"Okay, that grin right there? That's not a good grin."

Alec glanced around at the group, then grabbed a bag and stuffed Gug into it.

"There. Problem solved."

The bag charred away and the pyromancer tumbled out. "Bag me once, I probably deserved it, bag me twice and I burn it." Gug said dusting himself off. "I'd like it if we sneaked in a way that didn't involve me thrashing around blindly."

OOC: Ok, I'm back. Sorry about falling behind.

IC: Metrius serveyed the landscape, seeing beauty in most of it, and it calmed him. Until, of course, he looked out at the sea. Dozens upon dozens of warships, waiting for their moment of glory, their pormised piece of death and desruction. He had been silent for most of the journey, thinking about what Gabriel had said. Rumors of surviving elves in the north...Metrius would have to explore this possibility later, though. Right now, they needed to find a way into the city, but with Gug among them, it would be nigh-impossible to get in unnoticed. Noticing the grin on Gabriel's face, Metrius had to know. "What do you have in mind, Gabriel?"

...They strode through the crowds of peasants within the city square, eyes shifting every which way in order to determine possible threats. In Gabriel's arms Gug twitched. He looked down at Gug, wrapped up in a cloak to resemble a newborn infant. "Hey, quit squirming!" he whispered to the Goblin. "You're going to give yourself away!"

Arthos struggled not to laugh as he indicated the Citadel nearby. "The easiest way in is through a small passageway built into the perimeter wall. It runs straight into the base of the Tower and spirals up to each level. Be aware that it is quite a climb though."

Before they could near the wall, though, a loud trumpet blaired from on high. All around the peasents turned their eyes to the Citadel.

Arthos swore under his breath. "That is the signal of a public announcement from King Macharendir himself. We won't be able to get to the entrance until the crowd diverts it's attention elsewhere."

"Hmph, you try to fake being swaddled..." Gug grumbled. He peeked around and saw a woman holding a baby, and saw the baby chewing on a...something. As the woman passed by a green hand raised up and snapped its fingers. The baby's mother stumbled as her kneecap flared in a hot pain then subsided. She coddled her child, who seemed to be crying since it didn't have any more sweets to chew on.

Examining the object he just caught, Gug quickly burned off the salively end and started munching on it. "He he...that was easy. It should be a saying...something like...like, uhm, 'Popping a hags knee and snatching her kids dessert when he tosses it up"..prolly gotta make it shorter though." the ragged 'baby' pondered.

Ashtar starred out the window at the masses below, Jaral standing at his side.

"They're here." the half-drow noted casually.

"Yes, I see them." Ashtar returned. "And it seems they didn't kill my messanger. A pity." he glanced over at the imposing assassin. "Is everything prepared?"

Jaral gave a most malicious smile. "Indeed, we need only wait until Macharendir shows himself."

OOC: Sorry about all of that before. Brain fart, Laine's mother is dead. I do suppose that that was all a little, okay, a lot of a takeover. I'll try again.

Laine got up groggily and surveyed his surroundings. The collapsed wall of Bastion was all around him. "What the...?" he started, and then it all came flooding back to him. The battle, the orcs, the fall, the Speakstone... the Speakstone! He fumbled around in the pack, but it was nowhere to be found. Oh, yeah, he'd been holding it when he fell. It would be impossible to find in all of this rubble.
"Think, Laine. If you were Gabriel, and you had just lost a battle for a crucial fortress, where would you go? Hmmmmmmmmmmm... Aha! The city! Perfect...but...the problem is, I have no way of getting there, my wings are injured. Oh, hell, I need to get back to the others."
At that he attempted to take off, but stopped with a yelp of pain. He waved a hand impatiently a let a flow of soothing light envelope his wing. Not at all curative, he didn't have time for that. With that, he took off.

