Lark (AW2E)

Lark, the Hocus

"My father once told me a story from the time before 'bout a man called Gracchus. He was a wise man, and he saw that the people were in need, and he took land from those that had much land and he gave it to those that had none. For this, the wealthy and the powerful raised their hands against him and they slew him dead. But Gracchus lived on after death, and he took the land again and he returned it to the people. And he was mighty, for the Gods had touched him and forbade anyone to lay hands on him. And he gave food to the hungry. And when that was done, and the people had land to tend and food in their bellies, he gave the Law to the people, to protect them from the wealthy. And at this the wealthy could not contain their wrath, and though the Gods forbade it, they seized him and slew him. And for this, the Gods punished the wealthy, and for their sins the Gods laid them low.

Now in my youth I was a slave like some of you here were. And though I did not toil in the fields I still felt the hatred and the fear that the wealthy bear for the people. And I told my brothers and sisters about Gracchus, and we all agreed that if the Gods had raised him once before they might raise him again. And we took hope. We made our escape, we followed the signs the Gods gave us, and we came here. Here, where there is a man who gives water to the people, so that none may thirst; who gives the Law to the people, so that they are protected; who lays hands on the people, that they shall be healed; and who says that no one shall be ruled by another, and that all of the people shall be free. And we told ourselves that surely this man must be Gracchus. And though he does not answer to that name, still that is what we must believe. And this too we know. The wealthy and the powerful have always hated the people and they will not abide those who guide and protect them. And so we must watch him and ward him, that he shall come to no harm, for even now the wicked do not fear the Gods".

Stats

• Cool 0
• Hard+1
• Hot-1
• Sharp+1
• Weird+2

Look

Man, tattered Vestments, determined face, clear eyes, fat body

Moves

• Fortunes
• Frenzy (speak truth to mob)
• Charismatic (roll Weird for manipulate)

Gear

Lark wears faded orange pants and a short sleeved shirt. Birds in flight are drawn on them in crude charcoal. Around his neck he wears a chain with a broken fetter attached.

He has oddments worth 4 barter.

Followers

Lark is the Voice of Gracchus, and his followers are his cult. The hard core is those who escaped from slavery with Lark, but there are others among the Guardians who have joined later. Most of them are former slaves or people who have been healed by Chalice. The Guardians are tightly-knit, and will help each other in need. Lark is respected for his charisma, but while he leads the cult's worship, he is not the focus of it. Furthermore, the Guardians strongly believe that no one should rule another - if it was believed that Lark was acting for his own interests instead of the interests of the group, he would face their wrath.

If Lark travels, they congregate in their own communities.

Lark's followers are rigorous and argumentative. They are hard-working, no-nonsense. They are not really his, more like he's theirs. They disdain fashion, luxury and convention.

• Around 20 followers
• Fortune +1
• Surplus: 2-barter, insight
• Want: judgment, disease