Tsio Bu walked with swift, considered steps as he moved in flow with the surging crowd that was pouring through every street and alleyway in Bianwei, like water washing down through the cracks and eaves of a house during a rainstorm. Despite the constant brushing of shoulders and elbows against him he maintained a forward and balanced stride, the occasional bare foot or shoe would scrape against his heel from behind to his annoyance but he continued on. The tall slim Folk pulled his straw hat down lower over his face as he placed his right hand firmly on the hilt of his sword, a masterfully forged blade of Honfo craftsmanship. With a forward shrug of his shoulders he adjusted the dingy brown robe he wore which had begun to slip amid all the pushing and shoving.
Tsio Bu’s eyes were constantly darting about as he walked taking in any face that could become clear to him if even for a moment. He was looking for no one in particular but merely searching with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation for anyone he might recognize among the masses as he walked among them. Tsio Bu had arrived in Bianwei the day before but had avoided the streets entirely retreating to the seclusion of a rented boarding house room, this was the first he had been out and about since then. It had been a long journey from up north and he wanted to conserve all of his strength for what was to come. As he stepped around a band of rowdy children that came scrambling by Tsio Bu then had to take a hard step the other direction to avoid bumping into a towering blue-scaled Zauri that was browsing over some fine silks being pedaled by a vendor. In doing so he stumbled at the feet of another peddler who had sat themself across the street selling shoes and other foot wares. As he caught himself and met the peddlers’ eyes Tsio Bu froze. Staring back up at him was a young Folk woman with deep brown hair and a shapely, chiseled face, narrow high-arched brows sat over her brilliant emerald eyes. One would easily call her radiant if not beautiful. The woman had reached with protective impulse for her wares but even as she looked into Tsio Bus’ own eyes her expression was calm and oriented.
“Forgive me.” Tsio Bu forced out through his tight throat holding his gaze.
The woman merely nodded as a smile etched across her visage, her unnatural sea green orbs seemingly glimmering as the recognition looked to be shared. Tsio Bu straightened his robe once more and whirled on his feet, tossing a quick look over his shoulder as he melted back into the moving crowd. He had seen that woman before, many times in fact. Even if her face had been lost to him one could not forget those uncanny eyes - and then there was that look she gave Tsio Bu, one of knowing. Many times in the past year had he crossed her path in the training yard, she always had looked to be an ample fighter. Thinking back on it never had Tsio Bu sparred with her before. Perhaps if they both survived this night that could change on his offering.
Tsio Bu craned his neck upward up as the Ruby Palace came into clear view, the awed remarks and chattering of those around him filling his ears.
“It is beautiful!”
“Truly a testament to the great Xiao dynasty!”
“It is like a beacon shining across the land…”
“No, a tower of vigilance, a sentinel for all the subjects of the Empire!”
Each giddy phrase sent a hot wave through Tsio Bu as he found himself pushing a bit harder through the mob now as the palace loomed closer and closer. Towering, bright red in the night, and a symbol of power - or rather oppression as well as blasphemy. If one were to ask Tsio Bu for his ideal comparison he would liken the Ruby Palace to a Mowang, the insidious demon lords that lead the yaoguai against the mortals after separating them from the gods hundreds of years ago. A fitting likeness indeed.
The Imperial Square was just ahead, the crowd so tightly packed together now it was enough to stifle one’s breathing. Tsio Bu felt his arms pushed tighter against his sides, squeezing the grip on his sword firmer he pulled his free hand and arm in against his breast as much to avoid it being caught or broken as for comfort. He grounded his teeth hard together as his eyes carried over the impossibly large mass of people. Thousands of fools all piled together to gaze upon the mere mortal that was the Emperor Xiao Shang, whose fragile mortal heart beat no different that theirs and whose mortal blood was also just as red. And yet all these misguided simpletons looked to him as a living god as all the fools before them had looked to each of the past emperors as such. It was sickeningly arrogant.
But soon all things would change. The age of the blasphemous and the foolish would end and the new dawn would come as surely as the great gong that had rung hailing the arrival of the Emperor. Even as Tsio Bu became more compressed against those around him he felt a rising surge of eagerness as he saw the fleeting images of more recognizable faces. His brothers were with him - the time was now.
Wait for the signal. Tsio Bu reminded himself as his fingers drummed anxiously against the hilt of his weapon.
- -Ubagai Wakuno traced one thumb down the side of the rocket in his hand as he and his three fellows looked down on the Imperial Square from their viewpoint atop a nearby building. Wakuno did his best to keep his breathing steady and his hands still. He was not afraid, far from it - he was about to herald the change of history and it filled him with a momentous sensation. He suppressed a shudder as he turned his head to look over the area surrounding the square. Even as high as he was Wakuno could see them, slinking atop roofs and peeking from the shadows - his brothers, all clad in white like those with him. And then of course there were those hidden among the crowd, most garbed as commoners of Bianwei.
