Told from the Rant Stand
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The Guards, led by a heavy-set and none-too-pleased looking Sergeant, carry Benji off to the jail and toss him in a holding cell for a few days.
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Marty rushes to the scene after the sound, to spot Benji being dragged off
<hin>… Doh!</hin>
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Telli attention is arroused by the boom on one of her trips through Peltarch. She mutters to herself as the guards start to approach him.
"I thoughts Theaon lockedededs da farkings wine cellar ta da hin!"…
Telli waddles off towards the jail cells to see how long it will take for the love struck halfling to be released.
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//This post, which includes some NPC reactions, is endorsed by DM Moob.
During a bustling afternoon in the Peltarch Market Benji climbs the stairs to the Rant Stand.
Attention, People of Peltarch.
The sound of the crowd drowns out his voice.
People of Peltarch!
_As again, no one pays heed, Benji tosses a small vial of black powder from his pocket onto the empty stage next to him. He takes a deep breath, draws a Gnomish Blunderbust, and shoots the vial.
BOOM!
The crowd is rattled. Some duck. Others scream. The guards eye Benji and approach swiftly._
PEOPLE OF PELTARCH! Do not believe any slander that you hear on the name Lady Marie Scuttlestone! I was a love-sick selfish COWARD and she is a woman of her WORD!
She was jus- Hey! WAIT! I'm not FIN-
The guards reach Benji. There is a short scuffle with some gnomish cursing before Benji is subdued.
//DM team please collect fines and jail time at your earliest convenience.
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"Booo! Boooo!" Elidur obviously doesn't like what he's hearing. "Other Senators make time to do what needs to be done - it's their crap policy of not doing anything FOR the city that's the problem. Get back in the damned seat Calen, don't you make me come up there!!" Apparently, the foot is put down. "If you don't get in there and change things for the better RIGHT NOW!!!" … and leaves the outcome to the mind of the guilty party, although the scornful look might have said it all.
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Calen Ashwynd, steps up to the podium and calls out to the crowd, holding his hands high. He then lowers them and stands before the crowd quiet as his eyes scan about looking to each face, nodding to each, taking slow deep breaths and then he speaks in a calm, deliberate tone
Peltarchians, Fair People of the Jewel, Friends…
We have worked together, we have stood together, we build together, to make a better Peltarch than that which was afore the war. There have been many, many changes, and the Jewel stands strong. I am honored to stand here afore and with you, each and every one of you. From the time I first began campaigning to enter the Senate I told you that I am one of you.
Regretablly, I find that in me I see a change in that. Whence I started on this journey I gave my oath to you and my Lord Helm to protect you, to work with you through it all. I have found that the opposite seems to have happened. I sit and listen, in your Senate, to all of the conversations, debates. Only to be disheartened at the changes I have seen it cause in me and others there, over time. I still believe in the Senate and the Senators that all of you voted for. Know that I hold great respect for the Senate and tis out of that respect and quiet contemplation that I know that my duty to my Lord and the you, the people is better served aside you as one of you.
This was not an easy decision, my friends. I need be honest with you. Aft much thought, I have pondered two questions. First, how can one protect those that he is sworn to protect, when surrounded by four walls of stone? Hiding, keeping him safe, whence the eddicts I follow state the opposite. Second, how can one put his family, friends, loved ones, and the people at risk by being absent from them? My answer has come as a hard lesson. He cannot. I cannot.
I have presented the Senate with my letter of resignation. I have informed them that I am speaking with you now. I shant hide any longer ahind the safety of the walls of the City Hall. I shall be amidst you, working with you, aside you as it should always have been. May Helms watchful eye continue to watch o’er us all. Long Live the Jewel!
He looks through the crowed area meeting eyes with as many people as possible with strength and conviction in his eyes, he takes a deep breath then bows to all watching and quietly, purposefully steps down
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Present for the rabble-rousing but however unimpressed by it, Celebring shakes his head slightly as if to dismiss the crowd, or whatever he was thinking, then departs.
