"I am Kintargo's lord-mayor, yet Kintargo is not my city. Nor is it Cheliax's city. Kintargo belongs to no one person, but to all who live here and make it the greatest city in Cheliax. We call it the Silver City not only for the gleaming waters of the Youbilis, but for its purity. Kintargo is unique in the nation of Cheliax in this way. We are not the nation's largest city, not its strongest. We may not have Westcrown's history, Ostenso's naval superiority, Corentyn's trade dominance, or Egorian's power, but nor do we have Westcrown's decay, Ostenso's violence, Corentyn's slaves, or Egorian's damnations. Kintargo is our own, and as Cayden Cailean is my witness, I intend to do all that I can to ensure that our silver shall never tarnish under Thrune's touch!"
- Lord-Mayor Jilia Bainilus, two days before her disappearance
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The dregs of last-night's rain aren't enough to discourage the dozens of Kintargans gathered at the front-doors of the opera house to protest the new Lord-Mayor, High Inquisitor Paracount Barzillai Thrune. Despite the early hour, the protest already fills half the square and shows no sign of slowing; as they enter most look for like minded souls to join. Along the edges of the square enterprising vendors have set up stalls, wafting mouth-watering smells of roasting nuts and heavily-spiced meet over the nascent crowd and tempting murders of crows and other pests from out under the opera's eaves. The closer to the gates you walk, the more a jumbled mess of factions the protest becomes and, though they flow together and break apart like the flocks of birds overhead, a few moments of observation suffice to show that there are five major movements represented here.
- The Partisans, largely well-to-do citizens who want an end to foreign rule of any sort and despise the tightening of House Thrune's iron grip. Here and there, you can see members of this group holding high soot-stained rocks and timbers - relics of last-weeks Night of Ashes.
- The Merchants, the tradesmen guilds (plus a bar or three's worth of stevedores and teamsters) who feel the squeeze of Barzillai's new mandates and taxes.
- Lord-Mayor Bainilus’s Supporters, who wanted a democratic election of the next Lord-Mayor instead of an appointment by the Thrice-Damned House.
- The Anarchists, mostly younger folk who are here in the hopes of a decent riot.
- Finally, scattered liberally through the crowd are small groups of four-five dour-looking men and women with scarred hands, wearing the red armbands of the "Chelish Citizens' Group". These are Barzillai Thrune's supporters, and they alternately try to shout down other groups and stand there in gloomy silence, waiting.
At the doors to the opera house stand a thin line of a dozen dottari and Nox, Barzillai's personal bodyguard.
Though they look nervous, fingering the hilts of their swords and sweating in the early-morning chill, the guards are staying put and no fights have broken out - yet. As for Barzillai himself, he's nowhere to be seen.
Few would likely have noticed as a small gnome walked up to the protest if not for a few key oddities. First and formeost was his moustache, immaculately kept and cared for, waxed to fine points, it stuck almost a half foot to either side of his face. A fine feat for someone only 3 and a half feet tall. The other oddity was the human man following him, looking bedraggled and a bit rushed. Sorry excuse for a protest this is. He thought, Don't even have a chant. Someone ought to do something. I suppose I ought to do something...
With that thought, Lucian Caruso, second in command of the (currently defunct) Kintargo Opera special effects, pulled the human aside. Tobey my boy, you know we're here to see if Shensen shows up. If we find her, maybe we figure out what the Operas doing. We figure out what the Operas doing, I get my job back, and you have your client again. Lucian peered across the crowd, You keep your eyes open, I'm gonna go try to see if I can't make something of this protest. Might as well be a good one. With that, Lucian set off into the crowd to attempt to find some leaders (likely of the Merchants, Partisans, or Bainilus' supporters faction) and attempt to get something worked out between them.
For that, here is a perform roll.
Lucian is a gnome, and therefore by definition short, with black hair and green eyes, as well as large moustache which he takes great pride in (and everyone else knows it). He dresses somewhat fancily, but doesn't overdo things, he's seen enough of that working in the Opera to know when enough is enough.
Lorelei finished the piece of toast before her and shakily walked up the stairs to her room. If this protest is real, then this could be the best chance to get some people to work together on this. It'd be easy enough to find people who agree. Entering her room, she walked over to a mirror and took a deep breath, composing herself, and focusing on stopping her hands from shaking. She looked back at the mirror, she looked pale, paler than normal at least. She looked into her own green eyes. you can do this. You can make a difference. Steeling herself, Lorelei straightened her silver hair, and grabbed the leather armor sitting on the chair next to her. After donning the armor, she put on her duster coat in an attempt to cover the armor, and her wide-brimmed hat to cover her ears, and started out the door. Wait, she thought, That protest is a good place to find like minded citizens, but there's probably going to be those bastard guards too... Lorelei turned around and grabbed her musket and accessories. Just in case, better safe than sorry
Walking out into the street, Lorelei passed by some of the locals that she had helped in the past week, and decided to try to get them to join her on the way to the protest.
