Judith Law: Ace Attorney Episode 1 - Turnabout Adventure [Eevachu + Darth_Slaverus]

Discussion in 'Northern Hyrule' started by Eevachu, Mar 7, 2017.

  1. Eevachu

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    Quest Thread: Judith Law: Ace Attorney

    What a disappointing venture. Bars were generally the best place to hear about hidden temples or secret rumors- a little liquor always made adventures loose with their lips. He had found out about many a dungeon through bars, some certainly paying off. Today did not seem to be the day for Rika, though- The various drunks had already become just that, but they did not seem to be much of the adventuring kind. He had hoped by coming earlier, he could hit them while they were drunk but still capable of speaking coherent sentences, but today must have been some sort of party day for the lot here- it was only just before dusk, yet many of them had gotten totally hammered. Rika had already gotten into an altercation or two with a few of the drunk bar goers, leaving him in quite the displeased mood.

    Oh well. Perhaps adventurers tended not to frequent this bar- it WAS pretty shoddy and pathetic looking, Rika thought. He could surely find somewhere better to go for information. Convincing himself of this, Rika made his way out of the bar.

    --

    Wollo didn't like when they went to bars. Sometimes the silly, drunk friends thought Wollo was a stool and sat on him.
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2017
  2. Darth_Slaverus

    Darth_Slaverus Member vet

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    Taverns and bars were said to be places of jubilant merrymaking, but Judith Vilcaron was more inclined to view them as hotbeds of misery and sin. Though she dared not set foot inside one, the young priestess had become quite familiar with such venues over the course of her stay in Castle-Town, having encountered more than her fair share of drunks whilst performing Cult-sponsored charity work in the capital's poorer districts. This particular pub was the worst of the lot, Judith thought with a grimace, wrinkling her nose as a pair of staggering patrons exited the building and proceeded to relieve themselves against its walls, carrying the stench of their drinks with them. Clearly, the owner cared little and less for appearances... be they of his business or his clientele. She quickened her pace, eager to be anywhere but here.

    Certainly, she understood the need for relaxation; she herself had partaken of the occasional glass of wine at important functions. But alcohol was a poison that dulled the wits, and establishments such as these did not thrive on moderation. For many of the wayward souls that inhabited this neighbourhood, the solace they sought at the bottom of a bottle would prove to be nothing more than a cruel illusion, a trap designed to rob them of Mother Nayru's gift of Wisdom, condemning them to an unending cycle of poverty. Were it not for the obvious futility of such an endeavour, Judith might have campaigned against the consumption of intoxicating beverages by advocating for their prohibition.

    Alas, the social and economic backlash that course of action would provoke was far too great to be feasible. No, this was not a problem that could be solved so easily. All she could do was pray and attempt to guide lost wastrels back onto the path of prosperity.

    It was getting late. Judith had finished distributing clothes and food to the needy for today, as per the Archcanoness' wishes, and she hoped she could make her way back to the temple before dark. Few thugs would be brazen enough to accost a holy woman in broad daylight, but the prowlers of the night were likely to be less discerning. Folding her arms tightly about her chest, the young acolyte hurried onward. She did not mind spending time among the downtrodden, for her cause was righteous, but it would be dishonest to say she didn't prefer the relative safety of Lon Lon. As the birthplace of Hylian civilization, Castle-Town was a magnificent city, a hub of trade and a veritable library of learning unto itself... but something within Judith yearned for the open fields of her hometown, finding the grand size of the capital to be unsettling.

    Lon Lon was a large community, yet there it was customary for everyone to know who everyone else was. Here, you were one among untold thousands... a disappearance could well go unsolved or even unnoticed. And the capital was not without its dangers... The fiasco at the library was ample proof of that.

    The memory of the incident caused her to instinctively glance over her shoulder, fearful that some assassin would appear to silence her for the part she had played in that investigation. As she did so, she spied what appeared to be a young child and... an octorok... leaving the ramshackle bar. She blinked, then shook her head and kept walking.

    The owner really WAS indiscriminate when it came to his customers, it would seem.
  3. Eevachu

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    Pondering for a moment where to go, Rika considered what sources he could consult with. Another bar may prove fortuitous, but those weren't the only options. Some individuals had rougher methods of obtaining information than others, but they were valuable, if somewhat unreliable sources of information yet- not that drunkards tended to be reliable. Glancing at the alleyway nestled between the bar and another, somewhat taller building, that is somewhere Rika might find them- what many would consider the scourge of Hyrule that tended to frequent these rougher parts, thieves and criminals who did more than just steal material wealth. Indeed, they were purveyors of secrets, rumors, whatever you wanted to know you could hear from their lips- for a price, of course.

    Looking down the alleyway for any such individuals, it appeared to be lacking in any particular individuals. Frowning, Rika was left without anything to learn yet again- at least in this alleyway. Just as he was about to leave, something caught his eye- scanning the edge of the rooftop adjacent to the bar, Rika saw something peculiar. Was that. . . an arm, dangling off of the edge of the roof? It was hard to tell exactly from this distance, but it definitely looked like a Hylian limb. "Wait here, Wollo." Rika ordered to the Octorok before moving forward.

    Leaping upward, then once again, Rika found himself on top of the roof. Straight ahead was what confirmed his suspicions about what he had seen- it was a body. They were unmoving, so it was either a corpse or a drunkard.

    Moving closer to investigate the body, Rika stopped, his eyes narrowing. He recognized this man. He did not know him very well, but he was certainly familiar- Rika had had a more than heated argument with him a mere hours ago. He had gotten rather drunk, but this was the last place Rika expected to see him. Bending down to examine him, Rika became fully aware of his fate; the wide, bleeding gouge in his back said everything.

    The blood around the wound and soaking the man's shirt still seemed to be fresh, but the scene around him seemed relatively clean. It was difficult to tell the exact kind of wound it was through the shirt, at least at a glance. Bending down, Rika took a whiff at the man's face, instantly repelling his head back in disgust. He definitely reeked of booze. He had been drinking quite heavily when Rika had talked with him earlier, but it wasn't this strong. Perhaps he got upset over how right Rika was, and drank to muffle his sorrows? Rika couldn't help but smirk at the idea, though that smirk faded as quickly as it last. Regardless of why he drank, it did little to change the fact that he did.

    There were a few immediate questions on Rika's mind. Why was he on the roof? Who murdered him, and when? Why did they go through the effort of either cleaning the crime scene, or moving him to another location?

    There was one thing for certain- he was murdered within the last few hours, the last time Rika had talked to him. That left a very narrow timeframe for who the killer might be. With this in mind, Rika moved to investigate the body further.
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2017
  4. Darth_Slaverus

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    Just a bit further until she was back on the main thoroughfare... Then this sordid district would be behind her, and she wouldn't have to worry as much about being jumped, stabbed, or anything of the sort. It shamed her to think like that, for she knew that the majority of the needy who lived here were fundamentally decent folk, and she did honestly want to help them... but only a fool would deny that this was the riskiest part of the capital to pass through, especially as an outsider.

