Lily puts on the sash and asks, "Can we bust heads if need be?" Lily hoped the answer was yes.
Slenk looks to Lily, then to their benefactor and says. "Having seen you work, we all know that you certainly can bust heads Lilly. The question is- should we? An open confrontation creates martyrs and victims - which may be exactly what the Iomedians are hoping for."
Jerax nods down at the halfling, "Well said", but looks back up to the half-orc with a wink, "but no one said you can't defend yourself."
Razelago lets the group talk for a moment then answers directly, "They have the right of it. Primarily, I want you to observe, not precipitate a slaughter of Chelaxian subjects. That said, if you find opportunities to embarrass the knight or disrupt the event entirely, I would have no objection."
While he and the others talk, Cimri seem to catch something in Veda's expression or body language, brow furrowed and gaze fixed on the changeling. Still, she says nothing.
Taking one of the sashes, Ameliya ruminates on all that has been said. The fact that the Glorious Reclamation had already gained a foothold in Longacre via that crone Allamar was alarming, to be sure. But that fact their patron had access to Archbaron Fex's familial insignia piqued her interest just as well. Was this Razelago simply an intermediary for the Archabron himself, she wondered?
Ameliya puts these questions aside for now and focuses on the present. "A counter sermon may be the best course," she says honestly to Alixus before adding, "But it may also play directly into Allamar's hands. The people of Longacre do not seem overly enthusiastic about the Archfield, sad to say, and may relish the chance to see one of his faithful taken down a peg by a local Iomedaean. Perhaps we should play more to the townsfolk's fear of war and the loss that comes with it than to their questionable faith."
Razelago's oddly pitched voice continues, "A reasonable suggestion, Madam Ameliya. Though, a thought... what is coming is a time for openly declaring one's loyalties. A disguise was a wise decision for the task last eve', but perhaps less so today." A brief pause, then, "But the decision is yours. I understand if you'd prefer to wait to see how this relationship develops first, or if you simply wanted the option of discretion before knowing the details."
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Ameliya puts on a warm, false smile as she addresses Razelago, "You may have a point there," Ameliya says calmly, lowering her hood to free her hidden red locks. "I intended for myself and my business to appear neutral in any forthcoming conflict in town, but open honesty of one's allegiance does have its benefits. Speaking of which. I would love to learn how you were able to secure these sashes? The psychic asks nonchalantly while holding one up for display. "I doubt Archbaron Fex would be willing to give them out to just anyone. You must have some relationship with the man, yes? Care to share?"
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From behind the screen, Razelago breaks into peels of screeching laughter behind the screen. Eventually it transitions into a hacking cough until something seems to be hacked up. "I... oh my... what is that!? I don't remember eating that... hmm. I, oh, yes." In the corner, Gaurig stirs slightly, lifting its head and arching a brow as it stares at the screen.
He clears his throat, then says, "Very cute, Madam... and lest you think I'm being too condescending, let me also say... very fair. For now, I elect to 'wait to see how this relationship develops', but if this goes well, after this task and before the next, I'll reveal more. In the meantime, I'll tell you I am a leal servant of the regime and the archbaron's sashes come with his knowledge and permission."
For her part, Cimri is staring at the silhouette with her mouth slightly agape before she collects herself with a shrug and shake of the head.
The halfling nods at the conversation, "So observe and respond showing loyalty but not violence, unless violence is truly called for. The Lady likely will be the best of us at verbal sparring, but just adding our support to her will have value."
”I have a bit of training myself in the rhetorical arts. If necessary, I am happy to assist.”
As the group talks about strategy Veda takes off her sash and stows it inside her shirt.
"If the idea is to outtalk the priestess I won't be much help in it. I'm not given to impressive speechifying, and I can tell you ahead of time nobody around here much cares what I'd have to say anyway."
"But if some of you are going to make yourselves a focal point, I can observe what's going on in the crowd better as a neutral bystander. You'll have their attention, I won't. They'll be more careful in your direction, less careful in mine. I'll stay loose from the rest of you and work the crowd. Got a drink that'll make me even better at it."
"If a reason for a show of numbers comes along, I have the sash handy."
As the discussion transitions to planning rather than questions of Razelago, he says, "I bid you good fortune in our endeavor, then. Please return when it is done." Cimri collects the remaining sashes to distribute to anyone who hasn't collected theirs, then leads you out and back towards Longacre. During the walk, she tries to pull Veda aside.
