Trial of Ian
From: The Gaiapedia, the community encyclopedia about Gaia Online
Trial of Ian is a community driven event to decide the fate of the NPC, Ian.
Contents |
[edit] Details and Accusations
At the end of the New Year's 2006 event, Ian was apprehended by the Gaian Police for arson of the Gambino Mansion.
During the 3rd day of the trial, the Persecution-bot asked Ian some questions.
Ian: No, but I'm ok with that. I've learned that I don't want to be in charge of so much pressure and responsibility... I... I just want to be happy. I just want to be lo--
ProsecutionBot: Sasha.
Ian: S-s-sasha...
ProsecutionBot: How do you feel about Sasha?
Ian: Sasha?!
ProsecutionBot: Yes. Sasha. And let me remind you that you are under oath here.
Ian: I ... *gulp* erm ... I ... I love her.
ProsecutionBot: But she doesn't love you, Ian.
Ian: ...
ProsecutionBot: In fact, from all of the media coverage we've seen from New Year's, it's quite obvious her heart belongs to another man ... a GAMBINO, in fact!
Ian: ...
ProsecutionBot: Tell me, Ian. How do you feel about that?
Ian: ...
ProsecutionBot: Does it anger you to know that the woman you love was taken from you by the same blood that took your family business from you?
Ian: I ...
ProsecutionBot: YES or NO, Ian? Does it anger you to know that all of your hopes and dreams were dashed away by the GAMBINO's?!
Ian: ...yes. *sob*
ProsecutionBot: And you would do ANYTHING to get back what you lost, wouldn't you? WOULDN'T YOU?!
Ian: ... I ... yes. *sob* *sob*
Evidence from the trial included Ian's fingerprint located on a pill bottle. As fingerprints or pill bottles made of plastic cannot survive fire, some suspected that the evidence had been tampered with. Additionaly, the video provided never showed Ian starting the fire, only running away.
[edit] Verdict and Aftermath
Ian was declared innocent in a 4 to 1 vote*. As he left the courthouse, however, a shadowy figure (possibly the same Sniper who killed Johnny K. Gambino) shot him. The bullet was shot at 11:55, the same exact time at which Gambino was shot.
Rufus, Ian's talking cat, has taken over as the current shopkeeper at The Barton Boutique until Ian's return.
- 81% voted innocent
18% voted guilty Margin of error: +/- 0.3%.
[edit] Theories and Criticisms
Some Gaians believed that Ian's trial was poorly executed due to the lack of plausible evidence on the accusing side. There were also complaints pertaining to the ProsecutionBot's frequent and badgering inquiries of irrelevant questions that were most likely used to lead or anger the witnesses. (Such as insistently asking Rufus why he says "Woof!")
In addition, many criticized that the deliberation period between the trial's beginning and the final tallying of the community's votes was longer than necessary. The final verdict was announced on February 1, 2006.
Some Gaians claimed the trial to be rigged as well, touting the fact that ,despite the outcome of the trial, Ian met with unfortunate circumstances. There is no known evidence to support this claim.
Although Ian was not killed (he was shot in the shoulder), it was a widely unpopular plot point. There has been recent controversy over the killing of NPC's as plot twists, and some Gaia members are unhappy that, although Ian won the trial, he was shot.
Some have theorized that it is Gino who shot both his father and Ian. Others counter this with the fact that not only was the shot fired from Durem, but Gino was alongside his father at the top of the tower.
However, during Halloween 2k7, it was revealed that Ian was in fact, Damian Von Helson, and the sniper was actually Zhivago. Zhivago was able to locate Ian, who had been in hiding, due to the vast media attention the trial created.