    As absorbed as she was in her musings about being vigilant, Judith ironically failed to detect the clattering rhythm of rapidly approaching footsteps coming up behind her, until they were right on top of her. As a result, she nearly jolted out of her skin when she felt a rough hand clamp down on her shoulder, and she whirled around, expecting to be face-to-face with a masked killer. Instead, she discovered an armoured man wearing the livery of the Castle-Town Guard, his expression grim.

    Were she in one of her more cynical moods, she might have reckoned that wasn't much of an improvement.

    "Beg pardon, Priestess! Are you a healer?" The watchman demanded, his clipped tone bespeaking a sense of urgency. Shrinking back, Judith nodded quickly.

    "Y-Yes... I-Is someone i-injured?"

    In response, the guard gave a small shrug. "We don't know. One of our rooftop sentries spotted a body on top of a nearby building, could be a murder. But we need a healer on the scene. To patch 'im up if he's hurt... or autopsy 'im, if he's a goner. And you're closer than the local quacks, and probably more reliable to boot. You in?"

    Could be a murder...? Judith wasn't sure what was more upsetting: The news itself, or the fact that these ill tidings did not surprise her one iota. Regardless, she could not ignore her duty. Even in Lon Lon, she had been called upon to examine corpses in the hopes of determining the cause of death. It was a gruesome task that never got any easier, but it was a necessary one, for the servants of Nayru were sworn to pursue Truth in all things.

    "O-Of course. Lead the way..." Surrendering any hope of returning to the temple at a reasonable hour, Judith allowed the guard to guide her back through the slums. She soon realized exactly where he was taking her, and she fought back the urge to groan aloud. That horrid pub! Naturally!

    Sure enough, after a few minutes, Judith found herself standing before the wretched establishment once more. To her mild surprise, it seemed the body was actually atop the next building over, though this did little to curb her mounting disgust. A squadron of constables had assembled at the foot of the offending domicile, though they seemed agitated by something, gesturing wildly at the roof and shouting at a volume that made it impossible for her not to overhear as she drew closer.

    "Oi, there's someone else up there!"

    "Get down here, you!"

    Immediately Judith's gaze was drawn to the roof, where a decidedly NOT unconscious figure indeed stood. More bafflingly, the figure was familiar to her.

    The child from before...?
  5. Eevachu

    Eevachu Admin admin

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    Rika spent a short amount of time investigating the body and the scene he had discovered.

    Absorbed in his investigation, he was completely oblivious to the small audience he had garnered. It was only when a handful of soldiers had gathered and they called out to him that his attention was pulled away. What. . .? A notable squadron of guards were here. One of their rooftop watch must have spotted the corpse, Rika surmised, though he was not sure if the guard deserved such credit- it was far more likely someone saw him up here and thought it to be out of place. It was probably for the best the guard was here- after all, there was a murder, and incompetent as they were, it was part of their job.

    Glancing precariously off the rooftop, it was probably for the best that Rika went down and gave them his report. Dropping off of the edge, Rika seemed to halt his descent for a moment as his foot tapped the air, just before he began gently gliding downward off the rooftop. Most of the soldiers stood still as he fell, but one did not, and Rika was unable to react.

    As Rika neared the ground, one soldier barreled out of the crowd, virtually bull-rush tackling Rika midair. The Kokiri could barely let out a scream of surprise as he was enveloped by this tall, burly man. He felt his body twisting together as the man locked him in his arms. "I have captured this most foul villain, my fellooo-!" The man's cry was cut short as he went tumbling to the ground, his grip on Rika completely loosening as the Kokiri crashed into the alleyway wall to his side. The man jumped to his feet, but Rika seemed completely dazed.

    A few of the various men let out cries of laughter, or spat out jokes at the man, but another voice in particular silenced the jokes. "Oi, Gumfoot, enough with the playin', this's a crime scene!" The man instantly rebounded back to his feet. "Yes sir, knight sir! It seems I was naive in my attempts to capture the most villainous. . . villain, and he has made me for a fool! But fear not, for I shall not be deceived by his trickery-" His tirade came to an end as he noticed Rika was dizzily bringing himself to his feet, using the wall as a crutch for support. "Aha!" He exclaimed, snatching up the Kokiri by the arms and restraining him. "Hey- What the hell?!" Rika shouted, still regaining his composure as the man continued. "At last, I have confined this villain! No longer shall your vulgar attempts at blackening this just and innocent society go unmatched, villain!"

    "What the hell are you doing? Let go of me!" Rika shouted, and kicked him in the face.
  6. Darth_Slaverus

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    Judith's jaw dropped as a scuffle broke out between the mysterious boy and one of the knights, despite the child's compliance. Worse, judging by their guffaws, the rest of the patrol found this turn of events to be amusing. These were the capital's protectors? She would not have trusted them to guard a chicken coop, for they seemed more akin to the ruffians they were supposed to be apprehending. The complete disregard for proper procedure was an affront to Mother Nayru, and by the Goddess, she was going to put a stop to this farce. Balling her hands into fists, Judith strode forward to give the guards a piece of her mind.

    "Cease this travesty at once! Have you no respect for justice? Unhand him and stand down, you galoot!" Her demand proved unnecessary, as the child proceeded to easily rebuff the reckless guardsman with a kick, putting his qualifications as a knight into question. Feeling no sympathy for his plight, she continued her diatribe, her voice hard. "Making wild accusations before an investigation has even begun is not Wisdom... nor, I suspect, does it fall under official doctrine. This is no laughing matter! Someone may have lost their life here! Get ahold of your man, and get ahold of yourselves!"

    In an instant, all eyes were upon her. Judith flushed, fighting the urge to run and hide. No, this was important. She could not afford to stammer or look weak, not when Nayru's principles were being so grossly violated.

    A brief silence ensued, before a youthful guardsman folded his arms across his chest, a frown on his face.

    "Who's this bird?" In response, the watchman who had originally entreated Judith for her aid cleared his throat and stepped forward.

    "Ahem. She's a healer. I brought her to check the body. I didn't catch her name." He, at least, appeared to have some measure of shame, shooting the priestess an apologetic look as he spoke. She nodded and gave a curt curtsy.

    "Judith Vilcaron. I am an acolyte of the Cult of Nayru, though I have presided over these types of rites before." The young guard scoffed.

    "Just our luck to get saddled with the local firebrand! Look, lady, get off your high horse. Gumfoot here may have gone a little overboard, but we DO have to detain this kid, so he doesn't flee the scene."

    "If he were attempting to flee, he would have leapt onto the adjacent roof, not down into your waiting arms," Judith countered, irritated by his flippancy towards his own duty. Unable to dispute her logic, the lout fell silent, and she turned her attention to the Kokiri. Yes, there was no doubt in her mind that this boy was one of the Great Deku Tree's children. As if his ability to simply glide down from the rooftops wasn't enough of a clue, the fearsome combat scythe he carried left no room for ambiguity. No Hylian child would have need of such a weapon.

    Ordinarily, she might have marveled at the chance to encounter a member of the mystical race, but alas, there were more pressing matters to attend to.

