DrK Crimson Throne IC

[rax]

"I promised them their just desserts and they shall have it," Cassian answers grimly. "These men kidnapped, tortured and starved children along with their foul master. For all I know they had a hand in the death of my sister as well. I won't kill them out of hand, but I see no need to release them on their own recognizance. Let them remain here, bound hand and foot, to meet whatever fate the Lady of Graves has in store for them."

"Speaking of which, let us make for Gray district post haste. Moving amongst these rioters will be dangerous, but somehow I think their numbers will thin out as we approach our destination. There's not much to loot in a graveyard and I doubt they'll have the appetite to confront the priesthood of Pharasma in their temple."

[wilphe]

If we were going to kill them we should have done so at the time, having accepted their surrender we are now responsible for them and I am not that coldblooded.

Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement.

[rax]

"Kill them? They will be free to leave in any way they can effect themselves," Cassian replies. "If they cannot manage that, then that's their problem. As for being responsible for their well being, you may feel that way, but I do not. These are merciless criminals and I have no doubt that if you simply release them onto the streets, they will go back to abusing the young and defenceless for their own profit and pleasure. If you claim responsibility for them, then you must also take responsibility for what they do with that freedom. Will you do that?"

[wilphe]

And if you chose to leave them the possibility to escape, then whatever evil they do should they succeed is also on you. You want them dead, but don't want to do it yourself. Tough. You want them dead then follow me and show me the honour of a knight

Winifed returns to the thug in the chum room and cuts his hands free, Lamm and Gobbleguts are dead - you may find something of value down there. I suggest you return to your family and rethink your life. Please do not give me cause to regret sparing your life, I may not do so a second time should we meet again.

Spoiler: OOC

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(1d100)[21] Intimidate 22

[Haval]

'Well that seems a little much.' Andrei says in reference to the hippogryphs. 'Unless they intend to terrify people into going home. I wonder if the Queen helped the King along?' Andrei had no real interest in getting in the middle of all that.

On the matter of Lamm's associates, 'You could always try and find someone to hand them over to. Though I suspect anyone who might care is a little busy at the moment. Given everything that's going on outside I would say that if Pharasma has any fate in mind for them there's every chance they'll find it in the riots.'

Spoiler

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Academic Knowledge (Magic) on what's going on with the glowing dome. Which is presumably at the Academae
vs. Int 53
(1d100)[66]

[rax]

"Spare me your attempts at mind reading, mistress Winifred," Cassian retorts. "The lives of these men is of no concern to me whatsoever. If I had wanted them dead as you say, I would have killed them before. They are vicious worms, and short of marching them to the authorities or executing them, there is nothing any of us can truly do to prevent them committing new crimes. But by choosing to release them to make their own way, you are the one who will be responsible for what they do next. I will not sully my hands further with this matter."

[wilphe]

Winifred moves to the bedroom and gives a similar speech to Giggles and Yarvik - and the dog.

Your weapons are outside, take this opportunity to rethink the path you have chosen. I would not like to find you still on it should we meet again. Also don't cheat whores.

Spoiler: OOC

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(1d100)[28] Intimdate 22

Dump:

Giggles' Flail
Giggle's knife and coin purse (if they exist)
Yargin's Rapier
(Poor quality?) shortbow

[rax]

Cassian makes his way outside while Winifred releases the prisoners and waits for her and Andrei to join him. He keeps a hand on his sword at all times to show any nearby rioters that he's ready for trouble.

[wilphe]

Winifred returns

After you. Let's not hang around

[DrK]

As the newly formed party bag up the loot from Gaedran's haul and bring up the stout chest bearing Zellara's head Winifred and Cassian discuss the prisoners before Winifred cuts their bonds. The thugs immediately grab a few things and race out into the chaos of the city beyond whilst Giggle pauses, a long green finger pointing at Winifred and Cassian - "I'll see ye again, I'll get me revenge and next time I'll be laughing as I smash your teeth in." before they turn and vanish into the narrow thin alleyways and warrens of the docks.

As you look out once more you can all hear the screams, jeers and sounds of rioting echoing from across the city and realise it will be a long few days until city calms itself following the kings death and the ascension of Queen Illeosa! As you reappear on the Western Docks you west to the smoke and flames above the palace and the Hell knight's hall. To the south at the base of the ***** Citadel Volshyenek sits surrounded in flames, smoke billowing into the air the garrison of the City guard is surrounded by crowds of the poor and dispossessed eager for revenge against the perceived oppressors. Heading down the docks you know you'll pass close by Zellara's home. Already, down the docks you see a massive crowd growing outside the Bailer's Retreat, an incredibly rough dockside inn home to many ex-criminals and (if rumours are true, pirates).

