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#406
08-06-2012, 10:06 AM
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Dravor was debating on wether to try speaking to calm the man. He decided that he actually agreed with his companions assessment of the speakers lineage and level of intelligence. So he waited for a reply with an outwardly calm demeanor but ready to draw steel in a heartbeat. 
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#407
08-06-2012, 10:26 AM
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Arriving late to the man's speech, Basha tries to find a place to stand where he can see over the crowd. He fails. But in scanning the area, he spots Thron and Dravor. So by chance, the Kreens are all here to see this man deliver this speech? Not chance. This is a Moment, he is sure of it. All paths lead here, to this chance, this opportunity for honor or disaster. But what to make of it?
He frowns as he listens. Such open disregard for the King... is this normal? Is this even allowed? Among the People, none would speak in such a way of the chief. But the chief was chief because he was wise, because he was family, because he deserved to lead. Tithian was certainly not family, and Basha had his doubts about the other parts, too. Perhaps karntas leaders were open to scorn precisely because they deserved it? Still, if Tithian is looking for a man to... what was the word? frame?... then this man has made himself vulnerable. He turns to watch Thron as the druid speaks. Surely this is it - the Moment calls, and the druid answers! But wait. Now Thron, too, speaks treason, as surely as the Urikite has. What has happened? Basha turn to his closest companions - Big, Lanina, d'aguar. His confusion is evident. "Anezka, beneath the Dragon's Crown. What has Thron done?!"
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#408
08-06-2012, 02:47 PM
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Big'un is not very bright. This fact is well established. Many of the details of what the Kreens are doing right now have managed to remain firmly lodged in other's brains, while the half-giant's remains blissfully unaware. The few things that he has picked up are clear though. First and foremost is that there is an army of Urikites marching toward Tyr right now, and if the people of Tyr do not ready themselves then some guy named Hamfist or something is going to take over and life will go back to what it was when Kalak was alive, or worse.
__________________Second among the things that have managed to remain firm in Big's brain is that he and his friends, the Kreens, are working to try to make the people of Tyr hold together and fight off the Urikites. That was what his fight in the Arena against Wenzer was about, getting the gladiators to fight together instead of running off on their own. Same with the confrontation with the merchants and craftsmen that he and Dravor kept from escalating into bloodshed. If Tyr doesn't work together in the coming days, it will fall into Urik's hands and be a slave state. Finally, and key to the current situation, is the fact that the man speaking is from Urik. He has been sent to weaken the resolve of the Tyrians and make it easier for the Urik army to roll through Tyr and take over. Only he isn't using steel and force, but words and guile, areas where Big is as learned as a child. So Big responds to the painted man as most any child will when confronted by something he doesn't wish to hear, with louder noise. The hair on Lanina's head twitches toward the half-giant as he draws in a huge breath before letting it out in an Dice Intimidate:
"SHUT UP!"
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#409
08-12-2012, 02:17 AM
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Lanina was very surprised to see the man speaking the way he was. She wasn't very bright herself, but could often see things like this a mile away. Perhaps her allowing herself some bit of nostalgia was a mistake, perhaps...
__________________She listened and unlike her normal reactions watched the scene, waiting to see what would happen. She wanted to thump this clown, but something was holding her back. I want to see where this goes. It is at that point, with Gunny behind her, the only warning she has to his overwhelming yelp is the subtle hint on her neck as her hairs is pulled backwards. Unfortunately, for the elf, she was not alert enough to notice. So when his yell came, she was completely unprepared. She didn't just jump, she almost came out of her skin. For a brief moment, she is pale, but she quickly recovers and composes herself before anyone outside of her companions would notice.
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#410
08-13-2012, 03:06 PM
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Lanina, Ursula, Big, and Basha follow the movement of the market folk a short distance through the narrows alleys of the warrens before they open up once again into a wider dirt-surfaced thoroughfare that winds its way between dilapidated buildings and along a twisted path of refuse of the lives of the poor. It soon becomes apparent that the crowd is gathering at a widening in this highway for the downtrodden. As the quartet works their way into the crowd to see what's going on, they see a handsome figure clad in the manner of the Urikites speaking from atop something (whatever he's standing on is hidden in the crowd). To their surprise, they also hear a familiar voice calling out insulting rhetoric from the crowd. Thron! The druid's voice is loud, shrill, and it's clear that neither the speaker nor the crowd appreciate his outburst. It is followed quickly by a loud complaint from the desert wanderer as someone steps solidly on his foot 'by mistake'.
