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This is Act 1 of the 4 piece End of the Year post. Most of this is written in a somewhat hurry due to the holidays and cramming it all out before the end of the year. I hope everyone will enjoy reading it all, or interacting with it all in roleplay, whether they signed up or not.
On the morning of the 28th of the last month, the morning mass in front of the Imperial Palace gates proceeded as it had every single day in the past weeks. People continued to pray for a word of the Emperor which they continued to hope would save them from the chaos that consumed the Empire. The failure of the Kade and Typhonus Rebellions made the situation all the more desperate and whole families had flocked to the massive wooden gates of the Imperial Palace. Suddenly the silence of prayer was interrupted by the sounds of gears and chains moving, the faint rumbling of the massive beams that locked the front gate opening before the gates slowly inched open. First shuffled out the Grand Ekhein with several papers in his hands. He slowly inched towards the staircase leading up to the Gate before he cleared his throat, addressing the crowd in front of him. "His Imperial Majesty has awoken and accused Andrieu Anahera a pretender and a traitor to the Empire. His Imperial Majesty is revolted by the acts of such a despot and calls for the people to resist the government, for the government has fallen. The Emperor decrees an end must come to the spilling of blood of those loyal to the true Regalian authority, and an end must be brought to the Anahera Dictatorship. His Imperial Highness calls upon all citizens and other of the state to assist in civil protest. His Imperial Highness further grants Imperial blessings on those taking up the cause for the Imperial Throne and those wronged by the ex-Chancellor, promising Imperial favor to those who succeed".
When the Ekhein stopped talking, marching sounds became louder and louder until even the stonework of the foundations of the Palace started shaking. Three Hundred and one Imperial Guards marched out of the gates, neatly in rows with identical Imperial Armor. The sun shone on the golden polished decorations of various dragons and Imperial regalia donning their armors, their purple capes dancing in the wind as they held their great swords out in front of them. At the head was Tristan Kade flanked by Carlos Martinez and Lysander Lampero distinguished with his Commander helmet, an ornate helmet with a golden Dragon seated on top with purple feathers flowing down to his back. With a single order, the Imperial Guard lines split up, flowing through the various streets in different directions with their swords drawn. The crowd which had been silently watching this spectacle suddenly burst into a cheer and joy. The crowd dispersed as well, men and women young and old spreading throughout the city to herald the news to all those who had been waiting for the right moment to strike. Their move was accompanied by the massive heavy bells of the Imperial Palace ringing, a sign for the other Castle that the time was right.
Abigail Tucker was one of those citizens who was at the gate when it opened. Normally the quiet bartender at the tavern, Abigail had a longer history of working indirectly for the Kades, also hit with the closure of the Tavern. Without a job and with the Empire descending in chaos, she too hoped that someone or something would offer an outcome. She did not truly know if this was going to be the right time, but that sense of adventure and excitement made her want to play a role in the whole thing. As she ran down the Imperial causeway, flanked by the statues of the previous Emperors, the fighting around her already started. With the sounds of battle and the church bells ringing overhead, she ran down the stairs of the upper district down to the commons. As she passed the forge road, Violet Order soldiers were fighting one another. A barricade made passing impossible, but she was quickly rushed into the near house by Niantha Merrit. Niantha Merrit and her husband Ztril Merrit were treating wounded Violet Guards from both sides in a makeshift clinic they had set up in an abandoned forge building. Abigail explained that she was on her way to the Viridian Castle to spread the news, though Niantha could barely understand her due to the sounds of explosions outside and swords clashing. Ztril quickly moved forward, handing Abigail some pouches of alchemically mixed smoke dust. "Zthrow and zthen run" he quickly said as he patted her shoulder before pushing her to a backdoor.
Abigail quickly tried to thank them, but their ears and eyes were already fixed on the wounded, so Abigail sprinted out the back to the Imperial causeway. When she approached the park bend she saw a mob of Vultarin heretics looting a building. Not hesitating one moment, she lobbed a couple of the smoke pouches which were skilfully made by Ztril to hide her approach. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief as the Vultar heretics started coughing and fell to the floor. With the way clear, Abigail ran through and eventually reached the backstreet of the Old Gods District. As quickly as she could, she relayed the message to a group of Kade donned soldiers who blew a horn. Forth sallied Thomas Kade, Philip Kade, Riane Typhonus, Alistair Coen and Percy Ravenstad supporter by a cohort of Kade troops from the doors around them. The whole group charged in the direction of the Viridian Castle under Thomas's command, leaving Abigail in the relative tranquility of the Temple garden. She clasped her hands in front of her chest as she watched them go. "I've done enough. I've done what I could. Now it's up to them".