"Elric, Janice, are you two going to the protest? No? Aren't you tired of the damned CCG smashing up your pottery? And what about you, Durst? When that guard shredded your portrait of the castle for not paying the 'luxury tax' for the 'privilege of making the luxuries'? Nothing is going to change unless you stand up for yourselves. There's already a bunch of people doing just that at the opera house Come with me, and let's be our own heroes!"
With that, Lorelei turns and walks toward the opera house without looking back, but desperately hoping that the locals are following.
Kieran arrived slightly after most of the protestors, having somewhat struggled to hide his weapons using his cloak. It had looked fine for him when he let, but he could never be sure.This may be a trap, after all.He worried.What if that note was just an attempt to draw me out with any other dissenters?
Other than the weapon bulges under his grey cloak, it would be difficult to pick Kieran out from the crowd. His complexion was close enough to a native Chelaxian that he could easily be mistaken for a native. His brown beard was slightly unkempt, and his hood was pulled over his head to cover him from the last bits of rain. His clothing under his leather armor is sturdy and warm, which helped to keep out the early chill.
Kieran skirts the edge of the crowd, unsure of how to proceed. He had known there were going to be people here, he just had no idea how many were already angry at House Thrune. How in Erastil's name am I supposed to spot a single black glove in these crowds? Kieran frowns. I'm already pretty bad at spotting stuff like this... Maybe I should have ask Lorelei to come along with me. That is, if the contact would even had met me with another person tagging along. With a shrug, he begins to move between the people, keeping an eye out for the black gloved man.
Tobias peered owlishly from under his cloak. With a complexion that suggested years of indoor study, or perhaps some gnomish ancestry, he looked completely out of place among the protesting crowd. Christ., he thought, This week has been rubbish. At least the protest hasn't gotten too rowdy yet... Though it looks like Uncle Luc might change that. Alright Uncle. Ill keep an eye out. Try not to anger the guards too quickly. We want to still be here when Thrune arrives.
With Lucian already walking off to cause trouble, Tobais makes do with slowly following, while keeping an eye on the groups around him. When he does approach the group that Lucian is already in the middle of, he stays at the edge, having little interest in attracting the attention of the guards.
Tobias, coming in at five foot three, is extremely short for a human, and is towered over by most of the crowd. He is dressed in simple robes and a cloak, although both appear to be singed and stained. Were his profession not already obvious, the bulges beneath his cloak would give away the presence of an alchemist's crafting kit, one he has used several times in the past to create curing tinctures.
After approximately... 25 minutes, Lucian gives up looking for people in charge. Apparently no ones in charge of this shit show. Of cooourse the important people couldn't be bothered to save their misbegotten stupid... I guess that means its my turn then. Good protest needs a chant... what the hell rhymes with Barzalai... Within a few minutes 4 people simultaneously start chanting "Don't let him terrify, down with Barzalai! We want our city soon, down with Thrune!" This starts as 3 fairly average looking people appear in back of the crowd and slowly push their way forward into the center, the chant infectious.
Celik is a somewhat plain looking man. He'd short dark hair and dull bluish eyes. He'd a beard that went around his mouth, kept somewhat short but clearly not trimmed in the last day or two. The only really notable feature about him was the small vertical scar on the right side of his chin, just below the edge of his lip. Even his clothes were baggy and plain looking.
Celik for the most part stayed buried within the crowd of people, as he was swept up with his peers into coming here. He wasn't looking to start anything serious, but it was those around him he was concerned for. As a former guardsmen he'd some apprehensions about this gathering of disgruntled people. Especially so considering the recent changes with the discipline the guards had been taking against those even remotely out of line with the recent intrusion from House Thrune in the local government. As it stands, the guards are probably looking for a reason to hit someone with a crowd this big... He looked down at the weapon at his waist. It was probably a good idea to have brought this with me in case something happens. The way things were going it was likely to be the citizens to strike first. He was to remain vigilant in case he needed to intervene before conflict got too out of hand.
