CH. 4: False Gods

[HorizonsDream]

"I don't know what I'm waiting for," Kendra finally says. "I guess I'm suppose to go back home to get ready."

[BishGada]

Tulbas can't help himself and he sneers with Darga's words. Then he quickly glances up and tell him seriously, "You can be sure hunderd percent they knew exactly what is going with Daxia. Her uncle conquered her lands. Harsly. And he wanted her dead only because she threatens his hold on the lands. He didn't do it alone, he had followers, all of them human racists hating elves, half bloods and especially women and bastards. She was unfortunate but innocent. They knew it and cared nothing about it. The group that we rescued Daxia from, they were all scums agreeing to take part in such a conspiracy."
Understanding that his anger exceeds the actual case, but begins with his own history Tulbas takes a long breath and tries to let the matter off. "What do you mean 'you are not hungry'? I expected you would do much better than that after your group came to the shop to do business with my uncle. You all seemed extremely rich. By the way, how did you come by such a treasure?"

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(OOC: Reading mgbevan posts, I just wanted to remind: A. Haaque is alreay initiated cultist, so even if there were guards he could sponsore Gregeddin. B. Tulbas specifically told Haaque to say nothing about Daxia rescue and if asked to play as it's the first time he hears about it. That will make Nora understand she is safe from us babling about it.)

[Haahque]

"Yeah pretty sure it was. I'm starting to formulate a theory. I think you taller folk think you can fit just as many people in the same space as your smaller compatriots. However it poses a much larger problem for the larger." Haahqae then attempts to utilize his smaller space occupancy by squeezing past the crowd to see what all the commotion is about.

[JadedDM]

Gregeddin and Haahqae (Cult Hideout, Harbor District)
Haahqae begins squeezing through the crowd, going under the legs of the taller one, and otherwise elbowing his way to see what the commotion is all about. It sounds like someone is giving a speech, and the crowd is clearly enraptured by it. Every now and again they cheer loudly.

When he finally reaches the front, he finds that the person giving the speech--standing on a raised platform at a podium so everyone can see him--is none other than the leader of the cult, Kelryn Darewind.

"...and in the Master's name, we shall end the tyranny of the Seekers and bring prosperity to the city once again!" he finishes to more applause and cheers.

Kendra Synclair (2527 Market Street, Greylock's Gorgeous Gems)
"Well, then, see you in a bit, Mrs. Greylock," Norris says with a smile and a kiss.

[djhyland]

Darga is silent for a long while, taken aback at the ferocity in Tulbas's words. At long last, he ventures, "Mebbe those people hated th' elf girl fer her blood. Mebbe they knew why they were bringin' her in. But how kin ya be sure? Did ya talk ta them an' find out?" He sighs. "I git it, ya know. Folk hate me fer bein' a gully dwarf, jes' like those guardsmen might've hated th' girl fer bein' an elf. Don't mean that I should kill 'em fer thinkin' so little o' me. Ya kin think that they deserved ta die an' I ain't gonna say ya can't, but don't tell me I can't feel that I murdered 'em."

At Tulbas's inquiry about his financial situation, Darga flushes with embarrassment. Attempting to head off more detailed questioning, he waves his hand dismissively. "Money don't go too far in a town like this, 'specially not with all these refugees."

[mgbevan]

Gregeddin too attempts to following Haahqae squeezing his way forward to find out what all the commotion is about. However he soon realises the wisdom in Haahqae's roundabout quip. At least is was warm in the crowd...

[JadedDM]

Gregeddin and Haahqae (Cult Hideout, Harbor District)
Gregeddin elbows his way to the front of the crowd and meets back up with Haahqae. The bard rather stands out in his bright clothing, as many of the people in the crowd are wearing grey cloaks. Not all, however. A number of people in regular clothing can be seen, too.

"We no longer need to hide in the shadows," Kelryn continues. "We can proudly walk the streets, and there is nothing the Seekers can do about it. Most of the Holy Guard have quit, vanished or joined our ranks. There are only twenty remaining. Twenty! In a city of nearly fifteen thousand! They are helpless and their power wanes by the day. Soon the Highseeker council will fall to its own corruption and decadence, and we will be meeting in the temple, not in this warehouse."

The crowd cheers fervently at Kelryn's words.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra smiles lightly to Norris before she makes her way out of their house. She takes her time walking to her family's house.

[mgbevan]

Gregeddin was shocked to see Darewind standing at the front of the crowd. "They certainly worked quickly to release him from prison" Gregeddin comments aloud. He wondered how true Darewind's claims about the holy guard were, Gregeddin didn't recall seeing many lately but we had all been laying low trying to avoid them.

