Hazelnuts and plaid

[GamesMaster]

"I returned to my own dorm room where I spent a little time studying before MaryAnn returned home. Then I spent some time hanging out with her before bed."

[NPCs]

"Did anyone witness your bringing Mary Amell to the dorm?"

[GamesMaster]

Joni pauses, frowning as ey thinks. "There was a guard at the door, but as we're allowed to come and go freely, there wasn't any interaction between us. Otherwise I don't recall running into anyone."

[NPCs]

"Very good then." He clears his throat lightly. "Citizen Joni, you are to answer the following questions with either a 'yes' or 'no' and nothing else." He stares at ey until ey nods a bit nervously.

"Were you paid, in currency or otherwise, to make this testimony?"

"Were you coerced, by threats or otherwise, to make this testimony?"

"Were there any attempts to cause you to alter, restrict or modify your testimony in any way?"

"Are you currently under any mental control effects, be they magical or otherwise?"

"Are you currently under the influence of any mind or mood altering effects, by they magical or otherwise?"

"Have you ever been exposed to memory alteration magic, be it arcane, alchemical or other?"

"Do you stand to gain, be it financially or otherwise, from a guilty verdict in this case?"

"Do you stand to gain, be it financially or otherwise, from a not guilty verdict in this case?"

"Do you have any reason to believe that your testimony is untrue or inaccurate in anyway?"

"Is there anything you feel of significant relevance to your testimony being complete and accurate that was not brought up?"

[GamesMaster]

Joni answers a simple "No" to each question, looking more and more befuddled and slightly alarmed as the guard goes on. For the final question, ey answers with an uncertain, "No, I don't think so..."

[NPCs]

"Yes or no, Citizen Joni," is the stern response.

[GamesMaster]

"No, then." Ey rubs the back of eir neck, looking nervous.

[NPCs]

Ey gets a reproving frown at the additional word but isn't challenged on it again. "Very good. You are dismissed from your duty here. You will be escorted to a waiting room, provided food and beverages, then released after you have been confirmed to be both recovered and still the being you have claimed to be. You are to keep absolute secrecy about any and all details regarding this event to any and all people unless served a legal injunction signed and sealed by the Lord Hand or a super minority of Lights that may not include Lady Sage zi'Hawke. Do you understand what I have said?"

[GamesMaster]

"Ye-es, but, by this event, do you mean I can't talk about last night, or that I can't talk about this questioning session?"

[NPCs]

Vosang nods, almost approvingly. "There will be a full set of restrictions and instructions in the waiting room, as well as an attendant on hand to clarify anything you are unsure about. But in short: both."

[GamesMaster]

"Can I talk about the parts of last night that are unrelated to Mary Amell? It's just, it'll be awkward if, say, Susie asks me about what beer I was drinking and I can't acknowledge I was there..."

[NPCs]

"There is a full set of instructions awaiting you," Vosang repeats, this time more firmly.

[GamesMaster]

"Right, right. Sorry." Ey rubs the back of eir neck. "I do hope this will be of use to you." That said, ey stands, giving a bow as ey heads for the door. 

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene stops concentrating on the Zone, turning nir attention to not-Varric as ne worries nir lower lip. That sounded bad for Hawke. Really, really bad.

[Varric]

Varric watches, frowning, as Captain Vosang escorts the first witness out of the room to be given over to another guard's custody and, presumably, walk the next witness in. "This is getting more and more complex,"  he murmurs. "Nonsensically so."