-Followup- Celik scanned the area in great detail, keeping note of anyone reaching for a weapon or darting their eyes around, as if paranoid they might be noticed. Regardless, it wasn't hard for him to notice a chant spreading through a section of the crowd. Lo and behold, standing in the toward the front of the chanting people was a familiar gnome. Lucian, his drinking buddy when he was off duty while still a guardsman. Oh hell, Lucian what are you doing? Slowly he pushed through the crowd toward where Lucian was. If nothing else than to get within earshot of his friend and get him to stop. This is exactly the sort of thing that would cause a fight if left unchecked.
The protest is in full-swing now, crowds of chanting citizens waving signs and elbowing their way to the front of the pack only to be sent scurrying back by the merciless gaze of Nox and her men. The sun is high in the sky now, and the opera house square is sweltering.
The morning chill Kieran felt earlier is gone, the press of bodies rapidly heating him up. He pulls off his hood and looks around, hoping that it might somehow improve his chances of finding his contact. As he gets jostled again, he starts to get a bit agitated himself. Really. A glove. A damned glove on one hand. In this crowd? The contact wanted to be subtle, but this may be too much. Deadeye damn the man who came up with that- Kieran stops himself there, trying to ignore the jostling and remember the woods around the temple to calm himself.
After a few seconds, he straightens up, and begins to look once again, reminding himself that this may be his only chance to find out what happened to his fellow Andorians and free this city from Thrune.
He notices a chant starting up across the crowd, on the other side of the square. Well, no one that wanted to stealthily meet would be there. He thought. Unless, he knows someone else is onto him, and wants to throw them off by going where no sane dissenter would be spotted? Or maybe he knows that his tail knows that he would attempt that, and so would avoid the chanting protestors? His head began spinning. This isn't helping, and the chanting is the only new thing that has happened in an hour. He begins to make his way over towards the chanting, keeping a careful eye for the one-gloved man. At least the chant is catchy.
Tobias continues to watch the crowds, growing concerned at the mounting tension.
Tobias, deciding to share what he saw with Lucian, starts picking his way through the crowd in an attempt to meet up.
As Lorelei approached the opera house, the sound of discontented shouting grew louder and louder. There are a lot of people showing up to this...this protest could be positive, or it could get bloody
As she rounded the corner just before the square, Lorelei stole a quick backward glance, to see if the others had followed. They were there. Oh thank Erastil, I'm not going to be alone here.
With a newfound courage, Lorelei rounds the street corner, and gets her first view of the protest. It was chaos. With no real leadership, it seemed as though the crowd was broken into factions, all shouting their grievances, but because they weren't unified, nobody could be heard over the others. We'll have to do something about that.
Scanning over the crowd, Lorelei could see that not only were the groups shouting different grievances, but they were even dressed up differently, and remaining segregated. Well, If they don't want to work together, we'll make them With that, Lorelei turned around to her own followers and laid out the plan. "Here's the thing, right now the protest is too broken. We need to get them to work together on something, so we need....that chant, can you hear it? Good. We're going to make everyone use that chant. Durst, you start with the noble looking people over there. Elric and Janice, you get those kids, and I'll take the others."
Lorelei walks over to a group of merchants, and started shouting out the chant, attempting to get them to stop their shouting, and join in on the chant."Don't let him terrify, down with Barzalai! We want our city back, down with Thrune the hack!"
While trying to convince the crowd to unify, Lorelei spotted a frustrated Kieran, standing in the crowd, being pushed and shoved, frantically looking for something. She called out to him: "Kieran! Kieran, over here! What are you doing!?"
Celik hastened his push through the crowd, now convinced that something was amiss. There were enough details to say to him that this protest was perhaps a cover for something else that was planned to happen. Thankfully it wouldn't take too long before finding Lucian within the group of chanting individuals. Lucian! He called to him, trying to speak loudly enough to be audible, but not stand out. When he got Lucian's attention he pulled him away a few steps and knelt down to talk with him more discretely.Lucian have you gone mad? I left the guard because of how snappy they've been getting recently and now you're getting people riled up with a chant? He said urgently, clearly on edge about something. If we dont keep things under control a fight might break break out. He then looks around quickly.
Watch the crowd:
But listen...something's not right here today. There's been some odd folk loitering about and something tells me they're not here for a simple protest... He gestures to one of the few people he'd seen wearing cloaks, who was generally trying to remain shrouded. Ordinary people in a protest wouldn't be standing around in cloaks at this time of year. I've seen enough things while I was on duty to suspect them of misconduct.
Oh, afternoon Celik! No I don't plan making a fight break out, but if we want to get anything done at this stupid thing people have got to be behind something. Chants just work well you know?
Now that you mention it though, those people do look a bit odd. What say we go and give them a little chat? Wouldn't want anything nasty to happen here, not without messing with Thrune a bit first at least.
