Opening gameplay.
Kintargo. A free city in the Empire of Devils. A bastion of hope in a land of evil masquerading as order.
Kintargo has seen better days.
Barzillai Thrune, a member of the ruling family of Cheliax, has assumed control over the city. First, the Lord-Mayor, Jilia Bainilus, disappeared. Then the Night of Ashes, as it has already come be down, happened. Adherents to Milani and Sarenrae have found themselves without leadership, their high-ranking clerics arrested and their places of worship burned.
Kintargo has already become a different place.
After the Night of Ashes, there was no one to oppose Thrune. He co-opted the Dottari, and they have enforced his will. Several proclamations have been issued, dictating new laws. They are as follows'
- Proclamation the First: All slayers of city pests (hereby defined as doves, mice, and ravens) who present said pests to the dottari shall be rewarded with a bounty of 1 copper piece.
- Proclamation the Second: All places of public business must display in a position of prominence within the first room accessible from the building’s primary entrance a portrait of Her Infernal Majestrix Queen Abrogail II. Said portrait must measure no less than 11 by 17 inches.
- Proclamation the Third: Anyone who captures, alive and unharmed, a feral dog of a weight exceeding 50 pounds is to be rewarded with a payment of 2 silver pieces upon transfer of the dog to the dottari. Such noble guardian creatures should find homes worthy of their kind!
- Proclamation the Fourth: The right to wear fine embroidered clothing in public is hereafter proscribed to anyone other than agents of House Thrune or the Holy Church of Asmodeus. Exceptions can be awarded or purchased at the city’s discretion.
- Proclamation the Fifth: Grain is life! Should grain be spilled in public, it must be gathered, cleaned, and repackaged within the hour. Any person who allows grain
to go ungathered after a spillage shall be fined 1 copper piece per grain. - Proclamation the Sixth: The imbibing of night tea brings a dangerous imbalance to the slumbering mind. Between the hours of sunset and sunrise, the taking of tea is proscribed.
- Proclamation the Seventh: The odor and flavor of mint is an abomination to the refined palate. Be not the cretin! Mint use in candies, drinks, and all manner of confections is hereby proscribed.
It has been ten days since the lord-mayor disappeared, and unrest in the city is growing. Kintargo prides itself on it's diversity and creative spirit, and this martial law is not sitting well with many residents. Several small protests have already taken place, though several have been broken up by dottari or Asmodean inquisitors. Now, however, word has circulated amongst the populace that a large protest has been organized in Aria Park, in front of the famed Kintargo Opera House.
Even with the cobblestones of Argent Avenue and the foliage of Aria Park still wet from the morning’s light rain, dozens of Kintargans have gathered along the facade of the opera house to protest the city’s new lord-mayor, Paracount Barzillai Thrune. There’s been no sign yet of Barzillai Thrune himself, and the opera house’s doors remain tightly
closed— as they have since the man chose the landmark as his new home—but judging by the growing sound of the protesters, he surely can’t ignore the scene on the streets below much longer.
You have all decided to attend this protest. By chance, or by choice, you are all in an area of the protest near one another.
Though Thrune has yet to be seen, there are a dozen Dottari guards in front of the opera house. They seem to be led by a powerful looking woman in dark mail armor, wielding a vicious looking glaive. They eye the crowd warily, but that is all.
As the day wears on, some protestors call for an end to these new restrictions from the proclamations, and some call for the end of foreign rule and for a true replacement for the lord-mayor to be selected via an election. Many seem content merely to yell and agitate.
A growing minority shows support for Thrune and shouts back at the protestors.
At this point, your characters may take actions. There are several things you may do; you may Listen for Rumors, Pilfer, Rabble Rouse (better organize the protest), Search For a Contact, Silence Undesirable Elements (silence either some anarchists or Chelish loyalists), or Watch the Crowd.
Each of these actions will require a different skill check and will take one hour to complete.
What do you do?
Beorn strides into the square carrying a box, he had been awaiting this day, ever since the proclamations came down with their ridiculous demands he had become determined to do something. His patron, Dame Elizabeth had urged caution but he would not be deterred!
Beorn stands upon the box and addresses the crowd with a passionate song about tea. He extolls the virtues of a strong cup of black tea in the mornings to invigorate the senses, the smooth taste of honey-lemon is accompanied by a strong chant, telling of the healing properties that actors and singers value after a recital and the calming green brews that people imbibe after a long day, soothing their nerves and preparing for sleep.
As Beorn sheds a tear, his song becomes somber about the new law that forbids people from enjoying a fine cuppa. Let the tea be free! His voice rises to inspiring heights as he waves a box of tea about, is it not a proper Chelish tradition? This wonderful tea! Let the tea be free!