The Viridian Castle was already ablaze, the Anahera soldiers in the trenches were firing their cannons at it. The gates were almost ready to burst open if it wasn't for the timely arrival of Thomas kade and his group and supporters. Alistair Coen and Percy Ravenstad rushed in first, skillfully moving between the Anahera soldiers on their way to the cannons to disable them. When the crews were taken out, they called for Philip to approach while Riane escorted him. Thomas was meanwhile commanding the troops in the distance, fighting the Anahera soldiers which turned away from their barricade and tried to prevent the Kade from lifting the siege. Philip fiddled with his bag while Alistair became impatient and yelled "Hurry up kid, we're not having a tea party here!". Philip's hands were shaking from the opium usage and he dropped a couple of vials on the floor.
Riane quickly swooped most of the unspoilt materials up before handing him a smaller bag: "I think you're looking for this". Philip nodded and opened the bag, dousing what looked like small granules of dust in water before tossing them into the cannons with red colored smoke following. Percy moved closer asking: "Why aren't we just destroying the cannons again?". Riane quickly added "Because these are our canons Ravenstad. We're not invading a foreign country. Philip's dust crackers will prevent gunpowder from igniting for a couple of hours. Now let's move". Alistair handed Philip a short arming sword before the group moved out in a triangle formation around Philip towards the front gate of the Viridian Castle which had already started opening, the Viridian Knights which were locked inside sallying out. Thomas had meanwhile defeated most of the Anahera men around him. With the cannons disabled, most of the Anahera soldiers started running back to the city. They had not left without causing damage however. Despite Thomas's skill as a Paladin, he and his supporters were seriously outnumbered and Thomas was covered in minor cuts and a nasty bleeding puncture on his right arm. With the Primae of the Viridian Order released and some Imperial Guards arriving in the wake of Abigail Tucker, the Viridian Castle was liberated and the men and women inside joined the revolt.
In tandem with the assault on the Viridian Castle, the nearby Bureaucracy was under assault by Charlotte Moselberg and her companions Victoria Valor, Niko Heinrich, Gaston de Baccarod and Bastian Ravenstad. Seizing the Bureaucracy was crucial this early on to prevent the Anahera supporters from burning city records. Additionally, having the support of the Bureaucrats within the city would seriously speed up re-establishing Imperial authority and control over the outlying provinces that were revolting. With the House Heinrich and Valor guards, Gaston de Baccarod and Bastian Ravenstad trying desperately to keep up, Charlotte Moselberg and Victoria Valor marched with determination and almost naive confidence up those stairs and into the Bureaucracy. The Bureaucracy was a large building filled with offices housing the Imperial records, aldermen and heralds. Unfortunately with the city around them becoming a warzone, this building had also been reinforced partially also by Anahera soldiers fleeing from the Viridian Castle. One such Anahera soldier charged at Charlotte with his sword drawn before he was quickly intercepted by Niko Heinrich. Gaston de Baccarod drew his weapon and ordered the Baccarod guards to defend Charlotte as she resumed her pace, trembling, yet equally determined.
Niko Heinrich and the Valor guards escorted Victoria Valor as she made her way to the offices of the Heralds. She arrived first, finding most of the heralds cowering in a corner as Anahera soldiers blocked the way. Niko Heinrich and her guards quickly disposed of them and while they guarded the door, Victoria Valor marched inside and gave a rousing speech to the men who were cowering inside. Somehow she managed to convince them to pick up their bells and take to the streets to announce the right of the Emperor. They neatly formed rows, recited their lines, picked up their equipment and marched out the Bureaucracy. Charlotte was meanwhile upstairs arresting the Anahera loyalists who were trying to ransack the records of Andrieu's graft and corruption of stealing money from the state and misuse of taxes. After rounding them all up, a fight broke out with some Anahera soldiers which had come rushing in from the Viridian Castle. Charlotte had to defend herself with a candleholder, somehow miraculously not getting hurt in the fight. With the situation eventually calming down, she gathered up what papers she needed to prove the Anahera abuse before meeting up with Victoria Valor again. The two of them then rushed to the top balcony, escorted by Bastian Ravenstad before the two noble women seized the Anahera banners and threw them down from the building. Bastian Ravenstad lit up a firework arrow that signalled the rest of the city that the Bureaucracy had been taken, just as an arrow went up at the Viridian Castle as well.
