◈◉◈TRIAL DOCUMENT by Kati Evans ◈◉◈

◈◉◈ NADIA WAS ASSAULTED IN HER OWN HOME ◈◉◈

OPENING STATEMENT

“Magistrate, the evidence will show that Lady Nadia was a Free Woman protecting her home and person. She did not invite Edward inside, objected to his unwanted contact, and sought assistance when he refused to leave. Her actions—including taking up a broom and raising the alarm—were efforts to protect herself and her home.

Through Lady Nadia’s testimony and the evidence accepted by this court, I will ask you to consider two questions: Can a Free Woman open her door safely in Turmus? And if Lady Nadia intended to seduce Edward, why did she raise the alarm?

Any claim that her conduct justified enslavement must be examined against the specific acts established by the evidence and the laws of Turmus.”

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TRIAL PREPARATION AND QUESTIONING

◈ USE TWO QUESTIONS TO SUPPORT YOUR THEME: Can a Free Woman open her door safely in Turmus? If Nadia was trying to seduce Edward, why did she raise the alarm?

◈ ASSESS SURPRISES AND RESUME: If an unexpected answer or argument arises, pause, consider it, and return to your questions without rushing or losing your direction.

◈ KEEP ONE CLEAR THEME: Nadia was assaulted in her own home. Return to that central argument throughout the trial and let her testimony establish the events supporting it.

◈ SAVE THE LIP-TOUCHING QUESTION: Kael suggested holding that question until a further round of questioning after Jessika has tried to explain Edward’s account, if the court permits it.

◈ ASK FOR SPECIFIC OBSERVATIONS: For anyone who arrived afterward, ask exactly what they saw and heard—who was present, where they stood, and what was said. Avoid vague descriptions such as “the aftermath.”

◈ STAY CALM AND LET THE RP DEVELOP: Do not over-rehearse. Slow down, take a breath, and ask others to slow down when needed. Use short, clear questions so the court can follow each point.

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For Nadia, use open questions so she can tell her story. For Edward, use short questions that establish one point at a time. Ask follow-ups based on their answers, and skip anything already answered.

QUESTIONS FOR NADIA

◈ BACKGROUND AND FIRST CONTACT

1. Please tell the court your name and your standing (visitor, resident, or citizen) in Turmus.
2. Have you been in court before?
3. Where were you, and what were you doing, when you first saw Edward?
4. Where was Edward standing?
5. What did you say to him? 
6. What did he say or do in response?
7. Was there anything else you talked about?

◈ ENTRY INTO YOUR HOME

6. Please describe where you were standing in relation to the doorway.
7. What happened next?
8. Had you given Edward permission to enter your home?
9. How did he enter?
10. What opportunity did you have to respond before he was inside?
11. How far into your home did he go?
12. How far from the doorway he entered was he standing now that he was inside?
13. What did you say when he entered?
14. How did he respond when you asked him to go outside?
15. Did Edward go outside?

◈ HIS SHOES AND YOUR REQUEST THAT HE LEAVE

14. What, if anything, did Edward do with his footwear?
15. What did he say while doing that?
16. What did you say about his remaining in your home?
17. What did he do after you asked him to leave?

◈ THE BROOM

18. Did you pick up anything as you entered your home?
19. Where was the broom?
20. What led you to pick it up?
21. What were you concerned might happen?
22. What did you do with the broom?
23. What did Edward do in response to you slapping his hand?

◈ PHYSICAL CONTACT

23. Please describe any physical contact Edward made with you.
24. What had happened immediately before that contact?
25. What did you say or do in response?
26. How did he respond to your objection?
27. What pain, injury, or other effects, if any, did you experience?

◈ SEEKING HELP

28. At what point did you seek assistance?
29. How did you try to get help?
30. What did you ask the slave to do?
31. Who arrived first?
32. Where were you and Edward when that person arrived?
33. What happened when others came?

◈ EDWARD’S CLAIM ABOUT YOUR INTENTIONS

34. Edward says you invited him inside for sexual purposes. What is your response?
35. What, if anything, had you said or done that he might describe as an invitation to enter your home or give him the idea you were offering sex?
36. Did you offer to submit to him or ask him to collar you?
37. What were you trying to accomplish when you took up the broom and called for help?

◈ BACTU’S STATEMENT, IF THE MAGISTRATE PERMITS IT

38. Were you present when the Ubar arrived?
39. What did you personally hear him say about your character or behavior?
40. What dealings had you previously had with him that would allow him to know you?

