The Empire The Cold Night

[Ashuanar]

At first when the sun went dark, it was dismissed as an unusually unexpected solar eclipse. But, as it persisted, the uneasiness began to grow. It only took a matter of days to learn that this apparent eclipse spanned over the whole of the Empire, though, those who were awaiting that report had hoped to see the sun again long before receiving it. Instead, the darkness persisted, and though the lector priests and anyone else deemed adept enough to investigate all strove to understand this happening, there was no one that could find out how, or why it was taking place. What was for certain however was that the populace was growing weary, and many began to point their fingers at one cause or another, demanding action. Some wished for the appeasement of their gods, others sought the destruction of neighbouring countries, to any number of demands.

After several days crowds began to gather in the streets, rally around palaces, and peacefully cry out for their empire's aid. Many were cold, or hungry. Most were unable to work without the light, and crops had started to suffer. Most needed oil for their lanterns, and others needed means to warm their homes. Though many of these needs could be, and were met, the sheer volume of people in need delayed many of the efforts the empire did enact.

Finally after a week of long, cold darkness, violence broke out in the streets of Ragash...

---

Ashuanar had already been well on his way to Ragash when he was fortunate enough to encounter a rider carrying a message for none other than himself. It read:

Grand Vizier of the Red Sun

Your attendance is requested in an emergency meeting of the Imperial Divan in the Imperial Palace of Ragash...

He needn't really read the rest. A quick skim over things and he determined that most of the upper echelons were being gathered in Ragash. As for the cause for emergency... he could only imagine the havoc this darkness was playing on the economic situation, and no doubt before long things were going to start getting out of hand.

So with his contingent of Sipahi in tow he rode to Ragash as quickly as their steeds could carry them.

---

As arduous as his entire journey had been, getting from the gates of the city to the palace seemed as though it was going to be the worst of it. He and his lot were of course recognized, and they were subsequently surrounded by a mob of Ragashi citizens brandishing torches, although this was only just for light. For the most part, though they were distressed and encroaching, they were not violent towards them, and slowly moved aside as the riders pushed their way through the crowd. However, as they drew near to the ascending steps leading up into the palace, a number of particularly disgruntled folks rushed the broadside of the Sipahi's number, stirring up a great fuss and even causing one of Ashuanar's warriors to attack, drawing blood.

Chaos ensued the surrounding area, and very quickly the situation outside the whole of the Ragashi palace began to deteriorate...

---

The Empire ​

 

[Aura Qajan]

As old as the first stones of Ragash, was a phrase commonly used to describe the Qajan family. It suited them, as they were as much a part of the city as the masonry. Rulers had come and gone, houses had risen and fallen and they remained.

Most knew that the Qajan had a hand in many aspects of commerce across the city and links that stretched out beyond its borders. Fewer people knew that they traded in secrets and favours and that had a direct hand in the unpleasantries that had befallen rival houses. Almost no one knew that the women of the house had a direct hand in such dark matters.

"It is getting worse out there," said Esver Qajan, Matriarch of the house. Despite having brought ten children into the world, she did not look her age. Her flowing dress revealed a slim and toned form. It was around her neck and the corners of her eyes where the years and Ragash sun had taken their toll.

She did not sound concerned, despite having two of her younger daughters in tow.

 

[Ashuanar]

After some time caught up in the mess taking place outside the palace's gates, Ashuanar was finally ferried through the crowd and in through a perimeter established by the palace guard - now bolstered by the Sipahi - at the bottom of the steps on street level. He and several of his men left from there and entered into the palace.

Inside was also a stir of activity. Warriors and guardsmen hurried here and there and representatives from other cities were ushered to and fro. The state of things within were not much better than those without, though at least here there were still some semblances of reason. Ashuanar paid little mind, and made his way to the grand hall where hopefully some solution, or sensible course of action could be determined.

Many had been called into assembly, not just the Divan, and with them all of course came their entourage. Some were more concerned than others, but all were certain that there was little good in doing nothing. The problem simply was this: what could they do?

---

Isul'Ahl had been peering out over the growing crowd from the safety of the palace's high walkways when he heard someone say, "It is getting worse out there." It was hard to disagree with that assessment.

