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Lev nods, stroking his beard. "The right atmosphere will have the Caydogs paying for their own drinks- a good story could get things started, then I can slip away to prepare an intercept," the halfling says. "A drink or two to calm the nerves before we begin couldn't hurt either!"
Lev nods. "That's all right, it doesn't have to pass close inspection, just enough to make them more amenable to the deception. I also have this cloak- though poor quality, it will help maintain the illusion. I hope, at least!" Lev removes a grey cloak from his bag and presents it to the group.
"I'll be grabbing some cheap fabric in the morning, for my Gardener disguise," Lev says. "Some place with lots of crossroads, and plenty of cover to duck behind would be optimal. I have no skill with locks, so we'll need someone to free Pauline sooner than later. I could use the expertise of someone adept at forgery to fake the transfer orders as well," he states while looking at the group.
Lev grins at the group, eager to share his nascent plan of attack. "I've got a few of the Rose who are ready to make a distraction and run for it. I'll disguise myself as a Gardener and hand Pauline's escorts order that I'm to take her for fear of revolutionaries making trouble- once I'm in place, those Blood Rose runners I mentioned will stir up some trouble and lead off her old guards. If they see through me we might have to grab her and run- but that's the worst case scenario we want to avoid if at all possible!" Lev looks to Emelien, Thisbe and Nyx to see what they think.
Satisfied, Lev nods at the teenagers, glad for the assistance. ”Good! Glad to have you all aboard. As for the drop-off location, there’s a gas lamp a few blocks from here with a hollow base- Jean-Andre should know it. If anything seems to change I’ll drop off updates there.” After exchanging pleasantries and finalizing the drop off location, Lev takes his leave of the Blood Rose members and heads back to his small room in Le Commune, exhausted from the busy day.
Lev grins at the room. “Well, comrades, I’m glad to see your faces. Tomorrow we’ll face death and worse- the Gardeners will surely condemn our souls to the final blades if they catch us. Worse still, if we do nothing a soul much nobler than our own- that of Pauline Delarous herself.” Leaning forward, Lev catches the eye of both twins in turn, making sure their gaze held the steel needed for the coming plan. ”We know where Pauline is right now, and we know where they’ll be taking her. I’m to disguise myself as a Gardener and forge some transfer papers for Pauline- while I’m dealing with the escorts, I’ll need folks to stir up a fuss, as if a mob were forming. I’ll convince the other Gardeners to give chase, and you lot will give ‘em the slip in the back alleys. Meantime, I’ll grab Pauline and do our best to disappear. We’ve got to be mobile since we don’t know exactly where we might intercept them, and be ready to escape their notice as soon as Delarus is away. Are you two the right folks for this job?”
Lev pulls his cap down as he turns the corner and sees a crowd, ready to turn and walk the other way before realizing the crowd was filled with the usual suspects, rabble rousers and troublemakers all. Lev’s small stature allows him to cut in and out of the crowd, moving up to the front without forcing his way inside. Jean-André motions him forward and Lev slips between the legs of onlookers and into the building, nimbly dodging the crowd to get passed them and to the back room his friend was heading towards. The halfling waves to Pasqual and jumps up onto the counter, grabbing the ladle and stirring with his hips, the bubbling pot’s size nearly making the angle impossible. “My pleasure, Pasqual! Always happy to lend a hand,” he says as he leans over the large cauldron and steadily stirs the stew.
The halfling tip-toed up to Jean-Andre just as the out of breath anarchist turned. Before the larger man could let out an exclamation, Lev lifted a finger and put it to his pursed lips, shushing any reaction while barely containing his own mirth. Waving his companion along, Lev lead the way deeper into Isarn’s corridors, away from the guards. “Well, that was a lark,” Lev japed once they were out of earshot.“Let’s hope saving the kid doesn’t put us in hot water with our dinner guests!”
