Sundren City

[[DM] Grinning Death]

Empty Stomachs:

Food supplies are running low in the City, despite the massive quantities of gold being poured into overland trade into Mirabar. The Emperor decrees rations in the City until further notice, with the slum districts being closed off to citizenry and refugee traffic. The Legion has put out a call to the valley for food supplies, and unrest has sprung up in the floating fortress practically overnight.

Recruitment:

With the lack of activity from the Legion high command, the Emperor is putting out a call for Legionnaires within the valley skilled in diplomacy. Those who think their silver tongue can serve the people of Sundren City well should report to the Legion Chapterhouse as soon as possible. Rumors speak of rewards given to those who have a strategy for the Legion's resurgence within the valley.

[Dispater]

Mayhem in the Clouds:
Rumors begin to circulate like wildfire through the City, and much of the Valley. Sometime in the night, a group of men entered a private warehouse. At least six men were killed in the raid, and their manner of death was reportedly gruesome enough to have Legionnaires retching in the streets. Details are extremely limited outside the Legion, but the rumor-mills are apt at filling in the gaps...

[Fateful Encounter]

Tensions grow in Cheapside as its original residents begin to resent the refugees in the quarter. Rations split are divided among all the mouths, and there's clearly not enough for everybody. Scuffles, fights, and even a few murders begin to fill the district. The Legion does its best to keep the rioting under control, though it's certain that they cannot do so indefinitely.

[greypawn]

Being a local from Cheapside himself, Selas begins talking to his fellow locals and these refugees. He would place blame onto the Triad, telling them that it's the Triad's lies of kindness and their actions of idiocy that brought them here. He'd warn them that embracing their views and taking their charity would be to submit to the notion that we are weak people who need such, which is what they want. He points out their base of operations is in the city but they appear to selfishly care more about the ground, fame, ports, and their closed minded worship. He'd say as much as he could in a days stay to unite these rioters and focus their dislike towards the Triad instead of each other.

The following day he'd close down his shabby funeral home and offer it openly to those who need a place to squat. Then offers the promise of food and work to those who would follow him out of the city and then some.

[Fateful Encounter]

Things in the city continue to deteriorate. With no further details presented to the public, rumors of the massacre at the city warehouse begin to expand out of control. Combined with the continued rationing of food and desperation that begins to seep out of Cheapside and slowly into even the noble districts, the air of suspicion and mistrust in the floating City has never been higher. A few particularly crazy rabble-rousers even suggest that the murders in the city were only a prelude of efforts by the Legion to cull the commoner population in effort to ensure food supplies might last for the wealthy.

Amidst this chaos, whispers begin to spread that a refugee woman named Margeaux, coupled with a Legionnaire turncoat by the name of Anson Graves, staged an arson attack at Cheapside. The fire resulted in the deaths of several of the poorer citizens and at least one child. Using this crime as a distraction, a group of refugees broke the quarantine on the district and then robbed a local warehouse that had been stocking foodstuffs for the entire city. Several of them were apprehended still smuggling grain from the warehouse, but it seems Margeaux and Tirones Anson Graves remain at large in the City.

[Fateful Encounter]

Whispers of another heist - this time in Cheapside itself - spread like wildfire in and around the floating city. One of the warehouses of a certain minor noble by the name of Ashby, rumored to be particularly hated by Cheapside's residents, was broken into from the latrine and subsequently robbed of several weeks' worth of provisions and even some arms and armor. Rumors say the effort was led by Margeaux and her growing movement - a riot outside the warehouse served to distract the guards, whilst her infiltration team quickly took advantage of the chaos.

Elsewhere, the news of the discovery of Ex-Legionnaire Anson Graves' body in the aqueducts beneath Cheapside begins to make the rounds as well. As to who killed him ... only a few know the truth. For his complicity in Margeaux's crimes, and for his betrayal of the Legion, his body was buried outside of the military cemetary, under an unmarked gravestone. Only one man attended his funeral.

[Fateful Encounter]

Rumors spread from Cheapside; Lord Emil Ashby was arrested on charges of slave trafficking thanks to the efforts of Immunes - now Sesquiplicarius - Chime. Along with his arrest, some of the man's illegally acquired wares were distributed amongst the people of Cheapside under Assistant Quartermaster Anna Loren's orders. As a result, many of the residents of Cheapside seem to have gained a renewed faith in the Legion.

There are still those who protest that the entire thing was a staged conspiracy to placate the masses. Nevertheless, it seems with this act, Margeaux's support has weakened within the district ...

[Fateful Encounter]

Imperial Decree

Centurio Rhimus Ravain of the Tenth Legion makes the following proclamation and orders his unit to distribute this imperial decree throughout all Districts of the City.

