NationStates Jolt Archive

The Iesus Christi government announces the trial of the Syskeyian criminals 'taken' during the shocking embassy episode.
The Syskeyians are currently charged with...

Murder
Rape
Violating the will of God
Violating state security
Violating the Blessed Virgin Mary
Witchcraft
Theft
Violating Christian Holidays
and 'Speaking with the devil'
more charges will be laid as they come to light...
The trial will be fully public , held in Iesus Christi and live broadcast to the entire world.

Iesus Christi asks its fellow Reichers to send a judge to stand in the court tribunal over the Syskeyian devils . let us united pass judgement over these suspected enemies of the people!

Prosecutors are also welcomed to aid lead prosecutor Ethan Luther in helping to convict the Syskeyians.

OOC:we'll start the trial ASAP/we invite Sys to RPG his own people :)

Violating the Blessed Virgin Mary

ooc: if she's been violated, is she still a virgin?

The Honourable Jebediah Johnsson sat in his car driving the Reich highway towards his destination in Iesus Christi. He had been a judge for the ministry of virtue and elimination of Sin for almost 25 years now. He had four other people in his large car driving with him. He looked at each and one of them, everyone a good arbiter a good prosecutor and a good propaganda Kommisaar. He liked his staff, he liked them very much indeed.

OOC:

Matty, what about the kittens?

Violating the Blessed Virgin Mary

ooc: if she's been violated, is she still a virgin?

:lol:

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

IC:

We request that a Chimaean defence barrister be allowed to speak on behalf of the defendants, deferring of course to the wishes of Syskeyia on this matter. Perhaps a Defence team can be set up including Syskeyian barristers and solicitors as well?

If Syskeyia agrees, Chimaea would like to send Sir Michael Lucas Scott, Governor's Counsel, to aid in the defence.

Of course, this is providing that Iesus Christi will honour their wish to conduct a free and fair trial.

If participants are willing, we request copies of all evidence, we need all charges to be written out in full and the domestic law as applies to St Dominic concerning these events. The international law can be found easily enough.

edit: I'm gonna go to bed now; I dunno if I can be on tomorrow. Have a happy new year everyone :) Here's to 2004!

-tag-

*Tag* for future reference.

-Ruhrian DIA Agent

High Inquisitor Mariel sat in his private plane, heading for Iesus Christi.

He looked through the data he got a short while ago...

This should be an interesting trail... Yes, it will definitely be interesting...

He smiled, knowing they would succeed... However, he was somewhat sad... Although the Syskeyians were the enemy, they were still christians... well, sorta. He would have preferred to sentence others to death, rather then them... And he thought about the possibility of liberating Syskeyia, to free it from the oppression, to make them join the true faith, the true teachings...

Well, the time would come... Definitely.

OOC:Could you roleplay bringing the fugitivs to the courthouse?
A group of heavily armed men stare at each other in a cargo plane.
Leader:What are we here for?!
All:To protect the Syskeyians!

Cardinal Dante sat in the back of his private Mercedes heading towards Iesus Christi. He looked out the window as the sleek black vehicle sped down the Reich Autobahn. He could just make out on the horizon the high tension wires that surrounded St. Raphael's Prison.

Soon the heathen dogs will pay. They shall face God's justice. Vengance is mine sayeth the Lord...

The Iesus Christi government announces the trial of the Syskeyian criminals 'taken' during the shocking embassy episode.
The Syskeyians are currently charged with...

Murder
Rape
Violating the will of God
Violating state security
Violating the Blessed Virgin Mary
Witchcraft
Theft
Violating Christian Holidays
and 'Speaking with the devil'
more charges will be laid as they come to light...
The trial will be fully public , held in Iesus Christi and live broadcast to the entire world.

Iesus Christi asks its fellow Reichers to send a judge to stand in the court tribunal over the Syskeyian devils . let us united pass judgement over these suspected enemies of the people!

Prosecutors are also welcomed to aid lead prosecutor Ethan Luther in helping to convict the Syskeyians.

OOC:we'll start the trial ASAP/we invite Sys to RPG his own people :)

OOC: DOn't worry, I'm sure to RP my own people. Also, what are the odds that a SpeOps mission to free my people would succeed?

IC:

We request that a Chimaean defence barrister be allowed to speak on behalf of the defendants, deferring of course to the wishes of Syskeyia on this matter. Perhaps a Defence team can be set up including Syskeyian barristers and solicitors as well?

If Syskeyia agrees, Chimaea would like to send Sir Michael Lucas Scott, Governor's Counsel, to aid in the defence.

Of course, this is providing that Iesus Christi will honour their wish to conduct a free and fair trial.

If participants are willing, we request copies of all evidence, we need all charges to be written out in full and the domestic law as applies to St Dominic concerning these events. The international law can be found easily enough.

We agree to allow Chimaea to swend their people to help prepare our defense team.

Also, Iesus Christi, you have not replied to our demand that Fr. John Luther, the members of the Iesus tank brigade, and the surviving rioters be taken to Syskeyia for trial (after all, the embassy is soverign Syskeyian territory.)

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

(OOC: I am assuming that SATO has some sort of code that they use to comunicate)

SATO Encript Code, Level 5 Message to Syskeyia

From Thelas Special Operations

We have learned that a group of Syskeyians is being held by Ieusus Christi forces. I am sure that we both dislike this fanatical nation for our various reasons. We are an elven nation, you are a moderate Christian nation, we are both SATO nations. We are offering our assistance in a joint black ops mission to rescue the prisoners. Do you agree?

Open Message to Syskeyia and Ieusus Christi,

If both government involved agree, we are offering to help the defence in this case with a team of lawers. This team of Church Laywers shall attempt to prove that Syskeyian people were in no way violating any secular to religious laws.

Forbidden City, Beijing ((Private IC)):

The Divine Empress watched the newscasts about the quickly deteriorating relations between the Reich and Syskeyia. "Damm those Syskeyia bastards for being so damm close to Perfect China, well with any luck these Catholic fools will wipe each other out, then I could make Syskeyia apart of my Eastern-Asian Imperium." The Divine Empress thought before drafting her public statement.

((Offical IC))

Message from the Divine Empress Mao Seia Tu-me I

I am both shocked and horrified at the charges leveled against Syskeyia in this time where relations between the Reich and Syskeyia are very close to war. I wish to inform all parties involved that Perfect China shall remain neutral if armed conflict breaks out.


http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:3TiRRniQVrQC:www.blinc-inc.com/lucy_liu.jpg
Divine Empress Mao Seia Tu-me I
The Eastern-Asian Imperium of Perfect China

Open Message to Syskeyia and Ieusus Christi,

If both government involved agree, we are offering to help the defence in this case with a team of lawers. This team of Church Laywers shall attempt to prove that Syskeyian people were in no way violating any secular to religious laws.

Sure, go ahead.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

Open Message to Syskeyia and Ieusus Christi,

If both government involved agree, we are offering to help the defence in this case with a team of lawers. This team of Church Laywers shall attempt to prove that Syskeyian people were in no way violating any secular to religious laws.

Sure, go ahead.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

"Wonderfull, we will get the five man team ready."

OOC: What about the message?

Upon request, H&K will take part in this trial.

May justice seize the day.

OOC: Ahh, finally a guy who puts down Heckler und Koch instead of Heckler and Koch. :D ~From a Deutsch speaker

This'll be
A
Good show!

Outgoing statement

Status: #tag#
"We urge the Iesus government to release the Syskeyia n prisoners. They have been captured on embassy grounds, and as such should be tried under Syskeyian jurusdiction. The Knootian government wpuld fully support a trial under Syskeyian law, in Syskeyia or a neutral country for the alledged crimes."
~Knootian ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Two civil servants talking

"Chance that they will listen to this?"
"Oh, well, about 0,004 percent. Maybe Matty is drunk when he reads it and signs a parole or something. Still... it's a good try. And a good point from a legal perspective. But I doubt that this trial will have much to do with justice."

.::This Post For Rent::.
Honestly. What's with all of these tags? You might as well be selling posts in threads.

$1.99 a post to be exact.

(OOC: I am assuming that SATO has some sort of code that they use to comunicate)

SATO Encript Code, Level 5 Message to Syskeyia

From Thelas Special Operations

We have learned that a group of Syskeyians is being held by Ieusus Christi forces. I am sure that we both dislike this fanatical nation for our various reasons. We are an elven nation, you are a moderate Christian nation, we are both SATO nations. We are offering our assistance in a joint black ops mission to rescue the prisoners. Do you agree?

Open Message to Syskeyia and Ieusus Christi,

If both government involved agree, we are offering to help the defence in this case with a team of lawers. This team of Church Laywers shall attempt to prove that Syskeyian people were in no way violating any secular to religious laws.
OOC:Is there any chance both teams could meet and join forces?
IC:
[code:1:ae4efe6e00]To:Syskeyia
From:Liberty Caps (Liberty fighting group)
Encryption:Level 5 (High)
Importance:Upmost
Subject:Liberty!
A team of eleven of our finest men are in route to your people, in hopes of freeing them. Would you join us?
The "DUDE" of Liberty Caps[/code:1:ae4efe6e00]

OOC: note: I think there is a misunderstanding here, I believe that Thelas hasn't been officially approved for SATO. At least, not according to my "who is in SATO textbook." As such, any liberation operation would most definitly not be a SATO operation.

That said, I believe it to be highly unlikely thay the South Atlantic Treaty Organisation will launch such an operation, especially if there is no official request for it.

That, and you'll have to use a different encryption code, but that should not be a problem.

~Knoot

We welcome outsiders to defend the fiendish accused, assuming they follow Iesus law to the letter. The trial will be held under standard Iesus Christi Tribunal laws and the decision of the judges is final and lasting.
Further more in regards to the Syskeyian demands , we do to accept the validity of your courts or government so ergo will cannot nor will not hand over anyone to your corrupt Godless court system.

Bridgette Iesus
Minister for Social order


The court had all the same feeling as a 17th Century witch hunt...
a thronging crowd made up of citizens from all over the Reich, masses of guards and a panel of stern looking Reich judges meet the accused as they entered the court.
The crowd howled and hissed as the Syskeyians entered the court, women screamed and mean yelled at the cursed minions of hell.
The Iesus judge called for silence and a hush covered the court as the lead Prosecutor Ethan Luther stood up and began to address the court
"Friends, Christians, honoured Judges...the case before us is long but not so complicated..in fact it is painfully simple...these syskeyians are murderers! Devil inspired murderers who seek to destroy the Reich!
Let us go over some of the crimes they have committed for their master SATAN....
They incited a riot via their WITCHERY and Then opened fire on UNARMED Christians!
They lured men to the embassy and forced them into ritual satanic sodomy acts!
*gasps of horror from the crowd*
They defiled images of the virgin Mary! They scorned her blessed name!
They in their wickedness sought to undermine Christmas by poisoning lollies and sweeties, and then handing them out to Orphanages!
*screams of hate from men in the crowd*
They bewitched the Nuns of St Marys abbey and forced them to have carnal affairs of the flesh!
*a woman in the crowd screams and faints*
They have killed hundreds, not only during the brave peaceful protestors but hundreds of others in orgies of blood and murder for their master SATAN! *more screams and shocked cries from the crowd*
They stole Children and kittens for vile SATANIC Rituals in their embassy *Gasps from the crowd*
Yes...even Kittens were not safe from the reign of satanic terror inflicted by the Syskeyian Embassy staff!
*the crowds hisses and screams demanding death for the Syskeyians*
Hush Hush fellow Christians! I know....Their crimes are terrible! And rightly so we should now just take them from this place and sent them straight to hell!
But no...citizens...judges..
We are a fair people and Christ demands even these wretches have a trial before we burn their bodies and send them back to their master SATAN!
*The crowd cheered*
now let us do Gods work! bring forth the first witness!

Cardinal Dante sat in a leather chair reserved for the judges in the Iesus Christi courtroom. He looked over the crowd and was pleased at their righteous anger as the charges were leveled against the Syskeyians.
Rev. Luther's opening speech was impressive; he couldn't have done a better job himself. But he was a judge and would have to hold his opinions to himself until all the evidence was brought forth.

As the courtroom waited for the first witness to be brought forth, an Aide stepped foward and handed him a note.

" Terrorist activity reported in Syskeyia. Syskeyain Parliament building attacked. CLA Operatives look responsible. Comments?"

Cardinal Dante scowled but grabbed his pen and wrote" Deny any involvement. Issue a press statement to the effect that terrorism will not be tolerated even when perpetrated against our enemies. Put out a warrant for those responsible."

He passed the note back to the Aide, setteled himself in his chair and waited for the first witness to be brought forth.

The team of eleven men walked through security with no problem, walked into the bathroom and picked up a duffle bag from each stall, and then simple walked into the courtroom and sat down like regular citizens, waiting to strike.

The team of eleven men walked through security with no problem, walked into the bathroom and picked up a duffle bag from each stall, and then simple walked into the courtroom and sat down like regular citizens, waiting to strike.

OOC: I think you should wait a little before doing things like that, since it is plain GODMODDERY. The Reich is one of the most security concious regions of all. I believe only the defense team for Syskeyia was allowed into Iesus Christi. It is after all new years Eve so Iesus wont post for at least another 12 hours.

The team of eleven men walked through security with no problem, walked into the bathroom and picked up a duffle bag from each stall, and then simple walked into the courtroom and sat down like regular citizens, waiting to strike.

OOC: I think you should wait a little before doing things like that, since it is plain GODMODDERY. The Reich is one of the most security concious regions of all. I believe only the defense team for Syskeyia was allowed into Iesus Christi. It is after all new years Eve so Iesus wont post for at least another 12 hours.

OOC: Jaar, Don't be so mean to the n00bs. Everyone knows that Iesus Christi is virtually impossible to get into; you'd have an easier time getting into West Berlin from the USSR the in the sixties that you would of EVER getting into The Reich without special permission. But pray tell, Ocklawaha, how did you manage to get into the courtroom. I'd like to know.

women screamed and mean yelled at the cursed minions of hell.

So they're screaming and yelling at their own government? :D

Anyway...

---

Susanna Pakpahan, one of the Syskeyian ambassadorial staff, shuddered as she heard Ethan Luther's speech. What a bunch of rubbish, she thought. It'd be funny if they weren't so serious.

She looked at the Syskeyian-Chimaean-Thelassian defense team as she ascended to the witness stand. The Catholics on the defense team made a short, quiet prayer to St. Thomas More, asking for the blessed lawyer's intercession, as Susanna placed her right hand on a Bible and made the following oath:
"I, Susanna Pakpahan, do solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God."

