Those of you with interest in the preceding head out to investigate. The mob is heading down the street near the house. You make your way out and join the mob. You follow them to the town center.
After marching for a good fifteen minutes you arrive at the center. The sight is horrible. There are posts set up all around with bodies bound to them. Most of which have died from starvation, heat exhaustion, or beatings.
All throughout the center you she these terrible sites. There are dozens set up like this. Though it mostly seems to be orcs, half-orcs, drow, and halflings. The Angry mob you've been following pulls back to reveal five individuals with bags over their heads. Five new twenty foot pillars are laid out on the grass with holes dug in the ground near their bases.
Each prisoner is tied to a pillar. The prisoners are completely naked except for the bags. Now they don't even have those anymore as the citizens rip them off exposing the faces of two halflings, a half-orc, and two drow. The angry people then fasten the five to the pillars tightly and lift the pillars and place them in the holes.
They then fill in the holes and secure the pillars in place. The peasants then proceed to throw all sorts of objects at the five while booing and jeering. Town guards are trying desparatly to break up the angry gathering but to no avail. The people are too many and too agitated and conducting this practice seems to be the only way to sate them. Thus the guards only try and contain the madness but don't even bother to rescue the people strung up.
You hear people shouting hate speech mostly. There is no crime, only racism. These people are blaming orcs, halflings, and drow for their hardships even though these people may be innocent of such.
You are familiar with the complaints about the drow of the defeated forces of the darklands being permitted to live with others here on the surface. You are also familiar with Jasian Halflings being permitted to live her. The orcs thing is new. All of which have been permitted to own property and gain citizenship in spite of the towns protests. Much discrimination had existed before your imprisonment but never this bad.
Eyeing the mobs action in disgust, he watches weighing out what he can do to help and not giving them away.
Roku keeps himself looking like just another person while being alert. Quickly finding the rest of his group, he whispers in each of their ears in turn.
"Let's get out of here, we can talk over lunch. Do not do anything, the numbers are too great and the guards will side with the mob."
He had no intention of being ripped apart by mad dogs, which is what a mob was. But that did not mean he was going to let this go, already a scheme was developing.
Anger flowed through Xzevrra at the horrific sight. She felt her hand start to clench up and a desire to do something, anything swell within her. Suddenly Roku's words make her realize the foolishness of it now. She nods to him, but says nothing, in fear the venom in her voice betrays her.
The din is such a cacophony, that Scrapeknee can't make heads or tale of it, "Wait, what did these folks DO?" He asks the others
Roku mentions for the others to leave. Whispering to Scrapeknee.
"Later, right now we have to leave."
Scrapeknee raises a brow, "We have to? Frankly, I dare say one of us could set our pants on fire and the crowd would still be focused on the folks on the posts."
Roku leaves regardless if anyone fallows, he takes out his blue book once safely away from the mob. He was looking for a place that served food and was down to earth enough that he could pick up some information. None the less he keeps aware, not having forgotten his recent tail.
Xzevrra turns to Scrapeknee and whispers, "It matters not know. There's little that can be done. Best we're away from her for now." Xzevrra follows Roku for now, preferring to stay together.
"Fine, fine, but I'm not going to be a mushroom if I can help it. I've been in the dark for months already." He follows Xzevrra
"Sssooooo where do you guys want to eat?" Baron says trying to break the tension and distract himself for the events about to happen.
Roku holds up the book.
"I am looking."
He keeps alert for anything as well.
College is done, back to business.
You all find a reasonably quiet and private tavern to hang out in while the commotion is going down.
Inside lovely female elven bartender greets you. "Hello there and welcome to the Lonely Elven Maiden. What can I get for you?"
Roku puts on a friendly smile for the bartender, looking her over.
"Our own table if you would with a big meal. If at all possible a somewhat private table. As for drinks I will have Kahve myself."
Baron chimes in, "Also a bottle of your cheapest wine!"
Scrapeknee looks at Baron, "You found some coin I don't know about?"
She is a beautiful elven woman in the prime of her life. Her figure is remarably attractive as are her smooth and chiseled facial features. She Smiles and leads you over to a booth in the far corner at the back of the bar. "Here you go good folks. I will tell the cook to prepare the day's special and I will bring you your drinks."
She leaves you alone at the table. You are free to talk amongst yourselves. I will post her return this time tomorrow.
Roku cast a spell, one to allow them all to speak with a whisper. He takes care to keep his lips barely moving, or covered by a hand in a thoughtful pose.
"I thought it best we keep our conversation as private as we can. Also make it hard for any lip reader's too. So would I be mistaken that we are all interested in the little event we witnessed?"
Xzevrra orders a modest meal with drink as they are sat down.
Xzevrra also takes care to cover her lips as she speaks in a whisper, "Interested to the point that the eventual failure of an attempt is the only thing that kept me back. Apparently things haven't gone well the past few months."
"Much obliged," Scrapeknee says to the bartender before she moves off and he joins the others. Despite his often boisterous nature, he immediately begins whispering as well "Alas, I couldn't hear half of what they were saying over the din and could barely determine the cause. Judging by Xzevrra's reaction, whatever was going on, it was not just I take it?
"Huh hardly. The gist of it is, they are minorities. Being blamed simply for being what they are. No crime or evidence just racism. "
Scrapeknee curses, "Damn fools." He shakes his head, "I know it probably wouldn't have worked, but I still wish I could have talked to the crowd. Shamed some , convinced others. They're looking for easy targets and their hate makes the choice easy, quick, and flat out wrong. Of course, I suspect I am preaching to the proverbial choir here."
