GM-Foxy's Hell's Rebels (Inactive)

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

Peeko akes sure the wait staff are not looking and swoops down onto Saul's shoulder whispering to the investigator,

"Peeko knows that book your Baby is reading! Master has it and hides it in another cover, "101 Ways to Harvest Bark", because it is a trouble book. Peeko thinks it is stupid to read it out in the open unless you want an all expenses paid trip to the stinky Dottari cells. Peeko thinks."

Baby because of baby sitting, not avian sexism.

A stern woman in armor with the star of Asmodeus painted on it rips open the door to Salonius' cell. She throws in his stuff and shouts at him "Put that on and get out of here. If I find you here in two minutes I feed you to Ghenemal. And if you're caught again during curfew you'll meet her too."

Then she turns around and leaves the cell area, leaving Salonius to the guard.

Saul jumps in surprise as the bird lands on his shoulder, shaking him from his thoughts. "Gods damn it, bird. You shouldn't be in here; I think that barista is a witch. She probably could use some bird feathers as a spell component."

"Pffft, shows what you know, Witches loooove Peeko. They are all familiars are so great, teach me some spells familiar. But Peeko does not think she is a real witch Peeko thinks you are being face eatchus. Besides Peeko is the best at hiding and your head is enormous so Peeko just thrushes - like ducking, but better - into your collar and nobody knows. Peeko is the best at hiding."

Swiftly rejecting a brief instinct to deliver some sort of scathing admonishment to his captors Salonius bites his tongue and hurriedly dresses. Looking to the guard he retains a humble defeated stance and follows as directed, hoping to escape this ordeal in the most expeditious manner possible and resolving to be better armed against such an incarceration in the future.

The guard leads Salonius through two rooms and as the door is closed behind him he finds himself standing outside, with the fresh air and an intoxicating feeling of freedom filling him.

But it is gettingdark already and it couldn't be long before curfew.

Salonius allows relief to flood his emotions, hoping Peeko will get the message and then strides hurriedly back to the Barradin home. Where he is swiftly mobbed by the ladies of the household and locked in a bone crunching embrace by his mother,

"Mother I am fine, honestly could you let go? I simply got caught up in the new authorities exerting their authority regarding a curfew I had not been informed of. That said you must all refrain from causing overt trouble, although I am fine there are certainly dangers for anyone captured..."

After some time spent reassuring his family the young botanist heads to bed for a proper nights sleep hoping Peeko will sense his change in circumstances. I am sure that feathered fiend will be alright.

Peeko jumps hissing in Saul's ear excitedly, "Master feels relief! Big relief! Master is happy and less scared! Peeko thinks Master is free! Peeko thinks!"

"Should you go find him? I would like to meet him. I could go with you while Alamara does her job."

"Peeko will go, but Master is cautious, so Peeko thinks he heads home well before curfew. Saul can come, or Peeko can bring Master tomorrow? Peeko is not sure though, maybe you will all get arrested without Peeko... They are not very sneaky..." The thrush whispers, a hint of concern in his tone.

"Curfew approaches... I think I will stay here for another 10 minutes, Peeko. Perhaps I meet your master tomorrow."

"Peeko will go then to avoid the problem of Peeko's nemisis - the door handle. Stupid doors get in Peeko's way, Peeko is always waiting for stupid doors," the bird grumbles.

Distracted by the bird, upset by the memories of his wife, Saul does something rather out of character. He speaks his thoughts plainly so that all there can hear it. "You know what is odious? A government that burns down my favorite bar, gives devil dogs to the nobles, locks up innocent students, forces me to buy overpriced paintings, and allows slaves to be branded like that!" And he points at the scarring on Fhingle's face.

The patrons of the coffee house look around nervous on Saul's comment, but as no hard core Thrune kiss up seems to be here everyone relaxes again after a few moments.

Laria, who moves past Saul with her tray, whispers to him "Keep it on the low." without looking at him or waiting for a response.

"Peeko goes now! Peeko brings Master to Saul's deterctorist shop tomorrow morning! Peeko goes!" The thrush whispers before leaping off Saul's shoulder and darting out of the door as a customer leaves. Not sneaky at all! People are too huge, they would be more cautious if they had to always worry about being squishable.

