BACK INFO:
Two characters (Human Cleric & Human Rogue) in the group that I DM for are set to go to trial for the murder of 26 civillians while they were under an illusion spell by the BBEG in the city that is basically "home" and also where the HQ of their Adventuring Company they work for is based.
They fled the city via the Rogues new boat and we have had about 4-5 sessions since the incident.
The leader of the adventuring company (NPC) was charged with bringing the two back to the city for trial and along with some hired help, (New PC's that have joined the group) to bring them in. They have evidence to clear their names so now they are going back to be tried.
NOW:
So for the trial i want to have some person associated with each of the victims to approach the stand to say soemthing about their loved one to add emotion to the trial. to make the PC's characters feel really guilty for killing civillians.
So if anyone has a quick few sentences for some poor soul who met their end too soon and would like to contribute. Feel free.
OrwellianHaggis wrote:
"E cut off my sister's ead! Right through the neck with his claymore. She were only a wee lass of about nine'een on er way to the doc'ors. She were preggers see, about five months in, an she needed er medication 'cos she got awful sick did our Hazel. Couldn't save the baby either could we, cos that bastard e stabbed er in the belly an called er a "devil spawn"! *sigh* Life is so cruel, an I'd been so lookin forward to bein a dad!"
I'd also throw in an npc or two who bare false testimony. Because then it is up to the players to counter some of the lies thrown their way.
"Ah Still dream 'bout those unholy flames settin' mah ma on fire, her hair lit up like that time pa's lantern broke on a hay bale just outside the city. Pa's taken ta' the hard ale, doesn't work. Ah think we're gunna loose the farm"
You want to narrate 26 versions of the exact same thing? Seems like a good way to have your players lose interest in a thing that, by what I can gather, is already a foregone conclusion. Besides, no matter what you say the players are the ones who get to decide that their character feel guilty or not. It just strikes me as an exercise in, "how many cool ways can I say the same thing and still have it have no impact on my game."
Thanks everyone. It will bring some extra flavor to the trial with some of those.
@Imaculata you hit it right on the head with how im approaching this. There is someone who is trying to speed up the process and get the PC's charged and executed while trying to place blame on the leader (NPC) of the Adventuring Company in the city. They want to hurt the NPC through the PC's. So there is some false testimonies and peoples who were paid off to lie to sway the decision. But at the end of it, the PC's are the ones who are at risk of public execution, and they have brought with them evidence to clear their names in terms of they were under control of other forces.
@danny im not going to literally lay out 26 different peoples loved ones to talk about who was killed. even if i did, and how i plan to have false accusations, they would be attentive in what is being said and by who is speaking. they already feel guilty, i know this, and thats why it would hammer in the effect adding to their guilt. its up to the PC's to give the jury the evidence as to their innocence or i will have their characters hung or beheaded in the middle of the city. i make each of my sessions open to at least 3-4 different outcomes. good or bad its going to be a good one.
The thing I think is funny is having a modern day trial when magic is a thing. Town's Cleric cast Zone of Truth, PCs submit to tell the truth, and the truth sets them free. Done and done.
For one of the reasons modern courts don't just use a polygraph and call it done. Zone of truth is defeatable. Heck a simple way is to cast modify memory on the person so they remember the events differently pre-trial. They're telling the truth as they remember it. Even without it dealing with the mentally insane (you know, the type that would commit mass murder) would make zone of truth questionable at best.
Also generally secular gov't is not going to be thrilled at the idea of having to trust a church official to handle all trials. That's a quick way to a theocracy.
Xanral,
Zone of Truth is available at lower-level than the counters you describe. If the use of those counters can be proven, then the Court automatically knows somebody is trying to play them for a fool.
In addition, NPCs can be given any spell you want. Yes my court-appointed Wizard does have Zone of Truth, he had to learn it - from a temple - as part of his job. He's creating a scroll version (similar rules to creating a magic item) during his off-days so the other court-retained Wizards have access to the spell too.
A church that has been properly suborned is a powerful tool in the hands of the State. The reverse is also true (which is why IRL for instance China can't stand the Dali Lama).
"Your Honor, I can't believe this blatant killer actually has the gall to come back to the scene of his crime. And then try to feed you that (insert something polite which has a synonym of 
here) about being under an influence. I saw him kill Mr. Smith by blade; so did a dozen other people, who are all outside waiting their turn to speak. He was totally in control and thinking about what he was doing the whole time. What's his excuse going to be - he had a magic illusion in his eyes? Don't let him put a magic illusion in your ears. You've seen and heard yourself what REALLY happened. Now is the time to show that we're of stronger mind that that. We don't let people get out of deserved punishment because they're drunk, and this is no different !"
BRJN:
I mentioned two things, one was a spell and the other was just being nuts, you don't have to be a certain level to be crazy. You could accomplish the result of a false reading with 2 mundane, sane, people using no magic whatsoever as well.
The problem is that having no court and leaving it all to Bob the spellcaster that tosses out Zone of Truth is there is no oversight. Could it be useful as part of the trial, of course. Should it be used as the only portion of determining guilt, that leaves a gaping hole to be exploited including Bob the caster himself.
As for the rest, whoever you give power to can abuse said power, if you turn over legal powers to a group with no checks at all they're going to control the gov't within a few years whether they're good or evil. Unless the place is already a magocracy or theocracy then feudal rulers are probably not going to want to have that sort of result.
I just think it is reasonable to have a trial in a world even with magic.
xanral wrote:
So instead of a mundane court staff, you now have multiple spellcasters gathered together to handle any crime costing hundreds if not thousands of gold in spellcasting services. And it still doesn't handle a mundane switcheroo.
Or you could, I dunno, use the Zone of Truth as one element of the trial as opposed to just relying on magic alone.
My aim wasn't to try to convince people it had to be done as a trial, but I don't think it unreasonable the OP wants to have a court system in their world.
The fact that you'd setup your gameworld to be a magecracy or whatever, cool, more power to you. I don't see how that invalidates it for those who wouldn't or makes it an infallible approach.
I will always remember the day my children were slaughtered. Jenny and Kevin had just finished helping me sweep up the bakery when I sent them out to play for a bit. it wasn't long after that i heard the screaming and saw the terrified villagers in front of my shop. I felt so much terror and i ran out into the street looking for my children and when I found them........ I just couldn't beleive it. They were just lying there bloody.. chopped up... and I saw their murders killing even more people. I just couldn't do anything but watch in horror. When they walked tword me I was actually glad i thought now they're going to kill me and I'll get to see my babies again. Just as he lifted his sword he blinked and lowered it and ran away. I'll never be able to see them again, I'll never be able to tell them how much i love them, never be able to hold them and tell them everything will be alright. That's because they killed them! (pointing at the PCs) they butchered them without a hint of remorse. They say it wasn't their fault that they were under some spell but that won't bring my boy and girl back it, it won't... it just won't.