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@71a526d111=aeolderr:
GLORY TO THE JEWEL, AND DEATH TO HER ENEMIES!
Marty applauds and calls out:
AYE TERREN! GLORY TO THE JEWEL!
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Meye seems to ignore Adrian's speech totally. Instead she goes around amongst the people offering those who wish to talk to her a fair chance to do so. If someone ask questions about her origins or anything else Adrian questioned she answer softly to the person face by face and the answer is simple. She was born in the borderlands of the great glacier and Adrian was right in the fact that he certainly is not any historian.
(( assuming it was Adrian who was speaking as speaker was not mentioned ))
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_"You speak of those native to this land, but are you yourself? Though I am not a historian, I always understood that the 'native' Peltarchans are related to the horsemen from the plains, and that those living around the glacier are another tribe altogether.
And I understood that those native horsemen have always prayed to Waukeen, Lathander and Tempus, not Auril.
Besides, Peltarch is host to people from all manner of backgrounds these days. It is quite difficult to find anyone in Peltarch, even among those born here, whose bloodline has not been influenced by 'outlanders'."_
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Standing amongst the ranks of people, Meye applauds loudly for words of Terren. Then she can be heard telling out loud
"Thee hear the man. I thought he is only ignorant and arrogant fool when he week back told me that we whom are sons and daughters of the glacier are uncivilized backwards people and for example our neighbours of Thay are far superior and more civilized to us. But now he is speaking words of wisdom!
Let us indeed put our hands together! Together we can saveth the great glacier and get rid of all those threats that it's desecration has brought over us! Together!"
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A look of disgust on his face as Meye finishes, Terren takes to the stand after her, holding a hand to the air for attention, his eyes deep pools of wisdom as he gazes out over the crowd, seeming to peer into the collective souls of each man, woman, and child in attendence.
My friends, I stand before you a humble man. I make no grand claims, I claim no precursor of tragedy to come, I claim to be no savior to lift you from damnation, and I claim to be no greater than any man or woman who rests their heels upon the Jewel of the North. No, I am but a man, a man with two hands to do his part, a man with two eyes to see the world around him, and a man with one voice…He pauses for a moment, his eyes sweeping the crowd. A man with one voice that will ever shine out of the dark, that WILL ring out against the lies and false truths that seem to rain from the sky like the snows of years past. My friends, let me remind you of YOUR heritage.
If the Fisher King could look upon the people who stand within his city this day, he would weep, but not for shame my friends! Oh no, for shame could not enter so great a man's soul when he gazes upon the brave people of this land. We live in harsh times, it is true. This land has ever faced harsh times, and when has the Jewel buckled and bowed, scraping their knees upon the floor for fear? Never say I!
It was not long that plague ran rampant through this city, that mothers feared for there children, husbands weeped because this foe was implaccable, this was not a mortal foe, neither steel nor strong words could stand against such a foe was whispered on many a tongue, but my friends, that is precisely what was done. WE stood against the darkness, WE dared to say to despair, WE kept our faith in the goodness of our neighbors, of our kin, of our glorious Jewel. Our Archangels swooped down from on high to earn their namesakes, on every corner there was a man or woman dressed in green, and THEY were the implaccable foe, DARING any foe to assault their beloved Jewel, for there was no quarter given when it came to defending home and liberty.
I beg of you, dear friends of truth and liberty, use your eyes, use your ears, and let not your tongues be still. The mongerers of fear hold only that weapon against us friends, fear. They know well that they are powerless against a foe steadfast in their resolve to resist them. They KNOW they could never stand against the protectors of this fair city. They KNOW that their only hope is to cudgel the children until their mother fears, to bring misery and death as their only companion, and they claim to save US?
