Stanley is still bothered by Iolana's outburst at him, he says simply, "Succint is better. We should include our full name, 'The Free Citizens of Westcrown', as we are in essence selling a belief. We need the name to come to rest on the end of the tongues of every citizen that is fed up with how things are being run, and make sure they all know that there are some out there who are willing to stand up and fight."
He pauses, "I do not yet know the significance of those wooden coins, though, so I am reluctant to use them. I would say we put one on each of the eyes as some do the dead, and gag the body with one of our red armbands. Yet, we must indeed still remove the tongue."
He stands, staring at the body for a bit, half turns, changes his mind. Then turns, stops, and finally decides to leave the room in the direction Iolana went.
Very well, I will write the letter and desl with the tongue. Colgrim uses his dagger for yet another bit of bloody work and then secures the head.
So where do we stick this?
"The Dusk Market, where else? We put it where dozens will see it all at once. Then they do our work for us of spreading the news."
Byron, give me a hand here. I think perhaps getting a wagon will be best for transporting this since no way are we getting a body out wraped in a carpet.
Byron nods wordlessly, and moves to assist Colgrim in shifting the body.
Arael chimes in about the placement of the body. "I do not believe the Dusk market is the best place for it, remember that it is in the Ruins, it's also where the Dottari are barely there, AND those that go there will likely try to be quiet as they exit, as they Dottari do frown upon the citizenry entering and leaving there. It could attract more unwanted attention if we go that route. Somewhere public to the main city would be better. Perhaps in Rego Crua or Rego Scripa somewhere?"
He continues, assisting with Last Rites over the body, lest the Temple of Aroden gather any ghosts.
He looks to the others to decide where they plan on taking the body, with Janiven watching as well, since Parego Regicona is not possible for their group just yet.
****
Stanley finds Iolana after a couple of stops at places that Iolana may have gone. He finds Iolana in a small chamber of the temple, where a small shrine to the Everbloom has been set up for her.
Stanley makes no overt movement to speak or interrupt her quiet prayer or contemplation. He helps the old and infirm pass on to the Boneyard, he has patience. Instead he just stands there ready for if she decides she wants to speak to him.
Rego Crua then.
Byron nods.
"A public place, where the general populace is more likely to notice, would probably be better if we *really* want to send a message... Rego Crua it is!"
Iolana is seated cross-legged in the little alcove that's been dedicated to Milani, facing the shrine, turning her rose pendant in her hands, and reading, lips moving in a barely perceptible way, from a slim, innocuous-looking book.
A couple of minutes after Stanley approaches, she puts the book down. Still with her back to him, she speaks in a low, husky voice.
"You know, no one knows the name of Milani's herald? She's called Courage Heart, and she was a Galtan revolutionary. I never liked her story. See, she ended up cutting herself off from the Revolution, and they executed her as an enemy of the people. That's why she calls herself Courage Heart--this wasn't really long ago, and she had elfish blood, so there are bound to be living relatives of hers. I could never stand Courage Heart, and I didn't get what Milani saw in this woman who fought for a revolution for so long, only to back away from the revolutionaries' ideas at the end."
She pauses, and swallows hard. "I think...I understand a little bit more of what Courage Heart was going through, now."
Despite his seemingly elevated love of hearing the sound of his own voice, Stanley doesn't respond just yet. Instead, he finds a seat, staying behind her. If she wanted to see him, she would do so in her own time. He only says one thing, "Go on." indicating that he is ready to stop talking and listen now.
There are a few public fountains in the Rego Crua, which is where most criminals are also held, along with stones and rotten fruit for lesser crimes.
Arael leaves the room for a bit, leaving Janiven to speak with the party members present.
Janiven speaks to those Byron, Colgrim, Dario, and Leeka. "Rego Crua it is, then. I'd highly recommend either just before dawn or just after dusk to make this happen. This is terrible business, but, unfortunately, to resist the corrupt government of Westcrown, of Cheliax itself, some of us and them will die, unfortunately." She frowns on that last bit. "Freedom is not cheap, and, unfortunately, given that there are many slaves in Cheliax, life is cheap as well. Be careful out there."
Arael returns to the party a short time later, thinking more about the situation. "I am bound to this temple, essentially. If I go out, I must go hooded and cloaked. That doesn't do in summer like this, unfortunately. However, it does give me time for prayers and potion-making. If you are ever in need of a potion I am capable of making, I will certainly do so for you, although I will ask you to supply the proper reagents."
