Faction The Trial (Hapes Consortium + Friends)

[Lady Rowan Vale]

Previously in the Hapes Consortium...

Long Live the Queen!

And now...

With the Queen Mother lying in critical condition, the apparent victim of an assassination attempt,
the Royal Court rushes to convene an emergency session in the Fountain Palace on Hapes. King Adron Malvern of Illyria,
Exarch of the Confederacy of Independent Systems remains in Hapan custody following his arrest under suspicion of attempted murder.
At his request, an envoy from his homeworld has been appointed to his defense. Jedi Dagon Kaze and Master Romi Jade have been summoned
to testify and at the personal request of Prince Johannes himself, Lady Rowan Vale has been appointed as chief prosecutor.
What happens here is surely to have lasting ramifications throughout the Consortium, Silver Jedi Concord and the Galaxy itself...

--------------------------

Location:
Royal Throne Room,
Fountain Palace,
Hapes
Circa 864 ABY
​

"All rise for his His Grace, Prince Johannes Inkari Djo of Hapes!"

Lady Rowan Vale stood, coming to attention in the manner with which she'd been trained. She stood in the first row of the gathered nobles, watching as the Prince entered surrounded by a squad of heavily armed and armored Royal Crown Guards. Behind her, stood dozens of others. Some wore solemn robes and gowns, while others wore military uniforms similar to hers. Each was the head, or a designated proxy for the head, of one of the Great Hapan houses.

The ruling leaders of more than sixty-three worlds had gathered here to decide the fate of one Adron Malvern of Illyria, accused of poisoning the Queen Mother during her address at the ball held in this very palace only a few nights ago. Queen Mother Merci Inkari Djo of Hapes still clung to life, albeit barely. She was housed in the hospital wing of the palace, under guard and the supervision of the best physicians in the Consortium.

Rumors abounded, whispers of her impending death. Rowan had barely spoken to Prince Johannes the night before when he had comm-ed her to say that he'd selected her to prosecute the Consortium's case against King Malvern.

"It is of the utmost importance that the case be presented clearly, accurately and impartially. I cannot trust anyone else to act in this role, so it must be you."

Rowan had, of course, accepted without protest. She understood the vast number of moving parts that would surround this trial. As soon as word leaked out to the galaxy at large, billions of eyes would be watching this case. Its prosecution could shape relations between the Consortium and Illyria, and even the Silver Concord and the greater Confederacy of Independent systems at large. Any hint of King Malvern being railroaded, and there could well be war on the horizon. Similarly, if anyone was given the impression that a would-be assassin had been given a pass, and the credibility of House Inkari would crumble to dust.

Even now, there were rumors of outlying nobles planning to seize power, and word was several key commanders of the border fleets had suddenly gone off the grid. If House Inkari's hold on the throne slipped away, it was very likely that the Consortium would descend into civil war.

"Greetings honored nobles of the Consortium," Prince Johannes began, bringing Rowan back to the present. "We are gathered here to settle several grave affairs. First and foremost, we are here to listen to the evidence found against His Majesty, King Adron Malvern of Illyria following the cowardly attack on our sister and mother, Queen Merci Inkari Djo of Hapes. To prosecute this case, we have appointed Duch'a and Commodore Rowan Vale of Terephon."

Prince Johannes motioned toward Rowan and she offered the man a deep bow. Next, the Prince indicated the accused, King Malvern who also stood at the forefront of the group, surrounded by a pair of Crown Guards and his own defender. "It is our understanding, King Malvern, that you have brought an envoy from your world to head your defense. Is that person here now? If so, please have them indicate themselves and state their name and position for the Court."

There was a slight rumble of conversation from behind her as groups of nobles whispered among themselves. Over in the back was a public gallery, which housed several members of various press groups and the witnesses to be called. In her frantic preparation for this trial, Rowan had summoned the following witnesses.

• Crown Guard Captain Cynthia Cole​
• Lord Doctor Henri Valdame, Her Majesty's personal physician​
• Jedi Knight Dagon Kaze who was present at the ball​

AND

• Jedi Master Romi Jade who was also present at the time of the Queen Mother's collapse.