Slowly and carefully, Lev steps lightly aside and begins to creep away from the guards, stealthily making his way in the general direction of Jean Andre’s weapon shop. Once out of earshot of the guards, he finds a back alley and dismisses the invisibility before running to catch up to the smith before the scheduled appointment with Silvia and Pasqual.
Lev begins to gesticulate and project as if he’s giving a performance. “Listen well to this cautionary tale, gentlemen! It is a tale of guard and a man, the latter carousing after the curfew. Well, the guard stops and asks the man, ‘What are you doing out at this time of night?’ ‘Well,’ he replies, ‘I'm on my way to attend a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body, as well as smoking too much pipe weed and staying out too late.’ The guard then asks, ‘Who would be giving that kind of lecture at this time of night?’ The man says, ‘My wife!’” As he delivers the punch line, Lev weaves his arcane gestures into his speech cadence and mannerisms, casting Invisibility on himself once Jean Andre is sufficiently far that his escape is guaranteed.
Lev watches as his friend intervenes in the harassment- knowing he needs to act quickly, Lev closes the distance between himself and the guards. Once within sixty feet of them, he claps his hands together as loudly as he can. "Gentlemen! Listen well, for my words will determine the course of your very soul!" Projecting his voice with a bold timbre, Lev does his best to capture the attention of the guards. Fascinating: Fascinate unless they succeed in a DC 18 (10 + 3 + 5)
With a smile and a nod to the half elf behind the counter, Lev nudges Jean-André and heads back towards Le Commune. "Sure thing- as long as we don't miss dinner with Silvia and Pasqual. They'd ring my neck!"
Smirking, Lev takes three more gold pieces from his wallet. "Alright- I'll take all three you recommended in that case- but no dry herbs, you hear me? I want freshly cured!" Lev winks a the half elf as he places the remaining gold on the counter.
Once he has the attention of the shopkeeper, Lev grabs up his purse and replaces it at his side, wary of the part of town he’s in and making it clear that they’d have to earn his money if they hoped to get it. “Well, I’ve got a gnomish friend that likes to stave off the bleaching with new flavors. Let me try some of that Basalisk Blend.” The halfling reaches into his coinpurse to retrieve two gold coins, placing them on the counter and sliding them across.
Tipping the brim of his hat to the woman once she gives him direction, Lev heads towards the building. ”Indeed. A shame, but better than under gaze of chairman Goss at least!”, he replies to his friend. ”Good evening! I’m looking for some tobacco- the more flavorful the better!” Lev pulls his coin purse out, hefting it in his hands to demonstrate that he's a paying customer.
Pursing his lips, Lev ignores his grumbling stomach. “No, not yet. We’ll have dinner tonight with Silvia and Pasqual- don’t spoil your appetite!” The halfling can’t help but think what a shame all the abandoned buildings are. Each one represents an opportunity missed due to mismanagement, exploitation or oppression- too often all three. Sighing, he strides forward. “Ho there!” He waves to the bouncer, strolling slowly over with his hands visible. “I seem to have misplaced my herbal bag- you don’t happen to know where I can replace its contents, do you?”
Laughing as he walks, Lev says, "Nevermind, old friend- I'll get to know him better in time I'm sure." The halfling continues to the shop, rushing to save time.
”Smoke on the Sellen! Have a hankering for something… unique.” Lev hops off the curb, heading north east towards Our Lady of Liberation. ”Have you heard of Senator Lupofulo? Any gossip on the Gnome?” The historian walks briskly- at least, as briskly as his smaller legs will take him.
The halfling pats old Eugene on the arm, assuaging his friend with a smile as he leaves the All For One, heading off towards the entrance to his home. He tried not to let his smirk show as he sees the watchmen force the hot headed Jean-Andre to wait for the halfling. “Sorry, sorry! Duties to attend to, you understand- community first, and all.” Lev greets his friend, ushering them away from the watchmen and the bounds of Le Commune. ”Now, I know we need to be ready for dinner with Silvia and Pasqual. That still leaves us with some time to spare beforehand, no?”
