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. The city’s new leader was appointed by Her Infernal Majestrix, Queen Abrogail II, in the wake of the previous lord-mayor’s sudden flight from the city—an event that still has local rumormongers whispering furiously. In a scant seven days, Paracount Thrune has instituted martial law, a curfew, and seven outlandish and polarizing proclamations. These actions and more have called many of Kintargo’s dissatisfied citizens here on this overcast morn. 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.
Listen For Rumours: Diplomacy or Perception check to learn more about Kintargo’s Political Landscape.
Pilfer: Sleight of hand check to make the most of the crowds distractions.
Rabble Rouse: Diplomacy or Perform to better organize the protest.
Search for Contact: Perception check to try and spot your contact amongst the crowd.
Silence Undesirable Elements: Bluff or Intimidate check to try and silence or outshout members of the crowd you disagree with.
Watch the Crowd: Perception or Sense Motive check to observe the situation and the crowd.
Snippets of conversations drift across the park to your ears.
"...he's not all bad. Brought order..."
"Free enterprise! What am I supposed to do with this garlic?!"
"...He's NOT the true lord-mayor! He's not even from here!"
"We should have gotten a vote is all I'm saying."
The disjointed noise begins to escalate as more and more citizens enter the park. A strange woman steps out of the opera house and watches the crowd among a few of Thrune's dottari.
Pakuzzo mills among the crowd of people, alternatively stealing angry glances at the guards amassed by the opera house and engaging in rapid conversation with his fellow citizens. He appears furious, and willing to speak to any who's willing to listen to him.
"Don't you see it?! The fires, Jilia's disappearance, it's all part of the Thrune plot to stomp out what little freedoms we have left! They're slipping a noose around our neck and we need to act now before they tighten it any further! It can be done if we only stand together!"
It was with eager steps that Lurio moved along the wet cobblestone, his armor shining with the early morning light. He had been waiting for this day since he first heard of the protest taking place at the Lord-Mayor's "residence". Too long had he just had discussions within the dark corners of taverns and bars with co-conspirators. It was time to take action! It was time to make them notice that the citizens of Kintargo were not going to simply be stepped upon by House Thrune and Barzillai's mad proclamations.
"See Marillo! A crowd already forms. We were not alone in our disgust with this city's rulers!" The eager smile grows upon Lurio's face as he merges into the crowd, listening to the shouts and opinions that were growing amidst the citizens. He'd make his way to the front, where the dottari guard the entrance.
"Brothers! Sisters! We will not tolerate the abuses of House Thrune any longer! We demand change! We demand justice for the cruelties he has inflicted upon our homes, our businesses, our people!" He shouts, his voice booming and loud. "Will you wait for more preposterous proclamations while he feeds those found guilty to wild dogs!? Enough I say! Enough say! We demand answers! We demand a change!
He points towards the Tengu who emerges near the front, hearing the man's shouts and claims over the cacophony of the protest.
"The Tengu is right! Friends of my family have disappeared! Nobles disappear without a word and who knows how many others have gone missing from the streets! These devil-worshippers care not for us! They care only to dominate us! To control us! We shall show them though! "
Perched behind the crown in one of the park's larger trees, Vinz preens his feathers nonchalantly. Politics mean little to the bird, but if Pakuzzo looks to be in trouble he won't hesitate to aid the tengu.
Marillo watched Lurio in fascination, respect, and horror, as his friend whipped the crowd into a frenzy. Of the Tengu, it was much the same, only with wonder as well. He liked Tengus, for they were usually a good sort who appreciated a good act of knife juggling. This one, certainly, could talk well.
He could feel it in his bones that this was going to end poorly. He dearly wished that he had his katana with him, but he wasn't willing to risk having it confiscated after the inevitable shake down. Instead he merely had his knives with him, and he truly hoped that they wouldn't be needed. The new governor was insane, and his thugs were oft violent. He had been on the receiving end of a cudgel more than once. He just hoped that this didn't get anyone killed. And even more than that he didn't want his friend to become disgraced or his good name ruined. As such, he watched the crowd, trying to judge it...and he watched for good ways out for which he could drag Lurio for when everything inevitably went wrong.
Pakuzzo points to the human in armor, pleased to find a like-minded revolutionary.
