robowest | [ WEEK THREE

TRIAL

In the morning, the town comes back to life. Birds crow overhead, a snake nearby hisses, a lingering coyote dips behind a shop before disappearing into the wild. It's a frightening contrast to the stillness of yesterday but it doesn't mean it's over yet. After all, today is the trial.

The Sheriff stands on the porch of the Town Hall and brings his hand up to his mouth to let out a whistle. He'll thumb back to the Hall behind him and very clearly state --

"Trial time, folks. Get in here and figure out who did it."

And then he'll turn to leave before pausing and adding on,

"Bring a snack or somethin' too.

The Town Hall is set up more like a court house, a Judge's bench at the front but instead of at center, it's off to the side as if more for observation than participation. There's a table at the front of the room already holding a small box and a pad of papers and pen, for voting apparently. A side room containing only a metal gurney is next and today it's obvious why there's a gurney there at all with the corpse, resting right on top of it. Aside from that, there are rows for everyone to take a seat and it's only after everyone is inside and settled, that the doors close and the Sheriff speaks.

"Well, have at it. You've got till nine."

And then, he points to a clock on the wall that reads 12:00. Good luck.

Welcome to the trial post! Characters are free to discuss everything related to the trial here. They won't be let out of the room until 9PM when voting ends. Every character must vote and the voting post can be found here.

If there are any questions, please shoot a message to this journal or to

robowest.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You're not one of them?

[ this is news to him... gj ash. ]

No.

Not that it's obvious, with the form I've assumed.

[she hardly blames anyone for mistaking her as a human since. she sure looks like one]

I'm a spirit.

A spirit?

[ #NONSENSE detected. he snorts. ]

That's correct. I am Maxwell, the Lord of Spirits. I assume your world doesn't have such a thing?

[based on his derisive reaction]

No. There is no such thing. [ he's a robot, this is going to take some time... ] And what does being a "spirit" entail?

Spirits comprise the whole of nature in Rieze Maxia. There are spirits of water, wind, earth, and so on and so forth. Humans and spirits live in harmony, with the humans providing mana from which the spirits feed. In turn, spirits cast elemental spells called "spirit artes" for humans.

And I am the one who is tasked with protecting them all.

[she speaks with pride and conviction]

[ being what he is, he immediately strips away any supernatural elements in this story, replacing them with appropriate substitutions instead. ]

So you're a human-like life form that's formed a sort of mutualism with the humans, is that it?

I'm not human-like, no. I merely decided to take on a human form.

[or. rather she was "given" one by the first Maxwell, who created her, but whatever that's complicated]

Most other spirits don't have forms like mine, but we all share a symbiotic relationship with humans, yes.

I see. Not unlike myself... in a sense.

[ not that much, though - they differ in one key area. He crosses his arms. ]

How unfortunate that you're tied to such a selfish race.

[not even denying humanity's selfishness tbh]

I don't find it unfortunate at all.

I love humans, flaws and all. No matter how selfish they are at their very core, they are always trying to better themselves.

They're very much worth protecting.

[and there is always something good in them]

You must not know them very well. I've spent my life researching them... And in that time, and the time before, they managed to destroy their own world due to their own greed and selfishness. An entire planet full of life, brought to its knees by mankind.

[ he sounds extremely bitter. ]

[HA HA HA. . . she. she actually 100% gets that]

That happened to my world as well.

Or rather. . . a world called Elympios.

[which is. still her world?? she thinks??? Rieze Maxia and Elympios are no longer separated by the schism at any rate. . . but it's. complicated]

For years, I spent my life protecting the world of Rieze Maxia from denizens of the world of Elympios. Those on Rieze Maxia still lived harmoniously with spirits, while those on Elympios had used technology called Spyrix to nearly wipe them out.

But during my adventures at home, I met a human-- Jude. He wants to change the world for the better. Develop technology that those in Elympios can use in place of Spyrix to help both humans thrive and spirits survive. There are many other humans like him, too.

Mankind might be selfish, but I believe in its inherent goodness. I believe in them.

[or. . . maybe it's more appropriate to say she believes in Jude]

[ huh. That is interesting, provided he doesn't think about the spiritual stuff too much. Of course, she could be lying - he has no way of knowing. But if she's not - then she's like a bizarre version of himself. Or, perhaps, a version of himself that might have existed in the future, had he not died with Rion.

The thought pops up unbidden, and it immediately disgusts him. ]

I don't believe that the good deeds of a handful can make up for the sins of the many. If that was true, then I wouldn't exist. [ ??? but he shakes his head, glancing back towards the court proceedings. ] We'll talk later.

[ah]

[she does have something to say to that, but he's right. they are in the middle of something important right now. so instead, she nods]

Of course. Come find me whenever you wish to.

[ WEEK THREE – TRIAL ]

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