Finishing his work quickly, Lev wipes his hands on a spare rag and prepare to race off to Smoke on the Sellen, saving time by first casting Ears of the City to pinpoint its current location.
Lev preferred smaller venues and Gretchen would have been his first choice for almost any other herb, but for a smoking leaf? Smoke on the Sellen was his go-to. Besides, you couldn’t beat the name. If it’s within an hour’s distance, Lev will rush off to get some tobacco and return- if not, the good Senator will need to wait as he makes his way to Jean-Andre’s for dinner… and maybe a show.
”...well, it very much depends on what you’re looking to spend. The Atrium will have the quality you’re looking for, but will take the most coin. The Pillars are less pricey, but you’d have to deal with some… seedy characters to get it taken care of. I do know of two sellers that carry less risk and cost less coin, but they move around and might be difficult for a visitor to locate. If you’d like me to pop out to grab some pipeweed for you, I’d be happy to oblige, Senator.” Lev doesn’t particularly care about getting this gnome his tobacco, but it never hurts to have a Senator owe you a favor.
“It’s so good to see you again, Monsieur Carpine!” Returning the warm greeting, Lev looks around and takes a moment to reminisce about his time here. Just out of such a long prison term, the halfling had to adjust to his freedom. The desire for structure and discipline had almost become an ingrained part of him, and the All for One was the perfect place to rid himself of it. The nights he stayed up drinking and commiserating with others, the countless hours spent in political arguments, the sometimes-disastrous attempts to break curfew and avoid notice doing it. Sighing with nostalgia, Lev followed Eugene to the Senator dorm. “Ah, yes- I wasn’t here while the Senate was in session, but I confess to using it as a quiet place to sneak off and write in.” Lev waves Eugene off and gets to work. After tidying the mess and getting the laundry hauled off, Lev is surprised by a visitor. “A pleasure, Senator Lupofulo. Lev Bronstein, at your service. As for good pipesmoke in Isarn, well…” Lev purses his lips and strokes his chin as he tries to remember who has the reputation for flavorful tobacco.
Greeting the kitchen marm with a wink, Lev can’t help but smile at the older woman as she speaks. “Out of towners, you say?” Lev strokes his beard, his curiosity sparked. “I’m sure Claire could use a hand, but she’ll have to wait until Sunday. I’m headed to the All-for-one now!” The halfling hurries towards the pub, eager to overhear any gossip or sneak a peek at any sensitive documents any careless Senator or secretary might leave out. Before he arrives within eyesight of the All for One, Lev begins to affect his best “wise old man” personality, casting Raiment of Command to envelope himself in an aura of authority. Checking his reflection in a broken window, Lev also casts Honeyed Tongue, ready to banter with whoever he might meet. Once the spells are in place, he heads to the All for One to clean some rooms.
Lev doesn’t linger- once he knows the location he needs to be at, he continues his route and avoids an obvious study of the building, not wanting to attract undue attention to it should he be followed or scryed upon. His circuit eventually leads him back to Le Commune, taking another hour as he keeps his meandering pace. The next few hours are spent in dreary work. To keep the Erastilians tolerance for him high, Lev makes a show of being seen doing menial labor. Washing dishes, cleaning latrines, emptying chamber pots and other thankless tasks are met with loud and ostentatious work by the halfling, who makes a point of commiserating with as many people as possible while he works. After a few hours of labor, Lev cleans himself up and then sets off again- this time to find a simple merchant that sells either grey fabric or cloaks that might approximate the Gardener's clothing with some simple tailoring.
”But of course, monsieur, but of course! I am always available for the Pasquiers, junior and senior alike. And if either of you might seek to assist in the liberation of contemporaries, you let me know!” After the conversation ends, Lev casually strolls out of Le Commune and towards the wine quarter and begins his search, attempting to identify the location of Cerise sur le Dessus and working his way up into Sud Riviere, acting as if he were taking a casual stroll rather than searching the city for something.