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

I don't mean to burge in but I like trials :D I am here to see these crimanals punished for the crimes they have committed. I could be a jury member as I am impertial knowing neither you nor the criminals.

She looked at the Syskeyian-Chimaean-Thelassian defense team as she ascended to the witness stand. The Catholics on the defense team made a short prayer to St. Thomas More, asking for the blessed lawyer's intercession, as Susanna placed her right hand on a Bible and made the following oath:
"I, Susanna Pakpahan, do solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God."


"Heathens!" A man stood up in the crowd "How dare you touch the holy book with your filthy heretic hands!? How dare you declare a lawyer a saint? There are no blessed lawyers!" A rotten vegetable flew from the crowd towards the bench.

"Order! ORDER!" the honourable Jebediah Johnsson hit the desk in front of him hard with his club. "Let the woman speak! We are all interested in why a lawyer swears an oath to tell the truth and maybe it will unfold if you give the heathens a chance to explain themselves!" Jebediah glared at the crowd sitting in the large room.

As the case began, the Thelasians lowered their heads and closed their eyes, they prayed in (insert Ieusus' language here). Praying for the mercey of the court upon the defendants. They prayed that the court would impartial, they prayed that God would have mercy upon those inocents. One whispered, "Protect them, if it so be your wish, please, empower us to defend these inocents. I pray this by the power of The Sone, The Father, and The Holy Spirit"

OOC: Ieusus, can you give me a short summary of Ieusus laws and procedurs, I am a US law student, as such, I tend to assume that certain things are legal. You see, I was going to make a motion to change the location of the trial, but I am not certain if this is legal.

EDIT: What is the link to the riots? I had them marked, but Internet Exploder lost them for me.

OOC: I'm an AU law student lol... This will be interested ;)

IC

Sir Scott shot an annoyed look at his aide as the Iesus Judge riled the crowd. This was worse than he'd come to expect from the briefings he had recieved.

He looked over at his Catholic counterparts and wondered if he should be praying as well. He shook his head as if to clear it; he needed to keep his mind from wandering.

He opened the case file on Susanna Pakpahan and awaited the prosecution's case.

tag.

OOC: The Iesus court System is a mix of Inquisition/Witch hunt and Nazi court systems..being esp any evidence can be given/including supernatural evidence and hearsay...its just a matter if the judge choices to allow it. The Magistrate/judge has the final say on the truth/validity of a witness.
every Iesus court has the Malleus Maleficarum and bible before the judge.

we'll start the questions of sys first girl shortly...

... as Susanna placed her right hand on a Bible and made the following oath:
"I, Susanna Pakpahan, do solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God."



Cardinal Dante leaned foward:
"Pray tell, Ms. Pakpahan is that a copy of The Reich's Holy Bible or The Syskeian version of the Holy Book? As I understand it, we have differing versions of the Good Book.'
Cardinal Dante turned to the High Inquisitor," Let us have her swear on both our Bible and the Syskeia Bible. In the interest of fairness. We don't want any...future problems in translation, " he raised a bushy eyebrow," yes?"

Cardinal Dante leaned foward:
"Pray tell, Ms. Pakpahan is that a copy of The Reich's Holy Bible or The Syskeian version of the Holy Book? As I understand it, we have differing versions of the Good Book.'
Cardinal Dante turned to the High Inquisitor," Let us have her swear on both our Bible and the Syskeia Bible. In the interest of fairness. We don't want any...future problems in translation, " he raised a bushy eyebrow," yes?"

The honourable Jebediah Johnsson nodded to his esteemed collegues suggestion. "I concur with brother Dantes suggestion"

One of the Thelasian laywers finished praying and then stood, "Excuse me, Your Honor, but I would like to make a pre-trial motion for a change of location. This trial could never represent your legal system while in a location such as this. I would like to remind the court of the fact that this area is a little biased against the defendants, not for the possibility of their guilt, but because of their nationality. This will destroy any credibilty tht your legal system has. I request a change of location, to a nation, neither SATO nor Reich. Not Triumverate, maybe... You Honor, I request a change of venue to another Christian nation, Tord. In the Lyong peninsula. Last I heard, The Reich has had not dealings with them, and Thelas is the only SATO aligned nation to have any dealings with them."

"I request a change of location, to a nation, neither SATO nor Reich. Not Triumverate, maybe... Your Honor, I request a change of venue to another Christian nation, Tord. In the Lyong peninsula. Last I heard, The Reich has had not dealings with them, and Thelas is the only SATO aligned nation to have any dealings with them."

The honourable judges looked at eachother with astonishment of this prepostrous suggestion, eye brows raised, looked at the Thellasian lawyer and answered in Unison: "Denied" then they turned to the Syskeyian Lawyer and waited for her statement.

A waiter came in and placed a number of bottles of Pink Bunny Cola in front of the judges. The honourable Judge Johnson popped his open and drank greedily:
"Ahhh.. Could the defense please continue her speech? We are waiting"

[OOC: Just WHY THE HELL is it always The Reich being the aim for OMG SPECOPS DROPPED IN YOUR NATION!!!11ONELOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Bullshit?

With a few rare exceptions (that you would have to investigate, guys, there is a reason for the telegram function), there is no tourism, much less free traffic/ exchange of whatever to The Reich.

Planes entering souvereign Reich airspace would be shot own faster than you could say 'Ops, i took the wrong direction', and the first one coming with OMG THEY`RE STEALTHY!!!11 will be personally killed by me. IRL.

If you ain`t able to RP getting into the Reich with your guys (Which IS possible (I did it with another nation), it`s just hard, AND it demands some respect for your opponent, aka TELEGRAM AND ASK/ COORDINATE, just GO AWAY. But don`t just say 'I`m on my way' and 'I arrived and i`m secure in a paranoid nation of brainwashed illiterates with barcodings, without any problems of entering the building where the trial of arch enemies is held'. There is a reason no one else did reply to your initial posts: They were stupid. But since you do not seem to get the subtle hint, i`m writing this.

So, now for the IC part... [/rant]

---

ic:

Mariel sat in his chair, somewhat... enjoying the show.

Fairly efficient system. he thought, listening to the accusions and the reactions by the crowd.

The honourable Jebediah Johnsson nodded to his esteemed collegues suggestion. "I concur with brother Dantes suggestion"

Here, he raised his hand. "A moment please. Is there a reason why we should allow this devil`s edition of the holy book, the syskeyian perversion of the true faith, to be used in this trial? I know that they have certain problems with accepting the truth... our truth... but that alone can´t be reason enough to allow them practising their perverted version of what is our faith! It´s like allowing satan hismelf to join this room, to dirten this trial!"

"Brother (ooc:or Sister) Mariel, as I stated previously, I wish to have the Syskeyian witnesses take the oath on both our Holy Book and the Syskeyian Holy Book in the interest of fairness. Come now, we wouldn't want to be placed on trial ourselves for being...unfair, now would we? The Reich recognises that other countries have their own version of God (here he muttered) no matter how wrong those beliefs might be...(he raised his voice again) and as such we respect their rights. I think the Reich counsel is in concurrance with me, yes?"

Dante then scribbled a note on a piece of paper and handed it to a court clerk."Give this to Brother Mariel."

Note from Cardinal Dante
I don't want the Syskeyian heathens' defense team to find a loop hole; they shall not move for a mistrial because we did not allow them to use their own Bible. Can they really be held accountable if they are not taking an oath of honesty by their own standards? No...I think it best we let them follow their own barbaric ways..to an extent...
~Dante

Mariel (He`s a he, yes) read the note. He ddin´t like it, he didn´t like the idea of an oath sworn to the perversion this heathen called a 'religion'.

However, he had to realise that Cardinal Dante was, in fact, right. Of curse, theoretically, they shuldn´t make any concessions, and follow gods will, and only gods will.

However, unfortunately, the world includes nation, people, that wouldn´t like it. And more importantly, their opinion, as wrong as it was, culd become problem.

In the great scheme of things, he couldn´t deny the fact that this concession was... necessary.

"I..." He spoke slowly and quietly. "I retract my previous statement. For the sake of... of fairness, and as a sign of... respect (He spoke the word in a way, it sounded like a curse, the contempt almost visible) for the Syskeyian... missent sheep, i agree that their own, corrupted version of the bible should be allowed."

*bump for Syskeyia*

The Thelasian laywers sighed and also got out some Pink Bunny Cola.

(Aka bump)

The honourable judges tapped their fingers on the table while waiting for the Syskeyian Lawyer to continue.

At the back benches three old hags sat knitting while watching the trial.

We're actually waiting for the Iesus Christi prosecution to start the charges against the defendant.

In your own time... Bump!

Ethan Luther read over the list of charges...

Murder
Rape
Violating the will of God
Violating state security
Violating the Blessed Virgin Mary
Witchcraft
Theft
Violating Christian Holidays
Cruelty to animals
'Speaking with the devil'

Luther couldnt help but feel sick...What Evil lives in these syskeyians hearts.

"my Lord Judges, let us begin this trial with what I consider to be the worst crime.....
Witchcraft!
*the crowd gasped*
Yes....the most terrible crime...'suffer not a witch to live' God commanded...and now we see why..ritual child abuse...rat molesting and kitten eating was all carried out in the name of this satanic art-Witchcraft
*luther spat and crossed himself*
I have here...with me...statements to present to you Lord Judges written by the actual VICTIMS of the syskeyian heretics! Yes my Lords...
read these signed statements of those who escaped the claws of the Syskeyian demons! read about John Johnny Jo-jo and how they forced him to do.....the unthinkable....
I beg you Lord Judges to accept these written statements into evidence without the need for the children to appear in the court...accept their word and mine on the matter.
For certainly the children shouldnt suffer any more...should they your honours?

Sir Scott stood up, with a weary look on his face.

"With due respect to the learned prosecution, allowing un-corroborated evidence into a court of justice is unthinkable. Mere signatures are not enough proof that these testimonies even came from these children. At the very least we should be able to examine video testimony of the children and be allowed to cross examine, if not them, then their counsellors or psychiatrists. This is the acceptable alternative to the prosecution's wish for the children not to suffer the stresses of the court process.

Having said that, let's move onto the first charge, that of Witchcraft. You mentioned specifically, child abuse, rat molesting and kitten eating as specific crimes within this overall charge. Putting aside the issue of child abuse until the honourable judges make a decision on this evidence, where is the proof of rat molestation at all? Molestation is defined as either to disturb, interfere with, or annoy or to subject to unwanted or improper sexual activity. I will take it that the prosecution means the latter.

The prosecution has not yet spelt out any specific circumstance of the defendants engaging in these acts. Nor do we have any actual details on what acts were committed by the defendant; the charges are without form, brought out in hazy language to mask a mistruth, your honours. Without even a proper allegation, let alone evidence... I ask that you drop these charges or spell out in certain what happened. Where and when did these charges come to light? But I will also let this be for now, until the charges are cleared up.

The same goes for the kitten-eating.

I ask that the prosecution clear these points before going on with the case at hand."

The Iesus judge spoke clearly
"perhaps you are unlearned in the ways of the law here...in matters of witchery and treason testimony may be read directly into evidence if the Lord Judges agree the evidence is factual. The learned prosecution Ethan Luther is of good character, the statements are signed by noted Iesus men of learning and none would lie....I therefore vote we accept the evidence into the records....what say you fellow judges?"

The Thelasian lead laywer stood up, taking off his cloak (fairly common over-clothing in Thelas), revealing the fact that he was a Catholic Cardinal, his face was impassive, "Your Honor, I request to speak for a moment,

Your Honor, we here are both Catholics, I am a Cardinal, I have been one for five hundred years, I have been a Christian since birth, two thousand years. I have heard arguments for and against many things, one of which was the agruments for and against, cloning. The argument that we could not play god, Your Honor.

How can we be so presumptuous as to say that we mere creations of God can decide who has worshiped God or the Devil? Only God can know that. Only God has the book of life, only God can see into our souls. For us, for you, to decide this, is playing God just as it is to Clone Human beings.

That is why I ak the court to throw out charges listed here:

Violating the will of God, how we be so proud as to know His will.
Violating the Blessed Virgin Mary How can we know this? Cannot only God know matters of the spirit.
Violating Christian Holidays, Again, How can we be so proud
Speaking to the Devil, Once again, only God can know these things, only god can see into the Book of Life "

Back at the table, one of the laywers put his breifcase on the table, opened it, and then took out some papers, closing the breifcase, he kept the case on the table.

"I do not propose to say that the prosecutor is lying, your honour, but I do say that the people who signed this did so under a misconception. If your lordships must consider this testimony fact before entering it into evidence, then my suggestion of a video recorded testimony by the children themselves would cement this evidence? And allowing the examination of wittnesses would also back up the case. I'm sure the prosecution would not attempt to get in the way of proving their own evidence; it would further their own case. The truth is always respectable."

The honourable Jebediah Johnsson nodded to Sir Scott. "Yes I agree, bring in the child!"

A small 11 year old was brought in. He sniffed and looked scared as his eyes met the judges. Jebediah looked at the child and asked with a stern but soft voice.
"Now Martin, I want you to tell us what happened, and now that God sees you in this court. So just tell the truth."

The hags in the backbenches lay down their knittings and munched some on a pie, whispering to eachother.

Martin looked scared to death and looked at the crowd staring at him. "I was home alone in january for a few nights. My mom had to work and my father was out somewhere so I was left at home for the night. When I was alone my window was opened and I was moved to a dark place. There I was tortured most grieviously and saw kittens with two heads and some with none. I was held there and they declared this were their Sabbath, in the room there were many other kids and we were forced to kiss a goats ass. All the time they were dancing and chanting to the dark lord for powers, they tried to hid their faces behind mask but they removed them when they started to trance. They were all there!" The young boy pointed at the accused "Then they threatened me and then I fell asleep. When I woke up I was at home and me grandmother had died during the night. The milk on the farm had grown sour and my father had a headache and was sick. The next day I felt them choking me, and that happened two days later too."

The honourable Jebediah looked gravely at the accused as the young boy told his story. "We've heard young Martins story about witchcraft most vile..." The judge was interupted by a scream at this time.

"He's pincing me! HE'S PINCING ME WITH THE DEVILS PINCERS!!" Young Martin lay screaming at the floor holding his arms and legs and pointing at one of the accused. A warden quickly stepped forward and carried the child out as another moved forward and struck the accused with a stun gun. THe room was in chaos.

"ORDER, ORDER!"

