Penelope thinks she heard that one before. Soldiers love songs. Usually about other things than war, almost wholly about sex in truth, but still the tune sounds familiar. Then she winces as Muziel sings, nearly chokes on her ale as well. It's okay, Master Gnome, not everyone is gifted with a silver tongue like our Gluttony here. Me, never could master it either. Though my mother tried.
Penelope spends most of her time watching the other people in the bar, seeing a face or two she recognizes. Never been in the inn, never allowed, not like these "Nice" folks. Someday, she whispers to herself, holding back the bloodlust she wants to shove in their faces... someday.
|
Amanda sits quietly in the location, drinking a mug of mead she's ordered from the bar. To spark up a conversation she speaks to Penelope and says,
"So Penelope, tell me a bit about yourself? I noticed your features are rather pale and you tend to look a bit uneasy and squint a bit in the sunlight. You aren't quite human are you not? I noticed a similar affliction in Kolaiah as well. You two have something it common it seems."
"Hellfire greed! Keep your obnoxious squeaking to yourself. That sounded like the mating call of an owlbear. Stick to petty theft, I will handle the arts." Nikolai berates Muziel after hearing his offensive voice.
Nodding to Amanda, Nikolai remarks.
"Envy and lust do look very pale. Perhaps some blush would do, no matter though in this backwater you could both be mistaken for royal courtesans."
Nikolai leaves his drink on the table, but eats his pie. "Well that is enough of that for me. It was good to gauge the competition, or whatever you would call this. I shall report tomorrow to our employer, my valet has secured a carriage and I am excited to finally be free of all this walking about like peasants. Good evening to you all my odd companions. 'Parting is such sweet...' sweetness. " He smiles at his own joke a little wickedly.
Kolaiah quietly endures the evening of revelry, and unless queried directly makes no responses.
The war song seems to be a much better choice for this crowd, many of which are retired veterans. Nikolai is good enough at keeping it going that Muziel's attempts to sing along are mostly overlooked. Riley Kels looks like he's starting to worry about losing the crowd, and is visibly relieved to go back to business as usual when Nikolai leaves for the evening.
"I had gone upstairs once, maybe, just kind of checking the place out," Cimri answers Muziel. "It felt weird up there, so I had been avoiding the upper floor. I was starting to feel like the place might actually be haunted like people say. I don't know if anyone knew I was staying there, but Razelago wasn't just sitting in that room coincidentally. He had that screen of his all set up, and welcomed me in by name as though he was expecting me. Sometimes I think it's kind of creepy how much he knows about Longacre and what goes on here, but I really like money and so I haven't asked a lot of questions."
Penelope smiled, her sharp elongated canines showing clear, thinking for a second, then she shrugs. The rogue probably knows more than she lets on anyway I'm something I agree. What exactly, our other friend there might be able to tell. My mother was human at least. she offers.
"Yep, it's hard to beat the money!" agrees Muziel cheerfully. He hopes one day to have enough to restart his past experiments on developing constructs, this time without more halfling interference.
"Alright, I've had my fill," says Muziel, satisfied with the evening's entertainment. "Wanna get outta here?" The gnome is ready to go "home."
Nikolai has festus drive the carriage in the morning to the Ash House where he arrives in style and greets his friends."Good morning my fabulous friends. Now what bit of villainy has our employer concocted for us today? I hear a bit of blood pumping is good for a hangover."
"Spreading catastrophe is hardly 'villainy,' it is the work of the gods, as long as you follow the proper god."
"Spreading catastrophe? Sounds a bit too chaotic for me, I like to set things in the right order. With me on top of course. After that little display at the church it is quite apparent the rabble in this little burg needs to be reminded of where they are in the order. The law of Asmodeus will rule here again, very soon." Nikolai says with a bit of gleefulness.
|
|
Amanda Malburne smirks to Nikolai and says, "There is a fine line between Villainy and Practicality. Sometimes little disruption here and there is needed for progress to be made, for the proper authorities to get off their behinds and tighten the iron grip and crush all resistance between the boot of law. Surely those Imeodeans will start an armed insurrection and when that happens, let us hope the iron might of hell can crush their efforts underfoot before these lands end up as another Andoran."
