Activity in town ground to a halt as everyone focused on the trial of Kent Richard.  A strapping, handsome young man, known around town as a prankster and beloved of his men for being the strongest and fastest around – every man had a story of lovely days spent hunting or fishing with Kent.  Much was made of how he had taken it upon himself to form a small militia when gnolls were spotted near the town two years ago.

I went to the small Gevudan town jail and did my best to console Kent, and offered on top of that to act as his advocate as well. He said that he never liked Wolcott but didn’t think he could be capable of what I was accusing him.  I told him earnestly that I wished it wasn’t so, but that my tale was true. I begged him to let me help him since the mayor clearly had it out for him, innocent though he may be, he was going to need all the help he could get.

As we talked I discovered that Trueblood had come to town and gotten Kent and Wolcott together to try and oust the mayor.  I said that was our strategy, present Trueblood as the mastermind and himself as an innocent bystander.  He didn’t like that idea though, Trueblood wasn’t a friend exactly but he had seen no evidence of any malfeasance on his part.  But when pressed he admitted that he wasn’t even sure who Trueblood was, he had just assumed that he was an agent of the timber consortium. I told him that it sounded like Trueblood was the one stirring up trouble.  Kent said that he just wanted to help his men, and I said that this doesn’t seem like the way he would go about doing that – trying to kick the rightfully appointed mayor out of office? He seemed troubled by that.

Rumors were running wild across the town – one of the most popular that Wolcott had risen from the dead and was going on a murderous rampage.  Why is it that the rumors I want to foment never spread so quickly?  Once the trial got underway it was exactly the farce you’d expect – how can you prove that you’re NOT a demon worshipper?  Not to mention the proceeding was carried out in the town square with basically the entire population in attendance.  They were one step from listening to shouted advice from the crowd on how to prove someone is a slave to the dark ones – old folk tales like touching silver with your left hand or being dunked upside down facing north in the river – when a recess was called.

Kent was clearly rattled by what was happening and agreed to let me help him.   Once the trial got going again I made cousin Emmalina proud.  People had come out of the woodwork to accuse Kent of various “crimes”, there are always people jealous of the attractive and popular.  Each claim I refuted in turn.  After that I had the priest of Strider examine Kent for the marks of the demonaic – of which there were none since I just made that up.  Next I had Kent recite the 7^th prayer of Adriel which of course everyone knows the wicked can’t do without bursting in holy flames.  After that the coup de grace – since Wolcott had but his evil hands on me I would have Kent do the same, if he were innocent – as I knew he was- nothing would happen, but if he was in league with the dark ones it would react with the taint that Wolcott had put on me.

The mayor had been shooting me furious looks throughout the afternoon as I made it more and more clear that Kent was completely free of any wrongdoing – this turned into a beautiful smile when I stood before Kent and had him place his hand on my head, and I immediately fell to the ground in feigned convulsions.  I was trashing so hard that I nearly knocked myself unconscious, but the key to a good fake demon possession is committing. The crowd surged back and almost turned into a riot when I started speaking my approximation of the dark speech. 

Finally I lay still on the ground, and it was pandemonium – some people tried to rush to my side to help, others tried to attack Kent, they in turn were jostled by his supporters.  The mayor had to act quickly to quell the masses, taking Kent away and having her guards disperse the crowd with more than a little brawling.  I was taken to her house by some of those guards and enjoyed some wine and a light snack while I waited.  When she appeared she sat at her desk (in her black judge apparel – I’m telling you this woman has a thing for that color) and regarded me coolly.  After a long while she asked me what my angle was.

Slipping a slice of apple into my mouth I told her I was just trying to help.

__________________________________________________________

Funds: 218 gold, 8 silver 

XP: 5800

Inventory: Signet ring, Ring of Many Garments, noble’s traveling outfit

Revenge List: Duke Eaglevane, Piltis Swine, Rince Electrum, watchman Gridley, White-Muzzle the worg, Percy Ringle the butler , Alice Kinsey , “Patch”, Heroes of the Lost Sword, Cardshire Arms manager, Erist priest of Strider, Griselda owner of the Sage Mirror, Eedraxis,  Skin-Taker tribe

Anti-Revenge List: Dorehe the maid

Graltontown Rumors : Murderous servants (Reoccurring), exiled noblewoman (Reoccurring), vigilante “Litheria”(30%)