Run By: Jubilant Steel (2xp)

Players: Philokrates, Pleasing Sweet Viper, Louder Than Words, Forbidden Blossom

Synopsis: Philokrates does not handle untruths well, Pleasing Sweet Viper wins a crowd to her side.

 

It is a bustling morning in the main market, a large caravan is arriving and unloading its wares driving a frenzy of activity as prices change, stock is shifted and news from outside the city is spread excitedly around. There is a lot of activity in particular as bolts of silk are sold to those who ordered them or auctioned off with richly garbed merchants or agents enthusiastically bargaining and haggling.

 

Philokrates 's arrival at the gates is met with caution; he is not beloved of Chronos, not at all. But, gradually, they have come to a sort of detente. He is here to buy silk today, as a present for a cousin of his; his satchel is fat with silver coin.

 

Emerald-Eyed Philokrates! Broad-chested with smooth, tree-dark skin, his rows of tight-woven black hair dusted gray from the long roads! Long of limb, graceful of stance, with his handsome and narrow face! His heavy-browed eyes that rove mindfully over his environment, no feckless youth he. This young servant of the Three, hardy and bold, stands as emblem of the best of the skirmishers of Greak Forks.

 

But lo - his city has not always been kind to him. His legs end at the calves, lopped clean from long-ago tortures. Instead of feet, a strange and graceful capstone of orichalcum cradles the stump, and a curving, springy band of that alloy sweeps back from his calves and then forward in a featureless falsetto of a foot.

 

Pleasing Sweet Viper, dwelling in the infinite spiral, receives an immediate alert of such a presence via SPECIO, and she quickly begins to mobilize the troops, tapping at the magitech that has been integrated into her desk to allow ease of communication. The other guards aren't doing anything, time for some increased security that's ready to drop in.

 

Philokrates progress into the marketplace is not without notice as people stare at his prosthetic lower legs, only a few start to point though as most here recognize the orichalcum and instead regard him with a kind of wary respect. That also attracts attention though, one peddlar who has just escaped from the bidding with a roll of rich crimson silk approaches and offers it. "The finest essence spider silk from Great Forks my lord! And at only an obol a yard for one such as yourself!"

It is, presuming Philokrates has any knowledge of such, not essence spider silk.

 

Pleasing Sweet Viper puts her hand in her palm as the damn merchant *lies* to the one man you don't want that happening to. Deciding swift action is needed, she sends the order. "Arrest that man for false advertising." Commerce does not thrive here because of con men, so it's not like she's crafting law for her own purposes, but justice needs to be swifter than a lawgiver here. As the automata seize the man, she hopes it was fast enough.

 

Philokrates doesn't hesitate for a second. He reaches out with his strong hands and punches the peddler right in the face, drops his hand to the collar, and /slams/ his new worst enemy to the earth in preparation for further violence.

 

Philokrates struggles as the brass legionnaires attempt to drag him off. "I'm not /done/ with him! He's a liar! A false witness!" he shouts, hoarse with fury.

The automata were not within arms reach, leaving plenty of time for the man to be punched and fall screaming to the floor while the legionnaries try to force their way through the crowd. More paniced screams are raised as people try to flee the area.

 

Philokrates 's beatdown is not subtle. When he's dragged off his victim, his fists are caked with blood, his eyes bloodshot, lips drawn back over his teeth like a feral dog. The man may be blinded in one eye. This is sufficient for him to allow the legionnaires to drag him off with only token resistance.

 

The merchant tries futily to shield himself, begging in an increasingly broken voice as more blows are rained down on him and reduced to a wordless scrabbling on the ground by the time Philokrates is hauled off.

 

Most of those surrounding are either staring in horror, running, or desperately getting out of the way of the automata, wares are scattered across the ground though, trampled or ruined, several nursing bruises or grazes where they were knocked over in the initial rush.

 

Philokrates turns his gaze to the infinite spiral itself, bellowing. "Is this your merchant's paradise, Chronos?!? Where liars swindle every gullible passersby and line their pockets with stolen wealth?!?"

