Part XXII: Yon (The Trial and Lost Things)

~ IndieRex

Welcome to Part 22 of The Wild Beyond the Witchlight: Reimagined, an expansion and alternative take on the The Wild Beyond the Witchlight campaign.

Please check out the previous entries in the series before diving in here.

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Introduction

With the fomorian king Malabog slain the party is now faced with a difficult truth – Zybilna tried to have them killed through The League of Malevolence and consorted with the monstrous fomorians to overthrow Queen Mab . If they hadn’t figured it out during the murder investigation, it is likely now clear that Zybilna is also behind the death of Lord Albert Frostwood. There is now only one left thing to do, return back to Arctis Tor and bring all of this to light.

A Triumphant Return?

Unexpectedly, the party will quickly find themselves on trial

Through King Malabog’s fortress of Mag Tureah, there should be an easy route for the players back out of the Feydark. The party’s sleds and winter wolves will be ready and waiting and can take the characters back the palace without issue.

However, when the party returns they will find themselves confronted by Kaltar Starlight, the leader of the Selenian Guard, and a large contingent of guards. Kaltar will explain he is placing the party under arrest as agents of The Summer Court and for the murder of Lord Frostwood. Astrid Frostwood will also be present and beg the players to not resist and that she will meet them in the prison help them to clear up this misunderstanding.

  • When the League of Malevolence failed to kill the party, Zybilna put in place a Plan B to deal with the characters by arranging to have them framed for Lord Frostwood’s murder
  • It’s very important to try and avoid the players resisting the arrest. Emphasize the overwhelming force of guards that have come here. Have Astrid push hard for them to not fight back and her confidence that she can help them.
    • If necessary, consider having winter eladrin present to help knock the party out with a sleep spell or something similar
    • Kaltar is completely loyal to the court and cannot be convinced to not arrest the characters
  • If the characters ask what will happen next, Kaltar or Astrid explain there will be a trial where they can profess their innocence and put forward their own case
  • As the players are arrested, Astrid will convince Kaltar to allow the party to keep their items

Preparing for Court

The characters will be imprisoned in a shared cell within the depths of the winter palace which is heavily guarded by the Selenian Guard. The prison is covered by a permanent antimagic field that has been attuned to let through only one other spell – arcane lock, which has been cast on all of the cell doors.

After a short while, Astrid Frostwood will come to visit. She will explain a trial for Lord Frostwood’s murder has been fast tracked for the next day and that this whole thing smells of a conspiracy. Nonetheless, she advises against trying to escape as it will be seen as the party being guilty and lead to a death sentence. If the party suggests that Zybilna is behind all of this, she will remark that it’s entirely possible, though the Nightwalkers are also a possibility.

Astrid explains that having a defense planned out, including any evidence to present or witnesses to call, will be very important and suggests they talk through this together (you may want to encourage your players to take notes here). Have Astrid ask leading questions if the players have trouble thinking up items to raise during their defense. She will also share that they will need to represent themselves during the proceedings and that casting spells during the trial is illegal.

Most of this information can be found in Part 20, but in summary, potential items to have ready for court (if they have been discovered) include but are not limited to:

  • Anything learned by engaging / capturing the assassin Nephalex in Lord Frostwood’s chambers
  • The letters in Lord Frostwood’s chamber don’t match his handwriting (if compared to other of pieces of his writing, such as the poem found on his body). His family has also been very clear he is anti-war and certainly not an ally of the Summer Court
  • A witness (Urmas from the Selenian Guard) saw a different nurse visit Lord Frostwood the day of his death – a red tiefling which is a rarity in Yon. Nephalex, the assassin, is a red tiefling
  • Coins on the body of the assassin in Lord Frostwood’s Chamber are from the land of Oerth. Zybilna is the only member of the court with Oerth currency in her palace account
  • An autopsy shows Albert was killed by shatterheart poison – the key ingredient for which is Inferno Tongue (a piece of which may have been found in Zybilna’s quarters)
  • Balen Heartstone may have admitted that Zybilna ordered him to delay Lord Frostwood’s autopsy
  • There is no direct evidence of the party’s involvement with the Summer Court and they have no motive. Meanwhile, the party learned that Zybilna directly dealt with King Malabog based on their travels in the Feydark and has been seeking to free the fomorians
    • While this is technically heresay, knowledge of recent fomorian sightings is common knowledge at this point
  • Zybilna has a direct motive (how much of this the party uncovered will differ campaign by campaign)
    • Zybilna had been working to stoke tensions between the Winter and Summer Courts. Zybilna’s goal in this was to convince Queen Mab to provide Zybilna with the resources for magical research she needed to accomplish her own true motive to grow her own power
    • Eliminating Lord Frostwood not only took out Queen Mab’s closest other confidant, but also killed one of the most vocal anti-war proponents (and one of the nobles who was the most suspicious of Zybilna)
    • This also had a side benefit of distracting the court while Zybilna arranged to free the monstrous fomorians from their prison in the Feydark. She struck a deal with their king to give them the winter court in exchange for serving her. To delay things further, Zybilna had Balen (the grand steward) temporarily block an autopsy

