[Fists of Rage: The Insurection] A Darkness Gathers Within....(Invite Only)

[Gossamer]

TS: Two days after The Jones Wedding, within the first Cycle of Spring, Era 1, XIV (pf)

The Ice Cold Ale Brewery & Bookstore

It was a quiet place, in a back alleyway in the Student Quarter of Prime. It was housed behind Booksellers Row in St. Gabriel's Parish. No one knew quite when the place had come to pass, only that an elderly professor had taken up brewing and with his daughter had turned an empty warehouse into a fine place for professors and students of all sorts of fields to show up and linger. Not only was the ale cold and of an singularly outstanding vintage, but the books sold here were rare, off the beaten path philosophically , and somewhat controversial. The bookstore itself carried almost any volume the church had ever banned or frowned upon, and they did so discretely.

Officials were paid off, protection in place, and the daughter being something of a mage, was able to take care of business other ways... icing the ales, making sure conversations weren't eased dropped on, and providing a safe house for criminals in the basement when the need arose. All in all it was a popular place... and one could find almost any sort within.

There was a meeting going on inside. And something of a celebration. Men gathered, some young, some old, in a secret back room and offered up wine all around. They where here to plan, to talk of the future, and congratulate themselves on the present victory. Sure, no one had died, but their statement and attention to Fists of Rage couldn't be more heavy atm. Oh, they were sure a manhunt would commence. They welcomed one, in fact. It's what they wanted to draw attention on things in the government that were incorrect. And if they had to do kill to get that attention, they were fine with it.

It didn't matter to them that one of their own had fallen to bring that about. It was a small price to pay. And one they'd keep paying until they ran out of willing people ready to join their own cause. But, the Student Quarter being what it was, there weren't exactly a lack of eager young minds to mold into their perspective. Indeed, it would prove interesting.


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ooc: I'm going to use this thread to give you all foreshadows of whats to come and to give you a place to start some preliminary investigations. Don't feel bad if you want to post here and it doesn't pertain to the setting or the meeting going on there. Thats fine with me. I think it would just be easier to keep the investigations limited to one or two threads, so we don't have them all over the place and hard for people to track down. If your with one group, please note at the top what group you are in, or what your doing... (ie.. Drzag: Meeting with Milo.... or Milo's Office...writing more letters, Alexis- shaking up the cityguard for info...etc), or your location to keep it organized. Thanks!

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[Roland Moonstar]

The illusion of the dead man squatted down next to the russet-colored ball of fur, allowing the creature to put draw a fake tattoo on his chest. "You have enough sardines? Okay, good. Time is of the essence, as we need to head back to Arium soon, so I have to go do this alone."

The otter shook his head. "But Miss Viskyia said to keep an eye on you! I don't understand what you're doing anyway. That guy is dead."

A nod while he buttoned up his shirt. "Yes. Yes he is. So that's another reason I have to do this quickly. Maybe not everyone knows it yet. Perhaps a friend will accidentally give me a tid-bit meant for his deceased comrade.

Or maybe, somewhere, someone is going to give an involuntary gasp or a shake of the head. Either way, if I can get a tip or a clue, I can give it to Drzg, Ogabe or whomever is conducting the investigation.

If not... well, a few candlemarks wasted, that's all!" The illusion of the dead man shrugged. "Now go on to the castle. Make up a good statement for both of us. Tell them I had to go back to Arium. If I stand around jawing, the trail will grow cold."

The two parted ways, the tiny furball going to regale Ogabe with a tale of how he defeated 300 crossbowmen, the dead man going the other way.

[Gossamer]

Roland

The other way consisted of heading into the city itself. Aelyria Prime was a huge place, filled with people of all shapes, sizes, races, and backgrounds. There were sixteen parishes to search, five actual districts... well four if you didn't count the imperial forum which was indeed considered its own little mecca of activity. And Roland had some big decisions to make.

First off.. the obvious choice was Old Prime. OP was filled with dissension, people not at the economic level they wanted to be, folks bustling here and there in malcontent. Very few people there were happy. Then, of course, there was the student quarter, where radical new ideas were hatched daily by some of the most brilliant minds in Aelyria. That too had possibilities. Also too was the merchant district, filled with bustling commerce and an influx of folks from everywhere that seemed to present a perfect place for a group to camp out.

The obvious first choices too were taverns, bars, and back alley card houses. It was all up to Roland to decide where to head.

[Alexis Sapientia]

First Cycle of Cryxatum, Beginning of Summer in the Second Era of the Regency of Milo L'Evienne

From here.

The soldier knew very little, but it was still disconcerting how people delivered anonymous messages.

Dear Commander,

Recently I had over heard a man talking to another about an organization called the Fists of Rage. During their conversation comments made indicated a plot to kill the thane assistant if he/she were not a local. Feeling that the heat of the conversation had become more then just words I followed the men and they walked down several streets till they stopped at a small market. They pointed at a woman who bears a remarkable resemblance to Milo L'Evienne. I took this as either she was involved or important form the way they were huddled close. While watching the woman I was not able to overhear or find out how she was important, and I then lost the men in the crowd. Talking to her, I was able to find out that her name was Jenny and she had recently married a man called Jasaol.

Alexis continued to study the letter in his hand. The original had already been dispatched, but he had had a trusted aide scribble out a copy of the text, and he was observing this with a keen mind. Palacrisis may have had been on to something, but Alexis just hadn't been paying attention then.

It was true that the assassination attempt on his wife was a priority of the Imperial Judicature--on his own authority as Imperial Minister of War, he'd even had certain measures taken to ensure capture--but all that seemed to be for naught.

Until now.

Tapping his finger on his desk, he brooded. Who were these people, and who the devil was this Red Carter? Was that his name, or was it even his profession?

Dammed insurrectionists!

His first call was to summon his Alyssan bodyguard and his military aide.

His second summons was to the Imperial Shields.