Even as you get to the docks wider concourses you hear a great roar from the crowd as you see a pair of young nobles, ropes around their necks being dragged to the front of the inn. You can hear hear chants of "Down with the false queen", "Die you noble *****", "String 'em up". As you watch you can see a trio of hulking dockside brutes throw the ropes over the sign. The yuong woman collapses into a faint, fine red silk dress stained by the filth in the street. The you man wrestles and struggles, "Damn you all. I am of House Jalento, I can pay, I can offer influence, you cannot do this...", in response he crowd start o tug on the rope with loud jeers.

[wilphe]

"I'll see ye again, I'll get me revenge and next time I'll be laughing as I smash your teeth in."

The smart thing to do would be to not tell us that, so forgive me I don't think your planned revenge will be a masterpiece of subtle planning - or any planning at all.

[wilphe]

Even as you get to the docks wider concourses you hear a great roar from the crowd as you see a pair of young nobles, ropes around their necks being dragged to the front of the inn.

Winifred looks at Cassian, Good day to be a noble in disguise isn't it? That's not our problem but I feel we should stick together. There are too many of them to fight.

[rax]

"I highly doubt he's threatening a cunning plot when it comes to seeking vengeance. If I were you, I'd grow eyes in the back my head, though. Any darkened alley could be where he strikes from next," Cassian notes.

"Quite so, but unless this pair have committed some other crime than being of noble heritage, they don't deserve the fate that's about to be visited on them any more than you would. If I can effect their release, I will at least try," he answers Winifred when they come upon the scene of the rioters and the captured nobles.

OOC: I don't want to proceed further with this scene until DrK has been able to reply to my questions in the OOC thread.

[wilphe]

There are too many to fight and if you try talking to them I think they have some spare rope for you. I can try and persuade them to not kill them right away in the interests of making them do something humiliating and degrading.

Spoiler: OOC

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Cool with me

(1d100)[79] +41 Heraldry/Genealogy

(1d100)[12] +41 Common Knowledge if she knows anything interesting

[Haval]

On the basis that he could always put Giggles to sleep again Andrei will stay to back up Winifred just in case. After Giggles threatens them, 'Good of him to warn us anyway.'

He'll stick around with the others for the moment. Intervening in an attempted lynching seemed like a bad idea though, 'If you're set on helping you could always appeal to their sense of greed. If those two can pay you can always tell the crowd they can hang them later.' Andrei assumes that Cassian might take issue with that attitude, 'Unless you mean to try fighting all of them anything that delays them from being hung in the next few minutes seems like a good idea.'

[rax]

"Here now! What's the meaning of all this?" Cassian calls out to the three prospective hangmen as he pushes his way forward through the crowd. "Are you three daft or something? Didn't you hear the boy? Him and his lady friend are from House Jalento! They ain't no nobles, just jumped up traders - no one the bitch queen cares about or listens to! You want to hang yourselves some aristos, then they're not what you're looking for."

"And you know what else? House Jalento may be rich, but they ain't rich bastards! You ever needed to go the poor house, or know someone who did? Well, I'll bet you House Jalento paid for that poor house. Isn't that right, lad?" Cassian calls out to the young man.

"You understand what I'm saying? If any of the high and mighty in this city are friends of the poor folk, it's House Jalento! You want some justice for the wrongs that've been done to you? Hanging these two won't do that, but if you're smart, then here's your chance to improve your lot. Instead of hanging these two, why not make sure they make it home safe and sound? I bet House Jalento will be happy to reward you for that, isn't that so, boy?" he calls out again to the young nobleman.

"Think about it! Hang them now, and all you've got to show for it afterwards is blood on your hands. See them home safely, and you'll have enough money for a better life. Seems an obvious choice to me!"

Spoiler: Actions

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Charm test (1d100)[1] vs. Fel 36 to convince the hangmen not to harm the two nobles
Pre-emptive FP re-roll (1d100)[91]

[Haval]

Andrei is not sure doing this in the middle of an angry mob is a good idea, but is willing to back up Cassian so at least anyone choosing to attack him from behind might think twice.

[DrK]

THe mob initially jeer and shout at Cassian, not more than a few of 'em eying up his armour and sword with suggestive gestures of their clubs. as he speaks though you see a few of the crowd nodding, before a woman at the back shouts out - "Oh, I recognise the lad, he's served me meals at the poor house down on bread street he has, was might polite and even sang a song fer us.." a few more people soon in. THe burly men with ropes and clubs try and shout back, claiming "all nobles are bastards" but soon the clamour dies down, and a gentle chorus of "let 'em down, they ain't bad..." and "The merchants ain't so bad, get them painted ********s at court..."

Amin looks with panic, hope flaring in his eyes at Cassian and breathes a sign of relife as a rough looking man pulls the rope off his head and cuffs Amin around the back of his head. "Get yerself scarce you wont be as lucky next time.." he barks, though he does rip the belt pouch of Amin's belt with a savage jerk. The young noble wisely doesn't object even as the tough stares Cassian down.

Amin helps the young lady up and staggers towards Cassian. " I do not know you, but am eternally grateful to you. Please, could you escort us to my family's town house. Its in Cliffisde on Brick lane by the Amphitheatre." Staggering he has to grab onto Cassian, "Please, I beg you, we've no money and these men would have killed us! I can reward you when I get to my house."

