The Trial of John the Baptist

[Anthor]

I, Anthor, Avatar and Leader of the Kingdom of Skulls hereby declare that the Trial of John the Baptist be now in session.

All rise for Judge Anthor.

* Anthor bangs a wooden club against the table

The charges are as follows...

John the Baptist is hereby charged with:

1- Sedition against the Kingdom of Skulls
2- Incitement to violence against both innocents, Kingdom of Skulls members, and Necromancer's Guild Members
3- Wailing in the Med Hut to bring Wiksiks to the point of death, whereby allowing GSUC members to come in and execute in cold blood
4- Wailing in the Med Hut to bring Wiksiks to the point of death, and then allowing other persons (non GSUC) to execute in cold blood
5- Spying for the Outsider Terrorist Group, GSUC
6- Attempted Murder of multiple KOS and NG Members
7- Operational Support for a known terrorist organization, GSUC
8- Murder in the 1st Degree... evidence posted below:

# 2008-11-08 16:21
±John the Baptist killed ±Koulianne
# 2008-11-08 00:18
±John the Baptist killed ±Etherdrifter
# 2008-11-07 00:09
±John the Baptist killed ±Etherdrifter
# 2008-11-03 03:13
±John the Baptist killed ±Koulianne
# 2008-11-03 03:13
±John the Baptist killed ±Etherdrifter
2008-10-31 02:24
±John the Baptist killed ±Etherdrifter

8- Attempted Coup within Wiksik, backed by the terrorist organization, GSUC.

As the trial begins, I ask that John the Baptist, and any other witnesses give evidence and answer questioning as part of the legal process. John the Baptist can represent himself, or have other legal representation. As this is a Kingdom of Skulls court, GSUC members are excluded from standing as legal representatives as GSUC is considered a terrorist organization. All requests to be witnesses can be posted, but I as leader of the Kingdom of Skulls and in this instance Judge and Jury, will have final say over whether those witnesses will be allowed to testify (don't take this to mean I will automatically disallow GSUC members as witnesses).

I will now ask for witness statements to the above charges, to be followed by testimony by John the Baptist.

I ask Etherdrifter to come to the stand.

* Anthor waits for Etherdrifter to enter the court

NOTE:- As this is an RP trial, please keep all comments in RP and as if they were part of the trial process. Mods, please delete any non RP trial comments.

[Etherdrifter]

*Laughs gently, a booming hollow sound.  The room darkens momentarily as if a heavy cloud had passed before the sun.  A swarms of locusts enters through the windows, coalescing on the stand.  Within moments the last locust takes place and the ancient lich takes place on the stand and the light has returned.  He turn to face the avatar, his eyes glowing gently*

I have been waiting for this day...  What questions would you ask of me?

[Daskull]

Jace Daskull sends his regards in hopes that this traitor will meet a painful end.

[Anthor]

* Anthor holds out a skull of the Ancients, for Etherdrifter to put his (bony?) hand on.

Etherdrifter, do you profess to tell the truth, only the truth, and nothing but the truth?

If so, then I ask that you give evidence in the trial of John the Baptist. 

The charges are already read. These charges are the most serious.

So, it is time for the evidence.

Please, tell us what he did to you, and to our village?

[Billfred]

Hexoatl does not agree with this trial.

Anthor is from Dalpok, therefore has no rights in Wiksik.

Etherdrifter does not own Wiksik. He has no power of trial or sentencing under Wiksik law. Only his own Guild Law.

[DLC]

The only crime I see here is a splendid fellow liberating his people from the throes of stone-age tyranny. As opposed to a certain lich who kills his own people with his personal assassins and a poet who takes delight in killing his own subjects with a heavy sword. As such, it should be the war criminals Etherdrifter and Anthor who should be put on trial for crimes against humanity.
In addition, Wiksik is no more, New York has taken its place. As such, you are subject to New York Law. Etherdrifter and Anthor's trial will commence once GSUC cleanses the taint within Raktam.

[Anthor]

* Anthor bangs his club on the table again.

SILENCE! The court is in session. Anyone who wishes to testify as a witness, may do so by request only. The first witness on the stand is Etherdrifer, if you request to be a witness, then please put in your request and wait your turn.

Hexoatl, you can testify as a witness if you would like, but to your comments... I am leader of the Kingdom of Skulls, this is a KOS trial, not a Wiksik trial (even though it is for the good of Wiksik)... therefore your disagreement and comments hold no sway to the court. Etherdrifter is testifying, he is not controlling the trial and he is not sentencing. The trial will be conducted in as fair a manner as possible (considering I am leader of a tyrannical Kingdom *grins*).

DLC, again you can testify as a witness if you would like, but your tongue flapping as regards Wiksik is not admissible in this trial. Wiksik will always be Wiksik. As to GSUC, as I have said before, GSUC is considered an outlaw terrorist organization and therefore there will be no trial of GSUC members, only executions. You can choose to go to the gallows with our without a smile on your face.

As said previously, I call Etherdrifter to the witness stand...

[Etherdrifter]

*Grins*  The above charges are true, guild records *hands them to anthor with a flick of his wrist*  show it to be so.  And of course we have spoken with several spirits...

