Tribunal of the Inquisition : Case of the murder of the heretic Godking.

[DAVOUT]

Prosecutor,

You answered a remark of mine on the identification of the body by saying :

It is the body of Senor GodKing that was found it has been identified by many people who knew him well, through more than just one means.

I suggest that you stop shouting that it IS the body; the intensity of you voicing has no evidencial value. All the more that in your accusation you did mention only the Cardinal Calamari as having identified the corps. The problem is that the Cardinal Calamari is one of the judges of this trial. Unless you want to dismiss a judge designated by His Sanctity the Pope, who is infaillible, as you know, you have to produce other evidence and /or witnesses regarding the identity of the body.

The Church wants the Tribunal of the Inquisition to be fair, and it would not be fair to base the accusation on a declaration made by a judge.

[BigFree]

Originally posted by DAVOUT


I have just asked my first preliminary questions regarding the identity of the body and head; more are to come.

But before that, I have studied the laws of the Church and the scriptures, and this enables me to firmly state that the Church has not yet recognized that women had a soul. Therefore this Tribunal cannot, in all fairness and lawfulness, receive the testimony of a being with no soul : any noise made with her mouth is of no inquisitorial value, and I ask the judges to consider the so-called testimony of the accused s wife as not having been delivered and forget its content.

The church certainly does recognize that the a woman has a soul!? From which scriptures are you reading? Have you been 'sipping' too much of the sacraficial wine altely? Are you saying that our own queen has no soul? I shudder to think what the King would say to you about this!

[BigFree]

Originally posted by DAVOUT
Prosecutor,

You answered a remark of mine on the identification of the body by saying :

It is the body of Senor GodKing that was found it has been identified by many people who knew him well, through more than just one means.

I suggest that you stop shouting that it IS the body; the intensity of you voicing has no evidencial value. All the more that in your accusation you did mention only the Cardinal Calamari as having identified the corps. The problem is that the Cardinal Calamari is one of the judges of this trial. Unless you want to dismiss a judge designated by His Sanctity the Pope, who is infaillible, as you know, you have to produce other evidence and /or witnesses regarding the identity of the body.

The Church wants the Tribunal of the Inquisition to be fair, and it would not be fair to base the accusation on a declaration made by a judge.

The body has been indentified by me, through court records that show the tattoed serial number on Senor GodKing is the same one that is found on the headless body. I have the offical documents that are labeld as secret right here with me. I surely thought that the Tribual had reviewed all evidence that I precented earlier, including the paper's that show the what the serial number was. Since you have not seen it, or have neglected to look at it, I present it now.


*Senor Libre walks to the front of the table in which the tribunal sits and hands to them serveral documents that have the Kings official seal on them.

These are the records for Senor GodKing, including his last trial and sentencing. It also contains official documents noting his assigned serial number and a complete physical description of Senor GodKing.


*Senor Libre walks back to his table, mumbling something about incompetence on his way back.


Since you are hearing this case is it wrong for me to presume that you have not seen the body yourself? If you have, then you will see that these number's match with those on the documents in fron of you. You can also note that the birth mark, as noted in Senor GodKings official case file is described in exact detail and can be clearly seen on the headless body that the court has been precented with.

I can have the body brought in at this time, if you wish.

*Senor Libre notices that the people present at the Tribunal gasp. But he has the body brought out to be placed in front of the Tribunal's table.

If the tribunal has not viewed the body, then you are doing a diservice to Senor GodKing's family, justice, the church and to Spain. I urge you to examine the evidence yourself. You will see it is incontrovertible that it is inded Senor GodKing's body.

On another matter, where is it written that Cardinal Calamari cannot at least affirm, to the Tribunal, the evidence, he himself has seen? He does not need to be called as a witness, though I reserve the right to do so a later point even if it means asking the Pope to submit a replacement for him at this juncture.

