledge. It had flown all the way from Naeloth, which probably explained its weary state. The attached note, written in blocky angular letters, read: “The Darkcloaks are invited to attend the trial of Callum of the Shadow Court Rangers, which will take place in Naeloth on Sunday evening. Callum stands accused of crimes including theft and bringing an army to Naeloth.”

I only knew of this Callum through hearsay, but in the interest of keeping the Master up to speed with events I chose to attend. I was delighted to see that Choma, Camigwen and Malechi also accompanied me, at least I would have someone to talk to if the trial turned out to be a drawn-out affair as they usually are.

Alas, as so many things in Naeloth, this trial was unlike others I had witnessed before. The trial itself was a mercifully brief affair. Callum was charged with conspiracy to murder Cean Amudar, Faern Jabbress of Naeloth (whatever that is), conspiracy to steal a possession of the aforementioned person, and with bringing an army to Naeloth with the intent to plunder.

Callum admitted bringing a large consignment of the White Order of Britannia to Naeloth, but denied any hostile intent. He did admit attacking the deamons that were summoned by the Naeloth residents as a defence against attackers, but there was some confusion whether Callum ordered such an attack or not. The possession that he was accused of stealing from Cean appears to be a box which Callum had earlier brought to Cean to look at, and Cean had evidently taken. I know nothing more of that box, save that Callum seemed to be quite anxious to see it returned.

The assembled Naeloth elders unanimously pronounced Callum to be guilty. I will not forget the look of disgust and disappointment on the face of his daughter Scathatch when she looked upon Callum’s face, who was so severely weakened after being imprisoned for a week that he had collapsed to the ground and couldn't face his accusers.

Shaex d’Thargaz warned Callum that his crime was punishable only by death, but pointed out that there was still one path left for Callum to redeem himself – the path of blood. Trial by ordeal.

“You will face the champion of Naeloth in combat. If you survive, you will go free. Or rather... As free as any slave,” Shaex pronounced.

The Naeloth champion turned out to be none other than Garod the Great, Lord of House Tremere, whom I’d only met a few days earlier.

Callum was at first very reluctant to fight, even though a certain Naelothian called Necro Operandi had threatened to kill his daughter if he would not. In the end, Garod had to call in a personal boon Callum owed him to make him fight.

And so the battle began… at first it seemed that Garod would win with ease. Callum, clearly reluctant to fight, did not put any heart into his blows, and most seemed to glance off Garod’s protective spells.

But then something happened. I am not entirely sure what it was… all faces suddenly turned to the corner of the duel site furthest away from me. There might have been the blur of a person running towards the combatants, but I cannot be sure, I could barely see though the trees. I did however hear Garod exclaim “What is this?”

Whatever it was, it must have distracted him greatly, or perhaps even thrown a spell on him, for Garod suddenly stood rooted to the spot, his mouth agape, and made no further move to defend himself. With a few deft blows of his sword, Callum set to him, and to the shock, horror and surprise of the assembled crowd, Garod’s body crumpled lifelessly to the ground.

Ra’Karn Moon was the first to reach Garod’s body. He frantically called for help and fresh blood, but it was in vain. “The stake went straight through his heart,” he pronounced, ashen-faced. No amount of blood would bring this vampire back to life.

There were gasps and cries of anguish from the crowd. Ashoka naz’Ruidin, Vizier of Nujelm, looked on with an odd expression. The cry soon went up “A Duchyman! It was one of the Trinsic lackeys that interefered and caused Garod’s death!” Apparently a Duchy Guard had managed to sneak up to the site of the duel, made some quick incantations, and then run away to the west. Some Naeloth residents went searching for him, but they returned empty-handed. Others just stood around in shock and confusion, still struggling to take in what had just happened.

Callum lunged at Necro Operandi, who he accused of lying throughout the trial, while Cean knocked Callum’s daughter Scathatch unconscious as revenge for the interference in Callum’s trial by ordeal.