Fighting was most intense around the State Council Castle where the State Council Members had been imprisoned for a while. Anahera soldiers were indiscriminately shooting with bow and arrow at anyone getting close to the castle front gate. Meanwhile at the back entrance however, Jared Silverhand and Selwynn Crassian infiltrated the castle through a hidden passageway, perks of knowing Dominic Kade. Jared and Selwynn snuck trough the tunnels to the front gate where Selwynn performed Evergrowth Magic on the roots of the nearby trees that were sticking out the tunnel walls. The roots moved as Jared moved closer, looking at them with a sceptical eye. "How sure are ye that this will actually work mellonin?". Selwynn looked up at the roots moving overhead before back to Jared "Plants never fail Jared, especially trees. Trees are so reliable I could tell-" Jared cut him off by covering his mouth with one of his hands before he muttered "Okay, Okay, we needin' ta move out to rescue the prisoners upstairs remember?" Selwynn nodded before the two rushed to through the tunnels back and towards the castle interior. Appearing from behind an extinguished fireplace, the two rushed into a long conference room which was completely empty and dark. They walked to the door at the far end of the room. As Jared swung open the door, they gazed into a corridor filled with thirty or so odd Anahera soldiers who all turned to look at them in shock.
There was a moment of pause before Jared quickly slammed the doors shut again "Okay maybe not that way". Selwynn moved one of the heavy chairs against the door handles as Daendroque yelling could be heard from the other side and soldiers started trying to break down the door. The two then ran out the other end of the room into a series of smaller rooms. Eventually they reached a backend library where they found Cedric Kade tied up with chains to a dog cage with Anahera soldiers kicking into him. Jared quickly dispatched of the guards while he returned to the door, inching it open slightly to avoid arousing suspicion but to keep an eye on the hallway for any reinforcements. Selwynn quickly sat down next to the Fourth Prince as he started unlocking the chains and handing spilling some water from a flask of water into his mouth. "I'm sorry we're late mellonamin" Selwynn said as he looked over the battered Prince. His clothing was torn, he was covered in bruises and his eyes were so swollen and blue he couldn't even see properly. Cedric faintly brushed the water back away before muttering "I'm.. n-not.. a -king melon". Selwynn smiled with melancholy before helping him to his feet.
Cedric could barely stand, so Jared quickly moved in to assist. "We needin' ta get him somewhere we won't be noticed. The assault on ta castle beginnin' soon". A deranged Anahera soldier came running in charging with sword at the three before Selwynn grabbed a flower pot from the nearby table and threw it into the soldier's face. He was promptly hit and knocked out cold as he fell backwards with a small heap of dirt and a single flower sitting on his face "Piss off" Selwynn added before gesturing for Jared to support Cedric in the direction of the side room. When they finally made it in there, they put Cedric down on a sofa before barricading the door. Jared eventually rested against the door with his back as he whispered: "Let's not ta be seen for now, when the assault startin', we'll sally forth and give them a right beating". Selwynn nodded, and with that, they waited for Jehenna Coen's assault to commence.