Although Ameliya has to suppress the desire to give Razelago a caustic glare for his mockery, she still has the presence of mind to give her patron a respectful nod before she follows Cimri out the door.
Immediately after leaving the Ash House proper, the psychic reactivates her Sleeves of Many Garments to transform her dark obscuring cloak into a regal light blue lady's walking suit. With that done, she promptly fixes Fex's sash to her arm.
"So are we decided then?" she asks them all, a small amount of lingering irritation in her voice. "Shall I be our speaker, with Alixus providing support if necessary?"
The towering tiefling smiles at Lady Arvanxi's transformation, as he drapes the sash over his tabard. "If it comes to that, M'lady. I think our first objective is to make our presence and allegiance known. And as for intimidation" Jerax smiles his wider, toothier smile, "I got that in spades!!"
Veda slows down and peels off from the group to see what Cimri wants.
Veda has never been one to take social risks, so she otherwise deflects.
”I’m fine. Nothing’s the matter… You do know that Razelago isn’t human right? I don’t know what he is, but it isn’t human. I’m sure of it.”
”Not that I care” she sniffs.
Then she changes her mind, she will say something, sort of, without actually saying it.
”What are you doing with that tiefling anyway? He’s ugly. I don’t get it. What do you want out of him?”
It might seem strange that Veda, who is by no means a human, would be so biased in favor of humans. She doesn’t really even like most of the humans (which is fairly close to just about everyone) she’s met. But their physical form fascinates her. She wouldn’t claim humans are generally beautiful exactly, but their form, their bodies can make her ache with desire if she thinks about it deeply. She’s so close to them, but any day she could start drifting away, and every day she searches carefully all over for some sign it might have started.
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Cimri continues walking along with Veda.
When the conversation turns to Jerax, Cimri listens to her friend then looks up at the group ahead of them and Jerax in particular. There isn’t any hint of defensiveness with respect to her taste in companionship nor the tiefling himself.
Rather, she seems to be debating something, then finally answers, ”Veda, I’m not smart like you. I’m never going to be able to do magic or any real learning. And I’m not pretty like you or Miss Ameliya. I mean, I’m not a horse, maybe prettier than most, but, come on, I’m not going to be winning no Egorian pageants. And I ain’t got no family that counts, neither. But I need out of here, and I think this is my ticket. I may not be as smart as you, but I’m not dumb either. It’s going to be dangerous. Like you said with Razelago. A girl alone like me ain’t likely to make it. And, well, the priest scares the heck out of me, they always have. Take your soul and sell it to some demon, devil...thing. And Jerax...”
She pauses, looking at him up ahead and actually does get just a bit doe-eyes, ”Look, those teeth are positively terrifying — I don’t know what kissing him would be like, probably lose my tongue — but he’s strong, has some sort of in with the Church without actually being a priest, has an insane body... and a sense of humor. I kind of like him.” Her lips purse as she runs out of words, then shrugs. ”I know that probably doesn’t make sense to you; but that’s why.”
When you arrive in town, a crowd has already begun to gather. The Church of Iomedae, surrounded by a wrought-iron, sits just north of one of the town squares. This particular square is called, appropriately enough, Church Square.
The square contains a well and a tall wooden post for posting notices and announcements. Shops and businesses surround the plaza, and a wide thoroughfare runs north and south through the square. A conspicuous white-clothed table stands in front of the church, apparently in readiness for the sermon, though it is currently bare.
On the south side of the square is a building that used to be Three Bands Cooper. However, it went out of business about a year ago. The owner complained of excessive taxes. The windows and doors on the first floor are now boarded up, though a staircase in the alley runs up the west side of the building to a second-story door.
Lily is largely uninterested in ruining the privacy of her co-workers. Before milling about the gathering she stows her sash and makes small talk. She starts to work in questions about how they feel about the sermon and what the crowd expects to see today.
Jerax, not one for subtilty, positions himself leaning against the wooden posting post. "Reverend Vade, perhaps you should stay with me, for your protection", offers the antipaladin. "Or if you wish to mingle, please let me escort you."
