- In a slow news day, we will recap the day's Royal Court results, and then list the few items for today. - The morning session went as many expected. The 5 new Castle Keeps were approved straightaway, but the new Town Wall extension took a long time to approve, due to the number of court members that wanted to make statements of well wishes to sponsor Sir Aylor on his retirement. After the accolades, the wall was approved as well. Construction is expected to commence as soon as possible, to try to complete the work before the weather gets worse. The Capenter's Guild has been taking applications for hours, and expects to continue doing so for the next few days., - In the afternoon sessions, Nothing went as expected! - In the first case hear, pandemonium broke out in the court as the transient Tiefling Sketolor was found not guilty of the murder charges against him. In his rejection of representation, the court appointed a trialist to represent him. We figure they weren't very interested in his defense when they picked a human child of 15, but the young ladie's magical acumen was the gamechanger! After the prosecution concluded with Lyon Jeffsoner telling how he witnessed the murders himself, Sketolor's young defender first shredded his story through cross-examination that proved he wasn't even on the premises when the murders occurred. Then, after asking the court's approval as the anger quelled in the court desiring Tiefling blood, the young magician opened a portal for all to see that showed the event as it happened. The court saw Georges Jeffsoner screaming at the help, waving a cleaver around as he did so. His wife Louisa comes in to see what the noise was, and was accidentally hit on the side of the temple by the swinging cleaver. In falling, he head hit the bar, and she appeard to have died before her body hit the floor. The employees recoiled from the scene, spilling into the streets, where they inadvertently run into Sketolor, who was escorting his young son, who was cradling his new pet goldfish they had just purchased. Sketolor asked what happened, the panicked workers told him, and he went in to see if he could heal the woman before death... By this time, Georges had seen what he had done, and was crying over his late wife. Sketolor asked if he could help, saying he was a cleric and could heal her, but Georges struck out with his cleaver at Sketolor. As he moved to avoid the blade, the blade struck the oak bannister at the corner of the bar, and shattered. Sharp fragments flew everwhere, one into Georges neck. Georges fell in a heap, blood pouring from his neck. Sketolor removed the metal shards, and reached to his satchel for a healing salve. Before it could be applied, the Kings Guard arrived, and arrested Sketolor on the spot without asking questions. As the vision closed, it was obvious that the unwarranted arrest of Sketolor had far more to do with George's death that Sketelor. Without the healing, Georges died of his wounds. One wonders why Lyon created the story, but with no other option, Sketolor was found innocent of the charges, and left the court with his young son. After calm was restored, the head of the Magician's guild was seen escorting the young defender away - no doubt her show of skill proved her worthy of acolyte status to a Guild member - quite a nice promotion for so young a wizard. The second case offered no window into events, and with Sir Allenwood declining to put up any defense, the decree of divorcement was given to Dame Mia. The only occurrence of note at this part of the court's schedule was the expulsion of a rouge exploitational 'journalist' in the employment of the gossip rag 'Irrational Inquirer' after she incessantly tried to get Sir Allenwood to break his silence. Of course, she made up her own 'rumours' of events to feed her gossip-hungry readers. The third case was more somber. With no doubt of guilt, after conviction, standard penalties were inforced. The afflicted, Albert of Einswell, was allowed to state the penalty. He offered the convict the choice of involuntary servitude for a period of 1 year, or prison for 2 years. As Sarah spit on Albert of Einswell, it was clear she preferred prison to the wizard's presence. The court asked if Albert needed help to reaquire his stolen property, only to find he had already re-acquired everything, and that he only let it go as far as it did because he had hope the theif would repent. When she didn't, it was a simple matter to call the items home. We can only hope this episode does not cloud the beloved Albert's view of the inherent good of all lifeforms. - In non-court news, another day, another harvest, Wagons and carts, herders and cagers. Fruits, vegetables, animals of all shapes and sizes. We see it during the midweek days every Moon, as the butchers, furriers and cooks of every level work with our wonderful bounties to fill the kitchens, inns and shops with food, clothing, leather and material for the weekend shopping festivals. The wonder of it is how every week, we see something we hadn't seen before. Today, we saw a heard of goats being sold to a Dairy owner in the Livestock Guild. Given how the Royal Goatherders never sell their goats, only using them for the processions, somehow somebody must be raising their own goats. Last we heard, this was illegal, but given the transaction was done in the open, on one of the busiest days of the week, it seems we need to visit the courts again to see if the law has been changed. For those who have clamored for the milk and cheese from goats with it being illegal in our country, maybe your day has finally come! - In closing, save your copper coins, friends. With the large bounty brought to the Guilds today, and the rate the masses of crops and livestock were so quickly sold, we can only imagine the bargains to be found at this weekend's markets!