“What’s it for?<em>What’s it for?!”</em>the small man asked incredulously. He stuck out a small hand and waved it in front of the pair. “We are beset by enemies on all sides, my friends. The northmen and the Sacrum State. Aididerach in the west. And Ustraria! Who grows stronger every day in the south, believing themselves to still be an empire—to still be masters of the world! No, they will stop at nothing to cow us into submission. We must …” The crier didn’t seem interested in a discussion as he continued to rail against the nation’s neighbours, nodding proudly to himself as he went on, despite any attempt to interrupt him. His cheeks were becoming red and puffy as he spoke, his words as coarse as his manner.<br/><br/>Somewhere in the crowd that ebbed and flowed around Valdaris and Dancy, a cry rang out.<br/><br/>A scream followed, and then another, until the crowd finally gasped and reeled back to expose the clashing of swords, as two soldiers came to blows with a young woman dressed all in black. She wore a pair of tall black boots, with buckles and straps on the side, trousers that showed her long slender legs, a black cloak that swept behind her, and an all black mantle on her shoulders. Behind her, a man laid quiet and still, dressed in beautiful white silks, a bunch of white cloth at his throat, now stained red with his blood.<br/><br/>“She’s killed the Consul!” one of the soldiers cried out. In a single movement the woman pulled a dagger from her person and threw it into his neck. He dropped to his knees and the woman in black turned to dash away into the crowd.<br/><br/><div align="center">[Make your choice of a Wisdom (Perception) Check (DC 12) or an Intelligence (History) Check (DC 14)]<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">On Perception Success</div><div class="spoiler_body">Valdaris gets enough of a look at the woman to note the long, pointed ears and graceful stride, which points to her being an elf. He also noticed that, when she threw the dagger, she was missing the pinky finger on her left hand.<br/></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">On History Success</div><div class="spoiler_body">Valdaris immediately recognizes the all-black attire of the woman as the attire of the Order of the White Rose. A group of excellently trained mercenaries and soldiers who sell their services for high premiums, willing to help anyone who can afford their fees. Valdaris had heard rumours that, while the White Rose often wears their titular colour, when they commit illegal acts they always wear all black so as to give their targets a warning of their impending doom. <br/></div></div></div>