Once she arrives at Church Square, Ameliya breaks off from the others and ingratiates herself with the townsfolk. She asks them seemingly inconspicuous and harmless questions, but they are in fact lures to get her marks to divulge more information they they may have intended.
Seeing no reason to reveal her allegiance to House Fex just quite yet, she hides the sash within her gown.
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"Aw, c'mon! Don't talk about yourself like that! You're more beautiful than I am for sure. I'm huge! It's awful. If there's one thing a man for sure doesn't like, it's a woman who looks down on him. And I literally look down at almost every man in town. I think it's because women who are shorter than them don't see all the bald spots" she jokes. "You'd be amazed how early they start!"
After the joke Veda turns more serious. "You're the one who's shown me I don't have to spend my life planting corpses. That I've got options. You do too, more than me. Smart doesn't mean all that much, and you're sure smart enough anyway."
"Look, you don't need the tiefling to take care of you. If you're afraid of the priest don't count on the tiefling to be any better. You've heard him talk. he sounds like he's the priest's dog and likes it. I want to leave too you know. I'm not saying right away. I'll give this gig with Razelago a fair chance, see where it goes. But when the time comes I'm leaving for the city. We can go together. We'll watch each other's backs. We'll do great!"
"If you like the tiefling fine, that's one thing. But don't sell yourself short, that's all I'm saying."
Veda splits off from the rest before arriving in the square, arriving from a differnet direction. She takes on the air of a bored local kid with nothing to do except see what the crowd is about. She alternates between milling around among the people and finding walls to prop up while she watches them.
Alixus nods to Jerax, ”Yes, follow me if you could.” He then begins to work the crowd, precise and carefully chosen language making it easy to learn information.
Alixus, Jerax and Cimri wear their sashes openly. Ameliya, Veda and Lily have theirs concealed upon first arriving at the square.
Unfortunately, Veda finds herself getting jostled about a little too much and standing near the street where the horse carts drown out a lot of the details of the conversations. Ameliya also finds people are just a bit too intimidated by the local businesswoman to engage in idle chatter with her.
However, Lily is able to find a small band of lumberjacks hanging out near the alley to talk with. One of them, a rough man with a scar on his cheek and balding pate says, "Oh yeah, I heard one of the Sword Knight's sons say she was visited by an angel! He meant it literally. I may not be particularly religious, but if the Iomedae is sending angels here... could mean great things for the church and the town."
Vade begins working his way through the crowd, flanked by the hulking tiefling. It's an intimidating sight, but the priest is able to some coax information from the locals. "Well, yes, your worshipfulness Lord Reverend, uh, sir... We know the Archbaron isn't too keen on large gatherin's like this, but well, we're figuring whatever Allamar has to say must be pretty important if she's willing to provoke the archbaron like this." The man is obviously a bit sheepish about the whole thing but the large group of friends with him seems to steele him from being overly submissive and fleeing your presence.
After a short while, coming from different directions, you collectively notice a new development. Wearing the symbol of Cheliax on their breasts like a badge come a severe looking woman and four men and women. Locals immediately recognize the woman as Rhona Staelish, the sheriff. The others are her deputies.
Cimri, who has been watching from the perimeter of the crowd, tries to walk away and avoid her aunt's notice when the sheriff calls out to her. "Cimri! How's my favorite niece doing?" The rogue stops in her track, one foot kicking up a swirl of dirt as she pivots and screws on an artificially large smile. "Why, just dandy, Aunt Rhona."
A couple of the deputies seem to have just happened to find themselves in proximity with Alixus and Jerax, while the other two have taken a position adjacent to the main thoroughfare.
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After hobnobbing with the lumberjacks Lily wonders if she missed her calling. No, she was better than them. She looks around the crowd for the rest of the party and sees the sheriff and her deputies. Something was telling her that loose shit was going to hit a gust of wind soon. She put on her sash and joined Jerax and Alixus, "Rumor has it they have an angel on their side." Seeing Cimri being verbally pinned by her aunt, Lily asks Jerax, "You wanna rescue yer girlfriend? Could make Harvest Feast awkward either way."
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After hobnobbing with the lumberjacks Lily wonders if she missed her calling. No, she was better than them. She looks around the crowd for the rest of the party and sees the sheriff and her deputies. Something was telling her that loose s$*# was going to hit a gust of wind soon. She put on her sash and joined Jerax and Alixus, "Rumor has it they have an angel on their side."