Dayne meanders through the crowd, not paying attention to the goings on but always staying within arms reach of his to his customer/friend Jago. Hammer at his hip and shield on his back but both hands resolutely in his pants pockets.
He didn't really want to come. Protests aren't really his thing. He's sympathetic to the cause but these protests have been getting more and more violent and it's only a meter of time before innocents would be hurt. Dayne eventually told Jago he would go along with him and try to do some good should the need arise.
"I've got a bad feeling about this Jago. This is the kind of situation that can turn south fast."
That sounds like rabble rousing, Beorn! Roll Diplomacy for me.
Til joins the crowd, getting a feel for what is happening. The Thurne's troops are not acting, and the crowd seems friendly to his side, so Til starts "rabble-rousing."
"Since this Thrune has arrived, we are less safe in our own homes and streets! His men slaughtered my friend for not moving out of their way fast enough! She was deaf, and couldn't hear their orders, but, no, all they knew was someone didn't obey them without hesitation! She died because of his arrogance and the arrogance he promotes in his people. This is not the way to keep our city safe! This is not the way to protect our citizens! Throw the foreign interlopers out of Kintargo and give Kintargo back to its own people! Let Kintargans protect Kintargens! Let Kintargans rule Kintargans!"
Apparently Til's voice is drowned out by the crowd.
As Sagar looks around the park he pays particular attention to the gathered dottari. His hope to find a friendly face among his ex-colleagues proves to be idle as all he sees are Thrune cronies and glory hounds. All sensible guards must have been sent on patrols far away from here, similar to what had done during the Night of Ashes.
Instead of dwelling on that Sagar chose to focus on finding his contact. Human male. Gloves on right hand, none on left. Sagar walked through the crowd checking hands. Hells, he had even chosen to mirror his contact's signature with his own spiked gauntlet.
Dayne, make a Perception check, then roll a d10 for me.
Jago thumbed the pair of rings on his left ring finger as he pushed through the crowd. He occasionally checked over his shoulder to make sure Dayne was still close by. The lackadaisical way Dayne followed was threatening to annoy Jago. Though, he couldn't help but agree with his friend.
”I was thinking the same. That is why we need to keep an eye out for anyone that is urging either side to violence,” Jago glanced again at Dayne. The fear of violence had been part of the reason why Jago had asked his friend to join him. If something were to happen, he knew the smith would not hesitate to intercede for the citizens.
Jago stopped to listen to a song crying for the sanctity of tea and peered up at the building, Surely, someone must address this crowd.
He sighed and began scanning the crowd for any signs of people threatening violence.
Now, Jego, you may make a Bluff, Intimidate, or Perform (Oratory) check!
The intended victim realizes what was about to happen and approached you, very thankful. He gifts you with GP.
Once Jego is resolved, everyone else can take another action.
Jego, Beorn and Tilorean, you have all noticed each other speaking with large groups, and noted the general tenor of those conversations; Jego silenced some dissenting voices supporting Cheliax, and Beorn and Tilorean seem to have united some of the protestors to have a more unified message.
Sagar and Dayne, you have noticed those three, but they have yet to notice you. Of course, if you have pre-existing bonds, those are there.
One hour has passed. You may all take one of the previously listed actions again.
Beorn is delighted at the success of his song and shakes some hands. Already he is imagining secret routes of tea being brought to people by halflings who have thrown in their lot for the culinary freedom of Kintargo's people. Perhaps delivery pigs specially trained to deliver packages carried on their backs!
Flush with success Beorne decides that it is time for his masterstroke! Gathering two members of the crowd who have a dog with them, he enacts his song!
The tale is of two parents who wish to get a dog for there child and inquire the owner of the shop about the price of the displayed canine. The dog is friendly with a wagging tail and they speak of the benefits of a child learning the responsibilities of caring for the dog. The owner is moved and gives a reasonable price and extols the virtues of findings hounds good homes and hopes that every stray dog will no longer shiver hungry in the rain. The tale ends with a plea to the ruling body to reconsider their stance and enact positive social programs.
"Ours is a community of artists, artisans, and skilled craftsmen. We need room to interact, to share, to explore, to live! We can not make art while being trampled in the streets. We can not find buyers for our amazing goods while we hide in our homes, hoping not to be slaughtered because we are too slow. Kintargans must own the streets of Kintargo. Kintargans must be free to conduct business and live their arts!"
There is still another dissenting group causing problems; a group of anarchists espousing the ideal of no government whatsoever. Some of them seem to be becoming agitated and are more vocally confrontational with other protestors.
As the protesters took over dissuading the loyalists, Jago placed a hand on the shoulder of one of the protesters. He gave the young man’s shoulder a light squeeze, ”Be sure not to mistake their loyalty to Thrune as hatred for you.”
Jago turned to speak to Dayne and caught sight of what appeared to be anarchists. He turned back to Dayne and motioned to the group, ”We should try to talk those ones down. If there is to be any violence, they will almost certainly be involved.”
