I am much better at a distance.
Aevelyn thinks for a moment. "I must say, I do not think we will be effective in close proximity to the crowds, our mission does specificlly state we need to be mingling IN the crowds. Standing outside the crowds defeats our purpose of being here. Still, at least we do have an escape route ready, which I suspect will be important soon."
Aevelyn shakes her head. "I do know the spell you are referring to, which is called Message. Sadly I do not know it, and I am sure Shiloh here does not either. Unless one of our new companions knows it, then we shall have to find another way to stay in touch."
"Anyone have any bright ideas on how to break this thing up? Maybe if someone wants to take to the second floor tossing a thunder stone might make it hard for the speakers to get their message across. The rest of us could help those temporarily deafened and speed the good word against their dogooder deity."
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While you are making your plans and as time ticks by and more and more people start flooding the square, each of you has the option to obtain some information from the crowd. You can either chat with some of the crowd (Diplomacy) or try to eavesdrop on the crowd's conversations (Stealth). You can only try one or the other, but you may choose freely which. Diplomacy has a DC of 16 and Stealth has a DC of 14. The first one of you who succeeds gets the first rumor listed below, the second one who succeeds gets the second one, and the third one to succeed gets the third rumor.
Stealth
Breeze slinks around the crowds, trying to pick up any usable nuggets of information available. Once she hears something juicy, she makes a beeline to the group.
"I heard that the Sword Knight Allimar sons passing a rumor that she was visited by an Angel. They suspect this would convince the rubes that this is a favorable omen for the church and the town."
Cherry tries to listen in on the conversations of the assembling crowd, but gets nothing except some awkward glances.
Aevelyn glides through the crowd, feeling in her element here...well almost anyway. As she exchanges simple pleasantries with the other crowd-goers she turns on her natural charms. Returning to the others afterwards, she chuckles lightly. "It seems like Fex doesn’t like the townsfolk gathering in large groups like this. Allamar’s message must be pretty important if she’s willing to provoke the Archbaron! I am starting to get an inkling of why we are here now."
Shrugging, "Aevelyn is correct on the spell. Though I thought we were to merely observe not interfere?"
Wondering off and then returning after a few minuets, "They seem to thing the Priestess is most likely worked up by something that happened at the Tannery last night."
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A few small groups of elderly locals and laborers from nearby businesses have gathered in the square, mostly around the well or along the fence surrounding the churchyard, muttering about what they’ve heard or imagined about Allamar’s announcement. As the time of the sermon gets closer, more townsfolk drift into the square until the crowd is 100 strong.
Longacre’s sheriff and three of her junior deputies show up in the church square about an hour before the sermon.
Though Cimri tries to avoid the sheriff, she eventually gets spotted and approached. The sheriff comes over to Cimri and any of you who might be accompanying Cimri, with a smile on her face. “Cimri! How’s my favorite niece doing?”
Cimri puts up a pleasant face and answers, “I was just dandy, Aunt Rhona.”
“Some shady folks you’ve been hanging around with lately. Want to introduce me to your friends?” The sheriff gives a brief glance at any of you near Cimri.
“Not particularly.”
The sheriff then asks, “So, you’re here for Sword Knight Allamar’s sermon? I didn’t think you were the religious sort.”
Sense motive on Cimri
Sense Motive on the Sheriff
Breeze missed the underlying tensions between the Sheriff and Cimri, so she was completely unprepared for the revelation about their familial relations. She tried to keep her face in check and to not betray the surprise at Breeze's friend being related to the local law enforcement.
She crooked her eyes at the others, but waited to see if the others could help the situation.
As Aevelyn sees the Sherrif approach she puts on a mask of pleasantness long practiced for such an occasion. As the Sherrif reveals her relationship to their new associate she maintains her cool, filing the information for future use.
This CANNOT be a coincidence! She thinks and decides to intervene her. "Hello Sheriff. A pleasure to meet you! It's OK Cimri. As a matter of fact I asked her to accompany me to hear the sermon. While I do not have many religious leanings, I do find myself a mite...curious, if you understand my meaning." Here she pauses awaiting for the others to chime in here.
Cherry notices Cimri's awkwardness at the sheriff's approach, so when their familial relationship was revealed, she isn't too surprised.