"And yet, sowing dissent and chaos among their ranks beforehand can achieve similar goals with much less work."
"Me, I think you guys are too focused on politics," Cimri shrugs, running a brush quickly through her hair before heading upstairs with the lot of you. "I'm not in this for your counter-revolution, just for the cash. If them spreading treason brings me more work, that's fine by me."
Upstairs, Razelago's office is much the same as it has been the other times you've met interacted with him. On the desk this time is a small stack of papers. The shadow of a man leans out from the shadow of the chair.
"The task I have for you today isn't much more than an errand, I'm afraid. Under normal circumstances I'd say it was well below your skill, but I have a feeling that the townsfolk will not be very... appreciative of your efforts today. I met with the Archbaron last night." One of the silhouetted hands gestures toward the desk with the papers. "He has issued several decrees that he would like posted across town to inform the citizenry." The shadowed hands move into a clasped position. "Post these decrees at the notice post in the church square, the jail, the Last Stand tavern, and the castle gate. While you're at the jail, stop by the sheriff's office. The Archbaron has a second decree for you to deliver." The shadow turns its head in Cimri's direction. "One that dismisses Rhona Staelish as sheriff of Longacre.
"You have until noon today. Perform as reliably as I have come to expect from you, and I will pay you the same as for the first task. If this assignment goes smoothly, the Archbaron would like to meet with you. It sounds as though he might soon have some civil positions to fill."
Cimri picks up and fidgets with the notice of dismissal for her aunt. The other four papers are identical, and read as follows:
All Citizens and Visitors to the Town of Longacre:
By order of His Lordship Darellus Fex, Archbaron of Longacre, and in accordance with the wishes of Her Infernal Majestrix, Queen Abrogail II of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune, the following decrees are now in effect:
Longacre's western gate, known as the castle gate, is closed until further notice. All travel into and out of longacre must employ the north or south gates and be officially sanctioned. Only the Archbaron's agents, sanctioned local businesses, or those displaying a writ of passage bearing the seal of House Fex will be granted passage. All others must obtain a writ from the Longacre notary or do business elsewhere.
Longacre citizens shall not congregate in groups numbering greater than six in private, or in numbers greater than twelve in public. Exceptions will be made only for for families with more than six members or for individuals undertaking the natural course of their business. Gatherings for the purposes of celebration, education or religion are not exempted from this order.
A curfew is now in effect. From the hour after dusk to the hour before dawn, no citizen of Longacre is allowed upon the town's streets without a writ of exception bearing the seal of House Fex. The Archbaron's agents and sanctioned local businesses are exempt from this order. Those seeking a writ of exemption may apply at the Longacre Notary.
Any persons found in violation of these mandates, or any other laws and sanctions of Longacre, will be considered seditious agents and are subject to questioning, imprisonment, and summary judgment by the Archbaron of Longacre and officials of the town government.
For the prosperity of Longacre, the protection of the Empire, and the glory of House Thrune,
- Darellus Fex, Archbaron of Longacre
When he's upstairs, Muziel looks around the room. At one point, his gaze appears to land on the familiar/creature that's in the room.
"The archbaron wants to meet with us? Hm, does that mean we get to go to his manor? Or is he coming here? And if he's coming here, does that mean we finally get to meet you?" Muziel seems to grin widely as he says this.
|
|
Amanda Malburne sneears a bit at such a simple task of putting up bulletins and says in response "Posting missives around the city? This seems like a waste of our talents. Still if that is what the Archbaron demands then this menial task will be done. The Sheriff on the other hand might take the dismissal rather badly if we are not delicate in its delivery. I know little of Rhona Staelish and I do not know if she is the type to shoot the messenger who brings bad news. It will be my pleasure to meet the archbaron though once these tasks are done to his satisfaction."