The fighting became intense on the Imperial corridor. The Orcs across the city had declared their support for the Kades whom had always been kind to them, most of them had gathered in the square with Sasha Belinsky, Thurinor Aglarebon and Rerik Ulster. With the square secured, the group cheered, although prematurely. A column of Anahera soldiers approached with ballistae carts. The Orcs formed rows, ready for a charge, though a charge would not occur. The Ballistae carts armed and fired, shooting massive javelins into the Orcs in front of them mowing many of them down. Rerik, Sasha and Thurinor quickly took shelter behind the Great Oak Willow as javelins pierced the bark above them. Rerik yelled: "Damn to void these Anahera Droghins! I'm tryin' to reach the Violet castle but I cannae get past!". Thurinor glanced at him as he said "I'm going in the opposite direction, trying to reach the Council Castle." Sashe meanwhile got to a crown in front of them as javelins still flew past them, piercing buildings around them. "How do you two propose we solve our current problem? I'd love to smash those ballistas but it seems like we're pinned down". Rerik Ulster looked around before grabbing a flag banner next to him. He quickly jumped up, took aim and threw the banner at a ballistae armer, piercing him before ducking back down. "Well that'aell be one down, but still many to go". Suddenly from around a corner appeared Gaelthar Daessalia, holding up an arm in the direction of the Ballistae. Thurinor yelled at him: "Nelfin, what are you doing, do you have a death wish?!". As the Anahera ballistae fired at him, the projectiles hit the barrier magic, deflecting off in different directions, one landing between Thurinor's legs as he winced: "That was close". Gaelthar raised his arms in the air as he exclaimed: "Treason is the worst injustice of them all, traitors cannot pass through voids or plains terrible enough to answer for their crimes!" Suddenly swords made of Ethereal white light formed around him in mid air before dashing forward into the Anahera soldiers manning the Ballistae. They were cut down one by one as the swords pierced their bodies until none were left to shoot them.
Many Anahera soldiers still remains behind them however and they raised their weapons. Gaelthar turned to the Orcs who were hiding behind walls and the three behind the tree. "Rise up and fight the injustice that has taken hold of this country all of you! Crush these traitors like the filth they are!". Rerik grabbed a nearby axe from a fallen Orc and raised it up, yelling in battle cry. Thurinor followed with a sword and Sasha raised a warhammer before the group charged at the Anahera line with Orcs in their wake. Like an angry wave they crashed into the Anahera soldiers whose morale was already breaking, causing a full route towards the harbor. The three cleared out the Anahera supporters from the imperial walkway, allowing Fiora Cerdici to move through with her mobs as she prepared to lead the assault against the city walls and the harbor. On the other side of the city, archers had disposed of the Anahera guards on the State Council Castle thus Jehenna Coen raised up with a Coen banner and called for a charge. With a sea of yells and battle cries, Coen soldiers and supporters alike stormed the front gate, hoping to find William alive inside.
On the morning of the 28th of the last month, the morning mass in front of the Imperial Palace gates proceeded as it had every single day in the past weeks. People continued to pray for a word of the Emperor which they continued to hope would save them from the chaos that consumed the Empire. The failure of the Kade and Typhonus Rebellions made the situation all the more desperate and whole families had flocked to the massive wooden gates of the Imperial Palace. Suddenly the silence of prayer was interrupted by the sounds of gears and chains moving, the faint rumbling of the massive beams that locked the front gate opening before the gates slowly inched open. First shuffled out the Grand Ekhein with several papers in his hands. He slowly inched towards the staircase leading up to the Gate before he cleared his throat, addressing the crowd in front of him. "His Imperial Majesty has awoken and accused Andrieu Anahera a pretender and a traitor to the Empire. His Imperial Majesty is revolted by the acts of such a despot and calls for the people to resist the government, for the government has fallen. The Emperor decrees an end must come to the spilling of blood of those loyal to the true Regalian authority, and an end must be brought to the Anahera Dictatorship. His Imperial Highness calls upon all citizens and other of the state to assist in civil protest. His Imperial Highness further grants Imperial blessings on those taking up the cause for the Imperial Throne and those wronged by the ex-Chancellor, promising Imperial favor to those who succeed".
When the Ekhein stopped talking, marching sounds became louder and louder until even the stonework of the foundations of the Palace started shaking. Three Hundred and one Imperial Guards marched out of the gates, neatly in rows with identical Imperial Armor. The sun shone on the golden polished decorations of various dragons and Imperial regalia donning their armors, their purple capes dancing in the wind as they held their great swords out in front of them. At the head was Tristan Kade flanked by Carlos Martinez and Lysander Lampero distinguished with his Commander helmet, an ornate helmet with a golden Dragon seated on top with purple feathers flowing down to his back. With a single order, the Imperial Guard lines split up, flowing through the various streets in different directions with their swords drawn. The crowd which had been silently watching this spectacle suddenly burst into a cheer and joy. The crowd dispersed as well, men and women young and old spreading throughout the city to herald the news to all those who had been waiting for the right moment to strike. Their move was accompanied by the massive heavy bells of the Imperial Palace ringing, a sign for the other Castle that the time was right.