Jago approached the anarchists with his palms hands slightly up in a gesture of peace, ”I am sure you folks are simply in high spirits, no?”
"Anarchy always sounds great up until you meet a bigger meaner anarchist, who wants your property."
Beorn signs some autographs and has some tea to ease his throat. He will not be denied his tea!
As an aside to Jego "what are your thoughts on anarchy?
Jego paused before answering Dayne’s question, ”I believe that anarchy is what comes about when enough of a populace have been ignored, abused, and taken advantage of. It is a violent burst of emotion. Be it hatred of the oppressors. Fear of pain. Or love of that which they have lost,” Jego stopped walking and rubbed the pair of rings on his finger.
”Very few of the 'anarchists’ we have seen today have ill intent in their heart. Most are simply our neighbors that have grown weary of the ways in which the laws set in place to help them have been used as a lash to keep them in line. An artist does not want to destroy, but to create. A mason does not wish to pull a building down knowing the labor that his fellows put into erecting it. Each one of these people is another piece of kindling and with each transgression another spark threatens to catch the bundle.”
He stopped walking and gestured to the mob around them, ”Anarchy is the ugly, corrupt sister of freedom just as tyranny is to order. And I am terrified of what may happen to this city if the tyrannical are faced with the threat of anarchy.”
Beorn strides through the crowd and his ears catch the mutterings of delinquents who seek to drive the crowd into acts of thuggery.
HERE NOW! Beorn strides up to some of them. WE ARE NOT THUGS WHO GO ABOUT BREAKING DOORS AND SETTING FIRE TO TRASH FILLED BARRELS! WE ARE HERE TO VOICE OUR OBJECTIONS TO THE UTTERLY UNREASONABLE RULES OF THEW NEW MAYOR AND CONVINCE PEOPLE TO TOSS THE RASCAL OUT VIA POPULAR CHOICE SO I SUGGEST YOU TAKE YOUR VIEWS ELSEWHERE IF THEY INVOLVE SUCH ACTS
Back to Jego: "So it sounds like you're saying anarchy is the knee-jerk reaction to bad government. Anarchy isn't freedom from oppression, its just changing the rules of who is allowed to oppress who. You bow to whoever has the biggest stick. That's your new government."
"Freedom from government. Bah. Bunch of Galtan nonsense is what it is."
"What I worry about most is the transition of power. I've met people with power and they do not take well to giving it up. The people want something that House Thrune is intent on keeping for itself. Control."
"Each side is just waiting for the other to choose the violent option, thus justifying their own use of violence. Once that breaks out, there is no way innocents don't get hurt."
"Innocents are ALREADY getting dead. I don't want more violence, but how do we stop the ongoing abuse already in place?"
Beorn, your words are sufficient to cow those that were engaging (or thinking of engaging) in such activities.
Jego, Dayne covers for you, and the anarchists are silenced, the crowd uniting with a focused message once more.
The second hour has passed. Everyone may take some action once more, though the dissenting voices seem to have been quieted.
Tiloreans presence has a visible effect on Daynes bearing. As if he now
Dayne hears the words of his father chanting one fo his many mantras of Torag "Respect the forge, and never sully it with half-hearted work."
"Not like this. I don't have all the answers but I know you'll never make real change flying by the seat of your pants. Take it from a smith, things that are sloppily thrown together don't last. You need to calmly consider every aspect of your task, form a plan of action, then follow it. These clowns don't have a plan..."
Now gesturing to the dottari standing calmly in formation
"They have a plan. They have orders. If things go south today each one of them already knows how to respond and they'll respond together. Thrunes don't act haphazardly. The rioters are clamoring for a fight they cannot win."
"The goal here is to reclaim Kintargo for Kintargans, not to have unarmed artists and actors try to fight armored knights. Open warfare and rebellion plays to their strength of arms, strength of abuse, and threats against our friends and family. We need to gather together and stand strong in our resolve that this is our home and not theirs, that creation is the law of Kintargo, not violent destruction of dissent."
Amid the clamor, your words do not carry to more than a couple of people, Tilorean.
Beorn, having helped unite the people towards one voice now encourages them to join him in an appeal to the guards who gather around the residence of the new mayor. He does not want them to lay down their arms or turn their blades against each other, but to just think. Think about what they will be giving up by their actions and plant the seeds of change in their hearts.
Dayne hopes that speaking up didn't make him seem foolish to Tilorean. And if it did he hopes that Tilorean keeps it to himself and doesn't tell his sister.
Perhaps its best he keep his mouth shut.
Dayne, you hear nothing of note. Beorn, you Diplome and start a chant amongst the crowd.
”Exactly,” Jego rubbed his chin, ”Though I do not think that the government even needs to be 'bad,’ it just needs to be perceived that way.”