[rax]

"I am Cassian of House Escalante, though I would prefer not to advertise that fact among this crowd," Cassian answers quietly while steadying Amin with one hand.

"I will be happy to escort you and this young lady to your town house, but I have an urgent duty to discharge first at the Temple of Pharasma. I don't think there will be too many rioters down that way, and it's not far to the Amphitheatre from there, so if you're willing to make the detour, you are welcome to travel under our protection," he continues, indicating Andrei and Winifred with a discreet nod.

[DrK]

Amin offers his hand to Cassian, "May Abador bless you with richers and fortune my friend lead on, though I had heard of trouble near the garrison so may be best avoided" he suggests gesturing down to the south where you can see smoke rising from the streets surrounding the tall fortified barracks that juts out into the docks. Even from here you can see flames flickering in the early night time air and you begin to wonder how many of the families of the guards live there!

Heading south with Amin and his cousin Cassandra in tow he explains more of what he knows. "You know of course his majesty has been ill for some time? Even the High Sunflower (priestess of Saranrae) could not heal him. Well the pages announced his passing this evening and the crowning of Queen Illesioa, the first of her name. She isn't well liked, but also there was an announcement of a tax on all houses, a "fair tax", the same on every property to pay for the kings internment. THat was the touch paper to the mob.." "

Even as he speaks you all freeze on the dockside wharf as you can see a half dozen toughs skulking in the shadows, long knives, bill hooks, gaffes and cleavers dripping fresh blood and each bearing a few scraps of red soaked cloth with guard insignia's on.


Do you avoid, engage, diplomacy?

[rax]

"I can understand how those of lesser means might feel such a tax would not be fair," Cassian answers wryly.

As they come upon the armed ruffians, he slows his step and says in a low voice: "Those men look like the sort of trouble we should avoid, don't you agree? Let's move away from the docks and move around them. All we need to do is keep heading south, and we'll hit Gray district eventually."

[Haval]

Andrei is grateful that they seemed to avoided being attacked by the crowd.

'Given all this it might be a good idea to find to hunker down somewhere until everyone gets tired. Even if they're angry I don't think they can keep this up forever.' Andrei rolls his eyes at the notion of a fair tax. 'I wonder whose idea that was. I'd say the Queen is being badly advised. If not it's almost as if someone wanted this to happen.'

To Cassian on the toughs, 'I don't disagree, but I'd say the chance of them or someone else following to try and rob us is quite high. Clearly we don't look intimidating enough.'

[rax]

"Maybe they'll follow, maybe they won't, but they outnumber us two to one. I'd rather delay fighting them as long as possible, especially now that Miss Evelina's gone her own way. You're courageous fighters, both of you, but neither of you is properly equipped to go toe to toe with those thugs, so avoiding them is the safest course of action," Cassian replies, looking from Andrei to Winifred.

[wilphe]

Winifred looks at Cassian, See, sometimes it helps to pay it forward. Now can we please get the hell out of here before anyone changes their minds.

She offers a choice of weapons at Amin and Cassandra, Winifred Couper, at your service. I regret all I have to spare is a whip and weird looking dagger that none the less seems to be excellently balanced. Take your choice, I hope we don't have cause to use it but it seems unlikely

She regards the ruffians with apparently casual disinterest, I'd prefer to avoid a fight, but I'd equally prefer to avoid looking scared

Spoiler: OOC

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(1d100)[34] Perception +41
(1d100)[70] WP 36 (Sixth Sense)

Have they noticed us and are they targeting us?

[wilphe]

Looking like we are trying to avoid them may make us look scared and make them attack us

[rax]

"So would ducking into a building, and going near them invites a confrontation. I am not afraid of any one of them, but even a lion can be taken down by a pack of wolves and we have the safety of the Master Amin and Lady Cassandra to consider. So if the price for their safety is that I must appear discomfited by a gang of ruffians, then that is a price I am willing to pay," Cassian answers calmly.

[wilphe]

Well pick a route and get going, I shall cover the back

[rax]

"This way then," Cassian says, leading the group off to the right, down a relatively wide side street.

[DrK]

Ducking sideways you are able to dart into a sidestreet out of sight of the toughs who continue down the dock front looking for easier meat to no doubt beat and steal from. With Amin and his female partner sticking close to you Amin looks at the obscure knife and reaches out o grab it before almost dropping it as he see's it. "By the gods, in Abador's name. Is that a dagger like a key. Its infamous in the town, have you never of the killer who used such a thing."

He stumbles back, away from Winifred. "Is it yours, where did you find such a thing...?" Glancing at Cassandra he seems poised to flee, his face pale in horror at the blade proffered

[wilphe]

Winifred chokes back an expletive, then breathes deeply, It lay in the den of a crime lord we had just finished dealing with when we happened upon you. I've only been in town a year or so so it means nothing to me.