To further satify your quest for another witness, though I see no particular reason for it, I will call now, to be a witness, the Royal Seneschel, Thud.

Thud, please answer these questions:

• You have access to information that tells us what the tattoed serial number on Senor GodKing was, do you not?
  
• Does that serial number match identically to the headless body that I have procalimed to be that of Senor GodKing?
  
• Is the birth mark, as described and logged by Spains prison system not match that of the birth mark found on the headless body that I proclaim to be Senor GodKing?
  
• Have you noticed Senor de la Civ acting in strange manners before and up to the exile of Senor GodKing?
  
• Has his attitude changed since Senor de la Civ has returned from his trip that exiled Senor GodKing?
  
• Do you have any evidence that you would like to bring to the attention of this Tribunal?

Thank you for your attention.

[civman2000]

OOC: History Guy, when you said Daniel, I was confused because I thought you were using Dnaiel de la Civ, one of my characters! About the baby, he is real (just a bit deformed so he lloks sort of like a monkey), and about the dates, I was sort of assuming everything took a ton longer than it did IRL. Like RP time is more based on game time than real time, so if it seemed like the trial after they met was only a few days it was actually months.

[History Guy]

[ooc]Civman...whoops. Actually, this trial is only taking place immediately after the other trial. You'd hardly have the time to crank out another baby, unless...you knew the lady beforehand! Ah well, ne'er ye mind.[/ooc]

Senor Torquemada,

As you know, the body was taken here into court. Indeed, it is over in the salt chest, where it is being preserved for the benefit of the jury. Haven't you seen it yourself? If you haven't, I must wonder why you are sitting.

Furthermore, as Archbishop of Spain, I have noted on your part a sincere lack of understanding of Canon Law. Women are as much God's Creation as men. They may not preside as priests or deacons, but they are certainly blessed with souls.

I must ask the Pope whether or not Senor Torquemada has been spending too much time with the Essenes!!

(shocked horrific gasps)

Or is it the Arians?

Either which, the teaching of the Church has always been that women have souls.

Lastly, I am not a judge in this case. Senor Torquemada should know the names of the other members of the tribunal - Cardinals Tacticus and Winterus. However, as Archbishop, I watch over some of the affairs, I attend the proceedings, but I take no active part in the judging. I have simply submitted evidence to the Inquisition, as is my right.

Senor Libre, if you need me to stand as witness yet again, I am at your disposal.

Cardinal Calamari

[Aidun]

Señor Torquemada, Cardinal Tacticus, Cardinal Winterius, Señor Libre and Cardinal Calamari

The word judge means, after the first paragraph, both Judge of Inquisition and Head of Inquisition.

Cardinal Calamari is right that he is not a judge, he was only appointed as temporary judge in the former trial to make sure the switch from an Inquisition led by a 'watcher'' to an inquisition with a prosecutor and one judge.

Cardinal Calamari likes but to attend in a quite active way. If you think he is participating too actively, the judges or the prosecutor can request him to be less active in this trial, because he is only a spectator and a witness in this case.

About women: In the Law of the Church is no Law, nor any article in which is stated that women have a sole. But neither has been written that women have no sole.
Without a sole no body can talk, therefore women must have a sole. This is why I rule that we accept the fact that women have a sole.

[ooc]Civman, in the former trial I ruled that the Judge was only allowed to play one witness role by himself. You already have played three. This is not fair, but is not your fault, but a mistake of all of us. To solve this problem, I suggest that the testifications of Señor de la Civ's wife and his nephew Daniel are ignored, thus decreasing the number of witnesses played by Civman back to 2: Jorge Madero and his Friend. All these testifications make the process unnessecary difficult. I hope you understand this Civman, I've tried to take this decision unbiased: both you wife, who accuses you and danial, who defends you have become inactive.
I request the Judges and the Prosecutor to neglect the testifications of these characters.[/ooc]

Furthermore I say that the Judge does not need to argue with the prosecutor if the prosecutor requests him to do that and he does not want that.
In return to that, the Judge may not neglect evidence or call it in question. Example: Señor Torquemada may not call the fact question, that the body is of the heretic GodKing. If the Judge thinks that the prosecutor and the witness - Cardinal Calamari - are wrong, he has to call for an independent witness (nor a character of Civman) to approve this assumption.