Abigail Tucker was one of those citizens who was at the gate when it opened. Normally the quiet bartender at the tavern, Abigail had a longer history of working indirectly for the Kades, also hit with the closure of the Tavern. Without a job and with the Empire descending in chaos, she too hoped that someone or something would offer an outcome. She did not truly know if this was going to be the right time, but that sense of adventure and excitement made her want to play a role in the whole thing. As she ran down the Imperial causeway, flanked by the statues of the previous Emperors, the fighting around her already started. With the sounds of battle and the church bells ringing overhead, she ran down the stairs of the upper district down to the commons. As she passed the forge road, Violet Order soldiers were fighting one another. A barricade made passing impossible, but she was quickly rushed into the near house by Niantha Merrit. Niantha Merrit and her husband Ztril Merrit were treating wounded Violet Guards from both sides in a makeshift clinic they had set up in an abandoned forge building. Abigail explained that she was on her way to the Viridian Castle to spread the news, though Niantha could barely understand her due to the sounds of explosions outside and swords clashing. Ztril quickly moved forward, handing Abigail some pouches of alchemically mixed smoke dust. "Zthrow and zthen run" he quickly said as he patted her shoulder before pushing her to a backdoor.
Abigail quickly tried to thank them, but their ears and eyes were already fixed on the wounded, so Abigail sprinted out the back to the Imperial causeway. When she approached the park bend she saw a mob of Vultarin heretics looting a building. Not hesitating one moment, she lobbed a couple of the smoke pouches which were skilfully made by Ztril to hide her approach. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief as the Vultar heretics started coughing and fell to the floor. With the way clear, Abigail ran through and eventually reached the backstreet of the Old Gods District. As quickly as she could, she relayed the message to a group of Kade donned soldiers who blew a horn. Forth sallied Thomas Kade, Philip Kade, Riane Typhonus, Alistair Coen and Percy Ravenstad supporter by a cohort of Kade troops from the doors around them. The whole group charged in the direction of the Viridian Castle under Thomas's command, leaving Abigail in the relative tranquility of the Temple garden. She clasped her hands in front of her chest as she watched them go. "I've done enough. I've done what I could. Now it's up to them".
The Viridian Castle was already ablaze, the Anahera soldiers in the trenches were firing their cannons at it. The gates were almost ready to burst open if it wasn't for the timely arrival of Thomas kade and his group and supporters. Alistair Coen and Percy Ravenstad rushed in first, skillfully moving between the Anahera soldiers on their way to the cannons to disable them. When the crews were taken out, they called for Philip to approach while Riane escorted him. Thomas was meanwhile commanding the troops in the distance, fighting the Anahera soldiers which turned away from their barricade and tried to prevent the Kade from lifting the siege. Philip fiddled with his bag while Alistair became impatient and yelled "Hurry up kid, we're not having a tea party here!". Philip's hands were shaking from the opium usage and he dropped a couple of vials on the floor.
Riane quickly swooped most of the unspoilt materials up before handing him a smaller bag: "I think you're looking for this". Philip nodded and opened the bag, dousing what looked like small granules of dust in water before tossing them into the cannons with red colored smoke following. Percy moved closer asking: "Why aren't we just destroying the cannons again?". Riane quickly added "Because these are our canons Ravenstad. We're not invading a foreign country. Philip's dust crackers will prevent gunpowder from igniting for a couple of hours. Now let's move". Alistair handed Philip a short arming sword before the group moved out in a triangle formation around Philip towards the front gate of the Viridian Castle which had already started opening, the Viridian Knights which were locked inside sallying out. Thomas had meanwhile defeated most of the Anahera men around him. With the cannons disabled, most of the Anahera soldiers started running back to the city. They had not left without causing damage however. Despite Thomas's skill as a Paladin, he and his supporters were seriously outnumbered and Thomas was covered in minor cuts and a nasty bleeding puncture on his right arm. With the Primae of the Viridian Order released and some Imperial Guards arriving in the wake of Abigail Tucker, the Viridian Castle was liberated and the men and women inside joined the revolt.
