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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 8227097" data-attributes="member: 2012">The gathered crowd listens intently to Akos's words. While most listen with respect and a bit of awe for the growing fame of the heroes, a few continue to whisper among themselves. However, others shush them and soon all are listening with, at least, grudging respect. They all seem to weigh Akos's words of wisdom with deep thought. These are the elders and merchants of Old City, after all. Even the man who decried the 'heathens' softens his gaze but Akos can tell the man is still wary of the mercenaries.The crowd begins to disperse in the wake of the Loremaster's short oratory. A few shake his hand and wish him and "Heroes of Old City" well. Then, Tim speaks his retort to the mercenaries...[Spoiler="DM Only"]The crowd (on average) is considered Hostile to the Rising Swords (with a -10 infamy penalty) and Indifferent to the PCs and the Regulars. Akos's Diplomacy check changes the crowd's average attitude to Indifferent to the Rising Swords prisoners and Helpful to the PCs and Regulars.The crowd's average Sense Motive check: <a href="http://roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=247687" target="_blank">Gathered Crowd - Sense Motive check: 1D20+1 = [5]+1 = 6</a><a href="http://roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=247686" target="_blank">Akos - Diplomacy and Bluff checks: 1D20+24 = [17]+24 = 41; 1D20+16 = [5]+16 = 21</a>Due to Akos's renown bonus of +2 the unmodified checks increase to 43 and 23, respectively. The diplomacy check is only 33 for the Rising Swords due the infamy penalty.[/Spoiler]"Then you and your god are both fools," Narzissa snaps back. "You don't want to save me. Fine. I can live with that. But don't expect me to convert to your deity or any other gods. Gods are charlatans. All of them. Yours has fooled you into submission... what you call sacrifice and devotion, and you readily admit its for nothing but you sacrificing your life for him." She shakes her head in disbelief. "You and I will never agree." She turn her back to the knight, as if to say she's done listening.Some in the dispersing crowd boo and hiss at her, but they do continue to go back to their daily lives. A few youngsters gather around Akos and ask him if he can sing. Roland tries to shoo them away. "Go back to your mother's embrace. This scene is not for your eyes.""I've s- seen a lot worse," one boys says a bit ashfacen."No you haven't," his older sister says as she tries to drag him away from the dead bodies on the street.OOC: No matter what Tim says to Narzissa form now on, she refuses to speak to him at all. She will talk to Akos but not about gods or religion but not when Tim is around."Your debate continues to stir up the crowd even though it's best for all that you don't incite them to violence," Mambru notes to Tim. "You should listen more to your friend's words," he motions to Akos with a head bob as the guards shackle his and Narzissa's arms behind their backs. "He's done a better job at making me think about my own life than you. You're blustering just makes me angrier. Either speak to me no more or cut my ear's off.""Justice for those in power," Mambru replies. "I will not believe in anything else from The Five.""That buffoon," Herleva says with surprise. "What is he doing out from behind a desk?" She shakes her head in dismay. "The news about the missing guards is troubling. The Gate of Scales is never left unguarded.""Unless there is a festival," Roland notes. "And there are no festivals scheduled for Old City. All were cancelled once he started killing people," the Regular points at the unconscious form of Mani. The insane doppelganger almost looks serene laying unconscious on the the cobblestone street."Any more deviltry and I'm going to need some serious time off," Vinccenzo says. The Sectarian Guard is still nursing his wounds but is ready to press on to the gate."We need to get these prisoners to the jail at the barracks," Roland notes. "Daithí, you and Zaquiel stay here and watch over the dead. Keep the people away from them until a wagon can be sent to pick up the bodies." He looks at Tim and the other. "We should not be carrying them through the street.""I- I'd like to stay with Odhran," Mariana asks. "I need to think about how I'm going to tell my cousin. She's going to be crushed. Poor Serafina. I warned her that his life was dangerous, but she married him anyway. I can't really blame her..." The young regular seems to be talking to the air rather that Roland."Very well," Herleva replies. "But, remember you duty to the city. Don't let grief distract you."Mariana looks down at the halfling sergeant. She takes a deep breath and then nods."Roland, let's get them moving!" Herleva orders. Her second in command snaps to attention and makes the three prisoners walk in unison. All three of the Rising Swords mercenaries have been chained with their hands behind their backs. They've been linked together by a firm rope. Roland walks in front of them while Herleva walks behind them. Vinccenzo walks just to the left of the prisoners.The guards ask Tim to carry the unconscious doppelganger. Herleva asks Tuck to lead the way to the gate. It's a short march, even with the prisoners slowing them down. It is as Tuck said. The gate is completely deserted. There is no sign of a struggle. It's as if the guards simply left their posts."This is wrong," Roland says with concern. "It doesn't make any sense.""Unless someone has charmed them," Vinccenzo suggests. "Or bribed them.""Elites are normally stationed here," Herleva notes. "I could see a few succumbing to magic but not all of them. I'd hate to think Elites would accept bribes to look the other way." The halfling sergeant stares at Solomon with disgust. "What did your people do?"The Dissenter priest just grins through his gag."You'd be surprised how corrupt your fellow guards are when enough coin is offered," Mambru says."Liar!" Roland snaps.OOC: I assume your PCs will want to look for clues. Search checks! And you can roll Sense Motive checks against Solomon and Mambru. Intimidate would also be useful against Mambru and Narzissa... less so against Solomon.</blockquote>

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