Joren clasps Marion's shoulder in solidarity before she leaves to meditate.
"I can be coming with you Samir. Some decent food and drink would being welcome. And we can be watching the town people."
Joren attempts to look for a place where he can procure an Explorer's Pack on the way, sans water skin, which he already has.
As they are walking to their destination(s) and sitting having a meal and drink, Joren acts relaxed but keeps his eyes sharp. Both getting a general sense of the people of Tensmith and looking for any interesting or unusual people or activity. Anyone appearing in too much of a hurry and so on.
Lanya leads the remainder of the group from the town hall and toward the west end of the city. "Things are more affordable on that side,"she explains. "The east end is amore affluent neighborhood so if you are looking to eat on a budget, west is the way to go. I hope you like fish."
Joren stops at 2 different general stores along the way to inquire about replacing his gear, but the story is the same at both locations. They are sold out of the items Joren seeks, and probably won't be able to resupply until the city opens back up. At the second store, the shopkeeper looks at everyone strangely, seeing new faces in a city that's supposed to be locked down. But when Lanya enters behind and speaks in familiar terms with Samir, the shopkeeper seems to dismiss his concerns.
Joren is about to give up on finding any replacement gear when Samir gets an idea. In passing, he notices one aging man with calluses on the tips of his fingers that mark him as a regular bow user, and a leathery face that indicates long hours outdoors. Most likely a hunter, close to retirement, and probably out of work with the current state of the city. Approaching the man, Joren quickly confirms Samir's hunch, as well as finding out that the man does have his camping supplies at home, doing little good for him at the moment. Less good than a pocket full of gold, by his reckoning. After a brief exchange, Joren gets an offer. 6 GP for a lightly used explorer's pack.
"Thank you," the old hunter says as he begins to walk everyone over to his house not far away "My wife and I can't eat a bedroll, but this gold should help get us through the lockdown. Until I can get back out there." His voice is shaky, and the more Joren talks to him, the more it seems clear that he is getting too old for his line of work. He turns a curious eye to Joren then. "If I may ask, what need have you of this gear? And for that matter, I don't think I've seen you before. Wait, does that mean they are letting some people in and out of the city again?" His face lights up with hope.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Malachi joins Samir and the others to find a place to get a meal and a drink as well as see what they can of Tensmith. Malachi looks for a clerical or bookkeeping store to find the necessary components for a forgery kit to go with the ink and pen he found at the inn.
As they find a place to eat, Malachi will look to join a dice game if there is one in progress and will work the room to find out any recent news or rumors from the town.
Ashley doesn't really have anything in particular that she is looking for, she smiles at Mal when he asks for coin and nods. And she follows the rest with Lanya as they head out into the city. She finds it fascinating that the east and west would be separated so. Does that make the people on the East side better? Or just more like the mayor? She figured she should probably keep these questions to herself as they walk along.
As Samir and Joren talk with the old man, she hangs back. Unsure really why until he asks if they are letting people in and out of the city again. She looks to Lanya to answer that one. When they find a place to eat, she asks for the special, wondering what fish tastes like...
Joren adds two gold pieces more (8 in all) to the total he gives the old hunter, both in sympathy and with purpose. He says, gently:
"I am hoping Tensmith will be open again soon, but I am not knowing. I do not think they were meaning to let my companions and me in and we ourselves were not knowing the restriction. I am hoping they will let us back out. I will be needing the gear if so. As you are seeing, some of us are not from here. In the meantime, we are meaning no harm. Keeping a secret, please? Publicizing it may just be lengthening the lockdown."
At this point, the man notices Lanya nodding behind Joren. With the extra two coins in his hand, the hunter looks at Joren, a little bit of surprise in his eyes, and he seems momentarily at a loss for words. "Thank you, stranger. With the times being what they are, I've not the pride to turn down your generosity." He looks at the coins in his hand once more, then back up at Joren and says, "May the Lord of the Red Hunt be with you, truly."
With the adventuring gear handed over, the man goes on his way, muttering about being able to buy some extra salt.
The group continues on to find an open air market in one of the streets. Neither particularly busy nor especially quiet, the stalls and tents mostly look inexpertly erected, particularly to Malachi who is quite familiar with these sorts of affair from Madurst. The street seems too narrow for it, and many of the stalls are impeding traffic to and from the permanent buildings and shops. The next thing Malachi notices are that the wares themselves seem to include perhaps some personal items. If he had to guess, he would say this looks less like an official marketplace and more like an informal gathering of people trying to pawn off whatever they don't need to help them get extra money.