Jego turned to listen to Tilorean... seemingly one of the few who did. ”I believe you are correct. It is only through the links we have with others–our friends, neighbors, and lovers–that will strengthen our cause.”
He cocked his head in an effort to notice anything of importance being mentioned in the crowd.
And got lost in the irony of promoting peace and nonviolence while attending the rally laden in weapons and armor.
"The goal here is to reclaim Kintargo for Kintargans, not to have unarmed artists and actors try to fight armored knights. Open warfare and rebellion plays to their strength of arms, strength of abuse, and threats against our friends and family. We need to gather together and stand strong in our resolve that this is our home and not theirs, that creation is the law of Kintargo, not violent destruction of dissent."
"Hear! Hear! For the artists and actors!" a tall woman with auburn hair shouts out. "We need to take back Kintargo from those who would suppress us! From those who would hold us down! From those who would force us to wear just brown! ... and tan! ... and brown on tan!"
Those looking closer at her see flashes of crimson and bright green under her cloak.
Indeed, Farrina, they seem mostly confused.
Like..tan and brown are fine, right?
You may make two additional checks for the previous hours.
Tan and brown? Horrible!
Tan and brown? Horrible!
"Exactly!" Farrina responds, finally glad to have someone sympathic to her cause. When she realizes that it's the same man that was singing earlier, her face lights up even more.
"See what they make us wear! Here's a man with talent and look at what he's been reduced to!" she shouts again to the crowd, gesturing towards her newest supporter. "Down with boring clothes!"
Farrina, you spot nothing out of the ordinary. Sagar, anything you'd like to do? Look for your contact once more perhaps?
Boring? Beorn looks at his new leather armor. Well I guess a few splashes of color would help. Maybe a sash and feathered hat.
Boring? Beorn looks at his new leather armor. Well I guess a few splashes of color would help. Maybe a sash and feathered hat.
Farrina looks the man up and down appraisingly.
"Hmmm ... a feathered hat could work," she says with hesitation. "What would really work is a teal vest that matched the feather. Oh! and some high leather boots in lemon."
She puts her hand on Beorn's shoulder. "I know just the guy that would do those," she says in a stage whisper.
It sinks in after just a moment that those boots would currently get the half-orc arrested.
"Damn! This is what wrong today people!" She continues, shouting for everyone nearby to hear. "This man should be able to wear lemon boots!"
Lemon boots?! Smashing idea! I can be the lemony avenger! Knaves tremble at the sign of the lemon and I will squirt lemon juice into their eyes to confound them!
Beorn does an off the cuff improv song about the Lemon Avenger.
Dayne looks down at his own boots. Good solid boots. Functional. Quality.
...brown and tan.
"LE - MON BOOTS! LE - MON BOOTS!" Farrina begins chanting loudly, attempting to get the crowd to join in.
I must say, I would rather have a nice Black and Tan rather than brown and tan
Sagar simply shakes his head as some people start shouting about some inconsequential nonsense. Tea? The color of clothing? How did any of that measure up to the murders that had been committed? Why were these people wasting everyone's time?
He sighed once more and continued looking for his contact. These people did not matter.
Sagar, watching the crowd, you are able to spot a man matching the description you were given. You begin to make your way to him, but suddenly, the bells of the Cathedral of Asmodeus ring out three times, drowning out the protest. As if on cue, Barzillai Thrune throws wide the windows and their curtains to address the crowd below. Thrune is an imposing man dressed in red, orange, and black clothing and an ornate breastplate, all emblazoned with the pentagram of Asmodeus and the cross of Cheliax. Middle-aged, with short, dark hair and a diabolical mace cradled in his hands, the lord-mayor of Kintargo addresses the crowd with a condescending sneer. The gathering swiftly grows quiet as he clears his throat and gives the following short speech.
“Ah, my adoring little chickadees. I am sorry to say I have not yet adapted to your quaint, country ways, being accustomed as I am to the sophistication and learning of Egorian. Nonetheless, know I have heard your concerns, and that I appreciate your valued feedback, and I know we
shall eventually find a mutual understanding in the fullness of time. I take pride in updating Kintargo’s quaint, outdated laws to the modern standards the city deserves, and strengthening its ties with the empire in these cruel times, but obviously I have approached my duties too aggressively.
You say you chafe at the presence of nonnatives in positions of power? That authorities not of this city have no place as its leaders? That you will not be yoked by intruders? Your lord-mayor hears you. And so it is with a heavy heart that I issue this proclamation, in response to your demands: all ships’ captains are hereafter barred from leaving their vessels and setting foot on Kintargo docks or streets, under pain of... let’s say... squassation!”
This incites the crowd, and you can feel their anger rising to dangerous levels.
What do you do?
Beorne leaps atop his box again