A huge demonstration is scheduled to take place around the City Hall on the morning this chapter begins. More than 700 citizens (most of them merchants) gather in the streets near City Hall to protest against the tax increases. Try to encourage the heroes (who are quite popular in the city by now) to attend the demonstration.
* Jenya Urikas heard that Alek Tercival is going to be at the demonstration, and since she won’t be able to make it she asks the heroes to go in her place, contact Alek, and ask him to come visit her at the Church of St. Cuthbert. Alek’s been out of contact for some rime, and Jenya is growing worried for her friend. Several of the heroes have heard about Alek--he was quite a famous hero in town himself for a while. Magnus has always been a bit of a fan!
* The Striders of Fharlanghn have been keeping tabs on the Cagewrights, and Meerthan Eliothlom fears that they might take advantage of the demonstration to further their agenda somehow. He is sending Shensen Tesseril to the event to keep an eye on things.

The streets around the City Hall are packed tight with loud citizens rallying against the recent tax increase in Cauldron. Several guards stand in a ring around the building and use the hafts of their halberds to keep people out. Presently, a small group of dignitaries, easily recognizable as the town tax collectors, make their way to the entrance. The citizens boo and scream insults at the tax collectors as they scuttle inside the building.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:48, Sat 09 Mar.

After the tax collectors have gone inside, a merchant climbs a prominent dais to speak. A couple of the party recognize him as Maavu, the merchant whose warehouses were damaged by the umber hulk months ago. He was alleged at the time to be riding out of town on a steed with gaseous feet.

The merchant raises a hand and the demonstrators calm down a bit. After a moment of silence, Maavu addresses the audience resolutely. The merchant says that the Lord Mayor has received a letter of challenge, in which the noble Alek Tercival, paladin of St. Cuthbert, challenges the captain of the town guard, Terseon Skellerang, to prove his valor in a duel according to the Old Law of Peers- Maavu points out that the challenge has not been publicized by the City Council, which is itself illegal by the laws of the city and proof of the ill will the lord mayors advisors' bear the citizens.

The words of the fervor-filled merchant continue to imbue the citizens with a mounting rage. The people’s anger culminates when Maavu points out the fact that a group of armed half-orcs is already harassing the town: "Skellerang is feedinga band of filthy half-ore thugs a large share of our bread!” he screams. Then, wading in the crowd of people, a human watch sergeant escorted by several half-orc mercenaries approaches the dais to arrest the merchant:

"In the name of Terseon Skellerang, Captain of the Town Guard, I must arrest you!” he declares, addressing Maavu. Suddenly from within the angered crowd, an unassuming youth draws a hidden dagger and screams out, "Let's kill these half-ore brigands!" As his voice is drowned out by the roar of a hundred other people, the lad lunges at the nearest half-ore. In seconds, the mob erupts into a full-fledged riot!!

Initiatives:
*Magnus, Earl
Breathdrinker
Maavu
Zaichus, *Augustus, Richard
*Crowd
Corneliu
Krewis

Asterisked get to go in the surprise round.

Magnus sees the knives coming out from the rioters. "The captain," he says to himself. He gathers himself and springs over the crowd, landing right next to the captain. "Attack him, and you face me," he shouts!

Swift action: spend Ki point for +20 to Acrobatics check to jump.
Move: Jump 50 feet!
09:37, Today: 4-Magnus Hope rolled 53 using 1d20+45 with rolls of 8.  Jump Check w/Ki point. – 53

Augustus' eyes go wide. "Riot! Earl, go protect the guard captain." He utters a prayer to Joramy, and taps Earl, who suddenly finds the crowd not nearly so bothersome...

Standard: Defensively cast Freedom of Movement on Earl.
09:49, Today: 4-Augustus Hope rolled 34 using 1d20+14 with rolls of 20.  Concentration check: Freedom of Movement. – 34

A number of people who had blades concealed around the half-orc guards mercilessly fall upon them, killing them!!

Magnus and Earl are up!

Initiatives:
Magnus, Earl
Breathdrinker
Maavu
Zaichus, Augustus, Richard
Crowd
Corneliu
Krewis

Magnus beams at the gaping guardsman next to him. "Sir, I am hear to bear you to safety. Please do not resist."

Krewis closes his mouth, gulps and nods; Magnus then hauls him onto his shoulders. "You must go through me to get to him," he announces simply.

Standard: Crushes Diplomacy check to convince Krewis to cooperate.
Move: Lift him up.

13:04, Today: 4-Magnus Hope rolled 31 using 1d20+16 with rolls of 15.  Diplomacy. – 31

No longer hindered by the crowd, Earl nimbly dodges through them and alights next to Magnus. "Nice job!" he says with a grin. He turns to glare at the crowd...

