[Closed] The Order's Obligations

[lifeofendurance]

WHO: Aleron Darton, Malcolm Reed, Inessa, Bruce Not-Banner, Cade Harimann, Ingrid Kief, Jeannot Mercier, Sadira, Bethany Hawke, npc templars.
WHAT: Templars have been asked to clear out suspicious mages squatting in the old Circle Tower. The group is sniffing out the truth.
WHEN: August 15-20 (Backdated a smidge)
WHERE: Perendale, Nevarra
NOTES: More information about the plot may be found here. A link is available on that page for the original war table wiki page. Feel free to inject any local npcs you like. IC signups are over here.

The road to Perendale proves less than interesting. Dusty and bare rock, with the odd silver mine to break up the monotony of the road. A peculiar strain of goats are native to the area and they do not seem to care for strangers on the road. They express their displeasure by rushing the Inquisition's horses and butting them in the legs. Annoying, but thank the Maker, not so aggressive and violent to put an end to the travel days.

The road itself begins moving north through Orlais then turns west. There is something small of interest, however. Perhaps. If one is knowledgeable enough and paying attention. The houses en route have a markedly Orlesian style to them. The odd lion battles a dragon in statuary along the way. Clearly the territory used to belong to Nevarra's southern neighbor, lost in an ongoing squabble between the two.

Perendale itself manifests its Orlesian heritage all over the city. The main gates boast lions rampant, entrenched in battle against dragons. Residences and shops are painted in the same lively colors that one would expect to see in any number of Orlais' towns. Thus ends the similarity. There are no gilded masks anywhere to be seen on the occupants, however, the mode of dress is not outlandish. The accents rippling through the air are not of the lilting elision one hears in Val Royeaux, but far closer to matching that of Seeker Pentaghast. Even the smells wafting out of the local taverns are different, rich and spicy; not a whiff of some overblown perfume to be had. The streets are cobbled and moderately clean, at least in the better quarters of the city.

And off in the distance, just outside the city walls, stands the abandoned Circle Tower, with faint infrequent lights flickering in the windows.

Comments

[tactical_alert]

What it is is incredibly annoying. Mob mentality is a dangerous thing, but still, if these angry civilians want to attack fully armed, armored agents, then they are going to have quite another thing coming. As it is, it's merely yelling so far. Yelling is not punching or stabbing or whacking, therefore they can deal with it.

Malcolm keeps his expression collected, but only just. There's a sneer he's holding back and a headache waiting to erupt out of this. He's faced down more dangerous bickerers in ancient Tevinter mages while severely outnumbered; this should be nothing.

"The Inquisition," he starts, just below a roar, "has protected you this day!" They will attend carefully or they are going to stand here at this blockade all bloody day, and the former is much easier than the latter. "The mages are removed, as are any spells they may have laid. You will sleep tonight knowing that the dangers nearby have passed! Reparations will be paid for your troubles," and he's not even going to bother looking to Aleron for that, sometimes a little money has to pass through in order to soothe ruffled feathers, "and should you find yourselves in any danger in the future, you may call upon us once again to keep you safe!"

He's banking on them actually trusting in the Inquisition--or at least in those in the Inquisition they might trust. Grey Wardens, or Templars, or Seekers. Surely if there were demons and rifts and nasty mages, these fine people would put a stop to it?

[onlyhymns]

A sudden movement in her periphery and Lady Patience rears slightly back with a shrill anxious whinny, but Cade retains his seat and is put in the precarious position of having to calm her down as well as the person who ran at them.
"Stop, stop, you'll make it worse," he murmurs, perhaps to them both, turning the horse in a circle to get the mayhem briefly out of her sight. As he comes back around, a few indignant members of the mob are ready, shouting over him as he timidly implores them to listen to the Seeker.

His heart rate is rising, and he looks briefly to Aleron as though awaiting orders. He isn't supposed to be involved in anything even resembling combat, but this is a somewhat inescapable situation that he just has to deal with. He's not feeling especially inclined toward violence, though he is somewhat concerned he's going to get dragged off his horse and torn apart.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

All right, this was quickly getting out of hand and Bethany had her doubts on whether or not yelling at them or acting nervous towards this mob was going to help. So she put herself between the mages and the mob, after shooing them further up the road, lifting her voice to pitch loudly as she gestured to Cade to move back with the mages as well.

Easier to throw shields up around everyone, after all, when they were all together.

"Perhaps if you could just tell us what the problem is - exactly - we can help. You're saying that there is still an open rift here? And there's a matter of a food bill? These are all things we can sort out ... reasonably. Right now, if you like."