Taking a few minutes to sense Salonius's location through their bond Peeko heads for the Barridan house. Seeing that his Master has left his bedroom window ajar he bursts in excitedly,

"Master, Peeko is here! Peeko is here Master! Peeko was very brave! Peeko is the bravest!"

Saul quickly realizes that all eyes are on him and that he outwardly said what has been running through his mind for several days now. He quickly sits down next to the halfling again. Pull it together, Saul. You are more professional than this. Still.... that felt good. To just lay it out there. And I know Alamara feels the same. Wonder about these other two?

Saul addresses Fhingle again, "Sorry about that. I... ugh, damn it. Obviously not a fan of our current administration. But that is where you got those scars, isn't it? Some type of religious branding connected to our wonderful government. Some type of... diabolical ritual."

Fhingles moves over to where Saul is, "It is ok, you didn't offend me, my master and his masters did terrible things and used me in terrible ways."

Shouldn't be so quick to judge now. Sure he is creepy, but it probably isn't his fault.

"What did they do to you? Did it happen here, in this city?"

Fhingle shutters a little, looking around a bit, "Just terrible things. I cannot remember it all." Fhingle gets up and goes to Laria to order a drink.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your happy time here. But curfew is nearing and you need to be on your way home. No more orders, the coffeeshop will close in a few minutes. Laria calls out standing on a chair. As she steps down she shakes her head at Fhingle's request.

As Meliandri sggested, you can have that conversation as backflashes. Either mark them as such, or put them in spoilers. Everyone gets the chance to tell where they go and with whom, before I call it a day.

[dice=Sense Motive]1d20-1

Well, then… Also, the book is called Imperial Betrayal. It’s a revolutionary text written by a Galtan philosopher. I’d imagine it’s a lot like reading The Communist Manifesto or The Diary of Che Guevara in a coffeeshop.

"Grande Tian Tea Latte, skim milk, no foam, extra 'ot, caramel and mint." Looking up from her book, Mels takes in the situation in the coffeeshop. She’d started ignoring the halfling as soon as she’d realized he was just another servant type, going back to her book instead. It wasn’t a question of being polite or rude, or of not wanting a conversation. Almost all her interactions with halflings was as a superior, though, and superiors didn’t need to respond to their subordinates unless they felt the need. The awkward girl in the middle-class-esque tunic, though…

”The book is called Imperial Betrayal. One of my favorite classes at Lady Docur’s was taught by a Galtan exile. She ‘ad a lot to say about ‘Osetter, but did not ‘ave us read the book itself, so I ‘ad to find it elsewhere. In the end, I ‘ad to disagree with Professor Vetta and agree with ‘Osetter and Jubanich.” Meliandri pauses, sliding the book into her handbag. ”There comes a time when the operation of the empire becomes quite odious, and any change is better. Even change like Galt.”

Alamara is caught off guard by this open and comprehensive reply. She braced herself for being brushed off but that is... overwhelming and totally not her cup of tea. "Mint! That is an interesting choice." Alamara tries to save herself to a terrain she feels not totally lost in.

As the halfling threatens to cut the talk short with the curfew she adds "I haven't heard of any of those people you mentioned, but it sounds interesting. How about you tell me more about it on the way home. I could accompany you on the way." That offer might be very blunt for a stranger, but subtle isn't her.

Fhingle will nod quietly and return to where he is staying.

We haven't really worked that out

Saul nods at Alamara, silently bidding her good luck and congratulating her on the show of initiative in walking Meli home. He stands to leave, thanking Laria on the way out.

The barista was creepy too, but I heard her say something after my outburst. 'Keep it low'. Almost like she agreed with me, but was too cautious to say anything outloud, and knew that I should be more cautious too. Which of course I should be. Should never have said that. Now I just have to hope that the rest of the patrons here share the barista's feelings. Might see Logan quicker than I expected, if I end up sharing a cell with him.

Saul makes his way home.

Meliandri walks home together with Alamara. She tries to explain her view on the political situation based on some common theories, but more than a "Yes" and "Ahha" here and there doesn't come back, and though Alamara tries to show interest in the topic it is a very one sided talk.

Everyone makes it home in time and the night passes uneventfully.

Current Date: Fireday, 4th of Rova, 4715AR

The day starts as always, only a little later due to the curfew. Especially the fishemen are not happy, as they can't go out at night. Instead of being the first on the market, they are now the last.