OOC: You got your witness, god bless the Salem Archives. I'm starting of the investigations now, with Espresso to go as leader of the commitee

Sir Scott moved out of his seat to protect the accused beind their stand, but his way was blocked by the wardens. He turned angrily in mid-stride to face the judges, and waited till order was restored.

"Let's examine that evidence shall we? Now that we can't possibly cross-examine the wittness? Well. An eleven year old boy that he was home alone for a few nights in January. Aside from the neglect connotations in that, he goes on to say that his window opened and he was taken to a 'dark place'. There he wittnesses, amongst other things," Sir Scott glanced at his notes, "'kittens with two heads, and some with none'. Now, I'm sure that we are all men of reason here. I presume that the 'dark place' mentioned would be thought of by the prosecution as the Syskeyian Embassy. Now it is not a stretch of the imagination to see that a kitten without a head is indeed possible. A kitten with two heads, however... I'm sure a thorough search of the Syskeyian Embassy has been conducted. I do not recall, in the manifest of the Syskeyian Embassy that the Syskeyian Ambassador in Chimaea sent me, any two-headed kittens. I dare say that none could be found if we were to go to the Syskeyian Embassy right now and search it."

Sir Scott nodded, almost to himself. "An eleven year old boy, left alone repeatedly at night. I don't know about the honourable judges or the members of the court here today but when I was eleven I was frightened of the dark, frightened of being left alone at night. I do not, however, recall being left alone at night day after day... But if I was, I'd say I'd be terrified, each day, having a night of loneliness and darkness to look forward to.

"As adults we all know that there is not much reason to fear the dark of night. The dangers there are dangers that are in the bright of daylight too. As adults we've all spent a night alone, without worrying or giving it a second's thought... We've looked upon shadows and known them for shadows, upon distortions, heard the thousand creaks and groans of a house settling from the cold of night... We sleep through that, but a child does not. To an eleven year old boy that strange shadow is a monster waiting to pounce, that snap a monster at the door.

"And that boy has to spend night after night looking, listening... and then one night, as he sits looking and listening, he unwittingly drifts off.

"What does he see? Monsters perhaps. Kittens with two heads. Goats. Witches, certainly, he's bound to have heard of witches. He dreams, your honours, he dreams." Sir Scott ran a hand through his iron-grey hair. Then he says softly, but loud enough that the court can hear, "How can an eleven year old boy recognise the chants of witches?"

In an instant he strode across the room to his seat and rifled through the notes.

"'All the time they were dancing and chanting to the dark lord for powers'! They were chanting, your honours, to a dark lord. For powers, no less. How does an eleven year old boy, terrified out of his wits, understand that? 'They tried to hide their faces behind mask but they removed them when they started to trance'! To trance? It seems this is an exceptionally gifted child, the way he understands what's happening in such an extreme situation.

"A witch's chants are not in slow, clear English. In fact popular belief has it that the Bible, read backwards, constitutes the sorts of things a witch says as he or she goes on the business of witchcraft. Babble, it is called. So what do we have? A child who not only has an in-depth knowledge of witch's chants and a knowledge that they pray for power from a dark lord? A child who not only knows what a trance is, in its many forms, but instantly recognises that the witches are in trance--witches who, I might add, for no good reason take off their masks whilst in this trance? I can't see an eleven year old boy having this capability.

"Now we come to this... dark place once more. It is a place which is dark, the child said so... but we are led to believe that in this dark place, in the midst of this greatly terrible experience, this child gazed upon the faces of the witches; gazed long enough to remember them in this courtroom today. How?

"This testimony is full of holes, your honours. It is full of inconsistancies, full of doubt.

"Then this... psychic attack. Why would one of the defendants attack this boy after he had delivered his testimony? Surely it is in their best interests to do it before, or while it was happening. But why do it at all? What good could it possibly do, except lessen their chances? This attack makes no sense... apart from bringing to mind Arthur Miller's classic play 'The Crucible'. I'm sure the learned judges and persons of this court have at least heard of it." Sir Scott smiled a bit. "Every Chimaean student has had to read it for many a difficult English assignment. It deals with the case of the witch trials in Salem, 1692. It was a case of mass hysteria, brought on by the political, religious and cultural climate of the day. Women who showed an independant spirit, women who were generally disliked, and women who the people of the day carried a grudge against were cruelly put on trial and executed. After the hysteria died down the government of the day payed compensation to the heirs of the victims. The Church rescinded the excommunications and one of the wittnesses who accused women of witchcraft wrote a letter of remorse in which she explained that the Devil had made her accuse the innocent of withcraft.

"Could it be that the hysteria that was evident in the destruction of the Syskeyian Embassy, the hysteria that can so readily be seen within this court itself... That this hysteria has fuelled this boy's testimony?

"Or perhaps... and my learned Christian colleagues may clear this point; perhaps this is the work of the Devil indeed--but the Devil's work is decieving this poor, neglected boy into pointing out innocents so that the state may punish them unnecessarily. They say that the Devil is in the detail, your honours. Perhaps it is in the detail that we may find the truth of the matter."

Sir Scott walked over to his seat and sat down tiredly.

Jebediah Johnsson looked at sir Scott. "Maybe you should be aware of that our people are very good at recognising the deeds of the Devil. Having fought him for so long. This brave little child is not our only witness, we have many more witnesses saying the same things. The obvious retaliation from the devil spawn could not have come before but as we all know revenge comes afterwards." Jebediah looked around on the crowd. " I wish we could have searched the emabssy better, but we have done that and we have in fact found dead kittens in there. The independant investiagion has also started and reports that there has been a possible drug ring in the embassy. Using the kids and selling them their devilish drugs under the cover of being a peaceful embassy."

OOC: Nice one Chimaea. Wrong legal system to do it in only =)

OOC: Thanks ^^; but short of bringing in my own religious stuff, there's no way I can win this with reason is there? x_x Out of curiosity, are we RPing this to a set script? Is there something that the Reich and Syskeyia cooked up somewhere?

IC

"Your honour, it is a simple thing to plant dead kittens into a ravaged and raided Embassy. Anyone could have done it, during or after the riots in question... It's a little too convenient to find these kittens. Do they indeed have two heads?" Sir Scott rested his chin on his hand. "I doubt that an eleven year old child would be capable of identifying in depth witchcraft, specially in such extreme circumstances, but even so... if the child knew these things, then they could easily have been a dream, or a hysteria-induced 'reality'.

"As for the grandmother, I really don't know what health she was in beforehand. And bad milk makes you sick. It'd be obvious to expect that these farmers would drink their own produce rather than buy it from a shop; the milk has something wrong with it and is discovered only after it is drunk... Without an investigation into that, such evidence cannot be substiantiated or proven.

"As for the drug finds, I have yet to be briefed on this and naturally we'll wait till it comes into the light."

OOC: right, I'm off to sleep... I'm gonna dream of witches I just know it >.<

OOC: Thanks ^^; but short of bringing in my own religious stuff, there's no way I can win this with reason is there? x_x Out of curiosity, are we RPing this to a set script? Is there something that the Reich and Syskeyia cooked up somewhere?

OOC: Nope. Now their planting stuff. Is there no justice?

Not in the Reich there isn't.

There. Responded for you. ;)

What about my guys.

As for the "Syskeyia" BIble/Reich Bible thing, call one of my witnesses up. I've prepared for the Bible question? :wink:

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

Bump

Cardinal Dante had a throbbing headache. It started when the child began screaming in the courtroom. Yes there was witchery afoot...a child having knowledge of such horrors...

Dante leaned foward and took a sip of Bunny Cola then adressed the defense:

"At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank Thee, O Father, LORD of Heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast REVEALED them unto babes, Matthew 11:25. Surely as Christians you must know that passage, eh Sir Scott? And pray tell, when did you get your degree in child psychology?"

He looked at Brother Luther. " May it be introduced into evidence, Lord High Inquisitor, that Sir Scott of Chimaea is attempting to use(he spat out the word) psychology in this courtroom?"

He sat back in his chair and rubbed his temples.

Sir Scott rolled his eyes. "I'm here as a lawyer, sir--I'm not being judged on my religion. If you wish it, I can easily call an expert wittness to testify as to the effects of mass hysteria on children, or a child psychologist to testify as to the effects of gross neglect on children. I'm hardly using psychology, your honours, but rather the common sense that nearly all human beings are blessed with. A child left alone at night will be afraid, this doesn't need a..." he glared, "...a 'degree in child psychology'."

He tapped his fingers on his desk. "Where are the prosecution's expert wittnesses, your honours? Where are your investigators of witchcraft, your renowned authorities? Or should I request that it be entered into the record that the prosecution seeks to have the defence prove our case and they themselves rely on mere hearsay? Hardly fairness or equality.

"As it is, your honours, on my defence team there is an expert on religion, well versed in the theories and intracasies of witchcraft. To the court and for the record, Bishop Irenaeus Aquinas of Walking Carpets, a nation within the Empire of Baron, will take Defence for a time. He is a leading authority on religion as well as being the Bishop of Furball."

OOC: Yeah, I know, Walking Carpets, Furball... it's not my nation so don't blame me :P

The Iesus Judge nodded....
"psychology? What need for it? as the noble HARU judge has pointed out all christians have the ability to know the minions of the devil...
as a judge I believe the childs words, and am willing to believe all the other childrens statements being they are all co signed by Iesus officals too-being honourable and learned officals...the child clearly is telling the truth , ergo so are all the other children ergo the Iesus officals were correct in taking the statements....simple..
Brother Luther again stood up
" Sir Scott of Chimaea in his attempt to use perverse 'western' psychology in this courtroom has shown unto the court something darker perhaps....
We have already seen one witness tormented by witchery...perhaps Sir Scott is in council with SATAN also...perhaps he even more is bewitchery us!"
The crowd howled
" I demand under section 1a of the Iesus witchery law Sir Scott kiss the cross of Christ , pledge his loyalty to Christ and denounce all of the works of Satan! or be taken from this place of law and stoned to death!
Also I demand the The Thelasian laywers reframe from speaking any metahuman language in this court least they bring satan down upon us! and that they all be searched again! I trust not the look of them your honours.....
Once this is done we have a ADULT witness to the horror...
a eldar James..."

OOC: Written before Iesus' post. Could I get some background from someone here? How many defendants are there? Were all of the embassy staff supposedly involved in this? How many died in the riots? If Martin's thingo supposedly happened in January, what month is it now? How long was all this meant to have been going on?

IC:
Bishop Aquinas rose solemnly to his feet, dressed in a plain grey suit with only a small mahogany crucifix, eye-catching in its austerity, to denote his position. He handed a large folder brimming with references and credentials to a bailiff before addressing the court in an impressive baritone.

"Esteemed brethren, as Sir Scott has said I am Bishop Irenaeus Aquinas of Furball, capital of Walking Carpets. I was educated for twelve years from the age of nine in the Papally endorsed Furball Seminary. After my ordination I elected to serve in the now defunct Holy Republic of Castinia, where I became the protegé of Bishop Hargreaves, a close friend and confidante of the late Bishop of Rome. I assisted Hargreaves in combatting a branch of an international Satanic cult which had taken root in Castinia, and when the Lord in His wisdom allowed my mentor to be captured and martyred by the Enemy, I took up his leading role in the fight. The battle took nearly eight years and ultimately lead to the exposure of many corrupt government officials, but in the end Castinia was rid of the plague of witchery. All but four of the twenty-seven years since I have moved back to Walking Carpets have been served as a Bishop, four of them as Spiritual Advisor to the President. I left when he refused my requests for aid in the fight against Satan in my own nation, and though it has meant much loss and hardship I have continued the battle alongside several other Bishops in the years since then.

"However despite Sir Scott's flattering introduction I do not come before you as an 'expert' in any field except that which Christ named to be the most important and indeed the only; love. I may know more about the motives and tactics of Satan's servants than most any man alive, yet as 1 Corinthians 13 shows, without the love of Christ in me my knowledge is worthless and my faith in vain. So though I have little approval for the political policies of Chimaea or indeed any government which doesn't take seriously its God-given duty to pursue peace and justice, I come here with the love of the Father who granted us justice through the death of his Son for our salvation.

"I have watched these preceedings with anguish, for it seems to me that the court's zealous hatred of evil has been allowed to mar what should be a place of love and impartial justice. Love for the accused, even if they were guilty, as Christ loves us. And impartial justice above all, that we might know whether or not there even is any evil here deserving of these howls of bitterness and hatred. For is it not written in the book of the Law, in Leviticus 19:15, "Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly"?

"It is in light of this which we must consider the very next verse of that chapter, which says "Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD." No-one, of course, would suggest that the child brought forth to accuse the defendants was deliberately lying in order to have them executed. But as Sir Scott has pointed out, there are many questions which must be asked about the claims of the child, and given the Lord's abhorrence both for false justice and for endangering the life of a fellow human being, these are questions which must be answered.

"They cannot be hidden behind vague references to Scriptures such as Matthew 11:25, your honours, for surely as knowledgeable Christians you know that there were no children near Jesus at this time; the verse refers to the hypocrisy and blindness of the dominant religious institutions of the time, whose 'wisdom' could never be a substitute for the child-like love and faith of those "steeped in sin at birth," as John 9:34 records the insults used by those hypocrites. No, Matthew 11:25 merely uses 'wisdom' and childishness as an illustration to convey a message about pride and humility. If it has anything to do with the case at hand, it is not in support of the child's statements.

"So then, if we are to obey the Law's commands to give justice even to those who would otherwise incur our disfavour, we must answer these questions about the child's claims to see whether they are above doubt or whether, instead, they are nothing more than the gossip and hearsay condemned so frequently in the Scriptures. That is a matter for those well-versed in legal matters, not myself. Though I may suggest that even if the court still wishes, against biblical evidence, to suggest that the Lord would reveal to a child the essences of dark rituals, it is quite another to pretend that He would grant him the vocabulary to describe his ordeal as being "tortured most grieviously." I suppose those who have children of their own would be more suited than myself to assess the abnormality or otherwise of such speech on the lips of 'babes'.

"However quite aside from these matters which should have already been addressed in the usual course of a fair trial, I think my presence is required more for my knowledge of witchcraft. And to be perfectly blunt, my expectations were raised so high by the allegations made by the prosecution that the child's statement was almost a let-down. I am no stranger to witchcraft and ritualism, to cults big and small, and I can say with certainty that if there had been any such thing going on in the Syskeyian embassy, they must have been the most amateurish witches I have ever seen.

