New characters:

• We learn that the old lady is named Zamalan Magistar (Madam Magistar)
• Rodor Greaves – prosecutor
• Lacey Crumb – investigator of spell crimes
• Phan Rae – young reporter  
• Rubett Hallicott – Judge
• Other spell guards and townsfolk, reporters 
• Syldar and Orthovir return

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The adventurers hear the calls of the guards, “Everybody stand back, leave this to us.” The others with the robes rush up, magic staves in their hands, calling “Stand down by the order of the guards of Silvery Moon”.  The adventurers stand down. A number of things happen at once. Two unfamiliar, distinctive ripping noises sound. They turn just in time to see the closest Cambion snap from existence. It leaves in place some light purple flecks of energy and quickly dissipating, leaving the carriage house looking ordinary and singed. 

 The woman at the top of the stairs looks through the trap door and vanishes, reappearing almost immediately where the Cambion was.  She brings her hand down and they can hear the trap door in the carriage snap closed. As her hand comes down she starts calling out “Thank goodness, thieves, help! Please, Help! These monsters tried to rob me!” 

The guards come up short and reiterate their command to “Stand down.”

Londer calls out “Thank goodness you’re here, we’ve just uncovered a terrible demon worshipping plot. “

The guards come up the stairs and find Londer and Leshanna. Madam Magistar is sure they were trying to rob her. The spell guards assess the situation and insist that the adventurers follow them, they are under arrest.

Londer has a go at swinging his axe at the trapdoor – as he gets close they pull him back.

 Gunther is left, invisible in the basement.

A couple of days later all except Gunther are in a dingy prison, 2 cells. Their things have been taken. Thoradin has been checking out the daily patterns of the guards. The doors have opened and they’ve heard muttering.  These are open barred prisons with a corridor.  They have had food come but not much else has happened. There is a protective magic ward to stop from spell casting. There are decorations, roots and creepers – evidence of lush fernery.

One time when they bring food, without discussing it with anyone, Miss Moss has a fit and looks decidedly unwell, foaming at the mouth. The jailer looks concerned but not enough to do anything.

Lia and Thoradin both peruse the stone work looking for any type of weakness. They discover that the walls are not very stable – the place is humming with magical energy, there are barriers (seen and unseen). Nothing seems to be giving way.

After two days, a halfling woman enters in a cream robe adorned with expensive looking jewellry. She wears platform shoes that clomp with authority as they move. Thoradin suspects that it is Gunther. She hands across a card – she is Lacey Crumb.  The business card has black lettering that seems to shift with magical energy.  She is an investigator of spell crimes. She has been called in to the case but she her involvement is not well known.  It should be a simple case of breaking and entering but it seems that the adventurers have powerful friends.

 From the darkness, they can see the silhouette of a tall human.  He says “I must say I thought we’d meet again in more pleasant circumstances. Still, it’s good to see you again, heroes of Phandalin”

“And Triboar” says Londer.

Lacy can’t stand the darkness and she illuminates the room.

The adventurers try to explain themselves.

 It’s clear they won’t be going home soon, there will be a trial.

A tall thin man enters the room and Syldar and Lacy leave.

Rodor Greaves works for Silvery Moon. He will be prosecuting them.

The charges against them are very simple:

Breaking and entering

Attempted theft

Threatening bodily harm

Her illusory devices were attacked. 

The legal system in Silvery Moon is opaque but it would still stand that we are entitled to a lawyer. Thoradin examines him for weaknesses. He looks like a comic book villain.  He seems to be sinister on many levels. He seems up to no good.

Rodor leaves, some time later Syldar reenters. 

Syldar explains that there are rumours swirling around them. As much as people are trying to avoid it, it is most sinister.  There are certain situations and political allegiances at play. The Magistars are a very powerful family.

Syldar makes a note about Orthovir and will request him to come to us. Lacy comes back in. She blinks, illuminates the room and pulls out her parchment.  She will put word out about Orthovir. 

As far as the team knows, Gunther is still trapped in the basement and is invisible. Bail is out of the price range. Word has got out that they are the heroes of Phandalin. It was in the news. Lacy will investigate through scrying and have someone look over the property, look over the property.

Miss Moss and Syldar wink and wave at each other and Syldar and Lacy leave.

 A few days later Lacy returns with news. She has told the Harpers and they have confirmed that they believe there is a group of Asmodeon worshippers in town. They are interested to hear the outcome of the investigation. There has been no word from Orthovir. People are staking out the building and it is very quiet. The scrying has resulted in just seeing her pottering around doing nothing suspicious. There is a columnist coming to write an article in their defense 

Phan Rae arrives to take their story – she listens to everything they have to say. They accuse them of devil worshipping and tax evasion. She looks very excited and goes off to see what she can do.

• Investigate scene of crime
• Cross examine witnesses
• Investigate wounds
• Bring into question the Cambions
• Summon Orthovir
• Keep monitoring the house

Their defence is now set. They come out of the cell for the trial and move to the court room. Reporters scream out questions. People are blocking the crowd. There are jeers and cheers.

In the courtroom, they line up in the docks. On the other side of the room is Zamalan looking old and frail. She wears a simple robe.

Presiding over things is an old elf female judge. Her name is Rubett Allicott. Other than that, there is Syldar, Lacy and Rodor.

The courtroom is in session.

 The prosecution begins with accusations.  At some point he asks Zamalan to summon the Cambions. She does. And they disappear with a green pop of light.

 With an objection, Thoradin points out the difference – there was purple light and shimmering.

 An expert is called to confirm that the green light is a sign of an illusion, but the purple light, shimmering and ripping sounds is a planar shift and the demons moving back to another plane.

 Now there is a final witness, ushered in through the crowd is Orthovir.

Thoradin calls out “Did you not tell us your family are devil worshippers?”

The crowd erupts. “Order, Order!”

Orthovir answers gravely “Yes, they are devil worshippers. I believe the heroes of Phandalin.”

The crowd goes crazy.

An investigation is ordered by the judge – Zamalan has to offer full access.

The adventures join a procession towards the house to investigate, surrounded by guards.

The go straight to the carriage and look for the trap door. They notice that the carriage is bolted to the ground. Other people notice this too and murmur. A note is made. The seat seems to be an ordinary seat. A spell guard casts “Dispell Magic” onto the seat and a sound of fizzing magic is heard. The trap door appears and pops open. Everybody gasps.

Zamalan’s face is stormy and dark. Miss Moss gives her a sideye.

Thoradin casts a spell “Zone of truth” and asks Zamalan “Did you alter this to try and hide your deeds and the crypt and the devil worshipping?” She says “Yes”

People start climbing down the trap door into the chamber. Everything has disappeared.

“Did you clean out the chamber to hide the crimes?” She says “No” and moves outside the Zone of truth.

Lacy comes over and says “This is enough, this is substantiating your story.”

It doesn’t take too long for the people to find a secret door. Behind one of the lanterns the door clicks open, leading to a manmade corridor. Zamalan is outraged saying she has never seen it before.

The dimly lit corridor leads all around until it reaches another staircase that goes up.  It is revealed to lead into the basement of the tower.  On the way, there is a huge, metal, ancient door halfway along the corridor. It is barred from the inside. Behind the door, it leads into the under dark.

They search and find an old chest, bearing the mark of the Magistar family.  There are some guards there looking at other things. Inside are the treasured belongings of an old Magistar adventurer. Noble heroic items, dusty goggles. Leshanna recognises them as googles of darkness. There is also a gem and a scroll Fire Ball.

Miss Moss takes the goggles and Leshanna the Fire Ball scroll. 

Zamalan is arrested, The adventurers are freed and all is well.