The PM shrugs.
Lauryn says, "I usually wear a disguise when going to Seobriga, so I recommend you do the same. Now, that your briefing has ended, I will go and study the maps and you should be in the center of Seobriga shortly."
Delft coughs quickly to indicate that your and his boss should leave because he wants to talk to you. They say their farewells and leave.
Delft says, "I have an agent in Seobriga who shall contact you probably with chalk mark on the gazebo at the teleportation circle. He shall hold back to see if you are followed and then meet you a little later."
Cretien will put his helmet and full face mask on, and then with a minor activation on his wrists change the color and style of the armor just enough to look different from anything typical in Risur and tries to mimic what he knows of the Beran style.
Femi says, ”I have some skill with disguise. Here, let me help.” He’ll cast Heroism on himself and get to work on everyone's disguises.
He asks folks what they have in mind, and does his best to match it. He’ll take-10 working with everyone on their disguises.
When he’s satisfied, he covers his tattoo with a simple wig, changes his robes for a tunic and pants, which chafe horribly, and makes a few other cosmetic changes to prepare his disguise.
"Ready to go, sir!"
John will stand up, nod, and his attire appearance will change:
His hair will remain dark, but he'll add just a hint of gray; his attire will change to match typical Beran bureaucrat clothing, and his face will take on the properties of a non-descript Beran man.
Lauryn calls you in when she is ready and then you are surrounded by a blueish beam again and you assume you have been teleported to capitol of Ber, Seobriga.
Ber’s teleportation beacons are not defended like those in Risur, since they were originally built for dragons to greet and impress visitors. Those who teleport into Seobriga arrive in the center square of the city, surrounded only by a simple gazebo-like pavilion, guarded by a handful of soldiers.
The party arrives in the mid-morning, and you appear in full sight of hundreds of orcs, minotaurs, goblins, and half-giants out in protest against their ruler.
Placards saying "Bruse is a Ruse!" and We don't Wantus a Shantus!" as they march in protest.
People react with intense curiosity and invitations for you to join the protest.
You have a heavy “culture shock” moment, since despite the sweltering summer heat the protesters are almost all wearing wigs that were in vogue in Danor ten years ago, and some are dressed in fancy, uncomfortable attire.
Minotaur and half-giant students sweat into their frilly white collars while nearby a small herd of orc women in hoop skirts pump axes in the air to the beat of a protest song. The large swaths of orc men who make up the bulk of the protest shout to other orcs in swings that dangle off the roofs around the edges of the square, crooning out songs as they paint vibrant murals along the walls of buildings that were built for the proportions of dragons, not men.
The unifying force of the protest is the Panoply. While the middle of the square is chaotic, at its edges self-styled intellectuals talk to people as they arrive, "Hey, you" one of them say to you.
"What are your grievances?"
"My grievances? Where does one start? Taxation and tarriffs? The high cost of education?"
"But tell me friend, what is YOUR grievance, and who is in charge here?"
The orc man hands you a yellow flag and says, "Sounds like you are against governmental sloth and corruption."
he pauses for a beat and says, "My grievance is with the failure of the the Bruse to measure up to the ideals of the revolution when we overthrew the dragon kings...."
Cretien remains silent, drinking in the strange sights.
Femi is impressed with John's disguise capabilities, "You sir should be doing this, my word but that is good work! I feel like an apprentice!" he laughs.
It takes him a moment to get his bearings on the other side... the heat! He loosens his tunic to let it breathe a bit more as he takes in the scene around him.
Not noticing the spell cast, he suggests to the group, "Let's get to the side, we may meet with the Bruse later, and I don't want him thinking we're a part of this. I'm not even sure I know what this is!" he grins.
If the group agrees, he'll move away from the crowd and try to get a sense of where they are in the city - and where they should start.
Save fail.
John
John takes the offered flag and says "What is the purpose of this friend?"
The orc man says, "Well my boy, this is to show solidarity with the Panoply or better said all facets of society and to also express to the Bruse that he should pay more attention to the nitty gritty. To explain the meaning, Poverty is black, violence is red, corruption is yellow, and so on. The most common color is white, meant to protest apathy of officials who should be promoting the revolution. We try our best to respect all forms of culture within the Panoply it is a movement for all movements... we find that our differences be that of the gnolls, or minotaurs or centaurs or goblins make us stronger and should all be respected. My friend you should probably come and sit in on our meeting this evening."
He then hands you a card with an address on it.
Perception DC 10
"Thank you brother. I hope to see you at the meeting!" said John with a conspiratorial tone, before pocketing the card and moving back towards the group.
"Learn anything useful?" Femi asks John as he looks over the crowd for their contact.
"Our contact should be here." he mumbles as he watches.
That was the big day wasn’t it? He was finally going to meet the famed heroes. Javier was curious indeed, one thing was to read report or check the news another was to meet them in the flesh. For sure they must have interesting tales… And who knows, maybe there was a chance that he could get to make history himself too, perhaps of the kind that people read about in newspapers, instead of just in classified report to be burned after the deed was done. Not that he was eager for glory of course, not at all.
