A Foolish Trial, or a Fool's perspective

What an odd cohesion. Gallows amid art, homids within inches of the Under dark creatures, there was a smattering of every race Blaed had ever encountered, and a few he didn't even recognize. Craning his neck, like the good tourist he was, Blaed was quickly drawing forth details of such myriad sources it would take him weeks to sort it all in some form of comprehensive thought line. A jostle from the being beside him, had Blaed incline his head politely and scoot over the last few inches so that that one's partner, friend, lover....? He wasn''t certain but was it possible for those two races to actually mate? Nevertheless he did as indicated, allowing the space neded for one more upon the crowded bench and settled back to simply, and politely, stare with unabashed curiosity at the garmented anthro bear who appeared was to be a judge of the proceedings, or else he merely guarded the judge's bench. Somewhere he had met another, but the
mannerisms were utterly foreign.

As another being made's it's entry known by the wafting of leathery wings stirring the air in great gusts, Blaed's gaze coursed the Draconic form which alighted upon a constructed for pillar above the crowds, with familiarlarity. Not to this particular one, and indeed this one looked to be of some importance if Blaed went by the arch of the dragon's neck, and the wide ridges situated along the facial structure, but to them as a collective. After Drew and Hunt, the mind set of the Garou would never hold a poor thought to the great beasts. Especially the Elders, though again there was acknowledgement to the time when... . A slow chuckle escaped, causing him to see another half dozen faces he'd never recognize again, turn in his direction. Lifting a hand in mute apology, Blaed had to once more force his mind to more linear musings and leave the past behind.


Now Blaed was an utter stranger here and certaintly not the type to get involved in anything beyond his scope of effection, yet a trial was a trial, and his attention was focused. The trial was brought to fruition as the dragon roared for silence and the bear upon the bench began speaking in a collected voice as to the nature of the day. As the name and charges against the defendents were voclaized, Blaed folded his arms across his chest, and paid little mind to the murmurs that fluctuated around him. Banishment was a serious sentence. He would certaintly use this oppurtunity to learn the more hard and unyeilding ways of this place, the ones that few ever expressed in the 'Hellos' and 'How are yous' expressed to visitors. Stretching his legs out for some comfort, grey hues focused with unyeilding intensity upon the players who would take the stage.

When asked to hear testimony from the populous, A commanding and reserved tonal outpouring came from some upper tier and a male in blue robes. Then nearly upon the heels of that interaction, another voice called forth, and this from a being Blaed had never met in his life. A male Jinn.Brow lifted before he, as many did in those back-of-the-room seats, craned his attention to assess the owner of the voice, then twist to seek out the second. Forgive his jaw dropping, but the effect was felled. In-ter-est-ing. From the low tones whispering about him he gained an idea of who each was, least according to the gossips and rumor mills which could account for perhaps ten percent fact and the rest as fictional as.. well, fiction could be. Settling back once more, the points of interest having been selected by their voices and participation in the trial, Blaed was eager to hear the prosecutor, whomever that would be.

The tension mounted when the defenders entered, and all sat up straighter to bear witness to the event, to hear the words spoken and see the interactions as well as they could. This left Blaed with a handy view of several heads, shoulders, and in one instance a broad back. Peering about the larger in attendence, he found his cheekbone resting partially against the braced form beside him. The female, as he came to discover, simply muttered some words in a language far from Blaed's recollection, and it of course came upon a stale air of over-ripe onions and some other more foul substance, before her maw opened in what he took to be a smile on her features. A quick flash of his lopsided grin, and Blaed relaxed, half hoping to not have by passed courtship and suddenly be mated to the fem by the sutoms here or in her race. Otherwise with a quite clear view of the central court and it's participants. Blaed's thoughtful gaze towards the Drow held only a hint of malcontent. Past dealings with the race, though more rare as time and tolerance had been birthed, still rankled the smithy. Better Drow than any Orc, was his opinion, and hoped only to have all gain a fair and just sentencing.