__________________The speaker rolls his eyes at Thron and says oratorially, "Another peon of Tithian, who wishes in his blindness to take on another Great King. Clearly he has little regard for any of your lives, or his own. I know not how Kalak was slain, but if you think you can defeat Hamanu... it is a fool's errand!" "But of course your council plots against you! Were you not told that an army marched upon Tyr, intent on destroying you all? That if you did not rise up and take arms the evil King Hamanu of Urik would slaughter your men, torture your women, and enslave your children? Was this not the truth, you say? I tell you these were lies! Who among you has spoken to King Hamanu of Urik? Who among you has asked him why he comes to the aid of riot-torn Tyr? Only those, your councillors, who claim he is an enemy -- only those whose wealth and power is threatened!" At this point, the crowd is jolted by a mighty bellow as Big hurls out his poetic rebuttal, a mighty "SHUT UP!" Those closest to the half giant put their hands over their ears, as if doing so after the fact was going to help anything. Unless the beast was planning to shout again, of course? Many look towards the hulking warrior, wondering what he's going to do next. The speaker, for his part, looks at Big'un in surprise. "You have something to say?"
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#411
08-13-2012, 04:35 PM
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Basha turns at Big's bellow in time to see Lanina wince. He reaches out a steadying hand, and places it gently on her hip. She still fears him. Their bond is frayed.
But what now? The whole plaza is watching his small cluster of companions. One of them must win this debate... and Diplomacy -1 here. Good luck!  this crowd will not listen to a halfling. He shifts uncomfortably in the silence, hoping one of his more charismatic companions will step into the void.
Last edited by zebedee; 08-13-2012 at 04:36 PM.
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#412
08-13-2012, 05:05 PM
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Big'un looks at the crowd around him and the rhetorician at the head of it and suddenly becomes a deer in headlights. The half-giant can face down a Tembo alone and not an ounce of fear will enter his blood, but put him in front of a crowd and expect him to speak and his knees turn to water and his bowels feel like they're about to let loose right there. But he has spent a lot of time these past days practicing this sort of thing, and was at the least competent when speaking to the gladiators. His success there gives him some measure of confidence here, though it is barely a thimbleful when compared to the tidal wave of terror he feels.
__________________Finding his mouth suddenly dry Big swallows a big pile of desert sand before stepping forward and croaking out a pained "Yeah." Another swallow and a rumbling cough wet his mouth enough to continue, albeit shakily. "Yer not from here. You weren't a slave buildin' Kalak's...thing." he waves in the general direction of the ziggurat which can be see even from here. "You din't fight and die here to be free of 'im." As no one has yet interrupted him with laughter Big gains a bit more confidence, stepping forward again. "Yous was prolly drinkin' kank honey whiles we was bakin' in da sun and havin' our lives sucked out by Kalak's power." Anger now enters Big's voice as he draws on the memories of that terrible time. His giant fists clench and muscles bulge in his neck and shoulders as another powerful step forward is taken. "Yous don' know what we went t'rough to be free a' him." The psionic tattoos on the half-giant's chest and back begin to glow fiercely in response to Big's rising anger. By this time he has closed most of the distance to the orator, the crowd parting easily in the face of Big's fierce mien and size. "And now yous wants us ta jus' lay down for Hamanamuna ta come in an' take over?" Another step closer, Big is barely five feet from the Urikite now. Hate and rage pour from him like waves of heat from the desert floor. "I tink yous needs ta do some tinkin' a' yer own and-" The final distance is closed and Big stands eye to eye to the speaker but only because of the crate he is standing on. The half-giant's sun baked skin and many scars contrast wildly to the Urikite's painted face and well tended hair, bringing into stark reality the words spoken by Big earlier. "-go home. Now." These last are said in a growl directly into the face of the speaker. The threat, while unspoken, hangs clearly in the air.
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#413
08-15-2012, 10:35 PM
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With a voice slowly rising, a response borne from memories of her lost family is coaxed unwillingly from D'aguar Uudoorian. "I know how Kalak was slain," she begins. "It's said that only the will of a God-King can contest another God-king -- and only a God-King or the Dragon Himself can kill another of equal power." Her voice rises as she moves forward in front of Big. "The Tyrant of Tyr was an evil… creature... who tortured us all. But who but the great Hamanu of Urik stood to gain more by slaying Kalak? Urik, the war-hungry, needs iron to fuel its agression. And with all of us divided, Hamanu's army will meet no resistance when it comes to our gates. When that happens, it'll be too late. Isn't that right?"