"An angel!" Jerax replied in surprise. Looking to Alixus, the tiefling stated, "That's a disturbing detail."
"Thank you, Lily. You're help is appreciated" Jerax smiled with a slight bow.Seeing Cimri being verbally pinned by her aunt, Lily asks Jerax, "You wanna rescue yer girlfriend? Could make Harvest Feast awkward either way."
The antipaladin gave former pirate a sideways, but good-natured glance at the ribbing. "Perhaps I should reintroduce myself to the sheriff at this time. Lily, would you accompany Reverend Vade until I return?"
The looming tiefling walks over to the two Staelishs. "Sheriff Rhona!" Jerax bellowed over the noisy crowd, "It is wonderful to see you again." The knight of Asmodeus stands before the city official with hand outstretched.
Even though she isn't directly facing him, Sheriff Rhona Staelish doesn't seem at all surprised when Jerax appears out of the crowd. Her gaze slips down to the proffered hand, back up (and up) to meet the tiefling's eyes, and she reaches out to shake it. She grips as firmly as she can and says, "It's Aunt Rhona to Cimri... Sheriff Staelish to you, or don't they teach titles and respect in Egorian anymore? That is where you went, isn't it? Spend time in any stocks there, or come back looking to climb into mine?"
Cimri, standing as a third-point in a triangle with the two, watches with feigned disinterest.
Two of the deputies stay near Alixus and Lily, while one of the other two makes his way through the crowd to more directly back-up the sheriff, though he doesn't intervene in her standoff with Jerax.
"It's Aunt Rhona to Cimri... Sheriff Staelish to you, or don't they teach titles and respect in Egorian anymore? That is where you went, isn't it? Spend time in any stocks there, or come back looking to climb into mine?"
"My sincere apologies, Sheriff Staelish", Jerax bows slightly, gripping Rhona's hand tightly. "But we do have a familiarity, don't we? Besides the 'correctional devices' used by Asmodean clergy would put those silly stocks to shame."
"It would appear the country air of Longacre has kept you hale and healthy all this time, Sheriff."
With her attempts at talking with the town yokels providing little in the way of information, a frustrated Ameliya moves through the growing crowd to find her allies once more. She eventually spots Lily, Jerax and Alixus, and rejoins them as they watch Cimri suffer the attentions of her aunt. "These people are annoyingly easy to intimidate. Most of them couldn't even look me in the eye. The ones that weren't leering anyway." She sighs. "Were any you of able to learn anything?" She says to them in a whisper.
While she tries to send the tiefling a message by crushing his hand, it's fumbled and the anti-paladin quickly maneuvers his larger hand for a better grip. A tense line along her jaw is the only acknowledgment she's willing to give. "I don't remember you going with flattery before, Jerax. It was usually a cracked skull or broken arm. I'm not sure which I trusted more." She yanks her hand back and turns her gaze back to Cimri.
"I'm hearing some interesting rumors lately about you hanging around some shady folks, and here I find Jerax back from wherever he disappeared to. Want to introduce me to the others?"
Cimri tries to hide her irritation and affects a casual, unconcerned pose, leaning up against the empty shop behind her. "Not particularly, aunty."
While she tries to send the tiefling a message, it's fumbled and the anti-paladin quickly maneuvers his larger hand for a better grip. A tense line along her jaw is the only acknowledgment she's willing to give. "I don't remember you going with flattery before, Jerax. It was usually a cracked skull or broken arm. I'm not sure which I trusted more." She yanks her hand back and turns her gaze back to Cimri.
Jerax does his best to keep the conversation on himself and no one else. "Flattery is but one of many traits I learned during my education in Egorian. It is remarkably helpful in surviving church politics."
"Ah. Just think about it, Sheriff Staelish. Over a decade ago, you and your deputies were trying ever so hard to get on the 'straight-and-narrow'; to become a productive member of society. And thanks to your absolute failure, the Archbaron had to step in and send me away to Egorian: a place that honed me into what you see before you. A knight of Asmodeus, or as some lesser minds have said, an antipaladin."
The towering tiefling boldly stepped closer to the local sheriff, to emphasize the differences in height. "I have become what you always hoped for me. I am a Agent of The Law; one who imposes peace and properity through the parental gaze of Asmodeus: The First, The Lord of the Pit and King of Hell."