He had left his hotel, an expensive one, benefiting of his assumed persona as well as his acquired tastes, wearing less flamboyant clothes than the one he used for the benefit of those who knew him as Paco Cordero. After all who knew, maybe for the sake of their mission it would have been wiser for the Gnoll weapon merchant not to associate himself with foreign dignitaries at least for now.
The chalk marks were already in place well before the Risuri Agents got to the city, scribbled over by a kobold child, that of course, was just Javier wearing another face. Indicating his presence at an inn close to the plaza, in the code employed by agents of the King of course.
Not that he was waiting inside though, wanting to be sure that no one had caught about their operation Javier was a block or two away, mingling with the crowd of protesters, trying his best not to sweat his ass off in the heat, while wearing the ridiculous attire that his countrymen used to try and ape the Danoran elite. A waste, if you asked him, Ber should be finding its own culture and not try to copy one of the foreign power. Hypocritical thoughts perhaps, from someone so adept in assuming the identity of others, but well...
His eyes kept scanning the crowd, intending to identify the agents in the sprawling plaza.
Javier
"It looks like they are marking dissodents with colored flags, based on the issues with the government that people have. There is also a meeting this evening that might be worth attending."
"Good idea, let's see what we can discover about Brakkan, but we should check back here from time to time in case our contact returns."
to gather information on Brakkan
Javier’s eyes kept following the two RHC agents as they waded through the crowd, wondering if he was just missing the other constables, not that he had expected to be able to identify all the agents of the crown so easily of course.
Still, himself, he navigated the mass of protesters, almost casually getting closer to the two agents. Sure he could just introduce himself, but he got to be sure about their identities. Being found out by impostors would have been a mistake inappropriate for a spy of his caliber. So, for now, he just observed, trying to figure out if he was tailing the right targets and not clever impersonators.
When one of the group, an unknown face, but still an associate of Grimtooth and Dufrene began asking questions about the Beran ambassador, Javier made sure to be one of the helpful bystanders.
Sure a gnoll wearing a powdered wig and Danoran formal attire was perhaps not the most trustworthy looking of sights, but one had to work with what he had.
“I’m afraid that the ambassador is ‘indisposed’ sir.” He offered helpfully, but without meeting the agent eyes. “In fact he has been arrested for a heinous crime against the Revolution.” He spat on the ground. “Stealing the will of another, allegedly at least. ”
“I would not associate with him in public unless his name is cleared somehow if I were you. Maybe though I can do something to help... If you would just follow me.” He added, starting to wade again through the crowd, playfully whistling (as much as gnoll could whistle) a tune very reminiscent of Risur’s national anthem.
Iva takes the time to make herself look more plain. Gone is the blond hair, and the fine tailored clothing she normally wears. She tucks most of her gear into a rucksack.
Looking around at the crowd she sighs. This isn't the way to go about this. Using the law to change things is the best way to go about things." She looks for anyone who is paying more attention the group. She sees the knoll speak to Femi.
Standing a bit away from the other two constables she responds as if just overheard the conversation. "He's been arrested? How interesting. Is there a new Ambassador?"
John and Iva
A half giant man, who you have seen when you first came through the teleportation circle, overhears your conversation and says, "Salve, my name is Rodrigo Anthrasio and it seems as though you are new to the city."
He chuckles to Iva's remark and says, "Ambassador Brakkan was arrested this morning just outside the teleportation circle and he was brought in for justice. No, we do not work so quickly in Seobriga, to replace him will take time for the Bruse to choose an appropriate replacement. I can be a guide for you in the city, if you choose."
Chretien moves slowly and ponderously through the crowd, and says nothing while following the others. He will just let people assume he is a mindless construct, as that is his best bet at fooling anyone.
Femi seems ready to follow the stranger, wondering if perhaps he’s their contact, when the newcomer - and a half giant, also offers aid. He’s not sure which way to go, but one seems to want to lead them into some dark alley or other, while the half giant has made no such suggestion as yet.
Why not both?
He turns to the half giant, ”Rodrigo, could you wait just a moment? We have some business to attend to with this gentleman, but I don’t think it will take long. We might want to take you up on your offer. It would be helpful to have a guide. We’ll be right back!”
He gestures to continue and, presumably, follows the gnoll.
Iva gets the sense that someone is filling the group. She tries to get a sense of who that might be.
Iva and John
Rodrigo pulls out his pocket watch from his waist coat and says, "No problem Senor. I do have some time to wait."
Perception: Iva , Femi , Chretien , JOhn , Rognar
The Gnoll whistling an alternative version of the national anthem seems to disappear into the crowd.
John spent a moment scanning the crowd, but eventually shook his head and then slid his hands along his body to make sure his money pouch had not been taken. After verifying that everything was as it should be, he turned his attention to the two men the group was currently talking to. Looking at both, he decided that
The Gnoll was the more important of the two. He turned his attention towards the man, just to watch him start to move into the crowd.