Lev looks at him over the rims of his glasses, taking a long slurp of hot coffee as he did. Leaning forward, he lowers his voice to a quiet murmur. ”Well, if you’ve heard rumors of Pauline Delarus being alive, you’ve heard right. I’m trying to muster the Milanites to do something about it.” Leaning back, he allows his voice to get louder, though he still speaks in a low tone. ”Now, to be clear, it shouldn’t affect Le Commune at all. Your borders will stay intact and defended, and there won’t be an association with any action to free Delarus with your people or community. Of course, all this is hypothetical- a coordinated rescue effort would take many days to plan, and Milanites are not exactly known for their decisive unity.”
Lev sidles up to the large wooden table and hops up onto the seat, the high bench forcing his legs to dangle. Heartily scarfing down flapjacks, Lev laughs at the needling, used to the light hazing of the old timers and devout Erastilians. Raising a mug of coffee in salute, he chuckles as he flips through notes. Finally done with breakfast, he begins to mentally plan his day when Le Fiston arrives. “Ah, young Pierre. Were you present? A promising start, no? No where near the coherent and disciplined organization I know we can one day become, but we seemed to find points of unity. What did you wish to know?”
Lev yawns and awakens with the rising sun, his night cap's point drooping down lazily as he smacks his lips. Stretching as he rises, his old bones cracking as he does, he walks over to his voluminous notes- stopping at the pile concerning Isgar he begins to rummage through the papers, seeing if the name 'Cerise sur le Dessus' comes up at all.
After his frantic search, he bathes and dresses before heading out.
Lev strokes his beard, then returns to his room to retire. Crossing his legs on his bed, he begins to attune himself to the spirit of the city. Images of people walking through Isarn rapidly blink interspersed with scenes of empty streets and busy shops as he casts Ears of the City, asking the following questions;
Once the images stop flashing through Lev's mind, he breathes a heavy sigh and goes to sleep.
Lev nods somberly as Pasqual gives his ultimatum. “A fair deal if I’ve ever heard one.” To Silvia’s remark he holds up both hands in a gesture of placation. “I assure you, I may be a gentleman but never a gentle man!” His small hand is easily eclipsed by the human leader, but he shakes as firmly as he can nevertheless. He bids the group a good night and begins to head back to Le Commune, avoiding any guards as best he can.
Along the route, he looks for an area with sufficient light and without anyone around. Skulking close to the light source, he takes the note out of his pocket to read whatever message was left for him.
Lev strokes his chin, arching an eyebrow at the young man as he takes a moment to assess him and whether Lev believes he’ll be enough to really help.
”Well, that’s easy enough. Jean-Andre and I spend much of our time together in any case, staying close to him won’t be difficult.” Nodding to the blacksmith, he turns back to Pasqual and asks, ”Will you be able to get away from the Gardners? Someone in your position being caught would be absolutely disastrous- even if you don’t give in to the torture, they can take information from your corpse! I won’t lead some young idealist to a prison sentence or execution, either. You'll need to know the streets of the city and be faster than they are- luckier too.” Lev doesn't know for sure he'll need a runner, but having one ready seems like a smart idea in case the plan doesn't go off without a hitch.
Lev waits patiently, mimicking his friend Jean-Andre until Silvia’s hot temper has a chance to cool. Knowing he could only make the situation worse, he holds his tongue and avoids eye contact just before Pasqual’s question. Sheepishly, knowing his tenuous footing with the revolutionaries, he begins to speak with his voice lowered, only just above a whisper. “I know where the Gardeners will take Pauline from and where they’ll be taking her to. Somewhere along the way,” he says, leaning in and making eye contact with the two, “I’ll try to intercept them dressed as a Gardener, with false papers to transfer her and using magic to try to distract and decieve them. As they examine the papers, I want someone to ‘stumble’ upon us and call out- I’ll tell the others to pursue them while I ‘escort’ Delarus. By the time they realize they’ve been deceived, I intend for both of us to be gone- fled into the city, to a sanctuary that cannot be scryed upon.” Lev gauges their reactions, assessing if they seem to believe escaping the gardeners on foot is possible for one of their members, or a fool’s errand.
