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Post by redcoat on Jan 23, 2023 18:19:49 GMT -5
Book II: Flamekeep Chapter 3: The City Walls
Our intrepid heroes make their way to the city gates, where they find a tense standoff. The gates are closed and locked. A motley crowd of peasants stand on the outside, shouting and pleading to be let in, while above the gates on the city walls, tense guards shout orders back- ordering people to return to their homes and shelter there.
Initiative: Scion:24, Pheuse: 17, Porter: 10 , Neuks:6
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Post by Ancelas on Jan 24, 2023 8:35:22 GMT -5
Tobias slowed as he and his companions approached the gate, taking in the sight of the standoff. A frown creased his brow and he glanced at the others warily. Pulling down the hood of his cloak so as to appear more trustworthy, he would drift nonchalantly over to a nearby gawker that scenes like these always seem to draw.
"What's going on?" he asked casually, keeping his eyes on the scene. "What's got the guard all riled up this time?"
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Jan 24, 2023 17:08:11 GMT -5
Pheuse moved quickly alongside the group. He stayed close to Tobias' heel as he went mostly unnoticed for his size among the rest of the group.
Then scene before them caused him pause and he opted to stay silent while Tobias broached getting information on the drama.
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Post by vandalaria on Jan 27, 2023 12:46:45 GMT -5
Porter followed at their usual spot to the side and behind Pheuse, though they let themself range and drift from that position, doing their best to drop the appearance of a servant. They keep the cloak about them, head deep in the cowl in an attempt to draw less attention to their distinctive appearance. Hopefully their face could be confused for a mask. They weren't certain, and they'd have to trust in luck. Not their favourite option. Like Pheuse, they decided to let the scene play out and see what response Tobias gets.
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Post by resonance on Jan 28, 2023 10:37:23 GMT -5
Neuks had cast her spell and turned into a very tall (she was still over 6 feet) somewhat plump but muscular human woman - who looked like she both wanted to bake you fresh loaves of the tastiest bread you've ever eaten or challenge you to an arm wrestling competiton. Who knows! That was the joy of disguises! Her hair was the same reddish brown as Neuks's fluff, wrapped up in a messy bun. Her rosy light skinned face was covered in freckles. Her clothing had changed to that of a common laborer, honestly probably with a baker's apron as well - you know, because of the tasty loaves.
Being taller still than most of the folks around her, she stood up on her toes for a moment to see if she could get a better look over the gawkers at what was going on.
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Post by redcoat on Jan 29, 2023 22:01:43 GMT -5
A middle aged man- a blacksmith by trade, judging by the thick arms and heavy leather apron- looked over the commotion through the gates with a baffled expression.
"Not the foggiest, stranger. Bunch of the Mourners started running at the gates screeching about demons. Happens, time to time. A bad batch of drink, smoke, whatever-the-hells-else, and you get a riot." He tutted, looking over and giving Neuks a friendly smile.
"Well don't you look like a warm flame on a cold day! What's your name?"
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Post by Ancelas on Jan 30, 2023 14:29:37 GMT -5
Tobias' brows furrowed, and then he blinked as the blacksmith took Notice of Neuks. "Mourners?" he asked, trying to keep on subject. "Refugees from the Mournlands? Seems strange to rush the gates like that, even drunk..."
Unless... they had been attacked by... something... on that train that seemed linked to the Mournlands...
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Jan 30, 2023 18:41:37 GMT -5
Pheuse froze in place at the talk of demons. The ordeal of the night prior was fresh and put him on edge.
His head turned up to the smithy as he had shifted. He was distracted shortly after by the smithy flirting(?) with Neuks. Well, that was certainly a choice.
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Post by vandalaria on Feb 2, 2023 18:12:32 GMT -5
There is a similar pause from Porter, but a look from the presumed blacksmith to Tobias as they each mention Mourners gives some indication of what drew Porter's attention. They couldn't really muster a far-away look in the same way a person might. Despite the limitations of the mask, though, the suggestion of it was still there. Sadly, they were probably the only one there to entirely miss the obvious flirting, as the nostalgia lingered.
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Post by resonance on Feb 7, 2023 12:51:32 GMT -5
Neuks smiled to the blacksmith, "aww, well that's mighty sweet of you. I'm Nicky, just got into town." A little wink added in for effect. Then she frowned with a concerned expression. "You said some Mourners thought there were demons out there? But why would they lock the gate on them? Even if it was a bad drink, wouldn't it be safer inside for them?"
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Post by redcoat on Feb 14, 2023 20:19:55 GMT -5
The Blacksmith shrugged, giving 'Nicky' a friendly smile. "Ah, you're new in town! You'll get used to it. The Mourners- most of them are on their way to or from the prison on any given day. When they behave, the gate stays open. If they start rioting, the guards are pretty quick to shut the gates and let them figure it out themselves."
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Post by Ancelas on Feb 14, 2023 20:40:12 GMT -5
Tobias grunted softly, watching the Blacksmith and 'Nicky' out of the corner of his eye while feigning disinterest. "What's so interesting up at the prison that they'd want to march up to it so often? Last I heard, most people want to stay away from places like that."
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Feb 14, 2023 20:44:03 GMT -5
Pheuse looked up at Tobias and against his better judgement responded. "I think the smithy meant that they're either getting hauled to or released from." He offered dryly. At least that was the easy thing to assume.
He looked to the gates again. If what they needed was on the other side how were all of them going to get through? He could easily get himself through one way or other, but the others would be a harder sell.
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Post by vandalaria on Feb 15, 2023 17:10:02 GMT -5
"The temerity. Surely even the Rising City itself paled before the kindness they are now shown." Porter delivers this comment with such an absolutely flat affect that anyone who knows them also knows this must be some version of absolute disdain -- a complete deviation from their normally soothing modulations. They don't so much as turn to the blacksmith as they say this, but as the nostalgia passed their eyes similarly fixed on the gates. "Shall I see about this dilemma?" they ask Pheuse, more quietly than their previous statement, noticing him also looking at the gate. They sound more like their normal self as they ask, but still there's a lingering edge to the question. An implication of urgency to Porter's stepping away.
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Post by resonance on Feb 17, 2023 17:14:00 GMT -5
The smithy's answer didn't sit well with Neuks either, and she shifted her position as she glanced to Porter with more of a concerned look. When she looked back to the blacksmith, she asked, "what if there's actually a demon or something out there? Will the guards help?"
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