After the judgement trial and Griswold's subsequent acceptance into the League of the Golden Thread, he is able to pursue what had happened to Farrissa after they had arrived in Maypole after the tomb encounter. It is not hard to find her, as the Ashen Order has placed her under lock and key in a local house. No one is allowed near. Any questions are met with stern warning about interfering with Inquisitorial business and that all will be able to see her trial when Viscount Kilquist arrives.

After gifting a jovial "Well met, lads" to the Ashen Order knights and in return receiving a stern rebuffal for all things Farrissa related, Griswold takes a moment to look around.

"So the Viscount hasn't arrived in Maypole yet?  Or is he with his son?  Speaking of, do you happen to know where the little lordling is?  I haven't spoken to him since saving his life and would like to make sure he's okay for myself and hear his version of what happened."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:27, Mon 29 Jan 2018.

Wrenn followed Griswold along, with his cat familiar following along and sticking close to the gnome's feet. He was well aware of the general opinion of magic wielders in these parts, so he left the talking to Griswold and instead focused on the knights. Surely their recent activities and the reinstating of the lost order would add some weight to the company's desires.

Arizima followed after Wrenn with a look of curiosity on her face with interested to see what her few remaining coins before her adventure had gone toward.  Like Wrenn she leaves Griswold to do the talking instead opting to stand just off to the side.  Her eyes rove over the knights and she gives them her best bland, friendly smile.  In spite of her best efforts it doesn't quite manage to reach her eyes.

The guards do their best to interact with you as little as possible. Their roving patrol around the house, however, makes no qualms about troubling you. The three approach full of confidence, a small man in leather armor flanked by and average looking man in plate and a dwarf, also in plate. When the smaller man speaks, his voice is nasally and full of contempt. "We are not your errand boys, hero," he says with a sardonic emphasis on the hero part. "Take your pet mages elsewhere. Maybe that pasture yonder has some nice patties you can rest your head on this night," he sneers.

Griswold smiles at the Ashen Order knights, whilst lethargically stretching his arms.  "Well, sir, it seems that without another destination, I simply have no where else to be.  And it is quite nice here.  I think I might stay and keep you company!  After all, these fine gentlemen have said that the Viscount will be along...eventually.  So let's all become very good friends whilst we wait!"

"Yes, that'll give me a chance to practice my art while we wait!" Wrenn looked at the guard who'd just spoken and then made an illusion that represented the man's face. As ugly and stupid looking as it could be while still resembling the man. "Not quite right, sorry. Let me try that one again."

Arizima looks to Wrenn's illusion with a raised eyebrow before turning her gaze back to the trio giving them another attempt at a smile.  "Please excuse my friend here.  He enjoys ribbing those with a sense of importance it would seem.  I also must thank you for your kind suggestion of hospitality.  Sadly I've already claimed a space of my own with a roof over my head.  The Rose's favor seems to come with such assurances.  Nonetheless I'll be certain to keep it in mind!"

The small leader of the patrol looked at the display of magic and appeared to think for a moment. A cruel looking smile played across his face as he spoke at last. "I am going to love to see if you hold the same amount of disrespect and mirth when Lord Kilquist gives the girl to the Order fully. Then, as happens to all sin-eaters, she will be deemed a hazard to the land and executed," he stated an then looked directly at Wrenn. "Especially when the command goes out for her accomplices. She attacked the young lordling, after all. Can't let dangerous, rogue mages roam the Empire, after all. I'm sure the details of the tribunal are being meted out by the Viscount, Lady Inara, and the Grand Inquisitor right now."

One of the two other guards with him gave an evil chuckle.

OOC: Perception check, please.

Wrenn added some patties to the illusionary image of the guard's face and nodded his approval, then dismissed the image. He smiled at the man as he considered offering to change the fellow's mind about rogue mages, by magical force if necessary, but held his tongue as he remembered he was here to let Griswold do the talking. He glanced at Griswold then and did his best to hide his smile and focus on the task at hand.

08:49, Today: Wrenn Muernig rolled 19 using 1d20.  Perception.

Arizima watches the guards carefully with that same slight smile.  "Probably.  I'm rather prone to bouts of mirth in the face of danger after all.  It's my way."  She taps Griswold lightly on the shoulder.  "I confess I don't understand all the details of your legal proceedings but in light of this latest revelation about this lordling I believe new charges must be leveled.  I don't suppose you would know how to go about such a thing would you?"

She stops for a moment as her eyes catch a glint of something.  Peering upward she gives the longbows trained on her from the rooftop a gentle smile and a wave before turning back to Griswold expectantly.

09:16, Today: Arizima rolled 21 using 1d20+3.  Perception.
Editing in the response to Arizima's perception check to avoid double posting.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:07, Wed 31 Jan 2018.