"Do you see?! Our differences are insignificant in the face of tyranny! Love of freedom unites all citizens of Kintargo! We must not allow our beloved city be taken from beneath us!"[
She walked into the area where there seemed to be shouting. Well. More than what she heard on her way there. Her skin was a very odd color. Not that it mattered. Nor the fact that she had horns. What did stand out, was the fact that she had her arms crossed, and her OTHER pair of arms folded into her cloak. One on the hilt of her sword. And one on her pistol. She did have Chelaxian armor on. Being a retired officer, she had a few perks. One that those of the city and the nation, still recognised her authority. Not in an official way, but they did value her opinion. But what was happening now? This was not the nation she defended and held in high regard. And something needed to be done. Now she simply hoped to find the person who said he could help her in her new self-set task
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Luthor glances at the beggar by the pool, then does a double take. "Well what do you know, its that same bum I was hiding from a few days go in Old Kintargo." he thinks to himself. He reaches into his belt pouch and flips a couple of coppers toward the beggar. Forget the soap, you smell more natural without it. Get yourself a proper bed though! he calls after him as he runs towards the crowd.
He turns his attention back towards the crowd. Looks like some stronger personalities are emerging, shame they'll be the first to be imprisoned for sedition...
As the tengu speaks, a few onlookers turn to him. One, a green-headed gnome, steps forward, piping up. "Yeah! The bird's right!"
As Lurio steps out into the open, a hush falls over the crowd up front.
"That's a Jhaltero." comes from the crowd.
Applause rains out and his battlecry is picked up. "THEY CAN'T BEAT US DOWN" screams the crowd. "KICK THE DEVILS OUT!"
"WE NEED JUSTICE!"
As more citizens pour into the park, it gets even more crowded. Though, they seem to give the dottari and Lurio a wide berth.
Luthor glances at the beggar by the pool, then does a double take. "Well what do you know, its that same bum I was hiding from a few days go in Old Kintargo." he thinks to himself. He reaches into his belt pouch and flips a couple of coppers toward the beggar. Forget the soap, you smell more natural without it. Get yourself a proper bed though! he calls after him as he runs towards the crowd.
"Thank you, sir", says Crady, almost automatically. The city guide looks on to the protest across the way.
The whisper that he is an Jhaltero is heard through the crowd and a lump forms in his throat for a moment. Instinctively he wishes to pull away, to escape into the crowd, and into the security of the anonymity, but he remembers the look on his friend's face. The terror, the fear, the pain, and his fists clench as tears threaten at his eyes.
"Never again...never be silent..." He murmurs under his breath, neither confirmed the crowd's suspicions nor had he refuted them.
The cheers from all around him bring a smile to his face and a fierceness in his eyes as he meets the gaze of the guards and the mysterious woman who stands behind them, surveying the crowd. His voice joins the chants of "Justice!" that ring out in the streets, his armored fist pumping into the air in time with it. He could swear he felt the ground shake with their indignation, their righteous anger, and that sense of purpose grew stronger.
As the crowd continues to cry out for Thrune's resignation and justice, an average looking man steps forward. A red bandana can be seen tied to his left shoulder. "Kintargan's we have it all wrong. But a week ago, we were infested in rats. Yet now, they are becoming less of a problem. If not for the Honorable Barzillai's offer to pay us to rid the streets of these pests, they'd still outnumber us! He's bringing us into the new world! Updating our barbaric ways!!" boasts the tanned man.
Turning towards the opera house, and the dottari, he drops to one knee. "I beg you, don't judge us based on the backwards opinions of these delinquent beggars!" As he finishes his statement, he looks to Lurio. With a sly smile, he winks at the noble.
The chanting subsides mildly as a few confess, "Well...he's right there. The rat problem was getting pretty bad..."
The man winks at Lurio and he begins to seethe on the inside. [i]"They bring up rats and they think that covers the Lord-Mayor's treatment? That it excuses the brutality he exercises? How dare they!
He scoffs at the man and steps around him, looking back towards the crowd that has gathered. For a moment, his eyes meet Marillo's and there is an apologetic look within them. They were supposed to merely be protesting but Lurio would not calmly be dissuaded.
"Friends! Citizens! Rats!? I can tell you who the rats are! The rats are the men who knock over bags of grain and charge fines that end businesses that do not agree! The rats are those who push our artists around, force us inside at night, take our sons and daughters, our mothers and fathers, with no reason and no recourse!
He shouts, pointing a finger at the opera house. "The rats are in there, feasting on the body that is our good city! The rats are in there, taking our gold and destroying our families behind men in dark armor and cruel glances."
His attention finally turns to the man, a look of digust upon his face as he shouts again.
"And the worst rats, the filthiest, foulest rats, at the one's who bend at a knee and hope to lick up the blood that their royalty leaves behind!"