"Those seem well written and well thought out. Let us not dawdle, the sooner we start, the sooner the citizenry can become enraged."
Agreed. Probably should stick together too, if the populous gets out of hand, or the sheriff gets wind early.
"Hmm a simple errand, seems easy enough. Perhaps I can do some shopping while I am out. Oh and I can spread the word about my performances at the Arch and Lark " Nikolai pokes his head outside and yells to his valet "Festus bring the carriage around, then grab my mirror from my bag I want to look my best."
Nikolai looks at himself in the mirror, but addresses Cimri "So your aunt is getting discharged. Does that mean promotion for you, or do you like sneaking about in rags too much?"
Ismene places a hand on Cimri's shoulder. "If you want, I can deliver that one. But if you're up to doing it yourself, you know I'm here for you." Cimri and her aunt may not have the best relationship, but Ismene knew her friend well enough to understand that things were complicated. This was a more delicate situation than it appeared.
"What order should we post these?"
|
|
Amanda says to the group, "Well we have a few options, each has their own merits but also dangers. We could split up and each of us deliver one poster at a time. This would allow expedient delivery but would also mean that if we get into trouble we won't have support. We could deliver them as a group but then we will be seen as working together and an easier target for upstart citizens and rebels in the future. There is also the method of doing so that matters. We could merely put the posters up in plain sight and deal with what problems that may arise, or we could covertly sneak up and put the posters up thus leaving those seeing them unable to know who was involved with the delivery thus sowing confusion among them. As for the Sheriff I believe that this should be left for last and we all should handle that delivery together in case the Sheriff does not take her retirement in stride so to speak."
"I expect that a meeting with the Archbaron would take place at his manor, Scarlet Crown," says Razelago in response to Muziel. "I will likely be there as well, but don't get ahead of yourself. There's still this job to do, first." The shadowed head shifts towards Amanda. "If the soon-to-be ex-sheriff puts up a fuss, I'm you're you can handle yourselves. I eagerly await your return." The shadow once again disappears into the that of the chair.
Cimri gives Nikolai a confused look. "Wait, is sheriff an inherited position?" She scratches her head. "I didn't know that. Maybe it does mean a promotion for me, then. That'd be kind of cool." She chuckles and pats Ismene's hand on her shoulder. "Thanks for the offer, Is. It's a weird situation to be in, but I want to be there to see the look on her face, especially if she has to hand the reins over to me. I imagine she'd have a cow. If it's alright with the rest of you, I'd prefer to do that one last, though. Give me some time to work myself up for it, you know? I guess the most efficient route would be to hit the castle gate first, then make a loop around town hitting the Last Stand and the church square before returning to the jail. There're a lot of us, so I think we'd probably be find splitting into two groups, but if that sermon yesterday was any indication that the people are starting to get riled up, then I wouldn't fancy splitting up any more than that."
Meanwhile the sound of Nikolai's carriage is heard pulling up to the front porch of the Ash House. Festus gets down to open the door, defentially, for Nikolai.
"My dear, know you nothing about politics? If I were you I would be courting the Archbaron for the position. It is an appointed position, who do you think appoints? How is your aunt the sheriff and you are so ignorant about these things? Stick with me girl I will teach you a lot. Personally, I just hope I can convince the Archbaron to attend my performance at the Arch and Lark. Wouldn't that be spectacular. OH! That's what I will do!" Nikolai is struck with an epiphany and calls Festus.
"Festus, once you drop us off tonight at the Archbaron's when we have completed these simple errands, report to the Arch and Lark and tell her I am going to negotiate for the Archbaron to attend my first performance. It will be a glorious way to kick things off." Nikolai looks over the carriage. Points out any minor things that need to be adjusted to accommodate his comrades.