"If we are to believe the prosecution, members of the embassy staff were involved in multiple murders, rapes, thefts, drug dealings and witchcraft rituals, quite aside from all the accusations that they dared to practice religious freedom on Syskeyian soil. Yet for all the depths of devilishness to which they had supposedly sunk, they had apparently acquired none of the subtlety and deceptiveness which their master is shown to have in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. Smart enough to try to use diplomatic immunity to protect themselves... but not smart enough to hide their identities? Even stupid enough to let witnesses go free? Somehow I find that hard to swallow.

"If the prosecution wishes to inform the court that the tame amateurs which the defendants would have to be if the allegations were true really are the worst servants of Satan they have ever encountered, as they make them out to be, the logical conclusion is that prosecution actually has very little knowledge of that about which they speak. I have encountered every type of witch to be found in my corner of Baron in over thirty-five years. I've seen the international Satanic cults, the darker side of Wicca and wolves in sheep's clothing infiltrating the church. I've lead police in raids where bullets have stopped in mid-air and only prayer has seen us through, exposed wicked government officials and brought to Christ teenagers sucked into ritual sacrifice by their friends. And the simple fact is that none of them, not even the teenagers high on drugs and trying to sacrifice their cousin, have been as sloppy and stupid as these embassy staff have supposedly been in their own organised ring."

He bowed to the judges and sat down, smiling gently to himself as though the conclusion were obvious.

Sir Scott bit his lip. "Your honours, I'm a citizen of Chimaea on a diplomatic mission of peace and as such I do not have to adhere to Iesus' religious laws. Furthermore, the prosecution's suggestion that I abase myself before the Iesus Catholic Church and this court is frankly insulting, as are their baseless allegations.

"As for their threat, I am a Governor's Counsel, one of the foremost lawmen in Chimaea and the Commonwealth. To kill me is to risk a diplomatic and military backlash--it is an act of provocation to the Empire of Baron. I represent the Baronial UN Delegation to Iesus Christi. I'm sure that no-one here really wants me dead; I am not on trial here and my death would nhot accomplish anything... it seems to me that the prosecution seems to be trying to use some blatant methods of distraction from the main points.

"However in the interests of peace I will make this statement: I do not in any way follow Satan, and I will freely denounce Satan in any form whatsoever. I also believe that Christ was a man of peace and goodwill who preached about good things such as love and friendship, and for that I can be said to be his follower."

IC:
From the back of the room, several men quietly enter and they begin giving out Pink Bunny Cola to the public as refreshments.

OOC: Chimaea, no way you are going to win this with reason. This is a mock trial after all.

*watches Christians kill each other off and grabs some popcorn*

OOC: Yeah I know, but it's fun with the verbal sparring and so forth... And didn't I say I had an expert? eh? That's right >.< He's a friend of mine :P

OOC: Written before Iesus' post. Could I get some background from someone here? How many defendants are there? Were all of the embassy staff supposedly involved in this? How many died in the riots? If Martin's thingo supposedly happened in January, what month is it now? How long was all this meant to have been going on?
Right here (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=103865).

OOC: When can I call some of my guys up to the witness stand?

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

When the judge asked the Thelasians not to speak in their native tounge, one of them, young, especialy by elven standards bolted up about to say something, probably impolite by the look on his face, the Cardinal also stood, he put his hand on the youngsters shoulder, forcing him to sit back down.

"I am sorry for the disturbance, that my protoge caused, his family was killed by humans after his mother and father were raped by two of your (Iesus Christi's) soldiers, he was rescued by a Thelasian Gunboat and became a citizen of the Empire shortly thereafter, renouncing his citizenship of your nation. He can get a bit, over-exited some times.

As for your question, we Thelasians are elves, but we are not Demons, nor do we speak the toung of Lucifer, the Decever and Lord of Darkness. In fact..." As the Cardinal was about to get off on a tangent, one of the Bishops stood up and placed his hand on the Cardinal's shoulder, "Calm down, they don't want to hear the similarites between Satan and Morgoth... trust me, this is not the time.

What my friend was trying to say is that our tounge, that of Sindarin, is not that of the Devil, in fact, I will give a demonstration if the court will let me,

Ae Adar nín i vi Menel
no aer i eneth lín
tolo i arnad lín
caro den i innas lin
bo Ceven sui vi Menel.
Anno ammen sír i mbas ilaurui vín
ar díheno ammen i úgerth vin
sui mín i gohenam di ai gerir úgerth ammen.

The rough translations is thus:


O my father who in heaven, be holy your name, let your kingdom
come, make it [happen], your will on Earth as in Heaven. Give to us today
our daily bread and forgive us our wrong-doing like us who forgive those who
do wrong-doing to us

The Better Translation, I am sure you will recognise,

O Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be they name, they kindom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who tresspass against us.

If Sindarin is a Demon tounge, than by rights, I should not be able to say The Lords Prayer in it. I hope this demonstration pleases the court."

The two laywers sat back down.

Eldar James shuffled into the courtroom. He was a shadow of his former self; nicks and cuts showed through the stubble of hair that was regrowing on his scalp, his face was bruised. He shielded his eyes from the bright lights as he took his place on the witness stand.

"Place your right hand on the Bible..."

James looked confused for a moment, glanced at the Skskeyian defense, looked back at the judges and placed a trembling hand on the Bible(Reich Version).

"I swear to tell the truth...the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God..." he broke off into a sob when he said the word god.

Cardinal Dante leaned forward and asked James if he was okay.

"Yes, I'm alright...it's just that...just that..."

"Come now my dear boy, what is wrong? You must tell the court everything. You are safe here," he indicated the large cross that dominated the walls of the courtroom.

James took a deep breath and began.

" I was sent on a mission to infiltrate the Syskeyian Embassy in St. Dominic. I made it through the front door while my comrades backed me up in the courtyard. About three minutes later I heard an explosion; I was just about to reach the second floor when the building shook, throwing me off balance...the lights went out...I felt someone grab me...I was praying to God that it was my comrades, that they had gotten into the building and were providing back-up but I was wrong....oh so wrong..." he began to tremble again, " a cloth was pressed against my face. The next thing I knew everything went black."

"I woke up in a really dark room. At first I thought that the building must have exploded and that I was trapped in a small crawlspace but then I realised that I was in a small room the size of a closet. I heard voices...chants... far away getting closer. A patch of light shone through the door in a small rectangular opening and some bread, water, and a small lit candle was pushed through the opening."

"I held the candle aloft. At first I though I was being punished for failing in my mission...I hoped, I prayed..then I saw it."

The prosecution leaned forward. All eyes in the courtroom were on James. He spoke in a far away voice.

"I saw markings on the walls. Crudely drawn figures of humans and beasts performing sexual acts...with each other. A dark substance covered the walls in patches. Whether it was blood or feces or both, I know not.

A large five pointed star, upside down in a circle was etched into the floor. Something that looked like a small heart was lying in the middle of it. I could have been an animal's heart or human... I screamed in horror even though I had been trained to deal with extreme situations."

"Laughter sounded outside my 'room' A voice said "eat the meat and you shall live. Live forever...or face the consequences.'

I shouted NEVER and began to pray. I heard footsteps recede. I curled up in a ball and continued to pray..to be delivered from this demonic place.

In the silence I could hear loud explosions, and people screaming from very far away. I thought that I must still be in St. Dominic, praise God!!!

But my joy was not to last. Soon thereafter I heard the footsteps in the corridor outside my 'room'.
"Have you eaten yet?", came a voice.
"No, I will not touch your foul offering. I'd rather die than touch the stuff of Satan."
"Very well," came the voice,” You shall have your wish."

I was taken out of my cell..they had blindfolded me. I felt a prick in my arm and then I got woozy. I was dragged into what appeared to be a sub basement. They all stood there..Syskeyians. I was told they wore purple robes but here they were naked. A large cross hung upside down was on the wall. The five pointed upside-down star inside a circle was marked into the floor. Children and kittens frolicked about inside the circle. Those present held candles and chanted. Someone tied me to a wall and made me watch as they beheaded the kittens and drank their blood, spraying it over the children. They forced the children to...touch each other. Drenched in the blood of the freshly killed kittens they began to fondle the children themselves. They did..unspeakable things to those children...
I started to pray but they laughed and said God is Dead , Satan lives...
They offered me the blood of the kittens but I would not drink. They untied me and threw me into the circle. They poured blood on me and...
and..." James voice trailed off.

Cardinal Dante leaned forward. "Come James, we must know everything. For the sake of justice. You do want those who did this to you punished, yes?"

"Yes! Yes! They must be punished..they made me drink of the blood...they made me decapitate kittens...they made me have sexual relations with other men...OH I Can't Take it!!! The shame..the shame..."his voice trailed off.

James pushed his hands into his eyes as if trying to erase the memory but it was no use. He was openly crying now.

The spectators in the courtroom were in a frenzy. They had to be restrained from attacking the Syskeyian defense team by the Court Officers.

"ORDER!!!ORDER!!!" Cardinal Dante pounded his gavel on the podium. Then in a gentle tone of voice, he addressed James.

"My son, one more question and then you may be excused. How did you come to escape the clutches of these Satanists?"

James looked up. His tear streaked face was puffy from crying.

"I was rescued by Iesus Christi soldiers. I was sitting in my room when I heard a loud explosion. I ducked down and found myself in a pile of rubble. I started screaming for help and God be praised I was delivered by the God fearing Christians of Iesus Christi. God bless Iesus Christi!!!

"Thank you James. I know that was very difficult for you. Is there anything else you'd like to tell the court? Anything that might have escaped your memory?"

"Err..I don't think so...oh wait. During these *shudders* rituals they kept chanting..I couldn't understand their tongue but I thought I heard them say: 'for the glory of Syskeyia...our power comes from you Oh Mighty One'. I think they were referring to *shudders again* Satan."

"Thank you, James. You are excused."

James stood up. He glanced at the Syskeyian defense. He caught sight of a defense counsel coughing and spitting into a handkerchief. James immediately went into convulsions screaming,” They are here!!Satan sits among us!!!"

Court Officials raced over to subdue him but it was no use. They dragged him into an interior room behind the courtroom for his own safety.

Cardinal Dante addressed the courtroom:

"As you can see, James was an adult eye witness. This was a man, a soldier of God..and I place special emphasis on the word was...who had been trained his entire life to fight for Christ. Look at him now." He pointed to the pathetic figure of James who was being dragged out of the courtroom.

"We will find out the truth, God' s truth. Rest assured."

Cardinal Dante *bumped* his gavel on the table and called for the trial to continue.

The embassy's chaplain, Monsignor James Sihanouk, ascended the witness stand and placed his right hand on the (Syskeyian version of) the Bible.

"I, Monsignor James Sihanouk, do swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God."

You sure have a lurid imagination, he thought as he looked at his CLA namesake.

OOC: You can ask the chaplain questions now.
Also, my Internet time is short now, so it'll be one witness per day for me.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

The embassy's chaplain, Monsignor James Sihanouk, ascended the witness stand and placed his right hand on the (Syskeyian version of) the Bible.

"I, Monsignor James Sihanouk, do swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God."

You sure have a lurid imagination, he thought as he looked at his CLA namesake.

OOC: You can ask the chaplain questions now.
Also, my Internet time is short now, so it'll be one witness per day for me.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

Sir Scott sprang to his feet.

"Objection, your honours! The Defence must be able to cross examine the wittness! The prosecution has called up two wittnesses and we have not been able to cross examine either of them. We cannot be expected to do our jobs if we're denied this simple right every time a prosecution wittness takes the stand."

OOC: I have to go now :( So I'll complete the rest of the speech later.

Cardinal Dante addressed Sir Scott:
"Let us have a short recess until the witnesses for the prosecution compose themselves."

(OOC: Chimaea, TG me when you are ready to cross examine)

"Brothers of the Council for The Reich, what say you to this proposal?"

The Iesus Judge looked over his papers....
"Firstly...
Sir Scott ....for now you will not be arrested, but ONE more outburst or threat against Iesus law and order, and the honour of this court will result in your being dragged from this courthouse and stoned to death!
I know you are a honoured man but you are in IESUS CHRISTI now and OUR law is what rules this court! God Be praised! God be praised! Defy this...defy us with threats from your government and I will personally throw the first stone. Iesus Law is not subject to you! you are NOT ABOVE THE LAW OF GOD!
Secondly...
Bishop Aquinas is clearly a man of deep learning and what he said will be taken in....still....he clearly has been tainted by western thinking..Satan can even creep into the hearts of the most pius it seems...
Therefore I order he not be cross examined in this court but taken by officers of the Inquisition to another location, where they shall put him to 'the test' and therefore find out what parts of him are loyal to God and what parts to SATAN....God saves his own...
Next...
The Thelasians.....*the crowd hissed* You are in the greatest peril in this court..accusing Iesus christi soldiers of rape...taking the lords name in vain...speaking heresy by speaking the Lords prayer in your demon tongue...
ONE MORE WORD IN THAT FOUL TONGUE and that said tongue will be ripped from your head! Praise be the Blood and honour laws...Blessed be Matthew Iesus and God who gave them to us...
Just one more word of lies about Iesus or speaking your vile language and you'll find yourself .....just one more word...and you'll learn how very much Iesus citizens love the lord...
Lastly...the Matter of Eldar James...a sad story that I find much truth in...
but yes, should you wish to cross examine him...you may ...he will be recalled...
and now...perhaps a statement by that Syskeyian James Sihanouk, ....explaining his view of the charges against him...."

Sir Scott visibly restrained himself. "I apologise to the court, your honours. I will extend every curtesy to the honourable prosecution that they extend to me... As for any percieved threat, let us all work and hope that the situation will resolve itself and peace will prevail.

"Your honours, Bishop Aquinas is not an expert wittness but a member of the Defence team. As such he cannot be cross examined but rebutted by the prosecution, and he need not be taken to an Inquisition. Like me he is a diplomat of Baron and the customs of diplomacy frown upon the non-consentual arrest or otherwise of diplomats, even in times of war. If you wish, he can be sent back to Baron."

OOC: Sorry I wasn't around for so long, busy part of life right now... However, go ahead with the recall of the wittness and we'll see what happens.

As Sir Scott finished speaking Bishop Aquinas rose hastily to his feet beside the surprised lawyer.

"Your honour I appreciate your concern about the depth of my devotion to Christ. For in the second chapter of his latter epistle, St. Peter himself prophecied how false teachers would gain positions of leadership in the church, warning that "Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.""

