(Archive) The Minas Tirith Ale Riots

Minas Tirith: Inside the Great Gate

Risen here in the shadow of the Great Wall, the becobbled path levels out into a large courtyard. The large crest that runs from the outstretched Embrasure atop the seventh tier of Minas Tirith stands clifflike across the court from the Great Gate. Day and night the spur of the thrusting rock, encompass the view here. Even the mighty wall, raising a hundred feet in the air, or the Doortowers, large and oval constructed almost it seems from one block of stone, can\'t drawn attention from the cliff. A part of the city and the mountain, it leaves no wonder why the city is called the \"City of Stone.\" Beautiful, powerful stone.

During this time of the day people are frolocking in and out of the city while the gates remain open to travelers bearing goods. Guards stop those entering and leaving the city, peaceknotting weapons, confiscating them or returning them to those that venture back out of the protective walls. No one wears a weapon inside the city, that is the job of the Watch. Horses and carriages are also not allowed in the city unless the steeds of the army, the smell of the stables outside tells you that a home for them is not far.

Obvious exits:

Up leads to Lampwright Street.

Down leads to Lampwright Street.

Gate leads to Minas Tirith: Before the Great Gate.

Locked Door and Door

Gwendolyn looks over to the man and thinks that perhaps she has seen him somewhere before. Catching his wave Gwendolyn moves over towards him and Icarus and gives a slight curtsie \"Good day to you fine gentleman.\" she lets her gaze wander to watch the wagons and carts pass for a moment before looking back down to the small gathering \"I was wondering if one of you fine people could help me find my way to the training grounds?\"

[Baeden(#27374)] The angered crowd shouts insults at the guards taking away thier ale. Some of the people start to toss spoiled vegetables and some actually throw stones at the guard. Some of the guard stop and draw t hier weapons. They shout out. \"Desperce or you will be taken tot he cells of the sheriff!\"

Krisorn wanders towards one of the guardsmen, Icarus, seeing his uniform. His walk is quick and almost dangerous and Krisorn doesn\'t wait for anyone to move out of his way as he advances. In fact several people, spying his face, back away, for a blacker look would be hard to come by at this time of day.

Icarus Icarus greets the newly arrived lady with a nod but seeing all the commotion leaves the group to investigate. As he moves closer he notices a man coming his way. Instinctly he puts his hand on his sword and ask the man to indentify himself.

[Maera(#29933)] The brilliant sun, with it\'s majestic rays of gold, orange, and scarlet, casts itself mercilessly over the crowd, causing Maera\'s hair to shimmer vibrantly, almost seemingly to have captured a glow of it\'s own. Mad, the sun proudly shines own, refusing to acknowledge the beauty of the girl\'s lustrous locks. And equally as rebellious as the sun, her dazzling strawberry blonde hair continues to catch the full fury of the afternoon sun and dances like fire against the gleaming walls behind her. The girl closes her eyes, just for one moment snatching the last vestiges of her afternoon joy. Then, abruptly opening her sapphire-jeweled eyes, Maera dashes over to Icarus, the gaurd. Such bravery for a common villager, and to approach a gaurd! Well, there is no other way she is going to have her peace if she doesn\'t do at least /something/! \"Please sir! Stop the madness! Please...!\" She cries out desperately, voice rampant with fear, and sadness. Such a world today, for villagers to revolt like this. Then abruptly, as she scampered over to the bemused gaurd, the girl rushes back, her agile feet takiner her back to the crowd, trying to make her voice heard, trying to conquer the masses. \"Please! This won\'t help! This won\'t help! Throwing away your vegetables and such will not help!\"

Krisorn starts to open his mouth to speak to the guard who has asked him to identify himself. Krisorns face is dark and things do not look like they will start well between the two. That is until a lithe young woman pelts past the guard into and towards the crowd trying to make herself heard over the noise. Futilely in truth. Krisorn reaches out a hand and gently, though quite firmly moves the young woman back towards the guard and says, \"You\'ll not get through to them lass. Hold up a moment and the guard and I\'ll take care of them.\" He turns back towards Icarus and his face has cleared a bit, \'I am Krisorn, head of the Lumber and Woodcutters guild at this time. What is this about disposing of all of the ale in Minas Tirith! I\'m here to buy supplies and the only thing these bloody minded idiots of merchants want to sell me is WINE! My men don\'t drink wine! That\'s for the injured not for the meals!\"

Illidirr nods at the young Gwendolyn and says in a polite voice \" Goodday me lady you seem to far away from your home , , if your looking for the training grounds you\'d get there the quickest using the coach \" But his attention is drawn to the commotion stirring in the street ahead , he sees rushing of to confront the man who clearly has a blck look on his face . His eyes grown thin as he analyzes the current situation trying to figure out a way stop it from change over into a riot . He starts dashing of to Icarus who could just have caused the spark that could lead to a ragging fire .