Ra’Karn meanwhile seemed to be the only person thinking rationally and practically. His main concern was to ensure that Garod’s mate Alynora would be informed of her husband’s passing.

I do not know what happened to Alynora since I saw her myself only a few days ago, but it seems that she has gone missing since. Ra’Karn summoned Callum to come before him.

Callum seemed just as shocked and dismayed at Garod’s passing as everybody else. “I did not kill him,” he stammered.
Ra nodded. “It matters not how he died. Now i give you this task: Find Alynora, and tell her that her love is dead.”

Later that evening I returned to Ra’s house to see if there was any further news. He had made no progress in locating Alynora, and was no further in finding out the identity of the mysterious Duchy Guard who seems to have brought so much calamity to Naeloth. However he did tell me that Garod would be cremated tonight, somewhere in Naeloth.
Seriya DeLacey
23rd-February-2003, 20:09
Great news: Garod is alive after all!

I am still not sure of the details, but according to my sources Garod did not truly die. A wooden stake like the one the would-be assassin used “is simply not enough to kill an elder vampire”, they say. Garod’s body, while badly knocked, regenerated after a few days. It’s all a bit confusing, since he definitely was cremated. I can only presume that whichever body lay on the funeral pyre it was not Garod’s…
Well, something for me to find out when I next visit Naeloth, no doubt.

However, the fact that Garod is not dead after all appears to have done little to appease the people of Naeloth. Many of them remain convinced that it was a Duchy guard who attempted to kill Garod, and the fact that the attempt was ultimately unsuccessful makes no difference to them.

Shannon of the Spectral court, a witch of the Coven of Crosswood whose name I sadly missed, and myself have spoken at some length about this with Moiraine, the Duchy’s new Chief Justice, and Sinistrad of the Overlords. Moiraine was adamant that the Duchy had nothing to do with the attempt, but that that the murder was committed by an imposter wishing to create trouble for the Duchy.

Shannon recounted what she saw of the assassin. Given that she was standing much closer to the arena where Garod and Callum were fighting she could give a detailed description. The assailant was wearing Duchy colours, she said - iron platemail, a red kilt, and, she was almost certain, a golden closed helmet. This is crucial, since the only Duchy guard to legitimately wear a golden helmet is the Captain of the Guard, Vagablonde. But Vagablonde’s long blonde hair spills most the way down her back, even when she’s in full armour. Shannon was certain that Garod’s attacker was short-haired; at the very least no long hair was showing under his helmet.

So, whoever attacked Garod was either a Guard wearing an incorrect uniform or an imposter. The question is, who?

The witch said there was a suspect, or at least that was what Garod’s mate Alynora had told her. She mentioned a name…. A rather well-known name actually, although more infamous than famous I would say. And as it happens, that person is known to harbour a grudge against the Duchy….

Very curious. I will have to try and find out the truth about this.
Wenona
24th-February-2003, 08:43
Witch wouldn't be Shelley would it? She was at the trial and in Naeloth when we went back...She's got nice red hair...
Seriya DeLacey
24th-February-2003, 09:43
*shakes head*

No, I would've known Shelly, silly. This one was all dressed in black, with grey hair tied into two tails. Can't remember seeing her at the trial, though.
Vagablonde-DOT
24th-February-2003, 16:37
As if I would bother trying to kill that bloodsucker in front of the whole of Naeloth ... I may be blonde but Im not that stupid ...
*waits for Reann to comment*

Besides, Id just visited the Tremere lords Library a few days beforehand, where there was myself and 3 other Duchy and just the vampire, surely a more presentable opportunity? As it was we had a fairly civil chat with him and his mate Alinora ...

Still blame Trinsic, its obvious we would send a guard into the middle of Naeloth to kill a Vampire Lord in front of the whole of the drow without even bothering to disguise our uniform ... I'm just waiting for them to accuse Sally Buttons of being the mastermind behind it too.
Seriya DeLacey
27th-February-2003, 16:24
*grumbles*
Well so much for that plan I guess.