I look around this day and see many a face who may be tempted by this woman's words, for truly she has a honeyed tongue. She claims to have your best interests at heart, she CLAIMS to want only the best for you, for you to live long and happy lives. These are lies my friends, these are the lies of a fearmongerer, in her eyes your long lives comes only upon your knees, with chains of ice upon every hand and every ankle. Nay, dare not fall for her ruse. Take faith in those men and women that have ever stood strong in defense of the Jewel, take faith in those whose faith reside in powers who want nothing more than for the Jewel and its people to flourish, take faith in those that dedicate themselves to the cause that the evil of the Frostmaiden's touch shall never come down heavily on any man, woman, or child.
His eyes sweep the crowd again, blazing with passion by this point, his words taking a more somber tone, his voice softening such that those in the back must strain to listen to him.
I remember when Mariston Thel bowed not to darkness, but rode in upon a shining steed to cast out the plague that dared into this fair city. I remember that General Lyte stood with sword gleaming in defiance of an army far beyond her means to oppose, unflinching. I remember a city ravaged by war, but I no longer see it. I see a city of indomitable spirit, a spirit that rebuilds what is lost, stronger and more durable than before, defiant to the last. I see a city that will NEVER bow beneath the heel of those who offer only fear and the mercy of a tyrant. I SEE a city, nay I SEE a Glorious Jewel that all in the North desire to add to their laurel, and I SEE that Glorious Jewel remaining as it ever has. This Glorious Jewel stands proudly upon its own two feet, bowing to no man nor power!
My friends, as I said when I took the stand, I am but a man. A man with two hands, two eyes, and one voice. My friends, each of you possesses these qualities as well. Two hands by themselves is little wonder, but if we take your two hands, and your two hands, and your two hands, and your two hands! *Pointing out at the crowd at different people, his voice building louder with passion If all of our hands find themselves upon the same goal, my friends, not even mountains may stand still. If my eyes gaze into the darkness, and your eyes gaze into the darkness, then nothing may remain hidden, and they shall scurry away lest their mischief be turned against them. Finally my friends! You all possess a voice, a beautiful, perfect voice to which to give voice to every miracle you have witnessed. A voice to remind your neighbor to NOT give in to fear of the cudgel, to fear of the dark, to fear of the cold, to fear ANY damned thing this city has not stood through before.
His voice grows quiet once more, taking a deep breath
I am but a man with one voice, as are each of you. Let your voices be heard, let not the whispers from the dark hold sway, but cast them out. Raise each and every voice in song, in good cheer, and in such a cacaphony of determination that those whispering in the dark remain so unheard, until they are forgotten as they deserve. My friends, I have said my piece, it is time to look into your hearts and discover what resides within, to see what makes the Fisher King so proud.
He looks to the sky a moment, his voice booming from the stand in what almost seems a trick one would expect from the bardic stage, each word carefully orated and shouted at the top of his lungs, his hand raised to the Heavens.
GLORY TO THE JEWEL, AND DEATH TO HER ENEMIES!
(Taking 10, a persuade of 28.)
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White clad woman with long frost white hair and piercing blue eyes step up to stand during the busiest market hours. She carefully sets a piece of ice, size of her hand, to each corner of the stand. Then she moves on the middle of the stand and shouts out loud
“Praised be She whom are known by blessed people of great glacier as Saukuruk! Praised be Icedawn! Praised be Auril! I request thee to blesseth this stand where thy humble servant is to speak and receive hatred from ignorants!”
She raises her hands into air, still holding one piece of ice in her hand, which she throws onto the stand floor, blessing the stand in Auril’s name. She takes a deep breath and steps into front of those people whose attention she has gained. She goes through numerous observes, trying to take eye contact and gaze deep into their eyes.
“I haveth come to speak thee, people of Peltarch. Those of thee whom are reasonable and haveth eyes open for truth and past of this land. For those whom blood runs deep in these lands, whom bloodlines flow the sacred blood of the people of the glacier, for those whom are the land!
There are many of those in this city whom claim themselves as better than those whom originate from these lands, calling people of north as backwards and uncivilized. I haveth request for those. For once, keep thy high civilization of foreing lands in thy own knowledge and respect my right to speak freely to blessed northern people. Interrupting me now shalle be revealed just as poor attempt to hide thy own guilty in desecration of these lands, so be quiet and listen!”