He turned to see who it was who spoke as they passed by him, and he knew her to be of the Qajan house, a rich and very powerful family in Ragash. He himself was hardly of noble blood, but he served in a place of relative prominence as a lector priest, allowing him to become quite familiar with those of greater influence. If she was present, then no doubt others of the great houses were present, making this gathering something of a rarity.

These were, after all, rare circumstances.

Guessing that she was likely heading to the grand hall, he decided to follow after her, joining with a number of others making their way down the wide arcade. No doubt the other priests were also on their way.

 

[Medja]

Chaos, uncontrolled. This went far beyond the usual comfort zone of the woman who thrived on ever shifting times. Not since Drakormir ripped itself from the earth, spreading its foul taint upon the deserts of Amol-Kalit had Medja felt this aching anxiety. She had started tearing into her archives after the first day of this darkness, once it had been made abundantly clear that this was no natural phenomenon and it wasn't going to dissolve on its own. Thus far, her efforts within her own tomes had been fruitless, and the Sapphires were scrambling to dig for information elsewhere.

Despite all the best attempts of the city guard and Emerald Hands at quelling the rising unrest, a week straight of darkness and the cold that such an event brought with it had finally reached the breaking point. Ragash, her home, the city she'd come to look after as a ruler and a caretaker, was beginning its descent into ruin. As she sat at her seat within the Ragashi Divan, Medja ran a bewildered hand through her hair. She hadn't slept much in the past few days.

Several of her favored hands attended her even now, their service as well as their input valued in this time of crisis. One Quartz leaned down to whisper into her ear: The Red Sun had arrived.
"Thank the Hundreds." She exhaled, viridian eyes rolling upwards to gaze out over the assembly.

Ashuanar was nothing if not reliable, and that was something Medja absolutely needed right now: a rock in this tumult. Noelani, the Moon, was a dear friend and trusted ally, but her hands were oft tied by her duty to the sea. Aivrid, the Earth, on the other hand, was as fickle as the desert winds. Medja resented the dragon's title sometimes, given her affinity to what she saw to be the most stable thing imaginable, but she understood that the elements of the Viziers were tied only to their roles within the Empire.

"I needed some good news. The way things have been going I half expected that man to have been lost to Cortosi raiders en route."

 

[Aura Qajan]

"I needed some good news. The way things have been going I half expected that man to have been lost to Cortosi raiders en route."

Esver immediately tucked that bit of knowledge away. If Medja had concerns about Cortosi raiders, then she had another option for disposing of court members that crossed her. And in a manner that would not rouse the suspicions of the sorcerer.

She made a mental note to make arrangements with a mercenary vessel that could intercept a vessel along the coast at her bidding.

"If a party can still safely enter or leave the city, then I may have to consider the safety of my daughters," Esver said. She had also been brought the news of the Vizier making his way through the crowd.

Aura did well, standing behind her mother, to not show the slightest amusement at the comment. She was well trained. The hardest part of maintaining her facade was covering the bruises that often came with the way she served her family.

"No one has identified any ringleaders in the crowd?" Esver asked. Her own eyes and ears had not, which made her concerned that there were not any. It was impossible to negotiate with a leaderless, angry mob.

 

[Inaya-Qajan]

Inaya Qajan stood near the palace entrance waiting for her Vizier to arrive. She knew he would be here soon because he had already been on his way when the messengers were dispatched. Their plans were currently on hold thanks to this darkness and the riots.

The General of the Imperial Host had been tense and antsy for over a week now. The Red Scorpion had taken advantage of the perpetual darkness to finish some contracts and a particular job that The Red Sun had ordered. That part of her reveled in the chaos.

Inaya’s entire body visibly relaxed when she saw Ashuanar. She met him as he approached the palace doors and bowed her head slightly to him as a sign of respect. Even though they had a more informal relationship, she was keenly aware when it was not that time and now was not that time.

“Red Sun, it is as bad as you think it is,” she said after she fell into step with him. “And the other issue was taken care of,” she added in a quieter tone.

---

Ashuanar

 

[Ashuanar]

As he approached Inaya, Ashuanar likewise merely bowed his head in a quiet greeting, though he did cast her a particular look as she moved alongside and fell into stride just at his flank. As for her report concerning the immediate situation, he had thought as much. With how little that had been done to quell the madness in the streets it was clear that there was simply far too much confusion. He could appreciate that. As for her report regarding the other issue, his head straightened some, and then a hushed good fell from his lips just as they came to the divan hall's great doors. With the doors being made open upon their arrival, he and those following him entered in...