He stuck around to see what he would preach next, would there be a shift of power right before his eyes.

[JadedDM]

Kendra Synclair (Blade Street, Harbor District)
Kendra leaves the gem store and slowly makes her way north, to the harbor district, not in any particular hurry. She keeps her head down in thought, taking occasional looks upward to make sure she doesn't walk into someone or something, but otherwise remains in deep thought.

"Well, well, if your face got any longer, you'd be dragging it along the ground," says a voice. Should she look up, Kendra would see a woman leaning against the wall of an abandoned shop, her arms crossed. She has blonde hair and hazel eyes and is wearing soft, form-fitting leather, a pair of daggers on her belt. Kendra immediately recognizes her as Crystal, one of Necolai's people.

Necolai is a wealthy, retired mercenary who owns several properties in the harbor district. Officially, he is a 'legitimate businessman' but the Holy Guard have known for some time he runs a thieves guild in the city and has done so long before even the refugees arrived. However, they have never successfully managed to get any actual evidence implicating Necolai or any of his men.

After the refugees showed up, though, Necolai and his guild fell off the Holy Guard's radar almost entirely. There was so much rampant crime and poverty in the city, the thieves guild just wasn't a priority anymore. Plus, they seem to have been laying low for awhile.

"What's the matter, honey?" she asks. "Want me to buy you a drink and talk about it?"

Crystal.jpg (182.16 KiB) Viewed 5831 times

Gregeddin and Haahqae (Cult Hideout, Harbor District)
"Everything has gone according to the Master's plan," Kelryn continues. "As predicted, I was arrested by the Holy Guard. I was told by the Master himself that this would only serve to show people the truth--that the Seekers were tyrants who were threatened by anyone who challenged their power. Our numbers have grown since, and five days later, I have returned to lead you once again."

The crowd cheers. Once it dies down, Kelryn goes on. "Today...today we celebrate! Food and drink for all!" More cheers, especially so at the prospect of food and drink. "For tomorrow, we put our plan into action. We take to the streets! We make the city open its eyes to the truth--that the Seekers have fallen and the Master has arrived!"

[BishGada]

"Think whatever you like, but it seems to me you are going to have hard time with the occupation you chose for yourself." Tulbas answers the dwarf. As the dwarf avoids answering about his wealth, Tulbas lets it slip, only saying, "Well, since until my uncle recovers, I'm staying here all closed in, I'd appriciate the company, so you can come everyday and share a bowl of soup while we chat." He offers, "And besides, I need some supplies. If you are willing to buy them for me, I'll pay you what the delivery boy gets." During the conversation, every now and then, Tulbas looks to his uncle bed, hoping for signs of improvement in his condition.

[HorizonsDream]

At first, Kendra believes there is something else behind this so called kindness, but in the end she just shrugs. She wasn't on duty, so what did it matter if she did have a drink with a thief or not. "You know, I probably could use a drink," she says.

[mgbevan]

Gregeddin listened to the ceremony in awe, the sweeping fanaticism of the crowd was rather surprising and with the revelation they intended to revolt tomorrow was a lot to take in.
"What do the people do in this plan tomorrow" he wondered aloud.

[Haahque]

Finally piecing the pieces together one by one Haahqae realizes. "Hey, you owe me a miracle. Just before you got put in jail you promised me to show me some magical healing, I want to see it!" This he shouts at Kelryn, in an attempt to be heard over the crowd, and steps forward. "You are the sort that keeps their promises right?"

He hasn't yet processed the implications of the "Master" arriving, but he's fairly sure if that was true he would feel the dark aura of energy already.

[JadedDM]

Tulbas and Darga (253 Herbalist Street, Erogundali Mageware Shop)
Tulbas checks on his uncle, but there is no noticeable improvement.

Kendra Synclair (Blade Street, Harbor District)
Crystal chuckles and tosses her hair back over her shoulder. "Well, your loss, of cour--wait, what?" she asks, standing up straight in surprise, her eyes widening. She quickly regains her cool composure, though. "Uh...well, I didn't think you'd actually accept. Things must be bad then." She locks arms with Kendra. "Come on then, the Grinning Goat Tavern isn't far from here. We can get shit faced and make girl talk. It'll be fun."

Gregeddin and Haahqae (Cult Hideout, Harbor District)
Haahqae's sudden and loud interruption catches Kelryn off guard. He stares blankly down at the gnome. The entire room goes quiet as everyone's attention is turned to the disruptor.

Kelryn regains his composure and coughs loudly into his hand. "I suppose even now, there are still skeptics. There probably always will be. In any case, you don't seem to be suffering from any injuries, good sir, so there is nothing for me to heal."