Told from the Rant Stand
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An orator, a thin man with a gaunt face and a dark cloak, addresses the crowd one day.
_"So our dear 'friends', the Fire Giants, are no longer friendly! They now demand coin for the privilege of leaving us in peace!
"I say, good!
"Fire Giants are EVIL! Some talk with impressed voices about how 'honorable' they are… as if adherance to contracts can make up for a black heart and brutal savagery!
"This is a city of Good! There can be no peace with the forces of Evil!
"We would not allow orcs to maraud under our gaze if they promised not to attack our specific citizens! We would not let kobolds burn isolated farmsteads if they cynically promised not to come to our walls! Why do we extend this privilege to these blazing hulks? Because they are big? Because they have 'honor'? If they do, it is the same sort of honor as Devils... yes, the same Devils that led N'Jast to attack the Jewel!
"Evil must be converted or exterminated! Tolerance only encourages it and lets it breed more to befoul the world.
"Perish all evil! Death to the giants!"_
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_Rumours emerge of a new hero in town. The ~Black Thistle~, where did he come from? Is it true about his webbed toes? Is he really a cyclopse? Who knows! It seems a friend-of-a-friend eye witnessed the caped crusader running through the city at speeds far beyond the capabilites of any mortal man!
…
Most 'in-the-know' adventurers recognize this 'Black Thistle' as Elidur, but it seems the rumours are set... for now. He is in fact the probable origin of the rumour frenzy._
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@1123d3e447=Davidnwn:
Another heccle from the crowd, chances ar from the same half elf
"This city isnt run by a milita of thugs and necromancers!"
A gruff dwarven voice retorts as a response
No but more than a few of yeh Senators run with or are part of the Legion, so wut the difference?
The familiar shape makes his way to his shop, using his staff as support.
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As the counter-speeches seem to have descended into less oratorically impressive arguments, the crowd disperses, leaving those still arguing to continue without an audience.
((Meaning you can continue via pms if you wish to continue the current vein, cheers folks))
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Another heccle from the crowd, chances ar from the same half elf
"This city isnt run by a milita of thugs and necromancers!"
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Then try the person who actually created that hostility - the one who has the dragon bound.
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_Herald speaks from his position on the sidelines, his voice deep and even.
"You take these things as personal assaults. Think of them in relation to yourself. If a citizen of your fair city was to create hostilities between you and a previously neutral force, what would your response be?"_
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A Halflings eyes glow a bright green at the mention of Arlinns capture, the common folk leave a healthy space between this angry looking hin and themselves.
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Tis simple one unchains the slaves and sets free any sentient creature whom hath not committed a foul deed. The change is rather fast, tis the slavers and those whom benefit from the backbreaking labour of the slaves who find that a hard task. For who then shall do the work they deem beneath them.
There is such a thing as divine justice, a Dragons ire at the unwholesome sale of flesh and belittling of the souls of folk seems apt justice. A fate brought on by their low actions, reparation and actual change are required, more words fool no-one.
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A large half orc heccles…
"Dont speak like you have any sort of righousness!... You allow Necromancy, slavery, harm to your captives, torture and cruelty! We can all hope Oscara collapses in on itself!"
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_Bringing a dragon's gaze upon one's city with the intention of recovering something, "messily" as I believe the dragon had put it, isn't a question of good and evil, but a question of law. Our laws state that bringing innocent citizens of oscura into harms way is a crime. Angering a dragon to possibly attack our city definitely falls under this law. If such was the law in peltarch, you would not hesitate to arrest the individual post haste.
Obviously you apply to ideals and do not realize that change cannot happen instantly. Lets be realistic here and help us work towards bettering our city instead of nae-saying and pithy slander._
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_Elidur's own woops and cheers, and loudest applause call out after each new light is shed upon Oscrua's nasty deeds.
"We don't need another Church of Bane! Boooo!"
Is shouted most loudly after the Herald speaks about 'good deeds' for the slaves. His loud ovation is probably a secondary aspect to his initial rant at the stand. And Elf on a passionate mission._
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Adelie comment to Senria, and the gathered people:
Perhaps we could believe the change of Oscura, as you say, how it turns for the better - yet, just couple days ago, a good woman was jailed for letting the purest of dragons know that one of it's goodly kind, a baby nonetheless was shackled in a shop in Oscura. I ask you, what kind of justice is this? If this is the kind of help you plan to give for the slaves as well, I do not think it a good idea for us to spend gold in "aiding the slaves" through an auction.
And do not tell me no-one was aware of the danger a shackled good baby dragon, and the celestial friend of his - oh, and the nice pixie for that matter - posed to the city just by being there. No, they were well aware. According to the representative of Red Falcon's, it is not the fault of the merchant to keep such creatures in the city, its their 'own business'. That is -horrible-.
