At the mentions of weapons, Jarex walks from the wall to look at the contents of the lockbox. "The pesh and porn look good." Noticing the bill of sale, the tiefling exclaims, "Ooo! A slave! Nice!"
Another slave? But, but, I don't really know.
Kirk looks confused right now then his emotions change once he notices the platinum.
What about this money! Look at all this! I have never seen so much! Were these deputies being bribed? Should I hold onto this? I could carry some of the stuff around like I did the Vegiepygmie heads.
Kirk looks at Jerax.
What is porn?
"Kirk, I'm asking if you want some one to boss around." Ileosa said as she crossed her arms. "After all, you'd be the senior slave."
Kirk looks at Jerax.
What is porn?
"It's the best part of literature", smirks Jerax.
Jerax, really! Porn details the intimate affairs of men and women in word and drawing, Kirk. Some like it, not I. It is illegal in some parts. Alicia says as she examines the wand.
You think about the slave and look around and see a Halfling sitting in a cell that matches the description and answers to Ardin.
"I am waiting for my new master. My old master was slain and they have not been able to identify a next of kin to take my ownership. My old master was Mr. Louslik. He had a lot family, but they seem to have fled Longacre since the incident." The Halfling stats in a high pitch voice.
Meridian smiles at Alicia's reaction to the porn, "While it may not be the best part of literature, it is certainly entertaining. I prefer the written style if the author is any good at all."
She glances at the angle of the light, "If we are going to keep any of this stuff, we should simply bring it all and finish our task. We can worry about who is going to take ownership of which items when we have finished." She walks over to Ardin's cell, "What do you know of the tanner's withholding of taxes and smuggling of weapons?"
"Weapons? I know he made armor. I really don't know about such things, I was in charge of the mules and the stable. "
"Kirk, I'm asking if you want some one to boss around." Ileosa said as she crossed her arms. "After all, you'd be the senior slave."
Kirk begins to snarl like an angry dog on a leash.
Mistress, I am forever in your debt and will do whatever it is you tell me but I don't trust this one. A slave is a slave, and a lowly Halfling one is this. Besides, I suspect she is hiding something. That's right, I said she.
Kirk stands at the jail cell and looks at her, What are you trying to hide?
No Master, don't let her out. I can't place my finger on it, or should I say toe, but something here is not right. Come out with it and tell us the whole truth, why disguise yourself as a man?
"I...I am a girl. I am sorry I lied. My master found out and removed my toe, but he kept my secret. People treat you different when they think you are a boy, and I wanted to work with the animals, not in the manor." Ardin admits timidly.
Kirk walks over and takes the porn from Jerax. He then walks back to the jail cell and holds it up for her to see.
Do you know how to do these things?
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"Kirk! That's rude. She's a slave, but she has the right to decency as you do. Now, Ardin -if that's your real name- answer the questions. What are you hiding? Do you know of the shady deals your Master had? Don't lie to me, I am the one who gave him death and You own what you kill so you will end mine if no traitor's family appear.
"I...I am a girl. I am sorry I lied. My master found out and removed my toe, but he kept my secret. People treat you different when they think you are a boy, and I wanted to work with the animals, not in the manor." Ardin admits timidly.
"Well, they ARE waist height..", says Jerax with an understanding frown, more to himself than anyone else.
"That was it, that was what I was hiding, the fact that I am a girl. "
"Right." Margaletta is beginning to grow impatient. "Clearly she's got no love for the rebels who took her toe. If we want to sell her or take her with us, fine, but I'd rather go find traitors to fill these cells than sit around in them chatting all day."
I'm sorry Master, I just thought, well, maybe....never mind. By the way, I think she is telling the truth.
Kirk runs back to Jerax and returns the porn to him.
Ileosa took the bill of ownership, rolling it up and putting it away for safe keeping. "Izrail and I shall take her, I am planning on getting some dogs for the manor and will need someone to look after them." She comments as she looked to Ardin. "You wanted to work with animal yes? Hope you like dogs." She smirks.
Kirk moves over to where Ileosa and Izrail are.
I am willing to go wherever my Master and Mistress leads.
"I think we agreed the castle wall should be our next stop", said, Jerax. "We taking her with us", questioned the tiefling, nodding toward the halfling in the cage.
Not now. She would be in the way, and we don't need a animal handler to nail these decrees. I'm going to take the wand, I think. As for the rest, as far as I am concerned to the victor the spoils and alicia puts it in her best, for access.
Longacre’s western gate looks almost as if some great
giant picked up the stone gate from a rugged frontier fort
and dropped it across the road leading into town. A set of
weathered wooden doors stands open in the fortified stone.
An older human man and woman stand at the gate. Bo and Dent Gramel
Gramel, live in a house close to the gate and rarely
let the mossy pile of rocks out of their sight. Bo and
Dent note everyone who passes through, greeting
every neighbor, commenting on every loaded cart, and
questioning newcomers as though they were guards
at the imperial palace. For the most part, though, the
couple is content to watch people come and go, and keep
on alert for danger coming down the road. Few people
in town know that Denton once served as an artillerist
in the Second Egorian Royal Engineers and that Bo was
his commanding officer,
Although the retired military couple wields no legal
power, Longacre’s residents—especially the young folk—
treat them as officials on par with the sheriff.
The woman speaks up when you begin to post the decree "“We’ve kept this town safe and this gate open—except for nights and holidays—for all
the eighteen years Dent and I have minded it!” " Then Dent adds
“No cow-pile baron or his trumped-up dung-berries are
going to make us close it.” Bo is wielding a crossbow with alchemical arrow tips, and Dent has many alchemical items about his person.
