Julianna Bennett - Apprentice Apothecary arrives, following Seva.

Julianna Bennett - Apprentice Apothecary have been dismissed.

It's been bubbling up under the surface. The murders, the fires, the attacks. No one knows where the next attack could come from. Anyone could be in service of the enemy, after all, if rumors are to be believed. And the rumors spread like wildfire.

So it is that, on this particular afternoon, word is out that some people have decided to stop waiting for death. They're going to grab the enemy, whether anyone else agrees or not. The crowd has heard about it as well, and it's begun to thicken.

The din of people grows louder then, as a particularly rowdy group arrives down the street, to a few cheers from the crowd. There's all kinds of locals, but it's obvious some of them are armed. And some are very much not. There, trapped by the loud and irate crowd, four figures look particularly helpless, pushed and shoved along with clubs wielded by some soldier-ly types.

Two tattooed men in poor, ill-fitting clothes with their hands bound. An older woman in a fine house robe, who looks like she was dragged from her home. A swarthy man with an impressive moustache and an even more impressive purple silk outfit. None of them look very happy to be here. Terrified is more like it.

Merek had received report of the incident, and after quelling another riot, it seems he was sent out to assist in helping whoever shows up to the mob to talk them down. His Iron Guard cloak flits about, while he is a flanked by another Guard who seems to be his partner. Trailing behind them and gathering information is the ever studious Meeka, who prefers not to get too involved. He takes stock of the situation, and tries to find a less 'raging' mob member, "Hey, what's all this noise about then?" he asks.

Juliet is riding side-saddle on Treasure, followed by Fidelia walking Haldin on a leash, and then a trio of soldiers wearing Fidante surcoats. The Lycene noble a striking figure from aloft her steed, from its golden fur to her blue and white-themed seasilk dress. Her hair tied back into an ornate braid, draped across the pins in her hair mimicking Rosethorn, the Sword of Tor, and the blue and white roses woven into her braid, thirteen in number, evoking the other half of Tor's sigil. She wears her sword belt low, and with a rapier sheathed at her left side, pausing at the commotion. Considering the group, and seeing the Iron Guard at it. She lets out a shrill whistle to call attention to herself.

It's to be expected, when the city lays in the midst of a siege, with little to no reprieve between stories of savagery and merciless finger-pointing blind in the dark. But when word of all of the ill-gotten rumors were coming to a head, Katarina maneuvered herself discreetly into the situation, those golden eyes are keen in their assessment of the situation before her voice cuts clear through the crowd, "Have you people lost your minds?" she calls, bewildered, pushing past bodies toward the four figures, bound and helpless, at the front.

Seva hadn't expected to get caught up in all this, simply planning to explore the city with the help of her commoner apprentice. But she isn't about to head on past and let innocents get lynched. As tempting as it is to avoid trouble. Seva maneuvers her way past the crowd, lingering somewhere behind the horse riding noble. For now she's silent.

Traders Home? Or, perhaps, Traitors' Grave, today. People will easily point to people, to make blame where there should be none. Situations may seem hopeless, and they have to do something - even when it's actually a dumb idea. Asher had been about ready to go fetch himself some lunch when he passed by and spotted the crowd, and... Well, it's likely he knows who the folk up on 'trial' are. He can't let them be killed for no reason! Pushing through the crowd, the Dirty Rat and his jingling gold earrings make for the center. "'Scuse me, comin' through, watch yer purse there's pickpockets about, marm..." He's making zero attempts to be subtle about all this, either.

Gaius, a Thraxian Confessor, Balanar, a shadowy Confessor, Francis, the Inquisitorial Mouse arrive, following Alistair.

Gaius, a Thraxian Confessor, Balanar, a shadowy Confessor, Francis, the Inquisitorial Mouse leave, following Alistair.

"They're Bringers, they are!"

"Take 'em to the Inquisition!"

"Bah, they'll just let them go. Probably full of Bringers, too. String 'em up!"

"She poisoned me, she did!"

The crowd is confused. There's a lot of anger and hatred and fear, raging in every direction, with those four 'Bringers' at the heart of it all. There doesn't even seem to be any clear leadership to this mob, though a few among the crowd seem to have more prominent paunches and louder voices and bigger clubs.

"Caught us some Bringers. Maybe not all Bringers, but - well, they're working with them, that's for sure." one woman wearing an apron and covered in flour tells Merek confidently.

The crowd stirs at the sound of the whistle, and a few eyes turn that way. Other eyes, wary and suspicious eyes, turn on Katarina, "What? They're Bringers. What's it to you?"