She pauses and points to the speaker from Urik. "'Who among us has spoken to King Hamanu of Urik?' you ask. No one from Tyr… but how do you have such knowledge? I only know this: from the richest to the poorest, all of Tyr will be enslaved when Hamanu invades. Don't think for a second that the God-King of Urik won't kill or enslave us all. That's what they do. Why would anyone want to return to slavery -- I'd rather starve or die fighting than be forced to work in the mines of Tyr for Hamanu!" At this she gestures to the half-elven woman behind her. "This is my friend Lanina Soddenwhisper. She runs a shelter that gives water to the thirsty, and healing to the sick through the power of the most merciful element of them all. She does more for the people of Tyr than merely shouting words and stirring crowds. If you too would like to help, if you truly have information that can help Tyr, then come and join us at this place of healing. We of Tyr would welcome an answer to the impending death and chaos marching upon our doors. Come now and share your wisdom at the humble shelter of a proven friend of Tyr. Unless... you prefer only to shout at crowds perhaps. Unless you shun the company of the great Kreen heroes who helped the masses escape from the stadium on the day of Kalak's death? Ursula pats Big's enormous arm and flashes white teeth. "Don't be afraid of my friend here, he only kills enemies of Tyr. Now, come and join us -- surely you cannot refuse."
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#414
08-26-2012, 11:56 PM
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The speaker seems somewhat stunned by Big's outburst, and for a moment he stands there in silence. He then shrugs, and lifts both hands in the air. "Who am I to argue with that? I can see that I will neither be louder than you, nor convince you, brave giant." He turns to the audience. "I guess that's it for today."
__________________Thron and Dravor observe the sequence of events from their position in the crowd. It seems to Thron that the Urikite pauses momentarily just after responding to Big and looks straight at him for a moment, perhaps marking the druid for future identification. The audience, however, has other ideas. As the speaker begins to step down, there's a cat call from the crowd. "What does some idiot half-giant with a muscle for a brain know?" And then more. "Hey, big guy, you shut up." "Well, I don't remember him." "Life sucks as badly here as it ever did as slaves." "At least we had food then!" "Tithian's as bad as Kalak!" And so on.... Soon, there's quite a clamour, and individual voices are largely lost in the greater noise. D'Aguar attempts to intervene, but only those around her can hear her. With her usual intelligence, she anticipates this, and moves towards the speaker to make sure that he, too, will hear her. He pauses in his dismount from the cart he's standing on to listen, and cannot seem to stop himself from responding to her statements. He waves a hand dismissively, and speaks out to those nearby who have been listening to D'Aguar. "Posh! King Hamanu comes not to enslave but to free you from your slave-lords. Even as far as distant Urik, he has heard the cries of the oppressed and injured and those cries moved him. Who among you feels safe at night from the gangs and thugs of our 'elected' councilors? Who among you will speak out against this tyranny and stand against this unjust war? Resist injustice! Fight the true enemy! That's what you must do." As he finishes, he looks around nervously. The noise of the crowd is now substantial. There is a general hubbub of citizenry talking to their neighbours about what's just happened, as well as a sizeable number of folks who seem to have taken a dislike to Big's manner of interrupting their informal town meeting. Soon, facing the half-giant and waving hands in the air, they begin to chant "Go! Go! Go!". Though none seem willing to step close enough for the half-giant to swing at them, they certainly seem to have found a modicum of bravery in their chanting crowd. Ursula stands amidst them, close to the cart. Lanina and Basha remain next to Big. The speaker waves to Ursula. "Good luck with that." He then turns to jump off the back of the cart, which will give him access to a back alley with few people in it. An escape route, as it were.
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#415
08-27-2012, 09:28 PM
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"Basha-Big! Get him!" It's all that Ursula can think to shout. Her mind was more occupied on summoning a wave of psionic power to immobilize the rogue Urikite than on eloquent speech. If they could only capture him, this man could be the key to uniting the houses of Tyr and mobilizing its army. It all came down to stopping this idiot!
__________________As her spirit interfaced with the mindscape, Thron's visage came unbidden to her mind. That hateful, two-headed beast. She knew the savage druid was among the crowd, somewhere. Thron... If her friends failed, perhaps the shifty-eyed (one-eyed) druid might succeed.
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#416
08-27-2012, 11:11 PM
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The druid's knuckles are white, clasped around the hilt of the obsidian dagger given to him by Mahlanda so many months ago. His eyes narrow at the back of the man who had so casually crushed his foot. It would be so easy to gut him, but was it actually worth it? He glances around at the sizable crowd. Not likely. The herd is already sided against me. No use giving them more ammunition. He lets out a long breath, directing his attention squarely on the Urikite as Big finishes making his opinions known. Not that it mattered.