---

Many had come, and some had traveled very far, very quickly. Many of the ruling emirs had arrived, and several leaders from a variety of powerful houses in several imperial cities, one most notably being Esver, who was speaking as the main doors opened.

"No one has identified any ringleaders in the crowd?"

"There are none," Ashuanar replied as he drew in, "these people are too frightened to organize themselves..."

"Well we can't simply let this go on, if we can't speak to someone then they must be made to listen," came a voice from the other side of the room.

"But what do we do about it? As long as the sun is gone we have no way of recovering our stores, and at this rate we are..."

A few other voices rose up, and then a few more, and before long, there were dozens of voices carrying throughout the hall. Some warned of the economic strain, others were concerned of impeding riot, and some were busy blaming Vel Anir or Cortos, or arguing over which one was the better one to blame. And soon, the chaos taking place outside was well and truly manifesting here.

---

Aura Qajan | Medja | Inaya Qajan ​

 

[Ishtar]

"Speculation will get us nowhere" Raised the voice of Ishtar, the new Queen of Tyria speaking over the mostly bickering of nobles, "we need solutions to problems we know we can fix." This wasn't the first time she had to deal with arguing groups nor will it be the last time.

"We need to buy ourselves time, the people outside are cold, hungry and desperate, desperate people will do what they need to do survive, right now the best option will be to import food, it's not ideal but fed mouths will reduce tempers." Time was the most crucial factor here, they need as much as they could muster before anarchy took place. It will be difficult to import enough food for everyone, their merchant fleets and caravans can only carry so much, the navy could help but at what cost? they seemed stretched thin dealing with their current problems.

 

[Kade Anvar]

A fist landed right into Kade's jaw.

Kade went reeling back. Distantly he heard other Hands, the Sipahi who arrived with that important guy, Palace guards, probably a mixture of all of them, shouting "Order! Order! Order!" Distant, these shouts and the wild commotion of the crowd, because Kade's ears were ringing. By the Six, one of that guy's big knuckles clipped his ear along with his jaw, and all the sensitive little bones in there were hollering like hyenas. Kade's vision was slowly reforming back into something he could make sense of: he saw the backs of the perimeter force around the Palace keeping the citizenry at bay, and thank Annuk he ended up on this side of the dividing line and not, say, dragged into the unruly crowd.

Kade was a Quartz Hand. A courier, not exactly a fighter. Just went to show him how bad this whole situation was if he was called in to help protect the Imperial Palace. This Eclipse seemed to driving most of his fellow Ragashans mad.

Kade was still bent over and rubbing his jaw when he heard someone close by actually say something to him. Something to the effect of "Are you alright?" or "Feeling okay?" or "You're not hurt, are you?" Something like that. He didn't hear precisely what they said, but the tenor of it was just that.

He blinked a few times, trying to dispel the lingering ghosts clouding his vision, and looked around for who had spoken.

 

[Aura Qajan]

Aura offered a slight nod at the arrival of her older sister. Inaya had both more freedom and more responsibilities than Aura. She operated further from the control of the family, but in return she had to hold her place on the social ladder of Ragash. A job, Aura reflected, that came with its own perks.

"We need to buy ourselves time, the people outside are cold, hungry and desperate, desperate people will do what they need to do survive, right now the best option will be to import food, it's not ideal but fed mouths will reduce tempers."

"A good suggestion. Importing will take time, we need to review what stocks of food we could release now if we want to quell tempers," Esver, their mother said.

Aura cleared her throat and finally spoke up.

"Is there anyone else we could blame for the current problems. Inside, or outside of the city. Somewhere to direct their anger..." she glanced out of the windows.

"...that is not the walls of this palace."

 

[Ashuanar]

Blame.

The young one's words stirred a quiet fire within him, one that had started once as a small, wearied flame. It began with heartache and sorrow, and had slowly grown to rage in blackness and discontent. The blame, he felt, truly rested in only one place. It was where this Empire looked to the most, where its people looked, to find only a vacant seat. Surely, a candle burning brightly burns quickly, and brightly had they burned. Was this now their candle burning low?

Where was He to light their way now, in this dark hour?