Lev waits with trepidation as Jean-Andre speaks with the young couple, cringing at Silvia’s outburst. ’I guess Jean-Andre told her, Lev thought with a grimace, hoping these two knew how to keep a secret- for Pauline’s sake, if nothing else. Grasping Pasqual’s hand in a firm and friendly gesture, the halfling smiles up at the man and realizes how youthful the two really are. “Lev Bronstein. A pleasure.” The older halfling smiles and nods to graciously accept Pasqual’s compliment before Silvia’s interjection gave him pause. “Ah, yes… about that. I hope you both understand the necessity of my deception. Goss cannot be alerted to our plans- even revealing as much as I did was a risk- one I only took in the hopes of goading the masses into action!” Lev implores the two revolutionaries, hoping his explanation will make them less hostile.
Regardless of whether it seems Lev has won them over, he continues, “If we are to rescue Pauline, we’ll need people who are fleet of foot and know the Sud Riviere like the back of their hands. Do you know of any trustworthy comrades that can be tasked with escaping capture? We’ll need a distraction, but I don’t want to risk the capture of good Milanites if none of your cadre are fast and familiar with the streets.”
Lev grimaces as his friend’s exclaimation and expression. “Jean-Andre…” he starts before he’s cut off by Chantel. Nodding as she deduces his plan to disguise the gossip enough that Goss (hopefully) won’t jeopardize the rescue, and smiles as both Chantel and Eva offer what assistance they can. “I appreciate your candor- and your offers to lend what aid you can. This is precisely why we ought to work together- to find mutually agreeable actions and be prepared for whatever Goss tries to throw at us! “I appreciate the offer to gather your forces quickly, Eva- I know it was not made lightly, and what an undertaking it would be. But no- I believe we have a better chance of rescuing Pauline the fewer of us that are aware of the rescue attempt. Perhaps we can prepare a plan for rapid action in the future, but I understand that will be a much longer discussion- and for another time. “Chantel, Pauline may very well take you up on the offer of hospitality. I will discuss with her once she’s safely away from the Gardeners. I thank you both again for your time and I hope we can discuss future cooperation in a less… contentious setting.” Lev grins and bids the ladies good night after inquiring how he can quickly and secretively reach them. He motions to Jean-Andre, leading him away from the dispersing group and once they’re alone, Lev turns to give his most recalcitrant expression. “I truly apologize, my old friend. I hope you understand why I had to give a half-truth. I hope I can count on your discretion… and I may need another favor. Are there any members of the Blood Rose who know the streets impeccably, and can outrun the law? They can’t ask what they’re needed for, but they should know it’s dangerous. I don’t know for sure they’ll be needed yet, but if we do I want to be ready.” Lev steps back and waits for his friend’s reply.
Lev bows slightly to Eva and smirks before speaking in low tones- more than a whisper but quiet enough that only the four of them could hear. ”Yesterday I was informed that Ms. Delarus is alive. The rumor I started says she’s being held by the Gardeners in Litran, but the truth is that she’s being held here, in Isarn. Her execution is scheduled after a transfer from the Monolith on Wealday after curfew. I’d like to make sure she never arrives at the transfer point, and may have allies who are interested in assisting. I doubt this will be the last time a prisoner of Goss with Milanite sympathies will need to be rescued, either. Why not pool our resources? We can establish an underground network of sanctuary from the violent repression of Goss and other counter revolutionary forces.” Lev implores the two leaders in earnest, ready to answer questions.