Recalling his own trial, Griswold cocked his head at the man.  "'As happens to all sin-eaters'?  Hardly, my dear man.  Being a sin-eater isn't even illegal in Krieghold. TO think your Grandmaster considers me unworthy whilst his very own knights lie so brazenly.

"Hmm...I wonder...Perhaps those double-standards are why the Viscount is conspiring with a woman who herself is due to stand trial over the very events that led to his son's life being put in danger?  I'd say it is in poor taste to let one accused be so involved with another's trial over the same events, wouldn't you?  Or do they intend to fix the Lady's trial as well as the girl's?  That's beyond a conflict of interests, it's a criminal perversion of justice!"

Suddenly Griswold raises his voice, no longer simply talking to the men in front of him, but performing so that not just the knights, but every passer by could hear.

"Ah, but I'm sure it's all just one big misunderstanding!  They must not have been informed of that inconvenient little fact yet?  Of that other trial.  Well, we must tell them at once!  Imagine what it could mean for Viscount Kilquist, for Lady Inara and, of course, Grandmaster Gustav, once word gets out!  And imagine what it will mean for those who knew about it but did not do their civic duty to inform those who were involved!

Griswold's voice dropped to a whisper as he leaned towards the snide little knight.  "So you best let us know where they are right now.  Otherwise, I'll be forced to report to the other Grandmasters and let them know about this sordid little conspiracy.  I'm sure an investigation by them would only delay the girl's trial by, oh, a few weeks or so.  Assuming it doesn't cause it to collapse entirely.  Not to mention the disrepute it will bring upon your Grandmaster.  And who do you think he will blame for that?  Me?  Or you, the knights that told me about it?"  Griswold stared pointedly between the knights leaving no doubt as to where he thought the Grandmaster's boot would fall.

17:40, Today: Griswold Ortmann rolled 15 using 1d20-1.  Perception - Sight beyond sightless.

18:04, Today: Griswold Ortmann rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  Intimidation - The power of politics.

Why does Griswold fail EVERY charisma ability check? >.<

And the Advantage: 5 :(
This message was last edited by the player at 18:21, Wed 31 Jan 2018.

Wrenn works his magic, quickly and discreetly, causing sounds of interested onlookers gasping or otherwise reacting to Griswold's raised voice.

A creative way to said that I'd like to Aid/Assist/whateverwecallthatin5E Griswold on his Intimidation check to give him advantage.

The small knight leaned into Griswold as well, an even larger grin on his face. “You really are clueless. I thought you would have learned by now. Go and tell the other Grandmasters. Has that stopped Witch Hunters from executing the other sin-eaters? Do you think they would risk open warfare over a single girl? You spout empty threats. There is no law here but what the sword can enforce and we,” he said in a sweeping gesture to his fellows, “...are the only justice in town. The girl will die, whether in a few days or few weeks, but she will eat the blade of a sword nonetheless.”

The man gets closer to Griswold. “Draw steel, boy, or leave. Either way doesn’t matter to me.”

Griswold shook his head and sighed.  "I thought that, despite their reputation, the Ashen Order were supposed to be knights.  Men worthy of Krieghold.  Of representing her.  But it seems you're just a bunch of thugs.  I have never before been this disappointed in anything and sorely hope that you are not typical of your Order.

"Though, I suppose I can hardly blame you.  Not when your Grandmaster is so craven that he needs you to lie and grandstand for him.

"Luckily for you, I am not of your order.  I am just and honourable.  So I will take this to the Grandmasters and, mark my word, there will be no war.  Why?  Because that snivelling little Gustav will be outnumbered a hundred to one and we all know," Griswold made a sweeping motion with his hand, "that you Ashen are only ever brave when the odds are vastly in your favour.

"Oh and this is about justice and the wilful perversion of it"

Griswold turns and leaves, whispering to Arizima and Wrenn as he does so.

"The Ashen Order has basically complete autonomy over their own trials.  They can do them behind closed doors, away from prying eyes and ears.  The other orders can intervene only if they have good reason to believe the proceedings to be corrupt.  But that is almost unheard of as they know so little about them in the first place.  Luckily for us though, that knight is about as smart as you'd expect from a thug.  Telling us about Lady Inara's involvement was a big mistake.  Let's just hope the Grandmasters think so too."

"In the meantime, Wrenn, he continued quietly, glancing down at the gnome's cat, "in my training you said that your cat was more than just a pet.  Could it spy on these knights for us?  They may well try to warn Gustav and could lead us straight to the Viscount."

Arizima coughs lightly as she walks with Griswold.  "There's a bit of an additional wrinkle as well.  If the charges largely resolve around this notion that this noble was attacked...  There are a total of eight witnesses including a freshly minted Knight to the fact that he was controlling the dead in an attempt to set them on the living.  Now obviously we had assumed the best of the lordling and assumed that magic had seized him and puppeteered him.  If he wishes to play the unjustly attacked though then that situation changes.  If he was simply attacked while of sound mind then he was controlling the dead himself and wielding them as a blunt instrument solely to bring death to the living.  From what I understand I rather doubt your laws would smile on such an act."