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QUESTIONS FOR EDWARD

Begin with a calm tone. Use his answers to establish the sequence before challenging his interpretation.

◈ FIRST CONTACT

1. Where were you when you first saw Nadia that evening?
2. What was she doing?
3. What were the first words she spoke to you?
4. What did you say in reply?

◈ ENTRY INTO THE HOME

5. Before you entered, where was Nadia standing?
6. What exact words, if any, did she use to invite you inside?
7. Did you ask permission to enter?
8. Did you wait for an answer before entering?
9. Where did you stop once inside?
10. Did Nadia tell you that she had not invited you in?
11. Did she ask you to leave?
12. What did you do in response?

◈ REMOVING HIS SHOES

13. Did you remove your shoes or boots inside her home?
14. Had Nadia asked you to remove them?
15. Why did you remove them?
16. Had she agreed that you could remain?
17. What did you say to her while removing them?

◈ THE BROOM AND SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

18. Where was Nadia when you first saw her holding the broom?
19. Had she already asked you to leave?
20. What exactly did she do with the broom?
21. What did she say?
22. What did you do next?

◈ THE ALLEGED INVITATION OR SUBMISSION

23. What specific words or actions led you to believe Nadia wanted sexual contact?
24. When did those occur in relation to your entry?
25. Did she expressly agree to any physical contact?
26. Did she object to your contact?
27. What did you do after that objection?
28. What exact words or actions do you say amounted to submission?
29. Did she ask you to collar her?

◈ PHYSICAL CONTACT

30. What physical contact did you make with Nadia?
31. What happened immediately before it?
32. What did she do in response?
33. After she objected, did you make any further contact?
34. What prevented you from leaving when she asked?

◈ HER CALL FOR HELP

35. Did you hear Nadia call for assistance?
36. What words did you hear?
37. Did you hear her ask for a warrior?
38. How do you reconcile her seeking help with your belief that she welcomed your actions?

◈ ANY CLAIM OF AUTHORITY TO COLLAR HER

39. Are you claiming that you had authority to collar Nadia?
40. If so, what was the basis for that authority?
41. Had any city official authorized you to do so?
42. What did you personally observe that you believed justified it?

◈ THE LIP-TOUCHING QUESTION — HOLD IN RESERVE

43. Did you touch Nadia’s lips?
44. What had she said or done immediately before that?
45. Had she invited that contact?
46. How did she respond?
47. What did you do afterward?

Following Kael’s suggestion, hold this last group until a further round of questioning IF THE MAGISTRATE PERMITS IT. If Edward discusses the contact earlier, follow the court’s direction about addressing it then.

WHEN THEIR ACCOUNTS DIFFER: Establish Edward’s version first, then ask about the specific difference: “Nadia testified that she asked you to leave before taking up the broom. Do you dispute that?” Keep each question focused on one disputed fact.

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CLOSING STATEMENT

“Magistrate, a Free Woman should be able to open her door safely in Turmus. Lady Nadia’s complaint concerns an intrusion into her home and unwanted contact. The court must consider whether the accepted evidence establishes her complaint and whether it supports any accusation against her.

Lady Nadia’s account is that she greeted a visitor courteously, did not invite him inside, objected to his unwanted contact, and sought assistance when he refused to leave. Taking up a broom to protect her home must be considered within that sequence. If she intended to seduce him, why did she object and raise the alarm?

Calling Lady Nadia lustful does not establish submission or slavish behavior. Such an accusation must be examined against specific conduct and accepted proof. Courtesy is not, by itself, an invitation to enter her home or consent to physical contact.

Sections 2.4.4.2 and 5.7.5 restrict the authority to collar a Free Woman of Turmus. Edward’s interpretation of her behavior did not itself grant him that authority. Section 5.7.3 likewise states that insulting a Free Man does not permit him to collar her.

Under Section 3.3, the decision must rest upon accepted evidence rather than hearsay. I ask the court to distinguish personal observations from accounts repeated afterward, and to consider Lady Nadia’s complaint and Edward’s accusations separately.

I respectfully ask the court to uphold Lady Nadia’s complaint to the extent established by the accepted evidence, dismiss any accusation against her that has not been established, and uphold her freedom and standing. Her efforts to protect her home and seek help should be considered as a whole when determining what occurred.”

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