SJE/Session73
Session 73
You Can't Handle the Truth 3rd-5th Ascending Air RY 769
While in Solaria, Alana tried to placate the citizens, worried now that the Mahdi had left with his army, including some of the more devoted Solarians, in Heaven the recriminations following the Great Overturning of the Apple Table were cut short by a ear splitting scream from outside the Palace
“Ibrahim!!!!”called Burning Feather.
Failing a Valour roll the Capt hid under one of the tables as Shizu (slight ret-conning as Brand’s player not present)slipped him the apples. The Maiden of Secrets permitted Burning Feather to enter. As she stepped over the threshold every bottle and cup of alcohol exploded in a chain starting from the outside of the hall and focusing in on the Captain. “We need to talk” she hissed as the Capt tried to explain. They both disappeared in a haze of stimulants that raised tempers across the hall.
“This should be fun” said the Maiden of Secrets as part of her wall became a one way screen viewing the interior of Burning Feather’s palace. Rav, seeing the danger to come, summoned his essence and formed a new charm, sending a message to the Captain that he is being watched.
At Burning Feather’s the Captain stops short of giving her the apples, pauses, resets his quiff and gives the wall, the ceiling and the table a dazzling smile. “What are you smiling about” demanded his wife “where are my apples”. Thinking quickly the Capt responded “Wife, even if the Maiden of Secrets were here, WATCHING US IN THIS VERY ROOM, she would not be able to tell you what you ask”. Perplexed the goddess repeated her question in a louder, angrier tone. The Captain tried again and this time comprehension dawned on his wife.
“I am afraid I did not see the importance of two small, wizened, frost bitten apples from the north of Creation that seemed so distinctly UNMAGICAL” said the Captain in a sotto voice. “Well”, procrastinated Burning Feather, playing for time” they were a gift to you as a token of my first job in heaven, guarding cider orchards from scrumpers”
Back at the party, the Maiden of Secrets eyes narrowed and she beckoned over Rav. “Communication with your mates inside the house is strictly forbidden” she muttered angrily “And yet look at the crowd” said Rav, “see how much they like your party. This show has given you high ratings and you must admit the entertainment is not very expensive.”
“Its true, there may be something in this form of reality based entertainment” said the Maiden “we haven’t thought of it before and chess was getting dull”.
Somewhere far away, the Yozis cackled as another stage in their plan was completed
The Maiden clapped her hands and once she had the attention of the party proclaimed that there would be a vote and the loser, Burning Feather or the Capt, would be thrown out of heaven. At once the Yu-Shan crowd began betting and speculating which one them was the plant.
At Burning Feather’s house, the goddess was still enraged driven by the Maiden’s curse she turned her attention to the Capt’s general marital fitness “I should never have married you. I could have had the choice of proper Solars. That Yurgen, he knows how to appreciate a good drink. I’ve wasted my charms on you, you brute” This triggers the Capt’s partial Limit Break and he picks up a nearby table and throws it against the wall “Replace me with a hairy arsed northerner stinking of mammoth fat would you” he roared. Burning Feather gave as good as she got and soon the room was filled with shard of flying crockery and glass. Alarmed the Maiden summoned the Celestial Lions who burst into Burning Feather’s and interrupted this scene of marital discord and dragged the Captain away screaming “Featheeerrrrrrr, Featheaaarrrrrrrrr”
Back in Solaria, Alan’s sense were tingling and it wasn’t just having to politely rebuff the invitations of her cousins to return to Cathak County for a get together. Just as she had got rid of them, a vision came from UCS reminding her of her duties as legal counsel to Solars in matters involving heaven and opening a bridge of light to the sky. Leaving the Solarians on their knees Saint Alana ascended to heaven.
Shizu watched this whole process in fear, knowing the Lions would find the apples on the Capt. With a burst of charms he leapt from cloud to pyramid to minaret to the extensive procession that surrounded the oricaculum wagon holding the Capt that the Lions were dragging to jail. While the guards were distracted by S’seth’s attempts to interview the Capt about his alleged affair with Shizu and murder of Orchid, cut off when the Capt grabbed his tongue and slammed the serpent head against the bars, Shizu stole both apples and discreetly headed to Burning Feather’s.
As Alana arrived at the jail, she received a message from Rav, still watching proceedings at the party, updating her on events. Once again her pulse quickened and she had to clamp down on her rage at being surrounded by such fools.
In jail the Captain had continued to resist, especially when the Lions searched his pockets. The shock of not having the apples on him bought him out of his limit break and he was thrown into a cell with the god of prisoners. By the time Alana arrived to see her client, both were singing and rattling their metal cup off the bars
“Nobody knows the trouble I've seen Nobody knows but the Maiden of Secrets”
“I’ve been here four thousand years” said the god “and I still can’t make it scan”.
Having heard the Capts side of the story, Alana went to the authorities and found that he was being charged with • Bringing the UCS into disrepute • Valndalism at the Maiden’s party • Domestic Abuse
The powers that be have hired the god of lawyers to handle the case. Possible results would be being buried in rock to permanent removal of exaltation. Or Death, as it is known in Creation.
Assembling a crack legal team (Rav and Shizu) she set out to find a technicality to get the Capt off. “Surely you mean prove my innocence?” he asked.
Shizu headed to Burning Feathers and finds her still enraged. Shizu points out that the Capt really did try to make things better and that his imprisonment would be a punishment he did not truly deserve. Shizu’s silver tongue persuades Burning Feather to drop the charges but she will still curse the Capt to never enjoy a drink again.
