[A Shattered Visage] Act 1.2.1: I Am Innocent of This Man's Blood

[Axelgear]

The heat of the day in Gem is enough to kill most mortals, or at least bring them to their knees. The sensible hide inside. The slaves of the Despot, however, know that they face death, imminently. Their demise is now almost inevitable. Even with the blue-robed warriors at their sides, they are likely to either die at the hands of a mercenary or an executioner.


Few things are more dangerous than a cornered dog.


The riot has marched into the grand plaza before the Despot's palace. The slave rioters, armed with the weapons of their defeated captors, roar their defiance. The Despot's mercenaries wait in fortified defenses at the base of the palace, armed with flamewands, armour, and the finest weapons. Many of the slaves are panting or already red with sunburn. The blue-robes look around, as if awaiting some form of miracle before they face their demise. The stage is set for a slaughter.

 

[Midboss]

It seemed the warrior had failed in making the slaves retreat to safety. What she considered pretty much the worst case scenario was happening right before her eyes. The slaves were fatigued by the earlier fights and the pounding sun, while the mercenaries were fresh and ready for battle. Short of a miracle, this could only end one way.


But then again, miracles were her trade.


She had hoped that by the time the reckoning took place, she would have captured the hearts and minds of the population to follow with this revolution. It seemed her plans would require drastic revisions. Like the saying goes: time to switch to plan B.


She addressed her fellow solars:


"This is about to turn into a massacre if we don't intervene now. While I claim not being a master in the art of war, I realise that for the slaves to survive this day, retreat is the only realistic path. We need to gather them and find a defensible area to hold when the counterattack comes. If we all put our strength in this defense, we'll be able to turn this into a stalemate and force the troops back. From then on, we can buy some time to decide what to do next."

 

[Brekkir]

Rahim Laenir


"It would be really optimal if this Thousand Scattered Grains would appear... I'm loath to openly display power of an obviously too gilded nature, but we might have to draw her out. If she's there at all. If we do not find her, another catastrophically planned uprising will occur sooner or later."

 

[Skrakes]

Ezria


She adjusted her hat. Hot as blazes... feh. "If she don't show, we'll have to herd them away from here. If it comes to that, I'll make up the rear guard, hold 'em off."

 

[Tableface]

Praan Cloudbinder


Praan strides through the market, a scowl marking his face. He's being used, but at the moment he doesn't have a choice beyond it. The magic innate to his nature as one of the Chosen enhances this outward fury, small flickers of silver lightning flashing through the golden light that has suffused his form, and now and then small moths of light flicker into existence. In his hand Skylight shines, extended as a warning to those that might wish to confront him.


He's deathly afraid someone might not heed it.


"Gather up!" he bellows at the crowds, a small number of them already gravitating near as he marches towards the Despot's palace. "Pull them away from residences and the unarmed, if you can," he shouts to the men in blue, and feels sick as he finishes with "and make examples of those who refuse to do so!


"Seven, you're supposed to be the commander, get this group to fall in!"


Praan pauses for just a moment to address the others. "It's already a massacre, and there's no place to retreat to. They won't survive the desert, and trying to occupy part of the city causes the same problems and prolongs this conflict. And it's as much of a gamble as to whether Grains will show herself afterwards. If you wanted to debate a course of action, you should've done it before we were in the thick of it."

 

[Axelgear]

The sight of one of the Chosen spurs the blue-robed warriors to obedience. The demand drives them to action. Rushing to the edges of the mob, they begin to herd the slaves together, forcing those who will come to join the mass of bodies and making public displays of those who refuse. It does not take long for a very nervous and fearful group to be formed, surrounded by a wall of blue to keep them from retreating. They wait in anticipation of their lords' and ladies' command.

 

[Brekkir]

Rahim Laenir


"Very well," he shrugged. "I'll still be on the lookout for Thousand Scattered Grains, but I will not oppose you if you push this through as bloodlessly as possible."


With that he rose once again into the skies, observing the battlefield from his unmatched vantage point.

Spoiler

Well, another perception roll to detect anything fishy:


Perception+Awareness (5d10.hits(7)=0) And it's a botch! Talk about a comeback...

 

[Midboss]

Farah


Not the way she would have wanted to do things but choice was not a luxury she had anymore. They had to do what could be done to salvage this from becoming a disaster. The problem was while retreat had apparently ceased to be as an option, an all out assault against the fortified positions was nearly impossible. If only they could find a way in...


She called out her companions:


"Anyone got a plan on how to get in the palace? Charging it just won't cut it. If we could somehow get the gates open..."