Double move.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:08, Sat 09 Mar.

Something nefarious happens away from the riot--a shadowy figure begins casting a spell! Meanwhile, Maavu casts a spell, protecting himself!

Maavu--Standard: Cast Mage Armor on himself. No move or swift action.

Off-camera, a Cagewright begins casting Summon Monster VIII.

Initiatives:
Magnus, Earl
Breathdrinker
Maavu
Zaichus, Augustus, Richard
Crowd
Corneliu
Krewis

Zaichus, thinking quickly, taps his four companions nearby. "Let's get to the stage," he then says, and begins weaving through the crowd...

Cast Haste on himself, Augustus, Cornelius and Richard. Move 30' toward the stage.

Augustus Haste 1/8
Cornelius Haste 1/8
Richard Haste 1/8
Zaichus Haste 1/8

Augustus beings hoofing it through the crowd, moving at superhuman speed as well.

Hasted move, 40' toward stage.

Richard sighs deeply. "Wrong way, guys, wrong...argh. Never mind." He wades through the crowd as well, surging forward to the stage.

Hasted double move of 60'.

The mob surges to attack those defending Krewis; one of them manages to ding Magnus as he moves. The other rioters surge about haphazardly, damaging buildings and raising a din.

Eight attackers for Earl and Magnus each; one gets a nat 20 to hit Magnus for 4 hp.

Augustus Haste 1/8
Cornelius Haste 1/8
Richard Haste 1/8
Zaichus Haste 1/8

Initiatives:
Magnus, Earl
Breathdrinker
Maavu
Zaichus, Augustus, Richard
Crowd
Cornelius
Krewis

Cornelius joins the rest in pushing through the crowd toward the stage.

Hasted double move, makes it 40' toward the stage.

Krewis stays put, defending himself from harm should anyone attack him!

Total defense!

Augustus Haste 1/8
Cornelius Haste 1/8
Richard Haste 1/8
Zaichus Haste 1/8

Krewis Total Defense

Initiatives:
Magnus, Earl
Breathdrinker
Maavu
Zaichus, Augustus, Richard
Crowd
Cornelius
Krewis

Earl looks over at Magnus. "You owe me one," he snarls. He then turns and begins screaming as he plows through the crowd. A barrage of blows glance off his armor; one lucky guy manages to land a good blow on his cheekbone while two more get bruises in. Moments later, Earl is atop the stairs, whirling and staring down the mob!!

Double move, provoking 30 AoOs. :-) Three hits, one confirmed crit for 7 (crit), 4 and 2 hp after Earl's DR/1. Soaked up all the AoOs from everyone in the path to the stage.

Magnus follows in Earl's wake, also joining Earl on the stage, before the people can react.

Double move, moving effectively 50' onto the stage.

Maavu casts a spell on himself. He says to sargeant, "I recommend that you stay out of the way." He then pulls out a potion bottle.

Maavu casts Haste on himself and pulls out a potion of Gaseous Form.

The breathdrinker appears and the Cagewright casts haste and a quickened prefer t tort from goad on it, and commands the elemental creature to kill Maavu. The Cagewright then retreats, adding no further chaos to the riot. The breathdrinker turns invisible as a free action and flies toward Maavu. Its adjusted speed is 110 ft, allows it to reach Maavu this round by taking two move actions; there are too many buildings in the way for it to charge. Magnus and Earl fail Perception rolls to detect it.

Augustus Haste 1/8
Cornelius Haste 1/8
Richard Haste 1/8
Zaichus Haste 1/8

Krewis Total Defense

Initiatives:
Magnus, Earl
Breathdrinker
Maavu
Zaichus, Augustus, Richard
Crowd
Cornelius
Krewis

Zaichus makes it up on the stage. "You, sir, need to stay here and calm the crowd down!" he insists to Maavu.

Double move.

Augustus moves to the stairs and then turns to block the way up with Earl.

Double move.

Richard moves well up onto the stage, moving behind the captain. "You owe us," he mutters to Krewis.

Double move.

The crowd continues to act wildly. Some begin to move to the stairs, but the sight of a bleeding Earl and Augustus, brandishing real weapons, discourages them.

Meanwhile, archers from City Hall start firing on Maarvu. One narrowly hits him, but for his hasted speed. "Oh, good grief," shouts Richard.

City Hall archers all miss Maarvu, though one only due to the Haste AC dodge bonus.

Augustus Haste 2/8
Cornelius Haste 2/8
Richard Haste 2/8
Zaichus Haste 2/8

Krewis Total Defense

Initiatives:
Magnus, Earl
Breathdrinker
Maavu
Zaichus, Augustus, Richard
Crowd
Cornelius
Krewis

This message was last edited by the GM at 22:18, Sat 09 Mar.