In the wee hours of Sunday the 1st of April, brilliant flashes emitted from the Azure Order Headquarters. Commoners and Criminals alike fled the area, as members of the Azure Order, along with a host of recently freed mages, battled amongst each other. A grand divide had taken the Azure Order by night, one portion loyal to the Crown, the other determined to take the Order into their own hands. In the chaos, all of the imprisoned mages escaped captivity, fleeing into all corners of the Capitol. After a few moments of furious infighting, a host of battered mages and fighters alike fled into the Slums. What few members of the Azure Order remained that were loyal to the Crown were quickly detained by a host of figures in black. They were later released without a word from their mysterious captors. An announcement was then proclaimed down every city street, with a few brave couriers going into the Slums themselves. "The Azure Order has fallen! Out of its ashes rises the Crimson Inquisition, led by the honorable Albus du Pont, who has reformed the prestigious, old order with the following mission statement!" "The office of the inquisition shall be dedicated to the primacy of Humanum, safeguarding it against the horrors which lurk in the the dark. Abberants, heretics, and all those who deny the divinity of the Spirit shall learn of the purifying kiss of fire... - Albus du Pont" The Crimson Inquisition would begin openly recruiting that very day, with the first few members slowly gaining influence as they prepared to bring order to the streets of Regalia. It was the 8th time the Crimson Inquisition had formed into Regalia, and if history was anything to go off of, a time of sweeping judicial enforcement was about to come to the City of Light. Meanwhile, with half of the Azure Order fleeing into the Slums and half filing into the Arcane Ministry and the newfound Crimson Inquisition, the Azure Order was soon scrapped by the Crown Government. It would return to a State-side Order purely for use by the Crown Government, with the reclusive Azure Spire remaining unapproachable by any not on official business. Without an active Order committed to policing arcane misuse, it remained to be seen if the Crimson Inquisition, the remaining Guard Charters, or perhaps the Gangs of the Slums themselves would step up to retain some sort of order among the magical folk of Regalia.
Elliya Nyin, having watched many fleeing mages escape into the slums and navigated by some allies, would simply sit back and let out a sigh. The young Yanar had finally got her moment, and with that she took to the streets with a smile. To all in the public's eye, she was the gleaming figure for non-ailor unionists, but in truth and those in the know her true goals were approaching with great haste. Kaldric Bordor, having just witnessed the chaos of the magical 'colour run', would simply wait for any unsuspecting, running mage to run by him, sticking his leg out a little so they would trip to liven up his sunday.
"It'll last a short while and then it'll dissolve all again. Rinse, and repeat." Czylle peered to Erwald, "I told you so," she stated. @Battlebrawn
The Azure Order had always been quite the line to walk. After all, you didn't have /just/ mage hunters, but mages as well- ironic, you could say. Everyone had their own reasons to join, too. Some were forced, others wanted to escape collaring, and many were simply men and women who had wanted to take mage fighting into their own hands. And that's what would come to bite. Nyx Richter had been one of the Crown loyalists, despite the inkling of a desire to try and take over the Order. When the other half had turned on themselves, there was a certain unimaginable fury in the woman. The fact that they were betrayed did not sit well with the Witchblood, and she took to trying to cut down those responsible in her anger. It was the blind rage that distracted her from the fleeing mages, which she'd certainly kick herself in the leg for later. Being forcibly captured wasn't pleasant either, but at that point she was worn out and overall, done for the night if not the year. Sitting in the Black tower, she could only think of what she was to do now. And for Nyx, it seemed her future would be.. Very red.
Katrina sat in her new residence, and, having heard the news, the nelfin gave a small sigh. "Seems I jumped the sinking ship just in time." She commented idly as she scanned through the pages of her old diary, recalling the times before she had arrived in Regalia. "I'm not surprised. It was bound to happen at some point."
Valerie Ravenstad was amongst the chaos. Loyal to the Crown, the noblewoman had tried, with the others, to uphold what ever Order was left, but to no avail. The battle seemed almost surreal, how it could have all shifted overnight. Some fled, others fought, those who had been her colleagues before were now on the opposite side. The fighting came to a halt, and along with the others, the red haired woman was detained shortly. Silent though furious was she, at herself, at the fallen Order. They had both failed, after all. After she had returned home, Valerie did not say another word that day.
A General held a sword that was stained with dried blood, sheathing it and looking down to his cold, clammy hands. " A tragedy "
''Oh aren't they a pathetic bunch.'' Sophia moaned as she walked through the Ithanian district, chatting to one of her neighbours.
Joshua peered off the bridge of the Ravenstad castle, the One Eye Gallovian commented to his fellow guard, "That's what happens when y' let them non humans and dirty elves bear armor and patrol t' streets."
Darcie tightened her grip upon her sabre, her eyes dark with anger and hate as she stared off in the direction of those who had fled. She turned heel, tearing the once Azure uniform coat from her shoulders and tossing it upon nearby steps. Clink, clink, clack, clack. The once Sentiel moved away, going off to find her cousin to tend to her injuries and then to her home where she hoped a dreamless sleep awaited her.
"Figured it was only a matter of time." The Shendar uttered as he heard the announcement, then rolling his eyes, "And the Crimsons again, oh won't this be a joy of a time." He shrugged his shoulders in an effort to adjust his leather armor before pacing off.
Fiske Eberlin sat, as he had done for months, behind his half of the joint desk in the Vigil's office. The Isldar drummed his fingers on the top of his desk over several minutes while he was deep in thought, having just stepped in after the night's skirmish. He let out a shaky breath, knowing he had ultimately failed the Order even if aspects were out of his control. He wrote a few final names in the Aberrant Registry logbook before closing it shut, and hiding it under a stack of vials in his satchel. Though he quite easily went with the loyalists when the time came, it had been he that set in motion the fall and the subsequent betrayal.
Nace Drummond could be found dancing around in the Emporium, something related to the middle-aged boogie, soon falling to his knees in conclusion, before opening his eyes to see that.. everyone was staring at the strange, strange man. Though, the only thing Nace cared about was not having to be collared.. at least for now.
“Void damnit! I wasn’t expecting the Inquisition.” Otto said, “I think this is the Ninth one, isn’t it?”
"This ain't.. This ain't better, is it? At least the Azures didn' burn folks alive, but this is.. I don't think any folks wanted this."
Beni Yahdga would witness the immense burst of light while walking to the tavern. While everyone ran, he would be one of the last to leave. Eventually, he would begin to run, to sprint, as fast as he could. But unlike everyone else, he was not running in the general direction of the tavern, he would run towards the Reinard Estate.