And the day starts with another set of proclamations:
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.

Fhingle makes his way back to the coffee house to see if Laria has anything for him to do.

"Laria can you believe they out law'd Mint? My master always had mint candies, it was my only joy in that miserable life."{/b] Fhingle's shoulders sag a little but then he smiles. [b]"Do we have work today?"

"Shit. Shit! Shit! Shit!

It is one of those mornings. Saul shakes his head as he lies in bed.

Can't believe I said that outloud. I'll be lucky if a goon squad doesn't break down my door.

Saul pulls himself up and feels at the ring. It seems like Meli is in the direction of the Greens. Hopefully anyway. Hopefully she spent the night in her own house.

Maybe Alamara did her job? I hope I didn't do wrong by giving her this assignment. She's controlled, but she's also as timid as a mouse. Maybe all that control I see is just her being afraid to act.

Am I afraid to act? Something about this new mayor is just rubbing me the wrong way. Sure would like to meet him alone in a dark alley.

Saul shakes his head, not knowing where these thoughts are coming from.

Alamara gets surprised by her mother with packed suitcases that morning. "We are leaving Kintargo. Now. I secured us a passage to Magnimar on a ship. We leave this damned coutry for good."

A loud argument ensues, but her mother is set on leaving, and with Shensen and her fellow worshippers of Sarenrae gone, her mother is the only person left that is important to her. She just can't stay here with her mother gone.

Alamara writes a letter to Saul to explain why she will not visit him anymore. On their way to the docks she takes a little detour to Saul's home and shoves the letter under his door. She ponders to knock, but her mother urges her on.

They board the ship, that is ready to leave and within the hour Kintargo is only a spot at the horizon and a memory for her. Another home lost to Thrune.

Laria hand Fhingle a towel. "There is always work. Make sure the tables and chairs are clean. And exchange the tablecloths if they are stained."

”They what?!”

Meliandri’s face flushes red. Her eyes narrowed to slits. While Ashana rattles off the list of new proclamations, she pulls open her wardrobe and starts pulling out dresses. ”No...no...no, no, no, no. Aaand no.” With each no, she throws the fine silk, velvet, and wool dresses into a pile in the middle of her room. Finally, there are only two dresses left - both plain, woolen ones she’d never deign to wear around the house, much less to a party or the opera.

In a fit of pique, she opens her window and dumps her pile of useless, expensive clothes out onto the front lawn of the Aulamaxa estate. The golden embroidery glistens in the midmorning sun and the fine cloth dampens from the dew. Then, still in her nightclothes, she grabs Ashana by the wrist and begins dragging her to the kitchens. ”I am going to ‘ave a mint tea to wake up, even if you ‘ave to make it yourself!”

Gotta check in with Alamara, meet the bird's master, and maybe scout out the Castle walls today. Busy agenda.

As Saul steps out of his office and home, he puts a foot down right on a letter crammed under his door. Saul picks it up and reads it.

"Shit and damn it all to the hells. Gwaaaahh! Come back with my two gold! "

Saul punches the picture of the queen hanging in his front room. Thankfully, it doesn't rip through.

Eladonna stands there but just watches as the fuming Meliandri stomps into the kitchen. As Ashana comes along she stops her. "Please collect the clothes from the lawn. And once our little miss has calmed down enough to be left to herself for a while, you go and check what it would cost us to not look like peasants in public." Looking after Meliandri again she sighs, turns, and goes back to her room.

Salonius awakens after a long nights sleep in a real bed, which after his few days of imprisonment is a marked improvement! He fins Peeko asleep a carefully woven nest in his hair, and gently sets the little fellow down on a pillow, giving him a gentle iss. Brave little lad, glad you are safe.

Pulling back the curtain that separates his and his youngest older sister Dessa's beds finding her embroidering an extremely insulting image of an inbred looking gentleman "shouting", in a speech bubble, "Mint is for Cretins! Grain is for Winners! Dogs are the best and rats should be their dinner!"

"Hellfire and turnips Dess! Are you trying to get sent to prison! If anyone outside the family see that you are going to get a dman sight more than you bargained for!" Salonius half shrieks, attempting to snatch the needlework and receiving a deft kick to the stomach that wind shim for his trouble.