Her eyes sparkle in excitement as she goes on
“In first I shalle tell thee that thee shalle hear that I am follower of evil god, follower of Auril. And such as one, I am not to be listened as my tongue is piece of forked ice. I haveth not come to harme thee, I haveth come to warn thee and turn thy eyes to things that they haveth tried to hide from thee. Thee may judge me, but don’t stayeth blind.
Thee all haveth noticed weather since the war there was. Weather that is no longer blessed by cold winters of the Frostmaiden. Mayhaps even most of thee know the reason for that. But I assumeth that all do not know the truth in it, which is desecration of the great glacier. Some .. great heroes.. of these lands desecrated the glacier during the wars, taking Her blessings out of Her blessed people. I am sureth that there were many in their ranks whom were just mislead by some whom truly had forked tongues and wanted to get it done for their own purposes. Some of them haveth even promised help to repair damage what they were causing.
Now that I haveth arrived to represent Her and tell thee She is coming with anger and wrath due to this desecration, I’ve received pure hatred and disgust. I’ve even received such from those whom call themselves as druids. Those druids whom call themselves taking care of balance. Haveth they not noticed that balance was raped! It has been raped for ages and what have they been able to do to return it? Haveth they even tried it?
Why haveth not thee blessed people said it out loud! I shalle let them foreigners whom calle them more civilized call thee backwards people, but I knowe thee are insightful and wise. Why haveth thee not said out loud how missing cold affects to thy life? I haveth hearde some explaining that it is nice to haveth warmth. Some even liking this eternal rain! But those whom liveth these lands certainly haveth seen effects of Her blessings missing.
We only haveth go to swamps neareth this fine city. Swamps are infested by disesases that spread like a wind as no ice puts them bay in part of the year. As are breeding the hordes of wretched kobolds and lizards folk. No longer they need to gather themselves in their caves to try protect them for cold. No! They can take control of the nearby lands and spread like bugs they are!
Why haveth thee not woken up even when giant of fire nature walks into town. What haveth it been that haveth made them stay in their pact, what has kept their power down? What is it what keeps fire in bay if not Her ice! Yes! If the glacier would not haveth been desecrated and people turned out of Her might, also those creatures of firey nature would keep their distance to thee.”
Takes eye contact to few persons in the audience, then goes on softly almost whispering
“Thee see it now. Do thee not?”
Her voice gets a bit louder again, when she goes on
“And thy brothers in Norwick. Most of thee share same bloodlines, even though there would be disagreements between town and city every now and then. Thy brothers in Norwick are to face this creature Wendigo. Wendigo whom serves the great demonic evil called also as Prince of Undeath! And by which means they cometh now? They cameth in cover of ice and cold. When Her blessed lands haveth been angered and Her gaze haveth turned away for a moment due to that, most vile enemies come these lands with powers that only Her servants truly know how to fight against.
For that, luckily, Norwick has seen the light of wisdom and is building a shrine for Auril. Therefore with mandate of Auril, those whom areth willing to do favor for Her or even serve Her, I request thy help for the southern town in this certain war. But I shalle not try control thee. No. As She is whimsical by Her nature, so must Her servants be. Thee may do whatever thee know best, be it fighting for Her, providing supplies for those whom do so or even spreading word to faraway lands that faihtfuls are to gather to Norwick.
This is act that is to be done for good of these blessed lands. Even thought this is still not curing the disesase, but taking care of the symptoms. The disease is still to be cured. The great glacier is to be healed! All thee can act for it! All thee haveth power!
If any of thee wisheth to talk me about these matters I am always willing to listen. These lands haveth always been blessed, let us not let them go into ruin. Let the bloodline of the glacier triumph!”
She gives out a faint smile and gets down from the stand, in middle of the people
((ooc: will have take 10 for persuade check to affect the NPC audience, that makes Meye’s persuade check to be 29))
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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?"_