"I am Lady Juliet Fidante, Deputy Minister of the Department of Civil Development." Juliet declares, loudly. Which is, perhaps, a very forceful way of announcing that she holds no authority here. "There is an Iron Guard present, and no doubt more on the way. Please, form an orderly line and bring me the suspects, and I will hear your complaints against them." She draws a deep breath, and looks as stately as she possibly can. "We will hear your grievances today, people. We will find justice for these men, in the name of the Sentinel."

"Don't... Walk right into the center and tell them they've lost their minds," Merek mentions, though it is likely drowned out in the crowd. He then pulls out an Elfblight Orchid, and fiddles it around his fingers, studying it for a moment, then he places it back. He calls out, "There's no Bringers here! The Guard has been vigilant, and the 'signs' that are normal with them around, are not here. Listen to Lady Fidante, and let's maintain some order a little bit, evidence! Let calm minds prevail."

Merek checked command + leadership at difficulty 25, rolling 10 lower.

Katarina checked command + leadership at difficulty 40, rolling 13 lower.

"Please listen to the Iron Guard and Lady Juliet." Seva calls into the crowd. "Although this crisis had been trying on all of us, we cannot allow paranoia to divide us. That is exactly what the bringers would want." Although she speaks up, the princess remains a safe distance from the crowd.

Asher checked charm + streetwise at difficulty 40, rolling 17 lower.

Nisaa arrives, following Malik.

Nisaa leaves, following Malik.

Juliet has rolled a critical success!
Juliet checked command + leadership at difficulty 40, rolling 11 higher.

Nisaa arrives, following Malik.

Nisaa leaves, following Malik.

Katarina has rolled a critical success!
Katarina checked command + propaganda at difficulty 40, rolling 55 higher.

Seva checked charm + propaganda at difficulty 40, rolling 19 lower.

The shout of Juliet brings Katarina's golden eyes toward the mounted Fidante briefly, but she does not cow before the suspicious eyes drawn toward herself. But rather than command by title and authority given, she attempts to placate them through empathy and skillful word, "Everyone, please, this isn't the way of the Sentinel. We are all afraid, all -- quite literally, terrified -- but to accuse one another of being a Bringer without probable cause? It helps none of us! Please, like the Lady Juliet said, we can settle this peaceably and justly."

While the fine folk of the law - or the government or what have you - take the loud road, Asher decides to take the quiet. Moving about through the crowd, whispering into people's ears, he tries to diffuse the situation. "I heard about that flower thing, really works!" And on another, "Maybe we just let the Guard have 'em? If we do it we might get lynched for treason..." A mix of guilt, fear of consequences, et cetera. It doesn't seem to win many of them over, however...

Merek can't do much more than what he already has for the time being, and he doesn't have the full Guard with him, so he has to do this by what he knows. For now, he is quiet.

It's difficult to sway a crowd this scattered. What words work on one may not work on another and, given the current mood, anyone's a likely suspect. Even Iron Guardsmen and friendly locals whispering things. That's what a Bringer would do, isn't it? Eyes narrow with suspicion, faces harden, and more whispers are traded back and forth.

"That's what a Bringer would say, isn't it?"

"The Old Lord Commander was one of them. You know what they say."

"Could be a trick! We've got some rope here, let's see them dance on it!"

Some voices in the crowd are more bloodthirsty than others. Still, there's an actual ripple, and many eyes turn towards Katarina and Juliet. What's a Deputy Minister of the Department of Civil Development? Few in the crowd really know, but it sounds at least kind of important. And there's that other sensible sounding woman mentioning the gods, so the populace shifts, and the four prisoners are nudged forward in Juliet's direction, hard enough they'll at the very least have some bruises, if they live.

"Thank you." Juliet offers, as the prisoners are brought towards her. She gestures to her guards, murmuring quietly to them, so that the trio come between the crowd and the suspects. Though, at least they're pretending this is for the benefit of the mob, not the suspects. Looking to Merek. "I suggest," She offers loudly. "That people who have -actual complaints- against these men, bring them to the Iron Guard here. And we can see the Sentinel's Justice served." Again, a nod to Katarina, and a small smile. Looking over the crowd. "And may Lagoma's fire purify us all before we are weighed on its scales."

Merek seems to mull over the situation, then he states to those that are there, "Those that you believe to be Bringers, will be seen by the Court and the Iron Guard, and all your words will be heard, so worry not. If you are right, you are right... But if you are wrong, which I'm sure these people are not Bringers, do you want their blood on your hands?" he asks. He is trying a diplomatic approach this time.