Now, the one speaking drew a smile from the weaponsmith.The female had proclaimed with singular passion that the charges against the Jack, fellow, were erroneous and therefor the entire proceedings held no bearing. Loopholes and the standing order versus the secondary orders and expectations. Excellent points but perhaps the court would have preferred a more clear statement, something spoken with that ringing voice of authority.With half a wish he could have coached her plea, his mind went bakc to it's timeless muddlings. Hhe could envision easily Tarl pacing the boards as he effused upon one point or another with a herald's flair and the charm of the most ingratiating actor of the stage.

Hmm, drawn from his fanciful reverie, he listened intently, and with a sad reproach to the actual facts espoused upon by the judge. All guilty, only heard for the mercies of loved ones and friends, of those above and upon the floor? That did leave the Drow with little recourse, didn't it? Lifting a hand to stroke his rough chin, Blaed listened on to what was turning out to be less than respected in terms of actual law practice. Ah, he'd withhold judgement, always tried to, and especially since perhaps this WAS the entire culmination of their laws. He had met some races where the act of standing on your left foot alone was utterly and irrecovably met with decapitation. Banishment was a far softer punishment than that.


A quirk to his lips, he did admire those with spirit, and he found his steel greys back towards the Drow who uttered a keening rendition of Heresay! to their attention starved senses. Only to dart attendence of occular fascination to the Judge, then to the one who had sought a lawful termination of charges, then back to the drow before lifting to scan the sea of faces for the one speaking.... and that to his own confusion, before his glance shuttered once more to the judge, and the defendents. No one ever said a trial was a dull way to spend an afternoon. If only he knew who these people were! Aw, and the entire point of action and reaction was snuffed out as some mage-like ability or what have you, muzzled the sounds of the Drow from reaching the poor folk here for the show, or just by happenstance. Sighing grimly, Blaed settled alongside the others and waited for the words and sounds they were allowed to hear, and not just read about in the morrow's news and bulletins in some tavern or brothel or town square. That is, if this place had such.

Words like those spoken from the what he guessed to be high society above. Some error or this and that breaking code such and such, would mean the three defendents should be transported to the place of that particular's power. A snort from the Smithy. He knew nobles, was one. Ask him, he might actually tell you. This particular noble was all ingraciating and speaking from his stalwart position of power, but alos held that little conniving tone to his voice. A glance across the participants and the audience showed the mixture of approval and wary regard to downright defiance. Yes, blaed was gathering all sorts of pieces to the puzzle, but he feared it would take him eight dragons, an army, and the sheer power of the Nexxus to fit the millions of pieces into a picture and understanding.

When the buzz of the crowd had died down, a second noble spoke, and spoke eloquently. Ah, now there was that authoratative voice the other needed! Spill out a bunch of numbers and passages, have a little thing like power on your side, and deny a few choice possibilities from under another's regal nose. Touche, to this one, and a good thumb to the chin to mister number one-two-nine. Huzzah. Blaed was immerseed now, his spectatorship having gained emotions and impassioned opinions of a people he didn't understand, and for the defendents he never met. Well, Entertainment was key and the Noble just offered some true juicy bits to the public at large. Dissolving a treaty, declaring readiness for war, Not in so many words but you could taste it in the air! That was how things were done, and Blaed couldn't have been more pleased.


Aww, and there went the fun of part of this rather oddly held trial.The homid male, Jack, he thought it was, was defending the Drow whom, it seemed, murdered him in some transplanar event. The defendent defending those who were defendents for crimes against the same defendent who was also .... Now that was even confusing to Blaed's mind, so he re-organized his rant a little more comically and delivered it into memory as the day he saw a murder victim defend those charged with murdering him, and all before he was sentenced to banishment by those very same seeking justice for the death of the one to be banished. That made a lot more sense! Looking to the nobles above, he then returned to staring at the defendent turned defender, turned..martyr? Die with them? That deserved some violin music and flickering candlelight.. or perhaps a military honor guard, but none of those things occurred.

