Corruption and the Flaming Fist
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:34 pm
A wizard dressed in red walks into the Elf Song Tavern. His hood hangs low over his face making him unidentifiable in the candle light of the tavern. He orders some wine from the Bar tender and proceeds to drink. After three full glasses, he begins to speak as if to no one in particular, but loud enough so that the entire bar can overhear:
“I don't know if anyone else has noticed it, but there is an alarming trend going on in the area. I have witnessed several significant examples of Corruption amongst the authorities around here.”
He takes another drink from his glass and turns around to face the room, talking as if preaching on a stage. “To example, I was accosted by a thug on the road just recently. This thug demanded that I disrobe and submit to immediate search or face the wrath of The Flaming Fist. She accused me of being a Thayan Wizard and worse. All merely because I chose to wear the color red. Clearly she was a simpleton as it takes more than simple colors to make it amongst the Thayan Elite. "
He pauses for a drink and then continues "After much harassing She relieved me of my gold and valuables. Then the thug identified herself as a 'Member' of the Fist and only then displayed her uniform. She indicated that I better not tell anyone about this or she would trump up false accusations about Sedition and have me tracked down and murdered by her buddies in the Fist. Why that organization would ever employ such riff-raff as her is beyond me. And clearly no member in good standings would lay baseless accusations against law abiding citizens based merely on the color of their clothing" He indicates his red robes, "nor steal their hard won gold.” “And any FOOL could tell from 100 paces that I am no Thayan?”
After several more drinks, the mage again turns to the crowd and in a drunken manner and says:
“And I have witnessed other direct harassment by Fist officials against Law abiding citizens, accosting them on the highway for no reason other than to satisfy their own blood lust. They accosted a warrior on the way to Naskal right in front of me.” He points down at the floor as if it were all happening right then and there. “They would have killed him outright if not for witnesses too.” He mumbles to himself for a minute and then says “And they locked up a gnome for the crime of bleeding on the road. Bleeding on the road, I tell you! What crime is that?”
After that, the wizard grows quiet. After a few moments, he stands and pays his tab. He leaves a healthy tip for the bar maid and proceeds to walk out into the night. To anyone who pays very close (makes spot check) enough attention, the mage does not stagger nor exhibit any of his previous inebriation. Also, his wine glass half full with water.
“I don't know if anyone else has noticed it, but there is an alarming trend going on in the area. I have witnessed several significant examples of Corruption amongst the authorities around here.”
He takes another drink from his glass and turns around to face the room, talking as if preaching on a stage. “To example, I was accosted by a thug on the road just recently. This thug demanded that I disrobe and submit to immediate search or face the wrath of The Flaming Fist. She accused me of being a Thayan Wizard and worse. All merely because I chose to wear the color red. Clearly she was a simpleton as it takes more than simple colors to make it amongst the Thayan Elite. "
He pauses for a drink and then continues "After much harassing She relieved me of my gold and valuables. Then the thug identified herself as a 'Member' of the Fist and only then displayed her uniform. She indicated that I better not tell anyone about this or she would trump up false accusations about Sedition and have me tracked down and murdered by her buddies in the Fist. Why that organization would ever employ such riff-raff as her is beyond me. And clearly no member in good standings would lay baseless accusations against law abiding citizens based merely on the color of their clothing" He indicates his red robes, "nor steal their hard won gold.” “And any FOOL could tell from 100 paces that I am no Thayan?”
After several more drinks, the mage again turns to the crowd and in a drunken manner and says:
“And I have witnessed other direct harassment by Fist officials against Law abiding citizens, accosting them on the highway for no reason other than to satisfy their own blood lust. They accosted a warrior on the way to Naskal right in front of me.” He points down at the floor as if it were all happening right then and there. “They would have killed him outright if not for witnesses too.” He mumbles to himself for a minute and then says “And they locked up a gnome for the crime of bleeding on the road. Bleeding on the road, I tell you! What crime is that?”
After that, the wizard grows quiet. After a few moments, he stands and pays his tab. He leaves a healthy tip for the bar maid and proceeds to walk out into the night. To anyone who pays very close (makes spot check) enough attention, the mage does not stagger nor exhibit any of his previous inebriation. Also, his wine glass half full with water.