Birthright Chapter Nine

[ewancummins]

Foerde follows the elder priest waiting to be spoken to.

The cleric whispers, "The Blood of Light."
The richly garbed pontiff does not pause to explain the remark, but continues to walk past rows of candles and painted icons.


"You have information for me, Noble Servant of the Herald? Or do you need my help?"

Foerde nods, knowing there no need to explaining the mean behind the whisper. He has never referred himself as such until now but once long ago a dear friend and mentor did.

"Both, your Holiness." He says. "I had vision, a terrible, horrifying vision. It has shown me a great injustice, one that I believe is happening or will happen soon within the heart of the enemy." He says and then goes on to recount the details of what he saw.

..

"I agree to help free these women your Holiness. This is something I must do..

But I know I won't make past the gates as I am. I was hoping to borrow some priestly vestments and have your blessing for the task at hand." He says.

Foerde realizes it might seem odd to asking for the Archprelate's blessing but considering the Archprelate is suing for peace he doesn't wasn't risk any anger towards Fhylie for his actions.

''I will not disguise you as a priest of Haelyn so that you can break the law--not even Duke Carilon's law."

The Archprelate frowns.

"But if these women are in danger, yes, we must help. And if they are already past our help, then we should seek justice for them. You are obviously wise enough not to attempt such an undertaking alone. Only a fool would go alone into Lofton, thinking to strike at a man like Lord Riegon. Bring your comrades here straightaway, and I will bless and fortify them in Haelyn's name. If your cause is truly just, the god will aid you. "

[RocEter]

Foerde merely nods when he is denied access to the garments he requested.

"Of course your Holiness. I believe our cause is just and it will help to have both Cuiraecen and Haelyn at our side." He says.

Bowing to the Archprelate, Foerde makes his way back to the City Watch HQ.

...

After he enters the watch HQ, he finds the others.

"I've spoken with Archprelate. He wants to bless and fortify you in Haelyn's name. I know our cause is just and it will help to have both Cuiraecen and Haelyn at our side."

[kintire]

Safana hears the disturbance of the demonstration, and heads down there to observe from the sidelines. She listens closely to the call of the priest, and makes a few notes. She then waits with interest for the watch-captain's reply!

[Varrus the Ethical]

WATCH HQ, ROALD.

Roald chuckles. "I'm more than happy to accept their help. We're going to need it."

[Adam]

"Aeric provides the strength I need," Cormac answers, "But I'll go along all the same."

[VAN]

Even if Filbert isn't very religious he recognizes that is important to be blessed before an important mission.

"Any help is welcome. Lead the way my friend."

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

OUTSIDE WATCH HQ

Renn bites the inside of his cheek and tastes blood, but remains smiling as the crowd picks up. He humors it for a few moments, then raises his hands to address the crowd.

“You talk of greed and profit—these are my profits.” He gestures at his scar on his face, and rolls up his sleeve to show more. “No, the profits in this war belong to the common man. The ones who willingly rise up to defend Tuornen in her time of need. Lowborn farmers can rise high as lords. They can make sure their children have to know nothing of the war we now face, but only if we see it through.”

“I know the Archprelate, he is a good man. But I also know –for a fact—that Carilon’s men violated The Archprelate’s call for truce, and raped and murdered their way across Ghonallison.” He fixes the leaders in the crowd with a serious, empathetic expression. “We are not fighting for gold. We’re fighting to stop a man who’d see innocent Tuornen’s murdered. I’ve seen it myself, put a stop to it myself. But still his soldiers pour across our borders to the north. Mark my words, Carilon wants no peace. He only wants to lick his wounds so he can go a’pillaging once more.”

“Do you know why Carilon violated Haelyn’s sacred peace?” He pauses, and considers whether or not to take the next move. He reaches into his coat, and pulls out a goblin scalp, one he cut and dried himself after the battle of the Long Vale. Some old habits never go away. “Because –he- was behind the goblin raids! We have proof from Carilon’s own lackey. He’d send these monsters against Tuor women and children, and then he’d claim the church’s protection.” He shakes his head, affecting a look of righteous disgust. “Shameful. Haelyn deserves better.”