Lurio's message continues to spread, but with less gusto than his first one.
Taking the opportunity, an old bearded dwarf steps out of the crowd. "Calm yourselves. Look, Kintargo used to be rampant with crime and vagrants" Pausing a moment, he spits before continuing. "In but a week, the Lord-Mayor has brought order to chaos! The Thrune family has protected us for generations, Lord-Mayor Barzillai is simply bringing us to the next stage"
Caught up in the moment of it, Marillo spoke up. Stepping forward towards the dwarf, his shadow crawled forth, covering him as Marillo spoke. As he did so, he glanced over at the first man, and his red scarf.
He tried to get an idea of what it signified, thinking that maybe it was a sign that he was someone planted by the house to turn the crowd towards them.
Quickly turning his attention back to the dwarf, he called out "Crime and vagrants? And what do you know of this, *dwarf*? Friends, you know me!" He pulled out a knife and held it up, balancing it on his finger as he spoke. "I am a Kintargan, through and through! I am a Redroofer! This is MY home. This is OUR city. And look at what these *foreigners* are doing to us! Barzillai thugs have beaten me and have gone so far as to steal the tools of my trade. And for what? Performing in the streets? How many of you have had the same treatment. For not buying paintings of a foreigner, made by foreigners, for the purpose of sending our gold abroad! How many of you have had your homes raided, your sons beaten, or your daughters harassed by armed thugs who call themselves lawmen?
How many of you have tasted the leather of their boots so that these *foreigners* can enrich themselves on our blood and sweat? Well I say that our ways are NOT barbaric. They are Kintargan. And we do not need these outsiders, with their insane laws, telling us how to live our lives! The only crime here is their abuse. The only vagrants are these opportunists <he looks pointedly at the dwarf as he says this> who wish for Kintargo to bow to them and their ways of life.
Luthor eases himself into the crowd. Lethargic as he is about political matters, he would like to see this protest accomplish something. Probably not the ousting of Barzallai Throne; no, that could mean war with Cheliax! But that Jhaltero character up near the front did have a point about the grain. Everytime he saw that happen he made sure a loose brick just happened to dislodge itself and fall (fly) onto the back of the agent enforcing the the proclamation.
He sidled up to one of the better dressed men near the back of the crowd. "Well how about that, a member of a noble house stirring up a crowd against the Thrunes. What do you make of it?"
+9 if Perception, +2 if Diplomacy.
The dwarf looks you up and down. Open's his bearded mouth a moment, and quickly shuts it. Looking down at the dirt, his shoulders slump and he mutters "S...sorry". Slipping past you into the crowd, he disappears among the horde.
With the dwarf slinking off, and feeling both bad for the dwarf and elated at finally getting to vent his feelings, Marillo moved back towards Lurio. He was suddenly very aware that they had made a scene, and the crowd had parted around them. Just as the crowd had seen them, the same was likely true of the authorities...
<quietly> "Lurio. I think that we would have a better view closer to the fountain and away from the guards, don't you think?"
Lurio smiles as his friend steps into the foray, speaking up on his behalf. He steps close and clasps him on the arm, nodding towards him.
"Always have the words I seem to lose, my friend." He then looks back again at the man who knelt before the guards with that looks of disgust, the smile fading from his lips. When Marillo whispers in his ears, he nods a bit and a bit of blush comes to his face. "Yes...yes we should. But not too far, they need to know our anger and I won't let these damn sycophants break our thunder."
Startled by the sudden sound in her head, she spins around. Snatching her necklace, she slaps the would-be thief. The woman pulls out two gold pieces and looks around for her savior.
Upon hearing your question, a half-orc turns around. "Aye, tis a nice change 'o pace. Most are just lining them pockets.". Pausing a moment, he adds, "Oh! You ear about the Devil's Nursery? They be killing tieflings down there and taking some kind of trophy. Dunno what. Think the Slasher's back?? ....Just what we need, eh?" Shaking his head, he quickly turns back to the protest.
The strange looking woman on the opera steps seems to be staring intently in the direction of Lurio and Marillo. A wicked smile on her face as the pair wander towards the fountain.
”Barzillai! Show yourself!”
”Local’s should rule this place!”
”Thanks for ridding our city of those undesirables!”
”Reopen the Opera House!”
”WHAT’D YOU DO WITH THE REAL MAYOR?!”
”Give us Justice! THE NIGHT OF ASHES WAS YOU’RE DOING”
The protesters continue to make their views heard, and it’s becoming apparent not all of them agree. With the crowd continueing to grow, it becomes even harder to make your way through the park.