By now, it's either going to break the mob... Or cause it to explode. He keeps his hands on his blade; the dagger on his right hip, not the sword on his left. Clearly he's only preparing, with a worried look, hoping it won't come to more. He'll try to push towards the front of the crowd, near the edge, watching the other end of the crowd as if trying to make sure nobody is up to funny business.

Seva nods along with the other's words as she stands off to the side. "The more orderly we go about this, the swifter justice will be delivered. " The noblewoman adds. "Please listen and stand aside so the investigation can go smoothly.

Merek checked charm + diplomacy at difficulty 30, rolling 2 lower.

Seva has rolled a critical success!
Seva checked charm + propaganda at difficulty 30, rolling 30 higher.

Juliet checked charm + propaganda at difficulty 30, rolling 5 higher.

Through keen eyes, the scattered minds of the crowds are observed as teeth gnash to sow further seeds of uncertainty and dissent into the ears of others, even as she moves with a fluid grace to see no member of the amassed mobs do no more harm to the bound suspects than they already have. Once Juliet's siezed them, it's to the crowd she turns back to. "I get that you're angry," she addresses them once more, passionate, and earnest. "That you're tired of being scared, uncertain of who to trust and what will happen next. But please, turning against each other is not the way! I beg you, help each other. Support one another, and keep vigilance over your loved ones together! The Bringers have taken enough from us all, but don't let them turn us against each other now, in our greatest time of need to be together!"

Katarina has rolled a critical success!
Katarina checked command + propaganda at difficulty 30, rolling 24 higher.

There are, at least, a few faces standing out from the crowd. One's a lean, almost gaunt older man, wearing black work clothes, who carries a long stick in one hand, and seems to be accompanied by a small quadre of hardened thugs. "Caught these two doing some Shav blood ritual. Sacrificing a cat. Probably thinks it'll help bring the walls down or something, the bloody savages." he prods one of the two tattooed men with his stick, prodding him forward to exhibit the criminal to Juliet, and spits on them. Behind him, one of his thuggish-looking companions brandishes a bloody carcass, or part of one, holding it out for the crowd to see as proof of the offense.

"We were cooking!" the older of the two Prodigals protests, in a thickly accented Arvani dialect, trying to shield the younger man from the irate crowd.

At least the crowd is being orderly about it, more or less.

"... Well, that went well," Merek states. He then motions to the Guard with him, and moves over to Juliet, ready to handle taking people in if need be to further satisfy the situation, seeming calm.

As the crowd continues to simmer down, Katarina falls quiet on her cajoling and sweet-talking of those who've listened to her, letting her gaze drift toward the Fidante woman and Merek to view how they deal with the suspects.

Katarina checked perception + survival at difficulty 40, rolling 22 lower.

Asher checked perception + survival at difficulty 40, rolling 25 lower.

Juliet checked perception + animal ken at difficulty 40, rolling 36 lower.

Juliet considers the carcass, with some interest. Raising a hand to the elder prodigal. "You'll get your turn." She offers, with a small smile. "Please explain, in detail, what lead you to think that this was a blood magic ritual, kind messere." The Lady Fidante, asks. "And please,s peak loud and clear so your neighbours may hear you." And, as the man begins to explain, Juliet guides him, with more probing questions, geared towards making the man admit to having seen nothing at all.

Merek checked perception + survival at difficulty 40, rolling 28 lower.

Merek takes his time to flank the suspects with his Guard, though not too close, however not too far. As if attempting to prevent bloodshed should it still move that direction.

Juliet checked charm + manipulation at difficulty 20, rolling 23 higher.

Leta GM Roll checked composure(3) + propaganda(2) at difficulty 20, rolling 24 higher.

Seva moves a little closer, trying to get somewhat a glance at the cat corpse. "I've seen Shav rituals and been attacked by some of late." She gestures vaguely at her bandages. "As well as being a trained healer. Perhaps I can help decide whether this was simple cooking or not."

Merek checked perception + medicine at difficulty 15, rolling 11 higher.

Asher, having spotted the goings-on, notes the elderly man. And his guards. Or... Thugs. What kind of old man has guards like that around him? Work clothes in black... /And/ thugs? Something is amiss there, and so Asher does his best to move through the back side of the crowd to get closer to the group. Suspicion in his eyes, ready for something crazy to break out. That's been the theme of the siege after all...

"Maybe it would be best if you all did this elsewhere, and allowed the rest of the onlookers to go home," Katarina softly suggests toward Juliet and Merek. "That way justice is delivered impartially, without distraction or influence."

