Renvil Ratarion is a young playwright. Native to Kintargo, he has spent his whole life here, and loves his vibrant, creative hometown. Nurtured in this cultural incubator, Renvil grew up amongst street buskers and musicians, and showed a flair for the dramatic early on. He'd only recently started to achieve success theatrically; his first musical play to get produced in the Opera House (well, not on the main stage, but there's a smaller theatre in there too) was in previews on the Night of Ashes; Renvil was lucky to escape the Opera House before Barzillai Thrune's agents took complete control of the building.
Renvil's song-writing partner, Aernallie, was a devout follower of Sarenrae, and was said to be at the Silver Star music shop when that was raided by Thrune's soldiers. He has not seen her since, and has heard nothing specific as to her whereabouts. Despondent, he has mostly remained at home in his small apartment since. He claims it's so that she can find him, as he hopes that she escaped the raid and is in hiding, but his friends know better: he's depressed and he's moping.
Renvil has met the young magus at the library, where he's conducted research for his plays, but if pressed could probably not recall her name; a writer needs focus, and focus doesn't always allow one to remember names. As he's been living mostly in seclusion since the Night of Ashes, he likely has not met any recent arrivals to the city.
Also, I had planned to use the "Tagging Along" adventure hook from the Player's Guide. The idea being that Renvil's friends, fed up with him living like a hermit, are dragging him out to the protest as something to do to get him out of the apartment for once.
|
Chak had been sitting at the bar stool for what seemed like hours, but his contact hadn't so much as sent a message explaining why he hadn't shown. Stood up on a contract and without enough money to pay the rent next month. Chak normally had no trouble finding work, but competition had been high recently and the number of bounty hunters in Kintargo had been swelling. Chak had been holding out that his contact might have simply been late and wass nursing his third beer over the course of the entire morning. Was probably one of those Milani worshippers that were just killed. Or the quarry was.
Feeling like daggers, the sun refused to stop assaulting Renvil’s early-afternoon-but-still-groggy eyes, forcing him to face yet another day. He draped a blanket around his shoulders and begrudgingly got up and started moving. Barely going through the motions, he cleaned himself up just a little bit, running a birch swatch across his teeth just long enough to get the morning (afternoon) funk out of his mouth. He wiped out the least dirty mug and fixed a cup of tea, sitting down at his writing desk. It took 20 minutes or so to finish the tea; it apparently also took an equal amount of time to stare down the half-finished manuscript on the desk. What’s the point? That damn Thrune’s taken over the Opera House, and private commissions have dried up too. I’ve got no business writing anymore.
He stared at the manuscript for a few more minutes, trying to convince himself that the stack of papers couldn’t be judging him, that this must be an internal feeling, but ended unable to really believe even that. He dragged himself to the door, hoping against hope that there might be some message from Aernallie today. He opened the door and glanced at the outside face. Nothing. Please be okay. Please just let it be too dangerous to send a message yet.
He grabbed last night’s jug of grog on his way back to the desk. Not bothering to rinse the cup, he poured his first draught of the day. I need to make this jug last; I’m not ready for the outside world again yet.
The music shop's gone, the carpenter's place, the stables... Damn Asmodeus's greed. Oskar caught himself absentmindedly standing still and holding a glass of beer, pulled himself out of it, and set it down in front of the Tengu at the bar. Oskar quickly sizes him up, this one has been there a while, but isn't causing any trouble yet, so Oskar moved on and picked up a tray of mugs and started carrying them to the back room.
Oskar lost some good friends a few nights ago when Thrune's thugs cleaned out the city. At least he assumed he lost them, no one has heard from most of the people involved, and those few that escaped the night had terrible things to say about what happened. But the people that are missing are mostly those he met on the path to learning about Milani. Loose contacts here and there, a few meetings, and the steady lessons, never for very long before that person fades out and another takes their place.
oskar resented the loss. House Thrune and the Asmodeans took his parents, took his city, and it made him crave a fight. He cracked a small smile despite his profound sense of loss, thinking of the havok he would like to play with those usurpers.
|
|
Chak sat on the barstool, unsuccessfully trying to talk up his third human regarding their natural instincts for headwear. The day was threatening to not only be lacking in paying work, but also contain an intolerably amount of boredom. He had just about given up hope when his avian ears caught two young men talking in the loudly whispering nature of those who have had too much to drink and too little caution in thier head.
"It's time they respect us! We just got to head to the park wit' the others and show them it's time they respect us! Wherever they put Gimmle they need to get him out of there!" With a final swig of his mug, the first man bumbled out of the bar in a hilariously off-center swagger. His companion followed along, his head bobbing in agreement like a Tengu making a deal.
It likely wouldn't pay, but it wasn't just any day in Kinatargo a group of people tried to demand anything of HellKnights. Such an event would prove to be fascinating to watch and perhaps lead to the kind of chaos that provided financial opportunities. Chak didn't like HellKnights on principle, but he knew better than to be involved in doing something unlawful like protesting in front of them. Chak turned to the barkeep, "Sounds like there's going to be some demanding of answers from the Order of the Rack. I don't know about you, but have to see this. " Slapping his coins down at the bar, Chak happily ambled after the two citizens, bobbing his own head in delight.