He paused ever so briefly to let the slight emphasis sink in. "Truly these words are being fulfilled in this day and age, so every true Christian should be swift both to administer and to submit to 'the test' by which we are to guard against the Enemy's deceptions. In fact, were it not presumptuous of me I would even go so far as to ask your honours to confirm yourselves in this fashion for my own peace of mind. However because it would be incourteous, I will trust that my existing impressions are correct. . . unless your honours would voluntarily set my mind at ease by taking, with Christ's humility, 'the test' of which you speak?"

The Bishop's pause was even shorter this time, before he raised his voice over the disquieted murmer of the court in order to keep the initiative he'd seized. "HOWEVER FOR MYSELF I would be quite happy to confirm to the court my deep and sincere devotion to Christ by being tested, right here and now. As everyone here should know, the Apostle John in the fourth chapter of his earliest epistle wrote: "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognise the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God."

"So it is with great pleasure that I testify to all present that I am indeed a servant of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was born in the flesh of the virgin Mary, was crucified as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world, rose to life on the third day and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. I have repented of all my sins and renounced all the works of darkness, sought his forgiveness and the indwelling power of his Holy Spirit, and look forward to the end of this age when He will come to judge the living and the dead."

He stared straight at the Iesus judge, with a sadness and... compassion?... which only those directly in front of him could see. "Is the test prescribed by the Scriptures enough to convince you that I am in no way a deceiver from Satan?"

He turned around as if to sit down, but then suddenly spun back to face the judges. "Having clarified that, what do you say about what I've already said?"

Sir Scott nodded and raised a hand. "Before we continue, if I may also add at least some of the interesting facts I've noticed in Mr. James' testimony, for the prosecution's reaction...

"The first words of Mr. James' testimony reads thusly: 'I was sent on a mission to infiltrate the Syskeyian Embassy in St. Dominic. I made it through the front door while my comrades backed me up in the courtyard. About three minutes later I heard an explosion.'. Now I put to the court that the only time there were explosions in the Syskeyian Embassy, or nearby, was during the rioting and the storming of the Embassy. He states that the building shook, so these explosions or explosion was in close proximity and of a great enough impact to shake the building. An examination of the Syskeyian Embassy would reveal that it is a sturdy building, built very solidly. So an explosion which was near the Embassy would not have shaken the second floor of the building, enough to throw Mr. James off balance. Not a vibration, but an actual impact that effected the foundations of the Embassy.

"The first time such an impact was made upon the Embassy would be when the Embassy building was attacked by heavy weaponry, possibly high-explosive rounds. This was fairly close to the actual storming of the building itself.

"So we have what is a limitted frame of time for all these things which Mr. James has told in his testimony.

"Now, it has been brought to my attention by Syskeyia that they possess all the security camera footage of the time the riot took place to the time the Embassy fell. This footage is of both outside the Embassy and inside and nowhere within this footage does it show that the Embassy staff were participating in Satanic rituals. What it does show is that the staff were frightened, uncertain, panicking--what any of us would be like in such a situation. Which is not to say they didn't attempt to remain calm but they did travel inside the building from room to room, doing various tasks to deal with the situation. This can be seen in the video footage."

Sir Scott handed a bundle of video tapes to the bailiff of the court.

"These are exact copies of the footage. As I said, they do not show Satanic rituals going on during the time of the rioting; neither did they show the presence of children or a substantial number of kittens."

*bump*

"the court accepts the apology of Sir Scott. May he mind his tongue from now on...as for this...Syskeyian film evidence...how can we know if it is true? Clearly if the film doesnt show abused children..Kittens or Satanic activity it must be FAKE! Yes.... Syskeyian FAKERY.
*the crowd jumps to their feet screaming*
The court will not accept any foriegn God hating footage.
As for the explosion...perhaps it was...hmmm Gods own wrath? The very ground shoke when Sodom was destroyed you know...
and Bishop Aquinas .....you may well be a man of good character-A true lover of Christ but as you yourself warned us.. false teachers are everywhere. So....
You will be taken from this place and questioned by Loyal God fearing Inquisitors. Guards take him away!"

As the guards came for him, Bishop Aquinas stared at the judge and quoted the words of Paul with deathly calm: "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate God's Law by commanding that I be taken away!" (Acts 23:3)

Sir Scott jumped to his feet. "Your honours, Bishop Aquinas is not on trial here! He is part of the Defence team! To accuse him of something enough to warrant an arrest is surely a completely separate matter and should be done before the correct diplomatic channels?

As the nearest diplomatic representative of the Empire of Baron, I wish to send Baronial wittnesses to this Inquisition, to make sure that Bishop Aquinas, as another diplomat, has his rights uphelp under international law."

"the court accepts the apology of Sir Scott. May he mind his tongue from now on...as for this...Syskeyian film evidence...how can we know if it is true? Clearly if the film doesnt show abused children..Kittens or Satanic activity it must be FAKE! Yes.... Syskeyian FAKERY.
*the crowd jumps to their feet screaming*
The court will not accept any foriegn God hating footage.

"I object to the this wretched and Satanic mockery of justice that you call a trial!" exclaimed one of the Syskeyian defense lawyers. "This has been biased from the start! First you begin by farbicating horrid crimes against us, place the whole courtroom in an atmosphere of hysteria, not unlike the Salem witch trials, invite bold-faced liars to spread falsehood and deceit about us, and when we present any evidence to the contrary, you throw it out as 'God-hating' 'fakery!' I daresay it I have trouble believing you would acquit my clients even if God Himself came into this courtroom and cleared their names.

"Moreover, how can the Iesus Christi government and indeed any of the ruler in the Reich claims to be so holy and purely Christian when they use the 'Reich edition' of the Bible- a version which has certain passages and phrases that can be found in no other version, not even the most earliest manuscripts- of the Holy Scriptures, save those which were printed in the Reich after the plague of fascism infected this God-fearing land.

"You know the passages. The ones demonizing elves. (OOC: What other "special passages" does the Reich bible have.) I daresay, go look at any other Bible, including the ones found in the Vatican itself- nay, even the Nova Vulgata which the Holy Mother Church herself uses in her Latin Rite liturgy- you will not find these passages. The elf-hating phrases are not the words of God, but of man, or perhaps, dare I say it, the devil.

And I dare not comment on the fact of Matthew Iesus II's relationship with his mistress, Maire Haru.

"But back to the trial. Sor far we have called two witnesses, a woman and our priest, to the stand. You have not questioned them, though they have already taken oaths to tell the truth.

"I hereby summon Monsignor James Sihanouk to the stand."

The defense attorney then sat down.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

OOC: Sorry guys, getting out of the loop here, too many posts. Should we try Syskeyias witness and try to question him with some structure?

The honourable Jebediah Johnson leaned forward and told the Bishop while he was led out. "May god have mercy on your soul if it is as corrupted as it sounds. If it isn't you will have nothing to fear from the inquisition. Doesn't the holy scripture say "A truly great man doesn't conspire against humanity. He strives to cleanse the sinners with the holy flame. I grant Sir Scotts wish to send some men to accompagny the bishop and experience the Test with him. Any volounteers?" Jebediah looked at the assembled people from Baron. "I further believe we will listen to Monsignor James Sihanouk, but I warn you. Lies are treated as a deadly sin here in The Reich."

The Iesus Judge cleared matters up...
"Bishop Aquinas has not been arrested.....he is being questioned, that is all, we must see if Satan is at work in him! His questioning will be a closed affair...God be praised...

Now...that Syskeyian rant......Silence your Dog tongues! God Himself leads this courtroom and his truth will come!
Iesus Christ has not ALTERED the bible...just cleared up the translation...suffer not a witch or elf to live!
To even think that we would alter the word of God is ....is....a insult on all Citizens! We base our laws on what God has told us....The Vatican has clearly stated only humans are worthy of Christs blood...his redemption..to say otherwise is anti-Church and anti God!
and how dare you Insult our blessed leader Matthew Iesus! Your nation allies with baby butchers and you dare insult Christs own messenger Matthew Iesus! Think about the MILLIONS of innocents killed in the womb by your allies before you insult us! Heil Matthew Iesus ! Heil his WIFE Maire of HARU!

Now get Monsignor James Sihanouk up onto the stand!"

One of the Thelasi continued to get annoyed, his pale face showing more and more anger, untill finally he broke silence had stood, the lead Thelasi also standing, obviously annoyed at his outburst, "and killing my family was somehow excusable, my wife was pregnant, and the soldiers killed her, my sons were killed as they tried to stop the soldiers from doing this next act, my daughters, my four daughters, they were raped, then murdered by your soldiers, the oldest was no older than fifteen, the youngest was only NINE!" The Cardinal is now trying to get the furious bishop to sit down, "I only escaped because a Thelasi captain took pity on me as I swam, wounded and bleeding through sea water, he decided to break cover, to surface, and let his men take me aboard." He seems to be calming cown more now "Yet you... you..." he wisely ammends his next statement before he says it, "you claim to have the moral high-ground, just because your twisted version of the bible, twisted for political and social gain, tells you that we Sindarin, Eldar, Noldor, Cat-people and all other non-Humans are evil?! How dare you sully the name of the body of Christ, how dare you deface his image just so a mad leader can gain more power?"

He continues, his calmness now disapearing like mist during the sun-rise, "You call him 'God's messenger' yet you warn us of false prophets. Could it not be that Mathew Iesus is the verry false prophet that you seek in others? Does the bible not say "Do unto others as you would have done unto you"? Does the Bible not say "Thow shalt not kill"? Yes, I disagree with the practices of the Knootians, to be truthfull, I find their pratices disgusting. The Skeyevians have boycotted them, Thelas has shaky relations at best. Yet we do not try and impose our beleives on them through force. Persuation yes, but force, no. When did Christ force people to convert at the point of a sword or bow? Never, then why should we convert people at the point of a gun, or the threat of an Ortillery attack. Can we not pursuade the people?

So what if they choose to go to hell, that is not our issue, our issue, is what we do with the time alloted to us." The Bishop sits down, tired from his out burst, the Cardinal looks slightly stunned, "Ummm, Your Honors, I appologise for the outburst of my friend here."

One of the other delagations members stands up, "Your honor, I would like to be questioned, on the condition that I will be returned to Thelas, allive, at the end of this trial."

"ENOUGH" the Iesus Judge roared
"I warned you all! Enough of these out-bursts and LIES ! Bailiff deal with that man!"
"Sir, Yes Sir!"
The Bailiff raised his automatic rifle , and fired. Bullets slammed into the body mass of the Thelian who had caused such a scene.
The crowd howled in delight as the high impact rounds ripped into the heretics body ,and cheered as the blood seeped out of the villains body.
The Iesus Judge smiled, and the ‘Zed' behind him prepared for any 'strange' backlash, while the average troopers took combat stance.
"Take his body from the court and burn it....Now....any more outbursts? No one makes demands of the court! you WILL respect Iesus law! by God you'll cease these lies about Iesus Christi and you'll cease perverting the words of God! "

OOC: Actualy, that guy was wearing Silk Steel anti-bullet plate (I posted about it earlier, it is highly unlikly that unless the bailif was firing from about two feet away that the rounds would penetrate the person.

IC: The Thelasi paused for a moment, then his training (these guys, before becoming clergy men were soldiers, commandos actualy) kicked in, all of the Thelasi dropped to the floor, several of them also pulled the other representatives down. One of the elves pulled out a small radio, "ALL THELASI UNITS, CODE FOUR, I REPEAT, SHOTS FIRED, I REPEAT, SHOTS FIRED" The Thelasi remained on the ground, hiding behind the table, one of them started to take out a APP-4 (Think a auto-matic desert eagle) and load a magazine into the oversized weapon.

In the mean time, every Thelasi base on earth went into emergency alert, the only problem was, with out weapons, the teams could do little. As the incident developed a team of soldiers, elite, boarded a modified stealth plane, readying for a flight to Iesus Christi.

OOC: IC, you just stuck your hand into a hornets nest, Thelas is a protectorate of Menelmacar, our citizens (If I am not mistaken) are protected under Menelmacari law, in other words, you just shot at Menelmacari citizens, not only that, but Thelas is a member of several alliances, even though we have been disarmed by Menel, we still have protection.

OOC: From what I've seen of Iesus so far, how likely is it that you'd be permitted to take a gun into a court-room full of 'God's holy ones'? :P

IC:
Bishop Aquinas heard the shots just as he neared the courtroom's exit. He spun around to see what had happened, and was rewarded with a rifle butt in his mouth. Angrily he raised a fist to die fighting, but checked himself in time. Iesus couldn't protest that he'd assaulted a guard. Instead, ignoring his escort's attempts to remove him from the court, he dropped to his knees in fervent prayer.

OOC: Unlike the embassy incident, the whole world has just seen for itself
(A) death threats from the Iesus judge to a Chimaean diplomat,
(B) the arrest without charge (with intent of torture) of a Walking Carpets diplomat and
(C) an unprovoked attempt to murder a Thelasian diplomat,
(D) not to mention the farce of the Syskeyians' trial itself,
because as Iesus' first post states, this is all being broadcast on international television. :)

Sir Scott ducked behind his table as the shots rang out, reflexively. They've gone insane, he thought in a shocked daze. They've lost it.

He shook his head and crawled to where his assistants were cowering behind the table. They stared at him in fear.

"What the fuck do we do now, sir?"

Sir Scott shrugged. "We leave. Our part in this trial is over... I guess it was over before it started."

Sir Scott stood up, rather bravely in the face of things. "You honours," he shouted to make himself heard above the noise, "The Baronial Defence team is leaving the trial and Iesus. There is no more cause to put Bishop Aquinas to any test. Our participation in events is over; please inform the Iesus Christi government that as diplomats, we have safe passage out of the Reich."

He nodded to his assistants, who stood up cautiously. Sir Scott headed for the exit, where Bishop Aquinas knelt praying, flanked by his guards...

One of the Thelasi lawyers yelled above the noise, “Your Honor, the Thelasi respectfully withdraw from this trial, hurriedly.” The Thelasi with the briefcase grabbed it, and the lawyers ran like all of hell was behind them. Running out of the building, they ran to the (armored) car outside they hopped in, driving to the airport in record time, boarding their plane, they took off, hoping to reach the borders of Ieusus Christi air-space before they were shot down. As they reached the border, from space, a squadron of fighters came down, sleek, agile, deadly, they assumed flanking positions around the transport, making their intention to protect the unarmed craft.