To bring this to a point, he produces a potion for each member of the party. "Each of these is a potion that will heal your wounds a little better than some of the infernal healing wands and potions that are about. Take these for now, but if you need more or something else, I will be happy to provide it for any of the Free Citizens of Westcrown."
Colgrim nods and takes the potion of Cure Moderate Wounds. We'll do that, I suppose the body can wait until dusk since we've spent a bunch of time here. I should get back to my watch and I'll be back here when the time is right.
Colgrim nods and heads out to his day jobe.
Byron shakes his head.
"Leaving it until dusk means that there is an entire night for something to happen to it, before anyone will notice. Although it is more dangerous for us, I think leaving it there just before dawn is more likely to have the desired impact."
Dawn then.
Iolana sighs, a slight bit of irritation at Stanley's holding his tongue coloring her sadness. She swings around on her knees so that she's facing the older man. "It's easy for us, as revolutionaries, to get lost in our goals. To not see that what we're doing is sometimes no better than what our opponents would do in the reversed position. I recognize that Palaveen was our enemy, but still..." she trails off, shaking her head slightly. "I have no desire to be the new government of Westcrown. Good revolutionaries don't always make good rulers." She smiles crookedly at him, meeting his eyes for the first time. "Perhaps that's a weakness in me."
Calmly stitching up the last tear in Byron's cloak, Leeka says,"You think this is what Palaveen would have done, had our positions been reversed? The end result might have been the same, but how much rape, torture, and other un-pleasantries would have come before the end? Palaveen chose to use evil to further his goals: he chose to rob from innocent townspeople, he chose to spread his aims through fear and intimidation--his victims didn't chose that. When you decide to start pushing your agenda through violence, you mark yourself out to receive the same, like we have done. You say you would have no problem killing him in the heat of battle, but not here? What's the real difference? Should we have cut his bonds loose and given him a weapon? Would that have eased your conscience? Foolishness! It was necessary to capture him to try to get information. It will be necessary to do it again in the future with some other unsavoury character, but if you're going to wet yourself everytime it happens, you'll start killing them on the battlefield to ease your guilt, and we'll lose out on valuable sources of information. We have limited resources, and squandering them so you don't have to feel bad about putting down a rabid monster is both dumb and irresponsible towards the countless innocent citizens we say we're here to protect. If you can't handle that, then I wouldn't worry about being a good ruler, because it also means you aren't a terribly good revolutionary, either."
She holds the cloak up to the light. "There we go, Byron. One violent gash, perfectly healed."
Stanley starts as the meek halfling speaks up, quickly turning and trying to emulate a calming gesture toward her. "Leeka, I can tell you feel very strongly about this, but I have to ask that try to temper your reaction. To someone that may already feel conflicted over their actions, it can be construed as accusatory."
Turning back to Iolana, he tries to smooth any feathers that may have been ruffled, "Do you truly feel your lack of desire to lead as a weakness? Do you feel that you are expected by your Goddess to want to lead? If you can help me understand you and your god, maybe I can understand where your troubles lie. Personally, I also do not want to lead, and worry about those that so eagerly desire to be given a position of authority over others. I just want to do right by the people of this city."
"My goddess deals primarily in absolutes. Pharasma governs birth and death, the two things that are inevitable in this world. As a Pharasmin, Vesnik and I help guide the dying to find their place in the Boneyard. Upon request, I have ended the suffering of some. I have also cut away infections to save either life or limb, and am willing to do so on the larger scale to save the Wiscrani peoples."
"I do not know Milani well, but you are the best amongst us to know what she may want for you. Only you can answer whether you think what you are doing is right in your heart, and only you can decide what you are willing to do for what you do or don't consider to be right. Do not feel that you need to bow to our pressure to do any of what we have wrought, especially if it keeps you from staying true to yourself."
Leeka rolls her eyes as Stanley rolls out a seemingly endless stream of pedantic babble. "Iolana, would you like to go for a walk, get some fresh air?"
*Whud whud whud*
Colgrim checks his handy-work of putting up the corpse of the Bastards. That should do it, let's get moving before anyone happens by.
Colgrim makes it to his patrol, a little sore from the night before, but otherwise fine. His Sergeant gives him a more 'squalor-filled' afternoon of patrols, as he was about an hour late to begin the patrols.
Leeka and Iolana leave Stanley in his slightly shocked stated at Leeka's sudden "standing up for herself and others" state, while he returns to the small shrine to Pharasma that serves as both his home and small business, all three of their words weighing on themselves in their own ways.
