[at this point I would like to keep this open for anyone to join, so please, feel free to add your entry]
The Crystal light grows increasingly dim and torches are now being lit across the plaza and on the stage in preparation for the Vigesimi's upcoming address. The Vigesimi himself, a handsome if not rugged Ylian, decked in the finest of gilded armor approaches the stage with his family and his court of local dignitaries, wealthy merchants, a high priest of Laanx, and leaders of the various craft guilds. Arlan Destrinoir inherited his position through his father, but he is not incompetent by any means, having achieved the rank of Captain of the City Guard before his father's passing, and through hard work, dedication and valor, careful to avoid any nepotism. In his few years reign, Detrats and the surrounding countryside has grown in wealth and prosperity, but his chivalrous ways and code of honor has exposed much corruption in the system, and he has not gone without making many powerful enemies.
The City Guard are now stationed throughout the plaza, at all entry points, and wherever there's a clear vantage point of the stage. Anyone who would be watching them and tracking their movements might notice that amongst a handful, wary eyes are watching each other and silent nods are being exchanged.
The minstrel band has ended their jig, two of the members have quit the bandstand to spend their newly earned tips on a few pints of Longbeard Stout, leaving behind their lute player, a lovely crimson haired Lemur woman, who plays a slow and bittersweet melody on her instrument.
Rhishandra, Keelana's Blikau friend, gathers up her courage and takes this opportunity to approach Micah and ask him to dance with her.
"Ohhh, I don't know..." he slowly replies, "Keelana was just here. What if she comes back? She wouldn't like seeing us two together."
"Oh come on Micah!" she protests, "You know she doesn't even like you like that, not like I do. She even said so herself, just a little while ago. She said she was gonna break it off with you. She's just using you you know."
At this Micah grows furious, as of course, it hurts his pride, and what is a menki without his pride? "She said that huh!? Well if she thinks she's dumping me she's got another thing coming. Where is she?" He scans the plaza, but is unable to spot her. He harumphs and goes stomping off into the crowd to find Keelana and give her a piece of his mind, leaving poor Rhishandra broken hearted and alone.
With a sigh she turns and takes Keelana's little sister by the paw, "Come on Tagiri, let's go see if they have any baked roltak left in the tavern."
The tavern now is packed, as news of the Longbeard Stout's robust flavor and, more importantly, outrageous alcohol content has spread across the town. Urist Macguiness Longbeard, the tavern's proprietor, bustles hurriedly about, along with his bevy of barmaids and waitresses, ensuring that everyone has a full mug and a smile on their face. There seems to be some sort of commotion, though, as one of the gamblers has just lost his month's wages to the crafty Diaboli and has snuck behind the bar, trying to sneak himself a free pint.
Across the plaza, most of the merchants are now packing up their wares. They know that as soon as the Vigesimi begins his address, no one will be interested in their goods. They count their gains and losses and stow away their crafts, all save but one stall, that belonging to the Blacksmith's Guild. The Captain of the Guild, a towering Ynnwn with silvery hair and adorned in armor equal in splendor that of the Vigesimi's, has now arrived and is surveying the plaza. Most of his guild's business comes from the local government and military, but the guild's cutthroat practices and underhand dealings with the countryside's more nefarious organizations has put him on sour terms with the Vigesimi. Needless to say, he has a vested interest in hearing the upcoming address.
In the shadows at the edges of the plaza, a third figure now approaches Szahia and the Ylian boy. He is dressed in a heavy cloak, the hood concealing his face in shadow, but they know, he is one of the higher ranking thieves. He directs their attention to the Blacksmith Guild Captain and speaks to them in a gruff whisper, "There's your mark."
"What?" the Ylian boy objects, "Hynlan? You can't be serious. I thought we were in an alliance with the Blacksmith Guild. And besides, you know he's got half the city guard in his pocket. That's a suicide mission!"
"Masters orders," the hooded figure replies in a calm and direct tone. "He wears a dagger which rightfully belongs to the master. It has a large ruby embedded in the hilt. Get it back." Without giving them a chance to further object, he turns and slips back into the shadows from whence he came.
"Come on," the Ylian boy nudges Szahia forward begrudgingly, "You heard 'im. You distract Hynlan while I go for the dagger, ok?"