TAKE BACK THE STREETS

Meetup: TAKE BACK THE STREETS! <===================

Open/Closed: OPEN: This event is open to any player who wants to sign up
             using +event/signup. There may be limited space, so signing
             up does NOT guarantee you a spot in the event.
     Poster: Yelrona*
 Start Time: 08:30:00 PM (LOCAL), Tuesday, July 03, 2018  (4h 7m past date)
   Location: A05: Warehouse District
Level Range: Any

Alexandria is a center of trade for the region, most of which comes by boat through the world-famous Port Alexandria into the city's Warehouse District. Unfortunately, along with that trade comes crime of all sorts, from petty pickpockets to organized slavers and crime syndicates.

Well no more! The citizens of Alexandria have had enough and are banding together to TAKE BACK THE STREETS!

Several citizens' marches will move through the city and meet in front of the G'nosk Storage Warehouse for a rally. All citizens are invited to tell us about your experience with local crime, propose solutions, and shake your fist at the uncaring clouds!

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A05: Warehouse District *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

         The freshness of the Tornmawr River cuts along this section of Alexandria. Its broad expanse creates the district's eastern border. Ships and barges dot its surface. Some make deliveries here and up the river, while others dock for repair. These vehicles move slowly over the water, their sails colorful and proud. No few bear a nod to Rada, or three, for luck's sake. Many also bear the colors of different nations and city-states, all of them coming here to bring trade to Alexandria.

         Warehouses line the district's streets, dotted with the names of shipping companies and various industries. These, mixed with the occasional sailor's tavern, set the tone for the area. Overall, it's bustling, busy, about what one would expect for a city of this size.

         To the south, the great Sea Wall and the Port of Alexandria. Both are considered wonders of the modern world.

=

The street leading to the G'nost Storage Warehouse is a gentle slope up, which makes the red brick building perfect as a landmark in the District, and also means that the areas around it offer a great view of several marches of citizens, many with homemade signs expressing in various languages and creative spelling the idea that crime is, you know, not such a great thing. They are gathering here, where a podium has been set up, with artifice loudspeakers generously provided by the Artificer's Hall, which might give anyone standing in front of them pause if they think about it too much.

The first few speakers are local community activists, talking in general terms about the need to feel safe in our persons, interspersed with local business owners, talking about their experiences with theft, property damage, and the need to feel secure in their STUFF.

Yelrona is leaning against the side of the Warehouse, listening idly to the speakers, looking curiously over the crowd. Every once in a while, she waves to a familiar face, exchanges a few words as the crowd shuffles in. Every once in a while she points to a particularly clever sign and laughs or gives a congratulatory gesture.

Iskandar is in the crowed, positioned to one side where he can get a good view of the proceedings without in turn blocking that of other shorter people in the gathering. "Yes yes, that is bad --" he agrees with some of the speakers. Then says in a loud voice to those around him in the crowd "-- especially when it affects those who already have little. Because when they lose something important, they can't replace it!" He looks around for support. "If only the thieves and vandals would concentrate their efforts on the wealthy!"

The Altheans are all about the home, and so Vaalyun probably sides more with the first speakers, though of course an ordered society requires that stuff be respected, too. Still, he stays at the edges of the crowd, offering moral support and keeping an eye out for anything that seems out of place.

Several of the crowd around Iskandar nod at his words. "YEAH! ROB THE RICH!" one of them shouts, and the cry is taken up. The current speaker, a tall well-dressed woman who owns a fur-trading company and seems a bit overly fond of her own product, seems a little flustered by that.

Vaalyun winces, as if hoping that things won't get ugly. He tries to ease his way through the crowd, towards the speaker's podium, spreading quiet words of peace as he slips past and through people. With the occasional bump, because he moves like a battleship with that bad leg of his.

Yelrona waves to Iskandar, who at head-and-shoulders above the crowd is easy to spot. Vaalyun is less obvious, but the wake he leaves in the crowd as he travels through it catches her attention, and she climbs to the top of a security fence to see who it is. Recognizing the Althean, she calls out "Let the Hearthguard through! Let him speak!" This doesn't seem to have any noticeable effect on the crowd.

Astaren has arrived.

Iskandar's attention is drawn by the wave, which he returns. Then he turns toward Vaalyun and the stage. He seems a bit surprised by the reaction of the crowd - a classic example of an unintentional rabble-rouser who didn't know what he may be starting. "Well...I'm not saying that they -should- be robbed...only that criminals should not pick on those unable to defend themselves..."

The roused rabble around Iskandar show no signs of paying the slightest attention to his more reasonable emendations. The cry of ROB THE RICH! continues to echo through the crowd, until it meets up with a call-and-response of WHOSE STREETS? OUR STREETS! that swallows it up.