If Oscura truely wishes to gain the trust of every other city in the region, stop acting, and supporting, evil.
Adelie keeps a passive face as she speaks, though her eyes seem to be burning with anger, her whole body tense.
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@9cfaa4b069:
when slaves are being murdered in the streets, with little to no investigation?
The peacekeeper captain herself emerges from the shadows of the crowd.
_Such statements are absolute slander, and I can assure you that the proceeds -will- be going to the poor and slaves of Oscura. I ask you citizens to have patience. Oscura has a bad name for itself, but of course I need not tell you this. What I must tell you though is that change is happening. Change requires time. How many years was it before the corruption in Peltarch's governing was weened out? Peltarch stands the better for this change, and so I ask you to help us with this change. Every city has its own share of exports that fund the city and help it to work. Quitting any trade completely cold without making the provisions over time to ease from it would destroy the economy of any city, any city official with economical sense can tell you as much.And so I urge you to join us in this celebration. The items being posted at this auction are from citizens across the lands of narfell. I can tell you too that Oscura will not be receiving any coin from this, as 95% of the auctioned items go to the person who has offered the item. You sir, or you, good people all, could be making this money, while supporting our cause, our change. We've already amended our laws to make freedom a possibility. Change is happening. It will be furthered by your attendance at this event. Thank you._
disappears again
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_Herald has a hint of amusement on his normally stoic face as he shrugs and steps forwards, not bothering to walk in front of the crowd again.
"Good Sir, it is positive attitudes like such that help out the less fortunate, yes? Not to undermine your words, good sir, but I think that Oscura will hold true to her word and give some of the proceeds to the less fortunate. I think this because, despite what most think, Oscura holds true to her word. But, I think we diverge from the topic that was originally discussed. I can assure you that, as promised, some of the proceeds of the masquerade will go to the impovershed and slaves. If you refuse to go because you think there is no hope left for the city, or you do not trust us to uphold our word, I urge you to have a little faith. Look before you judge, and, again, have faith. We will do as we say."
He backs up again and waits for the next retort._
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::Mariston stands forth and speaks, resplendent in his armour. His good natured smile replaced with a deep frown of concern. He looks to the crowd a powerful presence and aura of calm seem to surround him.::
The fault lies with the slavers and those complicit in their trade. If Oscura truly cared for the slaves, they would free them without question. As is, any profits from this auction shall line the coffers of many a slaver, thus allowing them to continue their trade in sentient’s suffering. To come to a city that allows Necromancy and slavery and have a good time, while such suffering and degradation is allowed to go unchallenged…that I would say ranks as low moral standards and cowardice of the worst order. Oscura hath had plenty of chances to change it’s ways, it refuses to do so.
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_…yet again he takes a stand before the common people. Before he speaks this time, he scuffs the dirt with a boot and looks up at the people, his utterly average brown eyes meeting the gazes of those who watch him as he does the political panorama. He speaks loudly and clearly, his deep voice quite resonant.
"My Peltarch Friends, I am not trying to guilt you into doing anything. I am merely saying that if you wish to help the slaves of Oscura, instead of standing here in your slave free city listening to people tell you why not to go to Oscura, attend an event that has some of the proceeds going towards the betterment of slaves and impovershed citizens. If you do not wish to donate to Oscura, I can not and will not force you to. However, when people senselessly put down our city and we have already started to take action against that which is disapproved of, it is redundant."
"I did not say the fault for the slaves lies with anyone, nor will I. It is not my place to point fingers when I am merely trying to ask people to reconsider attendance to our Masquerade. Even if you do not wish to bid on the auction, please come to enjoy a night of food and drink furnished by Oscura. Your attendance would be highly valued."_
He merely nods at the end of this speech and glances around at the people, making eye contact one more time before walking off to another out of the way place he can watch the scaffold from the sidelines.
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Slaves do not have a place to store donations? Not an entirely good excuse, my Oscuran friend.
I am sure there are plenty of places willing to store these donations, and then hand them out to the slaves on a regular basis. You speak of good intentions, yet I've seen nothing good come from the city. If you really wish to prove your good intent toward slaves, allow every single one of them their freedom.
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_Celebring chuckles a little, commenting to himself and those nearby.
"So now it is our own fault the slaves suffer if we do not attend the auction and ball? Sounds like you're trying to play upon our sense of guilt. We are not the ones forcing people into servitude."_
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_..and again, the Herald walks to the base of the scaffold.
"While Mister Ronan's sentiments are understood, unfortunately the slaves have no direct banking system where they store donations because there is no slave union. If you truly wish to help the slaves and poor of Oscura, you will attend the auction and bid on the objects being auctioned. Why not donate to the less fortunate while acquiring a fancy new adventuring piece as well and enjoy a social function at the same time?"
…and again he disappears into the crowd, reemerging in the back._