Rav headed to the Maiden of Secrets’ palace. Applying some Lunar ferocity to the bureaucratic maze he succeeded in gaining three minutes with the Maiden as she walked to the Pleasure Dome. In exchange for dropping the vandalism charge, Rav offered her the Scrolls of Seven Forbidden Wisdoms. “Well, I know 6 already” said the Maiden “and the seventh I believe does pertain to something you yourself were wondering some three months back”. Despite these tantalising hints, Rav continues with the offer, pointing out that in fact the Maiden’s party was a great success and that her Reality game would be copied across Yu-Shan
Again the Yozi’s chuckled
The Maiden agreed and with the Scrolls in hand dropped the charge against the Capt.
Alana and Shizu spent the time scrutinizing the records to see what previous cases have been held on the remaining charge.
The Trial
The trial day arrived, The Golden Lord presiding. The Court Room was packed, Burning Feather and her family, embassies of the Maidens, other gods and Exalted all keen to see this new entertainment.
The Golden Lord asked the prosecution to read out the charges and asked how the Capt pleaded. “Not guilty” he said, then turned to Alana “that’s right isn’t it?”. She pulled him down to his seat.
The god of lawyers began “We will show the Capt bought the UCS into disrepute. The evidence is quite clear that he is not fit for Exaltation” He went on to show how Lytek had not approved the Exaltation but how the Capt had hi-jacked a passing shard as it fled a monstrous construction (sp?)and that it would be better to release the shard to a proper user.
Alana stood for the defence arguing that the Capt was a great man, and like all great man he had his flaws. However his actions had gained the approval of the UCS given when the Capt hung from the cross that Octavian had placed him on. In previous exaltations this shard was drawn to heroes who themselves were known for revelry and enjoyment of life but this had never been bought to the court’s attention. Although occasionally disruptive he was a fighter of great renown who had bought low many enemies of UCS.
The prosecution’s first witness was S’seth who recounted how the Capt had confessed to mimicry, broken into his temple and stolen away a properly ordained sacrifice
“Objection” shouted Alana “rescuing sacrificial virgins from their death and virginity is part of an honourable tradition and in any case S’seth’s honour is not the consideration of this case” “Agreed” said the Golden Lord and S'seth stepped down to go and sell his story to the papers - well himself really.
The 2nd witness was the Sidereal from the Malfean Supervision Agency (MSA) who stated that there was evidence of possible collaboration with a demon in the form of evil Orchid and perhaps even intercourse. The MSA knows that hew was discovered by Shizu holding the demon in his arms all night “That’s a lie” shouted the Capt “she insisted on tying me to the bed posts – I couldn’t have held her”
Alana kicked the Capt in the shins and cross examined the witness who confirmed that once the Capt knew that the evil Orchid was, evil, hew readily took part in killing her and also in killing a great many other demons although the Captain’s interference did almost allow her plot to succeed. “Why did you not alert us?” asked Alana. “We couldn’t compromise an on going investigation. Any further questions on this issue are subject to a D-Notice” replied the Sidereal.
Despite the many allegations of incompetence against the Capt, the prosecution (and indeed the players and GM) were hard pressed to think of any other witnesses to take the stand and it was the turn of the defence.
Alana ran through the Capt’s role in defeating Demons and Deathlords and called Aesha (sp?) as a witness to the Capt’s role in <LIST> <*>Putting down Octavian <*>Giving heroic speeches in praise of the UCS <*>Risking all to ensure the defeat of Capt Blood <*>Fighting a lunar in the name of UCS <*>Smashing Amoth City Smiter <*>His clear hatred of mimes </LIST>
Rav and Shizu are also called to give evidence as to his valour and defence of the UCS. “What about when he tried to kill you” asked the prosecution “well” muttered Shizu “I had asked him something quite nasty apparently and his actions did speed up the demolition of the Watch Tower saving us precious days”. Alana then called in the Mahdi from leading his army of nomads. As he ascended the bridge of light closed behind him leaving a distraught Anaria waving her arms and calling out to the Heavens "Choose me! CHOOSE ME!"
“Truly the Capt is a righteous man” bellowed the Mahdi “helping forge a new age with his bloody blade. He is a traditional Solar who is not willing to appease his enemies, something his Circle could do with respecting more. His only fault is to allow himself to be held back by nay-sayers” his eyes resting on Alana “I wish more Solars would be like him”</I<I>>
“So, the Capt is easily lead” asked the prosecution, “does not know his own mind? No more questions” he snapped before the Mahdi could respond.
With a heavy heart, Alana asked the Capt to take the stand and gently lead him to acknowledge his role in defending Gem, resisting infernal temptation once captured and repelling the Deathlords without wandering too much off track. “Your military record is very impressive” admitted the prosecution “but what about your habits off the field of battle? Do you deny you have mimed? This is a danger to the whole of Creation and yet you have willingly engaged in its practice?”
The Capt responded valiantly arguing that he had never been a mime. Yes he had had occasion to practice mimicy but only as a way of trying to penetrate the ranks of the secretive organisation. “No, I have never yet caught one, but look – I have a map of their organisation” he said pulling out a ragged piece of cloth whose scribbles are long since illegible even if they had ever been understandable.
With no more witnesses the judge called for summations.
The Jury then left to deliberate. With so few witnesses against him and with such evidence of his great deeds, the jury did not take long and soon returned with a verdict of Not Guilty much to the relief of the Circle. “Time for a party” roared the Capt, “all they serve in this place is water” as he put down his tenth cup of wine
"Oh yes" said Shizu smiling "there was something I've been meaning to tell you"