"It's not normally like this," Lanya says. "Tensmith has traditionally benefited from a very strong industrial economy, but people are getting more and more desperate. It's probably not long before things start getting bad, if the city continues to keep its gates closed. Ahh, here we are." Lanya brings everyone to a cart with a fair few people gathered around. The sound of sizzling, and the smell of grilled fish makes its way through the crowd. A couple of people push through, heading away from the cart, each holding a wooden skewer with a fish dangling from it by its tail. Getting up to the front, Ashley sees a sign that reads 'Fresh Fish! 3 silver each.' Malachi and Samir are quite aware that normally that amount of money would feed someone comfortably for a whole day, but it seems scarcity and demand has driven the prices up.
Down an alley to the side, Malachi does spot a small group of men squatting around tossing dice, but they've a mean look about them. Some of the few strong young-ish men who are idle at this time of day, Malachi suspects they have been recently laid off.
Joren mumbles his thanks for the pack and the blessing, unable to truly read the old hunter. Lord of the Red Hunt...
To the others he muses quietly: "The medallion was turning red for me, blue for Marion, yellow for... Are we," Joren pauses clearly struggling. "Finding any pattern here with red for this Red Hunt Lord, blue for Marion's Blue Lady and Yellow for Razmus. Three colors. Ebb, Flow and Apogee..."
He subsides, clearly having trouble thinking through it. He looks around as if noticing the situation in the town for the first time.
"Bad already and getting worse, things here in Tensmith. If they are not opening the town soon, risking a mutiny, they."
(He means a revolt or a food riot, but cannot find the words).
Malachi glances at the men dicing in the alley, but he fears they will be distrustful of outsiders and doesn’t move to join them. Malachi agrees with Joren “Yes, times look tough here indeed. This market has the feel of people pawning their few remaining possessions just to survive.”
He pauses, reluctant to reveal the beginnings of his plan until he has what he needs and the time is right, but he trusts this group. He pulls the others aside, outside of the Marshal’s hearing “I got a good look at the notice closing Tensmith from this Marigold. If I can get the right supplies, I may be able to create a similar document lifting the restrictions and opening the city. It benefits these townspeople and it may complicate the plans of the cult. It is worth a shot.”
"That hunter... the amulet glinted red for him as well, Joren." As the group reaches the fish seller, Samir adjusts his glasses, thinking about the prices and what it could mean. Shaking off his momentary distraction, he offers to buy the meal for everyone there, including Lanya. With the delightful smell of grilled fish in his nose and under the open sky, the somtimes oblivious scholar seems almost momentarily happy compared to his previous demeanor during their trek through the caves.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Malachi gives Samir a glance when he confirmed the amulet had a red glow with the hunter. “Have you heard of this Lord of the Red Hunt before Joren, is that someone who is revered in your land?” Malachi thinks back to the stories he heard growing up in the south for any information on the Red Hunt. History (or Religion, modifier is the same): 20.
Ashley thanks Samir for the dinner of fish. She takes hers by the stick and looks it over, completely. She then watches others as they eat it, trying to learn how to eat this thing. She watches, probably with an uncomfortable fascination as the others chew carefully around bone, and remove them from their mouths if need be. She is realizing how lucky she is she didn't just dive in as she looks at the tiny little bones that are in fish.
Finally, she takes her first bite, with trepidation. First, as the aroma hits her nose, her eyes roll back a bit as she bites into the side of the fish. She audibly moans as the flaky fish falls apart in her mouth, the seasonings and the crispiness of the skin giving it the full effect. She looks at the others and doesn't understand how they are not immersed in the fish, it was sooo good! She continues to eat it, ignoring everything else. Trying her best to eat it slowly, knowing those bones are in there.
When Samir offers to pay, Lanya seems about to turn down the offer, but then she looks him in the eye, smiles, and says "How very generous of you. Thanks, Samir."
Malachi has not heard of the Lord of the Red Hunt specifically, but he is familiar with the tendency of superstitious common folk to believe in regional deities of their own imagining. In fact, Malachi can think of a few gods he'd heard of back in Madurst that could be local variations of the Lord of the Red Hunt. Crimson Rider, Scarlet Bastard, Wanderer of the Rose... The list goes on. He'd never put much stock in them before.