Wakuno eyed the defenses around the Imperial Square. The area around the Emperors’ platform was entirely encircled by a fully armed and armored unit of the Imperial Guard and the platform itself had eight men close around it, plus the handful of guards protecting the members of the Imperial Council cronies who stood nearby. The walkways and balconies of the Ruby Palace had archers spanning them and Wakuno imagined every door of the palace save for the front entrance was sealed. Then of course there were the various guard patrols and sentries spread throughout the crowd and surrounding streets. Wakuno had no doubt that many would die in this effort but that was expected, he and all his brethren had come with a mandate and they were devoted to seeing it realized - giving their lives if needed. They had the element of surprise in their fold and they numbered many.
Cheers erupted from the Imperial Square as Emperor Xiao Shang finished speaking finally, extending his arms out and upward in a basking motion. Wakuno motioned for one of the men at his back who moved closer expectantly. Wakuno gave the spectacle before him one last observing look; the celebratory roar of the crowd intensifying, the Emperor standing tall and noble as he took in the deafening chorus of adoration, behind him stood the ancient Ruby Palace - a symbol of he and all of his dynasty before him. A symbol of decadence, blasphemy, and degeneracy.
With a sharp nod from Wakuno and a striking of sparks the fuse of the rocket he held was lit.
- -Regent Jia Chong had just finished clapping amid the appraising roar of the crowd when he noticed a bright flash of light from atop a nearby building. There was a discharge of smoke and moments later a single rocket soared over the Imperial Square. The crowd noticed it too and many began to point and cheer as the missile reached towards the height of the sky. Jia Chong however grimaced, the fireworks had been ordered to cease until after the Emperor departed - not to mention the Regent had no idea what gowk had chosen to launch it from the top of a roof. The rocket exploded lacking the bright colors of the regular fireworks, but was merely a crackling burst of black powder. The cheers wavered out, murmurs rising as the Imperial Guard all exchanged glances as did the council.
No sooner had Jia Chong then noticed the shadowy figure rise up from the same building than an arrow came whistling through the air. A scream tore loose as Emperor Xiao Shang grabbed his right shoulder and crumbled to the floor of the platform, the arrow now protruding up from the fallen man - blood began to soak the front of his golden robes as he writhed around in pain. Cries of shock and fear rang out including from among many of the guard who had turned to see the cause of the commotion. Jia Chong felt a catch in his throat, his heart froze in his chest at what had just happened. The Imperial Guard near the platform rushed up the wooden stairs and dropped down around the Emperor, some casting their weapons away as they reached to lift up Xiao Shang. One of the guards shouted out over the growing panic, “He is alive! The Emperor his alive! He needs aid!”
More screams rang out suddenly as one of the Imperial Guard on the platform was hit by an arrow in the chest. Then another arrow, and then a third - the man then falling dead. Among the crowd the sounds of swords unsheathing could be heard as more arrows suddenly came raining down from the sky onto the line of guards that surrounded the platform. Over a dozen men dropped dead on the spot as others staggered about screaming and attempting to wrest the protruding missiles from their bodies. Others still were fortunate enough to raise their shields and deflect the incoming swarm.
Panic set in as the thousands of gathered people all began madly running, pushing, and trampling over one another to escape from the square. More arrows came down on the line of guardsmen, shot from across the rooftops and over small buildings nearby - the archers clad in white cowls and robes. The Imperial Guard on the platform all made a circle around the fallen emperor with their shields raised as more guards came pouring down from the Ruby Palace to help defend against the sudden attack. Jia Chong and the rest of the Imperial Council cowered behind their assembled guardsmen who had also made a shielded circle around them.
Bursting forth through the panicked crowd came scores of men, Folk and Honfokun, armed with swords, spears, and hand axes. Unlike the archers surrounding the square these attackers were dressed in an assortment of commoner clothing, some looking like little more than fishmongers or beggars.
They charged towards the disoriented defensive line as the volley of arrows had stopped, the archers now exchanging shot with the Imperial Guard archers lining the palace walls. The clang of steel and crashing of shields filled the air followed soon by screams of agony as blood began to spill onto the stones of the square.Jia Chong struggled to breathe as the pain in his chest and throat only intensified. His consort was nowhere to be seen nor were some of the rest of the council, those who were were crouched with him behind the guardsmen who were determined to defend the council with their lives. From where he was hunkered Jia Chong could see the armed attackers engaging with the Imperial Guard, they fought not like untrained peasants but with the effective skill of disciplined fighters, felling many guard. These were not armed rabble but organized warriors of some sort with the intent of killing the Emperor. Jia Chong could not see His Majesty from where he was, all he knew was that for the moment he lived and his guards stood by his side. The fighting only seemed to worsen despite the men who came down from the palace to join the fray and in mere moments bodies already littered the square, both those of the attackers and Imperial Guard alike. The thundering of explosions could be heard from nearby and Jia Chong could see smoke rising over the rooftops. Flaming arrows began streaking overhead illuminating the night sky as more explosions rang out both near and far. Everything was happening so fast, in a mere count of heartbeats the joyous Wan Yue and Emperor Xiao Shangs’ address had turned to a chaotic blood-letting.
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