"Now everyone, mind the interior this is a brand new carriage. Might I suggest the rest of you obtain some sort of transportation for the next mission, we don't want to look like a circus as we travel about town. "
Ismene gives a low whistle as she settles into her seat next to Cimri. "Nice digs, fancypants. Even the priest doesn't travel this well! Maybe that will change if we can nip this Glorious Reclamation thing in the bud. I always thought it was weird that there were so many Iomedaens in Longacre but so few Asmodeans." Reading over one of the notices again, Ismene frowns. "We're going to get writs of exception for all this, right? Being loyal servants of the Archbaron and all."
"It was my natural assumption that we would, to be sure."
"Woah, this is fabulous!" cries Muziel as he beholds the carriage. "I'm taking the top!" Muziel immediately clambers aboard the cargo area on the roof of the carriage, where he'll have the best view . . . which indeed makes it look a lot more like a circus carriage.
If there is a footman's footboard in the back, Penelope will hang on back there.
"I've been more worried about staying away from my aunt rather than learning the particulars of her job," says Cimri, face flushed red with embarrassment. "If its appointed, I'm not sure if I want to be the sheriff anyway. I'm trying to earn enough cash to put Longacre behind me once and for all. I don't know that I wanna go putting down roots here, if I can help it. Maybe you'd be good at it, since you know so much about it."
"As you wish, sir," acknowledges Festus as he takes the reigns. "If I had known the size and disposition of your entourage I could have attempted to find a more accommodating vehicle." There's a hint of condescending annoyance in his tone, though directed at the others rather than at his employer.
Longacre's west gate, known more commonly as the Castle Gate, looks almost as if some great giant had picked up the stone gate from some rugged frontier fort and dropped it across the road leading into town. A set of wooden doors stand open in the fortified stone.
An elderly woman watches the carriage approach from a chair under an awning set up on top of the gate. She waves in a friendly manner, and seems surprised when the carriage comes to a stop.
"Everything alright, down there?" she calls down.
Penelope recognized the two, and relates all she knows to the others. One of Dent's mates spent too much time at the brothel.
Kolaiah dismounts the conveyance and looks up at the woman. He smiles and waves. "Indeed, all is quite well. Bo isn't it? We are just here to handle a brief bit of business, and then we shall be on our way. This is certainly nothing to worry yourself over."
+2 vs outsiders, +1 vs members of Chelish aristocracy
"Business? At the gate? Hang on a minute, I'll be right there." She gets up from her chair and appears to start descending down a ladder into the stone structure. A few moments later she exits from the built-in guard-house portion.
"Now we can talk like reg'lar folks, without all that shouting. I don't recall anybody having business at the gate other'n coming an' going. What's this business?" She sounds curious and confused, but Kolaiah seems to have fended off any actual worry.
Kolaiah continues to be as affable as possible, "Pretty routine stuff really. We are to post these edicts, so that the law abiding citizenry can be apprised and thus be enabled to stay on the right side of the law." He shows her the decrees.
"Me a sheriff? Please, I am a performer. Though there are some in our party likely suited for such a task. I believe our pale friends or Amanda would fit the bill" Nikolai responds to Cimri
Nikolai steps down before his fellow circus members scare off the poor woman. "Allow me to introduce myself Madam Gramel. I am Lord Sarini of Egorian. I have been sent here with my comrades to place an important message on the gate. The archbaron speaks highly of you and your husband and told me to trust no one else with this matter. There have been miscreants and ruffians rummaging about and measures need to be taken to ensure the safety of the city. Also, I personally want to invite you and your husband to listen to my humble performance at the Arch and Lark. You will be my personally honored guests. Tomorrow evening I plan on making my debut, I shall send my valet with the particulars if you agree."
Bo seem intrigued by Nikolai's words and his offer, but as she starts to read through the decrees that Kolaiah is showing her, she becomes more and more agitated. By the time she's finished reading, she's positively irate.