With that Lucian heads off to the largest grouping of hooded figures, Celik in tow, and begins to speak to them. Hello there sir, or madam, the hood makes it hard to tell. What brings you to this lovely gathering today?
The smell of the unwashed masses of protestors is staggering now; the smell and the heat and the press have things verging on the edge of disaster. Small two- or three-person brawls had broken out, but the violence hasn't spread to the main body of protesters.
The bells in the Cathedral of Asmodeus ring thrice, marking the third minute of the third hour of the protest, and on the third floor of the opera house a window is thrown open. Barzillai Thrune has decided to make an appearance.
His clothes are adorned with both the pentagram of Asmodeus and the cross of Cheliax; in one hand he cradles a diabolical mace and in the other holds a glass of wine. He speaks, and whether by magic or sheer charisma the crowd grows hushed.
He pauses, whetting his lips.
He smiles munificently down at the crowd, which stands in stunned silence.
Lorelei looks down at the street, and spots a rock that would be ideal for throwing right into Thrune's smug face. If you do it just right, you can whip it at his head, and move away before it hits him. She bends down, picking up the rock, and weighs it for a second, eyeing her potential throw. But then, she could have sworn that she and Thrune made eye contact. Lorelei wasn't sure if Barzillai had actually seen her or if he was just looking in her general direction, but in that short span of time, a wave of clarity washed over her, and Lorelei realized just how bad of an idea that was.
She instead begins pushing through the silent crowd, still holding the rock, and making her way over to Kieran. When she finally slides next to him, she asks "Kieran, what exactly is going on? What is he playing at?" She starts pulling on the sleeve of his tunic, trying to get him to snap out of it. "Is he planning on sieging his own city? Starving it into submission? And what the HELL is sasquatching? If it's anything like his 'doghousing', we can't let he do that! I'm not going to let him do that!"
She then gets up on tiptoe, and whispers into his ear. "Listen, we outnumber him and his men. If nobody does anything, I'm going to throw this rock right at him, and maybe it'll get the crowd to do something. I know that it's a bad plan, but it's better than doing nothing!"
From here, in the center of the crowd, Lorelei realizes that here is actually a much better place to throw the rock. Closer to the target, and plenty of taller people to hide behind...as long as they don't turn on me. With that thought, She looks out through the crowd, keeping a mental note of the locations of the guards and CCG, in case she decides to throw the rock at Thrune
"I have no clue what he said, but by the way he's grinning... It's not good." Kieran replies, grimacing. He starts. "When did you get here? Did you follow me?"
Suddenly remembering the one gloved man he had spotted moments before Thrune's announcement, he quickly cranes his neck and looks around, finding him again.
"Nevermind, see that man over there?" He discreetly points to the gloved man. "He may know what happened to my... 'Friends.'"
"No, I wasn't following you!" Lorelei said indignantly, "I was coming here for the protest!" As the crowd starts to move again, she adds. "Is this a part of your 'secret paladin duties'? 'Cause, you know, as per Father Broderick, I'm 'Not allowed to know the unseen duties of the paladins of Erastil' because I'm not one. But..." she glances around, making sure that there still aren't any guards nearby, and whispers "If this gloved man has something to do with helping the citizens free themselves from that bastard, then I need to know what's going on. What exactly you're doing here. It can wait until after you make contact with him, but if you want my help, you need to trust me." she points over to Thrune, still on the balcony, with her head. "Because he isn't going to make this easy. On anyone."
Lorelei begins to slowly make her way to the gloved man, making sure to give the guards and CCG a wide berth. In the midst of this, she looks back and playfully adds "Oh, and Kieran? This guy's been trying to flag you down for quite a while. You never really were good at observation, were you?"
Lucian quickly whispers to Celik, What the hell is squassation?
Thrune! The problem isn't you not being a part of our town, in fact mayhaps you took to our traditions a bit too well! How is the stage treating you these days anyways?
With that Lucian turns to face his assembled crowd, and states, Don't fight him men, its what he wants. Don't stoop to his level, we shall show him just how civilized Kintargans are, and that Egorans for all their percieved civility, can't eat books and devils. If the idiots back there want to fight the guards, so be it. Theres nothing to be gain from being killed here today, Thrune has shown that much.
While slowly shifting through the crowd, Lorelei looks back in the direction of whoever was brave (or foolish) enough to call out Thrune.
She felt a little sheepish as she realized she was looking too high, and shifted her gaze downward to see a well dressed gnome with a fantastic moustache. Quite the eloquent one, isn't he? I wonder if he's a plant for Thrune, trying to quiet down the protest. Then again, maybe he really is just trying to keep a fight from happening...