The unholy warrior bends down to put his face nearer to Rhona. "You must be so proud for me, Sheriff Staelish", Jerax finished with a wide, fang-ridden smile.
Veda can't get a handle on what's going on at all. Frustrated, she notices most of her people seem to be clustering around Cimri and the sheriff. She figures she might as well go and see what's happening since she first idea has been a total bust.
She walks over casually, as if she's still taking the whole thing in the square in.
"Heya Cimri, Sheriff Staelish. What's going on?"
Veda walks up to the group and asks what's going on while Jerax is squaring off with the sheriff who, for her part, continues to cast a hard gaze at Cimri. While continuing to stare at Cimri, the sheriff raises a hand in the direction of Veda with a single finger raised, a gesture to wait and be quiet. Her head then slowly turns with exaggerated patience to match the tiefling's. It is quite clear she is completely unimpressed by this display.
"I have never been anything other than... disappointed in you, Sir Jerax. Even today, you mistake thuggery with authority and rank with right. However, if you would like to test my authority and jurisdiction in this county, to see how my temporal authority compares with your ecclesiastical, continue in your efforts to physically intimidate the duly appointed sheriff. Otherwise... Step. Back."
Cimri stands upright, pressing away from the wall, and coughs slightly, "Aunt Rhona, I'm sure Jerax, uh, Sir Jerax..." she says the last two words with a raised pitch, as if a question, "didn't mean nothin' by it." Cimri is trying to send a subtle message that, strong as Jerax is, she doesn't think he could take Rhona.
Rhona keeps her eyes locked on Jerax's, she slowly lowers her arm that was outstretched towards Veda, and says, "No, Cimri. He means it. And you be quiet now, seems the knight wants to speak on your behalf."
Whether he backs up or not, she continues, a slight hardening of tone indicating she is speaking to Jerax again, "Since you're here--and wearing the same sash as Cimri--why don't you tell me: What's the story with them? Someone paying you to wear them?"
Whether he backs up or not, she continues, a slight hardening of tone indicating she is speaking to Jerax again, "Since you're here--and wearing the same sash as Cimri--why don't you tell me: What's the story with them? Someone paying you to wear them?"
"Oh, these things?" The tiefling looks down at the sash he's wearing, flicking off a non-existent fleck of dust. "Surely there nothing wrong with some 'good-old' Longacre pride? A local artisan, can't remember the name, was selling these in the Arch and the Lark yesterday. Which is where I meet your niece the other night." The antipaladin turns to greet the uncomfortable rogue. "Nice to see you again, Ms. Cimri."
Slenk looks about to see if there are any gatherings of slips to hear the speech. He hopes to infiltrate the group naturally and just listen for responses. If no real gatherings, he shadows Jerax, Cimri and the rest of the group. He does not enter into the banter with the Sheriff, hoping his natural stature keeps him off her radar.
Lily keeps a peery eye on the deputies as they approach. She whispers, "On yer left." She answers Ameliya, "Some lumberjacks think they got an angel on their side. What'd you find Preacher?"
Veda senses some tension and comes up with the most innocuous, information free yet accurate explanation for their presence she can manage.
"There's a crowd so there must be a reason Sheriff. Cimri and I came along to see what the all the fuss is about, picked up a few friends who wanted to come too. The sashes are for fun, having a bit of a laugh seeing how people react you know?"
Looking down at his sash, Slenk addresses the Sheriff. "These sashes are all the new fashion, even we halflings are wearing them now."
Veda and Slenk join the scrum. The sheriff's jaw clenches in some frustration at the gathering crowd, while Cimri takes a moment to process all of this, looking around before back to Jerax and says, "Yeah... the Arch and Lark. Nice to see you again, too." Cimri wouldn't be joining any theatre troupes anytime soon, though if the sheriff noticed, she didn't let on.
Rhona glances about her at the sudden abundance of sash-bearing citizens. "Veda... Slenk," she acknowledges each of you by name. Sheriff Staelish had a deserved reputation as a no nonsense keeper of the peace, not particularly warm but also as someone who made a point to know everyone who lived under her protection.