Merek seems to be looking over the wounds on the suspects, then he looks to Katarina. "We would, but it seems the crowd is reluctant to relenquish them to us. No need to exacberate the situation," he tells her, quietly and calmly away from the crowd if he can. He then sighs a small bit, "Besides..." He doesn't answer whatever else was on his tongue.

Seva checked perception + occult at difficulty 40, rolling 10 lower.

Seva glances between the group and the crowd, debating silently. After a moment she simply walks up to Katarina. "Is there anything I might do to help?" She asks quietly.

Golden eyes flicker over toward Seva's approaching figure, and hers is a dimpled smile of the warmest reception. "I think it best we start dispersing the crowds," she suggests in quiet murmur. "They've seemed to calm a bit, but I'm afraid they might rile things up if they see something they don't like while Lady Juliet and that Iron Guardsman deal with things. It cannot be impartial if mobbing crowds can influence it's outcome."

The man seemed almost ready for the interrogation. He doesn't quite make his case, not really, not if this was a court of law, but he manages to hold his ground. They're clearly savage Shavs. Probably sent here to take advantage of Arxian generosity. All these Prodigals are the same, after all. They sneak in disguised as refugees, only to betray the city and the gods and revert to their savage, bloodthirsty ways. It goes on like this. He'd been watching them for a while now. Everyone's seen them, and smelled their foul cooking.

"A poor helpless cat, one of our good cats of Arx! Killed like that, that's just wrong. To feed their demon lords or whatever bloody Shav superstition! That's what they think, anyway, that'll get Brand here quicker, these Shav Bringers." spittle flies out of his mouth. The crowd looks very uncertain, glancing between Juliet and the accuser, wavering. A few seem to be murmuring, wondering if this is really the best use of their time.

"It is rabbit. I bought. Man say Arx rabbit." the Prodigal argues weakly, looking too intimidated by the crowd to defend himself.

Seva nods and looks towards the crowd nervously. "I'll see what I can do." The princess breathes in and walks closer to the mob, her assistant at her side. "Please disperse! This is now being handled by the iron guard and Lady Juliet. We only need witnesses and the accused. The rest may go home."

"Tell me," Juliet looks to the man, riding forward, using the bulk of Treasure to press the people holding him away, offering her hand. "Tell me who you swore to, goodman." She pauses, accepting his answer, after the man confers with his fellow prodigal. "Grayson. Prodigals of Grayson, come back to -serve- the Compact." She announces. "Someone once told me, that a prodigal will be the most loyal citizen they can find. Who else would suffer the suspicions of their neighbours? Who else would not take their citizenship for granted? Who else -knows- what life outside the Compact is like, and have taken the conscious -choice- to be one of us?" She raises her voice, looking over the people, looking over the man. "Arxian Rabbit You heard him. Some flec," She spits the word. "Decided to take advantage of people who have fled everything they knew, and taken a chance of life here, and sold him the dead carcass of a cat. And this man..." She gestures to the black clad gent. Looking to him. "Your name, messire? Your profession?" Eyeing the thugs. "This man says that they've done a blood rite to try to bring the walls down. A blood rite. I'm sure you've seen similar enough things at the butcher shop, and I don't expect they were blood rites." Shaking her head. "What else, my good man? What else would you present to have these men meet the Sentinel and be judged?"

Seva checked charm + propaganda at difficulty 30, rolling 5 higher.

Juliet checked charm + propaganda at difficulty 30, rolling 2 higher.

Merek checked charm + diplomacy at difficulty 30, rolling 4 lower.

Katarina checked command + propaganda at difficulty 30, rolling 41 higher.

Merek takes his time to debate the situation, and states, "You all should go home now," to the crowd. It seems all the others have that well in hand, so he didn't have to do so! He seems satisfied all in all, while decides to continue watching the suspects.

While Juliet works on seeing to it that witnesses see that justice is indeed being served fairly, Katarina moves with grace to see the massive crowds be sent home as skepticism of their time being wasted manifests upon their faces, and at the tips of the tongues in hushed asides to one another. "Please, the hour grows late and I'm sure there's much you all still have left to do in your day." A coin purse at her side is lifted, bits of silver passed to those who look in the greatest need of it of those who she can reach. "Buy yourselves warm ale and fresh bread, or what ever it is you need. You needn't suffer another hour."

