The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[NPCs]

"She admits it!" Elder Jorim thunders with righteous satisfaction. "I demand that she be bound at once!" More than a few of those watching murmur their agreement, including two of the other Elders. 

[Varric]

"She admitted to self-defense!" Varric snaps. 

[Marian Hawke]

"What is your fascination with binding? Are you a slaver, or just into rough sex?" snaps Marian.

[Carver Amell]

Carol freezes, breath catching in her throat.

[NPCs]

A gasp echoes from various spots in the crowd, nearly over-shadowing the small titters of laughter. "How dare- She brutally maimed a young woman, she needs to be bound for the protection of the village!" Elder Jorim's voice is a snarl.

[Haliel Lightsong]

Moving to stand directly in front of Carol, Lightsong says very calmly, "she is unarmed and surrounded by a dozen of your hunters. She is no danger and I will not allow you to harm her by treating her in that way."

[Marian Hawke]

"You want to tie someone up so bad, tie me," snaps Marian. "I'm the one more likely to punch you."

[Carver Amell]

"No," murmurs Carol, then, shaking her head, she repeats it louder: "No. I did it. I'm the one who stabbed whatever her name is. She tried to hurt Hunter and she almost killed Merrill but I'm the one who did something to stop her. I'll do whatever punishment you want, but leave my companions alone."

[NPCs]

"Doran, Bates, get chains-"

A wizened old man, stooped and bent with age to the one that one hand is a twisted claw shoves forward out of the crowd. His right eye is vacant and cloudy- those with healer training could easily recognize the signs of someone that has suffered at least one major mindstorm. "Hush your mouth boy. What's this about almost killing someone?" he demands. The ancient lacks an Elder amulet, but he has Uryll's symbol roughly carved into his forehead and cheek, which Helene would know denotes him as a member of an old and obscure sect of The Wild's Warden faith, under the Hunter aspect 

[Marian Hawke]

"You remember Merrill, don't you? Belongs in your village? Currently homeless and thin as a rail? We found her unconscious, covered in tannery fluid -- which is highly toxic. We got her cleaned up, took her in, and I've offered her employment after she told me she wasn't being paid for her labor here. Elder Jorim didn't even recognize her, and Elder Marthuc seems to think she had been sent to Nyra, but she's clearly been living in the woods alone." 

[Carver Amell]

"They threw it on her," adds Carol. "They had a bucket. Chucked the empty bucket at me, after attacking me for protecting my dog. Nasty girls."

[NPCs]

The decrepit man studies Carol closely, single working eye fixed on the young woman- and the mabari pup nervously but stubbornly pressed to her leg. "Gots wild magic in that one. Buried deep, but there's a hunter in there," he grunts, then slowly shuffles away, evidently done with the entire affair.

There's a brief, awkward silence before Elder Marthuc clears his throat. "Yes... the matter of Merrill and her.. condition and past year is a matter I find myself very curious about- but one not directly relevant to the matter at hand. Miss.. Carol, was it? Could you simply tell us what happened, starting from the beginning?"

[Carver Amell]

Carol hesitates, shifting a bit. She nods, after a moment. "I was walking Hunter while the others set up camp, and he broke his lead. I found him trying to protect Merrill -- he's a mabari, they hate bullies. All three girls were there, trying to hurt him to get through to Merrill. They'd already thrown the fluid on her. I got between them and Hunter, telling them to back off, and they made fun of me. I told them I wasn't afraid of them, and she hit me, so I cut her. Then they all ran off."

[NPCs]

"How can you be sure they threw the fluid on Merrill if you did not witness it? Is thee not a chance they were trying to give aid to her?" Elder Blossomsong asks neutrally.

[Carver Amell]

"They were holding an empty bucket and they threw it at me," says Carol, narrowing her eyes.