[Baeden(#27374)] Rotten vegetables and fruit and thrown at Maera and at Krisorn as he tries to pull her away. Shouts come from the group of angry ale workers. \"How are we supposed to feed our families?! Are we goingt o have to leave our home that we have lived in for many generations? Is the trade of brewing to die in Gondor?!\"

Gwendolyn frowns at the chaos which is growing up around them \"I am sorry sir but this is my first time in this city\" she looks around trying to find someone who is not busy that may beable to help her \"I have not the slightest idea where to go.\"

Icarus tries to calm the crowd by reminding them that the trade will continue un 4 days, but he only receives vegetables by the angry workers. Looking at Krisorn he says \"I am sorry sir, but you would not buy any ale today. It\'s the order of the Steward.\"

Maera sighs dejectedly, barely able to conceal her gloom upon realizing just how fruitless her desperate pleads had been. All in vain. The girl accepts the man\'s hand, tucking her own smaller one into Krisorn\'s and accepting her inevitable fate. Two blue eyes widen, looking like round pools at night, bubbling with fluster. She shrieks with a mixed emotion of fury and suprise, her high-pitched voice resounding through out the comfortable village square as the rotten fruits and vegetables hit home. This girl sure has heathy lungs. The scant number of birds left during this commotion echos the girl\'s cry with a fearfull trill of their own. Like children caught evasdropping, but unfortunetly finding out much more than wanted, beat on their dexterously wings, willing for the wind to take them away, hopefully to a land filled with more peace. Maera looks to those birds, her gaze shifting and for a moment away from the crowd, wishing oh-so-desperately that she is one of them. So much better to flee than to be stuck with these no good feet. What use is life without wings?

Krisorn scowls and says, \"My men are moving out as of tomorrow. We stay no more than three days. And yet you tell me you are going to dump these loads of ale rather than sell them to somebody who is taking them out of the city anyway!\" Krisorn\'s voice begins to rise as his face darkens again, \"By what right or reason does the steward decide that we can not buy Ale at all in this city today! Should I take my trade elsewhere and leave the city without the wood it needs to build upon! My men will not drink wine, it does not even travel well enough! What madness is this that I can not even BUY ale!\"

Icarus frowns at Krisorn and answers \"There is no ale sold in Minas Tirith. The Steward has all the right to decide what is best for the city. If you are not happy with the decision made, I am affraid I can not help you.\"

Maera heaves a sigh, two glowing eyes cast down with dejection. She knits her eyebrows together in a curious fashion, a thoroughly vexted frown tugging downwards on her thin, baby pink lips. Such a shame to ruin that smile which had invaded this girl\'s face a small eternity ago. Was it so long ago? Could this cruel awakening have happened in only a half an hour, a stroke of the ever cruel sun? She inches away from the scene, sheilding herself from the raging pelts of vegetable and fruits by pressing herself behind Krisorn\'s larger figure. Her mother certainly isn\'t going to be very happy. Her apron torn, and her dress stained with various fruit juices. Judging by hear appearance, Maera must not smell \'ideal\' either. An almost bemused smirk touches her lips as a peculier thought dawns on her. \"All this for ale?\" This is formed in a question, though it is asked more to herself than Krisorn.

[Lodogran(#18480)] Running out of a sidestreet that gives to the great gate is lodogran. Still strapping on his belt and his shield. When he arrives at the gate out of breath he quickly goes and stands next to Icarus. Huffing and puffing. Not sure what is going on he looks at Icarus, expecting to be filled in.