 

The automata maintains a calm and reassuring tone when it speaks. "Sir, he will be brought to justice for his crime, the same as any other. We need not disrupt your shopping or the shopping of others to dispense it. Please cease all violent action or we will be forced to reciprocate." This is the warning given initially, and it is not heard. So, the legionnaires intervene, a sizeable squad hauling the man out. He is set down outside of the city limits and informed that self control is a virtue, and one that he must possess to continue his shopping. Eventually, Viper meets philokrates at the gate of the city, under cover of some legionaires. "So, you're philokrates. What were you shopping for?" She asks in serious tone.

 

"He is crazy! A madman!" Then that falls silent as another automata scoops up the peddlar following the order to arrest him.

 

Philokrates sulks at the borderlands, calming his nerves with archery, firing arrows in to a tree-stump of a casualty of Chronopolis' need for lumber. It bristles with the golden essence-barbs. "I am Philokrates. I /was/ shopping for silk... Now, I am looking for calm," he mutters. "I brought chaos in to that place. I apologize profusely. You are...?"

Philokrates is outside the gates and walls, but not outside the city sprawl. Many are the huts and ramshackle buildings that have sprouted up around Chronopolis like ticks and fleas on a proud stallion.

 

Pleasing Sweet Viper speaks candidly. "Pleasing Sweet Viper. I'd say it was a pleasure to meet you, but I would only mean it if you hadn't just punched an over-eager con man that brutally. Not that I mind violence, mind you, but my day was much more simple before you arrived. What sort of silk were you looking for?" Her jade eyes gazes across the distance like ready hawks, content to circle what is alone in the field at first.

 

There are indeed locals! Though they are being rather subdued having watched Philokrates be dumped outside the city walls by the automata and then get to watch him firing barbs of essence into a tree stump. They are definitely watching though, and gathering to do so with a kind of wary fascination. Pleasing Sweet Viper's arrival takes said facination to a new level of course and shifts the focus.

 

Philokrates glances briefly at Sweet Viper, and then glances away, his essence-chilled carnal desires kept well reined in by his charms. "Yellow silk," he murmurs, lowering his essence weapon. "For a priestess of mercury. Someone I haven't seen for a while."

Philokrates says, "Where is Chronos? Still in his foundries?"

 

Pleasing Sweet Viper nods. "Any other defining features to the silk, or any other related items you hoped to acquire? " The question is shrugged off. "I can't say at this given second, but I will say I imagine that he would be, as often as he is in there." Viper is careful to avoid lies around Philokrates, which is an odd behavior for her, and not one she likes. This needs to end quickly.

 

Philokrates pauses. He kneels and promptly sketches out a pattern in the dirt, an embroidery technique that Viper has probably seen or heard of at some point. "I had hoped to acquire some fine embroidery in this pattern. Something eye-catching and pleasing, something that would... show thoughtfulness. She likes this pattern, or... or did."

Philokrates says, "As I remember it, at least."

 

The trio of celestial exalts, Philokrates, Pleasing Sweet Viper, and now Louder than Words, are outside of the city walls, the former two speaking with each other. There are a handful of brass automata standing behind Viper and maybe a hundred gawping onlookers. Also the stink of a tannery somewhere amoungst the ramshackle constructions outside the city proper.

 

Philokrates wipes his bloody hands off in the dust.

 

Philokrates sighs, and rests his forehead on his knuckles, leaving two spots of muddy blood there when he lifts it again after his moment of exhaustion.

Pleasing Sweet Viper observes the embroidery pattern with interest. A small pad is taken out and the picture copied. She nods at Philokrates. "Wait here, please." She leaves, exeunt without much ado. It is several minutes later, when she returns with a basket. Said basket is ferried over to Philokrates by way of expendable automata. On said silk is exactly the silk Philokrates had been looking for. Viper remarks. "It's up to you if you pay the value of it. If you must come shopping here again, please send warning, or at least wait outside the city limits for a bit." She looks amused by having to make such an offer.

 

Philokrates has washed his hands as best he can on his canvas and a basin of water when Viper returns. He is looking curiously at Louder than Words, as he accepts the basket. "I..." He looks down to the basket, then to Viper. "Let me clean the marketplace of liars. I will not do violence. I will only mark them for your security forces, I swear."