Each would be called in turn to give what evidence they had concerning the case. Then King Malvern's defender would have the option to cross-examine each witness, to look for holes in their stories or point out inconsistencies. Finally once all of Rowan's witnesses had been called, King Malvern's defender would have the option of calling any witnesses they wanted in order to refute the Consortium's case. Finally, once all the evidence was heard, the Royal Court would vote on whether to convict or exonerate the Illyrian King. Conviction would likely lead to a death sentence, but that would be Prince Johannes' decision to make.

It wasn't the cleanest of justice systems, Rowan knew. But it was the one that had kept the Consortium from ripping itself apart for more than three millennia.

​

Romi Jade Nova Casamyr Blake Lane Adron Malvern Cathbodua Kimiko Taiyou Kitter Bitters Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri Kaialina Fenholt (open to anyone else who wants to attend)

 

[Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri]

Kuxirra sat in the audience, watching the scene unfold. It had all happened so fast...it was confusing.
"Who are you?" A cruel-sounding voice behind her asked.
Kuxirra turned her head to notice the girl she'd been seeing for a while now. This girl looked exactly like her, but evil and with different clothes. "Why do you keep appearing to me?" Kuxirra quietly asked the apparition, which only she could see.
"Me appearing to you? You've been appearing to me! Get out of my head!" The girl screamed, throwing a fist in her direction.
Kuxirra suddenly snapped back to reality, gasping as she whirled her head back to the front of the room.

 

[Adron Malvern]

J U S T I C E​

Tags: Lady Rowan Vale | Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri | Elias Faivre | Xobos Yakieer | Saraya Arenais | Rowena Arenais | Freyu Molidias | Seren Maeve | Diavona Vammor | Fauvel Astier | Romi Jade Dagon Kaze ​

All men are not equal.
​

The words echoed throughout the man's mind as his pen scratched against the piece of parchment on the desk before him. Even while imprisoned in the depths of the Hapes Cluster the Illyrian King found time to pen dictations for his planet. Although he had transferred active control of the planet to his fiancé, Saraya Arenais there was still plenty for him to do.

He'd had plenty of time for it after all.

His lips welcomed a warm cup of tea, exhaling softly as the warm sensation flowed over him. His prison, if it could truly be called such, had been a fine penthouse retreat. If not for the low hum of the ray shields outside of the windows it seemed more like an inclusive resort than a cell. He'd spent most of his time over the past few weeks in meditation. It allowed for a fast pass of the time while also giving the man a chance to try and determine just who had attempted to assassinate the Queen and more importantly why had they framed him? The thought caused his expression to sour for a moment. Although he'd kept a calm head he was in no way delusional about the gravity of his situation.

The doors to his apartment opened, two members of his Security Detail entering the room with a foreboding aura about them. Adron exhaled, taking one final sip of his tea before pushing himself to his feet.

"Well then. Let us begin." He said to the guards while pulling his blazer from the back of his chair.

The King nodded to the guards who approached him with a pair of binders. The man glanced down at the shackles for a silent, barely noticeable moment before presenting his wrist to the man. He watched the man fasten the cuffs to him before being led out of his penthouse.

The trip to the Throne Room was a brief one. Although the King had no idea where he had been kept it was rather close to the trial location.

When they did arrive to the Throne Room, Adron was led to a small dais where a desk and a podium were provided. After the guards freed him of his cuffs, the man looked to those who stood in the seating not far from his section. There had been more than a few of his Nobleman to arrive in a show of both political and moral support. However, there were two people who were extremely important. The current High Lady Saraya Arenais and Viscount Elias Faivre .

Before the trial, the King was allowed words in privacy with his counsel. As the Viscount approached him, Adron spoke plainly, yet quiet enough so the nearby guards would not overhear him. "Conflict must take the Hapes Consortium." He said softly, so listlessly that it seemed he could be talking about something as simple as a dinner reservation. "Prove my innocence Viscount, however do such in a way that draws attention to the obvious vacuum of power. If the Queen dies then what comes next? A power struggle. Now, while this trial was not of my creation I will utilize it to my benefit. Do you understand. Viscount?" He said pointedly. "I am relying on you, Lord Faivre." The King said before turning back to the desk provided for him and his counsel.