"Ah, but you know my politics well enough to answer that, madame- our strength begins and ends with the people, not individuals in leadership. That said, the people have spoken- Pauline cannot be endangered though our reckless actions! I accept your generous offer- let us proceed in private, away from so many ears," Lev says, doffing his cap and bowing in acquiescence. "Shall we retire to Jean-Andre's smithy, or do you have another preference for our privacy?"
”Remind them of the consequences if we divulge sensitive information to the wrong source, Jean-Andre!” Lev whispers under his breath, nudging his friend as he grabs his water skin from his belt to whet his whistle.
"Calm yourself madame!" Chantel's passion surprises a wide eyed Lev, who raises his hands and takes a tentative step backward. "Very well, if you insist- I'll tell you what I know."
”Pauline is being held by Goss as we speak. He’s kept her hidden for years, and has recently decided that the risk of her discovery outweighs any potential benefit for keeping her alive. I’d ask for your help in moving to save her, but we are unprepared and undisciplined. Like untrained soldier demanding to be in a phalanx, we would pose more of a risk than we could justify. But- if we prepare now, combine our forces and function as one, we would have options available to us!” Lev implores the crowd with a military metaphor.
“Ah, but if we discuss Pauline’s fate without first establishing a framework for us to discuss safely, we run the risk of becoming a wilted rose in Goss’ garden," Lev quips with a grin and a nudge to Jean Andre, "No good in the bed, but fine up against a wall!”
“Those who fight and run away live to fight another day!” Lev exclaims flippantly, hoping to turn the jovial mood to his advantage and undercut his oppositions previous point so as to allay fears about avoiding repercussions from Goss.
As Chantel reviews her notes, Lev leans in towards Jean Andre to whisper, “Don’t let them instill fear in the crowd Jean-Andre! If ever there was a time to bolster their love of freedom and the courage of the revolution, now is the time.” After Chantel speaks but before Jean Andre has a chance to respond, Lev scoffs and says, “As if Goss doesn’t hound our every step already. Have you forgotten the lawyer Wyssal’s impending execution?!” Lev then steps back to let his partner speak.
“I see.” Lev’s deadpan voice responds, ringing clearly out among the whispers. “So, in your twisted perspective, the sacrifice of revolutionaries that are imprisoned by reactionaries is somehow a liability?” His voice raises as he speaks, growing more bold. “You would dare disparage those willing to endure imprisonment? You, who claims to abhor the imprisonment of souls in the Final Blades? Need I remind you, Courage Heart herself was imprisoned. Upon her release from the Final Blade, did Milani castigate her for her imprisonment. No! She was elevated to Herald of Milani. Any real revolutionary spends time being imprisoned, and it is nigh blaspheme for you to deride such noble service.”
Edge Edge Edge Edge Edge Edge Edge
“It’s true,” Lev says, nodding gravely, “The revolution, in its youthful exuberance, failed. There is no excuse for this failure.”
“It is often said that ‘the germ of violence was in revolution from the beginning’. Well, I have no objection. Only, the revolution also contained many other germs, a mass of other germs, and those who lived through the enthusiasm of the first years of the first victorious council ought not to forget it. To judge the living man by the death germs which the autopsy reveals in the corpse – and which he may have carried in him since his birth – is that very sensible? “We can ensure we don’t carry this plague, but only before taking power. When else should we address these issues, if not now? Who else will even make the attempt, if not us?”
[Change "“And should I trust that the Blood Rose won’t rashly resort to mobs and riots? Trust that not one overzealous member will mistakenly release information that could prove pivotal?”" to "And should I trust that the Sisters will not see a better route to protection through going to Goss and pleading for her life directly?"]
