The Will of the Senate - out of character thread III

**Braden** · 08-04-2006, 22:58

Popped in. Lots (actually tons) to read through. So will post tomorrow guys.

Briefly though - Econ21, your ideas great and the support I'm getting from you and others is perfect for the next segment i.e. Personal Testimony

Ha! *Watch out!*

**Avicenna** · 08-05-2006, 03:29

Originally Posted by wonderland

I'm sure TinCow or someone else already knows this, but just in case... for RP sake, whoever is the Praetor or judge for this can have the trait attributed to him manually. I just discovered it by accident when I wanted to give a character a general trait but I have him the Praetor one, and it's exactly what's needed for this case.

A general is a praetor

**Dooz** · 08-05-2006, 08:17

Originally Posted by Tiberius

A general is a praetor

Yeah, that's what I thought when I put the Praetor trait instead of General, and instead of the military rank, the character got the office of Praetor, and the description is judge and exactly what we need for this trial.

**econ21** · 08-05-2006, 09:17

On the trial - it seems TinCow is not happy to be prosecutor and Wonderland is not happy to be defence lawyer. Maybe a rethink is in order?

We have three options:

(1) try to force TinCow and Wonderland into roles their characters are uneasy with (in reality, perhaps especially in matters of law, we sometimes get in that position); but if the players won't do it, they won't do it. One way to square the circle would be to have Wonderland defend only Publius. Maybe only he is on trial - Manius was not in command - or maybe Manius is too crazy to get a defence lawyer.
(2) find another prosecutor. The problem is we have no volunteers and in some ways this is the most demanding part (perhaps after Manius

). Ideally, I would like someone who does not know the truth (ie not me nor Braden) to tear into the role, being very aggressive with witnesses - a kind of witchhunter type.
(3) Have Braden's character fulfill the joint role of judge and prosecutor - a kind of inquisitor, if you like; a representative of the state. I have a vague notion that judges under the Continental system are more proactive. That would leave TinCow free to play out the defence role he volunteered for and Wonderland free to defend the guilt of Publius and condemn Manius. The problem is that Braden as prosecutor could not be naive about the truth, in real life he knows the story, but then I guess it would easier for the story to emerge in a dramatic way.

What option do people (especially Wonderland, Braden and TinCow) prefer? It might be best if they did not post in character until this is decided, so we don't dig ourselves deeper into a hole.
Any volunteers to be prosecutor under option (2), please post now.

If we have a volunteer, option (2) would seem to be best but I'm not optimistic and don't want to wait - we probably have to work with what we have got.

My preference is for option (1) but am happy to go with option (3) if others involved have strong preferences for it.

**Death the destroyer of worlds** · 08-05-2006, 09:59

I favour option (2).
Lucjan can be both Manius and his defence lawyer.
TinCow can be prosecutor.
I would like to see a prosecutor who is ignorant of the real story.

**econ21** · 08-05-2006, 10:25

Originally Posted by Death the destroyer of worlds

I favour option (2).

TinCow can be prosecutor.
I would like to see a prosecutor who is ignorant of the real story.

I think that's option (1) - option (2) is for someone else to be prosecutor (Tincow is option 1 or Braden is option 3).

I agree, I think Tincow would be ideal as the prosecutor - he can bring the right degree of rigour and venom to the part. It is against Verginius's family ties and his Senate statement offering to be the defence, but that might add to the poignancy (I already have drafted an "et tu, Brutus?" statement from Publius.)

Lucjan can be both Manius and his defence lawyer.

Wonderland has just PMd me suggesting this. I think it is fine, although I do think it would be fun to hear Manius speak directly in the trial as well. I'm visualising a kind of Caligula/Hannibal Lector kind of figure - not a jibbering wreck, but a charmer who is definitely not quite right.