When the Prince, Johannes entered and took lead of the forum the King rose from his desk, stepping before his podium and listening to the man's words intently. When he asked about his defender, the King raised a hand to Elias, presenting him to those who stood in judgement.

"Viscount Elias Faivre. Chief Diplomat of Illyria and Lord of Crête d’Argent."

Perhaps it would have been wiser to chose a female representative, but in this time the King would need the Viscount's attentive eye and capable talent. "Of course. I proclaim myself innocent of any and all crimes." He said before turning to Elias and giving him a certain gaze of expectation. ​

 

[Lady Rowan Vale]

"Viscount Elias Faivre. Chief Diplomat of Illyria and Lord of Crête d’Argent."

The Prince's expression remained impassive as Adron Malvern introduced his defender. Rowan glanced at the Illyrian noble briefly. There was a murmur that went throughout the Court, likely having to do with the fact that the King had chosen a male to defend him. Rowan knew enough of King Malvern to know that this wouldn't have been a choice made out of ignorance. The King would know that he would be spending quite a lot of his already very ambiguous political capital on this move, which suggested to Rowan that he had a reason for doing so.

"Viscount Faivre," The Prince acknowledged a moment later, his voice carrying throughout the hall. "We acknowledge you as Defender."

"Of course. I proclaim myself innocent of any and all crimes."

This drew a slight look of consternation from the Prince as he regarded Adron Malvern . "Of course," The Prince responded airily. "We had not expected you to proclaim otherwise."

While a codified judicial procedure had been in place for the trial and sentencing of the common people for centuries, trials that took place in the Royal Court tended to be much looser affairs. Often guilt and punishment were meted out summarily by the Queen Mother, as was her right as absolute Monarch. Situations like this, where a trial in the Royal Court was presided over by someone other than the Monarch were so rare that it bordered on unique.

Prince Johannes would be feeling his way through this process, making much of it up as he went along. The fact that King Malvern hadn't already been put to death, signaled to Rowan that the Prince was far from convinced of the Illyrian monarch's guilt. Even to Rowan, all of this seemed far too convenient to make sense.

That Merci had been poisoned just as she promised aid against the Bryn'adul was obviously no coincidence and that it would be perpetrated by a visiting Monarch with no reason to want to destabilize the Consortium didn't make any sense. Were it that the Queen Mother was strong enough to speak, Rowan would be sure that Merci's first order would be to exonerate King Malvern. The problem was, she wasn't conscious.

And if Prince Johannes gave that order in her place, well it could very well look like he was condoning the attack on her Majesty. It was a mess to be sure, but they all had to at least give the impression of a trial before finding Malvern innocent.

"Lady Vale," Johannes continued. "You will give an opening statement, detailing the events as our investigators have been able to piece them together. Then Viscount Faivre will be afforded the opportunity to respond. Once that is done, we will proceed through the witnesses. You will examine each witness first, and then the Viscount will have an opportunity to counter-examine. We will hear all the evidence for and against King Malvern and then we will render a verdict of innocence or guilt."

"Of course, Majesty." Rowan responded, her own voice carried throughout the hall by a small microphone on her lapel.

"Then proceed, please."

Stepping away from the group of nobles, Rowan began to address the Prince in a clear tone. "As you well know, my Prince, our Monarch and Mother, Queen Mother Merci Inkari Djo collapsed during her proclamation at the ball thrown in his very palace only a few days ago. According to reports from her chief physician, the cause was poison. Following her Majesty's collapse, all guests and personnel in attendance of the ball were detained and searched. Under the supervision of Crown Guard Captain Rothwell, Adron Malvern, King of Illyria was searched and an empty vial was found on his person. Forensic tests were performed by the Crown Guard investigation unit and it was determined that the vial had once held the same poison. We will call upon both her majesty's chief physician and the Guard Captain herself to testify to these facts. Furthermore, members of the Jedi Order were in attendance including your betrothed Master Romi Jade . Intelligence devices in the ballroom caught snippets of conversation between herself and Dagon Kaze , indicating that they felt strange dark sensations emanating from King Malvern and his party. While we as the prosecutor prefer to refrain from interpreting these facts for your Majesty, I feel strongly that they show that there must have been at least some involvement of King Malvern in the assassination attempt upon our Monarch."