Is that a lump of manure flying through the air towards the merchant? Vaalyun looks concerned that things are about to turn into a riot, as there is now a cacaphony of yelling, even if the more peaceable sort seems to be winning. He begins to more than gently push his way through the crowd, "Make way. Make way, in the Star Mother's name." Then someone takes umbrage.

"The Temples are pretty rich!" A man says, to Vaalyun, then gives him a big shove, sending the cleric staggering backwards and onto the ground.

Iskandar puts a hand over his eyes briefly. Then he begins forcing his way through the crowd, using his size and weight and when necessary a slightly-too-liberal swinging if elbows and forearms to help him along. "Hold on - hold on! Save your anger for those who deserve it!" He reaches Vaalyun and then holds out a hand to help him up if needed.

Quiet until things had taken a turn. Just another pretty face in the crowd. But chaos bothered Shaoqing. Removing the long wrapped object from her back she takes a seat on a barrel left out on the road. Carefully she unwraps the many stringed instrument which she has lain across her lap. Long sharp nails begin to pluck at the strings, the soft sad song of guilt and remorse. The instrument sounds of tangy pomegranate and rain. The bard's music is one of a people that yearned for order. Her words spoke of unity and civilization. Serriel be praised.

Yelrona was watching more-or-less idly until the Hearthguard was knocked down. Then she is a flash of movement, moving through the crowd relatively easily due to a combination of her small size, exceptional speed, and a knack for using her friends in the crowd to provide her with cover, whether they intend to or not. She arrives at Vaalyun's side around the same time that the Bard's song calms the crowd nearest him.

There was a moment when it looked like the Hearthguard might manage to get himself trampled, but the arrival of Iskander and Yelrona moves the crowd back. Vaalyun accepts Iskander's hand, grasping his wrist and pulling himself upright with a yank. He brushes the dirt off the back of his robes, and says, "Well, that wasn't very nice. I'm fine. Nothing bruised but my pride."

Astaren offers a yawn as he watches the gathering from atop one of the building. He is sitting on top of a floating disk, and looking more curious than anything else at the moment.

Iskandar gives a stern look at the nearest members of the crowd. "You should be ashamed of yourself. This is a priest of," he pauses to look over Vaalyun's attire, "of Althea!" His look turns sinister. "Besides, if you want to act like a vandal, you're no worse than the criminals we're here to castize!"

GAME: Iskandar rolls intimidate: (12)+8: 20

The area around Shaoqing is relatively still, as the former mob members -- er, perhaps there's a better way to say that? -- sit at his feet admiringly. Rona approaches the bard, swaying to the music. "That's an impressive trick, in this crowd," she observes.

The whole crowd may not fall under the spell of Shaoqing's song, but those closest to Vaalyun are at least distracted by the new noise fighting to suppress their chant. She continues playing, though her voice becomes spoken word instead of song. Maybe if a few change the chant, they could change the mob. "The Hearthguard protects those in need. Children, the needy. Riots will only bring harm to the innocent. It is the children that will suffer by our actions. We can change things without bloodshed. We want change. We want to be heard. We have a voice. We want to TALK. We have a voice. Because a voice can be stronger than a fist. WE HAVE A VOICE!" A sharp manicured eyebrow waggles at Rona as she spoke to the group.

Yelrona returns the bard's arched eyebrow, pairing it with an approving grin. "WE HAVE A VOICE!" she shouts back, and several around her pick up the call.

Vaalyun nods his thanks to Iskandar and Yelrona, and he glances over his shoulder at the bard, offering a bow as best he can in the crowd. "And let it be a voice of peace." he murmurs, mostly to himself, as the tone of the rally starts to change back. Thank goodness!

Astaren tilts his head, "A voice? Really?" shaking his head slowly as he leans back, "I do not even know where to begin..." reaching up to rub his head, "They want solutions, but offer nothing but anger and rage without construction..."

"LET THE HEARTHGUARD SPEAK!" Rona shouts, catching Vaalyun's eye and nodding in the direction of the podium, where the fur-bedecked warehouse owner is looking a little panicked.

The previous speaker looks desperately to Vaalyun. "Can you calm these people down?" It's clear that she meant it as a more private question, but she is still holding the device that controls the artifice speakers, and it resounds over the District. She holds it out to him, practically pleading.

"Someone's going to have to say something," Iskandars says in a low voice. "I had no idea things would go this way. But if they don't this crowd is going to hurt themselves - or someone else."