Dessa snorts, "I'll just unpick it and change the words to I love mint. Will that render me sufficiently, braindead, sorry I mean patriotic. Honestly Sallie, have you heard these latest proclamations, they are an unmitigated pile, of minty fresh donkey turds. Our new Thrunian liege has clearly been inbred to the point of imbecility."

"Proclamations?"

------

After being filled in by Dessa Salonius gets dressed, untangles his hair and prestidigitates himself immaculately clean. By the time he has completed his ablutions Peeko is awake,

"Master Peeko had to wait for so long! Peeko was sooooo patient! Peeko is patient, and Peeko helped the not very sneaky adventurer so well that Saul said Peeko was the best - Peeko is the best - and then Peeko said he would take Master to see Saul this morning."[b]

Salonius nods, stroking his chin, now adorned with the faintest traces of downy hair, [b]"Saul? He is the detective that Professor Glenell hired? Yes, I would like a word with him, seems like he might have his ear to the ground and be a good brain to pick. I need to prepare spell first, so let's head over to the Academy and let the Professor know I am fine, grab my spellbook, study and then seek out this detective."

At the Academy Salonius prepares his spells and leaves a note in front of Professor Glenell's unconscious from, after cleaning up a small pool of gin. This done he realises that his beloved orchard has not been tended in days and, stopping Peeko's protests for speed with blatant worm based bribery, spends an hour tending and restoring everything to its normal condition.

So it is rather late in the morning when Salonius and Peeko arrive at Saul's premises and the young botanist raps upon the door seeking entry, "Hello? Excuse me? I am Salonius Barridan Peeko's, well, worm provider more than anything else... I was hoping we might have a chat about our recent experiences?"

"Saul! Peeko brings Master! Peeko brings! Remember Peeko never mentioned Master was boring! Peeko would not say this."

Meliandri is not pleased by the kitchen slaves’ offering. Sure, it’s a perfectly fine tea, brewed in a traditionally Taldan manner with just a hint of Katapeshi spices. But it’s missing something. Some…je ne sais quoi. Some...mint. Mels considers throwing it at the kitchen slaves and screaming at them, or forcing one of them to deliver the sub-par tea to her brother as punishment, but in the end, it’s not really their fault. She leaves it unfinished.

As she tightens her lambskin breeches and pulls on a plain silk shirt, Mels’s anger starts to get the better of her, and by the time she’s fully dressed, she’s figured it out. She stomps into her mother’s study. ”When are your noble friends going to do something? Or do you simply ‘ave tea parties and pretend you ‘ave power ‘ere?” She crosses her arms and glares, filled with the self-righteous fury of someone who thinks they have an understanding of how things work.

"Good morning. I'm glad you come to me with this business. Take a seat..." she offers, but as Meliandri doesn't move she continues "... or not. You know, we have some money and in better times this means we have some influence. But we live in Kintargo for a reason. We don't have the best standing with House Thrune. You've come past the Victocora Estate lately? You know, this nice building with the little towers and the long entrance with the white arches? No? It is burnt to the ground."

"And I'm not pretending to have power here. But I have a still comfortable life I plan to keep. In this time this may lead to unpleasant situations where you have to smile while being served shit. But I'm open to better suggestions from your side."

"Mr. Barradin! And so the Case of the Missing Botanist comes full circle! I'm sure you've heard by now that I was scouting out your location at the big house. I didn't like to hear about cheap hoods messing with a young kid like you, but I couldn't get you out. Peeko helped as well. He brought me to the jail. I owe him some worms. Hang on a minute."

Saul steps outside, grabs a withered shrub that sits outside his office window, and pulls. The shrub comes right out along with a huge clod of dirt. Saul stamps on it, exposing a few worms and a couple of grubs.

"You have a good bird, Salonius. I daresay he has more intelligence than most in this gods cursed city."

"Yes, he visited me in the Holding House and informed me, my thanks for caring for him I know he can be a handful! Ah, I was wondering if you might consider sharing some information, perhaps a detailed recollection of my imprisonment in exchange for what you have observed about the City since the arrival of our new Lord and Master? I hope such an arrangement would prove mutually beneficial? And I have already found myself sorely inconvenienced by not knowing one of the new rules. My ideas about Detectives are likely rather fanciful, but I would assume you have a surer finger on the pulse than a botanist and want to be wizard like me."