Prince Johannes took a moment to absorb her words before nodding once. "Very well, Lady Vale. Viscount Faivre, please present your rebuttal."


Romi Jade Nova Casamyr Blake Lane Adron Malvern Cathbodua Kimiko Taiyou Kitter Bitters Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri Kaialina Fenholt (open to anyone else who wants to attend)

 

[Saraya Arenais]

S U F F E R​

T A G | Adron Malvern ~ Lady Rowan Vale ~ Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri ~ Dagon Kaze ~ Romi Jade ~ Nova Casamyr ~ Blake Lane ~ Cathbodua ~ Kimiko Taiyou ~ Kitter Bitters

Saraya could not recall feeling as helpless as she did when the shuttle pulled up to Fountain Palace. She thought helplessness was the way she felt when the news of Adron’s arrest had been delivered. She thought she knew what it meant when she was forced to send Elias to Hapes ahead of her to council Adron. She assumed she could define it as the days passed by without him. This sinking sensation that she was trapped outside the cage, screaming for mercy for the man within, but nobody was there to hear. However, it was all nothing.

Nothing compared to what she felt as she stepped into the throne room.

Elias had counselled her somewhat before her arrival. Remain calm. Poised. The epitome of Illyrian aristocracy, but how could that be accomplished? One moment she was picking the flower arrangements for their wedding. The next, she was acting monarch. With her leading man caught behind a locked door. Beyond the countless meetings she had attended to discuss the sordid business, and the countless others that pertained to the rest of Illyria, Saraya had found little time to truly panic about it all. It seemed an unfortunate irony that the first moment she’d had to breathe since Adron’s arrest was the journey to Hapes.

In the whirlwind of wild assumptions and fear for their future, there was one thing that she found some comfort in. The reminder that Adron would not have allowed himself to be caught in such a manner unless he intended to. She had no idea if he had truly killed the Queen Mother or not, but regardless of his innocence or his guilt, none of this would be happening if Adron hadn’t wanted it too. Comforting or not, it still felt sickening to be kept in the dark about it all. Doubly so when she sat in the front row of the public stand.

She could see Adron. He looked no different than the day he had left to attend the coronation originally. Her deep auburn gaze drank his appearance in hungrily for two reasons. One, she had not seen his face in weeks. Only read his words. Over and over. Two, she was searching for signs of mistreatment. Malnourishment, bruises, cuts, a limp. Anything.

“All rise…”

Saraya did so. Out of instinct rather than respect. What respect could she have for the man who had stolen her fiancé away for such baseless accusations? Her jaw clenched as he began to speak. Cowardly, he had called the actions. Perhaps they were cowardly, but it would do him no good to appear so bias toward Adron before the trial had even begun. It gave her an immediate distaste for what would follow. A hard expression found a home on her face. It remained there the entirety of his speech and only fell when Adron stood to speak.

Elias had spoken to him before the trial, of course, but Saraya hadn’t been allowed too. Nor could she say she wanted too. It would have made it all the harder to keep a straight face through the entire procedure. Still, when he spoke, she found herself releasing a sudden sigh of relief that brought the threat of tears to her eyes. He had said only a few words, but it was enough for her to cement the knowledge that he had not been harmed.

Pressing on, the prince accepted Adron’s plea of innocence and turned to the prosecutor to make her opening statements.

If eye rolls made a sound, Saraya’s would have been deafening. Dark sensations? Anyone with half a mind knew where Adron’s loyalties lay. Not to mention the fact that he had brought along his daughter. A woman crafted by the dark side itself. Anyone with half a brain could have figured out why “dark sensations” could be felt. That did not equate to guilt. Saraya leant back in her chair and folded her arms across her waist. This was going to be an incredibly long and frustrating day.