    "Until you find evidence that suggests his involvement, you should treat him as a witness and nothing more." Judith asserted, resigning herself to the fact that a Nayruite cleric's role was to provide guidance, even if she shouldn't have to. "Perhaps while we wait for the rest of your detachment to procure a means of ascending the building, we might ask him what he saw up there. I trust you are still willing to cooperate, honoured Kokiri?"

    Frankly, she wouldn't blame him if he was not, but she prayed for his sake that he was.
  7. Eevachu

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    Though his kick broke him free of the man's grip- and indeed, sent the man tumbling back-, Rika did not halt his assault. Gracefully dropping to his feet, Rika kicked the man in his armored chest several times. "You stupid idiot, what are you thinking?!" He insulted the man, though he ceased his assault once his attention was drawn by Judith's plea. It seemed as if this priestess, at the very least, understood what this was all about. Judith Vilcaron. A priestess of Nayru, was it? Rika never particularly understood those who favored one goddess moreso than the others, and tended to find interacting with such especially devout individuals to be a tad difficult at times. Still, they proved to be more pleasurable company than the guard.

    Her banter with the guard ceasing, her direction and focus turned to Rika. Why wouldn't more people talk to him like this? Really, it's what he deserved. He was always treated so poorly, especially by soldiers- perhaps if they showed him a margin of respect and competency, he would not be so quick to kick them in the face. Repeatedly.

    "I suppose since you took a more PLEASANT approach, I might be inclined to share some of my findings." Rika side-eyed the small group of soldiers, then down at Gumfoot who was still coming to his feet. He wanted to hit him again, but at this point it would be unnecessary aggression and they really would have motive to arrest him. Judith appeared to be competent, as those following the Cult of Nayru tended to be, so it was likely worth sharing information with her.

    "He's a man from the bar adjacent to us." Rika glanced up at the rooftops towards the direction of the dangling body. "I don't know his name, I'm not really familiar with the man, but I saw him in the bar no more than a few hours ago. That means this murder is fairly recent." He explained, though he assumed Judith was able to surmise that. It was more of an explanation for the other onlookers, who may have difficulties reaching the logical conclusion.
  8. Darth_Slaverus

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    Doggone it. Clearly agitated by the guard's uncalled-for roughness, the Kokiri recounted his knowledge of the incident with the emphatic petulance of a slighted child. Which she supposed he was, his immortality notwithstanding. Glancing up at the unmoving body, Judith pondered her next move. Was it worth questioning the Kokiri further? After the beating he had administered to his would-be captor, she didn't doubt the rest of the constables would be on the lookout for any pretense with which to slap him in chains... Another outburst like that could well set them off. Were it not for her intervention, they might have done so already! Staying silent and patiently waiting for the roof to be made accessible seemed the most prudent course of action...

    However, this approach was complicated by the fact that the Kokiri's testimony was rather sparse on details, though it did confirm a couple of things. His use of the word 'murder' told her that the victim was indeed dead, and the revelation that he had been a patron of the bar meant that there were other leads the investigation team could pursue; perhaps the tavern's owner and the other customers could shed some light on a possible motive for the killing. Unfortunately, the Kokiri's explanation that the murder must have been recent added nothing new to Judith's mental framework of the case- she had already been operating under that assumption. The only way it could have been otherwise was if the rooftop sentries were so inept as to not notice a corpse located within their routes for a significant amount of time, which would be a ridiculous proposition. She hoped.

    Odd that the Kokiri hadn't mentioned anything about the state of the body or the scene of the crime, though. One would think those would be the first things that came to mind, especially since he had gotten to the body before anyone else. Was he trying to hide something? Somehow, Judith didn't think so. It was only a matter of time until the guards would be able to reach the rooftop and verify the situation for themselves. Therefore, attempting to deceive them now would be foolish. Maybe he was protecting himself, fearing that anything he said would be used against him? It would be best to disabuse him of that notion, then. Full collaboration would avail him more than strained reticence.

    "I see. Well, if you have any other insights, please, do not hesitate to share them. At this stage, we need all the information we can get." Judith wrung her hands as she spoke, doing her hardest to sound diplomatic. A priestess of Nayru had to be a mediator par excellence, able to soothe tempestuous hearts and lead them to the light of Wisdom... which was easier preached than done, especially when the parties involved were itching to tear each others' heads off.

    At that moment, a loud thud heralded the arrival of a pair of guardsmen bearing a portable ladder, and the duo wasted no time setting it up against the building's wall. They did, however, waste time with a brief but lively discussion about the differences between ladders and stepladders when one of the other guards casually referred to the contraption as a ladder, prompting both of them to vehemently insist that it was a stepladder. The debate ended as the squad unanimously agreed that the terms were synonymous and the chief distinction was merely a matter of regional parlance. Judith wanted to chime in that no, a stepladder was something else entirely, but she was on thin ice as it was.

    That non-issue settled, the ladder crew at last began their climb, hastily hustling up the rungs. Once at the top, the two watchmen immediately moved to secure the body.

    "Yup, he's a deader, alright... Hey, wait a minute! Isn't this Mynn Strell?!" The first up the ladder exclaimed, turning the body about.

    "By all the Goddesses! You're right!" His companion replied, his voice barely above a woeful whisper.

    "You knew the victim?" Judith called upwards to the constables, her expression quizzical.

    "Yeah, he's a local bard. Sometimes played at the pub over yonder. A bit of a wanderer, but he always comes back here. Well, *came* back, I guess..."

    "Is there anything else up there?"

    "No... Nothing that I can see, Priestess."

    "What about blood?"

    "Ehh... There's a bit of it pooling underneath him, but not much. Actually, I saw some on the side of the building as we climbed up here. It's a bit hard to see, it blends in with the wall. Might have dripped down, I dunno."

    Sure enough, as Judith leaned forward and squinted, she caught sight of a discoloured splotch on the wall, that barely stood out against the red brick that comprised the building. It was high enough to be out of arm's reach, and the pattern was rather erratic, seemingly going in every direction at once. A strange clue, to be sure. It was almost as if... no, it was too early to infer anything. She didn't want to be like that reckless guard, Gumfoot. She would wait until after the autopsy to analyze the bloodstain.

    "... Understood. Carry on, but be careful not to disturb the body too much."
  9. Eevachu

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    These guards really were idiots. There was a massive difference between a ladder and a stepladder, it was far more than mere semantics. The fact they could not even tell the difference only added to their idiocy- the difference was in the name, for Din's sake! One would think Rika would stop being surprised over their incompetence at this point, but they somehow manage to surprise him further and further each time. That was a skill in of itself, he supposed, though not a very useful one.

    Regardless, they went up to examine the crime scene. Rika had more to say on his discoveries, but that would have to be delayed for the moment.

    "Hmm hmm." Rika smirked, pleased with Judith's comments. "I see you noticed as well. Rather peculiar, isn't it? His wound is still fresh, so you would think the rooftop would be absolutely drenched in blood, yet it's not." Admittedly, he had not yet noticed the splatter of blood along the wall. That did not look like something that would simply drip down to him.

