Editing Meamnar:Lost Marbles (section)

===Gallows===

The following is tacked to the gallows the day after the party arrives in [[Meamnar:Hylar_City|Hylar City]].  This is a standard method that the city uses to disseminate news and information about accused and convicted criminals.

'''''Posted: Barjin of [[Meamnar:Lirath|Lirath]], aka Barjin the Bear, a mercenary, has been convicted on two counts of the crime of murder with intent, and is sentenced to hanging here at noon tomorrow.'''''

'''''Posted: Kelvin, a peasant and resident of [[Meamnar:Hylar_City|Hylar City]], has been convicted on thirteen counts of theft, and is sentenced to hanging here at noon tomorrow.'''''

'''''Posted: Tomte Barbaerlun, aka [[Meamnar:Marbles_Barbaloot|Marbles Barbaloot]], a gnomish adventurer and resident of [[Meamnar:Hylar_City|Hylar City]], has been convicted on three counts of the crime of murder with intent, and is sentenced to hanging here at noon tomorrow.'''''

On the day of the execution, read or paraphrase the following.

'''''A crowd has gathered, a diverse group of peasants, at least a hundred and perhaps twice that.  A few vendors wind through the spectators, hawking various kinds of food and drink.  The hangman, dressed in black leather and a cloth hood, is checking the knots of three nooses that hang from a beam of the gallows.'''''

'''''A door to the keep opens and a procession emerges onto the gallows platform.  A drummer leads an officer of the Red Guard and three prisoners.  Three additional Red Guardsmen are behind them and on their flanks.  The prisoners shuffle along in manacles and leg irons.  The first of the prisoners is a grisly man, middle-aged and unkempt.  The second is a wiry young man, visibly trembling.  The third is [[Meamnar:Marbles_Barbaloot|Marbles]], moving slowly and with great difficulty.  As he drags the irons along the walkway, two women pitch rotten tomatoes at him, one of which splatters upon his leg.'''''

'''''As you watch, the three prisoners are led to the gallows, where the hangman fits the noose over each of their necks.  As he adjusts the knot of [[Meamnar:Marbles_Barbaloot|Marbles]]' noose, the gnome looks toward your group and you see an odd sparkle of intelligence in his eyes.  He winks at you once, almost imperceptibly.  Unaware of what just transpired, the hangman then places, one by one, a cloth bag over each of the prisoners' heads before stepping back to a wooden handle jutting up from the floor of the gallows.'''''

'''''The drummer exchanges his rhythmic beat for a rapid drumroll.  The officer nods to the hangman, who immediately pulls the lever.  Three trapdoors open simultaneously, and two of the prisoners' bodies drop, the ropes catching their fall with a snap.'''''

'''''With the drummer silent, the crowd's gasp fills the air.  Where [[Meamnar:Marbles_Barbaloot|Marbles]] once was, the noose hangs empty.  The cloth hood slowly falls empty to the platform.  While the other two prisoners writhe and jerk at the end of their ropes, everyone else appears to be frozen for a moment, staring at the empty noose.  Less than a minute later, they expire and fall limp, their misery over.'''''

'''''Meanwhile, the guards rush forward, looking around the gallows in vain.  Two other men rush forward, one in crimson robes and the other wearing the armour of the Red Knight.  Simultaneously, they begin separate spells of divination, each quickly calling upon their own mystic powers.'''''

'''''In the end, though, there is no answer.  The crowd, utterly confused, slowly disperses, with small groups chattering about the events as they depart.  The mage and cleric, their divinations fruitless, look blankly at the officer in charge, while the hangman and other guardsmen continue to search the area.'''''

Later that day, the following is tacked to the gallows.

'''''Reward: Tomte Barbaerlun, aka [[Meamnar:Marbles_Barbaloot|Marbles Barbaloot]], a convicted criminal.  Last seen yesterday at the gallows.  One thousand gold crowns offered.  Wanted dead or alive.'''''

Once [[Meamnar:Marbles_Barbaloot|Marbles]]' life was threatened by the noose, his contingency spell was triggered and he was immediately teleported to the plane of Elysia.  His intention is to remain there until his death, which he feels is near given his advanced age.