His features were callous through his thoughts, unhindered by the turmoil he felt within. But only for a moment did he suffer it, until like with all other things, as any leader, or any warrior must do.

Buried.

"Even just sending for trade will take time," he said, crossing his arms.

Voices again began to rise up, some urging to send out word immediately. Ashuanar, however, pondered Aura's words.

Somewhere to blame...

---

Al'Daim had never seen anything like it. Having been one of Ashuanar's captains - now general - for many years, he had seen his fair share of chaos. Watching the vizier scaling up the back of an undead dragon during Gerra's coronation was one of those times. But he had never seen the like of so many people united in such desperation. Under the cover of this perpetual dark, with the light of the palace at his back, it was almost ominous. It was almost frightening.

He snapped out of it, and shouted out for order.

The people would have none of it, they were past that now. The small group that had rushed the vizier and his men had instigated nearly the whole of the crowd, and whatever tension was holding up finally gave way. His eyes shot to the left where someone was struck and sent reeling back. Quickly the gap was filled, but the conflict escalated and the people became more violent.

Still, the perimeter held.

Al'Daim went to Kade's side. Despite not knowing him from the first Abtati, he put a hand on his shoulder saying, "Hey, are you alright?"

The bustling around them continued. The angry shouts of the people and the soldiers persisted. And it was then in these moments, though no one realized it yet, something was taking shape deep in the midst of the crowd. It started with an uneasy feeling, and then sickness. A person here, and then another over there, sparsely dotted throughout the crowd, but happening all at once...

---

Namal Tiscen had been a resident of Ragash his whole life, and had spent his 42 years living in relative prosperity. His family was not rich, but they were not poor, and he could safely say that he had lived his life very rarely in need of much. But over the course of this last week, everything had changed. Without the sun it proved impossible to work for coin, and as commodities grew sparse what coin one had was very quickly... insufficient. Soon, he was without, like many if not all the people gathered around him, rabbling outside the palace.

But even he, as frustrated as he was, was amazed at what this eclipse had done to his people. They, and he like them, had grown as ravenous as hungry animals, foregoing any sense of civility. Only in these moments as the conflict escalated at the front did he take a moment, and realize. It was also then when he had backed away from his desperation to quiet himself did he take notice of what was also taking place just beside him. Some man, someone he did not know but had been shouting alongside Namal all this while had also grown quite silent. He even grew still, and seemed to clutch at his sides.

Namal turned to him, and was about to ask if he was alright, when something happened.

It started with a cough, and then another, until it was violently upon him. It wasn't long before he collapsed to his hands and knees, coughing and shuddering. A few people around him took notice as Namal had, and began to show concern.

What happened next caused Namal, and the others around him also watching, to scream out in terror. With all their might they tried to flee, attempting to alert their fellow protesters of the horror taking place, of their need to get away.

---

Aura Qajan | Medja | Inaya Qajan | Ishtar | Kade Anvar ​

 

[Inaya-Qajan]

Inaya smiled at her younger sister and her mother. It had been a few days since she had seen Aura and a few weeks since she had seen Esver. Even though she lived in Ragash most of the time and she did work for the family by night, her main duty was always to Ashuanar.

"Mother, you look lovely," Inaya said softly as she came to stand near her mother and sister. "You as well, Aura," she added before returning her attention to the gathering.

The talk quickly turned to supplies and blame as she thought it would. They wanted to appease the crowds versus trying to figure out what was actually happening. That sounded about right for this city.

"We can blame anyone at this point and it will set their anger elsewhere but if we do that without great thought we could end up starting a worse war in our own streets," Inaya finally addressed the issue that had been raised by her sister.

It was a good idea but, in practice, it could have dire consequences.

---

Ashuanar Medja Aura Qajan Ishtar Kade Anvar

 

[Medja]

Medja had been sitting in thought for some time. She wanted to be excited for the arrival of Ashuanar, but the situation overwhelmed that impulse, and social and societal obligations meant that she needed to remain as professional as possible throughout this meeting. So instead, she delved for solutions.

"I have connections in Kherkhana. I can try reaching out to Aivrid, or failing that, the Nakharar, to see if we can't get trade flowing more freely between the Sereti and Ragash. It's the quickest thing I can get underway." The regent of the Empire suggested. It would come at a high cost later, of course, but paying such a cost later would be better than Ragash collapsing now.