    "I do not think it is likely that-" Rika was cut off, much to his disdain, by the cries of a guard. "Oi! We're bringin' 'em down!" Wait, they were moving the body, and tampering with the crime scene? Were they idiots? Well, he had already investigated the scene, he supposed, so it was likely not an issue. After all, they wanted this priestess- what was her name?- to perform an autopsy. Why couldn't she just go up there, though? Before he could voice any complaints, they had begun bringing the man down the ladder.

    "He's all yours, priestess." A guardsman said, gently setting the body down onto the ground. "I got blood on my uniform. . . " He grumbled as he stepped back, hopelessly attempting to wipe the blood away.
  10. Darth_Slaverus

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    Walk with Nayru's grace. Walk with Nayru's grace... Judith silently repeated the mantra to herself, quite positive that only by reciting scripture would she have the mental fortitude necessary to remain sane in the face of the guards' frequent transgressions. In bringing the body down from its lofty perch, they had blatantly disregarded her counsel- how was she to conduct a proper autopsy when the body had been moved? The smallest of disturbances could distort the truth in the largest of ways! Fighting back the urge to admonish them again, the priestess sighed and strode forward to carry out her assigned task.

    "Very well. Stand back, I'll need some space." Kneeling next to the corpse, Judith traced the emblem of the Triforce across her chest with her finger, then clasped her hands together, whispering a prayer for the departed. It was clerical custom to beseech the Goddesses to guide the souls of the murdered into Their fold. No matter what kind of company the victim may have kept in life, no one deserved to have their life unjustly ripped from them.

    Once the spiritual side of things had been observed, however, Judith set about her work with a practiced efficiency, carefully examining the clothing (he seemed to be lacking a gold purse... a curious absence, given his profession and recent whereabouts) before disrobing the body, turning it this way and that in order to get a glimpse of every angle. She did not investigate the gaping wound in his back immediately, instead opting to inspect his limbs and torso for bruises or any other signs that a struggle had taken place. She knew from experience that such struggles tended to leave behind more evidence, but to her chagrin, she found nothing of the sort. The murderer had taken a stealthy approach, then. Her gaze returned to the bloody gash, undoubtedly the mortal injury that had snuffed out the aspiring bard's life.

    Reaching for the satchel she had designated as the container for her surgical implements, Judith retrieved a pair of forceps, a scalpel, and a small monocular- simple tools, but invaluable in the event of a medical emergency. Then, taking a moment to steady herself, she leaned forward and parted the bloodied flesh, peering inside...


    After several moments of studying the wound, Judith pulled back, opening her satchel to exchange her tools for a small cloth with which to clean her crimson-stained hands. She pondered the implications of the information she had gleaned, before looking up at the waiting constables.

    "... The killer knew what they were doing." She finally said at length. "There is nothing to suggest a struggle took place... They likely crept up behind Mr. Strell and attacked him without warning. This implies the killing was targeted; a mugger would be more likely to beat or intimidate his marks, not stab them to death without provocation. Furthermore, the wound is deep, but clean... surprisingly so, given the depth. I would not expect that level of precision from your everyday cutpurse. I believe Mr. Strell died instantaneously, or at least close to it, and given the condition of the body, I would estimate that he died mere hours ago, perhaps even within the hour... which would be consistent with our witness' testimony." Judith nodded at the Kokiri.

    "What about the murder weapon? Can you tell us anything about it?" One of the watchmen asked, stroking his beard.

    "Ah, from the shape of the cut, I would say the wound was inflicted by a curved blade of some persuasion. Perhaps a knife." She replied, wincing at the thought of a dagger being inserted that far into a human body. She did not recognize the significance of her admission until the obnoxious young guardsman piped up once more.

    "A curved blade, you say? Like... a scythe?"

    At once Judith's blood froze in her veins. She knew exactly what was about to happen, and that she was powerless to prevent it. Lying would be an obstruction of the justice she cherished, and was thus out of the question, even as she knew the knights would be led astray by the coming revelation. Closing her eyes, the priestess reluctantly forced the words out.

    "It... It is not outside the realm of possibility. I cannot deny that the wound could fit the profile of a scythe..."
  11. Eevachu

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    Rika frowned. He knew exactly where this was leading. Before he could do anything, he felt his hands hoisted up, though, a deep voice booming from behind him.

    "Aha! I knew it was you, villain!" It was Gumfoot, having picked Rika up by the arms to restrain him. "I told you it wasn't me, dumbass!" He spit out, both figuratively and literally, as he spit on Gumfoot.

    "That may be, and if so it will come to light," The watchman who proposed the question interjected. "But the facts we know are that you were found with the body, and possess what could perhaps be the murder weapon." Rika frowned incessantly. These guys were even dumber than he expected if they thought he was the killer. "For now, we will hold you in prison so you can't escape, until the time of the trial. There, if your innocence is true, it shall be revealed."

    "Not if the judge is as smart as the rest of you." Rika spat out once more, much to the displeasured look of the guards around him. "Do not provoke us more than necessary, boy, or we may need to take stricter measures to subdue you." He threatened, though Rika seemed unimpressed.

    . . . Still, though, Rika was aware of his situation. While it was more than possible for him to beat all the guards here, he would be definitely wanted for the murder, then- additionally, for the assault of several guards. He did not really want the entire force of the Hylian Guard pursuing him- it would make functioning in Hylian society rather difficult, unfortunately.

    Begrudgingly, Rika knew he had no choice but to accept. He would have to prove his innocence in court. With a smirk at his newfound compliance, the watchman spoke. "Good. Take him to the holding cell, Gumfoot." He ordered. As Gumfoot began to move, Rika yelled at him. "Oh, and put me down, you dumbass! I'm not going to run away!" Dangling by his hands was more than uncomfortable.
  12. Darth_Slaverus

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    And there they went. Never had it felt so bitter to be right, Judith thought as the Kokiri was restrained once more.

    "Well, well, well! Looks like this bird is about to eat crow!" Chortled one of the guards, the young one who seemed bound and determined to infuriate Judith. "What say you, Priestess? Still think we shouldn't treat this brat like the criminal he is?"

    Refusing to rise to his taunts, Judith instead reviewed the facts in her head, her face crumpled into an indignant scowl. Her gaze drifted from the body, to the alleyway, to the faded splatter on the wall, to the rooftop, to the Kokiri's scythe, which had nary a fleck of blood upon its blade, one after another. None of it added up. The odd location of the body... the shape of the wound... the missing rupee-purse. In their haste to claim a culprit, the guards had overlooked all the minor details that came together to paint a very different version of events, but she had not. There was something more at work here, a thread that would unravel the entire case if it came to light. The search for truth always began with the smallest of questions...

    What, and Why?

    "The specifics of this incident remain unknown to me, but upon further consideration of all that we have seen today, there is one thing I can be absolutely certain of." Judith looked up, thrusting her right arm forward and pointing her index finger directly at the knight known as Gumfoot. "The Kokiri is NOT the killer!"

    "Whaaaaaaat? Just how do you figure that, you crazy broad?!" Her bold declaration had sparked an uproar among the guardsmen, most of whom loudly gave voice to similar sentiments of irritation and disbelief. In response, Judith merely shook her head.