Well, maybe the Kintargans should show off their civility, but I'm a Belranian. I still think he should get this rock. She thought, as she turned to continue on her way to Kieran's contact, toying with the rock in her hands.
Celik was baffled by the extreme Thrune was going. Ship faring trade is likely to be hurt if the captains can't talk to anyone. What of fishing boats? Would their captains not be able to leave either? If it goes that far he could end up strangling the city. It would only get worse for the people of this city. Father always told me House Thrune was not to be trusted... To him there had to be some sort of explanation for this. Why target ship captains? Other people who were in charge of something. Was Thrune afraid that something was going on behind the trade ships coming in that undermined or threatened his authority? Did it have something to do with these hooded people who'd shown up today?
... Squass-a-what? Starving the city might quiet protests, but it isn't going to earn you any favors. Not that you appear to need them. Hm. This will make gathering reagents a bother as well. Tobias turns to see Lucian's response, only to catch a face full of spittle from the passionate yelling. Ah. Not unexpected.
Unsure of what to do, Tobias decides to scan the crowd, hoping to both identify any trouble and the fastest escape routes should this turn violent. He traces his fingers over his bandoleer under his cloak, hoping he would need nothing contained within.
-a continuation of my previous post, thanks Paizo-
Celik couldn't remember what the punishment Thrune was alluding to entailed, but considering the recent track record of the guard it was unlikely to be anything pleasant to hear about.
He continued to think on all he'd been told until Lucian asked him about the squassation. Truthfully I cannot recall. But if it's his ruling...I get the feeling I would be sorry for anyone who violated that law. Either way, Thrune was either trying to stomp something out without us seeing, or was simply so idiotic that he thought crippling the city would lower hostilities instead of making them more volatile.
If throne speaks more on this matter: Discern hidden goal in making this new law.
As Lucian addresses the crowd, Celik can't decide if Lucian is trying to talk down to Thrune offhandedly or not. Even if he isn't, it was possible for Thrune to take it personally. Were Thrune to be angered, his friend was likely to be made an example of and the people here would be stricken with fear, or anger. Both would be poor morale for the citizens and anger in particular would likely lead to a body count. Even though Lucian was right, he couldn't just let Lucian continue and let himself stand out any more. Lucian that's enough. Please, for your own sake please stop talking. He pleaded, trying to prevent any further damage from being done. He turned to Throne himself and stepped forward. Milord. he called out. As a concerned citizen, may you elaborate on why such an action is being taken? It sounds as if the incoming ships are being antagonized and I do not understand why. I do not believe you to be unreasonable. If this is your decision I do believe you to have a justified reason for making it. I merely wish know more about the cause for change in our city. Celik hated the idea of kissing up to this man, but being cooperative might prevent more problems. If nothing else, it might help in understanding just what Thrune was after.
There's a half-second of stunned silence, enough for Lucian to get halfway through his sentence and for Lorelei to turn and notice the one-gloved man, before the crowd erupts. Everyone starts shouting at once, a riotous cacophony of undirected noise that hurts the ears. From the front, some fool takes a handful of fertilizer from under a bush and hurls it at Barzillai. He's young, he has a good arm and, though it splats against the window-pane it makes the Lord-Mayor flinch and spill his wine all over himself. His smug smile disappears, replaced with apoplectic fury.
he shrieks, his voice definitely amplified with magic. He slams the windows closed as a barrage of thrown stones crack them.
Below, Nox and the dottari draw their weapons. Throughout the crowd, the men and women in cloaks tear them off to reveal leather brigandines, heavy truncheons, and the red armbands of the Chellish Citizen's Group. The four in front of you grin sadistically as they draw their weapons.
Kieran immediately shrugs his cloak back, pulling his composite longbow out from under it's folds and pulls a blunt arrow from his quiver, nocking it. He takes a quick breath in and draws the bow, making sure not to pull back too far, he doesn't want to kill anyone in the crowd between him and the CCG members.
Holding his breath, he releases the shot at the CCG member farthest from the immaculately mustached gnome, hoping not to hurt one of the few who would dare speak out so boldly against Thrune.
Lorelei backed up through the chaotic mass of civilians, trying to gain some distance between herself and the CCG and shouldered her musket, ready to defend herself from Thrune's goons. If they have orders to kill, I'm not going to let them!
I then ready an action to fire if an enemy comes within 10 feet of me, or if they attack anyone else.