"As for scapegoats...it is not as though the enemies of the Empire are few. Our rivalry with Vel Anir has stood long; Gerra saw fit to start his new war with Cortos before returning to his pilgrimage; there have even been some reports that have crossed my desk of cultists worshipping the legacy of Drakormir." The last one in particular left a sour taste in Medja's mouth. How disgusting it was that anyone might kneel in fealty to the ashen remains of that horrible beast. "Any of these could serve."

It wasn't as though such a misdirection would be particularly difficult for Medja either, it was something of her specialty given her Vizierdom. It was then that the screaming began to pick up from outside. Far beyond the disgruntled protest that had become a constant droning in the last couple of days. So raucous was it that it could be heard within the Divan. Medja rose from her chair.
"What is happening? Hands! Guards! Tell us what is going on, immediately!"

 

[Aura Qajan]

"You as well, Aura," she added before returning her attention to the gathering.

Aura did not reply. Not immediately. Her mother shot her a sidelong glare. Inaya was the elder sister and therefore needed to be shown respect.

Aura thought Inaya got to talk more than her, had more responsibilities and more freedom and really didn't need to be curtsied at on top of all of that.

"You are truly looking the part as a General," Aura replied.

"there have even been some reports that have crossed my desk of cultists worshipping the legacy of Drakormir."

Esver, with no patience for Aura's attitude, replied to Medja.

"The idea of cultists hiding in their ranks could work. Might make the common folk question the motivations of anyone who stands on a podium and tries to rally the people." The final phrase was said with disgust.

"Or maybe we are too late for that..." Aura said under her breath, heading for a window.

 

[Kade Anvar]

"Yeah," Kade said, this by reflex more than anything else. Almost as if chastising him for his little fib, a fresh wave of soreness rolled over him when he tensed his jaw.

He scrubbed at his mouth with the back of his hand then. To wipe any blood if there actually was any, of course, but also to definitely wipe any spit away if there was that. Could've just been sweat or something, that moist feeling, but Kade sure as the Six didn't want to be looking like he got the slobber knocked out of him.

"Did you see him? He was a big guy, right?" Kade asked Al'Daim. And then he made a big rotund gesture with his hands. "Like a big, big guy, right?" Somehow it would just feel better if Kade knew he weathered a punch from an enormous, intimidating fellow like that.

There wasn't much time for an answer though.

Kade snapped his gaze over toward those first few screams, the direction vague but somewhere in the heart of the crowd. His brow narrowed in apprehension. Those...didn't sound like angry shouts and jeers. Those sounded like the screams of terror.

Ashuanar

 

[Ashuanar]

Ashuanar listened with intent to the various discussions taking place, though he left more attention for those more influential voices. He took a liking to this notion of Drakormir's misguided worshippers, especially following Esver's point. But then before there was given much time to ponder these things, cries of terror and anguish rose up outside. As if cued by the change in the crowd, a cool wind blew. It permeated through timber and stone, and lights all across the city were suddenly and gently snuffed out.

Silence took hold in the hall of the Divan as darkness took hold of all of Ragash.

Around the palace, mages and capable priests worked quickly to relight as many of their torches as possible. There was a scrambling about, and tensions within continued to grow. At Medja's command, despite the sudden dark, several of the guards and Hands moved quickly to exit the hall and garner some kind of information from outside.

As Ashuanar moved to join Esver to look out from where they were, he cast Inaya a look. Go see what's happening. Then, as he drew near to the window he cast his eyes down into the street... to see nothing, as now it was all but cloaked in blackness.

---

Al'Daim wasn't really sure what to say. He hadn't actually seen who had hit this man, only noticed him fall backward after what he'd assumed had been such a hit. He was about to say something along the lines of the attacker being seven feet tall, but he was distracted by the sounds starting to come from the crowd. Just as he turned his head to see, it became so dark that he could see nothing at all. Every single torch that was anywhere to be seen had suddenly gone out, and though many were quick to relight those on the palace side of their perimeter, there was very little light shone out into what was quickly becoming an absolute free-for-all on the other side.

The crowd was scattering, and violently so. At least they weren't crashing solely against their line anymore, but Al'Daim feared that whatever caused this, would prove to be much worse.