[Baeden(#27374)] The vegetables and fruit continue tofly at the guards and who ever is near them. Rocks are soon added to the volly of missles. SShouts come from the crowd. \"We want our jobs back! Bring back ale making! We wills tarve if we can not work!\"

Illidirr eyes burn with an inner fire and that deep buried part of him that rarely arrises seem to be emerging . His eyes focus on Krisorn and he walks over hastily to him ignoring all that is going on around ,him he stops infront of him and his tall figure looms before the enraged man . He speaks slowly and with a stern emotionless face \" You .....sir are causing a disturbance , a disturbance over ALE ! , you CAN go without it for a least a few days and we privates can do nothing about this problem so please leave or stop being a problem \" . Illidirr\'s eyes gaze into Krisorn\'s and it seems asif an inner battle rages on between the two the figures .

Gwendolyn finally decides that these people now have too much on their hands and it us up to her to find her own way to the training grounds.

Krisorn scowls more as Icarus speaks to him and then, to add insult to injury, a very rotten turnip strikes the back of his neck, juice running down his neck. Krisorns eyes go wide and his lips curl in a snarl. A few of the closest people step back a pace and several veterans of the guards, recognizing Krisorn go pale as well when they see his expression. Krisorn whirls and a voice that has often crested the sound of massive trees falling, a voice that has even been heard over the crash of battle on the fields of harad, bellows out, even the drill sergeants of the guard wincing slightly, \"IF ANOTHER ONE OF YOU FOOLS MAKE SO MUCH AS A MOVE I\'LL SEE YOU TOSSED IN THE ANDUIN WITH THE ALE AND DUNKED TILL YOU COULDN\'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO SIT DOWN WITHOUT DIRECTIONS! IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE THEN SHUT UP!\"

Icarus looks at Lodogran with a grin he says \"Decided to joing us?\" He starts to explain the situation to the newly arrived guard \"The wagons are carrying the ale to the river. The workers aren\'t very happy about the new law\"

Illidirr looks at Krisorn and strangely enough .........he smiles ! While looking down at Krisorn and his outburst of rage he simply says in a soft voice but loud enough so that Krisorn and people near can hear \" Feel better ?\" He eyes the man hoping for an interesting response .

Lodogran nods to Icarus thankfully, then slowly draws his sword and lets it rest against his leg. Quickly he then positions himself next to Icarus. \"What\'s the plan?\" he whispers softly. His eyes scan the environment locating the rioters, the guards and possibly any innocents.

[Baeden(#27374)] Some of the roiting ale makers back off when the woodsman yells at them. Some of the people start to pelt him with the stones and and fruit. Shout of protest echo across the tier as they thorw rock, fruit and vegetables at any guard or people that try to stop them.

Krisorn turns back to Illidirr and only a little of his rage has settled, his eyes still seeth, \"Private, I\'m not done. My men and I have served the City and Gondor well for many years. We will not been back to the city for any length of time for the last 2 months and we leave within the next three days and will not be returning for at least three more months, during which time my men will be relegated to drinking WATER instead of something more substantial because the steward has chosen to outlaw it in this city. If I had known that the steward had chosen to seize honest men\'s goods WITHOUT pay I would have taken our trade and goods all the way to Rohan rather than here. By what right does the Steward seize mens property and then dispose of it in order to make a profit for others!\" Krisorn ducks the rest of the pelted objects and his eyes flare dangerously and many of the guards realize that no one ever took the woodsman trade tool, the felling axe.

Icarus raises his shield at the incomming rocks. From behind his shield he answers to Lodogran \"Well right now we try and control the mob. Be carefull for that lumberjack, Krisorn is his name, he sounds to be ready for more trouble.\"

Maera pushes a strand of her vibrant hair away from her face, willing it away from her azure eyes. She utters a groan, having already developed a headache from all this commotion. The girl tries feebly to massage away the pain, coaxing it gently with those nimble, almost magic fingers. A melancholy look on her face, the girl meanders from the scene, hoping no one will notice her, though it won\'t be easy with her tattered apron, stained dress, and her disheveled hair. \"Oh gawd. What will mother think?\" Maera asks herself quietly, voice barely audible in this crowd, as she surveys her ragged appearance. Why didn\'t she listen? Why did she have to stray from her work? Well this is really what she deserves, but poor mother! She already has enough to worry about with Maera adding herself foolishly to the long list of concerns. The ashamed girl, cheeks crimson with rage for herself and embarrasement for her actions, tries to carefully smooths out her clothing, slender hands flicking away the remnants of fruit and vegetables and shooing the wrinkles away. A gentle tear strays still, threatening to flood out, like rain on her large sky blue eyes. But she won\'t let it through her iron grasp, no, she won\'t ever shed a tear again. She bites her lips, almost to the point in drawing blood, and with that, acommpanied by one last flip of her strawberry-blonde hair, the girl dashes out, heading anywhere but home, and buying precious time to clean herself up before she sees her mother.

