london trial ♔ i guess i'll save the best for last

[mislabeled]

WHO ||Lydia, Sark, Francesca, Cora, Will, Sam, Lila, Carol, Rose, Sydney, Dean, Audrey, Grant [Closed]
WHAT || Audrey Petersen is tried for her involvement in the schemes of Nicholas St. Andrew
WHERE || London, England
WHEN || June 2017
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread, don't worry about maintaining tagging order.

They're calling it one of the trials of the year.  Some of the more hyperbolic tabloids have referred to it as the "trial of the decade" or even "of the new century".

Audrey Petersen, wealthy socialite and wife of Professor Grant Petersen, curator of the Knights' archives has been involved in an extended proceeding ever since the day that the Knights and the London police stopped Nicholas St. Andrew, a charismatic cult leader, from completing a dark occult ritual.  St. Andrew was killed in the assault, but Audrey was taken prisoner, her role in the business less black and white. She now stands trial for the crimes she allegedly committed with her former mentor.  The authorities are still uncertain as to whether Audrey was a willing accomplice or just another of St. Andrew's brainwashed cultist lackeys.  Her lawyers and the popular press have taken to painting her as a victim, but Wynn is hardly so sure.  Dozens of people, including prominent citizens have said they are willing to appear as character witnesses for her, and some have even been obliquely criticizing the work the authorities did in arresting her.  Many of the Knights who were involved in thwarting the Children of Chaos have been asked to come to the trial to provide more insight into the situation.  

Police chief Jared O'Keefe paces nervously outside the doors as they arrive, rubbing his mouth with one hand.  

"Oh good.  You made it.  Now, we've insisted on no cameras anywhere nearby - we want to preserve the sanctity of the Knights' secrecy as much as possible.  The attorneys have a ... bit of a history.  They've sparred in the courtroom many a time.  I believe the plan is to call you up on the stand in small groups."

Comments

[impetere]

Great.

[While everything about her body language says this is not great, that part she actually did mean. If she has to go up in a group, that means there's less of a chance for her, specifically, having to talk. Her hand fidgets on the edge of the blazer meant to make her look presentable and professional before she continues.]

We just have to say what happened, right?

[immuno]

Just how much exactly should we be sharing?

[ Because this seems like a serious breach of secrecy, no matter how you look at it. ]

sworn in

[likedillinger]

[ each of the witnesses, even brought up into groups, must put a hand on the bible and swear to tell the 'truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.'

if your character intends to bend some truth, please leave a bluff check. if they want to sell their legitimate honesty, you can leave a diplomacy check. ]

[likedillinger]

[ dean 'ol-pro-at-deception winchester over here got a 31 bluff. ]

[superswank]

[ and a 20 bluff for sydney. ]

[impetere]

[Cora got super fucking lucky reads as an incredibly straight shooter (diplomacy nat 20, 22 total). Apparently the tiny teenage girl thing works for her with the jury.]

[mydesigns]

[will is much better at being blunt and honest than he is at ~facades~ (although later canon point will would probably argue with that i guess but w/e); anyway, he decides to take that route and gets a 27 diplomacy. it's totally his hot dad professor vibe.]

[certainproclivity]

[Sark is over here with BIG INNOCENT BLUE EYES and a 24 bluff]

[familybusiness]

[Diplomacy 28 for this guy.]

[antiquaria]

[ and a diplomacy 17 for the nervous husbando ]

[immuno]

[ lydia got a bluff of 38 bc she's gonna do whatever it takes to keep knight secrets thanks. ]

[bittersweeter]

[ lila's bluff is a 64 ]

[airforceful]

[Carol's too lawful good to lie under oath, so have a solid diplomacy 17. ...she isn't lying, but she's not being particularly charismatic about it.]

the petersen counterstrike group

[likedillinger]

[ lila, grant, and francesca are called to the stand together to answer questions about the night of the hostage situation at the petersen penthouse. questions are below... you can answer some or all! ]

prosecution question 1

[likedillinger]

[ mcgregory paces in front of the stand, looking the three over, his gaze lingering a bit on grant, before he passes them and asks:

"When was the first time you met the defendant?" ]

prosecution question 2

[likedillinger]

[ "Will you please describe your recollection of the events surrounding the Petersen hostage crisis?" ]

prosecution question 3

[likedillinger]

[ "Who do you believe stole the idols from the Petersen penthouse that night?" ]

defense question 1

[superswank]

[ hiram carlson takes over after mcgregory is finished. his pointed questions begin with:

"Did you see the defendant remove any valuable items from the Petersen penthouse on the night of the hostage crisis?" ]

defense question 2

[superswank]

[ "Weren't you among the people who removed the defendant from the penthouse that night?" ]

defense question 3

[superswank]

[ "When you arrived at the penthouse, wasn't Mrs. Petersen tied to a chair with a gun pointed at her head?" ]

blood sugar group

[likedillinger]

[ carol, lydia, cora, and sydney are called up together to discuss the events of halloween at the sweet tooth incorporated factory. questions are below... you can answer some or all! ]

prosecution question 1

[likedillinger]

[ "Can you describe the events at the Sweet Tooth candy factory and what they revealed about the goals of Nicholas St. Andrew?" ]

the final feast group

[likedillinger]

[ sam, will, and rose are called up to testify about the events of Thanksgiving at the Church of Mercy. questions are below... you can answer some or all! ]

prosecution question 1

[likedillinger]

[ "Can you describe the events at the Church of Mercy shelter and what they had to do with the Children of Chaos?" ]

dead of winter group

[likedillinger]

[ dean, sam, will, sark, cora, sydney, and francesca are called to answer questions about the final confrontation with nicholas st. andrew and audrey's subsequent arrest. questions are below: answer some or all! ]

prosecution question 1

[likedillinger]

[ "Were you among the agents who arrested the defendant? Can you describe the events surrounding her apprehension in your own words?" ]

closing arguments

[mislabeled]

[ carlson goes on to call many of audrey's friends to the stand to serve as character witnesses. each testimony sounds similar - that she was a good and kind person, that they don't believe she has it in her to commit such heinous crimes. each of these witnesses, however, are questioned by the prosecutor, who makes sure to point out that none of them were present at any of these events, and that none can provide her with any actual alibis.

finally, audrey herself is called to the stand. she swears to tell the truth, looking calm and collected, before explaining her side of things. carlson's questions help her play the victim, and by the end of it, she is nearly in tears as she looks over at grant. ] I was a pawn in that horrible man's game. I didn't understand what was happening, and he turned me against my own husband. I just want this to be over, so I can have my life back.

[ mcgregory's questions are met with bold faced denials from audrey, and she manages to verbally evade any admissions of guilt or even implications. however, by the time he finishes, a sense motive of 10 or more can easily read the expressions on the jury's faces - they seem pretty convinced that she is guilty.

the attorneys move on to make their closing statements, the seemingly interminable q&a finally over, but it appears that audrey has lost interest in the proceedings. her focus grows distant, her eyelids shudder, and a spot check of 20+ catches that she appears to be muttering to herself. ]

[immuno]

[ with a spot of 25, lydia is puzzling over that reaction. she elbows whoever is closest and says, ]

What's with the Cuckoo's Nest?