Griswold's smile had faded as soon as he turned his back on the knight.  His expression was no serious and throughtful.  "He was possessed, I'm certain.  Roland is just being Roland.  And Roland is a dick.  He's lashing out at the most convenient, defenceless target.  His pride's butt-hurt and that's pissing him off.  He is a noble after all - they're unable to admit fault or weakness, even to themselves.  Everyone else be damned.

"Besides, I'm pretty sure Roland doesn't like me. He'd have given himself away during our friendly back and forth in the fight.

"Someone could try talking to him.  If he knew that he was under the influence of a massively powerful and infamous sorceress, rather than that animalistic orc shaman, he might feel inclined to tell the truth.  We could spin it so that it was a truly heroic act to survive the ordeal.  Appeal to his ego.  Make a hero of him, rather than a witless villain.

"We should also talk to the other boys.  We didn't actually see how this all started and they're more likely to tell the truth.  Maybe Farrissa really did do something?"

Arizima chuckles at Griswold's comment.  "You do realize I called a great house family yes?  If only I had known I never had to admit fault.  Life would have been much simpler if I had known I was always in the right."

She shrugs as they walk apparently uninterested. "We all know that he was possessed true.  I was rather proposing that we attempt to force him to capitulate by calling his bluff and pointing out the logical ramifications of the action.  If he wishes to lie so can we.  Under the right circumstances and with the right rumors his father may be forced to withdraw from this issue to avoid tainting the reputation of the house.  I don't know if the rest of you find that distasteful though."

"If you wish to assauge his ego instead though I suppose I could attempt such a thing.  I doubt I'd enjoy it but I could give it an attempt."

Wrenn followed the others, happy to leave the guards behind. "I'll leave the planning of how best to handle the social aspects of this situation to the two of you. Personally, I'll have absolutely no part in making Roland look a hero. I'll stand silently by while you do it, if you need me to, but no more."

"As for the Ashen Order, I think it's high time that organisation be dismantled."

The guards simply chuckle and resume their patrol around the house. The commotion caused a few people to stop their daily activities and look but hard glares from the guards cause them to resume what they were doing and cast their eyes downward. No one else seems interested in the Witch Hunters anymore and your group is left to its own eldevices for now. As you discuss your next course of action, you find yourself among the traveling merchants and stalls that have stuck around for the month long extension of the festival.

OOC: I am going to say that the current timeline is a week after the end of the contest. The Research Opportunities Thread is occurring the day prior. We will need to consolidate the threads soon and begin the next adventure. Interfering with the tribunal itself might cause your downtime to be cut short, depending on what you do. Be sure everyone is on board before going further.

Griswold grinned at Arizima.  "Want to see if I can sneak you into the Royal Kriegian court sometime, Apricot?  See how simple life really is when everyone thinks they're right?  Trust me you're better off.  All that backstabbing - I hate it!  Everyone is out for themselves, forgetting the people that really matter.  If they ever knew at all.

"But they wield power like a hammer and those that stand out get flattened.  So we need to be smart.  Roughhousing little Roland might work in the short-term, but eventually he or his father will come down on us, or worse, Farrissa, the boys and their families, like a hail of arrows."  Griswold paused for a moment.  "Or with an actual hail of arrows."

"We should hurry over to the Knight's compound, hopefully the Grandmasters are still there.  Or at least someone that can point us in the right direction."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:03, Tue 06 Feb 2018.

Arizima shrugs as she follows Griswold toward the Knight's Compound.  "I wouldn't be so quick to discount the option.  In my experience an enemy today often becomes an ally tomorrow in the game of politics.  Assuming the Viscount has some small sense to go with his position he'll be open to negotiations.  So long as we can provide a bit of carrot as well...  My concern with flattery is that it will not truly prevent this Roland from taking Farissa as his prize and his right in the aftermath even if she's not executed.  We all heard the Rose.  Sin-Eaters are valuable symbols of status.  Without someone to hold his leash it may be difficult to keep him from acquiring his prize."

Griswold opened his mouth to argue, but grinned instead.  "I am being outnumbered two to one!  Alright then, you hellions.  Let's do it your way, but you're talking - I'm a lover, not a loather.  And I'm awful at politics!"

The small complex for the Grandmasters and knightly orders looms into view. A few Dragoons are posted as a watch to keep the curious from causing trouble, more than anything else. You get the feeling they were put here as a punishment as they fidget at the post. The complex beyond looks to be rife with activity and busier than when Griswold came for his judgement. Whatever is in there, it is best that you know what you are doing.

OOC: Let's get the Research Opportunities thread finished and everyone together. This course of action might take a turn towards being longer and may cut downtime short. In short, this thread is on hold for the time being.