She looks back at Jerax, glances at Cimri, then addresses the group generally, "So... sashes are the newest fashion accessory. Now him, I get..." She gestures vaguely (and dismissively) towards Jerax. "But the rest of you... I didn't take you for the religious sort. You're here for the sermon, or just happen to be passing through?"
With Lily, Alixus shares that the locals acknowledged the baron would likely be irritated by a gathering such as this but seem to be too interested to hear what Allamar has to say to stay away.
She looks back at Jerax, glances at Cimri, then addresses the group generally, "So... sashes are the newest fashion accessory. Now him, I get..." She gestures vaguely (and dismissively) towards Jerax. "But the rest of you... I didn't take you for the religious sort. You're here for the sermon, or just happen to be passing through?"
Jerax straightens upright. "Well, the ongoing rumor is that one of Allamar-spawn had an encounter with an angel! Isn't that adorable?" The tiefling said with enough sarcasm thick enough to drown a puppy. "And this gathering, which last time I checked, any large public gathering was deemed illegal under the Archbaron, is going to be a bard's tale all about the 'experience'. And obviously, the sighting of dangerous outsiders near populated areas are a concern for the Asmodean church and all of Cheliax."
The conversation has gone boring to Veda so she gives the knot of people around the sheriff a casual wave. She then cycles back out into the crowd to make another attempt at getting a handle on what's going on and being discussed in the crowd.
His time she remembers to drink the vial of liquid she forgot to drink before.
Ameliya nods her head listening intently to Lily's whispers. To say that rumors of an angel being afoot in Longacre was troubling would have been an understatement. Fortunately, Ameliya immediately chalked the rumor up to either wishful thinking or utter delusion on the part of the Allamars, the townsfolk of Lonagacre, or both. After all, what kind of angel would sully itself by trying to save a backwater like Longacre? It was nonsense. Utter nonsense. Hopefully...
Seeing no reason to further speculate on the matter, Ameliya refocused her attentions on the unfolding confrontation between Rhona and Jerax. Seeing that both parties were getting alarmingly agitated with one another, and that Rhonda was obviously trying to fish for information on her niece's new associates, Ameliya quickly decided to intervene with a false smile on her lips and an insincere bow of deferential respect to the sheriff.
"Darling Rhona! So good to see you here! Keeping our Church square safe I respect?" Ameliya made a noblewoman's melodic laugh at the rhetorical question, which was somehow both parts aristocratic and causal. "I see you've become reacquainted with Jerax, she says, briefly turning to the man in question before setting her blue eyes back at the sheriff. "I've only known him for a little while now, but the man is a decent sort by my estimations. Yes, yes, I know the Church of Asmodeus can be rather heavy-handed at times, but its devotees have every right to be here as anyone without their motivations being questioned. Do not they not?"
Not allowing Rhona to get a word in edgewise quite yet, Ameliya keeps talking and says what she hopes will pacify the sheriff. "I know I am only a new arrival in this town, but I see no reason why this gathering cannot be one of mutual understanding and peace. The Allamars will say what they have to say, as well others I suspect. Until then, I say we try to be civil towards one another. Don't you agree, Rhona?"
The sheriff looks like she's about to snap at Veda to 'halt' when the heterochromatic-eyed woman walks away after being asked a question, but at that precise moment Ameliya comes swooping in.
She watches Ameliya during this breathless performance -- one might say she stares -- mouth starting to open a few times to interject but consistently bowled over. Finally, it comes to an end.
"Don't you agree, Rhona?"
Having been trying to talk during this performance, the end of it finds Rhona's mouth slightly agape. It closes, she looks at Jerax, back to Ameliya, Jerax again, Cimri, the retreating backside of Veda, then once again to Ameliya.
"I... cannot disagree with that, Madam Arvanxi, no. It's nice to have such a civil, calm perspective." She looks you all over once again, seems about to depart, prompting a sigh of relief from her niece, then she pauses and looks back. "Cimri, just one more thing..."
"Did you hear about what happened to ol' Louslik at the tannery last night? You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"
Jerax looks intently at Cimri, catching the sheriff out of the corner of his eye. The antipaladin waits until the senior Staelish is looking at the younger, to give the rogue a quick but concise shaking of his head.
"Servants do speak, and I heard something him refusing to pay his lawful taxes. Did you end up finally collecting them in your lawful role as Sheriff then?"