As the group sits and eats, more and more people start to take note of the fire genasi enthusiastically enjoying a fish in their midst. Lanya takes note of the attention, and as everyone is finishing up, she stands and speaks loudly to make her presence obvious, "Well we should probably be heading back for our meeting pretty soon. Come along"
Joren beams at Ashley enjoying the fish the way he had enjoyed the goat's milk just a few short days ago, though the effect is spoiled somewhat as he picks a bone indelicately from his teeth. Feeling the comforting weight of a pack on his back again to go with the greatsword, he stands ready.
"Yes, heading back Marshall," he grunts worriedly. "On the edge of trouble, this city. If things are not changing and remaining closed..."
Ashley jumps up as they all finish up, licking her fingers. "Yes! Let's get going. I sure hope the man has settled from earlier, you sure he's the best one to talk to about the situation?"
"If we actually want something to get done? Probably,"Lanya says. The group begins walking back towards the town hall, led once more by Lanya. As they approach the grand building, they see Marion returning as well.
"Hey there, Marion. Hold on, you don't look so good. Are you alright?"Indeed, Marion is looking a little pale.
She gets close and quietly says, "There's something here in this town. Some taint. Ever since the Inn, I've been having dreams of a pale yellow rot, and they've been getting more vivid. I saw it again while praying, and it's just left me feeling a little ill." Marion wipes a hand across her brow and says "But that's no reason for us to delay. Quite the opposite. It is more obvious than ever before that we have the Lady's work to do here." She straightens up and looks toward the town hall.
“A pale, yellow rot..”Malachi repeats Marion’s words “maybe there is something here worse than just hunger and fear from the lockdown. Samir, you should keep an eye on the amulet as we meet the Mayor. I wager it will glow yellow at somepoint in our visit here in town. And if you all can distract Miss Freen and the Marshal as we go in, I will see if I can find some information on her desk.”Malachi brushes the dust off of his jacket and pulls it down at the waist, putting on his best appearances for their audience.
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Joren clasps Marion's shoulder in solidarity before she leaves to meditate.
"I can be coming with you Samir. Some decent food and drink would being welcome. And we can be watching the town people."
Joren attempts to look for a place where he can procure an Explorer's Pack on the way, sans water skin, which he already has.
As they are walking to their destination(s) and sitting having a meal and drink, Joren acts relaxed but keeps his eyes sharp. Both getting a general sense of the people of Tensmith and looking for any interesting or unusual people or activity. Anyone appearing in too much of a hurry and so on.
Investigation: 19
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
Samir investigation 15
Lanya leads the remainder of the group from the town hall and toward the west end of the city. "Things are more affordable on that side," she explains. "The east end is amore affluent neighborhood so if you are looking to eat on a budget, west is the way to go. I hope you like fish."
Joren stops at 2 different general stores along the way to inquire about replacing his gear, but the story is the same at both locations. They are sold out of the items Joren seeks, and probably won't be able to resupply until the city opens back up. At the second store, the shopkeeper looks at everyone strangely, seeing new faces in a city that's supposed to be locked down. But when Lanya enters behind and speaks in familiar terms with Samir, the shopkeeper seems to dismiss his concerns.
Joren is about to give up on finding any replacement gear when Samir gets an idea. In passing, he notices one aging man with calluses on the tips of his fingers that mark him as a regular bow user, and a leathery face that indicates long hours outdoors. Most likely a hunter, close to retirement, and probably out of work with the current state of the city. Approaching the man, Joren quickly confirms Samir's hunch, as well as finding out that the man does have his camping supplies at home, doing little good for him at the moment. Less good than a pocket full of gold, by his reckoning. After a brief exchange, Joren gets an offer. 6 GP for a lightly used explorer's pack.
(Not being much of a negotiator, and feeling sympathy for the old hunter, Joren immediately accepts the offer.)
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
"Thank you," the old hunter says as he begins to walk everyone over to his house not far away "My wife and I can't eat a bedroll, but this gold should help get us through the lockdown. Until I can get back out there." His voice is shaky, and the more Joren talks to him, the more it seems clear that he is getting too old for his line of work. He turns a curious eye to Joren then. "If I may ask, what need have you of this gear? And for that matter, I don't think I've seen you before. Wait, does that mean they are letting some people in and out of the city again?" His face lights up with hope.
