Rp - Gavel's Darkest Hour- Act Two Begins [7/7]

Elimut slams his hand on the table. "No, your problem is your concern for only the individuals directly involved. This affects the entire province some way or another. But you don't care about the farmers of Olux, do you? Research into the Forgery could mean an end to the Decay and the restoration of their livelihoods. You don't care about the Ahmsian refugees - the last thing they need is a civil war. You don't care about anyone but who you're looking at right now. Perhaps Togak is right about wood elves... alright, here's my proposition. The Forgery is to become an autonomous area of the Mages' Duchy of Gylia. A referendum is to be held in the North Gate on its future governance. Do you agree?"

________________________________

He lets you leave, and the two villagers are left at the counter. You hear the end of their conversation.
"and forty-seven. That should be it."
"Yes... that looks in order. There, take them. Can't believe I still have to sell to you after that."
"I mean no disrespect to you, sir. Thank you."

He hastily packs all of the papers into a sack and runs after you. "That sounds... implausible. Who would go to that much effort after they'd already been caught? And the guard's weren't interested? It looks to me like you stole them and are bad at making excuses."
You reach the tent and he inspects it for a couple of minutes before coming out.
"Almost aggressively normal. Hang on -"
He reaches into the sack and searches the papers. After a few seconds he takes out one covered in Dogun runes and a map of a town with a river running through it - presumably Manifis.
"So... Lortira and Tonmaru. Currently out of town in Garah, visiting Lortira's family... certainly changes things. So the inhabitants of the tent are away? Sounds like the perfect hiding place. The guards wouldn't check private property without a warrant."

 

I'll try to find the guy who Dermit said to find (I forgot his name)

 

His name was Halster Kirt, and Dermit said he was 'with the guards'.
From outside the shop you get your bearings - you can see an inn, the bank, the palace gates, the South and West gates, the marketplace, now fully open, an identifier's place. You know the guards have a barracks in the City, but not where it is.

 

I'll start going in the direction of the north gate hoping to find the barracks on the way

 

(btw, the North Gate Delegation of the Forest Coalition is actually centred around the West Gate of Cinfras - Cinfras' North Gate actually leads into Gylia. The delegation is so called because of its position in relation to the rest of the Coalition and not Cinfras. This was totally intentional and not just that I made the same mistake over and over)

Sorry, just remembered you actually went to the barracks to speak to Juntabi. You go there directly.

At the door, you see Esmé waiting for you, talking with the guard outside about politics.
"Oh - there he is!", she exclaims as she notices you. "What took you so long, and how did you end up in the river?"

 

"First I slipped and fell in the river, I got out of the river and tried to buy new robes while the shopkeeper tried to murder me and failed miserably, I thrn gave up on new robes and came here directly"

 

Lift a finger. "Firstly, I don't know why you think I'm supposed to know research data, seen as it is something you mages do." Lift another finger.
"And secondly, yeah, I agree."

 

”As said.”

 

Ooo, trigger phrases. >.<
Startle at the name "Togak" and look over to examine whoever said that.

 

"Still, could be a coincidence - you're not off the hook yet. So, a villager? Fascinating... any idea which way he went?"
You hear a very loud and prolonged cheer from the rally - it seems to be over.

You look over - it's Elimut, his presence over the table commanding yet calm.

@Kyubi & Kylin
Elimut stamps a gavel on the table. "It is agreed. We will now have ten minutes' break. When we return, we shall discuss the matter of Doushoins' assassination."
A wave of discussion spreads over the hall as the precisely organised seating and standing arrangements dissolve. Togak joins a group of Embassy elves and they start talking amongst themselves in hushed tones. As he gets up, Tranki looks grimly at Hels. "Played right into Elimut's hands. He's getting exactly what he wants, and now he has a scapegoat."
A group of delegates descend on the pair of you, headed by a hobbit.
"What have you done? Do you know how vulnerable this leaves us?", he hisses at Hels.

"You should have taken my advice, shouldn't you? While you were fooling around in the river and dodging murderous clothes vendors, I've convinced these people that Halster Kirt is innocent. They're releasing him as we speak. No thanks to you."

 

"But can we get that clothes vendor in the dungeon?"

 

"Uh, If gert steal, then why gert unsteal?"
I try to remember what way tehe villager went.

 

"We can. He's the one who sold you those, isn't he? They're much more flattering when they're dry... I'll make that happen, don't you worry. But one thing at a time, eh?"
A villager is lead out of the basement by the guards. He's wearing slightly battered and torn purple mage's robes, a short unkempt beard and a scowl.
"About fucking time. Are you going to tell me where the Gert went now?"
One of the guards grunts "Got away."
"Got away how? To where? The lives of hundreds are on the line here!"

"You were cornered, and thought showing me the goods and making up a story was preferable to letting me find them."
You remember that the villager went away from the way you got in, towards where the dragons were circling anywhere.

 

I wait and don't say anything

 

"He used a scroll."
"Which scroll? Wait - it might be my fault. He can't read Dwarven, I don't think... he didn't end up in... who the fuck is this?"
He stares at you and Esmé. She gives you a warning stare before speaking to him. "We're here with a friend of yours - from the Academy. He's having difficulties and would appreciate your help.
"I don't have time the petty problems of some jackass who knew me for two years and claims to be my friend. Get me to Rodoroc, now!"
"You don't understand. This is important. Perhaps we should discuss it elsewhere?"
"No. Fuck off."

 

Frown angrily at him and copy his probably whiny and angry tone.
"What have you done? You just stood there and didn't hear a single word of what I said about the ten times I said I don't know a single thing about not knowing a thing about politics?"
Scoff at him. "Do you think I had a clue about what I did? I still don't have, and so it what I did seems good for me." Enphasize the last word

 

"Come with us and then will help you with a scroll"

 

"The villager went towards circling dragons."
I take the last scroll from my backpack, and put it in my pocket.

 

"A scroll? A single scroll? I'm trying to save a whole fucking town, what difference would a single scroll make?"
Esmé takes his hand - he yanks it away. "Oh come on, Halster. He could die."
"Can you just fucking tell me who you're talking about already?"

He sounds slightly calmer.
"You should have known better to just give him what he wanted! That referendum is rigged - Elimut wants control of all the gates to Cinfras!"

He rubs his hands together. "Right. We're going there together. And just as a precaution..."
He takes out a pair of handcuffs from his pocket.

 

"When you start cooperating"