"This is outrageous," she fumes. "Completely unacceptable. Curfews? Limits to how many people a person can have in their own home? And were the hell does he get off closing this gate? We've kept this town safe and this gate open, except for nights and holidays, for all the eighteen years that Dent and I have minded it! It's a more vital part of this town than Fex is, and no cow-pile Archbaron or his trumped-up dung-berries are gonna make us close it when it ought to be open."
The shouting brings Dent out from their house, just next door to the gate, to see what all the fuss is about. Bo tells him about the decrees, calling both the group and the Archbaron a number of unsavory names in the process. By the time she's finished, he's furious as well.
"You folks get in your fancy cart and get outta here," he suggests, angrily, nodding at the carriage. "We ain't having anything to do with this crap."
"Here now Mrs. Gramel, this should not be taken as any indication that the Archbaron has anything but complete faith in your abilities, and appreciation for you contributions."
+1 vs members of Chelish aristocracy
Kolaiah could tell by her facial expressions that she wasn't buying his line, so he changed tactics, "look here woman, you'll fall in line and accept the Archbaron's edicts, just like all other law abiding citizens will!"
+1 vs members of Chelish aristocracy
|
|
Amanda approaches the woman and gives her a calm and kind smile and says "Pardon me Miss Gramel, you are free to state your opinion on the matter but know that we are but messengers of the archbaron and have no control over the policies that he wishes to enforce on the populace of this city. Arguing with us will get you no further in changing the polices that have already been put into place. I must however remind you that failure to abide by these new declarations will have you face the punishment forthwith by the proper authorities. If you have any opinions to make to the Archbaron, there are proper channels you can go through to mention your grievances and let your opinions be known. If you try to circumvent those channels however that in itself is grounds of rebellion and sedition and a far more serious offence I am afraid."
While everyone else is chatting, or exchanging insults and threats, Muziel examines how the gate mechanism works to open and shut the gates. He wondered if there was a way to make sure the gate stayed closed unless they wanted it open.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Having said his peace Nikolai gets back in his carriage." Well so far this is easy, what's the next stop?" He asks ignoring the protests of Bo.
The elderly couple is still extremely angry, but Amanda and Kolaiah manage to cow them with their threats.
"Fine," says Bo, with Dent nodding along, sourly. "Close the damn gate if you will. We wash our hands of the whole thing. Eighteen years and this is the thanks we get." The pair start stalking back to their house, looking dejected and defeated, but making no move to close the gate themselves.
"I think the Last Stand is next," says Cimri. "That is, if we're sticking with the same plan. But we've still got to post the notice here before we leave."
Penelope had watched the exchange marveling at the level of expletives the elderly couple had given, and keeping an eye out for others joining in. But all went well so she'll move to close the gate, before hoping back on the back of their fancy wagon.
She'll post the notice as well, using the pommel of her dagger as a hammer to pound it in.
"Don't forget to bar the gate!" says Muziel, pointing out the heavy, 200 pound metal rods that go into appropriate brackets. "A shame we need to go to the Last Stand next. I had a good time there!"
Um... I might need help with these, Envy, you mind?
"Here, I'll help," Ismene says as she clambers out of the carriage. Preparing herself, she sets her get in a wide stance and cracks her knuckles. "Ready? Lift!"
Between you, you manage to get the heavy doors closed and securely barred fairly easily, as well as nailing the notice in place for all to se. So far, so good. Clambering back into your various arrangements in the carriage, the horsepower makes it a very quick trip to the Last Stand. The place is much as you remember it, with weathered shields and antlers adorning the pristine wooden deck outside the front door. There's some minor sounds coming from the inside, nowhere near as raucous as the place had been last night, but plainly still occupied. Nobody is outside, however.
"Ugh, this place is even worse in the light of day. Let's be done here quickly." Nikolai says looking out of his carriage with a disgusted look on his face.