---

Amazingly, it hadn't taken long for the crowd to disperse, but in their absence there was only an eerie quiet, and lacking even the light of the moons or the stars, it was impossible to see more than a handful of meters out past their perimeter, which was still only dimly lit. But it wasn't exactly quiet. Far out in the dark, strange sounds were heard. Odd, gurgling sounds, flesh slapping against the stone street, and a loud, scuffing shuffle.

And the sounds were drawing nearer, approaching those poised to defend the palace no matter what came their way, only, they would not see what approached them until it was nearly upon them.

---

Aura Qajan | Medja | Inaya Qajan | Ishtar | Kade Anvar ​

 

[Iahmesu Merira]

Were it not for this strange darkness, Iahmesu would still be in the south dealing with the Cortosi. But as most had been, he was recalled and their hostilities in the south were likely going to remain on hold indefinitely. So be it, he had little care to deal with their like any longer, especially if the Divan refused to send the reinforcements they needed to secure such a country. It would seem, however, that this hesitancy had worked to their advantage. With more force stationed city-side to deal with the unrest in an occasion such as this, it was far easier for the Empire to maintain control.

But even the Empire seemed ill-equipped to deal with this particular occasion.

He and a contingent of Kalitian soldiers were moving through Ragash's main street when the dark became even worse, and all the torchlight around them was suddenly put out. They froze, unable to see anywhere around them. A few of them were handy, and managed to light their torches again and went about relighting all of those that their company held, and they remained stationary all the while.

After a short time they were ready to move again, but just as they started on their way the sounds of horror could be heard on ahead. They quickened their pace, but were met with wave upon wave of frightened citizens fleeing from the palace, some saying things about monsters.

They came near to the palace, and saw in the light cast nearby that there had been a perimeter established near the main entrance. However, the perimeter guard had been engaged by... something. From so far away it was difficult to see details, but the things attacking the guards appeared to be people, numbering almost a dozen. Only, they were changed and misshapen by a strange fungal looking mass. It consumed their bodies and changed their shape. What were once one's head and arms now hung loosely off this great mass, and new limbs and a strange head-like form to replace these now redundant looking appendages. They attacked with the longer of their new limbs which was a mass of spindly tendrils laced with razors, and instead of speaking they made clicking sounds or made strange, horrid screams.

Were it not for his pride he'd have turned and ran, and he could hardly even judge one if that is what they chose. But for him, he chose to charge forward, to join with the perimeter guard and defend against whatever the hell these things were.

 

[Inaya-Qajan]

Go see what's happening.

Inaya had worked with Ashu long enough to know his looks. It was like he spoke in her mind sometimes but she knew that was an impossibility between them. What was there just was. They knew what the other was thinking and that was it. Nothing special besides many hours spent together.

"Aura, let's go see if we can gather some information," Inaya said cooly to the younger Qajan. "Your eyes are most helpful in the dark," she added before putting a hand on her sister's elbow and guiding them both from the chamber.

"My offer to come work for me and have a similar deal to mine is still open, Aura. I know you aren't happy, I can see it."

Aura had been the sister that Inaya was always closest to. She had been eight years old when the crying baby had come into their home and Inaya had been instantly obsessed with the little girl. There was most definitely a time when Inaya had treated Aura like a doll but for the most part, she had doted on the girl well into her teenage years and beyond.

Inaya didn't love many people but Aura was and would always be number one.

---

Aura Qajan

 

[Aura Qajan]

"Dallin, be a dear," Aura called over her shoulder. The indentured servant hurried after them, carrying a small bag over his shoulders. There were a few such people working for the family. Dallin was trusted, but they had more than one who had their tongue cut out for their crimes before being purchased. It made keeping secrets far easier.

"My offer to come work for me and have a similar deal to mine is still open, Aura. I know you aren't happy, I can see it."

"I am quite alright with my circumstances," she replied testily. Aura enjoyed the current amount of freedom she had, but she was not entirely satisfied with her station. She just didn't want to move on from that by stepping into her sister's shadow instead.

When they had gone far enough, Aura found a small side room and took the bag from Dallin.

She waved for him to stand watch as she stepped inside with her sister.

"It's not that I don't appreciate the gesture," she said as she emptied the bag quickly. She was conscious that she was sounding like a brat.

