1) All witnesses, the defendant, the lawyers, and the jury are sequestered the night before trial begins. They are not allowed to speak to each other, though can send messages (which are reviewed prior to delivery) to the outside world. No messages are allowed in unless it is a true emergency (to be determined by the judge).
2) Courtroom description:
a. Fairly normal room, with a raised seat for the judge, two table for the prosecution and defense
b. The defendant sits to one side, next to the table for the defense, in an iron cage enchanted to hold anything short of an actual god.
c. In place of a witness stand, there is a simple wooden stool at floor level (as the witnesses are not above anyone).
d. The jury all sits on stone benches which are notoriously uncomfortable also at floor level, without anything separating them from the witnesses, as a reminder that they must never become comfortable with the power they hold over the lives of others.
e. The spectators are on tiered benches stretching back, with the more royal/noble members near the front (which, weirdly enough, affords a worse view). The row directly behind the prosecution is reserved for completed witnesses, and the row directly behind the defense is reserved for family of the accused. Both benches are empty at the start of the trial.
3) The morning of the trial, the courtroom is opened for any spectators who wish to attend. Due to the high-profile nature of this trial, the spectators will be limited to:
a. All witnesses once their testimony has been given
b. Direct relatives of the defendant
i. None attend
c. Direct relatives of any witnesses
i. Berdyn’s great grandfather Trauban Silverchaser attends for the first day to witness Berdyn’s testimony
d. Visiting royalty or nobility from other recognized nations and up to two guards
i. Bale Caldwind AKA Able Elynbrigge-Alegan, Crown Duke of Nepherkah
ii. Thalanil Carsatra, Crown Prince of the Elven Nation of the North
iii. Tashiro Natsuki, Voice of the Khan, Council Representative of the South
1. Here to take notes to bring back to the south only
iv. Grand Inquisitor Taben Staves
v. Gilda Ogden
e. Close personal friends of the defendant
i. None attend
f. Close personal friends of any witnesses (party will fit in here if Able is in hiding)
g. High-ranking members of the Dwarven community
i. Jendelle Coldtale, High Marshall and leader of the scout armies
1. Here to determine potential military risks based on witness accounts
h. Other members of the Dwarven community
i. Assorted other members of the community the party recognizes
i. Members of the Svirfneblin and/or Gnomish communities
i. Grertick Homeshield (Deep gnome who found Nethre and brought her back to Chrysoprase)
j. Members of any other recognized communities
i. No room for their attendance
4) The lead bailiff enters the room:
a. Thakhin Mineblade, dwarf with one iron arm attached at the shoulder, former mine clearer and scout for Thanehold.
5) The spectators are given specific instructions by the lead bailiff – they must remain silent and can only leave if there is an emergency (see a bailiff if needed) unless a break in session is called for by the judge. They must remain in their seats, and may not cause a distraction or disturbance, otherwise they will be found in violation of the court and jailed prior to sentencing, regardless of their status or position in the Dwarven community or others. They are to rise whenever asked (when the judge and/or jury enters or leaves the room).
6) The spectators are then given a rough agenda for the trial, which they are warned is subject to change:
a. Reading of the charges
b. Entry of the plea
7) The Head Prosecutor and Lead Representative of the Northern Thane enters
a. Bramneck Hardcoat, professional lawyer
b. Has twenty-six heavy metal beads braided into his beard and hair (each one representing a major trial he has participated in).
8) The Head Defender and Lead Representative of the Southern Thane enters
a. Angorra Embershield, professional lawyer, brought in from the Southern Kingdom to ensure a fair defense is offered
b. Actually has thirty-two heavy metal beads braided into her hair, six more than the Prosecutor.
9) The Judge enters
a. High King Cormac Brasshand, Thane of the Northern Dwarven Kingdoms
10) High King Cormac advises the spectators they may be seated.
11) The defendant (Ferin Goldbringer) enters – he looks in better health than when the party last saw him, though he appears nervous.
12) High King Cormac will read the charges against Ferin:
a. Treason against the High King
b. Treason against the Nation
c. False Imprisonment of a fellow dwarf through use of deception or lies
d. Illegal sale of a prohibited material (iron)
e. Illegal business dealings with a foreign agent
f. Besmirchment of the honor of the High King
13) Ferin Goldbringer is asked to enter a plea – he pleads not guilty to all charges.
14) The court is asked to rise, as the Jury is called in.
a. There must always be one clanless (Umithoda Snow) and one convicted criminal (Uvim Ironfeet) on each jury, the rest are drawn from the entire Northern Kingdom’s population by lottery
b. One member of the jury is elected the foreman (Tuzmamni Oreshield), one the scribe (Ruri Snowbrew), and one the watcher (Nora Drakebane) who always keeps their eyes on the defendant to watch their reaction
15) High King Cormac reads the charges against Ferin, asks the jury to declare who is the clanless, who is the criminal, who is the foreman, who is the scribe, and who is the watcher.
