Audrey Petersen (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mislabeled) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
knightsoflegend2017-05-13 12:39 am
mislabeled) wrote in knightsoflegend2017-05-13 12:39 am
london trial ♔ i guess i'll save the best for last
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."
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What could?
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"Audrey Petersen," he begins, folding his hands beneath his back and beginning to pace. "The perfect wife, or the perfect accomplice? I stand before you today to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that Mrs. Petersen not only was aware of the machinations of Nicholas St. Andrew, but that she colluded with him on a number of crimes. That she hosted a dinner party at her penthouse home, for the express purpose of allowing members of the Children of Chaos cult to take her 'hostage'. That this allowed her to steal property belonging to her husband and sneak it out of their home unnoticed when she was 'rescued'. That together with Nicholas St. Andrew, she broke into the Sweet Tooth Inc. manufacturing plant and tampered with the Halloween candy manufactured there. This incident alone resulted in at least one death, numerous injuries, and untold amounts of property damage. That also with St. Andrew, Audrey poisoned the Thanksgiving dinner being prepared at a Food for Life shelter. Then the two of them, purposely and with malice, had that food served to homeless and poverty-stricken men, women, and children. That again with Nicholas St. Andrew, Mrs. Petersen committed a series of ritualistic murders and fed the victims' remains to an exotic animal, which they were keeping without a license."
grant is staring down at the back of the booth before him, unable to even glance up as the prosecutor continues. "Audrey Petersen has repeatedly lied to, stolen from, and committed violent offenses against everyone she has come into contact with since meeting St. Andrew. Unlike the cult leader's other associates, she was not a witless dupe. Certainly she was not the mastermind of all these schemes, but she did help in their planning and execution. She is and always has been cognizant of her actions, and is responsible for their consequences. Therefore, the jury should find her guilty of all charges and recommend the most severe punishment possible." he pauses in place, one hand settled over his heart. "Thank you."
the speech is actually quite stirring (diplomacy 35), and he gives carlson a bit of a smug look as he moves to sit down. audrey's own features are inscrutable. ]
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"Audrey Petersen was a neglected woman." his beginning is dropped like a bomb, and he looks pointedly over at grant, who manages to contain his anger, at least. "Neglected to the point of abuse. Although she was a scholar and researcher of the highest order, her husband and the Karthur Institute pigeonholed her into the role of trophy wife and socialite. Rather than allow her any real authority or responsibility, they forced her to stay on the periphery, forever within sight of her life's calling - but never allowed to pursue it."
he slowly walks the length of the jury, each step almost menacing in its measured pace. "Nicholas St. Andrew came to Audrey at her weakest hour and did exactly what he had done to so many others," he adds, spreading his hands. "He brainwashed her. The charismatic cult leader perverted her confusion and dismay into paranoia and hatred, then used her for his own selfish ends."
"Throughout all the incidents detailed by the prosecution, Audrey Petersen was at best an unwitting accomplice - a brainwashed thrall following orders from the only authority figure she could remember. Even so, she never personally attacked or injured anyone. Indeed, at the time the authorities captured Nicholas St. Andrew, Audrey was unconscious and chained to a wall - hardly what any reasonable person would describe as a "willing accomplice." The only criminal act that Audrey Petersen committed was robbery, and even that charge is open to debate. After all, she 'stole' the objects in question from her own home. Furthermore, according to the Karthur Institute's own experts, the objects she took were relatively valueless replicas, not priceless arcane relics."
he stops dead center, looking back to audrey. "Audrey Petersen is not a criminal - she is a victim. While the defense recognizes the need to find and punish the one responsible for these atrocities, Audrey is not that person. To punish her simply because she survived the devastation wrought by Nicholas St. Andrew is not only unjust - it is supremely unfair." he looks back to the judge. "Audrey Petersen deserves both justice and mercy. She needs to the opportunity to heal the damage done to her by the true author of all this senseless carnage - Nicholas St. Andrew. A man who has already paid the price for these crimes. We need to lay this matter to rest with his death, just as it should have been already." his speech is impressive itself (diplomacy 30) and mcgregory frowns as he moves to take his seat. ]
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Well. [he says under his breath.] That's wonderful spin, isn't it? I can only imagine how well that would play if he knew what I know.
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the bulk of the questioning will play out in several threads below. characters will be called up by the mission groups in which they participated and all sworn in. i will tag you to your relevant threads, where you can post your characters' responses. that way we are not being held up waiting to do it in a line. i will probably get those threads posted tomorrow! ]
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was it so impossible that the same had happened to audrey?
she shifts uncomfortably in her seat, avoiding the eyes of those around her as she ... gets some real second thoughts on this. that awkward moment when you are diplomacy'd by a lawyer. ]