Malachi joins Samir and the others to find a place to get a meal and a drink as well as see what they can of Tensmith. Malachi looks for a clerical or bookkeeping store to find the necessary components for a forgery kit to go with the ink and pen he found at the inn.
As they find a place to eat, Malachi will look to join a dice game if there is one in progress and will work the room to find out any recent news or rumors from the town.
Investigation: 3.
.
Ashley doesn't really have anything in particular that she is looking for, she smiles at Mal when he asks for coin and nods. And she follows the rest with Lanya as they head out into the city. She finds it fascinating that the east and west would be separated so. Does that make the people on the East side better? Or just more like the mayor? She figured she should probably keep these questions to herself as they walk along.
As Samir and Joren talk with the old man, she hangs back. Unsure really why until he asks if they are letting people in and out of the city again. She looks to Lanya to answer that one. When they find a place to eat, she asks for the special, wondering what fish tastes like...
Joren adds two gold pieces more (8 in all) to the total he gives the old hunter, both in sympathy and with purpose. He says, gently:
"I am hoping Tensmith will be open again soon, but I am not knowing. I do not think they were meaning to let my companions and me in and we ourselves were not knowing the restriction. I am hoping they will let us back out. I will be needing the gear if so. As you are seeing, some of us are not from here. In the meantime, we are meaning no harm. Keeping a secret, please? Publicizing it may just be lengthening the lockdown."
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
At this point, the man notices Lanya nodding behind Joren. With the extra two coins in his hand, the hunter looks at Joren, a little bit of surprise in his eyes, and he seems momentarily at a loss for words. "Thank you, stranger. With the times being what they are, I've not the pride to turn down your generosity." He looks at the coins in his hand once more, then back up at Joren and says, "May the Lord of the Red Hunt be with you, truly."
With the adventuring gear handed over, the man goes on his way, muttering about being able to buy some extra salt.
The group continues on to find an open air market in one of the streets. Neither particularly busy nor especially quiet, the stalls and tents mostly look inexpertly erected, particularly to Malachi who is quite familiar with these sorts of affair from Madurst. The street seems too narrow for it, and many of the stalls are impeding traffic to and from the permanent buildings and shops. The next thing Malachi notices are that the wares themselves seem to include perhaps some personal items. If he had to guess, he would say this looks less like an official marketplace and more like an informal gathering of people trying to pawn off whatever they don't need to help them get extra money.
"It's not normally like this," Lanya says. "Tensmith has traditionally benefited from a very strong industrial economy, but people are getting more and more desperate. It's probably not long before things start getting bad, if the city continues to keep its gates closed. Ahh, here we are." Lanya brings everyone to a cart with a fair few people gathered around. The sound of sizzling, and the smell of grilled fish makes its way through the crowd. A couple of people push through, heading away from the cart, each holding a wooden skewer with a fish dangling from it by its tail. Getting up to the front, Ashley sees a sign that reads 'Fresh Fish! 3 silver each.' Malachi and Samir are quite aware that normally that amount of money would feed someone comfortably for a whole day, but it seems scarcity and demand has driven the prices up.
Down an alley to the side, Malachi does spot a small group of men squatting around tossing dice, but they've a mean look about them. Some of the few strong young-ish men who are idle at this time of day, Malachi suspects they have been recently laid off.
Joren mumbles his thanks for the pack and the blessing, unable to truly read the old hunter. Lord of the Red Hunt...
To the others he muses quietly: "The medallion was turning red for me, blue for Marion, yellow for... Are we," Joren pauses clearly struggling. "Finding any pattern here with red for this Red Hunt Lord, blue for Marion's Blue Lady and Yellow for Razmus. Three colors. Ebb, Flow and Apogee..."
He subsides, clearly having trouble thinking through it. He looks around as if noticing the situation in the town for the first time.
"Bad already and getting worse, things here in Tensmith. If they are not opening the town soon, risking a mutiny, they."
(He means a revolt or a food riot, but cannot find the words).
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
Malachi glances at the men dicing in the alley, but he fears they will be distrustful of outsiders and doesn’t move to join them. Malachi agrees with Joren “Yes, times look tough here indeed. This market has the feel of people pawning their few remaining possessions just to survive.”
He pauses, reluctant to reveal the beginnings of his plan until he has what he needs and the time is right, but he trusts this group. He pulls the others aside, outside of the Marshal’s hearing “I got a good look at the notice closing Tensmith from this Marigold. If I can get the right supplies, I may be able to create a similar document lifting the restrictions and opening the city. It benefits these townspeople and it may complicate the plans of the cult. It is worth a shot.”