The small transport kicked its’ engines to full, soaring with the squadron of Zeros into first the upper atmosphere, and then into space, their plasma wakes fading away as they cleared the Earth’s atmosphere. Out in space, a massive Taiidani carrier de-cloaked, the cloaking generator coming off line revealing the Carrier and two Destroyer escorts. The transport and escorts docking with the super capital ship, then, the cloaking generators re-engaged, and the carrier disappeared. Flying out to the outer system, there, it de-cloaked, and entered Slip-Stream (Yes Slip-Stream, Thelas equipped all Taiidani ships with Slip-Drives), traveling back to their base located in the outer reaches of the galaxy.

Cardinal Dante was in a back room comforting James when he heard shots coming from the courtroom.

"What in God's holy name are those heathens up to now?"

Thankfully the sedatives which had been given to James had taken effect and he was calm.

Cardinal Dante, on the other hand, was furious when he entered the courtroom to see Chimaean and Thelasian defense council rushing for the exits.

Cardinal Dante had been trained as a soldier before becoming a man of the cloth. He quickly assesed the situation and called out to one of the bailiffs.

"Get over here, son. Now!"

"Yes, your Excellency?"

"Get me a secure connection to Maire Haru and Matthew Iesus. If Matthew is not available get Brigitte on the line. Hurry now!"

"Yes your excellency."

The bailiff ran off. Cardinal Dante calmly walked over to the dead Thelasian...or what was left of him.

He stood above the remains and kicked him with his toe. Yes, he had got what was coming to him. An Elf in Christ's clothes...what next?...

He turned his attention to Bishop Aquinas....

OOC: Bishop Aquinas is at the exit, flanked by two guards, with Sir Scott and his assistants in front of him. Just to set the scene.

IC

Sir Scott glowered at the soldiers on either side of the praying priest.

"The Bishop is a diplomat of the Empire of Baron, as we are. Stand aside, we have diplomatic safe passage out of the Reich." he told the soldiers, watching to see what they'd do.

The honourable Jebediah slowly rose from beneath the bench. What on earth had just occured? He remembered that filthy elf chanting in elvish and then starting to scream and then all hell broke loose. He shook his head and looked around on the havoc.

OOC: Leaving the bishop and to fix the loose threads to Iesus. Better run Sir Scott ;-)

Hearing Sir Scott's words, Bishop Aquinas rose slowly to his feet with a look of peaceful determination on his face.

"The Syskeyians, sir. Justice has been denied to them, so they're coming with us. Or, if their captors continue to defy the Lord by holding them, I will remain also. To ensure, if by some chance these mur... people have any decency left, that they come to no further harm. Don't worry about me, nothing can happen to me unless my God allows it. My death, if it comes, will be a witness to the light of Christ's love in a dark place."

Ignoring his guards, he stepped past the rest of the Baron defence team to walk calmly towards the Syskeyian prisoners.

Sir Scott watched him walk towards the defendant's stand. He swore softly under his breath and ran a hand through his hair.

"Sir," said one of his assistants, "We've got to leave now."

He glanced sharply at her, then turned to look back at the judges. Then he shook his head. "No..." He unbuttoned his shirt, then tugged sharply on the golden chain and locket hanging around his neck. The thin chain broke and came free.

He gave it to his assistant. "Tell my wife I love her. Now get out of here."

Then Sir Scott followed the Bishop.

ooc: Due to Thelas using one of the worst and most extreme godmodes i have ever seen...

ic:

Mariel just sat there, his eyes... yes, what did they see?

"MAGIC! IT MUST HAVE BEEN SYSKEYIAN MAGIC!"

It was obvious what he meant: The 'Thelassians'. It was so... ridiculous, almost comical...

"They forced an illusion upon our minds to escape our rightful wrath! Witchcraft! Witchcraft it is! Does this court need more evidence? It is so... obvious! Monsters, they are! Heretics! They work for the devil!"

He almost screamed it out, but finally, he calmed down...

"However... god and his angels protected us from their evil, satanic plans. God only knows how many innocent they sacrificed for this... this... horror... But justice will prevail, for we are but tools for HIS will, and we shall fulfill our destiny!"

OOC:
You guys, this is a fun thread in a villainous sort of way, but seriously, people don't get allowed to leap up and make dramatic speeches out of the blue in courtrooms, nor do even dictatorships actually have people shot with assault rifles in court. It's kind of over the top.
However, if they DO, having the response be invulnerability and amazing escapes is just as bad.

The Thelas lawyers who ran outside don't get too far, being met at the door with automatic gunfire marked carefully to their heads by a mob of professional-looking men in plain clothes, standing in front of a burning armoured car with an Iesus tank's gun turning back away from it. 'Justice for our dead!' one cries, 'Death to the murderers of Eurusean women and children! Death to the rat-lovers!'

The man turns to his collegues, 'My glorious comrades, truly this day we see the cowardice of the enemies of God! Now, for His glory, let make the infidels pay for their crimes against our people!'

The group cheers, 'Death to Syskeyia!' and runs into the courthouse, the Iesus troopers guarding it obviously too shocked by recent events to react, excluding one who hands his rifle to a passing member of the crowd.

OOC: Okay, IGNORE that last post, I have to stop posting late at night. As of now the Thelasi are in the court room, AND THAT GUY IS NOT FRIKEN DEAD! He was shot in the chest, right... I posted earlier that they had body armor, right, so why can't people understand that he IS NOT DEAD!!! Also to Lavenrunz, I agree that post was over the top, but think about it this way, the Thelasi know that there is no chance for the defence to win this, for that matter, imagine what that guy went through, his family was murdered, raped, he was left for dead, saved by a Thelasi naval submarine (Which I assume is not too far off, Iesus Christi had a seaboard last time I remember, and many times have Thelasi forces stood ofshore waiting to catch fleeing refugees.

IC:

The Thelasi laywer who had been shot hit the deck allong with the rest of the Thelasi, one of them, the Cardnal, hoping that the fact that he was a Cardinal of the catholic church, and too shoot him was to risk excomunication (Okay, so shooting the Bishop risks that to), stood up, "Your Honors, the Thelasi laywers request that Iesus Christi forces allow one of our transports to land on the roof of this building, so that any one who needs to can leave."

OOC:
You guys, this is a fun thread in a villainous sort of way, but seriously, people don't get allowed to leap up and make dramatic speeches out of the blue in courtrooms, nor do even dictatorships actually have people shot with assault rifles in court. It's kind of over the top.
However, if they DO, having the response be invulnerability and amazing escapes is just as bad.

OOC: It's a good thing this isn't reality then ^_^ Real life can be so dull sometimes. And the dramatic speeches are because of the way Iesus structured the courtroom I guess o.O However I agree with the invulnerability thing, it's important that you have to lose your characters sometime...

OOC: Thelas, you are CRAZY!
I mean, you just DON'T GET IT!!!
Amazing. I'm actually still wide eyed.
The guy didn't even fall down! I don't care how good your body armor is, being shot HURTS.
You are NUTS. And yeah, of course, Iesus Christi will just LET you park your fleet there! I love you guys who are so divorced from reality nothing bothers you at all. Please do me a favour: never post in one of my threads. I don't want crazy people in my threads.

OOC: Good show except for the Godmods. All I have to say is that violating the "blessed" Virgin Mary is far from a crime! You know us Proddys! I hope they turned over an idol and broke it :P

See, here's the thing.

Thelas has no submarines, no transports, no armored cars, and no spacedy carriers; Menelmacar is taking all that away. Now, on the other hand, if they want to reveal secret military assets, they can feel free to do so, but that will then be taken away as well, along with there being more... consequences... from the Imperial government.

So... no.

~Siri

OOC: In light of recent godmod events (I'm looking at you Thelas) Cardinal Dante will now take different measures.

IC: Cardinal Dante left James in the small room when he heard the gunshots.

"James, don't leave this room. You will be safe here," he called over his shoulder.

His robes gathered around him he quitely observed the scene in the courtroom. A Thelasian defense counsel had been shot. People were scrambling for cover. All except Bishop Aquinas. And Sir Scott...

There is treachery afoot. Damn witches.

He glanced at the dead (injured?)Thelasian.

Oh well, what can you expect when you have Elves in the robes of Christ?

Cardinal Dante took a deep breath. In a booming voice he called out "ORDER!!! Nobody move. Guards, cover the defense counsel. All of them."

OOC:
Nothing personal, Thelas, but I want your Bishop dead. Makes it more interesting. :P So I can't help but notice that:
A- Having skimmed over all your previous posts, I find no mention that your people were wearing armour until someone was shot.
B- Even if they were, it would have been seen by Iesus security forces, since they strike me as the type to body search every visitor.
C- Therefore even assuming they were allowed to keep the hitherto unmentioned armour, since there is no specific mention of where the shots hit -
"The Bailiff raised his automatic rifle , and fired. Bullets slammed into the body mass of the Thelian who had caused such a scene.
The crowd howled in delight as the high impact rounds ripped into the heretics body ,and cheered as the blood seeped out of the villains body."
- I think it's reasonable to infer that the guards would have been instructed to aim for the head.
D- It's also most fortunate for you that all the members of your defence team were first commandos before becoming bishops and cardinals with extensive legal expertise. :roll:

IC:
President Chopan of Walking Carpets sat watching Iesus' broadcast of the trial, along with her Foreign Minister and her close friend the leader of the 'Opposition.'

"Bloody hell," she breathed quietly. "My father told me this Aquinas was a looney, but I'll admit that he's a brave one."

"But soon he's going to be a dead looney," responded the Foreign Minister. "We thought giving him diplomatic status would protect him, but apparently these Reich fanatics are too stupid to see where they're going. They've killed a Thelasian diplomat, and soon diplomats from Walking Carpets and Chimaea will die too, along with the Syskeyians. We can't let that pass quietly."

"We can't do anything to the Reich though," said the Opposition leader quietly. "Even if Chimaea and the others were with us."

"But there are many nations unhappy with Iesus Christi and her allies," mused Chopan. "This... this could be the last straw. Sir Scott tore holes in the 'testimony' of the prosecution. The whole world has seen that. No-one cares what the Iesus court rules; it was always going to be a mockery of a trial, though I doubt anyone thought it would be this bad. No, the Syskeyians are as good as proven innocent. Which means that even those shaky grounds for the attack on the embassy are removed. It was an act of war, plain and simple. The world wouldn't rally around us to avenge one diplomat, but the Syskeyians..."

"Shall I talk to some people?" asked the Foreign Minister.

"No, just the government of Chimaea. They've got far more extensive connections outside of Baron than we do. Our part..." Chopan smiled grimly. "We will strike while the iron is hot. Chimaea's allies must make their decisions with these scenes" she gestured at the hologram display, which happened at that moment to be focusing on the mangled Thelasian corpse "fresh in their minds.

"Send an ultimatum to that bastard Matthew Iesus. All Syskeyian, Thelasian, Chimaean and Walking Carpets citizens are to be allowed to return home immediately, unscathed. Restitution and a public apology must be made to the Syskeyian government for the attack on the embassy. If these conditions are not agreed to within three hours and met within fourty-eight..." She paused dramatically. "We will be at war."


Edit: OOC:
"Shall I talk to some people?" asked the Foreign Minister.

"No, just the government of Chimaea. . .
:lol: :lol: :lol: Entirely unintentional, I assure you. :lol:

Bunker underneath the New Sydney Parliament House, Chimaea

For one of the rare times in a state of emergency, the entire Cabinet was present, including a video link up with General Garrison in Street Island, Admiral Benton on board the CSS Raj and Air Chief Marshall Sharma, who was visiting a classified allied location.

On the wall-sized screen played the events of the Iesus courtroom. The Cabinet watched in shocked silence as a soldier of the courtroom opened fire with an assault rifle, killing one of the Thelasian counsels instantly. They watched as Sir Scott walked to the exit, spoke to the Bishop, who got up from his kneeling position and started to walk towards the Syskeyians. Sir Scott reached into his shirt, took something that glinted and gave it to one of his assistants before turning and following the Bishop.

"Switch it off." Sir Reginald said, his voice cold.

The images turned off and the lighting gradually brightened. The men and women of the Cabinet blinked at each other, as though awakening from a nightmare.

All eyes gradually turned to Sir Reginald. He sat with his chin in his hands, his eyes dark pools in the dull golden lighting. Then he raised his head and nodded to himself, considered, then nodded again.

"Madness. It's madness." he looked at each of them in turn. "The Reich thinks its invincible, that it can behave in any way it choses. Led by people who are insane." the last word was spat out, and the Cabinet flinched as one. Sir Reginald calmed down.

"All right. What's the next move?"

The Foriegn Minister cleared his throat. "Well there's two ways this can go from here forth. The least likely but the miost preferrable is that Iesus Christi will meet international pressure and return all hostages--for they are nothing else now--and issue an apology to all parties concerned."

There were several wry smiles around the table.

"The other possibility is war with the Reich."

The smiles vanished.

Sir Reginald nodded and looked at the Defence Minister. "Steve... How does this all... play out?"

"Well sir, the Reich being what it is, nothing is completely certain. One more likely scenario is this: we send them an ultimatum, containing everything we want for this situation to dissolve. They will not meet this ultimatum. Then either side strikes; at this stage it doesn't matter which. We will contact our Baron allies and fight Iesus in whatever theatre they or we chose. Doing so, we will have contacted all other interested parties... Menelmecar, SATO, Syskeyia and so forth. I would be surprised if they don't answer the call, or even not make one themselves. We will defeat Iesus as per our pre-prepared plans.

"They will of course contact their allies. The Reich is big, Governor, but it is not invulnerable. They are mostly likely to call upon their newly established GDODAD and ARDA allies... what the GDODAD do is fairly unpredictable, but I assume most will join Iesus. The war will escalate into a world war; perhaps the most deadliest yet."

The Cabinet looked strained as the mental images flowed through their heads.

"Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, will die. General Garrison?"

General Garrison nodded at them from the video link. "Our analysts and my previous experience of the Reich with the Bryce administration tells us that they will have no compuction against using chemical, biological and even nuclear weapons against military or civilian targets." he let it sink in and continued, "As you know, Chimaea has a policy of having no such weapons. Our allies, however, do, and it is worth mentioning that a nuclear stalemate during this war might be desirable."

Sir Reginald drummed his fingers on the polished wooden table. "Are our Armed Forces up to this? Admiral?"

Admiral Benton nodded. "Our Navy has recently has an across-board upgrade, sir. The Oxford-class subs also have been cleared for use after thorough testing. We're as ready as ever."

"Marshall?"

ACM Sahrma smiled. "We'll kick some ass, sir. We have a full armoury and our AirHawks are good to go too. Their tests during the Hrstrovokian crisis were faultless. We have some new long-range bombers and stealth fighters from Snuffopolis, too... You can count on the Air Force sir."

