The Trial

[WP] A new Demon Lord has risen and united all the Monster Races. Many Heros set out to destroy him and his Kingdom, but nobody returned and you finally found out why. They were all imprisoned for attempted Murder and various degrees of Murder.

*****

"Do you understand the charges presented to you, sir?" The Ogre sitting behind the judges bench leaned over to get a good look at the Defendant.

"No, I don't. I was hired to help clear out the dungeons of Ralthgabar. After making it past the Kobolds up front around the campfire, I get captured by someone using a sleep spell on me. I didn't do anything wrong, they are just KOBOLDS" the youngish halfling (I mean, how can you tell, right?) was wearing a roughspun tunic. There were streaks on their face where they had been crying and tried to hide it in court. He honestly didn't believe he had broken any laws.

Across the isle from him was a table with the prosecution. There was a kobold wearing a sharp looking set of chainmail and robes over it. His teeth gleamed bright as he listened. He knew he was going to win this case as well. His glance at the Jury pretty much guaranteed it. The Jury was made up of various races that the humans and demi-humans referred to as monsters. But, they were just people too. They all had jobs. Now, the Dark Lord had told them, under his leadership there would be justice for the wrongs committed by the mostly hairless bipeds who felt superior to all others. For the last 2 months, with the creation of the court system modeled after the humans system to give it a sense of legitimacy, hundreds of "Adventurers" found themselves pleading for their lives in courtrooms like this one throughout the land.

"Prosecution, your witness. Please come up here and sit, defendant." The judge pointed to the seat next his in the front of the courtroom. "Do you need an apple box to sit on so you can be seen?" There was a little snicker in the courtroom from some of the larger beings. A quick look from the judge squashed that. He ran a tight courtroom.

"Thank you, your honor." the Kobold pulled out a scroll with a map drawn on it, and notes which he placed in front of the Halfling. "Do you recognize this map?"

"Yes, you stole that from me! It was in my personal belongings!" He was both angry and nervous. Among the writings were plans on how to get past the outside guards, and where to put the poison in their drinking water.

"Let it be noted, the defendant admits this is his possession. We will call it Evidence #1." He then pulled a bottle out of the bag where he retrieved the scroll. "Do you recognize this? Our wizard has noted it has your life essence signature on it, by the way." He set the bottle on the judges table, just out of reach of the halfling who was eyeing it with a bit of surprise and fear.

"That was... in my bag, but, I mean, I carry stuff for other members of my team sometimes." He looked around as he said it. It was then he noticed a faint red glow from behind him.

"Are we sure that's the truth?" the judge whispered loud enough for all to hear.

"Well, Yes, it was mine." the halfling corrected.

"What did you believe the contents of the vial to contain?" the kobold leaned in for the answer.

"I..." the red light started glowing from behind him, causing him to flinch. "It's sleeping..." the red glow continued. "It's poison, okay!" I couldn't fight the 8 of you all at once, so I poisoned your water barrel! Are you happy NOW?" There was a hushed murmur in the courtroom.

"So you admit your guilt?" The judge seemed to look almost sympathetic. He knew the Halfling was guilty of the crime, but the Halfling needed to understand that he was guilty of a crime, not just able to go take what he wanted, when he wanted.

The halfling started sobbing... "Y..y...es."

"Now, While you did murder 4 of the 8, thankfully, the other four had not emptied their water skins from earlier in the day, so they had not refilled. We, by all rights, could kill you in exchange for their deaths." the halfling paled. "However, you have cost 4 families their source of income. So, instead, you will be working for them. I'm not sure if you are aware, but it's called RESTITUTION."

The prosecutor sat back in his chair relishing in the fact that the Jury didn't even have to make a decision. Those halflings were cute and sometimes that alone could sway a jury.

"Your restitution is the sum of $3000 gold pieces for each family."

"But that's..." the halfling did the math in his head, "12,000 gold! for 4 KOBOLDS???"

"That is what they might have earned over a natural lifetime guarding the cave of Noctornal. A natural lifetime without being murdered by some common thief."

"I am no Common Thief! So, if I PAY this, am I free to go?" The halfling suddenly looked hopeful.

"Technically, yes. But then there is the providing the services to our Lord and Master."

"Excusemewhat?"

"Yes, there are four open slots that need to be filled. So, paying the families is one thing, however, we need someone, an enterprising young man such as your self with the mind of a killer, to provide security." the judge smiled. This little shit wasn't going to get some ransom letter back to his people and pay his way out. No, not this time. "This is not an either / or situation. You need to pay, yes, but you also need to... Serve."

"Serve?" Suddenly, the idea of guarding a dungeon, the same dungeon he was attempting to rob seemed, wrong.

"Yes, you, plus 3 of your family members, or complete strangers, but you will need to recruit them. Oh, and we are sending you home to gather the gold and other employees. But you will have protection for the trip. Your two new best friends. Uthgar and Logan, my two best sons. Also my two only sons, but they like it when I call them best."

The judge was large for an Ogre. His two sons walked over from the side of the courtroom and they were significantly bigger. They were wearing polished plate mail. On their backs were large packs with bedrolls and a huge axe hung off their hips.

"On it Dad, uh, your honor" they said in unison and gave a smart salute while clicking their heels together.

One of them threw a bag in front of the halfling. The judge nodded his approval to look in it. Inside was the halfling's armor and normal gear. Missing were his thieves tools and any weapons.

"You can get ready to go. I believe you live 3 day's walk from here actually. We will expect you here, with your 3 new co-workers to serve your sentence in one full moon cycle." the judge picked up a hammer and whacked his desk lightly. It reverberated throughout the room.

"Next case!"

*****

THE END.