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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Greenfield" data-source="post: 5904634" data-attributes="member: 6669384">*** "Trouble coming.", Sylus called as he moved to where he'd left his gear, behind the wagons.There was a quick scramble among the celebrants as they made way for the angry mob. "Murderers!", came the cry from amid the torch bearers. "They killed Antonio!", came another voice. Seeburn stepped to a place behind the stage, bow in hand. Sylus took the other side of the stage, similarly armed, as Magda stepped up into the torchlight. "Who dares accuse me of murder?", she began. "You know it well, for you have murder in your own hearts, even now." She continued, and amazingly, the crowd stopped to listen. Even their dour leader was enthralled by the old woman's tirade. She called, she bullied, she lambasted them for the violence they bore with them, and they listened and took it all in. Cassius strode forward to a point in front of the stage and planted his sword in the ground, a stern warning to any who would try to reach the old woman. But then he felt her words penetrating his resolve, and he found himself half turned so he could listen better. Marcus went to the man at the mob's head, the preacher with the empty hourglass, to warn him off, but he too found himself caught up in Magda's words. About the camp Gypsies were moving, buckets in hand, soaking as many of the tents and wagons as they could while the old fortune teller kept the mob entranced. She couldn't hold the crowd forever, but they could make good use of whatever time she could buy. Nedel and Penn stood to the side, ready to play their part should an opportunity arise. "I've never seen anyone hold a crowd like that.", Nedel remarked. "I have.", the Half Satyr replied. "It's a spell, usually used by preachers. They'll keep listening so long as she keeps talking. She won't change their minds much, but she can buy time." Then Sylus made a decision. He changed arrows, selecting one with a blunt arrowhead of hard gum, then fired at the mob's leader, striking him squarely in the head. The man dropped like a sack, but the act of violence had broken the crowd's reverie, ending the extended moment of inaction. Marcus recovered quickly. "Penn, I need another bucket!', he called." The Bard moved quickly and took a bucket of water from one of the Gypsies. A sip from a flask and a few chanted words, and he was ready. Marcus moved to him and took the bucket, even as the crowd was still shaking off the effects of Magda's speech. A quick spin, a broad splash, and the camp's central fire became a towering pillar of flame. "Jupiter, king of the gods, is unhappy with you!", the Cleric thundered, suddenly in his element. "You pursue emptiness and hopelessness, and that is all you find. And tonight you come here, with that emptiness in your hearts, seeking to spread that moral vacuum to others, when you should be at the temples praying for the gods to fill your hearts with hope once more." As he went on, the words sprang fresh from his lips and found a place in the minds of the disheartened. The flames roared and danced at his back, and the crowd stood stunned before him. And from someplace, the songs of the heavens could be heard, an angelic chorus, faint and distant, but definitely there, lending power to the Jovian's words. And in the shadows an Athenian assassin cursed, then turned and fled. *** "That was a nice touch, adding the Celestial choir.", Penn laughed."It seemed like a good idea at the time.", Nedel agreed. "I was just hoping I didn't over do it. The spell is a minor one, and can't get very loud, so I had to make them sound distant. And so long as I didn't try to make them sing any actual words, I could get away with it." "Well, give credit where it's due.", Seeburn chuckled. "When it comes to preaching a sermon, Marcus really delivered. I didn't know he had it in him. Bet the Temples are busy tonight." Marcus smiled at the kind words. "I'm worried about Partha. He's still here, and he's still going to cause trouble." "Yes, but with the Gypsies gone, he won't be able to pursue that plan again.", Apellenea noted. "And we have to leave as well, so we can't go after him. But now we know he's out there, and next time we'll know to go looking for the cause, instead of just dealing with the problem." (finis)</blockquote>

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