[FirstAmongstDaves]

Dappled Shadow, projecting a presence from the shipwreck and acting as amicus curaie, files a brief:

1. The Prosecution Case

Before calling witnesses, the prosecution should lay out its case. No accused should be tried without first hearing the prosecution's case. All we have are the charges brought against the accused.

In particular, where is the proof of where the murders took place, and what was the murder weapon.

2. Jurisdiction over the Accused

This leads us directly to jurisdiction.

If they took place within Wiksik, does the Kingdom claim jurisdiction? If they took place outside of Wiksik, does the Kingdom claim jurisdiction?

By what right does the Kingdom claim jurisdiction in any event? Is the accused a member of the Kingdom's clan?

This also goes to the treason charges. If the accused is not a member of the clan, then he has not committed treason.

3. Conflict of Interest

Also, the Court has also called the alleged victim to the stand. Is the alleged victim a member of the Kingdom's clan?

If so, Anthor should excuse himself as conflicted. He cannot be both King and rule the clan, as well as impartially judge on matters affecting a clan member. There should a be mis-trial declared and a new judge appointed.

4. Jurisdiction over the Alleged Victim

If not, the Court has no jurisdiction as the alleged victim does not fall within the Court's jurisdiction. The Kingdom can only deal with jurisprudential matters affecting the clan. Etherdrifter's alleged repeated murders are not on that scenario clan matters.

D. Shadow Esq.
Amicus Curaie.

[AlexanderRM]

Hexoatl does not agree with this trial.

Anthor is from Dalpok, therefore has no rights in Wiksik.

Etherdrifter does not own Wiksik. He has no power of trial or sentencing under Wiksik law. Only his own Guild Law.

And the masked villain is actually...
*AlexanderRM pulls off a rubber mask to reveal... Billfred!*

Since this person is a recognized terrorist working for the interests of an unfriendly foreign power, he has no rights in Wiksik.
As such, your honor, I would like to request permission to "evict" the offender from the court.

[Anthor]

* Anthor bangs his club on the table again.

Order! ORDER! ORDER IN THE COURT!

AlexanderRM you may evict Hexoatl from the court until he's called for as a witness. Perhaps you can tie him up around the back? Make sure you gag him too.

Dappled Shadow, as an amicus curaie, you have put much thought into your brief and therefore I will ponder your points of law overnight and give my judgment tomorrow. I have to warn you however that as the leader of a failed coup against the Royal Court, your standing is on very unstable ground. Black Fang, and a strike force of the KOS were on their way to take your head, but your leaving Raktam suddenly, prevented bloodshed. As Black Fang was SofaKing's brother, I am now SofaKing's blood brother. We are united in our grief over Black Fang's murder, as we are in our purpose to save the natives of this island from the terrorists that are amongst us. Your saving though is your brief, being very well constructed, I will allow it to be entered into the court documents. I will answer the 4 points of Dappled Shadow by next cycle.

Court is dismissed for food, entertainment (where are my dancing girls?!), and rest. Let us resume in the morning.

* Anthor bangs his club on the table again, and everyone rises.

[Billfred]

Hexoatl is a native to Wiksik, AlexanderRM isn't. He has no business in a court of Wiksik.

Since this person is a recognized terrorist working for the interests of an unfriendly foreign power, he has no rights in Wiksik.

I bet you don't even know where Hexoatl is right now do you?
In fact, ask Simeon Carter where I am.

Working for the interests of an unfriendly foreign power? You mean the Wiksik Healers and the Healers of Shartak?
Yea, nice and foreign, unlike Mr Anthor and you.

[Etherdrifter]

*Turns to billfred and grins*

Dare you to challenge my power in wiksik?  I could have you flayed alive, re-animated and forced to flay yourself till nothing but bone remains.  By guild law John is already guilty and thus by guild law he is declared KOS by the guild in wiksik.  This court is to decide if KOS will join us in our hunt for this traitor to our ranks...  The law that is prevalent in wiksik at the moment *is* guild law.  Black fang accepted our laws when our alliance was first formed, provided we enforced them.  We police the streets and hunt down pkers such as slaughterhouse and of course dear old john.  What have you offered wiksik so far?  Useful healing?  The hunting of our enemies?  A solution instead of whining complaints?

*Makes a dismissive gesture*

You have offered nothing but demand everything, do not bother these proceedings further unless you have something useful to contribute...

*Waves his hand and the door opens, expelling Billfred with a rude gesture*

Now then...  Back on track I would think...

[Billfred]

Hexoatl is challenging no ones power anywhere.
He does not support John the Baptist or Slaughterhouse and hopes they suffer endless deaths.

But what Hexoatl has seen so far, is actions against the locals because of the Necromancers Guild and the Kingdom of Skulls.

But alas, Hexoatl is on Wiksik Island, he has seen things over the sea that people can't even dream about.

He has seen endless lines of ships heading for the island, the outsider menace has no end. They will keep coming until there is no room.

[Etherdrifter]

*Grins*

Of course locals are suffering.  Thats what GSUC is all about, killing innocents to make the current powers look bad.  Standard tactic that only fools fall for.