Midway through the beginning of what Lucian hopes is going to be a rousing motivational speech, all hell breaks loose, to which Lucian has one thought, [i]Oh thank the gods! I was about to stand up to Thrune! I could have died! My family could have died! What was I thinking!?[/b]
With that he comes back to his senses, realizing that perhaps he should do something about the Thrune supporters currently threatening him with cudgels.
Celik! Deal with the ones around us, try to clear out some space! With that he turns to the followers around him, You all, help Celik, listen to his commands, he's trained. Keep an area clear around use and try to fight outward!
Finally he turns back to Celik and says If at the end of this I'm looking a bit concentrated and not moving much, just pick me up and run. I'll be fine, I'll probably just be busy, don't worry.
So, talking done, Lucian telekinetically throws his dagger at the nearest Chelaxian bastard, then moves a safe distance away from the Chelaxians, about the 20 feet he can move if at all possible. Otherwise he just moves near his crowd of people, and Celik.
Taking even a quick glance it was obvious that things were going to be quite crazy. Without a proper window to run, innocent people were bound to be hurt. I'm sorry my friend, but I must ensure that I can let as many people escape safely as I can. I will not simply run just yet.
He and Lucian withdraw. Lucian takes about 20feet and Celik takes 10 whilst drawing his scimitar. Celik turns the weapon in hand (now fighting nonlethal until noted) and attempts to address anyone who was armed, most likely just the Chellish Citizen's Group though. Anyone with a shield fall to me and form a defensive line! Let the citizens escape here first! Avoid drawing blood if you can I don't wish for any casualties!
Assuming anyone listens, Celik will ready an action to cast Mandate of Resolve on a friendly NPC. If this happens, anyone that person and I attack successful will grant the other a +4AC, CMD and bonus to saves against that same person. During the cast he will speak clearly in incantation and lightly glow silver.
The initial moments of the riot are utter chaos - half the crowd is just trying to get away, the other half wants to fight and no-one knows who's on who's side save the Chelish Citizen's Group and their guard allies. Men and women go under and are trampled in the stampede - Celik's cry goes unanswered. Shoving, panicked people throw off Kieran and Lorelei's aim - not so bad for Kieran, but Lorelei's stray musket shot provokes a scream and a welter of blood from some hapless woman behind the thugs. Their leader makes a grab at Lucian as Lucian ducks between the legs of his supporters (most of whom are running) but misses; he and his cronies settle for advancing on the only armed people in the immediate vicinity. Two advance on Kieran, laying into the crowd with their truncheons as they go; the other two close on Celik with wide grins. They raise their weapons high and bring them down with sadistic force, but little skill - they miss, or hit armor. It's clear, though, that they're trying to hurt, not kill.
At the front of the crowd, a lucky anarchist breaks through the dottari cordon and buries a dagger in Nox's throat... only for Nox to tear the dagger out in a spray of blood and return it, with interest. Staggering, but recovering quickly, she limps inside the opera house.
Seeing what she had done, Lorelei lowers her musket, gasping out "Gods! No!"
Tears start streaming down her face as she looks closer, seeing just how badly the woman was hit, and began looking for a route to get to the woman around the guards. After a few precious moments, and realizing that it would be impossible for her to force her way through the crowd of people trying to flee, and then through the guards to get to this woman, she decided that she would have to get creative, using her slim frame to her advantage.
Then I am going to use acrobatics again to prevent attacks of opportunity against me as I run through their threatened area.
Finally I am going to use my standard action to provide first aid to the wounded civilian.
If I can't use acrobatics to ignore difficult terrain, then I'm just going to double move, using the acrobatics to ignore attacks of opportunity
Well thank the gods most of them are trying to leave, no sense getting arrested here... Also, damn it Celik, no casualties? They're Thrune supporters! I have got to start carrying around some sand or something to beat people with... Maybe just a brick... No no, just a bag of sand or something, Celik would get pissy. Plus Tobey might get antsy, squeamish little kid...
Lucian, remembering that perhaps he has more important things to do, shakes his head, and moves back to the task at hand. With a small wave of his hand Barzalai's voice, still livid with rage, booms out of the opera house from a window above the square. Some of you idiots get in here! You let the peasants break in the back! If you don't fix it I'll let you learn first hand what squassation is!
Celik strikes back in self defense with the blunt side of his sword against the first guard whom attacked him. If the guards were not trying to kill he saw now reason to fight serious either. He was nothing more at this point than a distraction for the guard to try and fight against while the other civilians retreated to their homes. It was better him to take a blow, lightly armored and used to small fights than helpless protestors.
Hearing Barzalai's voice booming from the opera house however came as a shock. He hoped dearly that the people going inside were not the average person, but at least the people's group. He could not help them, both with the threat in front of him, and the fact there was still far too many people out here to chase after a few careless individuals, though it plagued to simply abandon them.
