Captain Jarik wants to preserve order without violating proper procedure. Thraxis wants the party alive long enough to reach the witnesses. The hidden lieutenant wants the sentence carried out before the forged orders are exposed.

The contradictory writ, the party’s right to a formal hearing, Thraxis’s reputation, and any evidence tying the arrest to forged tribunal orders.

• Calm a section of the crowd with DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) or Wisdom (Insight); each success lowers crowd intensity by one step.
• Expose the contradictory orders with DC 14 Intelligence (Investigation) or Charisma (Deception); success forces the lieutenant to stammer or back down.
• Ask Thraxis to intercede; once per encounter, he imposes disadvantage on a paladin’s Intimidation roll.
• Appeal to Captain Jarik’s respect for procedure and his regret over a past acquittal granted on technicality.
• Turn or tip an incense brazier to create smoke, confusion, and a brief break in the ring.

• Quote the arrest order and demand the hearing clause.
• Ask who signed the immediate-execution writ and when it was sealed.
• Invite Captain Jarik to inspect both documents in front of the crowd.
• Have one character address the citizens while another questions the paladins.
• Offer to submit to guarded passage to the witness galleries instead of resisting arrest.
• Call on Thraxis to name the tribunal archive that proves the writs are unlawful.

• Captain Jarik becomes Neutral if the party cites a valid procedural right or produces credible evidence.
• Thraxis becomes Friendly as soon as the party avoids needless harm to the crowd.
• The hidden lieutenant becomes Hostile if questioned about the second writ.
• The crowd shifts from Intense to Unsettled after one successful public appeal, then Calm after two more.