"Peeko is good! Good Peeko! Peeko will grey shoes lessly eat these worms, but in future Peeko prefers at least five kinds of worms! Peeko is rich, so Peeko has high standards! Peeko is rich."

"You mean graciously Peeko, and you are rather stretching the definition..."

"Come in, then. I would imagine the two of us could have plenty to say to each other. Would Peeko mind watching the door as he enjoys this scant snack of not-five-kinds-of-worms? Our Lord Mayor's goons have already invaded my home once. I wouldn't mind a little warning if it were to happen again."

Once they enter, Saul settles in his normal ragged chair at his beaten up wooden desk. The desk surface itself is clean and empty, though it bears the watermarks of hundreds of whiskey shots.

"Let me dispel one myth about gumshoes, Mr.Barradin. We aren't all loners. While I enjoy a good internal monologue as much as anyone else, I enjoy people too. And I could use someone intelligent to bounce ideas off of. Unfortunately, my partner seems to have disappeared- much like you disappeared. And then my new partner- a young paladin- disappeared as of this morning. She only made it a single day before leaving me. And took 2 gold with her, for a job she never did."

"Anyway, like I was saying. I could use somewhat intelligent to talk to. And since Peeko stayed outside...can I ask you a question?"

Nodding to Peeko Sallonius enters expression serious, "Please go ahead and ask, but would you mind if I just, er, no nevermind... What was your question?"

His fingers twitch slightly and he glances at his hands and places them firmly in his pockets it would be rude to start prestidigitating the man's premises.

"How in the devil do you kill a devil?" Saul glances at his spear standing in the corner.

"Because this city is becoming full of them! And our new Lord Mayor is probably behind it!"

Saul stands up and starts to pace about.

"A gumshoe has to be careful about who to trust, but you've spent time in their slammer, so I know you are no stool pigeon. Devils burned down the Thrashing Badger. I saw it with my own eyes!"

Meliandri stands there for a moment, her mouth hanging open. ”So that is it? You just...choose to let this happen? ‘Ave you considered that this is not the end of ‘is proclamations? That if you choose to do nothing, ‘e can keep taking from you?” Her face flushes a deep red as she talks. ”’Ave you even consulted with the rest of your noble friends?”

Without waiting for a response, Mels continues. ”Probably ‘e will let us keep our halflings for a while. Probably ‘e will let you stay in our manor until ‘e decides ‘e needs it. But eventually, you will ‘ave to choose whether to oppose ‘im, and right now you ‘ave the resources to do it.” A pause to catch her breath. ”Or at least, you would if you talked to the other noble ‘ouses, but I suppose that is not ‘appening.”

She turns and stomps out, slamming the door. A moment later, she opens it again. ”If you will not do anything, I guess I ‘ave to!” She slams the door a second time before running down the hall and up the stairs to her rooms. There, she assembles everything she imagines she’ll need; her viola, rapier, and armor, a few coins, a change of clothes (white lambskin breeches with leather ties, a gold-colored silk blouse, floppy hat, and black cloak to cover it all), and a backpack. Then, pondering how best to make her exit, she opens the window and slips out of it and into Kintargo.

"I hope that private eye is worth his money." Edonna sighs.

Diplomacy (gather information): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 2 = 15 (+2 for Parade Armor vs. Chelish Citizens)
Hours: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Gathering Information on the whereabouts of Lucca Avalanti, Mels’s childhood friend.

Armed with her sword, her anger, and her boundless self-confidence, Meliandri leaves the Greens. The obvious place to find sympathizers in any quest for change would be Villegre, but after some thought, she decides not to go there first. After all, her foster mother probably already has slaves looking for her, or worse, guards, and Villegre is the one place they’d expect her to go. ”Slumming it, then. I’ve ‘ad worse, I suppose.

A childhood friend lives somewhere in Old Kintargo; Lucca Avalanti. Mels heads there, hoping that she can track down Lucca, convince her to let her stay a few nights, and then get her bearings.

As Saul talks to Salonius, he can feel Meli start to move through the ring. It feels like she is headed toward Old Kintargo.

"Hey, on second thought, S, let's talk outside. It's nice out there, so let's soak in the sun. We can just be... you know.. quiet."

It's possible that Meliandri will walk right past us.

Fhingle goes around the cafe and cleans up as asked, hoping that some people come so he can talk.

"It is all done Laria, do you think all these new proclamations will drive you business here down but others up?'