Come now, this was just .. Blaed looked about, was this perhaps actually a staged show he had stumbled into? Footlights and grand set dressing, with consumate actors all rigorous in their roles? No, no It didn't appear that way at all. Exhaling a pent breath, Blaed wondered vaguely if the powers that be in this lopsided world, had ever seen a trial, or understood the nature of first having evidence, then charging and so forth... Ah well, perhaps this is why Blaed stumbled into another small corner of an unknown world. They must need his clear guidance and an eye for the humor of things! He was rather filled with his own 'destiny', as it were.


When the offer for others to speak on the Drow behalf followed the Jack Fellow's impassoned plea, it was of little actual thought. Hell, Blaed would have stood in a heartbeat and profusely defended the Drow, were he actually able to pronounce their names. A smattering of the drow language recalled from lessons in childhood did not in any way prepare him for that role. Now, place another creature up there, whom he didn't know from Adam, and Blaed would be toot-sweet in his eloquence and bravado. Whether it got the defendents free or not was debatable, but it would be one episode this Library... Tavern.... Courthouse... underground place would never forget.

Yes, well beside the point as it was, he waited to see if anyone would stand and give the Drow a fair defense, or at the least some sort of character refference... Hmm. As the Judge seemed more intent on watching the clock than finding actual suitable charges, Blaed supposed all would get off lightly. The world was in someone's pockets, and he'd bet a copper it was the defendent who defended.

Hurrah! A voice speaks, the woman in cosort with the Jinn. Prettily said, but not holding that same earlier noble vantage. Debate debate, debate. Should he, shouldn't he? Ah hell, Blaed could see the harm in it, but aside from the dragon, the creatures guarding the defendents and thirty or forty of the citizens in temporary residence of the court house who could easily skin him alive and dine on the entrails, he also saw the entire process as flawed anyway. A steadying breath, before the Master Weaponsmith, Imperial someone or other, and Advisor to king who knows who, Blaed rose and settled his baritone with as much presense and confidence as he held within. Which was a lot, if any cared to ask, he'd tell them. "Ladies and Gentleman, Creatures of the court, I Vara tel Blaed en Shiva do seek to adress the court on behalf of my Mother's underworld kin.." An inclination of his head to the judge, and the scattered beings there abouts. " Your Honor, perhaps it has flown the courts notice the actual characterization of these fine and respectable Drow individuals. Their crime has been utterly removed from the books, their behavior, while in your charge, has been exemplery. Not by our standards alone, but by the standards all Drow hold to. Is not the Drow race a warring one by nature..? Those intent on their own closed cultural beliefs? Yet here they are, set and awaiting the good courts judgement. On that mark alone, I'd let them go free and clear, yet there is more..." wasn't there always? " Behold, the defendent to the earlier charges, he would, and he was the victim, offer his life with theirs, and I would wager for them as well, were it possible.." Gesturing to Jack, " But lo, if the crime is indeed wholly diminished from importance, than I do see you can attest that they are no longer to be prisoners of the court, nor beholden to laws which are not their land, their culture, or their customs!" And he finsihed witha flourish, a wink to whomever was in the front row, and he bowed singly to the judge, who must be staring at him in complete confusion. Blaed loved his life!

It wasn't his most stellar performance, but he could almost hear Chiarra laughing, or at the least, a steady applause form his hard won fans in taverns realms over. Greys peered about, and if he wasn't taken into custody, beat with someone's walking stick, or tap dancing in the air from a noose, he'd settle his arse right back in his seat, and see what dominos fell from that most unexpected interruption in the seemingly planned proceedings. He did expect a narrowed gaze armed with vile thoughts of his death from the Drow, for though it was a defense, he couldn't think they'd enjoy him saying they were upstanding or well behaved. A gamble, surely. Wait, he was half to planting his backside when he realized his ideals of grandeur were not so based in memory this time 'round. A boyish grin devoured the age of his features momentarily, though he did restrain from accepting the accolades with bows and thrown kisses. Settling himself, he smothered his grin and did his best to continue appearing stern and expectent as he watched the Judge and the Drow in succession. That took nearly twenty mintues to come to pass. Blaed's glance to left and right were met with supporters to the blaze of his word. Nobles standing? Drow emmissaries giving the scree? The dragon tapping a claw? Everywhere he looked there was an individual or a dozen showing their support as further words ere tossed towards the judge. Blaed hadn't expected sucha reaction, and debated sinking into the floor, or standing once more to turn this rabble into a mob. Yes, Blaed sat still. He wasn't a complete buffoon.