All the while, he notes the faces of those who seem in charge. He’ll have to make sure those agitators are watched while he’s gone.

[ewancummins]

Someone in the crowd shouts-
"That's why we want him to answer charges before the church! We only ask for justice"


And then a cobblestone goes flying through the air--but not towards Renn. The paving stone smashes into the face of one of the younger protestors; the boy thus struck falls to the ground with blood pouring from his nose and cheek.

A second mob comes round the corner to the left, led by a couple of rowdies pitching loose stones. This second mob carries a ragged banner, painted with the words 'NO SURRENDER' and decorated with crude lightning bolts, rather like the symbol of the Militant Order. The ruffians who hurled the stones rush headlong into a charge with their comrades coming on behind them.

The Haelynite protestors fall back for a moment, but do not flee. They prepare to fight with fists, saps, and even daggers.

...

[Varrus the Ethical]

WATCH HQ, ROALD

Roald looks to Gunnar and points at his sword. "A thought just occurred to me. You probably aren't know in Lofton, but your sword may be. You'll probably want to try to conceal it from vi-"

When the chanting stopped, he turned around. I guess Renn has a talent for crowd control.

Then he hears the angry voices. "Oh that can't be good."

Roald runs outside the watch HQ just as the two crowds begin to move towards each other.

"Oh Haelyn's balls."

[RocEter]

Watch HQ, Foerde

Foerde follows Roald outside to see what the all the commotion is about. When he sees a riot breaking out between Haelynites and Cuiraecenites he frowns.

"Roald, you and the Captain try to calm the priests of Haelyn. I'll deal with the Cuiraecenites.." He says.

He walks in front of the group carrying the banner with the crudely drawn lightning bolts on it.

"I command you to stop in Cuiraecen's name!" He shouts to the group, with a single raised at them. "What you are doing here has no glory, instead you stand a chance to disrupt all that Grand Master Fhylie is fighting for in the northern provinces of Alamie and I will not allow that!

Haelyn's priests do not wish us to surrender and give in to our enemy. They want justice for the vile crimes committed against the Tour people. Even now our Duke marches to continue fight for that justice by joining the Grand Master in glorious battle. They will not stop until that justice is met at the end of the blade or in the honorable courts of Haelyn." He says to them.

Though I would prefer that justice is met at the end of a blade. He thinks to himself.

The whole time Foerde is giving his little speech to the crowd, he stares at the Cuircaecen monk.

[ewancummins]

The Cuiraecenite mob surges forward and knocks Foerde to the pavement. Somebody tries to grab his sword while another man tries to pull off his boots.
He manages to roll free of the grapplers and retain his weapons and footgear, but he's surrounded by angry rioters when he gets to his feet!

[Varrus the Ethical]

RIOT, ROALD

Seening Foerde get barrelled over Roald walks out between the too mobs, and drawing his sword.

He draws an imaginary line between the mobs. "I and Sir Roald Flaetes the Siegebreaker, and this line is my spot of earth. If you want to fight, you'll have to go through me!"

[ewancummins]

RIOT, ROALD

Seening Foerde get barrelled over Roald walks out between the too mobs, and drawing his sword.

He draws an imaginary line between the mobs. "I and Sir Roald Flaetes the Siegebreaker, and this line is my spot of earth. If you want to fight, you'll have to go through me!"

The Haleynites don't attack Sir Roald, but they don't disperse, either. They form a ragged square, moving the injured boy into the middle. The slender young priest who had addressed Renn a moment ago shouts orders to stand and ''defend yourselves, my brothers!''


The Cuiracenite mob comes on, heedless of Roald's commands!

A man jumps up and tries without success to bat the sword from Roald's hand with a wooden billet.
Somebody shouts,
"Get him out of the way!"

[Adam]

RIOT, CORMAC

"Hell's bells," the Rjurik man grumbles, "This is why I don' come to cities."

He stays to the outskirts of the crowds, trying to spy children/women/wounded who may be trampled or injured. If he sees looting he'll do what he can to put a stop to it as well.

[Ben]

RIOT, MORGAN
Morgan watches the crowd from the side lines, leaning against a wall. He holds in his hands a couple of custom made "flash bombs" should the crowd turn his way. He quietly watches the scene unfold...