The mayor opens Devia’s courtroom to the public. Citizens fill the benches while clerks sharpen quills, and guards keep the surrendered prisoners secured beside the evidence table.
Dagg is brought in from the magistrate’s holding area as a witness. The confiscated cudgel, short sword, hunting bow, spare weapons, and disputed tally lie beneath the clerks’ careful watch.
The Mayor
This hearing is public and lawful. The grain driver will speak first, then the tally-holder, followed by each surrendered prisoner separately.
The Grain Driver
They stopped my cart at the bridge, demanded half my grain, and claimed a debt settled last month. Their tally was false.
Bridge Bandit 1
The tally was false. We knew it was false, and we meant to take the grain anyway. The others followed my order.
A murmur passes through the benches. The clerks record every word, while the other surrendered bandits wait under guard, each available for questioning without the others beside them.
The Mayor
Dagg Nabbitt, you witnessed the confrontation and secured these men. Tell the court exactly what happened at the bridge.
✓ Quest Accepted
Give truthful testimony at the public hearing
“I saw them confronting the grain driver, trying to get payment from him. I showed up and gave them the chance to turn themselves in or fight. Just me against all four of them, they could have tried. They turned themselves in without any issues and listened all the way here. I would like to know why rob people but act that calmly, it doesnt scream hardened bandit to me.”
SUCCESS (Superb Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Dagg faces the mayor and the crowded benches, recounting the bridge confrontation without embellishment. He explains that the four riders demanded payment from the grain driver, then surrendered when offered a fair choice between custody and a fight.
Dagg Nabbitt
They listened all the way here and caused no trouble. I want to know why people rob a traveler while acting so calmly. That does not look like hardened banditry to me.
The mayor records Dagg’s distinction between violence and organized collection. His relaxed reluctance to linger over routine testimony shows in his clipped delivery, while Questions Witnesses keeps the sequence and each man’s conduct separate.
The Mayor
A bridge bandit, answer the question directly. Were you desperate thieves, or were you carrying out someone else’s scheme?
Bridge Bandit 1
Someone else’s scheme. A grain broker paid us to enforce private debts and promised the tally would protect us. We knew this debt was settled, but expected the driver to yield rather than challenge four riders.
The three other surrendered riders lower their heads as the admission lands. Their calm was borrowed confidence, not hardened courage: they believed false paperwork and numbers would make the taking appear lawful.
The Mayor
The court has its answer. The grain broker’s name and payment records will be pursued, while these four remain charged for attempted unlawful seizure and false collection.
Quest Complete
Give truthful testimony at the public hearing