Dario and Byron retire to their respective homes, with Byron finding his bar has been shut down for the evening by the Dottari due to some legal mumbo-jumbo, with all the servers and bouncers (other than himself) having been taken in for questioning. Dario finds his office has been ransacked over the night, although nothing was stolen, but a pair of students' research papers were burned in the fireplace. Perhaps his penchant for history has found some enemies within Westcrown or perhaps his students have earned them some enemies?
Leeka find Hildara's nephew, Guglielemo ("Gug") Crax at her home, wearing a veil of mourning. Spotting Leeka with Iolana, he shouts "You, slip! Where were you?! My dearest Auntie has died, just moments after I arrived this morning at the behest of her letter!" He waves a letter that is dated about six months ago... before the unfortunate incident that caused Hildara's former condition. Glowering over her, and reaching for the whip at his side, "I repeat, slip, where were you?"
Colgrim mutters and grumbles as he slogs through the patrol. His feet and body ached and he misses lunch and his ale. Although ridding Westcrown of that menace was good compensation.
He did wonder about what they would do next with this 'council' they heard about.
Thinking quickly, Leeka leaves Iolana behind and drops a quick curtsy in front of Gug. "Forgive me, master. When I saw she was faring poorly this morning, I left to find a priest of Asmodeus to tend to her, but none would pay any heed to this worthless slip. All I could find was this simple herbalist, but if Mistress has passed on..."
She turns to Iolana. "I'm sorry I bothered you, mistress. You should go," she says, giving extra weight to that final word and a look that says she means it.
[hold breath] [/hold breath]
She then steels herself for the first blow to land...
Dario throws down a sheaf of papers in disgust, scattering them everywhere. He sighs and kicks more scattered papers, looking at his ransacked office. Nothing seemed to have been stolen, but it was all disorganized and a mess now. He couldn’t tell where half his student notes were. He glances over to the fireplace with a few scraps of paper with blackened edges. Peering closer, he swipes the scraps away from flames. ”Damnation!” he curses. He lifts up one scrap and then another, and then another. He recognized the writing. ”Belger Horam and Gregori Stonefire.” he mumbles. Two papers from some of his more outstanding students. He had read Belger’s, but he had barely had a chance to skim Gregori’s. The Stonefire boy had been assigned to research Pharasman death rituals over a month ago. The paper had been late, but in a quick glance through, Dario had been impressed with Gregori’s thoroughness and the multitude of sources he had cited. He had taken advantage of his uncle’s estates upriver to visit with some visitors from Ustalav. Evidently he had conducted excellent interviews for quite a volume of knowledge. And now I’ll never be able to read it. I wonder if I should tell the boy, or if I should simply commend him on what I know he was able to accomplish.
Belger, on the other hand, had written a paper tracing historical trade routes from before the fall of Aroden. This was the second paper he had submitted and it was as excellent as the first. He was researching history of trade between Cheliax, particularly Westcrown, and the nations across the Inner Sea. The Jostinian Trading Company had been a powerhouse in those days, and Dario felt Belger might be better off simply focusing on the Company to examine their cultural, political, and economic impact in the Inner Sea. Now, I have nothing to return to him. I hope the boy kept his notes. This research could get him a position at the University.
Dario stands and suddenly feels the need for air. He didn’t know if these papers had been targeted by the burglar or if it was simply random destruction as a part of the break-in. But nothing else had been stolen or destroyed, so what else could he think? Grabbing his cloak, the Professor opens his door to escape the implications of this crime. He’s halfway out before he stops, giving the office a second look. He takes his rapier, belts it on, and closes his door. I need to try out that Sarenrae fighting style. Perhaps Colgrim or Byron will help spar with me. It seems to have great potential.
Dario finds himself walking down a smaller street an hour later. He turns toward raised voices and finds Leeka and Iolana with a man wearing a veil of mourning. Gods, now what? He steps up slowly to hear more of the conversation. The man seemed to be angry with Leeka.
”Leeka, what’s going on here? Is everything ok with your mistress?”
Byron is quite alarmed to discover that his usual pub has been closed down.
This is highly irregular... the requisite bribes were always paid in a timely fashion... unless... surely it can't be due to what we've been up to, recently?
Bundling himself up with some care, and trying to avoid any observers who might be keeping an eye out for people such as himself, Byron calmly, but with purpose, removes himself form the environs of his local.
