h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

[Sharp]: Um, excuse me, you're toughness (to the Tough Guy), & your majesty (directed to the king), but I think it would benefit your attentions to look outside a window for a second. I think there is something...Something bad that is alive out *indicates down there @ forestward direction* ... where'd Aeryn and Gandark go to...
"In the mean tyme, would anyone care to have a cuppa ?" }Poof!{"Or perhaps one of instead then?" }pof!{ (figures also conjuring a set of slices of for people, would be be-laboring the obvious ).
: so now wha'?

the trial must get finished. The outcome is very important because it helps establish some principle characters. I really ought to name the Tough Guy since he seems to be becoming an important character since I couldn't find a prosecutor ... the Jester can stay the Jester however hmm well anyway ...

Filth! Log on will you? people are waiting and you volunteered!

[Sharp]: (to Gandark, out of the range of any of the nobles' earshot): "You been here before. Is being at court always like that in this land?"

[Gandark] *whispers similarly* That was under King Charles. I've never been to court during King Michael's reign. It largely depends on the type of case and the mood of the monarch(s). Actually the trial's a bit of a mockery unless somebody, like a noble or the defense, demands trial by jury. Otherwise the King has complete authority over disputes, with no one to answer to except the Church and his conscience, and the Church can only excommunicate him, nothing more. It's own policies debar it from trying to encourage rebellion or hostile takeover of monarchies so it is all bark and very little bite.
Nerd42

[Gandark] Of course, distancing himself from the Church would historically have made it more difficult for the King to control his Knights, but since he hasn't hardly any at the moment ... Well, who knows what to expect from the Crown in times like these?
Nerd42

[Sharp]: "I see..."

Okay already! I'm still sick y'know...

*Filth coughs and blows his nose on his sleeve.*
[Filth]Sorry, yeronner... er... m'lud... er... yermajesty... some bugger's gorn and let Lurgy (A troll who lives near me and is always ill) into me swamp so I've ended up feelin' the effects.

*Clears throat*

[Filth]Anyway, I am 'ere speakin' fer the Jester's defence. I reckon, y'see that the Jester couldn't have know that the sword was a bad 'un on account of his being a Jester not a weapon smith or a sorcerer... It's a mistake anyone could have made t'be honest.

Now, Mister Jester... where did you get the sword from, 'cos it'll be the person what give it you who'll be the real culprit.

(Sotto voce to Gandark)How am I doin'? Is it too obvious that I've never done this 'afore?

Oh yeah, that's right I forgot. But if you could please either help get the trial finished yourself, or appoint someone else to defend in your stead, the rest of us could get underway quicker

[Gandark] *whispers to Filth* Looks like you're doin fine to me. And you're probably right, too.

[Jester] Well, uhh ... I'm a travaling entertainer. I juggle, do acrobatics (I've even got Dragoon skills! ) tell jokes, play music, do magic tricks and comedy routines. You know. Anyways, I travel from town to town and all, never staying in one place very long because I end up exhausting my repituare. hope that's spelled right looks wrong ...

[Tough Guy] Get to the point!

[Jester] *looks very nervous* uhh ... As I was traveling down the road today I met a weapons dealer who sold crooked swords. All his swords were crooked and he had a crooked cane and a crooked nose. A very crooked man he was, yes. Anyways, he sold me this sword real cheap, for only 5 coins cause he said he'd be glad to be rid of it. I thought juggling crooked swords had to be more impressive than juggling regular straight swords so I paid him for one to see how it went and went on my way. Come to think of it, it did look rather darker than the other swords he carried ... I wouldn't be suprised if this one was the original and the others were copies made by sombody ... Anyways, I had no idea the swrd was cursted, Your Honor, and if I had I would never have purchased it, and certainly never included it in my act! What a disaster! But the show must go on, you know.
Nerd42

[Sharp]Wha'?!): "So you did buy it?! now I'm not so sure just how innocent you are anymore. Say, how/why did you manage to hang up there in the air for so long the Whole time that Gandark,Aeryn, and I were fighting that Red bodied, yellow fanged thing, eh?"

[Filth]So, Mister Jester. Is there any way *at all* that ye could of known this sword was a bad'un?

[Jester] As I said, I have Dragoon skills. And no, cursted items are extremely rare and there's no way I could have known I had purchased one.
Nerd42

[Filth]An' can I assume then, that you done what anyone would have done and simply bought the coolest looking thing?

[Jester] Yes, you could say that. I sort of bought the most deadly looking one because it would make my juggling act look more dangerous and thus more suspenseful and entertaining.
Nerd42

[Sharp]: (Dryly): "I've seen some good cases of individuals exibiting uncommon sense, but maybe this is an example of using common un-sense?"

[Aeryn] *sidles back into the ballroom with a smug look on her face, and settles back in a dark corner, prepared to act as though she'd never left*

*she nudges her pack under her chair*

[Sharp]: *walks to an edge of room*
*gets out bubble-pipe*
*leans against the wall*
*reads a book*
*casually sets down the bag of flash powder over by a nearby potted-plant w/one hand, using other one to hold the book (as though still reading)*
*keeps reading*

[Sharp]:*raises head up out of book a bit, so his eyes are visible: (to Aeryn): "Interesting new set of findings I've just made & wrote into my codex" *does a slight , then quickly glances over toward direction of potted plant (for a little less than 1 sec.) & continues reading to himself.*

: -ing (as though idly),
in hand.

[Aeryn] *frowns at Sharp, perplexed. She wonders how much he knew. 'He is certainly strange' she thought. She glanced at the plant and saw an unusual bag, and kept it in mind for later. If it was what she thought it was, it could be useful if she needed to make a quick exit.*

: I'd say he doesn't know alot. He did wish ta show 'is thanks though. Suspects it, but he doesn't wish to tell anybody. That wouldn't exactly return the favor she did for him and Gandark earlier w/the monster, now would it?
[Sharp]: *Continues reading, takes a bit of a leisurely stroll to a diff'rent part of the room from the plant over by the wall.*