Either he truly knows nothing and had naught to do with Garod’s death, or he is sly enough not to give away his secrets. I’ve spent an entire evening being wined and dined, gushing and fawning and stroking the man’s ego… but to no avail.

Guy de Savant’s reputation as a ladies’ man and a womaniser is certainly well founded, although I would be lying if I said I did not take some enjoyment in being the subject of his attentions. It is good to finally see a man with manners who knows how to treat a lady - even if he got a little bit too enthusiastic in the end..... Not like the Darkcloak men, who take far too literal an approach to the act of “stealing someone’s heart”.

Alas, even though I whiled away several hours in his company, trying to find out about his connections to the Duchy, and to Naeloth, I found out next to nothing of any importance. He admitted to knowing Garod and having fought him once, but he swore blind he’d never set foot in Naeloth, and that he had no involvement with the attempt to assassinate Garod. He also assured me that the men and women in the Duchy Guard would not have the skill or the cunning to carry out such a masterful assault on Garod as had been made.

I am sure the Guards would dispute that, but it still gets me no closer to finding out the identity of Garod’s would-be killer.
Vagablonde-DOT
28th-February-2003, 09:58
although I would be lying if I said I did not take some enjoyment in being the subject of his attentions. It is good to finally see a man with manners who knows how to treat a lady

Urgh ... *Shudders*
Seriya DeLacey
5th-March-2003, 13:05
Well well, things have taken a rather interesting, if not to say bizarre, turn recently. It would seem that the very next day after my unsuccessful attempt to get any sort of incriminating information out of Guy, he was arrested after all and thrown into Trinsic jail.

I would even bet that that big battle I heard (http://www.stratics.net/php-bin/foru...b=5&o=0&fpart=) took place outside Trinsic jail a few days later was an attempt to free Guy, but I’ve been so busy of late I’ve not been able to confirm this.

In any event, the attempt seems to have been unsuccessful, for I have just seen a notice (http://www.erpa-uo.com/topic.asp?TOP...948&FORUM_ID=2) announcing that Guy’s trial will be held tonight, in the Trinsic counsellors buildings.

I would of course have attended anyway – since I’ve seen the beginning and the middle of the story I could hardly miss the end – but it seems that others wish for my attendance also. Bizarrely enough, I’ve been called as a witness, not only once, but twice – both for the prosecution and defence!

*shakes head in puzzlement*

What good I am exactly meant to do to either case I don’t know, but I guess I’m about to find out…
Malcolm
5th-March-2003, 13:13
That's what happens when you take an interest in other things
*is glad I don't have another story to tell*
Wenona
5th-March-2003, 13:26
Or that he doesn't have to stand up *smirks*
Seriya DeLacey
5th-March-2003, 23:45
*sighs*
What a bloody waste of time. Three hours of sitting in Trinsic Counsellor's hall, straining to hear the witnesses, fighting sleepiness and getting all stiff from sitting on those hard wooden benches - and Guy just confesses, starts a jostle and runs out the door, out the city and into the nearest moongate as easy as you please!

*grumbles*

To him that was no doubt all just a joke, a way of enjoying the limelight and feel the eyes the audience on him. He was practically lapping it up...

I am sure he won't escape the clutches of Naeloth forever. Next time, I hope they will have the sense to deal out his punishment right away, instead of handing him over to somebody else who might then accidentally lose him, or fail to post guards on the courthouse door.
Vagablonde-DOT
6th-March-2003, 09:31
There was actually about four of us on the courthouse door - through the whole trial ... and at least you got to stand up and stretch those skinny little legs and testify ... I never even got called as a witness, even though Id been asked to testify.

But Guy somehow seemed to pass through us all as we dealt with Chucky, so at least I got to whack someone - Arrrrr!

[I should have actually got Guy too, but only realised halfway through the chase Id not yet gone to war more, and had fought Chucky by casting on him first then arming :flame: ]
Old Raist and Staff
6th-March-2003, 10:57
Soo I didn't miss anyhting and it went Quite so that I had expected....