Murder Trial Redux

"What strategy should we try with Caradoc?" queried Arvien.  "We should just tell the Lord's the truth, that Soth killed Gladria," stated Baru.  "But what we their response be?" wondered Arvien.  "Can't we get Caradoc to implicate Soth?" asked Ralom.  "But he won't break his oath!" declared Drovic.  The conversation continued with no real plan emerging from the discussion.

"Lets go now, I will address the judges," said Arvien.  So into the mirror the group jumped and emerged in the hallway festooned with banners and kingfisher adorned carpet.  From beyond the open door at the end of the hallway came the sound of angry voices.
"Squire Caradoc, you have been found guilty of the murder of Lady Gladria, wife of Lord Soth.  Your sentence is death.  In accordance with the Measure, the execution shall be carried out tomorrow morning with your own sword."
A voice cried out in response, "No! I'm innocent!  I wasn't the one who killed her!"
"Then who did?" the woman asked.
At this Arvien rushed into the courtroom, "The murderer is Lord Soth!  He holds Caradoc by the Oath!" Caradoc still insisted that he could not name the murderer.
"Release Caradoc from his oath!" shouted Baru stepping forward to the three panel jury.
Lord Soth leapt to his feet "Infamy!  Who are these squires deigning to impugn my character.  Lord Rateliff, remove them from the court as they are obviously in league with the guilty party."
The woman asked Arvien what evidence she had of Soth's guilt, warning that Arvien must remember the Oath and the Measure.  Arvien pleaded with Caradoc to implicate Soth but he held firm in silence.
Baru was incensed by the proceedings and moved up to the woman, "Soth surely has Caradoc under his sway, you must find a way for Caradoc to break that hold.
"Outrageous!" cried Soth, "these things cast dishonor on my name.  I challenge this one to a duel!"
Kitiara, Gutriem and Rateliff rose from the table and avowed the challenge met the letter of the Measure.  "To the courtyard for the battle!" said Kitiara.
The party, the guards with Caradoc, Soth, and the high lords all moved to the courtyard, where a blood stained execution block stood.  Baru was buffed as best he could be by the party, Ralom even determined to take half of the damage Baru received.
The duel began as both Soth and Baru slashed with swords a ready.  Ralom, taking damage, surreptitiously cast healing on himself and Baru as the individual battle raged on.  Seglun, becoming enraged at the sight of the battle moved onto Soth's rear to give Baru advantage.  Immediately Kitiara ordered the guards to attack or remove Seglun from the battlefield.  Meanwhile Grunyar had sidled up to Caradoc, telling the guards he would watch the prisoner.  When the guards moved to Seglun, Grunyar led Caradoc, at a run, to the black oval.  As Grunyar ran into the oval his grasp on Caradoc failed and Grunyar found himself alone in the throne room.  In the mirror he could see Caradoc staring blankly at the mirror.  Caradoc then wandered down the hallway.
The courtyard battle turned into a full fledged melee as the guards attacked Seglun and Drovic, Arvien brought her Dire Boar into the battle and Ralom called three earth elementals into the fray.  Summergale attacked Soth, giving advantage when she could.  Baru and Soth kept exchanging blows with Ralom taking damage and then healing himself and Baru.  Drovic went gaseous and floated to the top of the courtyard where he conjured a fire stick on Kitiara.  Varrid found herself under attack from Kitiara and was soon back in the throne room with Grunyar.  Lords Rateliff and Gutriem entered the fray assailing Seglun, the Dire Boar and Ralom.  The party found these Lords very difficult to damage but they certainly could wound the party easily.  Before long Baru found himself alone against Soth while Arvien was tossing magic missiles.  The Boar was gone as were the earth elementals.  Seglun and Ralom joined Varrid and Grunyar in the throne room.
Suddenly a magic missile from Arvien dropped Soth the the grass, just as quickly Arvien and Baru were back in the throne room.
Drovic finding himself alone at the lip of the courtyard, leaped down and fled as fast as possible to the dark oval.  He ran through into the throne room just as the rest of the party saw:
The knight in blackened armor leaned forward slightly, as if sensing the party's presence.  His head was turned toward the group, and the fingers of one hand were drumming impatiently on the hilt of the sword that lay across his thighs.  Although his eyes remained closed, the knight turned his head as Drovic appeared and moved across the room.
Ralom saw himself in the mirror, which reflected the throne room behind him.  Varrid noticed that the first mirror was also reflecting the throne room.

DM's Notes:  The party earned 1000XP for the night and now have 29,472 XP.