Patting his friend Jean-Andre on the arm reassuringly, Lev turns towards Eva Bhannon. “Oh indeed? And should I take for granted the Council’s position as favorable? Should I trust that you will not plead with Goss directly, and reveal what little information we have?” Turning to Chantel, his voice rises, “And should I trust that the Blood Rose won’t rashly resort to mobs and riots? Trust that not one overzealous member will mistakenly release information that could prove pivotal?” Turning now to the crowd, he again raises his voice. “Yes. Pauline Delarus is alive. Goss holds her and plans the worst- and she’s not the only prisoner of Goss, not the only good patriot set to have her soul forever stolen by a Final Blade. What can we do about it, without preparation and cooperation? Nothing! But what basis can our groups cooperate under? “You belong to disparate groups with clear programs and strict internal discipline. After assuring themselves of the complete independence and ideological homogeneity of their ranks, the various groups fight for influence over the majority of Galtans. This struggle can be accelerated or retarded depending upon objective circumstances and the expediency of the tactics employed- but it is perfectly evident that oppression by Goss is not suspended while this struggle occurs. During this oppression the Galtan masses sense the need of unity in action, of unity in resisting Goss' onslaught. Any party which mechanically counterposes itself to the need of Galtan patriots for unity in action will unfailingly be condemned in the minds of the masses! “The question becomes- what basis can we cooperate on? Even sharing information is an act of cooperation which, if you are interested in, needs coordination and oversight,” Lev says more to the crowd than to those in the spotlight. “Which can then be used for the benefit of others as well. Surely you wouldn’t refuse to assist Pauline Delarus simply because I seek to ensure her safety before divulging vital information?”
The grumpy old halfling is cantankerous as the boy leads him through the Wine and Industrial districts, grumbling along the way. “Ah, these old bones are too worn for all this sneaking. Murder on a back, I say,” he mumbles, silencing himself within earshot of the clanking guards, their hooded lanterns warning of their presence far before they posed a threat. At the access hatch, Lev releases a belabored sigh as the boy struggles to pry it open. “This does not bode well for my arthritis,” he grumbles as he peers down and kneels down to hook a foot into the ladder, descending cautiously before proceeding into the nexus of tunnels. ”Now this is a crowd,’ Lev thinks, stunned at the size of the onlookers. That’s how these things always went, though- he should have expected it. Everyone wants a say, and all interests should be represented. ’Good. Let them hear the alternative to complacency- let them hear the revolution has not died under the heel of Goss!’ Listening to Jean-André while keeping his eyes forward and face friendly and nodding as he absorbed the information, Lev takes his time to observe the two women across from them. His eyes dart to the daggers around Eva’s person, but the Courageous Council wasn’t known for wanton violence so he quickly disregarded the threat. Nodding to the women, he steps forward into the center and begins to speak. ”Thank you all for coming. Most of you know me- and my loud mouth!” Lev smiles, doing his best to lighten the mood. “There’s a rumor going around that someone very important to our cause hasn’t been martyred after all. I won’t mention her name, because I’ve already done enough harm to prevent her rescue- I pray that you’ll keep it to yourself in the coming weeks so that Goss doesn’t get word that we know. I spoke hastily when I discovered that our comrade lived- hastily because I felt that something must be done- but that’s not what I’m here to talk to you about. No, I don’t come asking anyone to take up arms or to raise a mob, but to propose an alternative for cooperation.” Turning to meet as many eyes in the crowd as he can as he speaks, Lev implores them, “Most of you in this room are tired of the violence, the bloodshed, the unscrupulous use of force. Many of us refuse to take part again in upheaval, and the rest recognize that we are powerless without unity- divided we are disarmed. So what, then, should we do? Should we simply wait, and allow Goss to reign unquestioned, kidnapping and executing our greatest leaders at his convenience? No! There is another way. “The basis of Goss’ reign is not force. He uses force to destroy any competition or threat, surely, but the basis of his regime is one of economics. By providing peace, housing and bread he ensures that the people look to him, see his administration as legitimate and are rewarded for obedience to it. But was Goss the one who made the bread? Who built the houses? No! And by organizing the elements that build our society, we can change it from the base up. “Of course, Goss will respond with violence. That is why we must organize the laborers of Isarn in secret. I propose we form a council of revolutionary workers, whose intent is to organize those in Isarn who make society’s wheels turn! We’ll start with smaller reforms won through strikes and political pressure, and as we develop our approach we’ll be able to exert more and more influence- all without raising arms!” Lev steps back to gauge the crowd’s reaction and await the response of the women opposite them.
