"Does anyone else want to cross-examine?

Okay. Ms. Kireh, please stay here for the duration of your summon. I accept comments from the gallery; clearly think at me if you want to speak.

Mx., uh, plaintiff, please proceed."

"I now call the defendant, Etham Rectibius, Yamaraj Psychopomp, soul-court judge."

"Were you the judge presiding over Maelstrom vs Malosloff a few hours ago, in which the witness we just saw was advocate for Hell, and in which I was advocate for the Abyss?"

"Yes."

"Do you dispute any of her statements?"

"No."

"Why did you act 'in a bit of a rush'?"

"I was in a rush. I was surprised to find both Hell and the Abyss suddenly much better informed than they were earlier and didn't want them to waste the court's time trying to set precedent, on such an important authority as Asmodeus vs Erastil, in a case that didn't require such argument at all."

"The advocates you impeded are both Evil. Were you biased against Evil?"

"No. Whatever is made of Heaven's argument that the infernal advocate was acting for Good, you and she had directly opposed goals."

"We both wanted to alter 'such an important authority as Asmodeus vs Erastil', with Chaotic world-shaking results. Were you biased against Chaos?"

"No.

I admit that I didn't want the bother of dealing with such a large change, but that is not Lawful."

"Please separate the questions of your own alignment, Mr. Rectibius, and your behavior on the bench. Did you behave in a biased manner?"

"No, I would have acted the same no matter which advocates were acting as you two did."

"What did you do on the fact-finding mission?"

"Located the mice as planned. Examined the mice and the surrounding area with Detect Thoughts. Finding myself alone, I summoned the Catrina, who summoned the advocate for Hell. When the advocate was done examining the mice, I killed them to observe the ability of their life force to stay intact and join the River of Souls."

"How did you justify that intervention on the Prime Material?"

"They were going to die anyway, since the bandits left them to freeze."

"That's false. When Mr. Malosloff failed to arrive in Northford as he intended, one of our, hm, agents went looking for him, and discovered the abandoned wagon, containing a mysterious swarm of beetles instead of mice.

Yes, Mr. Rectibius, your actions have significantly disrupted the efforts of the Abyss. On several occasions, an Oolioddroo Demon was used, of course without Mr. Malosloff's knowledge, to help evaluate and cull the mice."

"You didn't know any of that before."

"Of course. But I demand redress, for that act, and for subsequently preventing argument on Asmodeus vs Erastil."

"What do you want, plaintiff? Maelstrom vs Malosloff has been concluded, and I believe there are no issues with the verdict. A retrial with no decedent would be a farce. If I find that the defendant behaved improperly, I might suspend him for additional training - would that satisfy you?"

"How much slime and pain and filth are involved in Pharasma's training?"

"I am currently inclined to suspend him for three days, during which he will study Pharasma's teachings. This will go on his permanent record.

Yes, Nirvana?"