"Ahem. I'm Alaron, work down at the docks." the older man says with a scowl aimed up at Juliet, and brandishes the stick towards the Prodigals, "You can't just believe what they say, m'Lady. They don't believe in the gods! They're liars, see? Don't have the gods to tell them it's wrong to lie. It's an offense to the gods, letting them carry on with their blood sacrifices!" he argues with frothy vehemence, waving a bony fist above his head. The shady characters with him all nod their agreement, with varying degrees of conviction.

Meanwhile, however, some of the crowd, at least, starts to drift way. The mob grows smaller, but an irate and increasingly confused core remains, still holding on tightly to their remaining prisoners.

Seva continues to try and work on the crowd as some of them depart. "Please, we only need one person for prisoner. The rest of you should return to your homes and family." She glances back at Juilet before continuing. "Please disperse."

The poorer, likely more easily impressed by the Iron Guard and the fancy horse and title, are all the most likely to take Katarina's silver and slip away. Some remain, however, still wary and unconvinced. No one's being punished and surely, surely someone is guilty of something. And some members of the mob aren't that poor, really, they're citizens of the Uppers, tradesfolk and peddlers and clerks, clinging tightly to their fears and their grudges.

"I can choose to believe them." Juliet decrees. "As they can choose to serve the gods." She slides off her horse. Steps up to Alaron. "I am not just a minister, my good man Alaron. I am a mirrormask. Rest assured when I tell you, I will speak to these men, and I will make them face the darkness within, earnestly. And if they -are- in service to the Silence, or to Brand..." She doesn't finish the sentence. Instead, she reaches into the saddle bag, brings out a mirrored mask, sculpted to a perfect replica of her face. She places it over her head, and stares at him, the gleaming silver giving the man a coy smirk. Fear the Thirteenth.

Juliet gets A delicately sculpted full face mask in mirrored silver with a deep hood of supple, rose-tanned black leather from a leather pouch shaped like an overturned rosebud.

Merek takes a moment to look up in thought. "If there were Bringers involved, no one would be around right now. That's the sheer fact of the matter. I've seen them sew this chaos in people, pitting brother against brother. Please, see this for what it is. The Bringer's fear trying to suade you." He then shakes his head a bit, "We must stand together if we hope to achieve victory." He uses this as a calmer alternative to Juliet's commentary, "Rest assured, we all want the safety of the people, and we will fight for it, leaving no stone unturned..." A small nod.

Merek checked charm + diplomacy at difficulty 30, rolling 2 higher.

Katarina checked command + leadership at difficulty 30, rolling 7 higher.

Seva sighs and looks for any that seem from Thrax within those that remain. Anyone she might be able to sway. When Juilet's words drift off, Seva turns around to see what's happen. Her eyes widen but she hides a smile.

Asher hmms to himself, and takes a few steps back. He's not quite ready to drop the entire situation here, so he makes his way to a nearby wall to sit down on. He'll reach into a pocket to pull out something to nibble on, watching the remaining crowd with a wary gaze. The guard and other official peoples have this in hand, but still... This 'Alaron' fellow makes Asher's bells go off. In a way.

Alaron takes a step back from Juliet, and frowns at the mirrormask mention, then at the mask itself. There's a wily hard look on the old man's eyes, and a hateful glare shot towards the prodigals, but the look he gives that shiny reflection is apprehensive. "Make sure you do, my Lady. You'll find out they're with the Bringers. Just keep them away from where good honest folk live." after saying that, he mutters under his breath and confers with the other thuggish sorts. Reluctantly, they withdraw, releasing the Prodigals with one final act of violence, clubs prodding and shoving them forward.

Katarina works tirelessly to see the crowd properly dispersed, those golden eyes flashing a gratuitous gleam toward every figure that soon turns away to slink off and away from the scene.

Merek takes a moment to look aside towards his Guard, Aneka, "... Alaron. I want an investigation opened on him," he voices quietly after a moment when the man is out of range. Once all have been dispersed, he moves to the former suspects, "Are you all alright?" he asks, kindly.

The masked woman regards the men leaving, as her guards take custody of the prodigals. Then, she looks to Merek, offering him that same, stiff, coy smile. "With your permission, Guard Black," She instructs the man. "I will take custody of these prodigals to interrogate them about what happened, in an appropriate environ." A beat. "I think the courtyard of the Fidante Villa will do. I might also see that they don't need to eat cat." She adds, a little lower.

Seva waits until she sees the suspects released and frowns. Her attention focuses on the ones that appear poor, especially the Shavs. "Lady Juilet, may I heal these men when you are done. And perhaps donate as well."