A singular nod from steady gaze in return to the Drow male whom did indeed look to be deciding how best to serve Blaed for dinner. Filleted or boiled whole. It was times like these Blaed looked back over his full life and recognized the sparkling clarity of the happier moments, as well as those times when the world could not be grayer, nor bathed in blood to his knees. Yes, if he was meant to be assassinated for his rather bold and rude comments about the Drow, it was accepted. Then the judge spoke. Of course the decision upon being read was enough to add a realm of humor to the otherwise momentous afternoon. The dead man was going to be found guilty, but not banished. Another quirk to his lips, as attention riveted upon the Judge. Come on, look around you, no one wants him guilty, not even the agencies who dragged us all in here. you have somewhere to go, just let him off witha slap on the wrist, a fine, some silly term, or a month of extra duties... you can do it, jus look around and end this well... Blaed had virtually no mental abilities, so this was all silent coaching from one audence member to the judge, who if he was a sensitive, was most likely bombarded with similar thoughts the room over.

Well, so this was how things were done here. The Drow were free to roam, and Blaed made certain to try for a head start out of here before the darkskinned ones took good advantage of their freedom. The other, Jack, was indeed smacked upon the wrist, least that was the feel as he listened to scattered conversations of an affectionately relieved manner. Shaking his head briefly, Blaed stood along with whomever else was satisfied, and made his way past the slowly gathering groups of well wishers, nay-sayers and gossipers who most crowds turned into. An 'excuse me' here, a 'pardon me there...' a more clear cut ' Tanya awra!' Muttered outward when some overly large male tromped heavily on his foot. Lifting his gaze, he stared into the maw of one of those critters who had been guarding the defendents. A brow lifted, and he quite casually spoke. " You, dear sir, are standing on my foot..." Captain Obvious Redundancy and his band of brave and not cowardly, brigadoons speaks again. Well, could be worse, he could have been plucked upwards by dragon talon and devoured before a single word other than 'eep' crossed his lips. "What may I do for you...?"

After the brief introduction and the meaning for his escort of three, Blaed spoke on. "A fitting name, friend Stomp.." And after being freed of that pin, he smiled, and followed the general directionof the gesture offered by Stomp, spying the male gussied up in his robes of some office or occupation. "Lord....Who?" It was best to know these things before some noble or other decides decapitation is fitting for an imperfect greeting. Now, even as this was being said, Blaed was turning quite happily to go and meet the offerer of the not necessary meeting. "Lead the way, good man, Lead the way"


Striding confidently through the parted crowd as the few remaining observors lingered to chat to their brethern, and watch the male being directed towards the central area, surely moved aside for the critters that escorted, guarded, led him to his doom, ...er.. meeting. Blaed studied the remaining beings who had gathered around the defendents, and the noble. His mind whirled over his possible greetings, his answers to who he was. There was always the truth, but the truth never set well with anyone. No, Blaed was generally the type to let the reality come forth in bits and pieces and only to those who deserved it. Now, the critter calling the Lord a dimwit, and speaking comfortably with a stranger..slash... victim about the Lord's family said quite a bit, and Blaed's cheerful demeanor was hardly forced as he eventually stepped down to the equal level of the others, and met greys to the Lord's eyes. " You sent for me, M'Lord, under pains of death..?" A small quirk of firm lips did not give way to the laughter that set in his eyes.


Blaed took the man's wrist in a comfortable grasp of a fighter, and one not willing to do the homage trick of bowing, kissing, scraping, or otherwise. "Pleasure, Name's Blaed. " and it was a pleasure. The lord was far from using his position, and instead infused the greeting with a complimentary spin and a chuckle of good nature. Yes, Blaed's impromptu address to the court as a whole had gained him some recognition to the masses, and a meet and greet with the noble who had dissolved an alliance, freed a man from banishment and expressed desire for 'intellect and wit'. A rare male indeed, and one Blaed wouldn't mind meeting further for conversation and the like.