Wandering through a part of town that he didn't usually frequent, he could not help but overhear an obviously distraught man angrily shouting at someone.
looks like everyone has their own problems, today...
Moving closer, he recognises whom is being verbally lambasted, and a sinking feeling gnaws at the pit of his stomach.
Damn. It's Leeka.
Not wanting to drawn attention to himself (at least for the moment), Byron remains at a respectful distance, ready to lend aid, if required.
Any hope of surviving this vanishes as her friends come and make things worse :)
Colgrim sighs as his feet tromp along the cobbles. He was pretty much on his own since he was on the s.list at the moment and had to do deal with things himself.
Suddenly he heard loud shouting up front and quickens his steps in order to investigate a potential public disturbance. Turning the corner he came upon the scene of Iolana and Leeka standing before a shouting nobleman. Well, Iolana was stand while Leeka was cowering on the street. Oh hells. Colgrim mutters and strides towards them.
Colgrim:
Gug looks towards Dario and shouts at him. "What right do you have to call this SLIP by name?" He sneeers. "Her mistress, my dearest antie, died this morning, with the slip nowhere to be had!"
His voice raises further as he pulls the whip, drawing it back, and lashing out at Leeka, striking her viciously with the whip.
"SHE did nothing to save my dear auntie!" He shouts as he lashes out.
Dice Rolls
HP:
Stanley 12/12
Colgrim: 14/24.
Dario 13/15
Byron: 11/15
Iolana: 15/15
Leeka 11/18, 3 Subdual
Colgrim's eyes widen as the whip falls upon Leeka. His fists clench but he remembers his training and stride sup.
Here now! What is this outburst? Such conduct is unbecoming on these fine streets and disturbs the peace. I must insist that you calm yourself and explain the situation.
Colgrim stands next to the man, he doesn't have his hand on his weapon but makes sure his badge is visible.
Leeka almost suppresses a whimper as the lash falls across her back. Her mouth tightens in pain an anger, but she stays on her knees, where she belongs.
For now...
Dario removes his hat. "Oh, my condolences, sir. Madam Crax was...well, a stately individual. She was a tough woman. Very few ever got the better of her." He steps forward to greet the man, seemingly obvious to hie anger.
"I am Professor Dario Westone. I visited Madam Crax several weeks ago to secure her help actually. I am researching slave traditions, and I wanted to interview Leeka along with the help of several other prominent families. Your aunt was quite proud to be included. Her slip has been a good source of slave traditions and stories passed down in their circles. Quite an interesting view into their lives."
"So you see, your aunt and I were in a sort of business together. I paid for Leeka's time with me and in return I got the research I needed."
"Ahh, a Dottari officer! Wonderful! What is the local punishment for slaves shirking their duties. In Egorian, it's a day in the pillory, with mud balls and rotten fruit being thrown at them. What is it here in the backwaters of Cheliax?" He smiles an exceedingly false smile at Colgrim.
Unfortunately, he remains indifferent to Dario. "Paid for her services? How long was my dearest Auntie in this horrid condition? Where are the terms of the contract? My Auntie was a stickler for such details?" He looks shrewdly towards Dario.
"Is what this man says true? Did you work with him? Did you at least perform the proper servies towards him?" He leers lewdly at Leeka, indifferent to Dario, Iolana, and Colgrim.
Iolana, while accustomed to such violence towards slaves in private, she stands there, shocked for the moment, biting her tongue, but her fists are clenched.
Byron, watching from afar, sees Colgrim walk up, and sees the man strike Leeka viciously.
Stanley's morning starts a little differently than the rest.
Stanley
Upon his examination while Belger was asleep, it's found that he's in fairly good shape, except he is missing his tongue, and the ring and pinky fingers from both of his hands, as well as his feet. These things were certainly not caused by a fire.
*Ahem* Well since your relative seems to have passed away due to negligence, there will be an investigation of course. We'll have a physician arrive to examine the remains to determine the cause of passing. All due respect will be given to your Aunt of course.
Colgrim looks sternly at Leeka. As for the slave, we will be taking her down to the jail for interrogation. Between the two of us, I fully expect that a sentence of hard labor mucking the sewers for quite some time to be handed out. He takes a hold of her arm. Now don't make a fuss..*cough* Slip. Colgrim's heart is certainly not in the derogatory comment. Disobeying a Dottari will make things quite harder for you.
Dario gives the man a pointed look "The contract was such that if your Aunt is dead now, it is null and void. Now I-" He is interrupted by Colgrim taking Leeka into custody.