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While he's happy that the citizens seem to finally be properly irate, in a more practical sense Pakuzzo is trying to keep from being trampled. He elbows his way through the press of bodies with some difficulty until he winds up next to Luthor.
"Ha! Now aren't you glad that I dragged you here, painter? We're really going to see some history in the making now!"
Marillo spots the mace and he turns to Lurio. "It looks like our friend with the bandanna is armed. Looks like he has a mace hidden under all that leather. I've got a bad feeling about this. They might have their men hidden in the crowd. What do we do when this all goes south?"
The sheer idea that there were agents in the crowd suddenly brought an angry look to Lurio's face. Yet he calmed down a moment later, looking back over the crowd.
"I was hoping this would be more organized, more directed, but it looks like it is shaping to be a riot. We protect anyone trying to run away and we fight back with equal hostility." His intention was quite clear. If men and women are cutting down their fellow citizens, they would fight back.
He looks back through the crowd, catching the woman's evil grin upon her face before he nods.
"Yeah, I got a bad feeling too."
She shook her head. And bit her lip. The urge to walk over there and do what she was trained for, it was hard. But right now. The city needed this. Her city needed this. So she kept quiet. She was going to let this happen. It almost made her smile.
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Marillo sighed. That sounded well and good...if you wanted to die. Quietly he said "I was afraid you were going to say that. My friend...we can't beat their thugs. Not with a panicked rabble. Look, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the guvner will listen and see reason. But if this goes down, we won't do any good dying on a guard's spear, or being..." His voice trailed off as he saw the strange woman on the opera steps staring at them. His voice almost a whisper "...s#@*."
"Not at all. My family would not forgive me if I died here in a mob. No, we get out of here and try to protect those that we can."
Luthor gave Pakuzzo a sideways look. If by history you mean eulogies, then yes. he said dryly. He looked out over the crowd, which seemed in danger of becoming a mob. The realization that he could do a lot more to put the mob into a frenzy than calm it down caused him once again to reflect on his life choices.
Let's see, if I were Barzillai Throne, what would I be doing right now? he notes the woman who had avoided the pilfering gnome, making a mental note to track her down later, then looks over at Lurio. Poor guy, Luthor gave him a week at best before Barzillai took him out. If I were trying to stamp out resistance in Kintargo, this would be a really great place to identify the rebellious elements in the city. Why else would they let the protest go on for so long Pakuzzo?
She begins to make her way to the fountain. If things did turn ugly, she could get to high ground quickly. She makes her way through the crowd. Her armor making her get a few looks from those gathered. Her extra arms not nearly close to the object of their ire
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A hand clasps over Marillo's shoulder and Lurio would be sustaining that flare right back at the woman, at least until the crowd surged forward and covered over all.
"Do not worry friend, my family's specialty is in the information business. If they come for either of us, we'll know before they do." Lurio had to shout it to be heard over the cacophony of the crowd around them, the shouts that were coming from all over. The Jhaltero Family had an impressive number of informants and contacts, though it had taken them many years while House Thrune did the same in a much shorter amount of time. Then again though, it was the difference between earning trust and being able to throw an empire's coinage wherever one wished.
"However...this is not what I wanted..." He says, looking around the crowd sadly. He wanted to rile the people up, get them motivated and get them demanding for answers. Surely House Thrune could see the advantage in working with them rather than beating them down, don't they?
His eyes scanned the crowd again, not catching sight of his fellow speaker. It seems he had lost sight of their Tengu friend within the crowd, he hoped the man was alright and that the crowd wasn't shoving him around.
His eyes would catch sight of the strange woman with the multiple arms, his scrutiny moving over her for just a moment before looking away. "She looks dressed in Chelaxian garb but she seems too obvious to be a plant as well. Men with the red bandanna, there must be more of them throughout the crowds."
He looks back and does a double take, recognizing Kintargo's own Bum Sage.
"Crady! What are you doing here? This is not the time and place to be looking for coin!" The tension in the air was growing worse and worse. Something was close to breaking, the only space anywhere seemed to be around him as other protestors gave him a nod of support and respect.
"Pfeh!" the tengu sneered, a neat trick considering he had a beak for a mouth. "Luthor, if I had any inkling of why the Thrunes did half the things they do, I'd have worked out how to overthrow them years ago. Besides, the 'rebellious elements' of Kintargo consists of pretty much everyone who hasn't already joined the dottari; they just need the proper motivation to go and put boots to behinds."
