75th of Ymiden, Arc 718
It was a warm Ymiden trial within the Azurewind Market. Saun was fast approaching and everyone within Rharne could feel it. The purveyors of the market stalls were preparing to close up for the day while the square remained packed with patrons attempting to make last minute purchases.
Azurewind Market was one of the most secure locations in Rharne. The Merchant’s Guild paid handsomely to ensure that the area was under guard during all breaks of operation. There was always a very palpable presence of Lightning Knights in the area, guarding the north and south entrances at a minimum if not actively patrolling the square.
There were even young boys and girls paid to keep the area swept and clean that could be seen hanging around the steep walls surrounding the market. You could buy almost anything you wished here, from newly crafted weapons or pets or clothes. Everything had a place somewhere in Azurewind.
Although there was indeed something or someone that was out of place to-trial, a group of robed men and women who appeared to be Aukari in appearance clung toward the edges of the market. Their faces were mostly obscured with cowls but tufts of red hair could be seen peeking out in places. The robed people spoke softly together in little tight knit circles while mostly ignoring the shoppers milling about the area.
It was odd to be sure, and the group earned a few cold looks from the merchants but there was little to be done about the loiters until they did something to disturb the peace.
However it didn’t take long before the peace was jarringly and violently disturbed…
The robed figures knelt down and pulled several small palm sized packages from the fabric of their clothes and tossed them into the crowd. There was a subtle hissing sound as the objects rolled forward beneath the feet of patrons and merchants alike. Men, women, and children walked past the hissing balls without a second glance in such a busy place.
It happened quickly and brutally as flames exploded with such force throughout the Azurewind Market that the namesake indigo banners hanging above the square were blown off their awnings and into the distance. Screams broke out across the area as limbs were blown off bodies and skin was scorched with flames. The objects the robed individuals had thrown into the crowd had been bombs…
The scene in the market had been transformed from a normal day into that of slaughter within mere trills. Wounded and dead were everywhere, as blood pooled along the flagstones of the square. The stench of burning flesh clung to the air. At that moment the remaining Knights in the market shot into action along with a few passing Priestesses.
Tobias was younger than most fully fledged Knights, but the man had been a gifted squire and his superiors had taken notice of him soon after he enlisted. At sixteen he was still a young buck and the silver and blue Lighting Knight armor looked a little silly on him but Tobias was not one to shirk from a challenge. He had been assigned to the Azurewind Market on several occasions. It was the sort of thing that newly promoted Knights did, rather than performing missions in the Stormlands or abroad with a Priestess.
It had been a trial just like any other trial, at least until a few moments ago. The Knight had been stationed at the south entrance of the market when explosions had rocked the area. Gore and carnage decorated the once peaceful plaza. Nausea threatened to make him vomit right then and there but he had to do something! There were injured civilians out there, and there was no one else more senior than him nearby to help.
His straw blonde hair was plastered with dust and grime from the explosion, and his shining armor marred by ash.
"We need help!" he called loudly with a hoarse voice while running forward into the carnage. There was a young boy, perhaps only a few arcs younger that him that was bleeding on the ground just outside the gate he guarded.
"Hang on." Tobias said with a wavering voice while he bent down in his clanking armor to place his gloved hand on the wound in the boy's side.
At that moment a woman with long red hair and sultry red lips strode up to the Knight. She was wearing a black robe like the other Aukari and she was followed by four other terrorists who had delivered the attack.
"Oh dear one, you need not worry about anything anymore. The Ring of Fire is here."
With that she reached out and flames danced at her finger tips. She was a Defier and she clearly had no intention at all of helping the young Knight at all. Tobias froze in place, as the woman summoned forth a gout of flames that wove themselves lovingly around her forearm as if waiting to be unleashed.
Azurewind Market was one of the most secure locations in Rharne. The Merchant’s Guild paid handsomely to ensure that the area was under guard during all breaks of operation. There was always a very palpable presence of Lightning Knights in the area, guarding the north and south entrances at a minimum if not actively patrolling the square.
There were even young boys and girls paid to keep the area swept and clean that could be seen hanging around the steep walls surrounding the market. You could buy almost anything you wished here, from newly crafted weapons or pets or clothes. Everything had a place somewhere in Azurewind.
Although there was indeed something or someone that was out of place to-trial, a group of robed men and women who appeared to be Aukari in appearance clung toward the edges of the market. Their faces were mostly obscured with cowls but tufts of red hair could be seen peeking out in places. The robed people spoke softly together in little tight knit circles while mostly ignoring the shoppers milling about the area.
It was odd to be sure, and the group earned a few cold looks from the merchants but there was little to be done about the loiters until they did something to disturb the peace.
However it didn’t take long before the peace was jarringly and violently disturbed…
The robed figures knelt down and pulled several small palm sized packages from the fabric of their clothes and tossed them into the crowd. There was a subtle hissing sound as the objects rolled forward beneath the feet of patrons and merchants alike. Men, women, and children walked past the hissing balls without a second glance in such a busy place.
It happened quickly and brutally as flames exploded with such force throughout the Azurewind Market that the namesake indigo banners hanging above the square were blown off their awnings and into the distance. Screams broke out across the area as limbs were blown off bodies and skin was scorched with flames. The objects the robed individuals had thrown into the crowd had been bombs…
The scene in the market had been transformed from a normal day into that of slaughter within mere trills. Wounded and dead were everywhere, as blood pooled along the flagstones of the square. The stench of burning flesh clung to the air. At that moment the remaining Knights in the market shot into action along with a few passing Priestesses.
Tobias was younger than most fully fledged Knights, but the man had been a gifted squire and his superiors had taken notice of him soon after he enlisted. At sixteen he was still a young buck and the silver and blue Lighting Knight armor looked a little silly on him but Tobias was not one to shirk from a challenge. He had been assigned to the Azurewind Market on several occasions. It was the sort of thing that newly promoted Knights did, rather than performing missions in the Stormlands or abroad with a Priestess.
It had been a trial just like any other trial, at least until a few moments ago. The Knight had been stationed at the south entrance of the market when explosions had rocked the area. Gore and carnage decorated the once peaceful plaza. Nausea threatened to make him vomit right then and there but he had to do something! There were injured civilians out there, and there was no one else more senior than him nearby to help.
His straw blonde hair was plastered with dust and grime from the explosion, and his shining armor marred by ash.
"We need help!" he called loudly with a hoarse voice while running forward into the carnage. There was a young boy, perhaps only a few arcs younger that him that was bleeding on the ground just outside the gate he guarded.
"Hang on." Tobias said with a wavering voice while he bent down in his clanking armor to place his gloved hand on the wound in the boy's side.
At that moment a woman with long red hair and sultry red lips strode up to the Knight. She was wearing a black robe like the other Aukari and she was followed by four other terrorists who had delivered the attack.
"Oh dear one, you need not worry about anything anymore. The Ring of Fire is here."
With that she reached out and flames danced at her finger tips. She was a Defier and she clearly had no intention at all of helping the young Knight at all. Tobias froze in place, as the woman summoned forth a gout of flames that wove themselves lovingly around her forearm as if waiting to be unleashed.