    "I think not. For too long, corruption and incompetence have festered among the Castle-Town Guard, those who *should* be the model to which all other citizens aspire. No more. I will not entrust such sensitive information to those who would tailor it toward an unjust end. I will carry out my own inquiries regarding this matter, and I will defend the accused myself, if it comes to that." Perhaps it was reckless to give her word so freely, but Judith knew there was no other choice if this went to trial. On the surface, the case was open-and-shut: The Kokiri had been found near the body with a weapon that matched the corpse's wound. The guards would twist the facts in order to cement the Kokiri's guilt and legitimize their arrest... No barrister would take it upon themselves to defend him in such a lopsided contest. Thus, it fell to her to be his shield in the courts, for she alone had viewed the crime scene in its purest state. It was her divine duty, and she would not falter.

    "Wha- You overstep yourself, Miss Vilcaron!" With bulging eyes, flared nostrils, and even a couple of hands resting on sword hilts, the guards rounded on the priestess, united in their anger at being so harshly criticized. Judith stood her ground, calmly holding up a hand.

    "I have given my sacred pledge before the Goddesses, and I shall not retract it. If you take issue with my words or my methods, you may discuss the matter with Captain Surgate. I was an asset to him in the recent past, and he even expressed a desire to recruit me... He seemed to believe I would improve your outfit." She paused, letting the errant knights digest the uncomfortable revelation that she was personally acquainted with one of their commanding officers. "If you impede my investigation in any way, I will see to it that you face censure from both your superiors, as well as my own."

    It was a calculated bluff; Judith was confident that the mere mention of Julius' name would cow the guards somewhat. Regardless of her own feelings toward the man, the grizzled captain had seemed rather fond of her... fond enough to invite her into his unit, at least. If he vouched for her, it would carry a great deal of weight. By the same token, the Archcanoness was Mother Nayru's representative in the mortal world and one of the most powerful mages in Castle-Town. She held great clout with the nobility, and even the staunchest unbeliever would think twice before provoking her ire.
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2018
  13. Eevachu

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    A momentary silence drew across the hurdle of agitated guards once Julius's name was dropped. Their composure, from their tired eyes shifting to and back from others in their unit, to their stunted, worried breaths all showed that Judith's words seemed to spark a momentary hesitation among them- they all knew well and good who Captain Julius was, and he was not someone they wished to draw the ire of. The silence was quickly broken by a subtle, but audible chuckle. It quickly broke into a loud, but momentary laughter, a childish giggle entirely inappropriate for the tensions the current situation held. And as Rika's laugh died down, his attention turned directly to Judith.

    "You really wanna defend me?" He let out another chuckle. "Maybe this will be amusing after all." He spoke just before his tone turned more serious, though the grin on his face never faded. "Very well then, Priestess, so it shall be. Show me what you're worth, and prove my innocence!" He declared, challenging her as if he were the one opposing her instead of the two of them opposing the guards. The guard, seemingly fed up with Judith's words, spat out at her, ". . .Feh, do what you will, Priestess. There's no uncertainty that this Kokiri is guilty, but you may embarrass yourself if you wish." His words carried a tint of condescension with them, though the duo had likely become accustomed to that by this point. With that, he spun to put his back to the Priestess. "Take the Kokiri away, men!" As they began dragging him away, Rika called out to Judith. "Oh, and Priestess, bring the Octorok with you! His name's- hey!" He was interrupted by the harsh tugging of the guards. "-his name's Wollo!"

    Once they had exited the alleyway, the guard called back to his men. "Oh, and remove the Priestess from the scene! I believe her services have been performed, so there is little need for her presence any longer!" He barked out with a cold sneer on his face before walking off with the guards dragging Rika.

    Wollo was left standing at the entrance to the pub, but he was not confused at what was happening- somewhat, at least. In fact, he was quite used to Rika getting into fights with scary looking guys then running off with them for a while. Rika always got into trouble, so it was almost an every day occurrence for the Octorok. While he waited for the Kokiri to return, he would just have to find a new friend to make. Hopefully it would not be too difficult.
  14. Darth_Slaverus

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    Any relief Judith might have felt at the Kokiri's decision to employ her as his counsel was swiftly washed away when the guards ordered her off the scene. In hindsight, openly lambasting the entire squadron might not have been the most tactful of moves, but she hadn't imagined that they would be so petty as to deny her access to the crime scene because of it... Perhaps she should have, the priestess thought angrily.

    "Did you not hear a word I said? If you impede my impede my investigation in any way-" Judith strode forward to protest the decree, only to be interrupted by the commanding officer, who gave her a particularly withering glare.

    "Listen here. We *might* get in trouble if we interfere with your investigation, but you'll DEFINITELY be in trouble if you interfere with ours. You've done your duty, now clear off, or I'll have you in irons for disturbing the peace." Dismissing her with a wave of his hand, the squad leader turned to climb the ladder himself, evidently not in the mood to brook any disagreement.

    No, he had seen straight through her bluff! What was she to do? Her window of opportunity to examine the site of the murder was rapidly shrinking- and there was much left to do... Not the least of which would be to sing the Tune of Echoes, she realized with a start. Mother Nayru, how could she be so scatterbrained?! Judith slapped her own forehead in exasperation. Doing so would have allowed her to peel back the veil of time and view exactly what had transpired in this area, without any distortion of the facts... Even though she had learned the ability only very recently, her lapse in judgment was unforgivable. Why had she not thought to perform it prior to the autopsy?

    With precious seconds ticking away, Judith did the only thing she could: As if she were a fairy tale princess, the priestess burst into song with nary a hint of fanfare, hoping to get even the slightest glimpse of how Mr. Strell's body had wound up on the roof.

    "Talk about a song and dance! Get rid of her!"

    Unfortunately, the bewildered constables were having none of it. They were on Judith in an instant, breaking her trance by seizing her arms and forcefully leading her away from the alley, before depositing her next to the forlorn-looking Octorok her client had called Wollo. Under normal circumstances, the priestess might have been fascinated that the Kokiri had tamed such a pet- the amphibious creatures were known to be aggressive and territorial, hardly fit for domestication. But today was already proving to be an extraordinary day, so much so that her client's strange taste in companions did not bother her in the slightest.

    As the guards cordoned off the alleyway, the priestess let out a resigned sigh. She wasn't getting anywhere near it now. Maybe if she came back later, but she doubted it. She would have to find another lead. Thankfully, there was another avenue of inquiry she could follow up on... The guards had suggested the victim was a known patron of the pub over yonder... and the Kokiri had revealed he had been there, mere hours before his death. With so little physical evidence available, it might be prudent to obtain testimony from the bar's other occupants in order to establish the circumstances leading up to the murder- particularly that which was conspicuous in its absence: a motive. Given that the watchmen were so fixated on the crime scene, she was poised to get a head-start on them if she made a few discreet queries.

    That settled it.

    "W-Well... C-Come along, Wollo." Judith beckoned for the creature to follow her as she slipped through the pub's entrance, breaking her inner vow to never set foot inside one...

