Champions of the Citadel

Tandor shrugs off Mixtli, stands just outside the tent's entrance, as far from the brothers as he can get but still in keeping an eye on Kasem.

The two brothers have a whispered conversation, and with even a moderate ability to read body language, Kasem reads as progressively more ashamed as Vi transitions from shock to disappointment. He gives a big sigh and squeezes his brother's elbow, guiding him to a stool where Kasem sits dejected as Vi approaches you.

"My brother has filled me in on the... trouble... he has been behind, and his reasons, such as they are. While I certainly don't approve of his actions, I'm not quite connecting why you all saw fit to march him about? What do you intend? Is this a shakedown?", he asks worriedly, glancing at the threatening dragonborn and the stern cleric.

Tandor just shakes his head at the absurdity of the question. "We intend for him to confess to his two victims, so they can stop attacking each other.  What they choose to do after that, that's up to them."

"Oh!" 

Vi considers. "There's nothing you're trying to get out of him or me, just... for him to confess?"

At about that time, there is some familiar squawking and squabbling as Gilbert pulls up and paws at Tandor's leg.

<The two angry women are here.>

Kusa and Lamai seem to have caught sight of one another, and are glaring at one another. Kusa glances around, her eyes going wide at the sight of the party, and says something to her son, Gammon, before approaching cautiously. The boy runs off into the market.

Tandor turns to the two women.  "We told you both we'd get to the bottom of this." He points at Kasem. "Well, he's the bottom of this. Kasem, please tell the ladies what you've been doing."

Kasem sighs and gives Tandor a sour look.

"With Vi getting married and leaving the market, it'd fall to me to run things, and it's not a one brother operation.", he raises a hand as Vi starts to interject, "I'm happy for you brother, I am... but I'm not sure where it leaves me, I can't run the challenge, and the shop, and take trips to get inventory... so I thought it would be convenient if one of the established food stalls was willing to sell."

There is spluttering outrage from both Kusa and Lamai as they start to voice the same objections, then stop and look at one another appraisingly.

Kasem continues. "On a supply trip, I ran into some curious little creatures, and was able to reach an understanding or sorts where they caused mischief around the Market. It really took off when the two of them started blaming each other, I... I didn't expect things to get that out of hand, but I was sort of in it... I'm sorry."

Mixtli waits to see what kind of reactions this admission gets.

Tandor glares at the man.  As if his apology means anything...he did sound sincere.  Gilbert, do you think he means it?

The cat takes a deep sniff, trying to judge the scent of the man.  Maybe

ooc: Gilbert providing the Help action on Insight 11

Tandor turns to the women.  He doesn't say anything but looks at them both expectantly.

Tandor judges that he's certainly sorry he got caught, and if he regrets it getting out of his control, he certainly hadn't taken any steps to try to bring it back under control. There is a note of genuine contrition, but as he glances at Vi, you suspect it has more to do with shame at his brother finding out like this and letting him down than feeling bad about what he put Kusa and Lamai through.

"Soo... everything that's been going on recently has been because of you, and nothing that Lamai did?"
"Kusa and Gammon weren't behind anything?"

They start stalking towards Kasem menacingly.

Trencher watches the entire confession unfold and has to work to hide a smile.  

He is happy it is working out this way.  The women now know the truth and the word about Kasem's scheme will become public in time.  He will never be trusted the same by other storekeepers.   

And if the women give him a little bit of a beatdown, he might even learn a bit of a lesson.

He nods his head in total understanding as the women approach Kasem in.    He will step in to break it up, if it gets too out of hand.

"aye, chefs. this is the perpetrator." Liber's...raised temper is due to an old circumstance with 3 opinions from wizards that specialized in summoning.

the library took a year to repair and it still stinks of oil and feathers in certain parts.

As Liber speaks, they pull up short. "I've already sent for Sid and the Council, they'll soon sort all of this out.", Kusa says. "Lamai, I'm sorry I assumed it was you."

