[h1][b][center]Plot Point[/center][/b][/h1] [hr] [hider=View Post] Chres watched as the army entered Shimmertown and quickly mobilized to protect and reinforce their point of entry. He felt an itch crawl up the back of his neck. More strongly than usual. [i][color=00aeef]It's over.[/color][/i] He thought. [i][color=00aeef]The army can take things from here. I can run now.[/color][/i] It was true. They didn't need him any more. He imagined the army had more than enough people to take out the seed. He could move on. Figure out the truth behind his wife. The thing that she said he didn't understand. What reason did he have to stay? If he ran now though... Now when the army had flooded the city... That could be seen as suspicious. They could capture him or bring down with an arrow, thinking him a fleeing cult member. No. Running was not a safe option. At least not right now. A few stray wall guards made their way to the roof of the gate house in a desperate attempt to close the portcullis. With Octavio's help, however, they were able to make quick work of them. Even if the wall guard had been successful at closing the portcullis, Chres figured it probably wouldn't make much of a difference by now. A portion of the troops had already started to flood the wall. It was only a matter of time till they made it up to the top and took control over the winch. Sure enough, minutes later, the Empire's troops made it to the top of the wall. Chres raised his hands in the air and got on his knees. [color=00aeef]"Peace."[/color] He said. [color=00aeef]"We're with you. Talk to Lieutenant Colonel Frost. She'll vouch for us."[/color] The soldiers eyed them suspiciously exchanging more than a few glances. The one in the back, however, gave a nod. "Go to the Ice Flower." He said. "See if she corroborates their story." One of the soldier saluted and went back the way he came. The rest of the soldiers carefully approached Chres and Octavio. Stipping them of their weapons. [hr] The troops re-enforced the eastern wall, while holding their ground against the connection to the southern wall. Later in the day, the troops had gained footing in the southern part of Shimmertown. It was only then that the troops began to advance on the southern wall. To the east, some cultists had already begun to abandon the town, the smart ones having left far before the army had entered. Boats had been prepared in advance, it seemed. Coming in from the rivers feeding out northeast of the lake. The boats carried their members away from town and towards safety. Even most of the Sightless had already vanished. Only those loyal to Nieffar having stayed behind. [hr] Far south of Shimmertown, beyond the reaches of the Distortion, a trail of well guarded caravans began making camp beside Horizon's Path, a road once well traveled in the Nation of Sight. Well... at least before the war began. Above the camp soared a silver vulture. It had just flown in from the north and begun circling the caravans as if looking for food. It circled the camp three times, then with a tuck of its wings, it swooped down towards the center of the camp and turned into a fly mid-flight. Traveling all the way from Shimmertown, Talon had arrived to bring news of the battle. He zipped to and fro across the encampment. Once or twice he was swatted at, but he paid the fools no mind. Getting swatted at was part of being a familiar. He knew his place in the world, and he accepted it with grace. His purpose, solely to serve. At last, he made it to the Kharu-Natjer's tent. The Kharu-Natjer's presence scraping the back of Talon's mind. Probing Talon as he usually did. Inside, Talon could make out voices. Landing silently on tent's flap, listened in. [color=burlywood]"Gone."[/color] The Kharu-Natjer said, speaking in his native language. [color=burlywood]"You allowed Svephraey to slip away without my permission?"[/color] "Forgive me Kharu-Natjer. I've done wrong." [color=burlywood]"Wrong? No... That one is a slippery snake. But has your negligence caused problems? Likely, but I suppose that is yet to be seen."[/color] "Forgive me." The Sqarwn-Enx said again. Sqarwn-Enx. Those bound for life. For awhile, The Kharu-Natjer said nothing. [color=burlywood]"I sense... that you are not one of her splinters... Good..."[/color] He said at last. [color=burlywood]"At least she has some sense... Your forgiveness will need to be earned. A month of penance as Twa-qwat."[/color] Twa-qwat. One of the punished. "Yes, Kharu-Natjer." the Sqarwn-Enx, now Twa-qwat said. There was the sound of ruffling cloth from with-in the tent. No doubt the sounds of the Twa-qwat unrobing and dressing in the rags that signified his place as Twa-qwat. Talon buzzed in annoyance. A month as Twa-qwat? This one got off easy for his folly. [color=burlywood]"Come in Talon."[/color] The Kharu-Natjer said. [color=burlywood]"I can hear your buzzing from out there."[/color] Talon silenced himself in shame. While his fly form was convenient, he did wish its movements did not cause so much noise. Talon zipped through an opening in the tent flap and landed atop his perch. Transforming back to his vulture form, he pointedly ignored the naked Twa-qwat in back of the tent who silently put on his new pair of clothes along with a veil to cover his face. [b][color=slategray]“Svephraey is gone?”[/color][/b] Talon said, making a clicking sound with his beck. [b][color=slategray]“Should we be concerned?”[/color][/b] [color=burlywood]"Whenever that one is alone, I am concerned."[/color] The Kharu-Natjer said. [b][color=slategray]“Dangerous, that one is. It may be wise to replace her before she becomes too bolden.”[/color][/b] [color=burlywood]"Svephraey is a useful tool. Her connections to the underworld of this land, strong... but yes, you might be right... Perhaps it is time to select one a Splinter to take her take her place."[/color] Talon clicked his beak in excitement, taking pleasure at imagining Svephraey dieing to one of her own splinters. It wouldn't be the first time the Kharu-Natjer had done this. Svephraey herself had once been a splinter. Her controller, the previous Marionetteer, once having Svephraey's place by the Kharu-Natjer's side. But that man had grown too bold, much like Svephraey now. So the Kharu-Natjer approached Svephraey and offered her a way to rise above her place as a splinter and enabling her to kill her controller. With the previous Marionetteer dead, Svephraey was able to take control of all his splinters. Usurping his place and becoming the new Marionetteer. [color=burlywood]"So, Talon. What news do you have from Shimmertown?"[/color] [b][color=slategray]“The pact makers were successful. The army will soon have control of Shimmertown.”[/color][/b] [color=burlywood]"And the Distortion?"[/color] [b][color=slategray]“It still covers the city. The pact makers have yet to tackle the seed.”[/color][/b] [color=burlywood]"Pity."[/color] The Kharu-Natjer said with a frown. [color=burlywood]"Won't be long before the sun sets. I do hope our friends are able to kill the seed before the army of touch goes to sleep... or else... we'll have another massacre on our hands..."[/color] [hr] Back in Shimmertown, the sun began to dip in the sky. Most of the southern parts of town had been re-captured. However, the northern part of town, the cult still held strong... Particularly at the center of town, where both Mayor O'Kal's manor stood and the Cult's makeshift base of operations. Much of the resistance came from the town's own people, the ones the cult converted, including the rest of the wall guard... Chres and Octavio, having had their story corroborated, had their weapons returned. Together, they met up with Karina, Jen and Malkev at the base of the wall. [/hider]