[Illidirr(#29778)] While in the enraged mob of people keep throughing object\'s at the guards and men standing near the wagons of ale , Illidirr\'s looks at Krisorn nods at his words his eyes gazing at the mordes of people acting like enraged animals .He waits a while as if thinking up some solution .................... a loud metalic ring echoes throughout the street , a sound many men know and respect , a sound which can mean more a drw attention than any shout . Illidirr draws his sword and raises it above his head , the sun causes it to gleam and shine seemingly making it look twice as menacing as a normal longsword . He hopes this action might change the procedings .

Lodogran nods and brings up his shield next to that of Icarus. Then from behind the shield he whispers to Icarus, \"Where the hell is everyone?! Is it just us?!\" Then he turns his head to Illidirr. Is that guy crazy? He\'ll get swamped if he tries one thing. Quickly taps Icarus on the shoulder and points at Illidirr, lowering his shield a bit so that Icarus too can see him.

Icarus looks back at the scout, fearing the worst, he takes he sword out. Looking back at Lodogran he says \"I think he has been in the wild for too long.\" Icarus turns and faces the mob waiting for the next move.

Lodogran nods at Icarus, \"We better do something or he\'s not making it out alive!\" Having said that Lodogran lowers his shield and runs over to Illidirr bending over a little evading all the projectiles. Then.

Krisorn turns and then with a swift jump, faster than the guards would have

expect, his is standing on the back of one of the wagons as they roll, \"People

of Minas Tirith! Listen to me! This is not the way to stop this idiocy! Though

the steward is wrong in his actions you will only confirm his views! Listen to

me.\" Krisorn looks out over the crowd finding people he recognizes and

bringing up names.

Lodogran now finding himself behind Illidirr sneaks up on him. Then he shouts,

\"What the hell are you doing with a raised sword! You trying to get yourself

killed?!\" that said he grabs Illidirr\'s arm and tries to push it down

Icarus joins Lodogran next to Illidirr. As he moved to his place he sees

Krisorn jump on the wagon. For a moment he thought \'This is it\', but when he

hears the words of the lumberjack a look of surprised and relief shows up on

his face. Turning towards the Scouts he shouts \"Are you out of your mind?\"

[Baeden(#27374)] The stones and fruits slow down as one of the riotous brew masters shouts out to try to calm them down. \"Krisorn! What do you expect us to do?! We wills tarve if they dump our ale. \" Another shouts out. \"What would you do if they took all the lumber you had and put it to a bon fire to just get rid of it without being paid for it?!\"

[Illidirr(#29778)] Standing tall and without fear Illidirr tries to cause the hordes of people to dispurse but his actions only cause the crowds to grow even more unrestfull . He looks to his friends and in their faces see what he has done , \" I have caused this riot to go out of control , i have caused the spark of the raging fire , it was unwise of me , i have ....... \" He lowers his sword and just as he placed it back in his sheath does a rock hit him the head with great force , he stumples and grabs Lodogran and Icarus by their shoulders .

Lodogran quickly crouches and lets illidirr sink to the ground while bringing up his shield to protect the fallen one. \"You fools!\" he shouts, \"Do you think you will stop the wrath of our ruler by murdering innocents?!\" quickly he looks around just hoping for reinforcements. Then he looks at Icarus awaiting his actions.

