Once fully settled, Minentte nodded her head to Martella's offer, waiting for some serving staff to arrive before pointing to her menu orders. The noblewoman was acting casual enough that she doubted that even the most expensive purchases at this place would phase her, but in hopes of not seeming like a crass spender of others' money, she ordered middle-of-the-road items, including some fancy coffee, bread, and the jam Martella recommended.
Once that was done, Minentte turned to Valor and began to sign what she wished for him to say on her behalf. "Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Lotheed, and I hope that you've been enjoying the festival." May as well avoid talking business right away; Martella might be sizing them up still.
The band began putting away their instruments, and the crowd began to disperse. It seemed like there wouldn't be a crisis. Better yet, it was finally time to sit and have that meeting. Her legs were killing her. She gave an appreciative nod to Valor and they made their way to the cafe.
A few minutes later, she stepped through the door into Cafe Zaini. Being a guard in full gear, she stuck out like a sore thumb in this dainty atmosphere, but she did her best to act natural as she waited for a table.
Minentte furrowed her brow as she noticed a crowd arranged cautiously around the source of the music. She gently nudged her way to the front of the group, and saw two tieflings playing music in front of two watching Chelish children. One of the instruments was entirely unknown to her, and the guitar made sounds that she had never heard from one before. Still, it just seemed like an innocent musical act. No one seemed to be ensorcelled or hurt. In fact, the crowd's response was quite muted. The sight of the tieflings probably left them on edge.
She turned to Valor. "Is this music... cultural?" Despite having a co-conspirator of the race, she was woefully ignorant of tiefling tradition, or even if they had any. The nature of tiefling births would make it difficult to have any racial norms, she imagined. Glancing around at the crowd, she signed again. "I'm going to stay until the crowd disperses. A guard present should stop anyone from getting any funny ideas."
As she waited for Valor to approach her, Minentte took another bite of her contract bread. She watched as he checked his pockets for all of his bottles and vials and pouches and such. A part of her was worried that the tiefling's ingredients would explode if he got nudged the wrong way in the crowd, but she trusted that he knew what he was doing. He was a professional.
When he asked what they should do as they waited, she thought for a moment. "As far as I know, Lady Lotheed is-" Having some trouble signing with food in her hands, she held the now-incomplete pentagram in her mouth and continued. "Lady Lotheed is about as legitimate and trustworthy as we can hope for, so snooping around for the next hour probably won't lead to much. We might as well enjoy the festival-"
Her eyebrows furrowed as she heard something strange in the distance. Was it music? She hadn't heard instruments like that before. It could be trouble. "Do you hear that? I'm checking it out." She hurried into the crowd, toward the source of the sound.
As much as the smell of the sweetmeat vendor's wares called out to her, Minentte wasn't pleased by the size of the lineup. Despite herself, she wandered to the Chelish food cart. Within a couple of minutes, she reached the front of the line, holding up a finger in request for one of the contract breads. She wondered if it was a sin to the proper Taldane pantheon to buy what was essentially the holy symbol of a rival nation's patron deity. On the other hand, eating it was probably desecration of that symbol, so it likely evened out.
Once she had the pretzel in her possession, she offered a nod to the vendor and began moving through the streets again. The snack was hot, but buttery and flavourful enough to always tempt another bite. If this was the Asmodean experience, she understood how so many people could fall to sin.
Deciding to meander in the cafe area for the remainder of her wait, Minentte was pleased to notice a familiar face slipping through the crowd. When she first learned that one of the reformers Lady Lotheed requested was a familiar face, it made her a little less nervous about the highborn woman's invitation. She moved to a less crowded corner of the street and waved to Valor, attempting to get his attention. When she thought he noticed her, she began signing "You made it! I hope you're ready for trouble."
As thrilling as I know Minentte's search for carnival snacks is, you guys can feel free to make your opening posts so that we can get this ball rolling. :P
Minentte could still remember the panic that she felt during her first Grand Day of Exaltation. Her job was to keep the crowds out of designated areas during certain events, and she had never felt more overwhelmed in her life. It was as if the whole world had come to visit Oppara, and the constabulary was trying to shape their crushing masses to its will. Being from the boonies, "culture shock" wasn't nearly a strong enough word to describe her emotions that first year.
These days, the swell in population was something that she could adapt to quickly. She had just finished her shift today. Long and tiring though it was, she was in fair enough condition to enjoy the festivities a little before going home to rest. Besides, home was a long walk through streets that were sure to be crowded until evening, and it was encouraged that off-duty constables wander around in uniform during festivities to keep potential rabble-rousers from getting any ideas. To that end, she wandered between the vendors in full gear.
Although she liked to buy one or two interesting decorations every Exaltation, none of the knickknacks and souvenirs so far had managed to catch her eye. She wondered if it was because she hadn't eaten since the beginning of her shift. She stopped near a vendor's stall and looked around, hoping to find some snack to hold her over until the meeting with Lady Lotheed.
I'd be okay with that. Maybe a few of the folks in their circle started picking it up as a way to say things in code. Which is funny, because I pictured it being taught by some old Varisian lady... who is suddenly wondering why so many different people are attending her class, haha.
Hello, I'm one of the recruited people. I've got a mostly complete character background, minus possible changes due to friendships and interactions with the other PCs, so I'll post it here for brainstorming. Also let me know if anything needs changing or clarification.
Spoiler:
Minentte "Minty" Nephee was born in provincial Taldor to a reasonably well-off farming family. She permanently lost her ability to speak due to a damaging throat infection when she was a child; because of a slow ride through decaying roads and a lack of skilled healers in her region, the infection nearly killed her and recovery took over a month. Her family blamed the Taldane government for her suffering, taking the ordeal as a clear sign of their once great lands sliding ever onward into neglect and ruin, but they knew better than to make these claims far from the dinner table.
Years later, with enough hands at the farm already, Minentte dedicated her young adulthood to keeping rural Taldor safe and joined the militia of a nearby community, patrolling the town and nearby roads and working as a labourer on her off time. After two years, her skill with weapons and dedication to her duty were seen as a cut above, and her superior sent a letter of recommendation to Oppara, suggesting that she become a full-time constable or a member of one of Taldor's standing armies. She was invited to join the Lion Academy and became a constable in Oppara not long after.
Minentte took advantage of her new urban life in many ways. She took classes in Varisian sign language, becoming fluent within a couple of years. She collected and practiced with new weapons to the point that vendors would ask if she was an adventurer. She also began to make friends with those who shared her family's reformist attitudes. Beginning within the constabulary, Minentte slowly became more and more involved with groups that took action against blatant abuses within Taldor's establishment. She would sit in at secret meetings that often involved combinations of citizens, minor nobles, soldiers, and criminals. When the work was discreet and the cause was good, she even helped them execute their plans. This has earned her a few friends in unusual places for one of her station. While she remains a constable and enjoys the difference she makes for the people of Taldor while on the job, a greater cause could persuade her to seek an early resignation.