The Trial

With the next morning it is time. The Selenian Guards will escort the party to the courtroom. I used the Court of Justice (blue variant) map by Czepuku to represent the courtroom.

You are led into a grand courtroom, with high ceilings and large windows letting in streams of light. The room is packed with spectators who whisper and murmur amongst themselves, but your eyes are drawn to the figures that seem as if they will be overseeing the proceedings. At the center on a raised platform is a harengon dressed in finery, and on either side of him are various members of the Winter Court.

  • The harengon is judge named Hopwell Carrotsworth who will manage the trial. The court specifically has non-eladrin serve as judges as a form of impartiality, though it is still the nobles themselves who cast judgement 
  • The members seated as the “jury” of sorts are Rian Coldmoon, Astrid Frostwood, Gwen Frostwood, Zybilna, Lysander Coldmoon, and Lord Yeth
    • You can adjust who you would like to have there though you need to keep Zybilna
  • Members of the Winter’s Legion are present to keep guard, though Kaltar Starlight, the leader of the Selenian Guard, is also present 
  • A number of members of the public watch from the audience, including the Witchlight Carnival owners, Mister Witch and Mister Light
  • The players should situate themselves at the defense table and will be responsible for defending themselves. Sven Nightwalker will represent the case for the prosecution (his son Toren will be with him as co-counsel of sorts)
  • Queen Mab and Isolde are not present

To start the proceedings Kaltar will interrupt any chatter and announce loudly. “Court is now in session. The honorable judge Hopwell Carrotsworth presiding.” From there the judge will make opening remarks. Unfortunately for the party, the judge is quite insane.

“Yes – yes! Lettuce proceed. By the twitch of my whiskers, I call this court to order!” Hopewell points down at the defense table as he continues.

“You there, yes you, you stand accused don’t you? Of offing our good Lord Albert Frostwood? And as if that weren’t enough! Conspiring with the Summer Court – you say? What’s the punishment for this… let’s see let’s see –HAA! oh yes… I say death!” 

The honorable Judge Hopwell Carrotsworth

The way the trial will work is we will use a concept from another game (Blades in the Dark) known as a clock.

  • Draw a circle with 8 segments on a piece of paper or screen. If the party makes an argument that seems convincing to the majority of the jury during the trial, fill a segment of the circle. Similarly, if the plaintiffs do then erase a segment.
    • If something is especially convincing – feel free to make this 2 segments instead. The circle should be public as the party can discern from watching the nobles how they are feeling.
  • For arguments you may choose to call for Persuasion, Deception, or other checks as appropriate (or have no check at all). If the players have made friends or enemies with members of the nobles overseeing the trial, they might get advantage or disadvantage on certain arguments 
  • At the end of the trial if the circle is full then the party is found not guilty. If 6 or more segments are filled they are found not guilty but certain nobles are not happy about it. Otherwise they are found guilty 

The trial itself is split into the following phases. The judge will announce as the trial moves from phase to phase.

  • Opening Statements: The plaintiff (Sven) and then the defense (players) make opening statements (free-form arguments with no interruption by the other side)
  • Present Cases: The plaintiff and then the defense call witnesses and provide evidence. Every witness can be cross-examined by the other side
    • Most NPCs can be called as witnesses, except members of the jury and Queen Mab; if it’s not feasible for someone to be called due to distance then they would also be ineligible (i.e., a NPC from the Fields of Spring or Murkendraw)
  • Closing Arguments: The players can make a free-form closing argument if they wish 
  • Verdict: The nobles reach a verdict (guilty or not guilty) and the judge will announce it

Presenting Cases

Sven’s arguments during the “present cases” phase will include the following. Feel free to add any examples specific to your campaign as well (e.g., if players were caught breaking in somewhere, doing or saying something that could be misinterpreted).