The mob is barely a mob now, just a small angry bunch. But there's still a woman in a house robe and a silk-clad man held by increasingly shaky hands. "How about these two, hey? These - well, she's a poisoner!" one man calls out.

"He - I heard him wish Brand would win already! Heard him say it!" another on

another one accuses.

Merek looks up and towards Lady Juliet, and then offers a small nod to her, "That is acceptable," he states. The Mirrorguard does not bother with trying to take custody, he seems assured that the men are not Bringers, as he pats a small pocket, then he takes a moment to turn around, and places 5 gold pieces into her hand. "Make sure that goes to... Expenses," he states, a wan smile. Helpful man!

Juliet looks to Seva, and gives a nod. "Earnestly, if you have the means, I'd see you treat them now, if you can. I'll be happy to see you compensated." Blinking a bit at the gold, Merek hands to her, giving him a quick nod. "Expenses." She agrees. Then she looks to the other two accused. "Well. I'd certainly like to hear your sides of the story." She muses to the two. "A poisoner, and someone who has given up all hope that this world is worth living in." Her tone dry.

Seva shakes her head. "I am a princess. It would be bad of me to accept payment." She looks back at the mob. "Do you have the vial of poison? The victim? Anything to examine? I run an apothecary and can tell you in short order if it's a true accusation."

With Alaron leaving, Asher waits a bit, still munching. Less folk here, thankfully. Not as many to worry about. So he waits just a minute, and overhears what's going on. But then, he's off the barrel and headed towards where Alaron went. At a leisurely pace of course, trying to not be too obvious. His hood is pulled up as well, making it hard to see his face. And hopefully, there'll be something interesting and useful to learn about from this man...

Seva checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 15, rolling 36 higher.

Seva checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 15, rolling 12 higher.

The man who seems more upset by the poisoner nudges the woman forward. He's holding on to the hilt of a dagger on his belt, and eyeing the older woman with tense, bright eyes. "My cousin fell ill! She's - she won't wake up. She won't wake up at all. All after visiting this woman. And she's a soldier, see? She's strong and now she won't wake up. This traitor's poisoning our defenders! Here! Here, this is what she sold her!" the man holds out a small pouch of what appears to be tea, and shakes it in Seva's direction.

"I'm - just a herbalist, I sell teas. That's all. I sell teas." says the woman, bundled up in her robe, hair in disarray, slippers on her feet, likely torn from her home without a chance to get dressed.

"She poisoned my dog, too! Lives down the street from me. She yelled at my dog one day, next thing I knew he was dead!"

"This does not sound like a Bringer issue. Please file an official complaint with the Iron Guard," Merek states, out of the blue, looking a little bit irritated.

Seva will take the pouch with a small, resigned sigh. "Take your cousin to my shop. Lavender and Lodestones. I will provide for her and any other defenders that have taken ill for free." She opens the pouch and sifts through the contents.

Seva checked perception + alchemy at difficulty 20, rolling 23 higher.

Merek does add, recalling part of the conversation, "While I sympathize, Brand is ready to attack any time now, we will launch a full investigation into the matter, but this isn't the place for it alas."

Juliet takes the woman in hand wrapping an arm around her. "Face the reflection, messere. Speak the truth from your heart." She purrs. Keeping the warmth of her verdant gaze on the accused. "Princess, if you'd be so kind to examine the powder, and let us know if anything is wrong." And perhaps, surrepitiously, the hold she has on the herbalist is one that gives a gentle, comforting squeeze.

Katarina is overheard praising Juliet for: She looked visionary on her pretty horse.

Katarina is overheard praising Seva for: For working the crowd towards peace.

Juliet is overheard praising Katarina for: Sage words for hot heads

Katarina is overheard praising Merek for: Sticking it out, and being there for justice!

Katarina is overheard praising Asher for: He looked helpful. Suspicious, but helpful.

Merek is overheard praising Juliet for: Great mediation skills.

"My cousin's a soldier! She's poisoning soldiers!" the accuser argues, his dark eyes tired, a frantic despair in his voice as he glares at the back of the 'poisoner's head and grips the dagger tighter, looking to Merek. "Brand'll have an easier time of it if we let them - if we let them kill our soldiers. I heard they've been doing that, haven't they? Setting fires, murdering people! Anyone could be a Bringer, that's what everyone says!"

Merek is overheard praising Katarina for: Kind person.

Seva places the herbs back into the pouch and closes it. "It's not poison. Not anymore than wine is." She gestures at the man. "I will heal your cousin and anyone else. Simply let the women go."

