Hmm.
Push way out of crowd and find May.
That shouting person just expressed an extreme desire to have violent sexual intercourse with his oppressors. I believe you are interested in that activity?
Continue observing the shouting from a distance.
You continue to commit, or at least encourage, war crimes.
Run into the crowd gathered around the shouting man, pull out the Mega-phone and turn on my External Speakers. Overpower him with fierceness and technology!
"PUT YOUR MOTHERFUCKING MOTHER IN A STRAIT-JACKET WHITE BOY! COME HERE AND SAY IT TO MY FACE YOU PUNK-ASS WHITE BOY! YOU FAGGOT, YOU CAN'T TOUCH ME! YOU AIN'T MAN ENOUGH! I'LL EAT YOUR MOTHERFUCKING ASS OUT IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY! FUCK YOU, YOU BITCH! YOU'RE A SCARED COWARD, YOU AIN'T MAN ENOUGH TO FUCK WITH ME! YOU CAN'T LAST TWO MINUTES IN MY WORLD BITCH! LOOK NOW, YOU SCARED NOW YOU HOE! SCARED LIKE A WHITE PUSSY! SCARED OF THE REAL MAN! I'LL FUCK YOU TIL' YOU LOVE ME FAGGOT!
((Piecewise, will this be enough to trigger May's Inhuman Visage ability?))
[Speech:3+1]
The man seems rather intimidated, but hasn't backed down entirely. Instead he seems to be trying to bolster himself by turning to the crowd and getting them to rally behind him. A few of them are, and it looks like more might join.
"I was wondering, what is the mood of the city like? The general feelings of the populace and such? I'm sure you hear things from your position in society."
"Also, I was hoping to find out what you know of the Radiant One's policies and their effects on the general populace. A bit of background information - how have the last few months been and how have the authorities handled it? Speak your mind, and speak truthfully. No embellishments, just the truth as you see it. You need not fear retribution from me."
"In addition, what do you know of the HMRC? What do most people think of their presence?"
"How are the crime levels in the city? Are there gangs and such?"
"Finally, and this is the most specific question, do they teach Pharsec in schools? Do you know of any textbooks that would allow me to learn elementary Pharsec?"
Interview fair shopkeeper.
The shop keeper seems a little taken a back by the fact that you just hit him with five different questions, some of which he is clearly not itching to talk about with a member of law enforcement. It doesn't help that he probably only half speaks your language. You're pretty sure he understands "HMRC" though. His eyes go wide at that.
"We have criminals, and sometimes we go hungry. But everything is as it should be. We are safe and alive by the Radiant one's grace."
He then promptly closes the shop's door in your face.
"Maaaay have come on a big strong."
Start with Law Enforcement.
You memorize the sections about dropping your weapon, putting your hands up, and accepting summary execution.
Start reading the book about assassination.
The book about assassination appears to be a memoir of sorts by a former contract killer, a loosely strung together series of memories about different jobs he's undertaken. The first documents a hit against a man's wife. The man, a prominent businessman with deep pockets and an even deeper hatred for his wife, paid the author to kill his wife before she could divorce him. The hit, the author says, was easy. Just a matter of carefully following the target until she was alone and then shooting her twice in the chest. He says he does it in an alley way, and steals the money and cards from her purse afterwords. He melts the gun, money and cards down and throws the lump of slag in a metal scrap yard.
The police rule it as a mugging gone wrong and the man makes a tearful speech at his wife's funeral, with his new mistress at his side.
Return to the grass hill, stand there conspicuously and resume watching the flow of people. Take particular note of the more colorful individuals using the gate.
There don't seem to be any colorful individuals coming or going. Not in terms of personality or dress. Everyone who is coming through-which isn't a lot as the day moves on- is either a brown or a black/silver like you. Most seem to have some business here, since they're carrying things, others seem to just be wandering.
Lyra X Grate stuff
Ok, before you guys do that, I'm just gonna ask: No one has any objections to the mute hobbit and the hyperactive child wandering off into a strange and potentially dangerous town on their own, for reasons unknown but that might involve a Pay by the hour hotel? Sundown is coming in about two hours or so by the way. So they'll probably be doing that at night too.
Anyone? Just asking.
I suppose, though come to think of it, it seems rather odd that they'd only send a few of us to protect a seemingly important figure.
Charles looks for the messenger.
You don't see him around in the immediate area...but you know that faith was talking to him a lot earlier; maybe she knows where he went.