First out of the bag was a pair of loose fitting trousers, followed by flat shoes. She pulled those on and then lifted the delicate dress up and over her shoulders.

"But I do have my own tasks..." she continued. Aura pulled on a grey jacket and pulled the hood down over her face. Last from the bag came knives that vanished in the blink of an eye. Aura opened the door and passed out a bag stuffed with heeled sandals, a delicate dress and expensive jewellery.

There was another cry from beyond the Palace.

"We really should see what that is..."

 

[Kade Anvar]

Pitch black was something fairly rare to experience. Yeah, indoors you could find a nice set of four walls with no windows and whatever light which might leak through the bottom gap in the door blotted out with a towel, but outside? Outside? The moons needed to be just right, plenty of thick clouds were needed to choke out the stars, and no firelights had to anywhere around you.

Well, that last one just happened.

In a way, Kade wished the guards defending the palace weren't so quick to relight their torches.

"Oh, no! Oh no-no-no-no-no!" Kade exclaimed, instinctively stumbling back and away from the nightmarish Things which were encroaching on the defensive perimeter. Screams from the fleeing Ragashans, shouts of alarm (and who was Kade kidding, terror was well) from the Palace Guards as weapons were drawn.

Kade fell onto his ass, propping himself up with his arms behind him.

Run. Run. Every muscle in his body was hollering at him to do what he did best, to do what had kept him and his little brother and sister fed when times were tough. Run. RUN. He was unarmed, he had no armor, all this was supposed to be was keeping normal everyday Ragashans from flooding into the Palace with their unruliness. RUN. RUN!

"Annuk, Annuk, Annuk...!" Kade said, before gooseflesh crawled over his skin and he swallowed hard and he made the dumbest decision of his life.

He stood, watching as seasoned warriors engaged with the Things, and shouted, "I need a weapon! I need a weapon!"

 

[Medja]

As Hands were dispatched, so too did they return. A whisper was passed into Medja's ear. A slew of emotions washed over her mien, then calm. Hanging in the air on seeming nothing, Medja floated over to the Red Sun Vizier and planted a peck on his cheek. Then she spoke, not as his lover, nor his peer, but as his regent Empress.

"Get as many as you can within these halls to the safest location you can, then make haste with all who can fight to the exterior. Something grave threatens my city, my people, and I will not sit idly by and deliberate any longer."

Then, with all the grace and power afforded to her, Medja exited the halls of the Divan.

---

Below...

In a word, as Rhix descended from the interior of the palace among cries of terror only to witness some otherworldy horrors ripping into citizen and guard alike, the crocodilian's energy could only be described as "eager." This, while not directly part of the job description, was exactly what he had signed up for. For as much as a bipedal crocodile could emote, he looked almost gleeful.

The behemoth stepped by the panicking Kade with a snort, shoving a spare kophesh into the boy's hands without even looking at him, before slipping his fists into a pair of spiked, metal cestuses.
"EMERALD HANDS!" He bellowed, and a cadre of warriors of various build and species stepped up to flank him on either side. He raised his fists, staring hungrily down into the fray. "CRUSH THEM! FOR THE MISTRESS!"

With a roar, Rhix and his brothers and sisters of the Hands descended into the fray.

 

[Inaya-Qajan]

"Don't get testy with me, Aura. I just want you to be happy," Inaya admonished her younger sister.

She did not say anything else as the two women entered the small room so Aura could change. Aura continued her reasoning and Inaya noted that she did sound a little bratty.

"I think working with me would be more apt than working for me. I wouldn't treat you like a child as our mother does," she quipped back just as testily as her sisters original tone but there was the usual love in there.

Inaya was going to say more but a cry sounded and Aura was right about them needing to see what was going on. She nodded and the sisters left the room to head in the direction of the cries.

When they arrived at the balcony that overlooked the lower level of the palace, Inaya cursed as she watched the misshapen fungus people attack those below.

"This isn't what I signed up for," she grumbled and pulled a dagger from its sheath.

 

[Ashuanar]

Their affections were often so short lived. It was ever infrequent that their paths were allowed to cross in anything other than duty. These little displays: her gentle kiss, his subtle look...



He could only concur with the empress regent. The situation was undoubtably changing into something they had yet to understand, all while still toiling with what was already taking place. Things had become quite dire, and the safety of those non-combatants within the divan hall was of course the utmost importance. Fortunately, the safest place for these people was within these very walls. In all of Ragash, there was nowhere more fortified than Alabyad Palace. It would take little time to secure them deeper within the palace...

