As the next day starts and people begin filing in to the tribunal chamber, they notice a man sitting quietly in the front row, head bowed in prayer. He is wearing red robes, and wears an ornate holy symbol of the orthodoxy around his neck. He flanked by two very large men, in the full regalia of the inquisition. Their heads are not bowed, but instead constantly wary, marking the appearance of each individual as they enter the room, be they royalty, noble, clergy, or commoner.
The pontiff arrives last of the tribunal members, and he looks none too amused by this small group. He whispers to a guard, who simply shrugs.
At this, the man in red robes stands and addresses the group. His voice is loud, clear, but with a hint of weariness in his voice. One could guess he has not slept in many days.
"I am Cardinal Narvelon Diem-Avon, head of the Orthodox Imperial Temple of Haelyn. I come to the imperial city to claim the rightful seat on this tribunal as offered by the RCS.
Your Holiness, I see from your look of surprise that I am not the only one that arrives to those that do not wish to bear... certain news. You have my sympathy, but I assure you that I did present the letter of invitation by the RCS to your guards, and was lawfully admitted. My apologies for my own escort, as there have been those that wish to silence the true voice of Haelyn, and with the foul murder of Archbishop Briesen, one cannot be too careful. We would not want to the word of Haelyn to be left unspoken at such a gravely serious proceeding as this tribunal. And to that matter..."
The Cardinal hefts a very large, very ancient book that had been sitting next to him.
"You may wish to consider your decisions carefully, as the Book of Law sitting at your place is not the true book of laws. My guess is that it is a very old copy. This is the true Book, and the reason I have been missing, on a holy quest to retrieve it. I offer its use in these proceedings, so our decisions will not be tainted by the hand of man, which may err at times when reproducing such holy words."
Narvelon steps up to the pontiff, places the holy Book on top of the old, charred book the pontiff had been consulting throughout the tribunal, and goes to sit down at the empty seat at the tribunal table. He wears a continence of resolve and concern, but one might almost catch the glimpse of a hint of satisfaction, if one was looking for it.
"Shall we begin today's inquisition of the accused?"