LET IT BE KNOWN THAT HENCEFORTH, by order of the Emperor Imperatu Verinus, any person or persons found to be in service or aiding those in service to the terrorist Margeaux shall be guilty of TREASON, shall FORFEIT any and all rights of Sundarian citizenship, and shall be subject to the penalty of DEATH by hanging.

Let this glorious proclamation serve as warning to any foolish enough to sow sedition in this lawful land of Sundren.

Vae Victus,
Rhimus Ravain
Centurio
Tenth Legion

It soon becomes common knowledge that the Legion has increased the soldiers fortifying the quarantine, and random inspections for documentation become commonplace on traffic both entering and leaving the City.

[Fateful Encounter]

Word spreads throughout the city that a group of refugees attempting to leave Castrum were revealed to be Margeaux conspirators, attempting to flee the city using forged passes and fake names. Under Centurio Rhimus Ravain's orders, the adults were all hanged, their corpses now macabre ornamentation upon Castrum.

The two children traveling with the rebels were quickly thrown back into Cheapside, left to fend for themselves.

[Fateful Encounter]

Rumors begin to seep out from the city ... that much of Margeaux's forces were decimated in a confrontation with the Legion and several allies. Margeaux's body was never found - soon many begin to suspect that she yet lives. It does not take long before new groups of rebellious forces to lay claim to the fact that they are also led by Margeaux. Their goals mirror the original movement's aspirations; they claim that the nobility and Legion are corrupt, and they mean to improve the lives of those remaining in Cheapside, still starving, still under quarantine.

None of these are as organized as the original movement, however. Most are quickly discovered and slain by the Legion under Centurio Rhimus Ravain. Any who survive the initial raids are refused trials and thrown to the gallows, where an ever increasing number of bodies begin to adorn Castrum.

[DM_BAMF]

Rumors of a burglary and murder in Aspirations spreads like wildfire among the nobility and merchant class. A rare and extremely valuable diamond was reportedly stolen from within the main hall of an auction site alongside a well known painting, items that were meant to be stored in front of dozens of guests and guards. No suspects have been named.

More alarmingly, three Helmite Justices securing the perimeter were found murdered shortly after the auction closed, their throats slit and weapons sheathed. A full investigation is underway by both the Legion and Church of Helm.

[Fateful Encounter]

For once, chaos springs not from the slums, but from Castrum of all places. What appeared to be an explosive device planted within the Atrium of the City drew Legion and Hand attention, long enough for a motley crew of men and women to cut down the corpses of Margaux's supporters and speed them away. The Hands appeared in the district shortly thereafter to investigate the presence of magic, only to discover that the bomb had never been activated.

Centurio Rhimus Ravain issues the following proclamation, as well as increasing patrols in both Cheapside and in Castrum:

"It is clear now that Margaux and her forces have not been eliminated as once was mistakenly thought. Let it be known that the Imperial Decree concerning the treatment of any found aiding or abetting Margaux or those in service to her stands. Any attempt to undermine the law of this great City is an act of TREASON and will be subject to the ultimate penalty."

An arrest warrant is later issued for a nameless man with the following description:

- Wears an eyepatch.
- Rugged attire.
- Hasn't shaved in a few days.
- Carries twin daggers and a finely crafted bow.

Elsewhere in the City, the name "Tirones Wedge" gains much infamy.

[Fateful Encounter]

Two Sets of Scales

Rumors spread amongst the nobility - and then soon after the rest of the city - that the charges of slave trafficking and possession against Lord Emil Ashby have been dropped. Ashby is returned to his estate to celebrate his only son's impending marriage to Lady Kylee Zenten, daughter of Lord Miro Zenten.

Elsewhere in the city, preparations begin in earnest for the upcoming wedding ceremony and reception. Food and entertainment are prepared in abundance with joy and revelry, a stark and shocking contrast to the conditions that continue to plague the slums of Cheapside, situated but a few districts away ...

[QuillPig]

In recent weeks a new drug, so called "Purple Haze", has begun appearing in drug dens and back alleys in-and-around Cheapside. The viscous, purplish-pink liquid produces a number of effects based on method of the delivery, however, the drug is quickly becoming known as a highly addictive and potent psychedelic. A reputation earned as a result of recent incidents within Cheapside, several of which resulting in casualties.

Little else is known about the drug or those responsible for its distribution. For those wandering the streets of Cheapside its impact is noticeable. Men and women rave in the street about the whimsical and vile alike. Whilst still others cower in the dark corners soiled, deathly afraid of the illusory scenes playing out before their eyes.

[Fateful Encounter]

A woman is seen purchasing an oddly enormous amount of sturdy cloth from Sunny Spindles. Onlookers speculate as to what she could possibly intend to do with such so much fabric. Some say she is a good samaritan, intending to clothe all of Cheapside. Others whisper that perhaps she is the new style designer for Talent & Balance, whose upcoming period piece, Of Gods and Men is sure to require a good deal of costumes.

Still others speculate that the woman is merely a noble gone mad.