---

At first there were only faint silhouettes in the dark, barely caught in their torchlight. But even in those earliest moments it was obvious that something was terribly wrong. They were not people who approached them, not anymore. Al'Daim called the men to arms, though even as he reached for his sword, as the monsters came further into the light, he was paralyzed with fear. The things he saw were unlike even the darkest tales he'd heard, and though the guard vastly outnumbered them, he had no idea what to expect as they lumbered their way forward, their bodies changing shape while they approached.

Then the shouting rose up. The screaming. The horrid cries of unknown beasts. Al'Daim's heart pounded in his chest. His head became light.

"I need a weapon!" the man beside him shouted.

Al'Daim looked to him, then back to the monsters to see that they had met with his men and had quickly begun exerting brutal violence upon them. With their long tendrils they ensnared men and pierced them through the head and chest, and with their other appendage they swung violently as a club with strength enough to crumple even the sturdiest of helms or shields. They were unrelenting, and resistant to even the loss of their limbs displaying no signs of pain. By the time Rhix had arrived it seemed as though only destroying the strange mass that had replaced the person's head was enough to end these beasts.

With the arrival of the reptilian champion, Al'Daim's fortitude was renewed, and he too charged to meet with this new enemy.

---

Aura Qajan | Medja | Inaya Qajan | Ishtar | Kade Anvar ​

 

[Iahmesu Merira]

Iahmesu was not long joining with the palace guard in its defense. But in only that short time, the number of enemies had increased. Several more appeared from the streets adjacent to where he and his men had emerged, but there was something far worse taking place as well. Defenders who had been ensnared and pierced by their foes were pulled away from the line and dragged into the dark. After only moments, it was clear that these individuals had risen up against them, likewise changed and misshapen from whatever strange curse had befallen these people, approaching even as these strange changes were taking place.

With both his glaives in hand he sliced his way through a smattering of the strange monsters, reducing them to ribbons of their former selves and coating his blades in a green, viscous fluid. He defended against their tendrils with vicious desperation, loathe to risk becoming like these monsters in any way. It was clear they were mindless killers, nothing like their former selves in either body or mind. They were something else entirely now, this much was obvious.

And yet, though it seemed to be all they could do to hold back the raw carnage these creatures wished to bring upon them at first, the bolstering of forces from within and without began to turn the tide. Whatever these monsters were, as terrible as they were, soon enough they would be quelled.

 

[Kade Anvar]

First sword he'd ever earned. Okay, well, second—he'd bought that rusty sword sword to use during the Trial of Tribulations in Annuakat. Buuuut...that thing was like an awful first kiss: best forgotten, so you can try at a first time again.

And what a turn of events from who handed him this kopesh, speaking of the Trial and all. Rhix. At least this time the big reptilian was on his side. Kade was all too willing to let him and the other Emerald Hands go barreling into battle first. This sword was a bit heavy, ah...wouldn't want to get all tuckered out or anything from racking up the highest kills on enemies.

Any and all semblance of comforting mirth dropped out of his Kade's mind as a new thought kicked open the door to his attention: Tahir. Aisha. Mom. Dad.

The color seemed to drain from Kade's face, and it wasn't for fear of the grotesque Things assailing the line. Banish his duty to the void, so what if his status as a Hand might be revoked! He needed to get through these Things, and he needed to get back home. To Kade, his family was all that mattered. Even more than his own life, if he had to give it in their defense.

Kade was still at the back of the fighting line, bouncing up and down on his back foot, incredibly wary of the whirling tendrils of the Things as if they were the heads of a hydra. He had a few false starts, a few opportunities that came and went too fast for him to pounce forward and take a swing and hop backward.

No wait, there's one!

Kade exploded forward and swung. Missed. The tendril of one of the Things whipped back around, aiming for one of the Sipahi, but inadvertently bashing Kade underneath the chin. Kade's teeth smacked together with a dreadfully harsh reverberation in his jaw.

Staggered back once again, Kade held his jaw, blinked a few times to clear his head, and stepped back to the line. All he could do was rely on the more experienced fighters, and try to take his shot when he saw an opening for one.

And not miss.