He flew all day and all night, stopping only twice. As the city came into view, he landed in a stand of conifers. "Alright, now how am I going to do this? I can't just waltz in there. No one would let me pass them without a gazillion questions. Maybe that trick of the light thing?" He weaved his hands in an intricate pattern in front of him, but as soon as the magic left his wing, he fell to his knees in the excruciating pain. "Oh, jeez. Apparently I'm going to have to do this the hard way." He took off again, but not before swathing his wings in the pain-dulling light. He flew over the walls, and it was not long before he was leaping from roof to roof, so as not to be seen. "Come on Laine, you can find them. Just look for magic use." He bowed his head, feeling for traces of magic. There! East, about five hundred paces east! Some type of magic, I know. I have to find Gabriel and the others!

OOC: There, was that better? I certainly hope it was. Oh, and I'll warn Jaguar for you.

Ooc: That was passable. A few continuity errors, such as the South retaking the city, but nothing too blatant. However, Laine will not find the others until after they emerge from the citadel. A little winged guy will most likely garner quite a bit of attention, and we don't have another bag to wrap you up in as well...

OOC: No problem. What would you like me to do in the meantime?

Laine leaped across the rooftops, and reached the place the the magic use. There was residue of magic on a woman's kneecap, but that was about it.

Ooc: Just stick around and watch from above for now.

Ic: As the crowd starred up at the balcony above, a dark figure emerged before them. Ashtar stalked forward and placed his hands on the stone guard rail. "The King has an important announcement about the future leadership of the Empire." he called down to the masses. "And the status of the War as it stands."

With that, he backpeddled away and knelt down on one knee. The entire Town square did likewise. There was a slight hesitation from the elementals until they finally clued in a second later and did likewise.

As Gabriel bowed, he heard what sounded like a muffled cry. He looked down at Gug, and realized he had him shoved up against his chest. Belatedly he straightened up so that Gug could see again. "AIR!" the goblin gasped quietly.

And then Macharendir emerged. The old man scanned his eyes over the crowd for a moment before speaking. "Arise." he said simply, and the people complied.

"It is a sad thing, this turn of events, for we have suffered and succeded in these passing days. The recapture of Bastion is a wonderous victory, though it came at a horrible price. Many lost their lives, including many of our allies. But their sacrifice means that we can now take the war straight to the Orcs! Even now our great fleet prepares to cripple their navy and invade through their northern boarders! Our hearts and prayers are with those souls who man those ships."

"The second announcement," he continued. "is in regard to my heir."

Gabriel starred up, a feeling of unease swelling in his stomach. "I have a bad feeling about this." he whispered.

"Due to the tragic murder of my son, the only heir to the throne; it seems as though my bloodline has ended. In the event of my death before a suitable heir can be produced, the Supreme Commander of the Military Forces shall take command of the Empire, until the end of hostilities; at which time, the council of elders shall select a new king. So let it be written, so let it be done."

"But we will not allow events to flow in that direction, not while we have one arm to fight with, and one leg to stand on...." The king continued his speech to the masses, but Gabriel tuned him out.

He looked around for Arthos, to find that he had disappeared. "Damnit!" he whispered. "I'll cut out his liver!" he signaled Hakar to come over. "Ashtar's up to something. Can you reach out and see if anything is amiss?"

But before the half-Drow could respond, a shadow passed overhead. The masses looked up to see a beautiful Avariel woman, dressed in full Dragoon armour, a mighty lance in hand.

It was Kiiri. And she was heading straight for the King. Guards began to bark orders and crossbows were raised, but the Avariel pressed forward.

And then a figure dropped from a higher balcony and landed beside the king. It was wearing exactly what Hakar was wearing, and had almost the same facial features as well.

"Jaral!" Gabriel hissed. All around him the crowd went into a panic.


Ashtar had already drawn his blade and joined several guards in dueling with the newcomer. Macharendir tried to retreat from the balcony, but it was too late. The lance that Kiiri was holding but a few minutes ago was now protruding from his chest. Jaral kicked away from the other combatants and stood upon the guardrail. He backflipped off and fell gracefully to the ground, but was intercepted by the Avariel girl. She began a flight over the crowd and dropped the half drow near the ground. Right beside Hakar.

Before he hit, he phased into shadow and passed through his brother, and then vanished completely. And now the entire crowd was starring at Hakar.

"Kill the Murderer!" Ashtar's call came out from the balcony. "And anyone who assists him!"

Gabriel starred at the enraged crowd. "Shit!"