Incredible! They didn't even throw any rotten vegetables at me this time, Lev thinks as the kitchen goes about its work. A few more months of this and I might even convince a few of them! As he washes up and cleans his clothes of any peels or stains, the older halfling spots an old acquaintance. Lev continues to clean himself and the work area as Pierre sits, knowing that leaning in and whispering conspiratorially will cause much more suspicion than a casual, quiet conversation between friends. "Well, now, I'm glad you asked. Before I answer, I think we can agree that Goss, the Gardeners, and most of the Senate all agree that true power comes at the tip of a sword. But those who worship the Everbloom and Old Deadeye know better- we know the basis of power is community, our ability to subsist and thrive through our own production! “What if there were a way to- without violence of any sort- shift the balance of production? To empower and enrich communities seeking to provide for themselves, unconnected to the Government parasites or the Abadarian leeches? I have a plan that could do just that. It’s not without risk, but no where near the risk that would be incurred by open rebellion. My goal is to convince those at the meeting to lend their assistance, in the hopes of creating a less bloody path to change.” Lev meets Pierre’s eyes as he speaks, trying to implore his cooperation.
-------------------- Lev nods solemnly and steps forward, assuming the child will lead him towards the meeting.
Lev smiles at the cantankerous cook, who moves on before he can explain himself- just as well, he wouldn’t want to involve Gertrude in any of this machinations. While he trusted her to tolerate his flakey schedule, he wasn’t sure how she’d feel about real political engagement. Grabbing potatoes, he continues peeling as he looks around at the other scullery workers. Busy with work to keep his hands occupied, Lev begins to occupy his voice by speaking on the potential for bettering lives that Goss wastes every day; “I wonder how many thousands of hours these countless chores collectively known as “housework” – cooking, washing dishes, doing laundry, sweeping, sorting etc. – consume from our lives? Even worse, the housework is virtually invisible! No one notices it until it isn’t done – we notice the unmade bed, not the scrubbed and polished floor. Invisible, repetitive, exhausting, unproductive, uncreative – these are the adjectives which most perfectly capture the nature of housework. “But! One of the most closely guarded secrets of advanced Golarion societies involves the possibility – in fact the reality – of radically transforming the nature of housework. A substantial portion of domestic tasks can actually be incorporated into an Arcane Economy. In other words, housework need no longer be considered necessarily and unalterably private in character. Teams of trained and well-paid specialists, moving from dwelling to dwelling, utilizing magically advanced cleaning machinery, could swiftly and efficiently accomplish what the present-day scullery worker does so arduously and primitively. “Why the shroud of silence surrounding this potential of radically redefining the nature of domestic labor? Because the Chellish economy (descended from Taldor) is structurally hostile to the mitigation of housework. Socialized housework implies large government subsidies in order to guarantee accessibility to the working-class families whose need for such services is most obvious. Since little in the way of profits would result, arcanized housework – like all unprofitable enterprises – is anathema to the Chellish economy. Another world is possible!”
Lev squints at the setting sun, then his face changes to surprise and panick. "Strike me, I'm late again!" He immediately turns and sets out, running full speed through the streets towards Le Commune. Arriving at the community kitchen, Lev ducks his head down to avoid notice, hoping he could slip in without attracting the ire of the Chef for being late again.
Once inside, Lev finds his usual stool near the carrots and potatoes where he grabs a skinning knife and begins to work through the pile, dunking the vegetables in a pale of water as he slices off the skin and places the clean produce in a bucket for the kitchens to use.
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