  • The characters being a group of outsiders who arrive just before Lord Frostwood dies is quite a coincidence!
  • If the party fought Toren Nightwalker at the ball, Sven will highlight how they attacked his son (and potentially killed his guards)
  • Witnesses:
    • If the players let Erik Coldhollow go in Part 15, he will unfortunately be captured and called up to the stand to show that players let a summer court spy go free – clearly a sign they are summer agents themselves
    • If the players did not kill Endelyn, she may be called up to the stand if the party caused any commotion at Motherhorn
    • If the players break into Zybilna’s quarters and are caught by Toren Nightwalker, Toren might be called up to testify as to their actions

As mentioned, Judge Hopwell Carrotsworth will oversee the proceedings who is a bit of a character.

  • The judge is forgetful and easily distracted, frequently losing track of his train of thought and hopping between unrelated topics during the trial
  • The judge has an insatiable appetite for carrots and snacks throughout the trial, occasionally offering one to participants
  • The judge is also partial to puns and sayings. Some that you could consider using include:
    • “I must say, your argument seems a hare off the mark.”
    • “Let’s burrow down to the heart of the matter.” 
    • “This is quite a hare-raising trial!”

The Verdict

Once both sides have finished presenting cases it’s time to move on to the verdict. Read the following as the judge addresses the courtroom.

“The court has heard all of the evidence, all the testimonies, haven’t they? The time is upon us, my dear carrots and cabbages, time to hop to the finish line! Time to reach… a verdict!” 

Based on the progress of the circle laid out previously, the judge will read a guilty or not guilty verdict.

  • If the party is found not guilty:
    • Give everyone a point of inspiration for successfully navigating the trial
    • If you would like your party to have a exciting combat to close out Yon then Lord Sven Nightwalker will demand a trial by combat, eliciting gasps from the room. The judge will explain that any noble has the right to call a trial by combat for a verdict they don’t agree with. If the party wins then their innocence will hold.
      • Otherwise feel free to skip to the “Enter Isolde” section below
  • If found guilty
    • The judge will gleefully call out: “Off with their heads!” 
    • Lord Sven Nightwalker will chirp up. “I will take pleasure in this – let me do it myself!”

The Confrontation

Lord Nightwalker will fight the players inside the courtroom (see below for his stat block). If the players were found not guilty he fights alone as per the rules of trial by combat, but if he is executing a guilty verdict then two knights of the winter court will help him (see Part 19). If the combat is going south for him he will ask his son Toren to help him. Toren’s relationship with his father is strained though, and he can potentially be convinced to stay out of it.

Enter Isolde

When Nightwalker is almost defeated, or the party is not doing well and you want to toss out a lifeline, Isolde will throw open the doors of the courtroom and step inside, her sword Nepenthe drawn, interrupting the melee. She uses her stat block from Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft. This section plays out a bit like a cutscene, but feel free to adjust to your needs.

The heavy courtroom doors burst open with a resonant clang. All eyes snap towards the entrance as Isolde strides in, the determined clack of her boots echoing off the stone floors. In her grip, she wields a glowing red blade.

With a swift, deliberate motion, Isolde extends the sword forward, pointing its tip directly at Zybilna in silent accusation. “The witch killed Lord Frostwood. She’s behind everything.”

Mister Witch and Mister Light will gasp and moan from the audience as Isolde enters, as them all being together may potentially break the fey bargain that gave them ownership of the Witchlight Carnival (see Part A of The Witchlight Carnival if you need a refresher). Isolde will stride past them towards the bench – “Enough squeaking mice. No one cares if you lose your carnival.” 

It should be clear to everyone at this point that Zybilna is the true guilty party here. If the players didn’t provide much evidence against Zybilna during the trial, consider having Isolde present something incriminating herself (e.g., the mushroom fragment in Zybilna’s room) and share it as part of her speech. She could also share details about her history with Zybilna.

Zybilna stands up from her place amongst the nobles, her stoic face breaking into a smirk. “Oh dear, whatever happened to courtroom decorum?”

She pauses for a moment and then lightly claps her hands. “Well, I suppose you’re right. I did have our dear Albert killed.” The unseelie nobles gasp and the guards in the room put their hands at their weapons.

Zybilna chuckles in response, “How quaint, don’t all be so taken aback. Was he any more important than any other? I have witnessed the rise and fall of empires. Do you think any of you are more than my little puppets?”

Isolde grimaces and then charges forward. “Enough of this. Face me you devil!”

At this point start a new combat. This will only last one round (or two if you’re feeling spicy) but the intent is to showcase the danger and power Zybilna possesses. It’s crucial that Zybilna is not killed or disabled. Remember she has negate spell and legendary resistances/actions. Don’t be shy about using them given it is only one round, or even fudging rolls if needed.