 

[Elias Faivre]

D E F E N D ​

A courier reached Silver Crest with a few hours by shuttle. A brief message was given to him by his stewardess and what it contained left him with an unshakeable sense of horror and more than a pinch of suspicion. The King of Illyria, accused of public murder on a foreign world. His bride-to-be, named Regent until the conclusion of the trial. Himself, named defended of the King in this trial. All of it made his head spin.

There was always something. But, there was no time to waste. There wasn’t enough time for him to travel to Dragonne Palace in order to meet with Lady Arenais. His orders were to go immediately, so he sent a message in place of his presence. One that was short and urgent, sending just as he boarded a personal shuttle.

“Lady Arenais,
I cannot imagine how you must feel as events continue to unfold. I will not pretend to. But, I can promise that I will do all that I am able to do to prove the innocence of your future husband and our King. I will see you on Hapes. May the gods smile on us.

Vive Illyria,
Viscount E. Faivre”

His diplomat robes seemed appropriate enough. True to his oath, he carried no weapons of any kind on him, traveling with the minimum of two guards from his own House Guard. He would give them nothing to capitalize on. In transit, he studied the Hapan culture, their procedures, customs, anything he could that might prove useful in strategizing and planning his defense. A widely matriarchal society, how odd then for Malvern to choose him rather than one of the other graduates of his class. But, if there was one thing he knew for certain about the young King, it was that he was calculated in every move he made.

It was that same certainty that made it impossible for him to see how the King became the victim of this crime. He would never have been so careless.

He’d been led to the chamber where the trial was to take place, leaving the guards outside and giving a bow to Adron upon his arrival. Elias listened carefully, mind already running with possibilities. Routes, counter arguments, a hundred pathways and thousands of words looping and playing out in the space between his ears. “I believe I understand, Your Majesty. You’ll walk.”

He stood and clasped his hands in front of him as the Prince entered and brought the trial to order, beginning the proceedings naturally with his own defense. The Viscount shifted ever so slightly as he listened further, and felt further. Targeted language in a court of law where one was meant to be impartial. Either this Prince Johannes was inexperienced or simply emotional. Both may have been true. He may have been a prince but in a society where affairs were typically handled by the women of Hapes, he was sorely out of touch.

The next flag raised as he searched the energy of the room through the lens of the Force. Prince Johannes was unnerved, uncertain. Out of his league here. The prosecution, even, seemed uncertain that they were fighting on the correct side. All of them were fumbling, playing under a guise of power. If Elias had thought he could get away with it, he would have smiled at the odds.

He stood once more to present himself to the court, forgoing the introduction as his liege had done that part for him. He nodded and gave a slight bow as the Prince acknowledged him as Defender for the Illyrian King, taking his seat once more to hear Commodore Vale’s opening statement. The Viscount took deep breaths, withdrawing himself back outside of the well of the Dark Side as he listened to the prosecutor give her position on the matter. A decade of experience held his temper, held his expression from presenting anything other than a calm face and a relaxed body. Though, beneath that, he wished to furrow thick eyebrows in confusion. None of the so-called “evidence” presented would have held up in an actual court. It would have been dismissed entirely for a lack of concrete evidence. This bloody “trial” was a glorified child’s game of ‘he said, she said’ with the easiest target placed as a scapegoat.

As Elias was called to make his rebuttal, he stood and cleared his throat gently, straightening his robes. “Prince Johannes, Rowan Vale. I find the prosecution's logic lacking and full of holes. The finding of the same vial on Adron Malvern’s person is not admissible evidence. It is circumstantial, anyone in attendance could have slipped the vial into a pocket and disappeared without a trace. Second, on the grounds of the guilty party being the likes of Lord Malvern, that would have been nearly impossible. How would he have gotten so close to her to poison her specifically without the poison also affecting others in attendance? Who would have had the clearance and trust of the staff and guards surrounding the Queen Mother to poison her without anyone noticing?”