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"Lower your weapon, lady. We are only trying to help protect this town. The rise of Iomedaean rebels have arrived to Longacre, we uncovered it. And last night the Iomedaean priestess threathened with starting her own war here." Izrail tries to sooth the old couple "We need you to keep defending this gate and town, but it's necessary to keep the gate closed to lessen their chance to overthrow the peace we have."
Kirk feels it is best not to say or do anything at this point.
"I know you, you are that bully that killed Louslik!" Bo says shaking with anger at Izrail. "Say what you like, but I knew Louslik to be a good man and you entered his establishment very late at night and killed him! You might have the rabble convinced, but I have been around I know a power play when I see one. "
Meridian glances at the woman, an expression of sadness on her face, "It is always the most difficult to accept when one we have known and liked proves to be untrue. But the tanner was a traitor to Cheliax. He was supplying weapons and armor, to rebels and traitors. You wish to guard Longacre, but you cannot simply guard it from the threats from which you want to admit are real. Civil unrest hurts us all. The Archbaron is trying to prevent further unrest and return Longacre to a situation of stability and prosperity, plagued no more by these rebellious factions." Meridian gestures around at her companions, "We, too, fight to protect Longacre, as we have done before. Help us to better protect Longacre through this time of need."
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"Pardon? Louslik attacked my wife and I defended her. Wouldn't you attack anybody who threathened him?" he says pointing at Dent " I didn't want to kill him, but I won't regret his death. If I have to choose between my wife and a lowly traitor there's no doubt about it." Izrail is starting to get angry about all the insults and claims "I have no stake on any power play you talk about, my only interest is to protect the people from Longacre, its justice and law and that of Cheliax. Now please cooperate, I know you too want the best for this town."
Bo seems to calm a little to Meridian's words. "Well, what is all this then? Why close the gate? "
"“We’ve kept this town safe and this gate open—except for nights and holidays—for all
the eighteen years Dent and I have minded it!” " Then Dent adds
“No cow-pile baron or his trumped-up dung-berries are
going to make us close it.”
Exasperated by the constant push-back from people, Jerax was about to say something cruel, but was quickly cut off by Meridian's speech. Seeing the effect it had on the Gramels, the tiefling elected to remain quiet.
Boy, these nobles I hang around with sure a good at making speeches. Of course, when the time comes to weave some lies..hehe.
"Louslik was trying to supply rebels," Margaletta replies, "But we haven't found all of those supplies yet, just the records of their manufacture he tried to hide. And so the Archbaron asked to keep this city safe and away from any dangerous ideas until the whole situation gets sorted out."
Sister Margaletta's words seem to make sense, so Bo and Dent nod and retreat back to their home near the gate. "Very well, things have been tense lately. This used to be a quiet town. "
Jerax slaps Sister Margaletta's back in appreciation. "I never realized I was surrounded by diplomats and orators", smiled the tiefling around to his comrades. "You guys really have a flair for this sort of thing. Hell, we might get out of this day without a scratch!"
"Just people with a bit of common sense," Margaletta replies, "one can hope..."
Alicia just stayed quiet and ready. She didn't want to strike at the old, but rebels were rebels. Good they aquiesed.
Meridian puts warmth and gratitude in her voice, "Thank you for understanding, and for helping us. This is, obviously, rather unpopular. We would like to get everything taken care of quickly so that life in Longacre can get back to normal."
Jerax looks to his comrades, "So, Church Square, next?"
"Yes, that sounds like a good idea Jerax." Ileosa said with a nod.
"I'll follow your lead on this one, Highbritches", nods Jerax to the fighter.
Jerax walks next to Meridian, shield at the ready.
A fifteen-foot-tall wooden post, scarred by nails and plastered
with faded pronouncements, rises from a bed of posies in the
church square. A verdigris-stained copper archer swivels atop
a squeaky weather vane at the post’s summit.
Doctor Gerya Rohalendi sees the post along with several of others standing with her. Doctor Gerya begins to ask some questions.
"Will those who break curfew to see to
a medical emergency be arrested? Half of Longacre is
related—what does “family” mean in this context? Is a group gathering at the tavern assisting the establishment
in “the natural course of its business?” How can those
from outside town obtain a writ of passage if they’re not
allowed in to visit the notary?
Kirk pays careful attention to the crowd gathered around the area looking for any potential trouble that may arise.
Not really seeing any he continues to pay attention to any that might cause problems while the decree is posted.
Kirk informs any in the party who are willing to listen in regards to the knowledge: local spoiler.
Kirk carefully listens to Dr. Problem-Causer to assess if she is actually wanting answers to these questions or if she is just attempting to rile up the crowd. He listens to the words and transforms them into a song he would sing while using her tone of voice.
Jerax remains quiet, not wanting to set off this 'powder-keg'.
The tall tiefling looks up at the weather vane, after listen to Kirk's explanation, and remarks to himself, "Uh. Didn't know that."
"Calm! Calm yourself!" Ileosa said as she gently held out her hand. "Come now my lady, one question at a time. I am sure that if there is a emergency you could call for one of the guards to escort you. Family is just what it means, family. If they are related to you there should be no problem. However I would get a for or notify some people first. As for the tavern, I would believe so. Seeing as a tavern if meant for a large amount of people, but for the full answer please visit the Longacre Notary. Also, the notary is open to all. This does not stop those from outside of Longacre from going to the notary." Ileosa pointed out.
The Dr. is calm and listens to Ileosa's explanations and nods to all of them except the last one, "But if they are not allowed in the city, it will be very difficult to get the writ in time. I fear this will do more harm then good, but I thank you for your explanations." She walks away clearly troubled. There are some murmurs in the crowd and some mean spirited comments spoken barley audible
"What makes them so special to travel in a group of seven I wonder?"
"We better move out before we get arrested I guess"