Krisorn turns to the brewmaster who has spoken first and his voice rings out, relief in it that some have at least stopped for the moment, \"You won\'t starve Belidurn. Though in truth you could use a little starvation to thin down your pumpness. I promise you that my guild and I\'m sure others as well will help you in this time. It can not last long and it would not be the first time your supplies have been lost. And we will have the steward pay for the supplies as he would if he had taken them for the army. You have done nothing illegal and he can not deny you your livelyhoods for it!\" Krisorn turns to the second voice at it rings out and then grins, \"Why, if the army came and took my lumber away to burn I\'d be sure to at least stand by the fire when it did and then take myself to the nearest tavern to drink my bad fortune away. I\'d likely consider a new job but i wouldn\'t attack the very men who have stood beside me in battle and protected my home!\"

Icarus grins at Illidirr \"Be happy that you are still i none piece, but don\'t take your guard down.\" looking at the scene in front of him, he adds \"It\'s not over yet.\" Icarus looks at Lodogran unsure of his next move. Then he moves foward towards the crowd. He puts away his swords and says \"You will not starve and your business will not be destoyed. In 4 days the law will end and you can continue to brew your ale. Everyone just go home and stop this non-sense.\"

Lodogran positions himself in front of Illidirr, still crouching and moving while crouched. His shield covers most of his chest and his visage \'till the eyes. His sword now stands in battlepossition and would be ready to defend anyone attacking him, including the rioters! \"Stop this madness! Reinforcements are on their way! You may have lost your income, but that still doesn\'t warrant innocent bloodspill!\"

Illidirr stumples of further down the streets in search of someone to help hi stitch up hi forhead , he sees the young guards Lodogran and Icarus trying to stop the raging hordes and a slight smile eventually curls his lips as he staggers on .

[Baeden(#27374)] The roiters seem to calm somewhat, even from the action fromt he over agressive guards. Belidurn shout back out. \"yes, If the woodcutters will back up up, Maybe other guilds might rally behind up. We can brind the steward to his knees!\"

[Icarus(#30063)] Icarus grins at Illidirr \"Be happy that you are still i none piece, but don\'t take your guard down.\" looking at the scene in front of him, he adds \"It\'s not over yet.\" Icarus looks at Lodogran unsure of his next move. Then he moves foward towards the crowd. He puts away his swords and says \"The steward will not let his people starve. Revolts will not help anyone except the enemies of Gondor. Please go back to your homes.\"

Krisorn face clears greatly and he smiles, \"Well if you want to wrestle the steward I\'m sure we can find enough people willing to pay to make up for any losses! But we can\'t approach the steward expecting to wrestle him. He\'s more stubborn than even I am and we need to show him that his choice was wrong, not through pressure but through reason! If he merely understands the effects of his actions and that the charges leveled against your guild and products are not caused by them he won\'t have any reason to keep the law in place! And how could any of the other guilds not rally behind you. Gondor has always paid it\'s merchants for their products not seized them like pirates from Harad.\"

[Baeden(#27374)] The Brewmasters shout out. \"If you hold back wood from the city, and we can get other guilds to hold back thier servies. THe steward will then listen to the guilds\' needs. He is trying to control the price of your wood and take you profits for his war chest. How do you feel about that?\"

Krisorn nods and says, \"Indeed, my guild has already told the guard to convey our dislike of this new law. We have already threatened to take our goods and trade elsewhere if it is not changed because we all know how much my lumberjacks and I like our ale!\"

[Icarus(#30063)] \"We will notify our superiors, and the steward will know of your dislike.\" Icarus answers in response to the words of Krisorn. He then adds \"Please go back to your homes and families.\" Looking back at Lodogran he whispers to him \"Put your sword down. We have to stop this without any blood spiled.\"

Lodogran nods from left to right at Icarus, \"I am not putting down my sword, not before Illidirr is safe!\" he says. But in order to get to some agreement he drops it\'s guard, letting it rest against his leg. Then he gets up standing next to Icarus. \"Go home people!\" he mutters, unhearable between all the shouting

[Baeden(#27374)] The crowd of people start to disperce. Some of the look to Krisorn. \"Meet us at our guild house and bring who ever is in disput witht he steward! We have plans to make!\"

[Icarus(#30063)] Seeing the crowd disperce, Icarus turns to Lodogrin and says \"I\'m off duty know, so I\'ll take Illidirr to the barracks so he can rest.\" Icarus helps Illidirr up and puts him in the coach and they disappear in the streets of Minas Tirith.

Lodogran nods to Icarus and watches them leave as he sheats his sword. Then he heads over to the barracks to report.

Krisorn steps down from the wagons then.