In tandem with the assault on the Viridian Castle, the nearby Bureaucracy was under assault by Charlotte Moselberg and her companions Victoria Valor, Niko Heinrich, Gaston de Baccarod and Bastian Ravenstad. Seizing the Bureaucracy was crucial this early on to prevent the Anahera supporters from burning city records. Additionally, having the support of the Bureaucrats within the city would seriously speed up re-establishing Imperial authority and control over the outlying provinces that were revolting. With the House Heinrich and Valor guards, Gaston de Baccarod and Bastian Ravenstad trying desperately to keep up, Charlotte Moselberg and Victoria Valor marched with determination and almost naive confidence up those stairs and into the Bureaucracy. The Bureaucracy was a large building filled with offices housing the Imperial records, aldermen and heralds. Unfortunately with the city around them becoming a warzone, this building had also been reinforced partially also by Anahera soldiers fleeing from the Viridian Castle. One such Anahera soldier charged at Charlotte with his sword drawn before he was quickly intercepted by Niko Heinrich. Gaston de Baccarod drew his weapon and ordered the Baccarod guards to defend Charlotte as she resumed her pace, trembling, yet equally determined.
Niko Heinrich and the Valor guards escorted Victoria Valor as she made her way to the offices of the Heralds. She arrived first, finding most of the heralds cowering in a corner as Anahera soldiers blocked the way. Niko Heinrich and her guards quickly disposed of them and while they guarded the door, Victoria Valor marched inside and gave a rousing speech to the men who were cowering inside. Somehow she managed to convince them to pick up their bells and take to the streets to announce the right of the Emperor. They neatly formed rows, recited their lines, picked up their equipment and marched out the Bureaucracy. Charlotte was meanwhile upstairs arresting the Anahera loyalists who were trying to ransack the records of Andrieu's graft and corruption of stealing money from the state and misuse of taxes. After rounding them all up, a fight broke out with some Anahera soldiers which had come rushing in from the Viridian Castle. Charlotte had to defend herself with a candleholder, somehow miraculously not getting hurt in the fight. With the situation eventually calming down, she gathered up what papers she needed to prove the Anahera abuse before meeting up with Victoria Valor again. The two of them then rushed to the top balcony, escorted by Bastian Ravenstad before the two noble women seized the Anahera banners and threw them down from the building. Bastian Ravenstad lit up a firework arrow that signalled the rest of the city that the Bureaucracy had been taken, just as an arrow went up at the Viridian Castle as well.
Fighting was most intense around the State Council Castle where the State Council Members had been imprisoned for a while. Anahera soldiers were indiscriminately shooting with bow and arrow at anyone getting close to the castle front gate. Meanwhile at the back entrance however, Jared Silverhand and Selwynn Crassian infiltrated the castle through a hidden passageway, perks of knowing Dominic Kade. Jared and Selwynn snuck trough the tunnels to the front gate where Selwynn performed Evergrowth Magic on the roots of the nearby trees that were sticking out the tunnel walls. The roots moved as Jared moved closer, looking at them with a sceptical eye. "How sure are ye that this will actually work mellonin?". Selwynn looked up at the roots moving overhead before back to Jared "Plants never fail Jared, especially trees. Trees are so reliable I could tell-" Jared cut him off by covering his mouth with one of his hands before he muttered "Okay, Okay, we needin' ta move out to rescue the prisoners upstairs remember?" Selwynn nodded before the two rushed to through the tunnels back and towards the castle interior. Appearing from behind an extinguished fireplace, the two rushed into a long conference room which was completely empty and dark. They walked to the door at the far end of the room. As Jared swung open the door, they gazed into a corridor filled with thirty or so odd Anahera soldiers who all turned to look at them in shock.
