1229 A.D. - Court
(September 3rd 2004)

The evening started quietly enough, although there was anticipation in the air. Sir Kendrick and his lady, Emma de Brus, quietly chatted with their childer Robin and Guy. Guy especially seemed ready for trouble, armed and armored and carrying a crossbow in addition to his greatsword. Then the procession of the dead entered - Keeper Morwyn of Clan Cappodocian, followed by his Childe and Grandchilde, Sister Rose and Brother Bartholemew. And behind them, two of the Cappodocian's corpse servants carried a precious burden - the staked body of the Tremere Leland. Word spread that tonight's event would not just be yearly court, but also that the Usurper would be put on trial for his crimes - the murder of so many Cainites a year ago. Leland was quickly sequestered away in the crypts below Saint Olave's Abbey, with Guy set to guard the door, which he did with great enthusiasm, while Halvor, one of Cynuise's line, followed Morwyn's corpse servants down into the crypt as they carried down the body of the Tremere.

Morwyn of Whitby and his entourage were shortly greeted, and greeted rather loudly and enthusiastically, by the Warmaster Katla Thrandsdotter and her company. Katla was accompanied by her Childe the Scourge Sigurd, as well as her "present" Mary Stonesmith and the Tzimisce envoy Father Dumera, but there was a new face amongst her vassals as well - one who would be shortly introduced as Leena, Katla's newest Childe. Katla had asked Cynuise for Right of Progeny, but in order to secure the privilege Cynuise had asked that she give up the position of Seneschal. As for the new Childe, she appeared to be adapting well to the Cainite court, although Katla had set her to the task of minding Mary, a difficult charge for any, never mind a Cainite so newly Embraced.

Soon Baroness Cynuise descended into the court with her entourage, and quickly made the announcement of the new Seneschal - it would be her Childe, Sir Sighard Smithy. It was at about this time that other dignitaries that the Baroness had invited began arriving from neighbouring Baronies. The first was Sir Nicholas de Calais, the renowned Warmaster of Chester, who was quickly and pleasantly greeted by Aquataine, the Chamberlain. Sir Baldwin of Lincoln, the Seneschal of that Barony and Childe of Baron Stephan, was also in attendance. Both had come to observe the trial at Cynuise's invitation, and while de Calais seemed comfortable enough mingling with the court and waiting, finding special camaraderie with Warmaster Katla, Sir Baldwin seemed rather impatient to see business begin.

Baroness Cynuise sent off her new Seneschal, Sir Sighard Smithy, to examine Leland, although the overenthusiastic Guy le Fringant took his orders to guard the door perhaps too seriously, attempting to use the powers of the blood to make Sir Sighard flee in terror. His attempt failed however, and then Cynuise arrived to personally chide Guy. Shortly thereafter, Cynuise and Morwyn descended into the crypt, sending Halvor, Guy, and the rest of their entourages away.

Awhile later, Cynuise and Morwyn reemerged with the staked body of Leland(still being ported by the zombies), and the trial was set to begin with great solemnity. Then the questioning of Leland began... It quickly became apparent that Leland was guilty, by his own admission, but his answers seemed unusually short and lacking in detail. Several discrepancies showed up as the Baroness questioned him, especially when asked about the death of Ivar Ivanson - a death for which he claimed no responsibility. Cynuise decided that the four crimes he could be implicated in(or at least "Had some responsibility for") would be enough for his death anyway. Just before Leland was about to be sentenced, however, he shouted out words to the effect that he had more information than he had been allowed to give - information that he would be willing to share. There was brief commotion before Leland started to say "I have pr-"

...and was shot in the back by Guy le Fringant's crossbow, apparently staked through the heart. Leland's body slumped forward, paralyzed, in his chair. Guy was ordered out of the court, not to return for the period of a year, by Cynuise. But damage had already been done. Nicholas de Calais politely asked why the court might not hear what it was Leland had to say, a request that the Baroness brushed off. This was followed by the outburst of another neonate as Mary Stonesmith exclaimed that Leland had told the truth - that he did have other important information to give. The Baroness cut Mary off, and demanded that Katla keep the Low Clan Neonate silent in her court, as Cynuise's patience for disruptions of the solemnity of her court was running quite low.

Without further ado, the Baroness gave the order to her scourge, Siguard, who gleefully went about hacking the staked body of Leland into tiny pieces, sending the rogue Tremere to Final Death. But there was much muttering heard as the Cainites departed from the court, and Nicholas de Calais and Sir Baldwin of Lincoln both seemed vaguely bewildered by the confusing and obviously set-up nature of the trial they had witnessed. Still, Leland was dead, and the matters of the fateful year of twelve hundred and twenty eight could be set behind the Cainites of York...

But are all the questions answered? If Leland did not murder Ivar Ivansson, who or what did? What information did Leland have? And why did Cynuise not want it to be heard? Will the events of the year of Baron John's death still have repercussions for the Barony of York?
 

Quotes

"Sigurd - who is smarter, you or me?"
"Uh...you?"

"You will be have...or you will not get a beating."

"Well, that may be so, Sigurd...but it may prove difficult to find a drunken gnome at this time of night."

"Oh, excuse me...I have to go get a dust pan."

"No zombie love!"

"Are you a LARPER?
You're all dressed up.
Magic Missile!!!"
(a random girl at Denny's, from coffee after the game)