    --------

    Later that day, Judith emerged from the Winded Fish Tavern, her impromptu interviews complete. Just as she had hoped, she had learned some rather delicate information that was pertinent to the incident at hand. Al Kohol (formerly of Koholint Island, as he proudly maintained), the proprietor of the bar, had been surprisingly forthcoming, claiming that Mr. Strell was one of his favourite customers and that he would do anything to see the killer brought to justice. While Judith suspected he probably would have said the same about any of his regulars, she still appreciated his cooperation in supplying her with information about the victim and his dealings.

    As it usually did, the bad news came first. According to Mr. Kohol, the victim had been involved in a heated altercation with her client earlier today. The exact nature of the dispute remained unclear to her, but apparently Mr. Strell had taken grievous offense at some of the Kokiri's remarks, enough so that he had stormed out of the tavern in a drunken rage. It was damaging to her case and it would undoubtedly come up during the trial, but there was something of a silver lining in this revelation: If Strell had left the tavern by himself whilst the Kokiri was still inside, that would almost certainly be when the true killer had struck, narrowing the time frame of the murder. She would have to discuss this with her client anon.

    Of greater interest to her, however, was Mr. Kohol's admission that Strell had possessed a weakness for cards and dice, yet his fondness for games of chance had far outstripped his skill at them. In hushed tones, Mr. Kohol had told Judith that Strell had been on a lengthy losing streak, and consequently, owed money to more than one person. Moreover, Mr. Strell's habit of embarking on itinerant wanderings had an uncanny tendency to coincide with whenever his debts were due. Whatever else this might say about Mynn Strell's character, it did mean that he would have had more than his fair share of enemies. This was the real reason for the murder, Judith was sure. It would explain the lack of rupees on his person. Regrettably, the informal nature of his gambling meant there were no records of his debts, and Mr. Kohol, despite pledging his support in finding the truth, seemed bizarrely hesitant to elaborate on the matter. Judith had reluctantly decided not to press the topic, for now.

    The other patrons were varying shades of helpful (as well as intoxicated), but they could only corroborate Mr. Kohol's statements, having little to add themselves.

    When all was said and done, Judith thanked Mr. Kohol and asked him if he would be a witness at the trial, which he agreed to. Damning though his account might be, it was better that she spoke with him before the guards did. This way, if they attempted to coerce him or manipulate his testimony at the trial, she would know immediately. Plus, if she could get him on the stand, she might be able to drag the names of Mr. Strell's creditors out of him.

    That accomplished, Judith set out for the district prison, where the guardsmen were likely to have detained the Kokiri. She wanted to share her findings and go over their strategy for the upcoming trial... Considering how rushed the arrest had been, it would in all probability be soon.

    She arrived a few minutes later, the streets less crowded as the day crept further and further into the night, Wollo in tow (the creature was remarkably docile, and he seemed to understand that Judith was a friend by virtue of her paying attention to him). Approaching the sentry posted at the door, the priestess clasped her hands in prayer and called out to him.

    "Greetings, sir. Blessing of Mother Nayru be upon you. It is my understanding that you have but recently taken a Kokiri into your custody. I have come on behalf of my Goddess to offer solace to the accused. May I speak with him?"
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2018
  15. Eevachu

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    An unflinching glare shot across the small, round table from Rika to Gumfoot. The Kokiri rest his barred arms atop it in a relaxed manner- as relaxed as he could be with his hands restrained, anyway-, his eyes staring the foolhardy soldier down. Yet, either out of courage or naivete, the guardsman seemed completely unfazed by Rika’s attempts. It made sense- intimidation would only work against those smart enough to realize the threat in front of them. Rika’s time in the detention center was mostly unfruitful- most of the guards, already certain in their verdict, seemed to opt out of interrogating Rika entirely. It was only Gumfoot, who seemed obnoxiously obsessed with pushing home Rika’s guilt, who showed to interrogate the Kokiri. In fact, the actual trip to the detention center had been rather uneventful as well- the guards grumbled about the meddlesome priestess, Gumfoot accused her of collusion with Rika- which, while that was something the soldiers may have loved to prove at this point, knew was a waste of time to pursue-, and then was told to ‘shut it’ by his superiors. Unfortunately, they hadn’t given that order now.

    “Admit to your misdeeds, villain!” was the mantra Gumfoot chanted endlessly.

    “You really are a fool. Did you know that, Dumbfoot?” There was no point for Rika to debate with an imbecile, it was easier to misguide him until he stopped talking.

    “Mock me now, but you can only find solace in the priestess’s efforts for so long, for her investigation will only show the truth!”

    “. . .Yeah, the truth that I didn’t kill him, you idiot. You really are Dumbfoot.”

    “The truth that you are the criminal! The evidence all points to you!”

    “Does it now? Care to enlighten me?”

    “Like how. . . .how. . . you were by the body! And. . . “ Gumfoot stumbled over his thoughts, a raised brow dropping back down towards Rika as if he had some new revelation. “Why you, villain! That’s information I can’t give to the criminal! You are just trying to find out more information about the crime scene!”

    If Rika had free control of his limbs, he’d be rubbing his brow. “See, Dumbfoot.” He spoke slowly to be sure Gumfoot could follow along, “if I was the killer, I would ALREADY know everything about the crime scene, so I wouldn’t need to ask you any questions. You really are an idiot, aren’t you dumbfoot?”

    “W-why you insolent villain! And do not call me Dumbfoot, I have a name given to me by my honorable mother and father, and you should respect it!” He seemed offended, rising to his feet and shouting- not that he didn’t at every moment in his life already- out his words and pounding the Kokiri with them. “My name is Jamps! Sir Jamps Tokonklusion!” He proclaimed, his face beaming with pride.

    “. . .Jamps?” Rika commented blankly. “Of course, villain! I can see you too feel the weight such a powerful name holds! But, do not think this realization will lessen your sentence- you should have realized this before you committed such foul deeds!” Rika wasn’t paying attention to him anymore. Was he being serious?

    He ignored Gumfoot for a few more moments- which enacted a most frustrated reaction from the Hylian-, before breaking out into hysterics. “Are you serious?! Jamps Tokonklusion? And being called Dumbfoot has you upset? Dumbfoot really is the perfect name for you, you should look into a name change!” The Kokiri’s incessant giggling did not cease, but it was only met with frustrated grunts and ‘Why you!’’s from Gumfoot. The interrogation had turned into a bullying session at this point- no new information was going to be uncovered from it.

    --

    Walking around with the blue lady was familiar to Wollo in a lot of ways. Like Rika, she had green hair, she spoke in many words Wollo had trouble understanding, and none of the armor men they saw seemed to get along with her. Yet, unlike Rika, all of the smelly alcohol men seemed rather pleased to see Judith- there were no fights breaking out and they talked without shouts. In fact, Wollo was surprised by how much Judith had drawn the attention of the patrons of the bar. They must all have really wanted to be her friend. Wollo wished he could be their friend, too. He was not really quite sure what was going on, or where Rika had disappeared to, but he had made a new friend in Judith, so everything was surely fine. It was not long before the two of them left the pub to supposedly meet up with Rika, wherever he happened to be.