He paused momentarily, gesturing to the Illyrians seated amongst the crowd. “As for the 'strange and dark sensations' felt by two Jedi in attendance, I would think that the sensations surrounding Adron Malvern and his party would indeed be especially strange and dark. With him, Adron Malvern brought his bride-to-be and the current acting Monarch of Illyria, Saraya Arenais, a woman who is inversely touched by the Dark due to her relations with Malvern who is a Sith Lord. He also brought, Danielle Mueller and Magnate Xobos Yakieer , both known Apprentices of Malvern. Finally, his daughter, Acantha Malvern , was also in attendance, a woman made from the Dark Side itself.” His eyes found those of the Commodore as he continued on to his closing remarks.

“I myself am a practitioner of the Dark Side. Is the same strangeness attributed to those gathered and mentioned as it was on the night of the Queen Mother’s collapse? Does that accusation mean that I am untrustworthy? That Adron Malvern is automatically guilty? If that were true, we would not be here today to testify. I would argue that there is nothing that ties Adron Malvern of Illyria to the poisoning of Queen Mother Merci Inkari Djo, Your Highness. Following Commodore Vale’s questioning, I will cross-examine Captain Rothwell as well as the Queen Mother’s chief physician. I will also call upon Magnate Xobos Yakieer of Dark Guard to testify to the whereabouts of the other members of Adron Malvern’s party before and during the Queen’s proclamation.” He waited for acknowledgement from the Prince before taking his seat once more in a practiced and fluid fashion. He’d droned on long enough, and enough of what he said did present a reasonable doubt, shredding through every flaw in Vale’s opening statement.

Adron Malvern | Saraya Arenais | Lady Rowan Vale | Romi Jade | Dagon Kaze | Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri | Nova Casamyr | Blake Lane | Cathbodua | Kimiko Taiyou | Kitter Bitters | + Open​

 

[Lady Rowan Vale]

Rowan listened quietly as King Adron Malvern 's defender, the Viscount Elias Faivre outlined his defense. It was good, solid even. It poked holes in all of the weaknesses that her case had. Another person might have felt anger, but Rowan felt only relief that King Malvern would have a capable defense in a process that could very well lead to his death, and excitement at the chance to lock horns with such a sharp opponent as the Viscount.

With the opening statements concluded, Rowan once more addressed Prince Johannes and the Royal Court at large. "If it pleases your Majesty, I call Crown Guard Captain Elixbeth Rothwell to testify."

Once Johannes gave his assent, in the form of a simple nod, a large and powerfully built woman wearing the armor of the Royal Crown Guards stepped from the crowd.

"I come as called, Lady." She said, her voice deep and raspy. There was a rather large and nasty scar over a large portion of her neck, the result of nearly being beheaded in battle with Sith forces on the world of Kintan many years earlier.

"You were present when the vial was found on the accused, King Adron Malvern of Illyria?"

"I was."

"And you attest that the residue found inside the vial was determined to be of the same poison that has stricken our Queen?"

"It is, Lady. I was there when the analysis was completed. I saw the results for myself."

"Viscount Faivre has postulated that perhaps the vial was slipped onto King Malvern's person without his knowledge. Given the assessments and vetting that the Crown Guard did before allowing the Illyrian delegation to attend, does this seem likely?"

"After reviewing the dossiers that were provided to the Crown Guard by Silver Concord Intelligence," The Captain continued. "That does not seem likely. As Viscount Faivre said himself, most all of the Illyrian delegates including the King himself are practitioners of the Force. In addition, the King was protected by a pair of bodyguards the entire time he was at the ball. Anyone who wanted to slip something to him without being noticed would have to be a truly skilled individual, indeed."

"I see. And to the Viscount's assertion that the King hadn't been close enough to the Queen to poison her?"

"Perhaps a micro-drone of some sort was used," Rothwell responded. "A monarch of Illyria would certainly have the financial backing to afford such a device."

"I see. Thank you Guard Captain." Looking up to Prince Johannes, Rowan spoke. "I have no more questions for Captain Rothwell."

To this, the Prince nodded and responded. "Viscount Faivre," He said, his voice calm and firm. "You may proceed with your counter examination."