Vaalyun winces as the voice of the previous speaker echoes out. He takes a deep breath, and says, "Star Mother, guide me." He walks up to the podium, nodding to the other speaker, then turns and puts his hands on the podium, drawing himself up to his full height. He was a sailor before he was a priest, so whether there are speakers or not, the one thing he can manage is to make himself heard, "MAY THE PEACE OF THE EVENING STAR BE WITH YOU ALL."

"AND ALSO WITH YOU," a number of voices chant in response. There are clearly a lot of Altheans in the crowd, or at least people who respect her teachings -- which is no surprise, for one of the most popular Temples in Alexandria.

Yelrona quietly returns to her earlier perch as she waits to see what Vaalyun has to say.

"My brothers and sisters, forgive me, for this is not my usual role." Vaalyun says, but then he looks out over the crowd, then presses on, "THE VULNERABLE, THE POOR, THE DOWNTRODDEN... You know that Althea takes all these unto herself. Our Temple - all the Temples - know your pain. We give voice to the voiceless. And you know that we will all fight beside you. Against the right adversary. We are all Alexandrians, we are all together in this. Rich or poor, native or visitor. We face the struggles of this world together!"

Much of the crowd cheers. Much of the crowd listens skeptically. Perhaps most importantly, most of the crowd has stopped screaming.

Shaoqing softens her playing until Vaalyun's voice takes over. Unlike most bards, this one seems to know when to stop. She stands, and makes her way through the crowd to the stage, cradling the instrument against her chest. The raven haired musician does not step upon the stage, but sits beside it, there for if the priest needed it.

Vaalyun pauses for a moment, gathering his thoughts, then continues, "Together, we can bring light to the darkness, can bring the warmth of home to the cold, the touch of love to bleakness. These streets belong to you - to ALL of you. And you DO HAVE A VOICE." And that, it seems, is that.

The crowds cheer, at first. Then look at each other, puzzled. Voices here and there call out, asking questions about "How?" and "Who?" and "What about?" that mostly drown each other out.

Astaren continues to sit up on top of the warehouse watching the crowd, his eyebrows raising. Yet, he stays quiet and thoughtful as he watches quietly considering.

Shaoqing rises, a hand lifting up in the air. "All of us of course." She stands and steps onto the stage, looking to the priest to give the shy man a reprieve. "We have a voice to speak our minds, but we must use them to help each other. When you pass by, and you hear a neighbor being mugged in an alley, don't walk by like you didn't see. Scream, yell, call for help. Don't approach, but get the attention of others. If someone calls, show up! The power the criminal element has over us is they know we are scared, and that we will try to pretend it isn't happening. If you reveal them to the daylight, they cannot hide." A long finger moves some strands of hair from her face. She waits to see the crowds reaction before she continues.

The crowd seems unsure where the Bard is going with this, but, well, he's a Bard, and now that their initial anger has been blunted, they're willing to listen.That said, the idea that _they_ can do something seems to fit uncomfortably.

Vaalyun steps back and off the stage, taking up a position beside it, now that he's done his bit to calm the crowd down. "I was more ready to try and calm down a riot than be inspiring when they're /not/ throwing things." he murmurs, then scratches behind his ear, and reflects, "I should probably take some lessons in oratory one of these years."

The speaker-controller ends up being handed to Shaoqing, who hardly seems to need it, but still.

Clearing her throat, Shaoqing continues, stepping across the stage. "The Coming Dawn tells us that civilization cannot grow fruitfully without the orderly conduct of her citizens. We don't all need to carry a blade. Raise your voice, use your eyes. We are all responsible for our neighbors' safety." She looks about the crowd, and sees she needs to bring this to a head. "All should be active, but those that feel they can do more, should join together. Darkness is where the criminals hide, so we go into the night together. In groups we can bring light. The city guard are only so many people. But if we lend them our eyes, we can see what is wrong to aid them. If we lend them our voices, we can aim them where they are most needed. Unsure? Start small. You are your friends need only walk the street you live on. Carry lanterns, carry a whistle. There will be growing pains, but we can meet up periodically to discuss how to be more effective. Order makes us safe, but can never happen," she shout with a finger pointed at the crowd. "Without YOU!"

Most of the crowd still seems confused, but respond to Shaoqing's voice just the same. A few seem to be getting the idea, especially the warehouse owners near the podium. One of whom, an arvek man in an ill-fitting suit, suggests "We could... provide some space," he suggests, nowhere near loud enough to be heard by the crowd. "For people to meet up, like you said?"

Aya has arrived.

Beaglefinder has arrived.

Several of the other warehouse owners seem to start to get the idea, and approach Shaoqing with questions. Most of them want to know how this new neighborhood watch would protect _their_ property.