There is mild amusement displayed on the tiger-girl when people part ways for her. Her destination is Pleasing Sweet Viper, and she is casual about her approach. No secret is made of her study of Philokrates's legs, doing no more than examining them carefully but no less than looking directly at them. When she meets Philokrates's gaze, she offers her right fist out to him, the left loosely hanging unclenched at her side.

 

Pleasing Sweet Viper shakes her head. "You're a security risk, I'm afraid, besides, who do you think enforces the false advertising law here on her off time?" A bit of essence flares and Viper's caste mark glows, lightly illimunating her face. "Will you be paying or will you prefer to keep your money?"

 

Philokrates cautiously reaches out to bump fists with the tiger lady, and pours a significant - a semi-generous - sum of silver - in to her palms.

 

Swaying into view as Viper moves past, Blossom tilts her head, and then follows after surreptiously, though not overtly so - she does have wedge sandals on stone roads. She tilts her head, before moving closer towards the small gathering. She blinks as she sees Philokrates, and the recognition means she keeps her distance. She puts her fingers to her cheek, sighing a little with a saddened expression.

 

Pleasing Sweet Viper calmly waits for the silver to be conveyed, assuming that it is for her, as it likely is. She shows little sign of impatience if any. The supernaturally beautiful woman does now let her eyes wander, spotting an Infernal, and that mute Lunar, who is now apparently replacing the automata for cash conveyance. Maybe she needs to start taxing anything with a shard, it'd do wonders for income, considering how often they show.

 

With introductions out of the way, Louder Than Words turns her eyes to Pleasing Sweet Viper, brows raised inquiringly at her, a motion toward the automata to assist in conveying what she's so inquisitive about.

 

Philokrates says, "Who are... you?"

Philokrates 's inquiry to the tiger woman is clumsy.

 

People continue to watch, more warily now with the freaky tiger woman present, then Forbidding Blossom's arrival gives people somebody else to stare at. They continue to do no work and rubberneck.

 

Blossom's attention returns to Louder for a moment, and the automata, but her attention switches back to Viper and Philokrates fairly quickly. She's a bit too used to that sort of odd appearance in this city, where it seems they don't stone mutants on sigh.

 

Pleasing Sweet Viper accepts the coin, and steps back from Phil. "Thank you for this. I am honestly glad you did this." She stows the cash away for later. "But, will still not allow you to be in my city, when you have yet to show restraint beyond not destroying someone who isn't lying. So, I'll have have to pass on allowing you inside. I'm afraid your only safe company would be the automata.

 

There are probably a good hundred and twenty people listening now, farmers, labourers unable to live inside the walls, some craftspeople and a couple of travelling merchants stopping on the road to listen. It is quite the interesting spectacle after all.

 

When Viper indirectly explains what happened, it makes Louder Than Words more interested in knowing. Philokrates is given a view of the left gauntlet, and her moniker embroidered upon it, a sly sort of grin displaying the fangs that were until now not visible.

 

And Blossom reaches into her satchel, pulling out a fan as she gets... close enough to watch closely, but not so much that she might be casually pulled into the orbit of conversation. She pulls out a white fan with silver filigree, and snaps it open, hiding her expression for the moment.

 

Philokrates 's anger slowly grows. "An honest man such as myself is not welcome within the walls of Chronopolis?" he says, voice carrying loud enough to reach those dispossessed who listen.

 

And they do listen! Interest shifts from oogling the pretty people to what is actually being said and there are murmurs amoungst the people.

 

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel will ask for rolls if/when it gets to people competing for control over the crowd. :>

-= OOC =- Pleasing Sweet Viper says, "I dunno, are we?"

-= OOC =- Pleasing Sweet Viper says, "if so, is oratory a valid performance method?"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "That depends on what you do and pose I presume."

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel says, "Sure."

-= OOC =- Pleasing Sweet Viper says, "stunting Husband Seducing Demon Dance then"

-= OOC =- Jubilant Steel nods.

-= OOC =- Philokrates says, "Oh my :O"

-= OOC =- Philokrates channels temperance to MDV! Will not fall for sexpot!