__________________Thron scowls. If not for the crowd, I'd be tempted to call on the Spirits. These idiots, however, see spellcasting and assume a defiler. He's smarter than us and that makes us feel bad, and on top of that he's a defiler! We should kill him now just to be safe. That is exactly what will pass through their skulls. Idiots. He turns his head to face Dravor. "Since Big isn't going to do it, we should probably go and club that kank's ass over the head." He looks back, realizing quite quickly that the man means to make a stealthy exit and tugs on the bard's shirt. "Now." The skinny druid tries to worm his way through the press of bodies, but his efforts seem to be for naught. The crowd seems quite intent on ruining his day... and it had been going so well. In a last ditch effort he hauls himself over the shoulders of the mul and fat human in front of him, awkwardly leaning forward, his feet flapping in the air as his hands grab at the Urikite passing so close. Soft, smooth fabric slides across his fingers... Last edited by Elfman6; 08-27-2012 at 11:37 PM. Reason: removed a useless word
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#417
08-27-2012, 11:31 PM
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Basha has been on edge since first noticing the crowd coming to this place. He has fully expected danger at every turn, and has been anticipating the need to act. He's not sure what he intends to do, but he certainly isn't going to be caught waiting. Baring his teeth and snarling loudly, he rushes towards the mob, hoping to startle them backward to buy him some space. And then he tucks in to a roll, between the legs of the first row. He springs to his feet and pushes onward, trying to find any conceivable combination of jumping, climbing, and Acrobatics 27tumbling that will get him to the other side of this crowd. Last edited by zebedee; 08-28-2012 at 05:21 PM.
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#418
09-03-2012, 09:19 PM
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After Big's shout she listens and only hears the words, not of the speaker, but of the crowd. A hush flows over her as the realization that all of her efforts for all of those years, heck even the extra gains she has made with her shelter meant absolutely nothing to most of the people of Tyr. She turns pale, though who could tell under the tanned skin she earned in the pits. Her mind is completely somewhere else and self-pity fills her. She hadn't given up when they were taken as slaves, or given up when their life was being drained, but here for some reason, she feels beaten. The fight out her her, for if for all her efforts and all of the people she has fed, clothed, sheltered, it was all for naught...then what was the point?
__________________She is beside herself, that is until Ursula shouts. Her discipline kicks in, she shakes off her daze looks at the speaker and yells "Halt!" with the force of a magical compulsion.
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#419
09-04-2012, 09:43 AM
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Standing at least four feet taller than anyone else in the crowd has its advantages, as Big can easily see over the crowd and watch the speaker begin to walk away without challenge. He can also Basha and Thron trying to push through the crowd to get to the man, but it's clear that they aren't going to make it. Big'un, half-giant of action, begins shoving the 'brave' crowd members aside as he closes the distance.
__________________"Halt!" shouts Lanina from behind. While the magical call wasn't directed at him it has the exact same effect on Big as it should on its intended target. The half-giant freezes in place, partly through the process of shoving a ratty looking fellow out of the way, who takes advantage of the delay to scurry out of range of Big's paws. Big looks back over his shoulder at his beloved 'Nina, and only then realizes that she isn't focused on him and wasn't telling him to stop. With an aggravated shake of his head Big turns back to the crowd, which is surprisingly thinner than it was a moment ago, given the momentary pause to reconsider blocking the path of the half-giant. Big'un's path clearing continues as he inexorably moves closer to the Urikite...
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#420
09-24-2012, 10:15 PM
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Basha springs into action. He leaps forward into the press and weaves between oppressed citizens and dodges kneecaps skillfully enough to get to the cart just as the speaker is ready to spring.... Thron likewise throws himself into the crowd with alacrity. Unfortunately for the one-eyed druid, he experiences a much more turbulent ride than the halfling, and finds himself bounced around between increasingly angry downtrodden folk as he progresses in a most non-linear fashion towards the cart and then is stopped dead in his tracks by a large woman with great... tracts... well, a huge bosom and the body to carry it.... Lanina watches Basha's quick progress, though it's not quick enough to leave him time to catch the supporter of Hamanu before the man jumps. She sees Thron leap into the crowd and bounce off a surprised-looking buxom woman. The priestess notices her other companions starting to act, but not quickly enough. Lanina shouts "HALT!. Big stops. The speaker stops, balanced on the edge of the cart, and stares helplessly out at Lanina. For its part, the crowd seems stunned by the turn of events. But this is no doubt momentary.
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