There was a moment of pause before Jared quickly slammed the doors shut again "Okay maybe not that way". Selwynn moved one of the heavy chairs against the door handles as Daendroque yelling could be heard from the other side and soldiers started trying to break down the door. The two then ran out the other end of the room into a series of smaller rooms. Eventually they reached a backend library where they found Cedric Kade tied up with chains to a dog cage with Anahera soldiers kicking into him. Jared quickly dispatched of the guards while he returned to the door, inching it open slightly to avoid arousing suspicion but to keep an eye on the hallway for any reinforcements. Selwynn quickly sat down next to the Fourth Prince as he started unlocking the chains and handing spilling some water from a flask of water into his mouth. "I'm sorry we're late mellonamin" Selwynn said as he looked over the battered Prince. His clothing was torn, he was covered in bruises and his eyes were so swollen and blue he couldn't even see properly. Cedric faintly brushed the water back away before muttering "I'm.. n-not.. a -king melon". Selwynn smiled with melancholy before helping him to his feet.
Cedric could barely stand, so Jared quickly moved in to assist. "We needin' ta get him somewhere we won't be noticed. The assault on ta castle beginnin' soon". A deranged Anahera soldier came running in charging with sword at the three before Selwynn grabbed a flower pot from the nearby table and threw it into the soldier's face. He was promptly hit and knocked out cold as he fell backwards with a small heap of dirt and a single flower sitting on his face "Piss off" Selwynn added before gesturing for Jared to support Cedric in the direction of the side room. When they finally made it in there, they put Cedric down on a sofa before barricading the door. Jared eventually rested against the door with his back as he whispered: "Let's not ta be seen for now, when the assault startin', we'll sally forth and give them a right beating". Selwynn nodded, and with that, they waited for Jehenna Coen's assault to commence.
The fighting became intense on the Imperial corridor. The Orcs across the city had declared their support for the Kades whom had always been kind to them, most of them had gathered in the square with Sasha Belinsky, Thurinor Aglarebon and Rerik Ulster. With the square secured, the group cheered, although prematurely. A column of Anahera soldiers approached with ballistae carts. The Orcs formed rows, ready for a charge, though a charge would not occur. The Ballistae carts armed and fired, shooting massive javelins into the Orcs in front of them mowing many of them down. Rerik, Sasha and Thurinor quickly took shelter behind the Great Oak Willow as javelins pierced the bark above them. Rerik yelled: "Damn to void these Anahera Droghins! I'm tryin' to reach the Violet castle but I cannae get past!". Thurinor glanced at him as he said "I'm going in the opposite direction, trying to reach the Council Castle." Sashe meanwhile got to a crown in front of them as javelins still flew past them, piercing buildings around them. "How do you two propose we solve our current problem? I'd love to smash those ballistas but it seems like we're pinned down". Rerik Ulster looked around before grabbing a flag banner next to him. He quickly jumped up, took aim and threw the banner at a ballistae armer, piercing him before ducking back down. "Well that'aell be one down, but still many to go". Suddenly from around a corner appeared Gaelthar Daessalia, holding up an arm in the direction of the Ballistae. Thurinor yelled at him: "Nelfin, what are you doing, do you have a death wish?!". As the Anahera ballistae fired at him, the projectiles hit the barrier magic, deflecting off in different directions, one landing between Thurinor's legs as he winced: "That was close". Gaelthar raised his arms in the air as he exclaimed: "Treason is the worst injustice of them all, traitors cannot pass through voids or plains terrible enough to answer for their crimes!" Suddenly swords made of Ethereal white light formed around him in mid air before dashing forward into the Anahera soldiers manning the Ballistae. They were cut down one by one as the swords pierced their bodies until none were left to shoot them.
Many Anahera soldiers still remains behind them however and they raised their weapons. Gaelthar turned to the Orcs who were hiding behind walls and the three behind the tree. "Rise up and fight the injustice that has taken hold of this country all of you! Crush these traitors like the filth they are!". Rerik grabbed a nearby axe from a fallen Orc and raised it up, yelling in battle cry. Thurinor followed with a sword and Sasha raised a warhammer before the group charged at the Anahera line with Orcs in their wake. Like an angry wave they crashed into the Anahera soldiers whose morale was already breaking, causing a full route towards the harbor. The three cleared out the Anahera supporters from the imperial walkway, allowing Fiora Cerdici to move through with her mobs as she prepared to lead the assault against the city walls and the harbor. On the other side of the city, archers had disposed of the Anahera guards on the State Council Castle thus Jehenna Coen raised up with a Coen banner and called for a charge. With a sea of yells and battle cries, Coen soldiers and supporters alike stormed the front gate, hoping to find William alive inside.