"That hunter... the amulet glinted red for him as well, Joren." As the group reaches the fish seller, Samir adjusts his glasses, thinking about the prices and what it could mean. Shaking off his momentary distraction, he offers to buy the meal for everyone there, including Lanya. With the delightful smell of grilled fish in his nose and under the open sky, the somtimes oblivious scholar seems almost momentarily happy compared to his previous demeanor during their trek through the caves.
Malachi gives Samir a glance when he confirmed the amulet had a red glow with the hunter. “Have you heard of this Lord of the Red Hunt before Joren, is that someone who is revered in your land?” Malachi thinks back to the stories he heard growing up in the south for any information on the Red Hunt. History (or Religion, modifier is the same): 20.
.
Joren shakes his head - he has never heard of the Lord of the Red Hunt before.
Rolled a natural (and modified) 1 on his Religion check, reported to DM in private channel.
He seems receptive to listen to Malachi's plan, however. Thanking Samir and munching on the fish somewhat ungracefully as a soldier would.
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
Ashley thanks Samir for the dinner of fish. She takes hers by the stick and looks it over, completely. She then watches others as they eat it, trying to learn how to eat this thing. She watches, probably with an uncomfortable fascination as the others chew carefully around bone, and remove them from their mouths if need be. She is realizing how lucky she is she didn't just dive in as she looks at the tiny little bones that are in fish.
Finally, she takes her first bite, with trepidation. First, as the aroma hits her nose, her eyes roll back a bit as she bites into the side of the fish. She audibly moans as the flaky fish falls apart in her mouth, the seasonings and the crispiness of the skin giving it the full effect. She looks at the others and doesn't understand how they are not immersed in the fish, it was sooo good! She continues to eat it, ignoring everything else. Trying her best to eat it slowly, knowing those bones are in there.
When Samir offers to pay, Lanya seems about to turn down the offer, but then she looks him in the eye, smiles, and says "How very generous of you. Thanks, Samir."
Malachi has not heard of the Lord of the Red Hunt specifically, but he is familiar with the tendency of superstitious common folk to believe in regional deities of their own imagining. In fact, Malachi can think of a few gods he'd heard of back in Madurst that could be local variations of the Lord of the Red Hunt. Crimson Rider, Scarlet Bastard, Wanderer of the Rose... The list goes on. He'd never put much stock in them before.
As the group sits and eats, more and more people start to take note of the fire genasi enthusiastically enjoying a fish in their midst. Lanya takes note of the attention, and as everyone is finishing up, she stands and speaks loudly to make her presence obvious, "Well we should probably be heading back for our meeting pretty soon. Come along"
Joren beams at Ashley enjoying the fish the way he had enjoyed the goat's milk just a few short days ago, though the effect is spoiled somewhat as he picks a bone indelicately from his teeth. Feeling the comforting weight of a pack on his back again to go with the greatsword, he stands ready.
"Yes, heading back Marshall," he grunts worriedly. "On the edge of trouble, this city. If things are not changing and remaining closed..."
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
Ashley jumps up as they all finish up, licking her fingers. "Yes! Let's get going. I sure hope the man has settled from earlier, you sure he's the best one to talk to about the situation?"
"If we actually want something to get done? Probably," Lanya says. The group begins walking back towards the town hall, led once more by Lanya. As they approach the grand building, they see Marion returning as well.
"Hey there, Marion. Hold on, you don't look so good. Are you alright?" Indeed, Marion is looking a little pale.
She gets close and quietly says, "There's something here in this town. Some taint. Ever since the Inn, I've been having dreams of a pale yellow rot, and they've been getting more vivid. I saw it again while praying, and it's just left me feeling a little ill." Marion wipes a hand across her brow and says "But that's no reason for us to delay. Quite the opposite. It is more obvious than ever before that we have the Lady's work to do here." She straightens up and looks toward the town hall.
“A pale, yellow rot..” Malachi repeats Marion’s words “maybe there is something here worse than just hunger and fear from the lockdown. Samir, you should keep an eye on the amulet as we meet the Mayor. I wager it will glow yellow at somepoint in our visit here in town. And if you all can distract Miss Freen and the Marshal as we go in, I will see if I can find some information on her desk.” Malachi brushes the dust off of his jacket and pulls it down at the waist, putting on his best appearances for their audience.