"I hope you don't find me too 'shady', ma'am," Cherry says with a raised eyebrow. She's trying to get us to admit something... "I came along because I was curious about what the Knight has to say. Obviously, I follow a different religion, but I find it pays to keep an eye on the other faiths which Asmodeus generously allows to practice in our country. My presence shouldn't be upsetting... there's no crime in wanting to see how a sermon turns out." She gives the sheriff a challenging look.
Flashing a broad smile at the Sheriff, It is a pleasure to meet you sheriff. I am uncertain about why you are of the assumption that I am a shady folk but I am going to assume that it is a local term that has no relation to the common meaning.
Pausing for a moment will tapping her chin, Or is this religious sermon a shady thing?
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"Mm." The sheriff narrows her eyes a little at the strangers who answer for her niece, but your skills serve their purpose and the attention is momentarily drawn away from Cimri so she can avoid answering the sheriff's initial question. The sheriff does notice what each of you says, but does not comment on them for now.
The sheriff tries to interact with Cimri a couple more times, allowing those who made the initial Sense Motive check (Cherry, Shiloh and Nysene) to continue using their Charisma skills to lead the conversation away from Cimri if they desire.
“Did you hear about what happened at the tannery last night? You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” the sheriff asks Cimri.
“What’s the story with the sashes? Is the archbaron or someone paying you to wear those?”
Watching Nysene keep the conversation going with a small smile.My isn't she a bold thing. I am so glad our little guard did not die.
Turning her attention back to the nosy sheriff, That is a valid question. Is this sermon, which is happening on the street, a private event?
Waving an arm to gesture to the crowd, Should we not be pleased that so many varied people are out to hear this?
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After she’s asked her questions and you have said all you please, the sheriff ends the conversation: “Well, I have to keep an eye on things here. You all stay out of trouble, you hear?” She doesn't answer or engage significantly with your questions, taking them as largely rhetorical, whether they were or not.
After speaking with you, Sheriff Staelish directs her three deputies to take up positions at the locations marked “X” on the map.
Once you've familiarized yourself with the area and met Sheriff Rhona Staelish, it's not long until the sermon begins. A hundred people or so have filled the square outside the church of Iomedae. Then, Tileavia Allamar, Fifth Sword Knight of Iomedae, appears on one of the church’s balconies, dressed in the yellow-trimmed white cassock of her faith, and addresses the crowd in a clear, strong voice.
“Friends and neighbors, I have wondrous tidings to share! We have all known hardships in our lives—needless sorrows, injustice, even cruelty. Indeed, such is the struggle of all who live. But many among us have known more than our share. Many among us have shouldered burdens laid upon them not by the Inheritor, but by those who would curse her name and taunt her faithful.
“But today, I bear a missive from champions of Iomedae’s faith, heralds of the goddess’s will, who know your troubles and would see them end.”
Allamar gestures to two men beside her, who carry a box swaddled in white linen between them and place it on the table in front of the church. The priestess unfurls a rolled parchment and again raises her voice.
“I received this letter last night:
“‘People of Longacre! The time of your redemption is at hand. When the song of the Inheritor rises, you all must choose: live as complacent vassals of corruption and evil, or embrace honor and claim the glory that is your right. The Glorious Reclamation gives you a choice.’
“Signed, ‘Lencia Visserene, Knight-Inheritor of the Glorious Reclamation.’
“Friends, it is up to us to restore the worship of Iomedae to its proper place in Cheliax and reclaim our nation in the name of the Inheritor. But we have been given a sign—a sign that the ‘Angel Knight’ has come to Longacre to lead us to glory!”
Allamar’s aides lift the linen and box lid, revealing an ornate silver helmet sculpted with angelic features and a halo of curls. The faceplate’s eyeless hollows stare sternly into the crowd. (IMAGE LINK)
I have also added two images of Sheriff Staelish to Google Drive:
(BUST IMAGE)
(FULL BODY)
Aevelyn watches the Sheriff walk off with a narrow look in her eyes. As she notices the deputies shadowing them , she observes wryly to Shiloh "It looks like you have some admirers my dear."
As the news of the Glorious Reclamation is announced she shakes her head thoughtfully. 'Glorious Reclamation'? I know nothing of this, but I am certain Razelago will be interested in such news. She makes sure her sash is in full view and carefully watches the crowd's reaction, both to the news of the Reclamation and of the presence of the sashes. Of particular interest is the presence of any notable locals and their reaction.