    --

    “Eh? I ‘unno lassy, lemme talk wit’ the boss.” The sentry dipped inside the building for more than a few moments, which felt like an unnecessarily long amount of time to ask a simple question. “Alright priestess, ‘e says y’can for a moment, but the trial is soon, so make it quick, y’hear.” He affirmed, paving way for Judith to go in and then lead her to the detention cell Rika was being held in.
  16. Darth_Slaverus

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    Soon? How soon was soon? Judith fretfully chewed her lip as she was led inside the building, eyes fixated on her escort as if expecting him to draw steel on her at any moment. Yes, she had predicted that the constables' so-called investigation would proceed apace and therefore the trial would be held in the near future, but the sentry's gruff insistence that her interview be brief implied that it would be TODAY. Were they trying to preempt her, hastening the trial along in the hopes of preventing her attendance? The priestess scowled.

    If they were, then they had sorely underestimated her. She would never allow such a miscarriage of justice to take place, nor would Nayru.

    The interior of the prison was no more charming a locale than the slums outside, a den of worn stone, tarnished metal, and pervasive misery. Judith tried not to think about what sorts of people might be incarcerated here as she followed the guard through the winding corridors, making sure not to so much as glance at the cell doors on either side of her. Probably the very same types she had been attempting to avoid earlier in the day, before she had been drawn into this predicament.

    At last they reached the chamber reserved for the Kokiri's questioning. As the guard swung the door open to admit her, Judith was unable to suppress a groan of utter irritation at the sight that awaited her. No, this wasn't possible. Was she dreaming? Mother Nayru above... she had been waging a near-constant battle not to lose her temper, ever since the incident at the crime scene. But this... This was beyond believing.

    "... You again???"

    Of course their first choice for the delicate task of interrogating a suspect would be the buffoon who had already assaulted said suspect unprovoked. Only in the Hylian Guard would incompetence be rewarded with an assignment that required a sensitive touch! That was it. She was putting her foot down, and woe betide this sorry excuse for a knight if he dared to obstruct her.

    Storming into the room before either Gumfoot or the other guard could respond, Judith halted directly in front of the former, hands firmly placed upon her hips, as if she were a stern mother disciplining her child. If appeals to Captain Surgate's authority were doomed to failure, the perhaps a reminder of just who was the ultimate arbiter of justice in the universe was in order.

    "Sir Gumfoot. Or whatever in tarnation your name is. I *humbly* request that you allow me an audience with the accused, so that I might offer succour. It was Mother Nayru who poured Her Wisdom onto the earth, gifting us with the spirit of law, and She would see that all are treated fairly. As She is the Patron of Justice and the very foundation upon which our civilization is built, you will grant me this boon. To defy Her is sacrilege, and those that claim to uphold Her laws yet do nothing in the face of their perversion shall be held to account!"

    Her mini-sermon complete, Judith turned and gave the Kokiri a nod, her features softening slightly to indicate that none of her anger was directed at him. She was glad to see that Gumfoot had not physically harmed him during the interrogation. If he had... she would have been hard-pressed not to return the favour.
  17. Eevachu

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    Once Judith neared on the chamber that was her destination, the voices inside became clearer. The first, a somewhat deep, yet still somewhat ridiculously over the top voice that she recognized as the foolhardy guardsman that had tackled Rika previously.

    "...Then comes my honorable great-grandfather, Hopps Tokonclusion. He was a man worthy of respect- always striving to uphold the rigid Tokonclusion family code. My grandfather, Richess Tokonclusion, is a real black mark on our family name, though, I tell you, villain. He committed acts almost as heinous as yours- countless villains went unpunished under his hand!" He spoke passionately, though Rika seemed entirely un-amused.

    "Because there's a concept called innocence he was able to grasp, the capacity for which he certainly did not inherit from the rest of his family." Rika spat at Gumfoot, much to the man's disapproval. He had been listening to the Hylian monologue about his rather uninteresting family history for a while now- though how long, he had lost count,- and it was certainly grating on him.

    "Hold your tongue, villain! He may have tarnished our name, but it was improved leaps and bounds by the efforts of my father, Lips Tokonclusion, who was able to restore our code and status in this world! And it is by him I act, to further his efforts and my family!"

    "Does your code involve being an imbecile, Dumbfoot? Because you uphold it quite well."

    It was at this point that Judith burst into the room and stormed into Gumfoot's face, interrupting their conversation and stopping his response. Her forceful and overwhelming demands seemed to deal a heavy blow to Gumfoot, who stood in heavy silence for a few moments, creating an awkward atmosphere. Was he going to concede? Would he fly into a ballistic rage at her demands?

    Finally, his response came, though his face had contorted into an expression of sadness and his voice cracked slightly. "You know, justice doesn't have to be so mean, priestess." He pouted, though Rika just started laughing. "Are you really crying over that? The guard is more pathetic than I thought," to which Gumfoot harshly spat back, "Watch your mouth, villain! As I said, I live to uphold my family's legacy! Our code demands we have a sensitivity to justice!" Rika rolled his eyes. "So what you're saying, Gumfoot, is that you are too emotional for your job."

    Before Gumfoot could continue their conversation further, Judith was quick to snatch his attention back to her. He turned back to face her and blundered a bit, his voice trembling slightly, as if he was intimidated. "O-Oh, of course, priestess! For the sake of my family's justice, I shall allow you to deliberate with the villain! Now if you shall excuse me, I must prepare for the trial!" He stumbled his way out the door and down the hallway.

    "Good riddance." Rika uttered, before his view shifted over towards Judith. He must admit, he was rather pleased by the backbone she was showing. He tended to find that the more divine or scholarly types were the kind to roll over when faced with adversity, but Judith was proving to be quite the exception. Accepting her offer to represent him was turning out to prove most amusing.

    Thus, the two were left alone in the containment cell. The guard that had escorted Judith stood watching outside, though he found it too awkward to enter after what had occurred with Gumfoot a few moments ago. "So," Rika addressed Judith, switching the topic to something that was meaningful in any way, "what have you discovered?"
  18. Darth_Slaverus

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    "Hmph."

    As Gumfoot scrambled out of the room, Judith permitted herself to feel some small measure of satisfaction that the invocation of her Goddess' name had had the desired effect. Mother Nayru's will was absolute... it was only natural that a blasphemer with a guilty conscience would falter and flee before the wrath of the righteous, she thought as she slid into the seat formerly occupied by the wayward investigator. Were time not of the essence, she might have consecrated the chair, not wishing to sit in a spot that had been befouled by Gumfoot's sinful keister, but alas. Sacrifices had to be made.

    "Less than I would have liked, but enough that I can make a case." The priestess began, before turning to the guard who still stood dumbfounded in the hall outside the interrogation chamber. "This is a private conversation of spiritual import. I must ask that you leave us in peace. Don't worry, we are not going anywhere. You have my sacred vow as a Priestess of Nayru." While taking precautions to prevent a jailbreak by having a constable on hand during an interview was something she could understand (for once), Judith did not know who she could trust among the Guard. There was no telling whether or not this one would leak her strategy to the prosecution if he overheard it, and she wasn't willing to take the chance.