Merek takes his time to look to the man, "Go home and cool off," he tells them, and he seems to be holding back many words. His fellow Guard with him makes sure to put herself between the man and the woman.

Juliet draws another breath. "Answer me truly - what happened to the woman you gave medicine? Why would she fall asleep and not wake? Do you know?" She asks, of the accused poisoner. "What did she come to you for?"

Merek checked command + intimidation at difficulty 15, rolling 6 lower.

"It was just a tea. It's good for sleeping, but it's never hurt anyone, I swear!" the herbalist vows with a shake of her head, looking from Juliet to Seva, "Thank you, my Lady! It's not poison, I swear it's not."

The accuser seems less than pleased, "She's seen a healer! Say all we can do is wait, that's what they say. And she - look, if it was just this time! But everyone knows. Everyone knows she's a poisoner!" he insists, straining, and glares at Merek and the other Guard as they step in, trying to reach out and yank the herbalist back towards himself.

"I did it. I poisoned everyone. It was me. Can this be over with already?" the man in the purple silks suddenly declares, in a dull, morose voice, before he's clubbed over the head by the couple holding on to him.

Seva checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 6 lower.

"If you'd confer with her grace, and see what may have happened." Juliet offers, to the herbalist, pressing her over to Seva. Looking to the accuser. "Your sister will get justice. And we will find help. And if this woman is a poisoner, she will be found out. But not tonight. Please, accept that." She murmurs, as she moves in close, sympathy in her hollow voice.

Merek checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 7 lower.

Leta GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + small wpn(2) at difficulty 15, rolling 3 higher.

Seva's patience finally dies as the fourth accused is clubbed over the head. She walks up to the man, deadly calm. "I am a princess of Thrax. I have spent years honing my craft as a healer." Her words come in through gritted teeth. "It's not poison. It's tea. Whatever happened to your cousin and the soldiers was someone or something else. You do a disservice to your kin to settle on a scapegoat instead of finding the truth.

Merek checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 20 higher.

Merek GM Roll checked gmcheck strength(3) + medium wpn(1) at difficulty 40, rolling 24 lower.

Merek takes a moment to move towards the couple... Guard in tow, and he unlatches his sheath, and tries to slam it upside in a disabling maneuver at one of them, while his partner tries to do it to the other, "Cease and desist, there will be no assault happening!"

Seva checked charm + propaganda at difficulty 20, rolling 14 higher.

Juliet checked charm + diplomacy at difficulty 20, rolling 22 higher.

The time for talking is over. Suddenly, everyone's in motion. The confessed poisoner in the fine silks and the overly waxed moustache crumples to the ground after he's bashed with a club, covering his head. Merek attacks, but fails to knock out the attackers. In turn, the woman jumps at him, trying to knock out the Iron Guard in turn with her small club. A scuffle seems on the verge of breaking out, as a third member of the mob leaps in to assist his comrades, staff in hand. Thankfully, most others scatter, their will to fight largely sapped by ladies and princesses alike. It's one thing to be dragged along with a large, fiery mob. It's another thing to be one of a handful picking a fight with the Iron Guard

The man holding on to the herbalist grips his dagger tighter, and looks to be on the verge of drawing it as everything happens so fast around him, but the blade slides only an inch from its sheath before Juliet and Seva's words get through. "You swear, then? That's not poison? That's -" he lets go of the dagger and the woman at the same time, shoulders slumping.

"We will find Justice for your sister." Juliet declares, to the man. Giving him a squeeze, and letting him go. Then she steps towards the scuffle. "The man on the ground has said he wishes that Brand would win. Now he confesses to being a poisoner. A malaise of the soul lingers here, and we will see to him. If he is guilty, he will be punished. But you will not disturb the peace by fighting with the guard, and you will not take the Sentinel's Justice in your own hands." The woman in the silvered mask thunders. "Is that clear?"

Seva nods slowly, eyes locked with the man. "It's not poison." She slips agilely between the women and her accuser. "Go home. Get your cousin. Get the others that have been ill. I will investigate this further."

"You will not put that man to further harm, he is under the custody of the Iron Guard as of this moment," Merek states to the three armed citizens as he dodges a club headed his direction. He does not make further move to disable them, having acted on instinct and worry that they might have killed the man in purple silks after clubbing him. He stares them down.

Merek checked command + leadership at difficulty 30, rolling 4 lower.

Juliet checked command + intimidation at difficulty 20, rolling 21 higher.