Perception
Breeze steers clear of all the deputies, both the known and the other two that failed at stealthing. She kept her sash tucked in her backpack, waiting to see what transpir s from the scene. She keeps as good as lookout as possible as she walks among the crowd.
Perception
Grinning at the back of the sheriff as she leaves. Looking over at
Aevelyn, Well that is just my curse in life.
Meandering away and leaning against a building before the sermon starts. Shiloh does manage to keep herself near Nysene.
Well isn't that interesting. Quite the symbol, an iron head.
Could you be less subtle? Cherry thinks as she easily notices two deputies who seem to be trying to shadow her and her companions in the crowd.
Reclaim the nation? I do *not* like the sound of that. Cherry nervously fingers the hilt of her weapon and waits to see how the crowd reacts to the proclamation.
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Sense Motive to gauge crowd mood
The crowd rumbles at the Sword Knight's words for a while, but that isn't the end of things. After a moment, Allamar presents a second announcement. She has acolytes of the church carry out a coffin displaying Jabral Louslik's corpse to the crowd. "Friends! Citizens of Longacre! Our friend Jabral Louslik has been foully murdered! An upstanding citizen, a pillar of the community who provided employment to a dozen people! We all know of his outspoken stance against certain policies! How he has openly criticized Archbaron Fex's excessive taxes, callous administration and personal decadence! And now he lies dead, having been dumped into one of his own waste pits by some reprehensible individuals with no respect for this incredible man! Citizens! This was no act of random brigandage, but a political assassination aimed at eliminating a brave, courageous voice against the injustices we all suffer! Jabral died for all of us! How much are we all willing to stand! Ask yourselves, citizens of Longacre, how much you are willing to sacrifice!"
At this point, the campaign begins tracking something called "Rebellion Points", which indicate how volatile the situation in Longacre is. What actions you take here, if any, will affect the starting score. Do you do anything?
While she is not really used to reading the crowd, their reaction of horror on seeing Jabril's corpse mirrors her own.
Damn that woman! We...I...should have picked a different place to hide the body...time was too short...
She glances around at her companions a look of concern on her face. For a moment she quails in indecision then she knows the group is being watched by the Sheriff's deputies.
If we do not react properly here, then suspicion will fall upon ALL of us!
Turning to one of the other members of the crowd, she feigns a look of shock and outrage. "Why this...this is terrible! That poor man, slaughtered for what he believes in! What we ALL believe in! But what can we do about this?"
Sense Motive
Breeze makes a beeline for the Sheriff. "Sheriff, the priest has fired up everyone in this town and there's going to be trouble! Last thing you want is a bunch of these rubes to go around half cocked and hurt someone or themselves. You need to break this rabble up right now for the town's sake!"
Diplomacy
Flinching at the corpse so callously displayed. I think that is desecrating a corpse? Maybe? Certainly not respectful. Watching the crowd Shiloh moves back towards Nysene.
Stepping closer to the Oread but choosing to add to the noise, "Why in the world would someone assassinate a tanner? It had to have been a robbery."
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Allamar's assertions about an assassination certainly seem believable to a lot of people in the square. But as Nysene and Shiloh raise the counter-argument that it could have been a robbery too, there is some rumbling in that direction as well. Yes, maybe. It could have been. We don't know for sure. Where's the proof? That sort of stuff. The ladies' doubt-sowing finds fertile ground too, and the Sword Knight's firebrand preaching is mitigated to a degree.
Aevelyn's attempts at ferreting out the most likely troublemakers tags a couple of individuals in her mind that responded particularly well to the incitement, but being a newcomer to Longacre, you don't know their names or trades. Further legwork on identifying them can be done later on, however.
Breeze's choice to talk sense into the sheriff turns out to be a very shrewd move, as the sheriff nods and agrees that letting the people fume isn’t in anyone’s best interest. "All right, break it up, break it up. Deputies, let's get this crowd dispersed!" she calls out and gradually the law enforcement starts to usher people out of the square in a nonviolent, peaceful manner, not provoking the already volatile situation. Slowly, the crowd is broken up by the sheriff's and deputies' work.
Some people linger at Louslik's body and/or the Angel Knight's helmet, but eventually the square more or less empties and the church people take both items of interest back indoors. If none of you does so, then Cimri ultimately suggests that it's time to report back to Razelago.
Aevelyn fixes the descriptions of those members of the crowd in her mind as the Sheriff breaks up the crowd. She nods in reply to Cimri and proceeds to head towards Razelago.