    "Eh? Well, awright, Missy. Jus' holler if he tries anythin'." Thankfully, he seemed to have some respect for the divine... or perhaps he merely wished to avoid a tongue-lashing like the one his comrade had gotten. In any case, the remaining guard slowly closed the door and departed, leaving Judith alone with her client.

    Alright. Deep breaths, Judith reminded herself as she swiveled to face the Kokiri once more. She was on official business, now. No more stuttering.

    "Aside from my initial observations of the crime scene, I was able to conduct a series of discreet interviews at the nearby pub. The bartender, one Mr. Kohol, had some very interesting information to share. It seems our victim was a bit of a gambler... And a bad one, at that." She crossed her legs uncomfortably, wondering if it were truly acceptable to gossip about the dead so... But no, when lives were on the line, facts should take precedence over feelings. That was what Mother Nayru would want. "He owed no small amount of money to various individuals, and he had an uncanny knack for skipping town whenever it was time to pay up." Judith closed her eyes, collecting her thoughts as she prepared to announce her conclusions.

    "This was the actual motive behind the crime, I'm certain. Given the proximity of the Wind Fish tavern to the crime scene, as well as the fact that your account places Mr. Strell at the bar a scant few hours ago, it seems a fair supposition that the murderer was also inside that pub at the same time as the victim." The very thought was chilling. Could one of the patrons she had questioned been a cold-blooded killer? None of them had added very much to her case... There was no use speculating without evidence, but it was a discomforting possibility all the same. Speaking of the state of the bar a few hours ago, though... That brought her to her next topic, one she had been dreading.

    "Mr. Kohol also told me that you and the victim had been arguing earlier today. Vehemently." How could she convey the necessity of his cooperation without sounding accusatory? Judith gazed at the Kokiri imploringly, her expression pleading. "I will not insult your intelligence by asking if you killed him. We both know that you did not. But I must know your level of involvement in this case. Can you elaborate on this incident? Did you know the victim, and do you have any inkling of who might have killed him? Please, be honest."
  19. Eevachu

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    So she was cautious enough to make the guard leave. It was wise, though for different reasons than Judith had, Rika thought- the guardsman would likely spiel so much garbage it would ruin their meeting, much like trash would do to one's appetite. Regardless, the man was now gone, and Judith began her explanation of what she had uncovered. Much like he is at everything else. Rika thought. He was not surprised the victim had a gambling problem- he did not make the best of decisions, such as arguing with Rika, and he was not the smartest, so an inability to control himself was to be expected. What was speaking ill of the dead?

    "I agree with your conjecture," Rika began once Judith had finished explaining her summary of the crime at hand. "I think it's highly likely that is the motive behind this murder. At least, that is the one thing I have yet to have any idea of, and it would make sense. As for the victim himself. . ." Rika added, pausing to think for a moment. He was pleased she was not foolish enough to even consider him to be the criminal behind the murder, like many around him had assumed. "Before today, I had never once seen or met the victim- unfortunately, today I had the displeasure of doing so." He spoke somewhat coldly, as if he was talking about an annoying neighbor rather than a man who had died mere hours ago.

    "Earlier this afternoon, I entered the tavern, as I often do upon reaching town to meet fellow adventurers and learn of temples and secrets they have discovered- a little liquor generally makes them loose with their words. As expected, they began drinking fairly early. So, I began interrogating the drunkards for information. I suppose the victim did not take too kindly to me abusing drunks for free information, as he accused me of cheating them and demanded I pay him for the information he held- which, in hindsight, would corroborate your theory about him needing money. When I told him he did not look like he could even lift a blade, he became furious and began insulting me, then started playing the most awful tune in what I can only assume to be some sort of vengeance for what I had said. I told him the noises he ushered were an insult to my ears, and he got even angrier. This altercation escalated as the drunk fools around us only encouraged him to fight more. I, of course, did not overreact like him- I was only rightfully informing him of his lack of skill. Still, though, I could not simply stomach the barbarous vile being thrown my way, so I retaliated. This went on for a short time, before he- I presume- realized it was futile to clash minds with me and stormed out in a huff." He finished explaining, before his brow furrowed slightly and he grimaced.

    ". . . After this, the tavern died down, and I questioned a few more drunkards. Either due to the fight or their liquor, they proved decidedly unhelpful, though, so after a few hours I left, which is when I discovered the body. As for the true culprit, though," Rika paused to recall the events that had occurred. "more or less everyone at the tavern attempted to contribute to or further the altercation; if one of them was attempting to frame me for the murder, they would not have stood out in their attempts to provide me with a motive."
  20. Darth_Slaverus

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    While his words were not unbiased, Judith found the Kokiri's explanation of the bad blood between himself and the victim to be adequately convincing. The adventuring profession did tend to draw its practitioners into rough locales, and she could see how a curious child of the forests might be driven to seek information via a tavern's rumour mill. Assuming her client was telling the truth, he had committed no crime- the pursuit of knowledge was a noble one, which made Mr. Strell's supposed attempts to monetize the retelling of hearsay seem all the more unreasonable. Then again, she supposed men deep in their cups scarcely needed something like a valid reason to instigate a quarrel. The priestess sniffed. Yet another reason to abstain.

    It was the Kokiri's next assertion that piqued her interest, and Judith folded her arms across her chest as she sank deeper into the chair, her brow furrowed in thought. Could there be a kernel of truth to the theory that her client had been framed?

    "Very well. Personally, I cannot decide whether or not I think you have been framed. On one hand, there seems far too many variables for the actual culprit to manipulate in order to see you indicted specifically. But on the other hand... The sheer amount of coincidences makes me wonder. It's too perfect... and Nayru teaches us that true coincidences are very rare, indeed." It was as if the killer had only made a half-hearted attempt to direct the blame elsewhere, and had simply gotten lucky. "I will be sure to raise the possibility in court at the earliest convenience, though I fear there will be little to substantiate our claims until we have a better idea of who the murderer is."

    Shuffling in her seat, Judith rested one hand upon the table in front of her, her foot tapping lightly against the cool stone floor. "I feel our most vital piece of evidence right now is the location of the body. Even accounting for drunken antics, there was no way the victim died on that roof- he had no reason to be there, and it's far too visible a position to any passersby on the streets. He must have been killed below, then moved up afterward. I doubt the prosecution is prepared for the implications of that, no matter their argument... Still, I believe the best approach to this trial will be to stay on the defensive, at least to begin with. If I raise too many objections early, the prosecution will have time to revise their statements. Let them weave their web and think it secure, before we sweep it away. Unfortunately, this would also mean the prosecution would have free reign of the court until our counterattack..." She trailed off, looking back at the Kokiri anxiously. Had she blathered on for too long without giving him a chance to respond? This was all so new to her...

    "Is that alright? What do you think?" He was the defendant, so he had the right to have a say in how she conducted his defense. Judith had faith in her stratagem, but she would defer to the Kokiri if he thought it foolish.