07.11g: Arc Deco

[misfit]

The sense of being watched does not grow more intense, but Harrune can sense something trying to touch him mind. He opens himself to the presence.

"Harrune?"

"Five minutes exactly. Well done. Things are just starting to get interesting here. I cannot be sure how it will play out yet. Give me two more minutes and I will have a better handle on that."

There is a mental sigh. "Alright. Two minutes." With that the mental contact ends.

The attempt at arrest did not go well. Harrune was not being overtly hostile, but it should be fairly obvious that he has no intention of being taken by force. The constables wisely had the situation over to their sergeant.

"Because I was unaware of the etiquette involved? I am, as you have so astutely pointed out, and outsider here. I do not know your local rituals and customs. Under the circumstances it seemed wisest to make my initial contact as discrete as possible. Given how that other fellow reacted, I think I could have easily started a panic by mistake had it been more public. Your reaction makes that seem even more likely."

"As to my purpose here, as I told the other fellow, I have reason to believe that someone from here has covert contacted my home. I thought I should return the gesture and see if I might learn who and what their purpose there is. On the other hand, I decided to be more open about it in hopes that we could have a civilized discussion about it. Sadly I do not know who this person is."

[Joshua]

As someone trained to read facial expressions...

At the start, about not wanting a panic, he seems suspicious.
The mention of someone contacting your home, brings confusion and a little fear.

He will draw his gun just as you refer to the person as an unknown.

"Okay, bumkin. Listen good. If our city wants you, then you're coming with us. Let the courthouse decide what to do with you. They'll level the charges. Right now, I'm willing to take you alive. You have about five seconds to decide."

[misfit]

At the moment Harrune is grateful they cannot read his facial expression. No doubt they would not be happy with it.*

"Hmmm...I'm not sure that the courthouse is who I really need to talk to, but I suppose it is a step in the right direction. Lead on my good man. Let's not keep them waiting."

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*Harrune is finding the attempt to arrest him mildly amusing at this point.

[Joshua]

For the record, repeated trump calls are 'louder' psychically than a single prolonged tump call. And less distracting.

The courthouse is... stark. A simple cathedral building, with a main room. Various pews and seats are here to allow the watching of sentencing and trials, clearly designed as much for spectacle as anything. Harrune, after a short trip in a squad car (paddy-wagon?), will be lead (hand-cuffed) through the main doors and placed in front of the judge.

"What is the nature of the violation?" The judge will ask, then listen to something not clearly visible. He will turn to Harrune, "You have been accused of being an outsider, loyal to another city or to none. State your justification*."
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*: There is no question of guilt and it seems there never is in this court. But, he seems interested in the why.

[misfit]

On the trip in, Alaror is due for another check in. To keep it short, Harrune is expecting things to get very interesting very shortly and has Alaror maintain contact this time.

"My justification?" Harrune will reach up with one hand and rub his eyes* while he sighs. "I believe I have been over this before. Someone from this place has been in contact with my home. I wish to know their justification for contacting my home covertly. I have come to seek open communication between us. If you are not authorized to do that, then let me speak to someone who is."

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*Wait...wasn't he handcuffed? I thought he was, but I guess not.

[Joshua]

The judge growls, his aura being subsumed by something... else. "Your bear called me a proxy. I will not speak to your proxys anymore. Show yourself or I will cut him down*!"
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*: What?

[misfit]

Even though he's sure that this isn't what is meant, Harrune will start taking off the hat, scarf and coat. He will use this as an opportunity to tracing the Pattern in his mind.* It also frees up the sword strapped to his back...just in case.

"My bear? He is not my bear. I cannot say that he is even my friend, but he is my peer. I stand as no one's proxy. I am here of my own volition and in my own name. I am Harrune Tharassa Tyrnath Reran. Show yourself and speak your name that we may face each other as equals...if you dare."

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*Yes, he knows this will probably draw a lot of attention, but he's not about to bargain from a position of weakness.

[Joshua]

Several things happens simultaneously, whatever you said, seems to have pissed the entity off again. First, everyone in the courthouse flushes hot as a psychic presence washes over the room. Said presence directly attempts to strike you... although, it's big and clumsy (although, it's also 'inevitable', like trying to wrestle an oncoming truck or collapsing wall.) You have enough time to get Alaror to activate the trump, or... enough time to bring teh pattern to mind. As a warning, bringing the pattern to mind fully will sever the trump connection, and everyone in the courthouse is drawing knives and guns and leveling them at you at lightning speed.

[misfit]

A very fast tactical analysis leaves Harrune with only one obvious choice. He does several things simultaneously. First, he starts diving for cover. It won't be enough to protect him for long, but he's not expecting to need long. Second, he lets go of his attempt to trigger Pattern Defense. Third, his mind calls out Alaror...now!

[Joshua]

It isn't instant, but Alaror manages to pull you through before you take any significant injury. As stated, the group seems to have impossibly high stats. Once away from the shadow, severing the mental connection is trivial. The presence is too large to adjust its psychic aim*.

"Are you okay?" he asks.
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*: Feels like you dodged a train.