About the baby: I think it has, now that the wife of Señor de la civ is not a witness anymore, become irrelevant.

Furthermore two things:
1. Stay calm, kind and proper against each other. [ooc]I personally also have sometimes difficulties with that when I'm heavily involved, so I guess it's part of the game [/ooc].
2. If you have difficulties with the dicisions I have made, please let me know and we can see if it was right to make these decisions. Keep in mind that I have tried to be unbiased as a Pope should be, but even I can make mistakes like all people do.

With kindest regards

Pope Aidun I

[DAVOUT]

I resume only now, because the smell of this piece of meat makes me faint. This is truly horrible. Nobody can honestly recognize a human being in that nauseous remain, and certainly not GODKING, although the smell ...

Prosecutor,

You have offered to call another witness in the person of Thud, and he will be wecome. I suppose he will be able to explain how he had a direct knowledge of the secret number tatooed on Godking.

[DAVOUT]

Your Sainctity,

I am a bit confused with you new set of instructions; I was attempting to make this trial as fair as possible, which, you have probably subtily discovered, is not a natural tendency for me. This is the main reason why I devote a considerable energy to satisfy myself that all arguments presented by the prosecutor are well founded and relevant. This is the price of fairness.

But if you believe that fairness is only for the benefit of evil heretics like Godking, and that it should not been granted to a respectful son of the Church like de la Civ, who, in the worst hypothesis has cleaned the Earth, slightly sooner than planned, of an abominable man, it will be done as you desire.

I will just mention for the file that two possibilities should have been investigated : Godking has perhaps committed suicide (yes, suicide, he had reasons to do so, and they are many means to behead oneself quite comfortably); Godking can also have been victim of an accident (in shaving for instance).

Your obeying son,

Christofo de Torquemada

[History Guy]

[private letter to Senor Libre]

Senor Libre,

Only a little note.

Remember, the prison number and the birthmark identified Senor GodKing. The birthmark is being ignored, and for what reason I cannot decipher.

Secondly, remember that the wounds appear to have been caused by a sword. There is no way that a wound could have been made so cleanly by a sword if this was suicide. It is quite impossible.

Cardinal Calamari

[/private letter to Senor Libre]

[GodKing]

So, figured out who killed me yet?

[BigFree]

Señor Torquemada, while we wait for the tesitmony of the Royal Seneschel, will you concede that the body before you is in fact Senor GodKing?


Señor Torquemada, do I need to recall Cardinal Calamari
to re-testify to information already submitted to the Tribunal that came from the initial investigation?

I do have a few more questions I'd like to have Cardinal Calamari answer at this time:

• What can you tell me about the nature of the neck wound found on Senor GodKing?
• Is it possible for this to have been a suicide? Committed through no actions of any other than Senor GodKing>
• What do you know of the Royal Seneschel, Thud; Is he an honorable man to your wit?

That is all for now.

[History Guy]

What can you tell me about the nature of the neck wound found on Senor GodKing?

The wound on Senor GodKing's neck appeared, from the Inquistorial surgeon's report, to have been cleanly done, as though with the single swing of a sword. The swordsman was also believed to have been moderately experienced with swordplay, a military man it is suggested. The sword itself must have been long and thin, like the blades carried by Paladins or members of the Swiss Guard. Whatever the case, it was a clean cut right through the neck.

Is it possible for this to have been a suicide? Committed through no actions of any other than Senor GodKing?

