Editing Sunbringers on Trial

=== Evidence ===
Notes of conspiracy, one concerning the murder of Rebecca, kept by Pike all this time. Another threatening them, that was given to the party as they left to find Jeremiah.

The party has found Pike's father, Jeremiah Larkin. He was absent for Rebecca's death, but brings evidence of Proditor and co.'s intimidation tactics, particularly from the acts of Romanus, Proditor's guardian and Uncle. Proditor rebuffs the evidence by stating the acts of the guardian don't necessarily reflect on their ward, and he is on trial here, not Romanus.

The notes, he claims, are forgeries. Perhaps the accusers had stolen stationary and forged the threatening letter. While he does not denounce the former letter concerning the conspiracy to murder, he does denounce his association with it.

If they bring the diary in as evidence, Proditor uses this as leverage that the threat letter was forged, as they entered the castle through suspicious means.

=== Proditor's mentality ===
Proditor believes himself to be innocent. He recalls having a disliking for his nephew, but no recollection of conspiracy, let alone murder, of his older sister.

In truth, Proditor is subject to the Modify Memory spell, cast by his aunt Eris, who is a 17th level Trickery Cleric (believed to be order) and legitimately does not recall the evil he committed, or Romanus's behavior. This allows him to "lie", even in a zone of truth.  Think Light Yagami when he loses the Death Note.

=== potentialities: ===

==== Romanus called to the stand: ====
Romanus Denies, denies denies any wrongdoing. Tyrael, tired of playing games, requests Romanus call forth his Light (using his Aasimar blood to cast light) Under threat of being held in contempt, Romanus does so... revealing a purplish light instead of the normal white or yellow that it should be.  This is evidence enough for Tyrael that Romanus is to be taken away and questioned. This removes Romanus from the equation for the rest of the case while casting a mark on Proditor's defense.

==== Jeremiah called to the stand: ====
Jeremiah tells his story, that Romanus had threatened him repeatedly while he was seeing Rebecca. He states that he did not know who Rebecca was when the relationship started, and was not told until the Pike had already been conceived. Proditor was ~14 when this was happening, and was mostly uninvolved with the contempt for Jeremiah. Jeremiah finished his apprenticeship with Andrew and enlisted with the [[Hounds of Balthazar]] when Pike was a newborn. He fled for his own protection, seeing the glares from the family. Tyrael admits that he too looked down on Jeremiah for this, but he never contemplated actual retribution against the young man.

==== Proditor called to the stand: ====
Proditor legitimately has no recollection of the events, as mentioned in Proditor's Mentality above. Something in Proditor's behavior seems off to Tyrael, especially if Romanus's condemnation has already occurred. Tyrael, again getting frustrated by it being so close but needing to follow the conduct of the court, has a hunch of what's going on with Proditor. If none of the party toss out the idea, Tyrael calls over the bailiff, one of Tyrael's trusted men, and gives an order to him.

When Proditor leaves the stand and is taken to his seat, the bailiff taps him on the shoulder "helping him down" casting remove curse on Proditor. Have the whole party make an insight check (DC10) to catch that his demeanor changes as he leaves the stand, (DC15) worry forms in his eyes where unabashed confidence had been.

=== Concluding Remarks ===
Proditor, now remembering himself, attempts to grandstand and reassert his innocence, but fails to hide his contempt. Tyrael proclaims him guilty, as does one of the other House Leaders. Eris, Romanus's mother, objects to the guilty verdict. 


Tyrael has a smug grin as he declares "Well then, if it is not unanimous, then let us invoke the Rite of Kormir. Proditor, step forward."

The three judges step down, and circle around him. They make the same motions, summoning light in one hand, casting Zone of Truth with the other. "By the Rite of Kormir, let truth be known." 

Tyrael: "Eris, Dorphas, do you have him?" "Yes" Tyrael: "Very well, Proditor Sunbringer, did you conspire to murder your sister, Rebecca Sunbringer."

Proditor hisses: "She's not the only one who'll die..." His eyes dart to Eris. She in turn draws a dagger and attempts to stab Tyrael. Tyrael catches the arm "a knife, really, dear cousin?" Tyrael casts Hold Person on the duo, and in a commanding voice orders all non-combatants to exit the court room before this escalates further. The watchers and Dorphas leave in a panic, leaving a handful of figures remaining in the audience. 

If Romanus was taken out of the court room, he and Perseus enter from a backdoor on round 2, otherwise they start in the audience.

== Statblocks ==
This fight entails 9 enemies of varying classes and levels

* Proditor Sunbringer: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/89529529 
* Derro: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/17379-derro-savant
* “East Wind”: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/265836-east-wind
* Gorg: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/1123090-goliath-warrior
* 2x https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/909468-akroan-hoplite
* Perseus Sunbringer https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/77350243
** The man who Tyrael refused to resurrect back at the arena. He joins the battle in round 2, being Vortex Warped next to Tyrael and making an attack on him.
* Eris Sunbringer
** Head of another house, one of the Judges and niece of Tyrael https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/77404745
* Romanus Sunbringer
** Jeremiah’s bully, brother of Eris, the former guardian of Proditor https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/42216728