  • Include Isolde and any other members of the court who you think would help fight in the initiative order as allies
  • Use the winter eladrin stat block (MotM) for nobles who don’t have one 
  • For Zybilna use the Iggwilv stat block from the campaign. If you’re using a VTT like Roll20, make sure the stat block is named Zybilna (and not Iggwilv) so a roll doesn’t give away her identity
  • It’s fine if Zybilna kills anyone in the winter court – if anything it is a good show of her power.  

At the end of the round the air grows cold as the radiant form of Queen Mab floats into the room. She will yell out “Enough!” and fire a blast of cold energy that causes Zybilna to be slammed backwards against a wall.  

“That’s my cue, until we meet again!” With a wicked grin, Zybilna disappears in a flash of magical energy (note: using her amulet of the planes), leaving the courtroom in shock and disbelief.

  • Isolde disappears soon after, seemingly giving chase using her plane shift ability
    • If the players never broke into Isolde’s quarters you can have her accidentally drop her pack when she disappears. Inside are the items they would have been found in her room from Part 20. 
    • If Zybilna happened to kill any party members, I would recommend having Mab resurrect them
  • The events of the courtroom make it clear to everyone that Zybilna is the true guilty party here. Even if the players were found guilty during the trial they will now be absolved
  • Feel free to have the players talk with whomever inside the courtroom, but at some point they should be approached by Queen Mab who will state: “We have made a grave error and you have my apologies. There is much to speak on but for now I think it best if you retire to your quarters while I address this.“
  • Once the players have settled back in their rooms have Astrid pay a short visit:
    • She will share that the queen has arranged to collect and return their Lost Things as well see them through a fey crossing back to the Material Plane. They will all meet in the morning at the fey crossing outside the palace
    • She will thank the party for all of their help with investigating her father’s murder. While it’s unfortunate that Zybilna got away, at least she knows the truth and has closure
    • The rest of the court is still reeling from the revelation about Zybilna
    • Note: The players will be returning to the Feywild later in the campaign. However, if you don’t want the players to leave the Feywild (or don’t think they will want to) there is an option for handling this that I’ll cover in the next entry but will involve skipping content. In that case the portal in the next section should likely go to Vale Crossing instead

Departures and Leavetaking

In the morning Kaltar Starlight will escort the players to a ridge outside the palace where a fey crossing is located. He will apologize for any mistreatment on his part and for having them arrested. I used the Fey Village (night gate variant) map by Czepuku for this scene, though a map isn’t strictly needed here.

  • Have any key NPCs from Yon waiting on the ridge when the players arrive to say their goodbyes. I would recommend Astrid and Luca at minimum, but anyone the party had a good connection to would be a safe bet. Mister Witch and Mister Light, still recovering from the encounter with Isolde could also be here – if so, you should decide whether or not they’ve lost ownership of their carnival
    • Give the players a chance to speak with everyone
  • Once they’re ready, Queen Mab will be waiting by the fey crossing to speak with the party
    • She will finally bequeath the party their Lost Things!
    • She will also provide a few updates:
      • After the confrontation at the courtroom she personally checked the seals on the Feydark. Luckily the entrance the players used was the only one currently down, and she restored it
      • A large host of fomorians was amassed near the main entrance of the Feydark, as if expecting to be let out of their underground prison soon. It seems they were just in time in stopping Zybilna from having them let free to attack the palace
      • While this part of Zybilna’s plan was stopped, the fact that she admitted to Lord Frostwood’s murder, likely means she likely succeeded in some of her other machinations. Mab promises to be vigilant
    • Once the party has finished, Queen Mab will activate the fey crossing back to the Material Plane and bid the characters farewell and good luck

Resources

I have highlighted some of the resources I used for this portion of the campaign below.

Music

What’s Next?

Our travels in Yon have come to an end. While this may seem like a happy ending of sorts, the characters finally reunited with their Lost Things, Zybilna has now solidly placed herself as a serious threat to be dealt with. Will our characters be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor, or they will be called back up to deal with this menace?

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any comments, questions, or suggestions and…see you in the Feywild!

Published by IndieRex

3 thoughts on “Part XXII: Yon (The Trial and Lost Things)”

  1. Pingback: The Wild Beyond the Witchlight: Reimagined – IndieRex
  2. Pingback: Part XXIII (O): Returning Home – IndieRex
  3. Pingback: Part XXIV (O): Skullport (Undermountain) – IndieRex

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