Kieran quickly shakes his head, chastising himself for the miss. He hears Lorelei cry out, and glances over at her. She doesn't appear hurt, and Kieran realizes he doesn't have time to make sure she isn't.
Two guardsmen have closed in on him. Realizing that there is no holding back now, he quickly draws his bow back to full strength, and releases an arrow into one of the guards, his hands flying, he immediately draws another arrow fires again at the same guard.
Tobias froze, attempting to parse the sudden violent turn. He noted Lucian and Celic's attempt to rouse the crowd to their aid, but could think of no useful actions to take.
At least Nox is gone. I shudder to think of what horror she could release on this crowd.
Realizing how little he could do to influence this fight, Tobias yells Lucian! Celic! We need to go! And begins running toward the exit, staying out of reach of the guards wherever possible.
The crowd has started to thin, now - the press of people is getting lighter. Part of that is the clear avenue of escape to the west; the dottari stationed there have run inside to help 'Barzilai'. The Chelish Citizen's Group, though, aren't here to do anything but bust heads.
Lorelei reaches the woman, from her dress a cleric-in-training of Abadar, to find she's been shot high in the arm. It's not a bad wound, but she's panicking and while she was lying down she took a few kicks from the crowd. You'll need to calm her down before you can treat her effectively, if you plan on treating her at all.
Elsewhere, the thugs continue their assault. The grins on their faces and their glancing eyes say that they're excited, but surprised that you all are holding out. Celik's scimitar raps one thug solidly on the side of the head; he sways but rallies and he and his friend step to the side before lashing out again. Again, though, Celik's armor spares him any pain. Kieran pulls back the bowstring, but his dancing partners take advantage of his hands' occupation to go for his legs. A solid grab-and-shove sends Kieran sprawling; the thugs stand over him and bring their clubs down. On the ground, he can't avoid them.
To the east, Tobais flees alongside the remnants of what looks like the Cobbler's Guild. It'll be another few seconds before he's free of the crowd, though.
Lorelei kneels down, looking at the wound. Thank the gods, she just got grazed. She made eye contact with the woman, and she is filled with shame. She knew the dangers of her weapon, having used it to kill animals before, but here was an innocent woman that she just shot. She could have killed this person, someone that she was trying to help. I can't miss like that again.
She sees the fear in cleric-in-training's eyes, and realizes why she's so afraid. She doesn't know what hit her. For all she knows, she's just been hit by a spell or something. I should try to calm her down. "Hey there, what's your name? Listen, I know that it hurts, but it's going to be OK. You barely got grazed, it's not that bad of a wound. You've probably nicked yourself worse than this! You don't have to worry about anything. Here, let me help you with that."
Lorelei glances to her bag, thinking about what she could use as a makeshift bandage, when she notices Kieran on the ground, with the CCG beating him. Whipping around to face the CCG, she screams out "You bastards! Get off of him!" while loading an alchemical cartridge. When she finishes, she shoulders the musket, taking more careful aim this time, and fires at one of Kieran's assailants.
Bluff :
Move: Load alchemical cartridge
Standard:
Ah shit. Kieran spits out some grit from the cobblestone. He jumps to his feet, leaving his bow on the ground and pulling out his greataxe from under his cloak.
Filled with fury from the indignation he'd suffered, A paladin of Erastil knocked down by a villainous thug? DISGRACEFUL! he shouts
HIT A MAN WHILE HE'S LYING DOWN, WILL YA?! while he brings his axe down towards the thug who'd hit him.
While hard to see, given his height, Lucian watches as the woman in the crowd pulls out and fires a musket (A gun? Why did she bring a gun into the city? Gods shes going to kill someone!), and simultaneously someone who appears to be her friend jumps up and pulls out an axe. He's going to kill someone too!
Celik! Those people, over there, help them before they kill somebody! With that Lucian, with a twirl of his fingers, summons an illusionary man behind one of the Chelaxians hitting Kieran. Said illusionary man looks at the Chelaxian and taps him on the shoulder, Look now, that just isn't very friendly. He then attempts to "punch" the Chelaxian.
If allowed the bluff roll is here.
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Tobias stops, realizing that neither Lucian nor Celik are following.
Damn it, this fight is pointless. We should just leave. After hearing Lucian's cry, he pulls out his sling. Of course were going to help the idiot with bombs and the crazy dude with the axe. What was that alchemist thinking, setting off explosions in this crowd? Taking a last look around to make sure no guards or civilians are too close, he begins to load his sling.