"As am I. We'd done so well to put things behind us, and I'm ashamed how quickly it all came back. I... I think we can work our way back to being... friends?"

Kusa extends a hand and Lamai takes it, before they pull one another in for a hug.

There is a tromping of feet as Gammon scampers up towards his mother, pulling up short as he sees her embracing Lamai, both women with tears in their eyes and apologies on their lips.

"Err... Ma? Council's here.", he calls to her quietly.

Looking around, the party can see Sid Squid and his yellow attired sous chefs, each wielding the hooked staves they used for wrangling the giant prawns, advancing on you... in fact, they appear to be paying no attention to either of the Pepper brothers, instead, all eyes are on... Liber.

Behind them, at a safe distance, are some more finely dressed individuals, one human, one kobold, and one halfling. The halfling calls out, "I don't wish this to be a mistaken case of profiling, but you match the description of a dragonborn that was witnessed attacking vendors and patrons of the Night Market, destroying property, and evading apprehension. We ask that you allow yourself to be detained, until such matters can be resolved to the satisfaction of all parties!"

"oh by all the burnt halls of Morikan It was just a SIGN! no one got hurt from it, and i already said i would apologize to the market heads." Liber then composed himself and continued "besides which, i have a culprit in the fires that occurred at Kusa's and Lamai's stalls earlier today."

"We ARE the Market Council.", the human says with a sniff.

"Wait, culprit? What do you mean?", asks the kobold.

((Liber, let's have a Persuasion check to see how well you can sway them to a new target.))

16 persuasion

"What I mean by that is in the stall behind me is the one who orchestrated the feud between the Tyenmos and Xungoons, burnt and damaged their stalls, and tried to drive them into driving each other into ruin." Liber then stops, and adds. "with this miscreant caught now, the feud has ended, and justice will be done. And since you are the market council, I will write out the proper apologies on the spot."

The three converse briefly before the kobold speaks up.

"Whataboutism doesn't change your actions, but we'll certainly follow up on that.", they gesture for Sid to keep a close eye on Liber as they turn to address the two shopkeeps that were on the receiving end of the troubles.

"Kusa, Lamai. Please explain what has been going on.", they say, rubbing their forehead.

The pair, standing side by side, alternate in recounting what had been happening with their stalls, and what each had assumed. They are still navigating their newly rediscovered potential for friendship, and are careful not to talk over one another, courteously ceding the story back and forth to the point the Council seems to be getting impatient. Kasem, meanwhile, is standing dejected, with Vi not looking too pleased either. The story gets around to who was to blame, and when the Council looks to Kasem for confirmation of his involvement, he gives a single nod, head hanging and looking at the ground.

"This does not look well for you, Kasem, but your admission of guilt is at least something, though it seems you were... strongarmed into it.", eyes slide to Liber and the various members of the party. "This is a Market matter, and we will discuss it further later. However...,", he turns to Liber.

The halfling jumps in, "We CANNOT have patrons unleashing destructive magics in midst of the Market and risking the lives of our members and other customers. To your credit, injuries were relatively minor, and none are attributed directly to your attack, but rather to the panic it incited. We are assessing a penalty of... 50 gold, to be distributed to the affected parties, and a ban of three months. After that time, you will be permitted to re-enter the Night Market, but must remain on good behavior, future indiscretions will not be treated so leniently."

Kusa and Lamai both start to speak up, realize they've interrupted the other, and apologize, each offering to let the other go first multiple times.

(can i settle for 15 gp, community service, and a written apology, dm?)

((Don't ask me, ask the council!))

"alas, i cannot pay upfront, as i have fallen on rough times.

would this council accept the 15 gold i have now, an apology, and community serviced in lieu of the gold price that you seek?"

Tandor steps forward. "As a priest of Pelor, I will vouch for this man's character."

ooc: Looking to provide the Help action if any roll is needed.