Feeling presentable (enough), he follows the group to Aria Park. The city is so tense. It's like everybody has the same secret, but nobody will talk about it. Once there, he tries to stay on the outskirts of the crowd, at least at the start.
As he's throwing his gear together, he sees his bow and a quiver of arrows. Wondering if that's too much, he looks to his friends; how are they equipped? Does he feel like having a bow strapped over his shoulder would make him stand out, or does it seem like people are heading out armed like that?
Oskar hears the sound of the crowd growing as people pass by outside, and he coes out ot he back room to find people streaming out of the tavern. He sweeps up the coins from the bar and tosses them into the wooden box where the day's earnings are kept, then latches his morningstar to his belt, just in case. He always hears his armor anyway, it isn't the safest bar in Kintargo after all, and a bra brawl could happen at any time.
Niro, I'm going out. He shouts as he leaves the tavern and walks out into the street. Not quite joining in with the crowd's protest shouting, but nodding to them as they walk along, encouraging with a bit of a stiff upper lip.
Some of these people might get hurt today, which would be a shame, but it's good that they are out making a fuss, maybe more will join in. he thinks to himself as he absentmindedly rubs the polished stone hanging from a string on his chest.
He also sees Chak along the way and notices that he seems to be enjoying himself. The more the merrier I suppose, and he gives the Tengu a nod as well before continuing on his way.
If I could still get inside, I could outfit most of this crowd in "fine embroidered fabric."
Renvil tries to stay alert, making sure that the jostling of the closely-packed crowd doesn't result in the loss of any of his personal possessions, but also paying attention to the Opera House, to see if anyone peeks out or emerges. He mostly watches and listens, but can easily be drawn into an enthusiastic support of the noble herb, mint.
|
|
Chak finds the crowd quickly growing his way as more protesters gather and is soon part of the crowd's edge himself. His 4 and 1/2 foot frame makes is hard to see the front of the crowd, but the excitment has caught him up enough he doesn't care. Always alert, Chak takes the sight in, while checking to make certain the city's notorious pick pockets are only taking advantage of other people.
Renvil continues watching the crowd and listening.
Wait, that's just... ridiculous. He answers protests about leadership with a ban on sailors? Not only is he simply dangerous, he might just be insane!
Renvil starts moving towards one of the people that looked to be inciting the crowd. When he gets there, he nudges the person. "Do you know what this squarmishing is? And why sailors?"
|
|
Chak stands stunned for a moment. Two things are immediately obvious -One that he has no way to prove he's not an armed rebel and Two - that he's in the center of a very busy crowd. He draws his blade in a hopeful attempt to ward off any rioters/enforcers and backs away slowly.
He attempts to discern how many guards there are versus how many armed protesters.
and tries to remember if the Chelish Citizen Group use any identifying codes or clothes he can fake in a hurry
Renvil draws his rapier, keeping it low and unnoticed yet at-hand should it be needed. He then casts Charm Person on a nearby Chelish Citizen's Group member (his original "friend" if possible).
|
|
Chak offers a quick protest at his uninvolvement, only to be smacked across the head with a mace. Shaking his head to clear it, he retaliates agains the thug that struck him with his sword and a quick peck from his beak.
He then shifts aware from the other thug in the direction of Renvil, whom he notices is also resisting. "Anyone got an escape plan? I can't afford any jail time!
Hearing Chak's cry coming from nearby in the crowded park, Renvil turns and locates him. Ren identifies the thugs starting to surround the Tengu. He makes eye contact with his fellow resistor, then begins speaking loudly enough to ensure that all of their assailants can hear.
"Eh, we don't need an escape plan. These jerks are simpletons; they'd never catch us if we turned our backs and walked straight out. Look, that one can't hold a weapon, and this one wears his armor like it's performance art. When this is done today, Thrune's going to be adding citizen vigilantes to his squarmshandering edict."
While saying this, Renvil is using his eyes and slight head-nods to Chak to indicate a good direction to get started on to retreat.
Renvil lets out a deep grunt on getting hit in the ribcage by the thug. "See, even when they hit you, it doesn't hurt." He continues his abasement of the thuggish crew, but decides the retreat needs to become hasty, and starts picking his way out of the park.
|
Quietly casts her Healing Hex and placing herself between Chak and his escape route, brushes up against him healing him for
I attempt to do this quietly without drawing notice to myself.
@ the pursuers to decide what I do.
If the pursuers do not notice, I then attempt to melt back into the crowd.
If the pursuers do notice, I run following Chak and Renvil.
Unless someone else gets Renvil's attention as to there being a different plan, he continues to Withdraw to escape more damage and capture. He will keep an eye on Chak to make sure he's following.
Renvil didn't notice Liselle's action, so isn't paying attention to be sure she can follow him.