As the thugs attacking Celik move, he sees a chance to strike at one of the moving men. He takes his chance and swings his scimitar.
The scrap continues although Celik was now surrounded. It was not an advantageous position, but there was little he could do without backup, or simply retreating which he refused to do. If I can knock one out this should go in my favor. He thought, once again swinging the blunt side of his weapon at the thug he'd already managed to hit once.
It was then that he heard Lucian's call. Indeed there was a man being brutally assaulted by another pair of thugs. He looked injured, but armed at the very least. Considering what he'd done so far, the two by him were likely to chase him down. He made his decision and tarted away from the two guards to then aid Kieran. Leave that man alone at once! He shouted at them, pushing his way through the crowd as he could.
Celick moves 10 ft (half speed) though the rough terrain that is the fleeing people toward Kieran.
The crack of Lorelei's musket turns heads all through the crowd; her shot takes the thug in the gut and he sags, screaming. He stumbles into the crowd and is gone. From the corner of his eye, the thug's partner sees a gaunt, smiling man dressed in jester's motley reaching for him. The thug lashes out, but his baton connects only with air and he nearly overbalances as, chuckling, the jester fades away. He turns back only to see Kieran's axe whistle past less than an inch from his nose.
Celik's blows rebound from sturdy leather, and as he tries to step away from the thugs they lash out with their iron-capped rods. After their friend's injury, the remaining two thugs are stern-faced and striking to kill - blows rain down on Celik but none make it past his shield and he makes it to Kieran's side.
From the left, all of you can hear the guttural shouts of a pair of dottari beating their way through the crowd towards you. The remaining Chelish Citizen's Group thugs, emboldened, close on Celik and Kieran and hammer them with their maces to no effect.
Lorelei takes a breath to look around and survey the area. OK, more guards coming, everyone is still running away, except for us and those two other guys. It's time to get out of here!
Weaving through the remaining crowd towards the edge of the square, she glances toward her friend and shouts out "Kieran! We need to get out of here! NOW! Come on, just run! You too, guy!" She yells, looking toward Celik, "Run!"
With a glance, it was easy to tell that the vast majority of people had escaped. That woman might be right. I've done what I can. It's time to get out of here. Celik turned away and readied himself to sprint.
He shouted to Lucian. My friend I'll find you later, get to safety! With word sent Celik started to run, attempting to leave the square before anything worse happens. Follow me! I have a place we can go He instructs Kieran and Lorelei as he flees.
Bugger. With that phrase Lucian decides that perhaps they've done enough to help people get out, and that maybe, just maybe, running would be the better part of valor here. He hightails it after Celik, looking to motion for Tobias on the way.
Thankful he hadn't actually gotten a shot off, Tobias stows the sling and makes after Lucian, muttering about how he was right the whole while.
Kieran heard Lorelei's call, and shook himself. Let myself get too angry there. He thought. Quickly bending to grab his bow, he tries to duck away from the CCG members and runs beside the man who had come to defend him. This may be a trap, but I have no better options.
He quickly glanced around, hoping to possibly spot his contact before he left, then realized just how unlikely that was. Damnnit, there went my only chance.
The thugs don't make more than a desultory swipe or two at you all as you flee; there are easier targets out there and people running away is what they want. Similarly, the dottari make no effort to stop the streaming crowd. Should any of you turn to look back before the streets swallow you, the square is now nearly-empty save a few diehard fighters. The wrecks of overturned merchant's carts cover blood-slicked cobbles; behind the largest pack of resistors you hear the howl of a hound and see an stream of fire shoot ten feet into the air.
As you run, you're forced by the stampeding crowd to take twists and turns uncounted, until you finally pull yourselves free and step into an alleyway. Farther down the alley and around a corner, you hear the sounds of steel clashing against steel and a cry of pain.
Sliding into the alleyway, Lorelei peeks her head out and glances up and down the main road, looking for guardsmen or Thrune supporters, and after not seeing any, she pants out: "huff huff, I think we lost them. We should be safe for now." She walks over to Kieran, and starts inspecting him for any obvious wounds. "Hey, are you alright? From where I was, it looked like those people were giving you one heck of a beating..." After a quick once-over, she let out a little sigh of relief; it looked like he didn't suffer any real damage
Then she heard the noise. Just a little further down the alley, someone else was getting beaten. "Now what's happening?" Lorelei slides past the three other strangers, giving a quick nod of thanks for their assistance, and tiptoes her way over to the corner of their alley. She presses her back against the wall and reloads her musket. When she finishes that task, she peeks over the corner to get a bead on what's happening.