The stalwart trio that remains looks confused, standing above the fallen silk. Moments ago, they had a small crowd at their backs, and now they stand alone. "Fuck you! He's a rat fucker! Bringer or not!" the woman yells, and delivers one final kick to the prone silk. There's real anger behind her words, and in the faces of her companions, but they're outnumbered and the tide is clearly turning. A clubbing and kicking isn't the justified, righteous punishment they may have been hoping for, but the only crowd remaining in the square is composed of gawkers, not vigilantes. So they turn and run.

"Rat fucker he may be." Juliet declares. Looking after the runners. "And now I'm curious what you did to deserve such an epithet, lord silk." Sinking into a crouch, regarding the man. "What darkness lurks within you, to wish for the end of the world? Why confess to a crime you clearly did not commit? What haunts you, my lord silk?" Voice low, seductive. But then, she's supposed to encourage the darkest of things, when she's wearing that mask.

Merek watches with a wince as he sees the man kicked, then he turns to Seva, "Can you see to him." He sighs a bit, and rubs his face, before he looks to Juliet, "... I'm going to bring him to our Barracks, I don't want the Inquisition dealing with him just yet. I'll see if an Officer will let you in to speak with him at length? Unfortunately, he's admitted to the crime, whether he was truthful or not. Now... Well. It seems it's up to the Sentinel and whatever reflection this man is facing to figure out the rest." He looks to Juliet, at her words, and considers a moment. He seems to be hand-tied here.

Seva walks slowly over to said rat fucker and the rest of them. "There wasn't a poisoning, likely. People abuse that tea and end up with heart issues. " She shakes her head and crouches next to the silk man. "He likely wanted it over with. To just die. I've seen many a person end up in my shop for similar reasons." Without another word, she starts to treat the man.

Seva checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 15, rolling 38 higher.

The silk's out of it, eyes unfocused once he opens them, still woozy. One of those clubs to the head may have rattled his brain. "Me? I'm an honest business man, that's all..." he is at least capable of a reply, however bland and affectless, words that roll off his lips as he turns his attention, briefly, to Juliet, with a wan smile. But he can't quite hold himself up for now.

"He did something," Juliet concludes, tugging her mask of. "Whether he's criminal or not... I do not know. But no, nobody calls themselves an honest business man, if that's all they are. Never in my life have I heard anyone utter that phrase if they didn't have something to hide." She scoffs, then shrugs, then rises again. "Thank you for your aid, Guardsman Black. Princess Seva." She nods to the pair. Stepping back and looking back to the other accused. "Well. Now I've tried being magistrate, too."

Seva looks between Juliet and the man. "He's in no condition to be questioned." She says quietly. "At least give him a few days to heal." She then gives Juliet a small bow. "Thank you. Without you, I don't think the mob would have broke."

"I'll post a Guard with him at the Mercies place," Merek tells Seva and Juliet, "We will talk to him after that. The Guard will assure he tries nothing, even on himself," he offers, with a small nod. "Yes, Lady Fidante... Your calm collected words do you honour as a Mirrormask," he offers, with an earnest smile. He then takes his time to walk towards the silk-covered man, and checks him, "Your Highness, if I send with you an escort for safety, can you deliver him to the Mercies?"

"Mm," Juliet agrees, with the Princess, offering a smile to the Princess. "Truth told," now that the mob has dispersed, her tone conversational. "I have no authority, religious or secular, to hold anyone or question them. But those," She nods in the direction of the prodigals. "Can certainly use a good meal and some friendly conversation, I expect. And if I find out they have been comitting foul blood rituals, I'll let the guard know." Tone dry. Looking to Merek, offering a smile, and a bow of her head. "I am many things to many things, Guardsman Black. Thank you for your kindness."

Seva nods sslowly and flashes a smile. "I was never really sure if you did but..." She glances at the men and then hangs Juliet 200 sliver. "Treat them nicely for me. I'll help escort this man here." She offers her hand to the purple silk man. Her retainer does the same, on the man's other side.

"Keep your money, Princess. The hospitality of Fidante will see them through." Juliet assures, refusing the coin. "Give it to them, if needed, and they'll have coin when they leave the villa, as well."

Seva gives a quick nod and offers the coin to the pair of prodigal. She'll walk to the older woman as well and offer her another 100 sliver.

The herbalist, meanwhile, scampers away, with much bowing and scraping and apologizing. But she does need to go back home, she's not even dressed properly.

Her accuser stands there, hands hanging at his sides, looking lost, and eyeing Seva hopefully.

The man in the purple silk can barely stand up and walk straight, but with some help he can be lead along to wherever it is they're taking him.