Fhel 24, 2425 - Chapter 2 - Session 13 - Armistice Day minus the Red Coil Ass-hats

I woke up early in the morning finishing my prep on my new assistant. I then introduced our party to our newest member. MSDOS-My Miniature Scientific Duel Operations Simulacrum. More fleshed out and refined than PIP and I cant wait to see what it can do!

After last minute prep we were ready for our journey to the city.As we approach, the smell of burnt timber and smog fill our nostrils. The area around the city cleared by more tree cutting. The stone walls that were bare only days earlier were now outfitted with defenses and patrols, giant ballistae mounted on all sides. Great iron machines can be heard moving around the city. A faint bell tolls from somewhere inside the city signaling our arrival. Everyone outside the walls started funneling into the city and begin entrenching themselves for the siege that was about to begin.

We get to work setting up our camp and building our siege equipment and planning our next moves. There are refuges in the city that we need to be aware of in the fight. Despite Amani having some macabre fantasies about all the possible souls she could collect the rest of us would like to find a safe way to get them out of harms way. Thelara and the other commanders meet that night discussing out options. We could go the diplomatic route or take the city by force. After some consideration we decided to at least try settling this by diplomatic means. Even if they don't take the olive branch it will go a long way to sway public opinion about the actions we were about to take. Odra did mention that if we don't at least try the Syndicate could easily turn it around and make us out to be the aggressors. At least by taking the time to parley we can hopefully give enough time to those that are wanting to leave the city and avoid the confrontation.

At the break of dawn our envoy heads out with banners waving in the early morning air. The sounds of hammers smashing and steam valves whistling grow as we approach the gate. A horn bellows from the wall. Three cloaked individuals march out of the gates to meet us white banners flapping against the wind. Their leader Marshal Cyrane Voss announces she is the voice of the city and bid us put down our arms and leave now. Odra speaks up in response pleading for the innocent civilians a chance to evacuate. They agree to a one day conditional truce to allow those that wish to leave to safely leave. Pulling back the armaments and forces until they are safely out. They made sure to reiterate that this was not a surrender but a temporary truce for the sake of the civilians. Z'ed trying to glean any misdirection or lies about the promise felt no deception and that they honestly wanted to give a chance for innocents to avoid the coming bloodshed. Amani in an attempt to sow doubt in our competency started spouting off some BS. Odra playing into it reprimanded Amani showing some discourse in our ranks. Unbeknownst to the opposition though she was carefully observing and listening to what was going on across from them and caught some details whispered to Cyrane about repositioning and changing the arc and aim of some the their weapons. This could help us undermine their defensed later on. Quickly there after Odra agreed to the temporary truce for the sake of the civilians as outlined by Cyrane. A message was sent back to the city and a call was make for all noncombatants and caravans to expeditiously pack up and evacuate the city post haste. Both parties retreat to their respective camps as the evacuation unfolds. defenses were lifted and the gates opened letting a parade of refuges flow out. Each a life now spared from whatever carnage or destruction was to come. About and hour to the west of our camp the refuges set up a civilian camp safely away from any fighting that will take place.

Back at our own camp we got to work. With the newly gifted 24 hour truce we had ample time to fine tone our preparations.

Z'ed and I decided to try and scout out the defenses and the walls now that they had pulled back the ballistae and forces. We were able to validate the defensed we spotted yesterday and got a bit more accurate count on the ballistae but couldn't get a great view inside the city to see what was going on behind the walls.

Bruin and Amani went to help and oversee the construction and planning of the siege weapons our camp was assembling. Bruin putting in some manual labor helping move and carry the heavy stuff and Amani helping point and plan the firing targets for the attacks which could help punch through the walls and make some entry points for our forces.

Klackers went to boost the moral of the troops putting on a comedy USO show for the troops to lighten the mood and raise the spirits in some laughter and joy. A great distraction from the heavy uneasy mood that had been over them with war looming on the horizon.

Odra went off to talk to some of the evacuated civilians to help them and also see if she could dig up any useful information about what was going on behind those walls. At first the refuges coming out and all seemed to be going smoothly but then battered and scared groups started arriving at the camp. Stories of a splintered group inside the walls that refused to help evacuate violent towards those who wished to leave the city. On the outside it appeared as if the Syndicate was holding to their word but after talking to some of the latter refuges Odra learned a group called The Red Coil were punishing those that tried to leave. Stories of family members missing or tortured or going to sleep and not waking up. A group of Syndicate extremists responsible for the actions, sedatives in the water supply and the groups leaving being drugged on their way out so they pass out when they arrive at camp. She even heard of some of the caravan carts being outfitted with boobytraps set to go off after a certain distance

We all gathered back at camp after finishing out individual tasks for the day.

We decided we couldn't let this atrocity continue. Innocents should not be made to pay the price for wanting to leave and safety. Odra found refuge street youth and found out further that the Red Coil had planned a public demonstration. A bell will toll and some innocents will be made an example of and executed for going against the Syndicate.

Upon learning this we decided we had to move fast as we were now on a mission to beat the clock before this could be carried out.

We found a way into the city and there was already a crowd gathered around and a execution pyre built up with the condemned chained to it. Klackers made a diversion as I vanished into the crowd making may way to those that were chained up to try and get them free. Bruin went full cocaine bear and started scaring the crowd along with Odra transforming into her dragon form. It was full on chaos at this point. Z'ed was able to disrupt some of the runes and Amani was able to help me free some of the condemned. We heard from some that we freed about where the pumps they were using to drug the water were. We were able to quickly locate them in some tunnels below the city. Amani identified the arcane runes being used on the pumps and Z'ed navigated the surrounding tunnels finding areas to get to work stopping the pipelines. I got to work on the pumps themselves trying to purify the water with alchemical means. Odra tried to use here warfare knowledge to determine how long this had been going on and to what extent was the water supply already compromised. She determined that this had been going on for quite awhile already and that this was gonna take some more cleansing than was first anticipated but with Klackers assistance Him and I were able to stop the pumps and cleanse the immediate supply of water flowing forth now. At that moment the youth that Odra had gotten to help us found us and informed us that there was something big being planned. An explosive was being set at the bridge to destroy the way for the caravans to leave. We have to stop these Red Coil Arsonists fast and locate these explosive jars being set. Bruin and Amani decided to attempt to climb the walls and get to the arsonists that were set to shoot the jars and triggering the explosion. They easily scaled the wall and some unfortunate bastard was alone and unaware of their arrival until Bruin started to maul and grappled the poor fool. Amani summoned a thrall flanking the two and had it start wailing on the guy. While this was going on Klackers and I got to work trying to disable the fuses they were using on the explosives. Luckily Z'ed came to our aid and quickly disabled a few of the fuses. Odra tried to get in the way and get the caravan to slow down but unsuccessfully. I kept working on those damn fuses. Z'ed figured out the fire lines they were using to set off the explosions to help me. Klackers went to assist Odra and was able to slow the caravan a slight bit. Z'ed stepped in the way and took an arrow stopping it from hitting. Unfortunately on did make it through and set off a blast luckily the parallel fuses were disabled by then so only one went off. Z'ed and I got a little singed from the blast but we successfully stopped their plans.

We quickly found and captured the Red Coil leader and Amani summoned hoard of thralls that lifted the bastard up as Amani slit his throat and left the body hung up as a warning to those that would think twice about doing the sort of actions he did against innocent people.

We walked out of those gates with the rest of the civilians and caravan now safely along side us.

Next time we enter this city will be a different story. Tomorrow we march to war!