Shaoqing motions to the warehouse owner that offered space for meetings. "If you all chip in, a small space here can be made the headquarters. Meetings can be done there, and it will be where we leave and return to. If the warehouse owners are willing to do their part, the volunteers will be more willing to aid the district. Many that work the docks live here as well. This is where they eat, and sleep. It would not be hard to bring light to their homes and the warehouses. Any shadowed corner needs to be checked, for what effects our neighbor will eventually come to our own stoop. Will you help?" She asks the owners. "Will you help!? She asks the crowd. "Who will light the lanterns to protect their city?!" She lifts her own fist high in the air, a small lamp floats up from a pouch at her waist, its paper creases unfolding to reveal and glowing light from within.

GAME: Shaoqing refreshes spells.

GAME: Shaoqing casts Dancing Lantern. Caster Level: 1 DC: 15

Yelrona cheers from her perch by the warehouse entrance. She offers a brief prayer and touches her glowing fingers to an item she pulls out of her pocket, which turns out to be... a live frog. The glowing amphibian gives a reproachful RIBBIT and hops across the stage. Rona facepalms.

GAME: Yelrona casts Light. Caster Level: 6 DC: 13

Darkness. Intimidating. Terrifying. Full of secrets. Or some some say.

As the lantern and other light pokes against it, at least one of its secrets is revealed. Aya stands amidst the gathered, though how long she has been present may be anyone's guess. One white brow is arched in curiosity.

Morgan goes North <N>

Morgan has left.

One of the warehouse owners asks for the voice-amplifier control. "That sounds like a great idea." Whether he means it, or just sees an oppportunity to mollify an angry crowd, who can say? If allowed to, he proceeds to blather on, more or less trying to take credit for the idea, more or less unsuccesfully.

Yelrona approaches Shaoqing once she's no longer broadcasting. "That was... quite something, you did there!"

Shaoqing adjusts the strand of hair that again falls from its wild half-tamed bun. She offers Yelrona a smile. "One can't fight the river, but maybe the course can be changed."

Yelrona snorts. "Rerouting rivers is easy. Getting _this_ group to stop yelling at each other and work together on something is hard."

"Either seems equally as likely to drown you if you're not careful..." Aya opines while looking to the excited and murmuring gathered.

The Hin turns her head to look at the crowd. "They are scared," she concedes. "They simply wanted someone to guide them. But if the wrong word is spoken, they will latch on. It is scary, and that fear feeds itself. But together they can feel safe. So hopefully a symbol will make them cling to order and kindness."

Yelrona looks up at Aya's voice, while another warehouse owner hogs the mic, and laughs. "Got _that_ right." Then she looks back at the bard, curiously. "It's worth a shot. Tarien knows, anything that keeps slavers from kidnapping people off the streets here, I'm all for." She pauses, apparently confused about something, then shrugs and extends a hand. "I'm Yelrona, by the way. I don't think I've seen you around before?"

Aya dips her chin to Yelrona, and company, then lifts a brow anew. "I'd assume slavers would go for easier targets than here... and they do seem easily frightened. Together, though, there is strength... or, at least fear becomes aggression and a group becomes a mob..." She has witnessed that too often, lately. Fortunately, they are not a mob seeking to blame her for some imagined slight. At the moment.

Shaoqing offers a slight inclination of her head, and takes Yelrona's hand delicately. Her fingers are slender and cared for, with immaculately painted nails, but callouses cover the tips of her fingers and her palms. "I am called Shaoqing, from the Jade Islands. I," she thinks. "Do not get out much. My charges take up much of my time." She nods to Aya, and again glances to the crowd. "Which is why I suggest they work as small groups. With their friends or family. Makes them feel safe, but keeps mass fear at bay. And if organized, they could be quite effective."

"Nice to meet you, Shaoqing. What charges?" She considers making a joke about Shaoqing charges and lightning storms, but it seems like too much of a reach so she decides to let it go. "Well, an aggressive mob has strength of its own," Rona observes. "But yes, an organized... watch?... seems like it has better options. As for slavers, though... well, poor Warehouse laborers aren't too difficult to target, honestly."

"Like pack hunters, slavers go for the lone prey, or the weak. Staying in groups will help. As will informing the watch of suspicious activity," Shaoqing muses. "My charges? I am a teacher. I instruct young lords and ladies in courtly matters, diplomacy, and military theory. I do not have a patron, so it is not as steady of work as I would prefer."

Yelrona smiles. "Yes, I can see where that would take up a lot of time. What kind of patron are you looking for?" she asks, with the brisk air of someone accustomed to making connections between people who needs services, and those who supply them.

Astaren stands up and streatches out, "Seems no riot, glad I did not have to do work tonight." smiling to himself. A few waves of his hand and with a poof he is gone.