It seems to those who have examined the body impossible that this could be a case of suicide. For one thing, if Senor GodKing had an arm long enough to cut off his head with a sword like that he must have been an ape, which he most assuredly was not. Secondly, the wounds do not correspond with someone who is doing so. It appears as though the sword cut through the back of the neck. This would make suicide physically impossible. Thirdly, if one had even managed to get the sword half-way through the neck, one would no doubt be dead before the head could be severed. With so clean a wound, the distances, and the physicalities, it is impossible that Senor GodKing, the heretic, killed himself.

What do you know of the Royal Seneschel, Thud; Is he an honorable man to your wit?

From what I know of him, he is, Milord. I know little of him, however. I've dined with him several times, but have not spoken to him in some time. I believe that he is, however.

Cardinal Calamari

[Aidun]

Dear Señor Torquemada,

In this reply I'll answer your questions.

Originally posted by DAVOUT
Your Sainctity,

I am a bit confused with you new set of instructions; I was attempting to make this trial as fair as possible, which, you have probably subtily discovered, is not a natural tendency for me. This is the main reason why I devote a considerable energy to satisfy myself that all arguments presented by the prosecutor are well founded and relevant. This is the price of fairness.

Can you tell me exactly which instructions? It is of couse not my purpose to make the trial only more difficult, so if I am do ing so, I would like to hear your comments.

But if you believe that fairness is only for the benefit of evil heretics like Godking, and that it should not been granted to a respectful son of the Church like de la Civ, who, in the worst hypothesis has cleaned the Earth, slightly sooner than planned, of an abominable man, it will be done as you desire.

Of course such is not the purpose of my instructions, but the trial seemed to get choked up in an endless discussion about whether women have a soul or not and whether the body is GodKings or not.

I will just mention for the file that two possibilities should have been investigated : Godking has perhaps committed suicide (yes, suicide, he had reasons to do so, and they are many means to behead oneself quite comfortably); Godking can also have been victim of an accident (in shaving for instance).

Very well, both of these options are possible and you have my permission to find out which one happened to happen and, in case of the last one, who committed the murder.

Sincerely

Pope Aidun I

[History Guy]

[private letter to the Pope]

I have been, Your Holiness, following this case quite closely. Forgive me if I appear overzealous, but I felt that the murder directly challenged the weight and might of the Inquisition and of the entire Church, and thus could not be ignored.

However, I must submit that what suggestions this Grand Inquisitor have put forward, that it was suicide or an accident, are all fluff, sheer attempts to get the killer off the hook.

We have established that it was not suicide. How could it have been an accident? Moreover...a shaving accident? Do you shave with a sword? Who does? And may I ask how he was able to get such a long blade into his possession when he had been left nothing but his clothing?

I have sincere doubts over the validity of these arguments.

Cardinal Calamari

[/private letter to the Pope]

[History Guy]

[private letter to Senor Libre]

Above I have enclosed a letter I sent to the Pope on Senor Torquemada's "suggestions".
As it is, there are other points I would like to address.

GodKing had no sword with him on the island. The only person who had a sword was de la Civ. If the heretic committed suicide, which is now rendered impossible anyway, there are several possibilities as to how how he got the sword:

1) De la Civ handed GodKing his sword. But this is ridiculous because the heretic would have immediately killed Paladin de la Civ.

2) De la Civ left his sword unguarded for a time. This is also ridiculous because then GodKing the heretic could have found the sword and killed de la Civ with it.

3) Someone other than de la Civ brought a sword to Senor GodKing by sailing to the island after the trial. This person could either have dropped it on the island or given to Senor GodKing. This person should at least not be an enemy of GodKing, because then GodKing would have killed that person too, unless this man himself killed the heretic.

And yet, as we have established, suicide is impossible. He could not have, with the dimensions necessary, cut off his own head with a sword. It cannot be done.

Therefore, we are left with only the idea that someone murdered GodKing, and that someone knew who he was and wanted him dead for a reason.

Cardinal Calamari

[/private letter to Senor Libre]