"Take that tiefling bird over there,--"
He jerks his head in the direction of Cerenity over by the fountain.
"--a single devilspawn walking around openly in Chelish military armor in the middle of a near-riot. How does that make any sense? You'd think they'd be smart enough to keep their lackeys closer together!"
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"Crady! What are you doing here? This is not the time and place to be looking for coin!" The tension in the air was growing worse and worse. Something was close to breaking, the only space anywhere seemed to be around him as other protestors gave him a nod of support and respect.
Metronicus Crady smiled when Lurio walked over to the fountain along with the other "human".
"Good morning, m'Lord", chimed Crady. "And greetings to you, knife -juggler", says Crady with a knowing smile.The urban druid puts his bowl away, and looks above the protest. "Yeah, too many spirits of anger and want circling in one place. Sadly, this zit will pop soon. On the upside, I meet in tengu in passing today. I thought I saw him in the crowd. Anyway, stay here by the fountain for now. It should be anytime now", says Metronicus in a knowing, nonchalant manner, as he dips his head down to the fountain to take a drink.
"Ah. Crady is your name? Heard a few stories about you. Seeing spirits was one of them. So is this true? " she speaks as she sits down on the edge of the fountain.
Her skin dark brown-red. Like fresh earth. Her mouth was wrapped in cloth, her green eyes bright in contrast to her skin. Now. Up close, one can see the bulges of her lower set of arms.
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"Good morning, miss", smiles the cheliaxian to the red skiined lady before him. "Yes. My name is Metronicus Crady, but most just called me Crady. Metronicus is a bit of a mouthful, I'll admit", says then urban druid as he sits down a respectful distance from the lady on the fountain.
"As for the forementioned ability to see spirts, sadly not yet, the best I can do now is sense their presence, since my relationship with Kintargo is really just beginning to blossom", grinned Crady.
"So, dear lady, what brings you to the protest", question Crady. Examining the dark skin lady's attire, Metronicus continues, "Um, showing your support for House Thrune, perchance?"
"I wish I could confirm that, but my support is for the people of Cheliax. This city is not the one i wanted to protect. I wish for that City to come back" she seems to look over the crowd to the buildings surrounding them
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"Ahh", nods Crady knowlingly. "I know what you mean. Take for example the curfew recently placed upon Kintargo. I've had to..become more..creative in finding places to sleep at night. Like rooftop balconies, empty barrels, you know the like. Before House Thrune put it's foot down on Kintargo, my choices for places to sleep were varied and with greater resources."
Jugding from your appearance, I take it you live in the Redroof district. My associate, Mr. Sullus", showing an open hand to the jet black haired man to Lurio's side, "lives there as well. Do you know each other?"
Suddenly three loud chimes from the Asmodean Church bells ring out over the city. Though muffled, it is still quite easily heard over the roar of the crowd. But a moment later, a window in the second floor of the opera house is flung open. A man dressed in red, orange, and black clothing and an ornate breastplate, all emblazoned with the pentagram of Asmodeus and the cross of Cheliax stands in the opening. Holding a diabolical mace, the middle aged man smiles down at the crowd, receiving a mixture of louds boos and cheers.
He clears his throat and the crowd settles down as he begins to speak.“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!”
As the Lord-Mayor completes his speach, the crowd erupts. Those of differing opinions start shoving each other. Obscenities are hurled towards Barzillai Thrune. It’s quite easy to recognize things are turning ugly quickly.
She gently shifts her body so his hand misses its intended target, making him grasp at air. Before she could reply...
She growls, and for some reason, her anger makes her seem more fierce than one would expect from her. This was too far, this man, this so called mayor, he is turning her city into his own personal playground
Marillo's face hardens as he hears the new proclamation and upon seeing the crowd's reaction. Turning to Lurio he said "They call us barbaric when it's they who execute us with squashes!" Obviously he had misunderstood what squassation meant. He then pointed at Cerenity. "They're toy soldier Tiefling looks like it's going to get violent. If it turns on the crowd let's put it down before we get out of here. It looks like it could do some serious damage with those arms." As he said this he put one of his hands into his pocket and quietly readied one of his knives. Looking at Celestia in her officer uniform and her menacing pose, Marillo thought she was trying to scare the crowd into quieting down. He added as an after thought: "No way they could hide the Tiefling, so they put it among us to scare us. But our mace wielding friend is probably one of hers, and it likely has more soldiers hiding here too. Keep your eyes open."