"Oh my. Well, I suppose it is the prudent thing. We cannot stand in the way of the law, can we Master Crax?" He steps back to allow Colgrim room to take her for questioning. He tries to make a show of clearly not wanting to be involved in legal matters.
Leeka submissively allows Colgrim to force her to her feet, avoiding eye contact with Gug.
"Hold there for but a moment, master Dottari. Which barracks are you in? I would very much like to obtain my property sooner rather than later, as I do have to be back in Egorian for the family business soon. If there's some other way that I can expedite this process, do please let me know."
He still hasn't let go of the whip, but he's not threatening anyone with it, more of an actual "he forgot he was holding it" situation. If anything, that was a half-hearted attempt at a bribe.
Colgrim gives the location of his barracks. He is very much aware of his lack of bluffing ability and knows that it is better not be caught in such an outright lie.
Well I am sure something can be arranged. Since she was your aunt's property she can easily be turned over to you once you claim the estate, since she has no owner and is effectively 'free'. Colgrim gives a forced laugh at the insinuation of a free halfling. Once we finish questioning her, well we will get her in irons and you may claim ownership. Since you have several who can vouch for you, I am sure this can all be done swiftly.
Colgrim eyes Dario, hoping he can help ladle on the lies.
"Perhaps I can help, Master Crax. I am keen on continuing my research with Leeka. And I cannot do that if you take her Egorian. Since you recently acquired her from your Aunt's estate, perhaps I can purchase her from you? For a house Slip such as her...Would you take 50 gold? That's a bit undervalue, I admit, but she is involved in legal matters and I will have to sort these out instead of you. Unless, perhaps you wish to remain in Westcrown to see through the Dottari justice first...?"
Deciding that having another 'busy-body' weigh in on the situation would only make things worse, Byron is content to maintain his distance, keeping a careful on proceedings, just in case things go south.
Iolana, eyes narrowed and fists clenched in rage at Crax's crassness, tries to appear disinterested in the proceedings, and "idly" strolls around to a position in which she's opposite Dario from the sniveling brat.
The Chelish noble becomes more friendly with Dario's honeyed words, although he is a shrewd negotiator.
"This sounds wonderful. Although that scornful herbalist can be sent away. Her face is offensive to my family's sensibilities. We should take care of this in the manor, proper, although I would wager that my dearest auntie kept that slip for a reason. Dottari, please hold, we may be able to work a proper contract out!" He smiles towards Colgrim, the same hawkish grin that Leeka has feared would be turned upon her in the wrong moments.
[dice=opposed diplomacy for Leeka's "purchase"]1d20+7[/dice]
"For that reason, I think you are lowballing me, something tells me she has more value than that. The legal troubles would be far to distressing to my mis--err wife. I do believe that a fairer sum would be 75 gold, still well below market value, but also priced so that you can pay any fines discovered from the slip's other indiscretions."
Byron:
I will be more than willing to bear witness to any contract signing.
"Sir, please. You've already damaged the Slip, and the Dottari is about to take her into custody. At the very least, I will need to pay the fees for her release. You have my word, if she is implicated in anything associated with your Aunt, the Dottari will contact you and you shall have justice. We can even put provisions for that into the contract. I have no qualms with that." Dario nods to Colgrim. "Sir,thank you for making this official."
Stanley tends the body with great care. He does what he can to bind the stumps of each severed portion, as well as examine them to see if he can tell what kind of instrument was used. Lastly, his naturally suspicious nature prompts him to try and rifle through the belongings while the man slept, hoping to find any clues. All the time he tends the man, he recites prayers to Pharasma, mirrored by the high-pitched voice of Vesnik.
Gug smiles that terrible smile at Dario. "Perhaps, just perhaps, a smaller sum. I believe that those fees generally run around fifteen gold. I would be glad to offer the slip to you for 60 gold pieces. I can have the contract drawn up and our Dottari officer here could witness. Perhaps two days' from now, perhaps to allow the slip time to think about her actions in a cell, then the contract be signed?"
His heart of wickedness bears no ends. He awaits Dario's answer.
***
Stanley finds a few indications on the body (and possessions) that he's been acting a scribe for a noble family, but no indication as to whom. Ink marks on the fingers, but then a henna-like tattoo (which had been attempted to be rubbed off) was found on his left wrist. The blades that had cut the fingers had been ones that would have been used ritually, or surgically, as they were extremely sharp and likely did not cause near as much pain as would have been expected.