 

(OOC) Philokrates just spent Willpower from his Willpower pool

 

Pleasing Sweet Viper smiles a bit, as if finding his anger funny. "Your own honesty is unrelated. What matters is replacing the sin of envy, one of self-inflation and jealousy, and persecuting it with the sin of wrath. Your violence does nothing but makes people honest around you, you leave no lasting good. And you are far too small and unrestrained of an entity to do any kind of good with that. So no, you are not welcome in the city, because leaping on a man who would already be punished and beating on him, maiming a mortal man because of because he *lied* does not endear you to me. So, I suggest that, now that you have what you came here for, LEAVE MY CITY." Her anima arises in full totemic form, a golden snake coiling around her as her words stir something primal in the hearts of those who listen. The voice of a leader who would speak for the trampled.

 

(Judge) Pleasing Sweet Viper rolls 17: [ -1- -1- 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 6 6 7 8 8 8 9 ]

Resulting in 5 successes.

 

The locals... Well they did start listening to Philokrates as he spoke up there but as Pleasing Sweet Viper speaks out they find themselves smiling, cheering even, only to turn more sour as their focus shifts to the man. "Get out!" Cries one. "She does not want you here!" Then shifting to a general cry of. "We do not want you here! Get out! Leave our city!" Dozens of voices raising in support of Viper while they start to move inward.

 

Philokrates bristles, then swallows his anger. He turns and leaves without a word, casually leaping over the crowd as they cage him in and jogging for the road out. The arrows in the stump fade out of existence.

 

Louder Than Words doesn't feel very comfortable herself, and decides to follow Philokrates, keeping pace. Whatever happened, she still hasn't gotten the whole story but whole crowds turning abruptly from half supporting to completely opposing does not sit right with her. Silently she moves alongside the fleeing Solar.

 

Philokrates comes to a halt along the road, glancing back to his pursuer. "You're Louder Than Words... of the pact. Are you here for me, or is it strange coincidence that brings us under the same sky today?"

 

Forbidden Blossom snaps the fan shut as she walks towards Viper. "So, a honest man isn't welcome? For shame.", she says, and looks after man walking away. "Really, this is becoming a haven for pure decadence."

 

 

Louder Than Words comes to a halt with Philokrates, shaking her head with a slow shrug. She simply smiles then, a thumb to indicate the distant crowd with a confused look, not really certain what happened.

 

 

Philokrates shakes his head, looking down. "I..." He rubs his face. "I hurt liars. I kill liars. A man lied to me, and I ruined his face with my hands."

 

 

The tiger-girl nods slightly, looking a little put-off by the idea of what Philokrates appears to do with his free time, but shrugs anyway. She points down at the prosthetics, her question going unspoken and her expression conveying it instead.

 

 

Philokrates lifts these up. "Magic prosthetics. I acquired them from a very skilled craftsman for a very significant price. They make up for my feet, which were removed as a fine."

 

With a glance to the city walls, then down the path here Philokrates was fleeing toward, Louder Than Words seems thoughtful, and begins moving that way, having little aim but believing for now that avoiding Chronopolis may be in her best interests.

 

 

Philokrates says, "Do you not talk?"

 

 

Pleasing Sweet Viper gets the awkward part of making a big damn speech about someone clearing out of her city. Actually watching someone walk away because you told them to, with only the jeering cat-calls of the crowd to show for it. She personally feels great about it, turning the crowd against an interloper and shooing him out, but she can't *show* it, or it ruins the moment and she looks like a smug jerk and not a self-righteous defender. So the grim mask of determination, and then, satisfied the crowd is loosing interest, she *righteousl* walks away to do other things. Like purge the place of liars for the *next tim* Phil wants to punch someone. She remembers off-handedly a story about a small puppet that had a nose that grew when he lied. If only things worked that way.

 

 

Head turning, Louder Than Words shakes it to respond in a negative fashion. Then she shrugs, tapping her fist and smirking.

 

 

Watching Viper walk past, Blossom sighs with a 'what-can-you-do' shrug. She looks out after Philokrates, giving a tiny wave with her fingers, and then moves with the crowd, following back into the city as she blends in. Or as much as she usually does, anyway.