"Good..."

"Sir," interrupted the Foriegn Minister, "According to the latest reports, Walking Carpets has just issued an ultimatum to the Reich. They have also contacted us and wish to committ... oh... Snuffopolis and Clock Hill have also been in contact..."

Sir Reginald smiled. "It's good to know we're not alone. Right then. Let's make an international statement..."

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

The Empire of Baron Ultimatum (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=113816)

Cardinal Dante took a deep breath. In a booming voice he called out "ORDER!!! Nobody move. Guards, cover the defense counsel. All of them."
Bishop Aquinas paused beside the defence stand and the Syskeyian prisoners, waiting for the Cardinal's next move.

*bump*

OOC: Just IGNORE my last post here is what happened. I got carried away, blame it on too much adreniline in the morning... I have a bad habit of getting carried away in the comotion.

IC:

The Bishop slumped to the ground, hitting the floor with a sickening thud... The other four dropped to the floor, one of them starting praying again the others just stayed on the ground.

OOC: Okay, I appologise for my stupidity, Menelmacar, did you read that I was speaking IN THE PAST! In one of Iesus interactions with elven kind (As I remember, it was when I first came on NS, and Iesus RPed a lot more) Thelas parked a sub off of Iesus Christi, as I rememer, it got chased off.

I appologise for this, I will be leaving this thread shortly.

Cardinal Dante took a deep breath. In a booming voice he called out "ORDER!!! Nobody move. Guards, cover the defense counsel. All of them."
Bishop Aquinas paused beside the defence stand and the Syskeyian prisoners, waiting for the Cardinal's next move.

*bump*
OOC: Actually I just have them covered until IC steps in.
I have TGed him with the latest updates.

IC:The Bishop slumped to the ground, hitting the floor with a sickening thud... The other four dropped to the floor, one of them starting praying again the others just stayed on the ground.

OOC: Okay, I appologise for my stupidity, Menelmacar, did you read that I was speaking IN THE PAST! In one of Iesus interactions with elven kind (As I remember, it was when I first came on NS, and Iesus RPed a lot more) Thelas parked a sub off of Iesus Christi, as I rememer, it got chased off.

OOC:naturally I assume the Thelians would pray in elvish when in fear/danger?
Btw sorry for the delay/Busy summer week! anyhow....

IC:
Prosecutors Ethan Luther screamed at the Thelians
"DEVIL SPEAK! DEVIL SPEEEEEEAK! My Lord Judges! take them from this court lest they BEWITCH US! They summon SATAN himself! God have mercy on us!
The Iesus High Judge crossed himself.
"Guards....Take them! Bind and Gag them! Take them from to the Square! BURN THEM! BURN THEM and Exorcise the demons from them! Yes The burning power of Christ compels them!"
Prosecutor Ethan Luther turned to Sir Scott and his group
"my Lord Judge....can you see it.....Oh Sweet Mother Mary....satan is in them too!"
The judge looked over them even as the Thelians were dragged from the court...
"Wht say you Lord judges...shall they be put to the 'test' like the Bishop Aquanas...I remind you this isnt a charging them with anything...just making sure they are not ...demon tainted.."

The honourable Jebediah Johnsson rose from beneath the bench.
"In all my years as a judge I've never seen the like of contempt against the court. I don't care if you find our laws unfair, it IS our laws and it IS in our Court! I hereby declare sentence in the trials against the heretics of Syskeyia. Due to evidence presented from several witnesses, from a neutral committee lead by the honourable "Espresso to Go", from footage from the scene and then from the court. I declare the Syskeyians Guilty! To further strengthen the evidence against the Syskeyians they made blasphemy in this Very Court."
"You know the passages. The ones demonizing elves. (OOC: What other "special passages" does the Reich bible have.) I daresay, go look at any other Bible, including the ones found in the Vatican itself- nay, even the Nova Vulgata which the Holy Mother Church herself uses in her Latin Rite liturgy- you will not find these passages. The elf-hating phrases are not the words of God, but of man, or perhaps, dare I say it, the devil.

And I dare not comment on the fact of Matthew Iesus II's relationship with his mistress, Maire Haru.”
"Never, NEVER! Have I seen such insolence in a courtroom before. Their statements does not only prove them to be blasphemers but also further indicates their guilt in the incidents in Iesus. How could any patriotic, loving citizen of the Reich hear such slander and not rage against it? The Witch allegation is further proved when a pious man is bewitched to be used as a human shield against Gods soldiers."
Hearing Sir Scott's words, Bishop Aquinas rose slowly to his feet with a look of peaceful determination on his face.

Ignoring his guards, he stepped past the rest of the Baron defence team to walk calmly towards the Syskeyian prisoners.
"This my friends are proof enough for me to now understand my Iesus brothers wisdom in sending the poor Bishop to the test. he MUST be cleansed, because such actions are clearly not those of a man under his own control. We further noticed that even lord Scott fell under this spell. Lord Scott is a rational man and I now can see the power of these people , getting such a man under their spell. I hereby sentence both Bishop Aquinas and Lord Scott to suffer the test, after which they will be sent back to their nation for nurturing and exorcism in their nations if they fail the test. And then we have the abominations, the filth of the earth!" Jebediah spat out his words as he looked at the Thelas Committee "Once again this rabble has proved their heretic ways, their arrogance and their lack of respect for other races cultures and values. Even when one of them is hurt they still wants to plot against The Reich, wanting to send some filthy secret weapon to touch the holy ground of the Reich. If you weren't sub-humans you would be sentenced for high treason. But now I only want the guards to take this rabble out on the courtyard and burn them! Thus the Veganian law has spoken. "

IC:The Bishop slumped to the ground, hitting the floor with a sickening thud... The other four dropped to the floor, one of them starting praying again the others just stayed on the ground.

OOC: Okay, I appologise for my stupidity, Menelmacar, did you read that I was speaking IN THE PAST! In one of Iesus interactions with elven kind (As I remember, it was when I first came on NS, and Iesus RPed a lot more) Thelas parked a sub off of Iesus Christi, as I rememer, it got chased off.

OOC:naturally I assume the Thelians would pray in elvish when in fear/danger?
Btw sorry for the delay/Busy summer week! anyhow....

IC:
Prosecutors Ethan Luther screamed at the Thelians
"DEVIL SPEAK! DEVIL SPEEEEEEAK! My Lord Judges! take them from this court lest they BEWITCH US! They summon SATAN himself! God have mercy on us!
The Iesus High Judge crossed himself.
"Guards....Take them! Bind and Gag them! Take them from to the Square! BURN THEM! BURN THEM and Exorcise the demons from them! Yes The burning power of Christ compels them!"
Prosecutor Ethan Luther turned to Sir Scott and his group
"my Lord Judge....can you see it.....Oh Sweet Mother Mary....satan is in them too!"
The judge looked over them even as the Thelians were dragged from the court...
"Wht say you Lord judges...shall they be put to the 'test' like the Bishop Aquanas...I remind you this isnt a charging them with anything...just making sure they are not ...demon tainted.."

OOC: Actualy, they probably would have started off in Latin, (Remember, in Catholic church, you learn to pray in Latin, it is drilled into you (or at least so says my dearest mother who is a Catholic). So they would have been praying in Church Latin. And are they going to be burned, because you are going to get one hell of a responce.

IC:

One of the Thelasi (please get the adjectival form right) stood up, "But you honors, we were praying in Latin. I would also like to remind you that we are under Diplomatic Protection."

"Silence!! You mongrel half breed!!!" Cardinal Dante yelled in the direction of the Thelasi.

"You should be grateful that you are going to be burned. If you truly loved Christ you wouldn't pollute the earth with your damndable kind. We, The Most Blessed Reich, whom God loves as we struggle for His TRUTH and JUSTICE, are doing you a great service. Before you are burned you will have an opportunity to kiss the cross and recant your fiendish ways. If you recant you will meet our Lord Jesus who will welcome you into the kingdom of Heaven with open arms. All the Angels weep with joy when one, just one, returns to the flock. ."

"Guards, take him away."

"As for the Blessed and Holy Bishop Aquinas and the Honourable Sir Scott, they must be excorcised of the demons that posses them. I'm sure these fine men will do well under our care...'

arrgghh..danm double post!!!

Offical Statement from the BNFW

The Brave New Ford World wishes to announce to the world that we believe the leaders and people of the Reich to be mentally sick and should be put down in the Lethal Chamber as soon as possible (if they were IN the BNFW). Otherwise we wish to announce that any dealings that we MIGHT have with any nation in the Reich is forever cut off (at least until they embrace the Fordist Utopian Society that exists in BNFW).


http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:Feo5SHoWaRAC:www.mujeractual.net/hmac/hombres/img/tom_cruise.jpg
The Controller Harold Geo
The Fordist Communal Utopia of Brave New Ford World

The People of Eurusea wonder why the clearly delusional 'Controller' sees fit to take action and advocate genocide on the basis of a fair and unbiased trial he has no method of observing the proceedings of. There are some in the Eurusean government who see this as use of the Mode of God, which would clearly be blasphemy and doom the 'Controller' to an eternity of suffering and torment.

We suggest the 'Controller' repent his sins to the Almighty and keeps his nose out of matters that not only don't concern him, but that he has no means of finding out about. Furthermore, we suggest he stop making such inflammatory statements, lest The Reich's glorious leadership tire of his bleating and see fit to replace his government with one just and proper in the eyes of God.

And for the record, Eurusea is not aware of 'Brave New Ford World' having any dealings with The Reich in the first place.

Comrade Alexei, People's Smacker-Down of Things Stupid.

[OOC: In other words, I severely doubt this is being broadcast live...More likely to be some 'creative' editing first, heh.]

OOC: I suggest you read the opening post in this thread by Iesus Christi, in which he said, quite specifically:

The trial will be fully public , held in Iesus Christi and live broadcast to the entire world.

The Iesus Judged beamed with joy
"Jebediah Johnsson , Blessed are you! What amazing understanding of the law you have....God is with us when you are near comrade Judge!
friend you are a deeply learned man! I salute you!
and yes, as my Blessed brother Dante said..you should be happy to be burnt! you're lucky we dont just hand you over to the crowd! oh yes.......thank God for his mercy! kiss the cross and embrace salvation!
now.....take those...Elvish things out of my sight...latin indeed....whatever you say DEVIL MAN!....
and Inquisitors. take care of Sir scott and the bishop. Insure they are free of demons.....make sure they are safe in the lord!"

OOC:Yes its live/with Iesus voice over and when needed bad dubbing and should it have been needed the broadcast would
but we have nothing to hide-this is our law system after all...

Bishop Aquinas stood silently, literally shaking with anger at this... this travesty of justice. And committed in the name of God, too! A hundred curses, imprecations and biblical retorts rose to his mind, but he knew they were useless now, if ever they would have been heard. He bit his tongue to keep his silence, tasting blood as he clenched harder at the sight of the guards moving in on the Elvish group. A thrown shoe hit one of the firstborn of Illuvatar in the back, and he turned to look at the crowd from whence it had come. Anger. . . bitterness. . . hatred, oh so much hatred he saw there. Why? Why are we so wicked? He leaned back against the defence stand as hot tears began to trickle down his face.

He turned at the sound of a sob from behind him. A young Syskeyian prisoner, probably one of the servants at the embassy, sat hunched over in fear at what was to come. She couldn't have been more than twenty, perhaps working at the embassy to be with an older relative or friend, but now facing the death of a witch at the hands of foreigners. Those around her were concerned with their own fate, and there was no-one to hold her hand until the end. Perhaps those she knew in the embassy had died in the riots. Perhaps they were in need of comforting themselves. Perhaps... perhaps he was there to do this small service, if nothing else.

He reached out his hand to her, touching her on the shoulder. She started in fear, but when she saw him she managed a trembling smile in response to the warm loving expression on his tear-stained face. "These tears we shed are our last," he told her quietly. "After today we will face no more pain. We will behold our Saviour face-to-face, and he will tell us why this had to happen." He squeezed her hand as he glanced around at the crowd, at the judges and at the guards approaching them. "Perhaps our witness will touch some of these. It is for them that I weep, for they will live to see their skies rent with the roars of warfare, their homes destroyed by rains of fire, and on the ashes of this place the standards raised by the armies of vengeance."

The sadness in his voice made her forget her fear, if only for a second. Then she saw the guards behind the Bishop, reaching for him to take him to their Inquisition, to a fate perhaps worse than her own. She leaned forward, the impulsiveness of fear, to hold onto this single loving person in a room full of hate. "Stay with me..." He was pulled away by rough hands, his compassionate face twisted into a grimace of pain as his arms were pulled behind his back. They took him, servants of hatred, took from her her only brief comfort, his last words lost in cries of hatred, his face hidden by uniforms which seemed to her as black as the hearts of those who wore them, darkened candles in empty temples, built in a holy land desolate even before the coming destruction.

Sir Scott shouted a protest as the Iesus guards took the Bishop. He felt nothing but anger now; no fear or sadness but anger that justice could be perverted in such a way.

He felt the guards gloved hands gripping his arms and he gave them a piece of his mind, which was also lost in the chaos of the Thelasians being led away to their horrible, horrible deaths. He imagined them burning and he twisted desperately in the guards' hands, though he had no idea what he could do even if he got free.

Somewhere in his head he knew that Chimaea would be up in arms over this. He looked at one of the cameras that was concentrated in his direction and mouthed words into it, desperate words he knew that someone might notice.

Then one of his guards hit him on the back of his neck with a baton, where the nerve centre was located and he almost thankfully felt himself being sucked away to a nothingness.

After The Iesus Judge last words the Live performance was over. The transmissions over the world went blank and only left the fates of the convicted to vivid imaginations. A test picture went worldwide..

OOC: Sorry, I tried to post this earlier, but the forums kept dodging me. But we are no barbarians, we cannot allow the public to see the horrible actions of these children of Satan ;-)

An ordinary family back in Knootoss
"Mommy, what are they going to do to that man?", asked little Jonathan to his mother who was watching late-night tv. There was no more popcorn left, and the mother turned to her son.
"They are going to do nasty things, sweety, I don't want to give you bad dreams."
"But why, mommy, why?", insisted the boy.

The woman thought for a moment. Why indeed, she wondered. She took the boy on her lap:
"Because these people believe that there is a man in a cloud, they call him God, and he tells them to do these things. It's called religion. She mouthed the word carefully, so the boy could learn. Jonathan just stared at his mother, not understanding.