16) High King Cormac asks the jury to speak if any of them are related or have had direct dealings with Ferin or his clan – none do.
17) High King Cormac instructs the jury to only take into consideration the witness accounts which are given in the court, nothing else. He asks for the grace of Berronar Truesilver to allow the jury and himself to see the truth, for Dugmaren Brightmantle to allow them to discovery the facts of what occurred, and for Dumathoin to allow there to be no secrets remaining at the end of the trial.
18) High King Cormac then begins calling the witnesses.
b. Berdyn’s Mom – Helja Templekeeper nee Templekeeper
i. Recounts the clan being told by Ferin himself of Berdyn’s death and the declaration of him being dead
ii. Recounts being told by her son and validating with a Judge of Dumathoin that Berdyn was drugged and falsely convicted of murder to detain him in Lasthaven.
iii. Recounts about Berdyn’s return and getting Berdyn’s death overturned
iv. No questions asked by either side.
c. Archivist from Southspire – Jakere Lighthand
i. Confirming Berdyn’s recorded death, overturning, and accusations entered into the records by Berdyn’s mom
ii. No questions asked by either side.
e. Talia Hooks nee Greenhands
i. Asked to explain difference in name – hands removed by Pyyrhos Elynbrigge-Alegan as punishment for threatening his brother three years ago
ii. Will give full evidence that she approached Ferin, but he was the one who suggested cutting out the dwarven nation entirely.
iii. Confirms Berdyn’s mom’s testimony about what happened to Berdyn, and that it was done at the request of Ferin to ensure the deal went smoothly.
iv. Confirmed she was employed by The Master (Llewellyn Greenhallow) to help control the neighbouring tribes, but instead began arranging her own shipments and was “cut loose” from his service years before the events took place.
v. Question from defense – did she help arrange Ferin’s passage into the underdark? Yes, she made the initial connection. Was she aware that the illithids would take him into slavery? No, she was not, as her deal was with the dark elves. What did she receive in exchange for her testimony? Dropped charges in the Dwarven and Human kingdoms. Redirect by prosecution – clarify the dropped charges. She is to be exiled from the northern kingdoms, and a record of her deeds will be sent ahead of her to the southern and island kingdoms as warning.
f. Frinan Faithkeeper (Second priest of Moradin, SS)
i. Vouch for the party’s reliability and personage
ii. Tells story of the blood of Moradin being recovered and returned (could not have done it if they had ill intent, were not good at heart, and didn’t ask for repayment)
iii. No questions from either side.
g. Call for any elder of Ferin’s clan to speak as a character witness in his defense (none do)
h. Ferin is asked if he wishes to take the stand in his own defense – the defender states that while she advises strongly he do so, Ferin has declined this opportunity
19) With no more witnesses or questions, High King Cormac instructs the jury to begin deliberations.
a. Jury is kept without fire, food, or sleep until they reach a verdict. This has been implemented after an incident over 1000 years ago where deliberations lasted so long that three jury members passed away and were replaced by their next oldest child. Water is provided, as well as bathroom break.
20) After two hours, the jury returns.
21) High King Cormac offers an opportunity for the Clan Head of the Goldbringer clan to take the punishment in Ferin’s place.
a. None appear, as the clan has abandoned their name and taken a new one in shame of his behavior.
22) Verdict of guilty offered
23) Jury thanked and released – they take seats being held of them in the spectator area
24) Defender interjects prior to sentencing and requests Rule of Forgiveness and Forgetting
a. Based on the method to settle old feuds and grievances, the defender declares that his time in the Underdark was far greater punishment than allowed by the Dwarven court. Therefore he should not be forced to serve further punishment.
25) High King Cormac asks for any from the Goldbringer clan to come forward and weigh in on possible punishments.
a. None do.
26) High King Cormac offers for any of the witnesses to come forward and weigh in on possible punishments.
a. Not all come forward
b. Talia Hooks states that the punishment for this in a human society would have been death, which Ferin knew going into it.
27) High King Cormac offers for any of the jury to come forward and weigh in on possible punishments.
a. Only the convicted criminal comes forward – he states that Ferin should be given no less than he was for the crime of kinslaying, ten years alone in a pit in the deepest dungeon, with only the rats for company.
28) High King Cormac deliberates for an hour
29) Comes back and passes judgement and sentencing
a. Takes into consideration Rule of Forgiveness
i. While this can count against the crimes in the Dwarven courts, they do not cancel out the damage done to the rest of the Kingdoms
b. Also takes into consideration the judgement places on the Goldbringer clan
i. The clan has been disbanded and is no more, which is the harshest punishment the Dwarven nation can pass onto a dwarf.
c. As such, further sentencing is placed on Ferin
d. He is to be placed in secure custody in an off-plane location, to serve out his natural life in custody and care.
30) High King Cormac calls for the guest to enter. Faranth (gold dragon) enters in his human form. He takes custody of Ferin, who now attempts to struggle free. Faranth places his hand on Ferin’s brow, asks him to sleep, then shifts planes with him to take him to his jail cell.