RP:New Kid in Town

Part of the Agitation Arc

Summary: Emelyan, a potential resident of Xalious, meets Josleen at an mayoral election race event.

The Dancing Destrier

Josleen stands near the low stage wearing a blue and green sash and engaging potential voters. Josleen supporters wear ribbons with her name and slogan ‘Take Xalious Back’. Although several candidates have entered the mayoral contest, only Josleen and two other candidates are present. In red with gold sparkles is the Mage’s Guild candidate with his slogan ‘Smart Governance Through Magocracy’; and in yellow and blue is the religious candidate, with his slogan ‘Hail Xalious, God!’ The religious folk are clustered near the door, eager to spread Xalious’s gospel in hand-written pamphlets. The mage’s guild supporters lurk near the bar and fireplace. Several of them are smoking some strong smelling herbs in long pipes. Josleen speaks with an undecided halfling and claims the stage and the tables nearest it.

Emelyan was here with a vested interest in the small towns future. It was peaceful, in Xalious… something he liked very much about it. The halflings that neighbored the village were an excessively friendly folk, but not to the point of annoyance on his part. They treated him with more courtesy in spite of his apparent age than most humans… most importantly, they held no reservations about sharing their exceptional wines with him. He had a taste for their vineyards. Josleen was recognized, from the battle in which Hildegarde had lost her life. He still had the notes from Leone about her anatomy, but Leone’s words had proven correct. It would take a divine resurrection to bring her back to life, in this world. His alchemy wasn’t sufficient. As a professor within the mages tower on the subject of alchemy, he was expected to support their candidate in this arena, though he hadn’t openly stated that he would do so. They didn’t accept him as a mage, though in spite of his age, employed him and recognized his scholarly accomplishments and capabilities. It was to Josleen the seeming seven year old boy went, eyes of orange set in a stoic mask that contrasted sharply with his physical age. Her conversation with the halfling found itself an opening. The halfling asked after possible conflicts regarding the mages tower, politically, as it had been the foundation of the small village. They were families of the mages, the true roots of this town, as they often claimed… and it was their patrols that kept the town secure and policed. Emelyan took this chance to interject. “I would hope the magi don’t have the time on their hands to start an upset over such a trifle as this mayoral election, whatever the outcome. They retain their autonomy in any event, and their families remain safe. Taxes need not concern them either, unless you think you can police their teleported imports. I wouldn’t be surprised if they took no real interest in these elections. They’re an introvertive lot.” He turned towards Josleen. “What of you, Josleen? In what direction do you truly wish to take this town?” He didn’t even bother with the religious sorts. He hated religion and its gods, with good reason.

Josleen is about to respond to the halfling when a well-spoken seven-year old chirps in. The bard blinks in astonishment, but then remembers that Reginae appeared to her as a child once. This could be some shape shifter, maybe? Or an adult illusionist? She doesn’t know, and doesn’t want to appear to be rude. “Well I called for this election. There were no elections. The village has long been considered a magocracy and that’s through accident of its history. The Tower came first to protect The Xalious Tree, and then the village sprung up around the Tower to service its needs. No one questioned the power structure. But the village has grown since then. The people now have industry outside of the guild. Our economy no longer relies on them. Our problems expand beyond them. We need transparency into our ruling organization and the Tower is opaque. They do not share what happens inside, and that’s fine for a guild, but not find for a government. And so I proposed the village hold elections and form its own government. My platform is one of transparency.”

Emelyan was almost smiling when Josleen finished speaking. The halfling was pondering those words, but like Emelyan, seemed swayed. “You know your history. And I think you are right, however, what of military force? The mages tower is the only power here. Ultimately, will not any event of true importance fall to their charge to deal with? The town doesn’t even have a militia, that I’m aware of, though I haven’t been here too terribly long. How do you plan to contend with the mages, if they won’t accept your authority? You could find yourself at odds with them at every turn, if they took interest, never able to accomplish anything. They’re apt to babble for so long in their own debates, you’ll risk dying of age without accomplishing anything if you have to contend with them at every turn. I’ve no notion what sort of sway these heralds of Xalious hold over the town, either. This is the first I’ve seen of them. Perhaps because I’ve not a door for them to come to.” Yet. He planned to settle here, but it would be wise to see the outcome of this election before he solidified such plans.

Josleen nods at Emelyan’s question of military force as if she expected it. “Actually, I started a volunteer militia a couple months ago, but of course that won’t be enough. I am starting a contributions fund now to pay for the militia. I would hope the Guild would not leave the village unprotected out of spite, for they still need us to some extent as we need them. We may have to pay for their protection at some point. Nonetheless, Frostmaw is a strong and near alley. I am close with The Steward.” She extends a hand. “I am Josleen by the way.” Obviously, her name is everywhere, but introductions are key to politics all the same. “And you are?”

Emelyan bowed his head a moment, as she mentioned the steward. "Then I take it Hildegarde has taken back to living? Leone wasn't joking about her abilities." He took her hand. "I am Emelyan. I was there, at the ball. I was one of the defenders, along with Sam, here." He looked over his shoulder, to see Sam playing with a pair of halfling children. The lovable doberman with a secret seemed to be quite enjoying himself, and the squeals of delight suggested much the same for the halflings. "She is a valuable ally to have, indeed. If you are starting a militia, it might be that I've the coin to aid. I'm a professor at the Mages Tower on Alchemy, though not an actual mage myself. I work with metascience, not magic, close as the two may seem to most. That is, however, only a day job. I'm also a rather successful alchemy merchant at this point. I sell many goods from tonics and panaceas to confections and fireworks, and many other useful odds and ends. I was planning to begin building a home in Xalious for myself and another, and I think it would be in my best interests to see you in office, Josleen."

Josleen smiles at the mention of Hildegarde’s resurrection. “Indeed she is back.” “Emelyan” she repeats the name. He explains his profession and her face lights up. “Oh I do hope you settle in Xalious and perhaps open a shop. I dabble in medicine from time to time. You may know my father, Kyl’oriel, he is in the Guild, an academic, a naturalist. He has published volumes on natural reagents for medicine, as you likely know. And I appreciate your support! Turn out for election day. The halflings want to turn it into a faire.” Of course they do.

Emelyan raised a brow. "He was one of the few that had less qualms about my appearance and lack of interest in 'actual magic'. I have read his works, and they are rather impressive. A faire? It would be good to see Xalious growing even closer with its smaller neighbors. They are a wonderful folk. So very talented with anything that involves merriment." Something he'd started growing a taste for, with Yukiko in his life. The joys of life... they'd been ashes on his tongue for many a decade. "I'd be willing to penny up to see they roll out some of their finer barrels for such an occasion."

Josleen looks proud when Emelyan compliments her father. At his offer to finance part of the faire, she says, “Go see Finley at The Foxburr. He’s organizing the event.” Someone else is vying for her attention now and she signals to them to wait a moment. “Do let me know if I can help you settle into Xalious in any way, regardless of the result come election day. Have a great day.”

Emelyan gives a nod at her words. “You as well, Josleen. May fortune find you in all your endeavors."