"But how can he tell them things if he is up a cloud?"
"Well...", said the mother, "This man also has awesome powers."
"Like MewTwo in Pókemon?!", the kid asked hopefully.
"Well, a bit like that. It's like Pókemon, only for adults."
"That's silly", the boy commented.

Wise kid, thought the mother, and she cuddled him. "Not so silly, Jonathan. You know, granny was religious too. She also believed in God long ago.” The screen went blank, and the mother shuddered slightly: “Hey, look at that, the show is over, and it’s already waaaaay past your bedtime.” She took up the boy and carried him away, letting him soar through the air as if he was a plane.

An ordinary family back in Knootoss
"Mommy, what are they going to do to that man?", asked little Jonathan to his mother who was watching late-night tv. There was no more popcorn left, and the mother turned to her son.
"They are going to do nasty things, sweety, I don't want to give you bad dreams."
"But why, mommy, why?", insisted the boy.

The woman thought for a moment. Why indeed, she wondered. She took the boy on her lap:
"Because these people believe that there is a man in a cloud, they call him God, and he tells them to do these things. It's called religion. She mouthed the word carefully, so the boy could learn. Jonathan just stared at his mother, not understanding.

"But how can he tell them things if he is up a cloud?"
"Well...", said the mother, "This man also has awesome powers."
"Like MewTwo in Pókemon?!", the kid asked hopefully.
"Well, a bit like that. It's like Pókemon, only for adults."
"That's silly", the boy commented.

Wise kid, thought the mother, and she cuddled him. "Not so silly, Jonathan. You know, granny was religious too. She also believed in God long ago.” The screen went blank, and the mother shuddered slightly: “Hey, look at that, the show is over, and it’s already waaaaay past your bedtime.” She took up the boy and carried him away, letting him soar through the air as if he was a plane.

OOC: http://community.the-underdogs.org/smiley/angry/mad.gif

God is not silly.

So, are thety guilty? What's going to happen? And, since the Syskeyian embassy is Syskeyian soil, shouldn't the Syskeyian be sent back to the Republic?

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

Guards shot at the hands of the Thelassian lawyers with Cuff guns and organic cuffs were clasped around the hands and arms of the Thelas team. Large security guards and inquisitors ushered them by using long poles around their necks and force them out of the Court room. A square nearby had been cleared of people and in the middle of it were piles of tree put into stacks and long poles stood raisen in the middle of the stacks. The smell of Kerosene and oil was overwhelming as the elves were driven into the middle of the square.

The Cardinal spoke, his voice rising above the crowd, "God will shine our path, for we go to heaven not as sinners, but as martyers. Not martyers to a cause of hate, but martyers to peace. We go as unto the sheep into the lions den, we go, as did the first followers of Christ, into the colosiums of Rome." He now whispers to the Bishops, "Show them not our fear, remember, let them see our honor, let them see our dignity, hold firm."

The Thelasi, walked willingly into the square.

The Cardinal spoke, his voice rising above the crowd, "God will shine our path, for we go to heaven not as sinners, but as martyrs. Not martyrs to a cause of hate, but martyrs to peace. We go as unto the sheep into the lions den, we go, as did the first followers of Christ, into the colosiums of Rome." He now whispers to the Bishops, "Show them not our fear, remember, let them see our honor, let them see our dignity, hold firm."

The Thelasi, walked willingly into the square.

As the elves walked toward the center of the square vegetables came flying towards them, hitting them on their heads and their shoulders. The proud elves walked the line without showing fear or emotions as spit and vegetables hit them. Screams were heard "Elven bastards!", " Remember Raem!" and "Not so proud now are we? Not innocent children to slaughter?!" One of the guards, an old grizzled veteran from the eldar battles, watched the elves with a sly grin. He walked towards them with a cattleprod in his hand. He hit one of the bishops straight in the face. "Mon Keigh! isn't that what you call us? Well here you are dressed up as priests, desecrating the holy robes of priesthood with your filthy bodies!" The elf fell to his knees and was brutally kicked with steel shodded boots so he hit the ground. "Well, sing for us with your pretty little elfie voice! Sing for us!" The elf quivered but was still silent. The guard moved the cattle prod to the groin of the elf. "Sing for us little elf!" After the first two shocks the bishop let out a yelp. "Do you hear them sing?!" The guard screamed to the crowd. " Can you hear him sing?!" He moved to the next and shocked him into screaming too.

Then he made a sign to the guards that pushed the Thelassians onto the pyre. They were bound to the stakes one by one and when they ran out of stakes they bound more people to each stake. Even if most of the elves wore their heads high one of the bishops started to sob and tears began to fall down her cheek. In the crowd a young mother held her hands before her childs eyes. As the elves were bound to the stakes a guard walked away keping the crowd well away from the pyre, still rotten vegetables were flying through the air. At the edge of the crowd three elderly women sat knitting while watching the pyre. A man walked up to the pyre carrying a torch.

"Sing for us pretty little birdies!" he screamed as he put the torch to the pyre. with a roaring crackling sound the fire began, first slowly in the thinner twigs and branches on the pyre, but slowly it increased in power as the flames began to lick the feets of the Thelassians. Low prayer could be heard from many of them, a few of them tried to break free, but in vain. One of the stakes fell over into the now burning pyre, a scream was heard and then cut short. Then the flames overrun the stakes and the fire ran more several meters up in the air. The crowd cheered as the flames began to reach for the Dominican night sky, burning, flaming, scorching, cleansing...

"Fire itself is the element of purification, and nothing less than fire could negate the evil be Elf witches"
Ethan Luther nodded as his brother, Father John Luther explained the burning of heretics.
"you see Brother Ethan..Even if the witch or Elf has never killed or done evil to man, beast, or fruits, and even if he has always cured sick people, or driven away tempests, it is that he has renounced God and treated with Satan that he deserves to be burned alive...Even if there is no more than the obligation to the Devil, having denied God, this deserves the cruel death and purification of flame..."
Ethan nodded "brother...you are muchly learned in the ways of God , science and Church"

In a building near the court the Syskeyians were locked in. Surrounded by guards, not hearing the crackling flames from the Square. A Iesus Christi priest asked them genlty if they wanted to be confess and repent their sins. He took his time talking and listening to each and one of them, with pity and sorrow in his face.

After the Thelasi had been led out to the square, Cardinal Dante returned to James. James looked up at the tall wizened old man with a mixture of nervousness and child-like comfort.

"Is it over?," James asked.

"The Thelasi have been punished for their sins. Go seee for yourself," he indicated a large picture window at the far end of the room. Black smoke billowed in the breeze outside the window.
James carefully stood up and walked to the window. What he saw made him shake and tremble with anger and...pity?

"Cardinal, I was sent on a mission to seek out and capture the Syskeyians. Where are they? They are the ones responsible for this...this perpetaution of lies, deciet, defiling of God's word. They are the ones responsible and must pay for their crimes. What is this?," he indicated the horrible specticle going on in the square.

Suddenly James began to weep. Cardinal Dante looked at James. His look of compassion for this soldier of God turned to contempt.

"What troubles you so, my son? We are doing great things...God's will carried out in His holy name. Can you not see that?'

"All I see is more hate piled upon hate..."

"I see. Come here. Let me hear your thoughts. You may confide in me."

James moved away from the window and sat down next to the Cardinal.

The Cardinal put his arm around James in a comforting manner.

"I've failed, father. I've failed..."

"Yes, that may be true. Only you and God know what you have done or not done as may be the case. But God always forgives..."

"I'm not what I used to be. I was a soldier of God, an elite member of his force. I let the Syskeyians do those horrid things to me. I wish I had died...for the glory of God."

"You shall have your wish my son."

Cardinal Dante pulled out a small black revolver from the folds of his robes.

Relization passed over James' face. "Oh no...'

A single shot rang out. James fell to the floor. A pool of blood stained the rug where his head had fallen.

Cardinal Dante stood up.

"For the Glory of God," he said to no one in particular. Then calling to the guards he shouted," Get in here right away.'

Two guards rushed into the room. The looked at the body of James lying on the floor then looked at the Cardinal.

"What happened your Excellency?"

"A tragedy...so many deaths in one day. He shot himself. Couldn't live with what those Syskeyians did to him. I tried to stop him...
Clean him up. Make sure he gets back home."

"Yes, your excellency."

After the Thelasi had been led out to the square, Cardinal Dante returned to James. James looked up at the tall wizened old man with a mixture of nervousness and child-like comfort.

"Is it over?," James asked.

"The Thelasi have been punished for their sins. Go seee for yourself," he indicated a large picture window at the far end of the room. Black smoke billowed in the breeze outside the window.
James carefully stood up and walked to the window. What he saw made him shake and tremble with anger and...pity?

"Cardinal, I was sent on a mission to seek out and capture the Syskeyians. Where are they? They are the ones responsible for this...this perpetaution of lies, deciet, defiling of God's word. They are the ones responsible and must pay for their crimes. What is this?," he indicated the horrible specticle going on in the square.

Suddenly James began to weep. Cardinal Dante looked at James. His look of compassion for this soldier of God turned to contempt.

"What troubles you so, my son? We are doing great things...God's will carried out in His holy name. Can you not see that?'

"All I see is more hate piled upon hate..."

"I see. Come here. Let me hear your thoughts. You may confide in me."

James moved away from the window and sat down next to the Cardinal.

The Cardinal put his arm around James in a comforting manner.

"I've failed, father. I've failed..."

"Yes, that may be true. Only you and God know what you have done or not done as may be the case. But God always forgives..."

"I'm not what I used to be. I was a soldier of God, an elite member of his force. I let the Syskeyians do those horrid things to me. I wish I had died...for the glory of God."

"You shall have your wish my son."

Cardinal Dante pulled out a small black revolver from the folds of his robes.

Relization passed over James' face. "Oh no...'

A single shot rang out. James fell to the floor. A pool of blood stained the rug where his head had fallen.

Cardinal Dante stood up.

"For the Glory of God," he said to no one in particular. Then calling to the guards he shouted," Get in here right away.'

Two guards rushed into the room. The looked at the body of James lying on the floor then looked at the Cardinal.

"What happened your Excellency?"

"A tragedy...so many deaths in one day. He shot himself. Couldn't live with what those Syskeyians did to him. I tried to stop him...
Clean him up. Make sure he gets back home."

"Yes, your excellency."

And so Eldar James recieves a well-deserved punishment in Hell.

How could the Pope incardinate a man who could be so deluded and evil.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

One word echoed in the mind of the Thelasi Cardinal as his red robes burned around him, and as he felt his life slip away, Acharn.

As he died, above the roaring fire of the flames, the dieing elf said a phrase,

"God will guide me,

I come before God with a clean heart, I come to his throne. At the day of judgment I will stand before him happy, that I did his work on earth."

And so, as he died, high in orbit, a lone satilite took its' pictures, the AI not contemplating what the lip-sinc computers translated, but back at the Thelasi fleet, an elf, watching over his screen cried, he cried as his brother said his last words.

Father John Drew came to the Syskeyians cell, outside could be heard the cheers as the elven heretics were burnt upon the pyre.
"Brother and sisters in Christ, I have asked the government to spare you...but as yet I have heard nothing so the judgement appears to stand.
I beg you accept my apology , forgive my people, they know not what they do.
If you would let me, I would celebrate mass for you now and offer you the holy rite Reconciliation
Take courage all of you...remember the words of the blessed Thomas Beckett
I commend myself to God, the Blessed Mary, and the patron saints of the Church, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit Paratus sum pro Domino mori pacem et lubertatem per sanguinem meaim goudeal Ecclesia."
(I am ready to die for my Lord. May the Lord's church obtain peace and liberty through my blood.)

Lilia couldn't say why she'd changed where she was staying...Rats, probably, or cockroaches. She'd never had a good memory for things like that anyway, though she wished she'd moved to a better spot than this one, overlooking a grimy prison complex. The case that she didn't remember opening since she'd arrived lay on her bed, and she waited, though she couldn't really say what for.

It is time.

And then she opened the case again, clipped the components of her rifle together, and took aim at the prison wall, knowing which cell wall to aim at without thinking, knowing the brick wouldn't stop the bullet when the trigger was pulled...

Death to the Syskeyian infidels!

'Death to them all.' she whispered, and fired.

OOC

I'll take a few steps back from this thread until you've gotten over the burnings eh? I'm old enough to remember people being burned alive in tires in Sri Lanka so this brings back bad memories.

OOC: Yeah, those burnings affected me too...I think we should let it die and just get on with the Syskeyians...in time.

OOC: What do you think it does to the player of the elves. Over here I remember the vidoes of the monks in Vietnam burning themselves alive.

Funny, I can handle Raem's and AMF's posts, but for some reason, this affected me more.

Over here I remember the vidoes of the monks in Vietnam burning themselves alive.

Damn, I've seen pictures of those... :( Nothing much I can say really to describe that really.

The first Syskeyian was dragged from the cell by Ministry brownshirts into the square. The smell of roasting elf still hung there, and the filthy Elven bodies still crackled and burned.
The Syskeyian was layed upon the hard stone of the square and a wooden board placed across his chest. then, massive weights were added to the board on his chest, slowly squeezing the breath from his lungs. his ribs strained under the weight until they begin to crack. the heretic syskeyian begain begging for mercy only to be answered by the cheering of the crowd. As more weights were applied the Syskeyian begain to choke upon the bile his unwilling bowels were spewing forth ,and soon death from suffocation would be his release.
The hooded Inquisitor chanted "Confess.....confess.....heaven can still be yours..confess"
General Robard from the ministry of social order watched the 'show' with sense of pride from the judges box over looking the square. "bring the next one out! this syskeyian heretic is going to be dead soon! NEXT ! NEXT!"
The next syskeyian was dragged from the cell...to whatever fate the ministry had for him....

As the Syskeyian was lead across the square the Red Commando took aim, waiting until he stopped before firing. His head exploded as the bullet struck it, showering the square with gore, fragments of bone clattering to a halt on the pavement nearby.

She flicked the bolt back, and waited to see what would happen next.

A few Cherubim stood nearby and clapped, impressed by the shot.

Not exactly easy, to hit it that way...
Yes. The shower of blood, bone and brain was... fascinating.
Indeed. It looked... Pretty.
How would have thought that this sinners would die with so much... beauty coming from them.
Well, It is always beautiful, to watch sinners die...
True.

And they waited for the next one, waited, their hearts filled with the beauty of the moment, with joy, because gods will was fulfilled. And they praised The LORD and it`s glory to let the heathen fall in from of them.