"We should probably make sure whether our...admirers are still taking an interest in us." She comments in a low voice to the others, as she looks out for the deputies who were watching them earlier.
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Breeze makes a mental note. If the helmet ever shows back up again, I'm stealing it come hell or high water! She accompanies the others back to report on their progress.
Shacking her head and looking over at Nysene, It seems this event is over. Shall we go?
Raising an eyebrow at Nysene, "Like a tree?"
Aevelyn responds in an exasperated voice, "Of course! How else are you supposed to say that?"
Breeze leads the others back to their "center of operations," trying to take care to not be followed by anyone in particular. "How do you think we did," she asked the others in a whisper while the group walked.
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You return back to the Ash House, where Razelago again waits upstairs in his "office", only a silhouette behind a screen, and the krenshar watch"dog" resting on the floor. Any of you may offer up a report -- if none of you speak up, then Cimri reports on the events. Razelago then says,
“That’s a more dramatic move than I’d expect from a country priestess—I’m impressed. Tileavia Allamar might be more interesting than I’d thought. It’s the helmet and this ‘Angel Knight’ I’m curious about, though. I’ve heard rumors of the Glorious Reclamation. An overzealous mob of Iomedaean fanatics calling for a nationwide revolution, as if there was any hope of that. Still, Archbaron Fex might find this information valuable.
“In any case, you’ve done well. You’ll find your payment in the parlor. I shouldn’t have any more work for you today, but I suspect that might change tomorrow. I’ll send word.”
You may again ask questions if you wish, or proceed straight downstairs to pick up your reward for the assignment.
Aevelyn runs her hands through her hair as she considers Breeze's question. "That...is hard to say. While it looks like we managed to calm the situation, and I was able to find some potential troublemakers, we did manage to draw the unwanted attention of the Sheriff. I think Nysene summed it up quite well." She gives her bodyguard an appreciative smile.
*********************
Aevelyn does give the report to Razelago, noting those individuals who seemed sympathetic to Allamar's words. "I can see what else I can learn from these individuals, if you wish. Sadly many of the faces were not known to me. Any enlightenment you can provide would be helpful to me."
Grinning at Nysene, "You have quiet a way with words, that is good."
Walking a few paces, "That woman is insane by the way. Bringing out a dead body like that.." She visibly shudders and looks at the ground, "And for her own propaganda."
Lifting her gaze back up and looking around at the others, "Could that be used against her?"
******
Once everyone is done explaining what happened Shiloh cannot keep silent any longer, "What was the reason you wanted us to wear those sashes for? All we managed to do was get on the sheriffs bad side, simply by wearing them. Which will make dealing with her a lot harder."
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Cimri rolls her eyes to Nysene. "Shyeah, right. 'Hey, I wanna hire you to kill this guy. Oh and my aunt is the law. But don't worry, she has nothing to do with me.' That ain't the kind of thing you advertise. Besides, don't tell me none o' you have any secrets yourselves."
Razelago listens attentively to the descriptions of the potential troublemakers that Aevelyn describes, and you can hear what sounds like pencil on paper from the other side of the screen, along with sounds like, "Mmmhm. Hmm. Mmm. Uh-huh. Hmm! I see."
When Shiloh questions the sashes, Razelago lets out a little chuckle. "Ah, the sheriff. Yes. She is a prickly thorn indeed. But I was truthful earlier when I sent you, about the reason for the sashes: I wanted people to see that the lord of this town has his supporters. Also, I was interested in seeing just what kind of response such a flagrant display would receive. Whether the mood of the town is incendiary enough that you would be ripped apart, or something less than that. Fortunately enough, we now know that the town to some degree respects or fears the rightful rule of law."
Breeze smirks, not adding the fact hat she never got around to putting on her easy to the discussion. "The Sheriff wasn't all bad. Without the Sheriff, I don't know if we would have been able to get rid of the crowd so easily. We might be able to use that gullible nature in the future."
If there was no further business, she stepped downstairs to look at what her reward was. Hopefully there would be another gift. She was getting quite fond of receiving those.
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Assuming there are no further questions to Razelago, we can proceed downstairs. In the parlor each of you has a pouch of 200gp as a reward, just cold hard cash this time.
The sermon and the debriefing with Razelago was during the afternoon. You have the evening to yourselves once again. Is there anything specific you wish to do with the rest of the day?