After watching him move, it seems as though he wishes to be followed. He waited while the others were talking to the Half-Giant and then slipped into the crowd,
changing his appearance as he went. Gone was the affect of a bureaucrat; in it's place stood a thug, the sort of man you might find beating drunken sailors in an alleyway while trying to avoid getting puke on his shoes. He was wearing a sleeveless tunic which showed off his muscles, a tight-fitting set of leather pants, and heavy boots. He carried a small black flag with him as he walked towards the Gnoll.
The only thing about his appearance that stood out was the tattoo on his left arm, which upon inspection would appear solid, but when looked at again would be in a completely different pattern. It was an altogether mesmerizing effect, and one that seemed to keep you focused on both the tattoo itself, as well as the man that it was on.
He approached the Gnoll from a different direction and then got his attention, saying "Interesting weather we're having, eh friend?" aloud while simultaneously sending him a secret message What are you doing?
For a moment he wondered if the half giant was just being helpful or that if, like him, he had ulterior motives, yeah people don't usually offer to be you guide unless they wanted something out of you. It could be something innocent, like flirting with a newcomer, or way worse, like being a Danoran agent trying to get in the way of their mission.
He didn't have much chance to study Rodrigo from afar, trying to get te gist of him, just in case.
When the group finally decided to follow him, Javier lead them away from the crowd, in an alley where he can easily keep watch of who comes and goes and more importantly who was listening to their conversation.
"Indeed, it is a great day to visit the capital isn't it?" He replied playfully to John. "And I'm sorry for the subterfuge, but one has to be careful around here, you know?" He added after he was convinced that no one was listening.
"Now I don't know you, but I have heard great things about a couple of your traveling companions, from back home." Well of course Risur wasn't his home actually, but an adoptive one was good enough on his books.
"Turns out though that it is my duty to help you out get the gist of the city, I'm Javier honored to meet you. And going back to the matter at hand, yes if we want the ambassador's aid we might have to figure out how to get him out of troubles" Now of course Brakkan could have just done some mind control on his own volition, for whatever political scheme he had, but it did sound at least a bit suspicious that the minotaur would get arrested exactly when the RHC agent got to Ber and a ship from Danor was docked in port...
Javier
”I understand.” he says speaking to Javier, having just lost track of John. Smart man making sure we’re not always together in case of ambush.
”So what do we call you? I’m Femi, at your service.”
"yes indeed" said the gruff man that in the space of a breath shrank back down to his previous disguise when the group was away from the crowd. "A pleasure Javier. My name is John, and I am of similar employ as my companions here." John ponders for a moment then asks "What exactly IS the specific trouble the ambassador in?"
"A pleasure to meet you Femi" He gave fellow agent a tip of his hat. "And Javier would be fine for now, some people here will know me with a different name, but I'll make sure you know in advance."
"As for the fate of the ambassador he had been arrested for using mind control" He paused for a moment to rub his chin. "That you might imagine is an huge ass deal here, given that this is a young nation that just escaped slavery from the dragons..."
"I know where he is held, though... Do you have any plan already about how to track our target?" He mused.
"If you ask me, securing the ambassador as an ally might be a good idea, assuming that it is possible to actually clear his name"
"Who would we speak to about getting the ability to speak with him?"
Javier probably has some ideas about who to talk to, but I think that our GM can intervene here to get a reply on his behalf
"Should we see what Rodrigo has to offer, then research what's going on with the ambassador. Maybe Rodrigo can help us with some of our questions, or send us in the right direction."
Femi is also willing to just hunt on our own.
KNowledge HIstory or Profession Lawyer(Advocate or Attorney) DC 20
Javier
(heroism) vs DC 20
"Well, if history is any guide we don't have long. Just is meted out quickly here in Ber. The ambassador may be sentenced by dinner time. Maybe sooner, but probably not. Probably. Let's make him our focus."
"I think we should see if Rodrigo can help us. We can start there anyway. I'm open to suggestion though if folks have other ideas. We should avoid splitting up though. Things could go badly quickly and we should be together when it does."
"My bet is that he had been brought straight to the Executores, since the Bruse is not in town... the slacker."
"Of course." He nodded to Femi, still unsure however if they should trust the helpful stranger, not that he had given him any reason to suspect about him. "Rodrigo looks trustworthy, although, in a foreign nation and with spies from a rival power in town, I'll still be careful about giving him too much information about why we are here."
"Let us see what this Rodrigo has to say on the matter. I will change my appearance and mill about nearby to make sure you aren't being lead into an ambush or worse....besides, I'm curious to learn more about the ringleaders of the protest, and what they REALLY hope to gain from their actions."
John thinks for a moment then adds "However, I don't think it would go too well if Rodrigo saw you return with the group and with me missing friend Javier. If you don't mind, I'll just make a slight adjustment to your appearance..." Reaching out, John pats Javier on the shoulder, and in the blink of an eye a duplicate of John is standing where Javier used to stand.
"Now if you could just say something to ensure I have the voice correctly?"