:"Pfeh!" the tengu sneered, a neat trick considering he had a beak for a mouth. "Luthor, if I had any inkling of why the Thrunes did half the things they do, I'd have worked out how to overthrow them years ago. Besides, the 'rebellious elements' of Kintargo consists of pretty much everyone who hasn't already joined the dottari; they just need the proper motivation to go and put boots to behinds.""Take that tiefling bird over there,--"
He jerks his head in the direction of Cerenity over by the fountain.
"--a single devilspawn walking around openly in Chelish military armor in the middle of a near-riot. How does that make any sense? You'd think they'd be smart enough to keep their lackeys closer together!"
<- To know what Cerenity actually is...
I don't know Pakuzzo, I was talking to someone a few minutes ago and apparently the new governorship has been even harder on Devil's Nursery than most of the rest of the city. Something about hunting tieflings for trophies.
dooooong, doooooong, doooooong
Oh wonderful, the Hell's Bells are going off. And look, is seems living in the opera house has given this Thrune a taste for theatrics.
The mayor speaks
Barziallai's speech left a bitter taste in Luthor's mouth. He's doing it on purpose! he said angrily. Pakuzzo, he's trying to make the crowd angry! He resists the urge to telekinetically launch a brick at Barzillai.
"But what does he stand to gain from that?" He thinks to himself, slipping through the crowd.
Sense Motive on the crowd: You have a hunch things are going to get violent if someone doesn't do anything to stop it. You also get the feeling this is by design...
It was with a heavy heart that Lurio could not disagree with the sage's observation; something was about to break. Undeniably, things were coming to a head and they seemed to be falling out of control. When the strange woman came closer, calling out towards the man, she would see that he offered her a polite smile but moved just a little closer towards the man who sat upon the ground. He had seen the hassle the soldiers of Cheliax could give him and seemed protective of the somewhat addled but kind city guide that they had. He listened in carefully to what the woman said and with a scowl, he spoke up once and clearly.
"It is because that is their goal; to make us people of Cheliax. We are not though, we are the people of Kintargo." It was a commonly held belief, most felt more loyalty to the city than to the Empire that demanded they serve on a bended knee. Now they had sent a madman to them during a time of chaos, as the Glorious Reclamation had begun against the Chelaxian Empire.
The bells tolled over the shouting babel of the protest and the man would step out who could only be Lord-Mayor Barzillai Thrune. Everything grew hush as he began to speak and Lurio foolishly felt perhaps the spark of hope. Couldn't he see the chaos and damage that his foolishness was causing? This wasn't a playground to toss and toy with, it was a place of families, of art, it was the home of so many! Yet the eight proclamation was made and Lurio's eyes widened at it, his brain almost having difficulty processing what was being done.
"Torture, Marillo! They mean to torture any captain who sets foot in the city!" His friends seems almost flabbergasted at the events that are unfolding, his eyes turning towards Cerenity before he gives a nod. He leans in close and whispers. "If it comes to that, I have your back, my friend." Yet he grabs onto the fountain, lifting himself somewhat further into the air. He looks for those who agreed with him first, shouting into the din of the self-imploding mob.
"Citizens! Stay together! Tighten your ranks, keep your brother and sister beside you safe! He seeks to drive us mad and break us apart! !"
Marillo stood at the base of the fountain. While his friend tried to control the crowd, he scanned it, looking for more men with red bandannas or who otherwise looked armed.
Metronicus's attempt to learn more about the tiefling (?) was thwarted by the arrival of Inquisitor Barzillai Thrune.
After listening to the speech, Crady chuckles to himself. "Typical politican. Saying much, meaning nothing."
Somewhere in the back of Metronicus's mind, a familiar husky voice whispers a command: "Sssay Sssomething."
The urban druid's eyes flash open wide: Kintargo calls.
Frantically, the city guide stands on the fountain next to Lucio. His features are that of a man trying to come up with something and something quick!!
The urban druid looks as surprised as everyone else. Crady continues,
With that, Crady looks over to Lucio with a surprised 'what-the-f^(*-did-I-just-say' look on his face.
Lurio would look over in surprise as the man scrambled up next to him, his shouts raising out over the crowd. They both shared the same kind of look between one another before a smile crept across Lurio's face for just a moment.
There was no exchange of words, he'd just use his free hand to grip the bum solidly on the shoulder in a show of rapport and common ground. A bum and a nobleman, speaking together for the same cause. What a strange time to live in.
Lurio does pull his hand back after a moment and, feeling what could only be described as a residue, wipes it off nonchalantly on the back of his armor and coat.