Roku does not react, he had to remain inconspicuous. But replies.
"You would have only been putting a target on yourself, if not for the mob then for those hunting us. Still this could be a chance for us. I was wondering if we should not recruit them. Simply setting them free will not do any good in the long run."
"Mmm, the army must form from somewhere," He nods. "War is coming, whether it shall end in ashes or glory , that I'm not sure of. "
The Elven Hostess returns with your ordered drinks. "Here you go. We have your meals cooking. Is there anything else I can get you four?"
Too intoxicated by the smells of cooking food and stale wine, Tars ignores Scrapeknee's question to him and comes to when the drinks arrive. He greedily fills his cup and enjoys the sweet nectar. Now a little more focused he responds to the group in a quiet tone, "Terrible act it was, wonder if it had anything to do with our tail yesterday?
Scrapeknee looks to the elven hostess, "For now, no, but... I do wonder if you have a moment. You're an elf, obviously. Have you been harassed by some of those mobs out there? I mean, how bad is it getting merely for being 'different'?
She seems puzzled by the question. "That was rude of you. Do not lump me in with those criminals who have invaded our good nation. We elves and humans have ruled these lands for years and those other races try to impose themselves on us and insert themselves into our lives and feed off our resources. No I have not been harassed by the mob, rather they are liberating us from those foreign filth. It's all their fault the kingdom is falling apart." She leaves promptly.
Hardly surprised at the elf's reaction. He whispers.
"That was expected. Elves and humans get along fine and as they founded the city they feel entitled about it. Not to mention how the process for selecting the king requires a half elf."
To Tar's question.
"Doubtful, as our arrival is recent and those events are old by the looks of some of the other victims strung up."
"My apologies..." He says to her departing back.
He shakes his head at Scrapeknee, "Man you are quite smooth with the ladies there buddy, hehe." He gives him a smirk. "I just hope she brings our food sometime this era haha."
"What can I say, put me in a pit for months and my social skills deteriorate." He shrugs, "I'll work on it."
Roku clears his throat slightly. Whispering.
"Could we get back to the matter at hand. I do not intend to build an army or make war, that does nothing for the city or us. It also gives the mobs an excuse to increase their actions by justifying them. I was thinking of something more subtle. Their are a number of organizations in this city. Some hold power comparable if not more then the crown and army. Their continued existence and success a testament to that. What I suggest is we make a place of our own in such a manner. A group that takes care of each other and their own, if only to keep all involved drawing breath for another day. It would also help to have some numbers as those against us seem to have no shortage of that."
Scrapeknee laughs, but does try to lower his voice after, "War is coming whether you like it or not, Roku. We do no one a service by having this city unprepared for it. THAT aside... your plan has merit, and much for the same reason. Preparation will be of great use to us. How do you suggest we begin it?"
Roku takes his glass, but pauses before drinking.
"Could you purify this."
If he does he drinks before continuing.
"As I said, recruiting among the victims. But first we must find a safe place to take them. Certainly not mine, it would draw to much attention and I do not need anyone else knowing about it. Even if an invader would set off the defenses, secrecy is the best defense. Maybe we could buy a place or find another abandoned building."
Scrapeknee purifies it with a brief blessing. Whatever some may think of his sanity, there's no denying his gifts are real.
The waitress returns with four platters and passes them out. "You go, one Chef special for each of you, enjoy your meal." She places each one down and heads back to the counter.
Roku nods again at the food for Scrapeknee to purify. Once he does he eats it without stopping until its gone.
Xzevrra remains quiet throughout most of the conversation, asking only to have Scrapeknee purify her food as well. Finishing her own meal in silence, she adds her own thoughts. "No matter what, this will be risky. Once we begin to gather a force of any size, we'll become targets. So if that's the case, we need to determine one point. What is our goal?" She leaves the question hanging, curious on the other's responses first.
Roku shakes his head after he finishes eating. Using a napkin to cover his lips as he speaks.
"We have been targets sense before our time in the pit. That has not and likely will not change for the foreseeable future. As to a goal, survival would be one. Not just for us but for those we recruit, as it seems they are being hunted. In a more public manner I might add."
"Working together for mutual survival. And you two?"
Scrapeknee purifies his own also, caution being something he can accept there, "I know it disturbs some of you, but I have a calling. I cannot abandon it. I serve the many gods of war. That said, I do not see that goal and Roku's idea as being opposed at this time."
Baron Devours his food and enjoys every solid second of it, "My ideals aren't as noble as Mr. Sai or Knee but I want to get back at these bastards for what they did to us and make sure it don't happen to my other mates."
"I won't lie, that would be nice too," Scrapeknee nods at Baron's comment, "So how do you think we should approach these hunted? It may be hard to get their trust."
Roku sighs, still not forgetting his act.
"No one questions the person saving them. If they accept good, if not they can take their chances. I do not help those who can not make a wise choice. But as I said this is moot, we need somewhere to take them before we can help them."
His food and drink all gone.
"Sense I am fed and watered. I would like to start looking for well built, out of the way, and preferably cheap locations for our future guest."
"To challenges." He grins.
With every last crumb and drop finished the Baron looks satisfied. "If it helps I got a few connections in the merchant's guild I could check if they have a place."
"Let's find ourselves a building then."
Yet again Roku shakes his head, this time at Tars.
"Merchants will demand the highest price they can get out of us. They will also have detailed knowledge on anything they own. Both things we do not need, on top of that it will draw attention. The merchants guild will be watched as most guilds are. I would rather get it from a third party, unconnected to any power."