Instigating the Uprising

Keratan touched Sakiran's shoulder, winked and left. Carl excused himself and Jaxon was left alone with Sakiran. She got up and walked away to the APC. Jaxon was left to ponder what had happened with Lock.

Carl went to the top of the Titan to try to commune with his "bad voice". He meditated like he had seen Sakiran do, with his eyes closed and bow across his lap. He was met with silence. When he relived pain from his transformation, he felt a dark presence. He drew his bow and cast Light, keeping his eyes closed. The presence was still there even with Light. He stood and waited, with his arrow notched, for the thing to bear down on him again.

Sakiran sat in the APC and Flea and Carnell looked at her, not knowing entirely who she was, then continued to take stock of what they had. She spoke and offered to make his shivs better. She asked about how he knew ancient Elvish during their conversation with the doctor. He said he was raised by a master who taught him how to, but he couldn't say any more than that. She nodded and said she won't pry, but she would make sure that the weapons won't break in a single swing. He also confided in her that he doesn't trust the current squad and that she should trust in him for any plans they make so they can survive. He confirms that Carnell also trusts her.

Carl continued his meditation and noticed there was silver liquid all over the walls. He cut himself and let some of his blood fall into it. It coalesced around it then absorbed it. He activated his Radiant Soul after realising that he had a sense that he could do something new. He let himself go and felt his wings become more solid. He had an out of body experience, everywhere at once and down into a vortex, seeing his slumped over body. He saw something leaking from his spine down to the floor, his consciousness was ripped away and he was in a dark and cold area.

He sensed a presence around him again, saying the words: "weakness, cowardice, unworthy". He was then catapulted into his body again but felt like he was behind something. The Carl he inhabited no longer felt right. He sprints and jumps off the Titan and successfully glided down. His wings had developed a purple lattice of energy. He aimed for the APC and crashed into it.

Carl was now harsh and focused. He said they haven't long, and they could now kill humans at the slave market. He urged them to nod if they are coming and made to grab Jaxon by the head, since he refused to respond. He just managed to dodge away. He asked if he likes where he sent him. He admonishes the party, saying that they have been laughing and drinking and were dressed up all fancy and glared at Sakiran. He said to Flea, I know you don't like Carl, but you and me will get along just fine, since humans were unkind to him as well. He told Jaxon to make a choice. Jaxon was frozen in place and said he isn't Carl.

He leaned in close to Jaxon and says that Carl didn't want to hurt him, but he didn't care what either of them wanted. Agonising silence went by until Jaxon finally agrees to go. "Carl" demands that he drives. Jaxon refuses. Carl walked past Sakiran and smirked at her. She glared back. He saluted Flah'fle and says let the pincers show fear. Carnell completes the pincer. Carl exits the APC and flew towards the slave market.

Jaxon decided to drive, seeing he has no choice. Sakiran asked Flea what the weapons are for, and he explained they are for the slaves and for the "Scorpion tribes". Sakiran and Flea both hid shivs on their person, with Sakiran strapping them to her legs and Flea hiding them within his jacket. As they drew closer towards the camp, they saw guard towers and Gratus symbols all over them. Carl flew over the camp and saw around 100 people in the camp, not including slaves, and heavily armed Gratus. They looked bored and inattentive.

Carl swooped down to the APC and explained what he saw. He said he has been asleep for some time and doesn't know who won the war all that time ago. He told the party that they will rescue the slaves, but they needed someone as bait. Sakiran sighed heavily as she knew it must be her, though admitted she didn't know if she would be able to control herself for long. He put his hand on her shoulder and gripped it in support. He tells her that the Sakiran that he knows, deep inside, had discipline and she would be able to do it. Flea goes ahead and Sakiran and Jaxon followed. Carl flew up into the sky to keep watch while Lock stood guard at the APC.

There was a heavily armed and armoured guard with a greatsword, scarred face and broad. He told the party to halt and to state their business. Flea told him that they're here to trade and the guard asked if they were trading Sakiran. Flea says yes as Sakiran shifts uncomfortably. Flea gave him his short-sword and says it's all the weapons he has. The guard told him to show him all of weapons and he showed him the revolver.

They were let in and there was a commotion around the centre. It looked almost like a normal town: prosperous, though the only thing that betrayed anything unusual were slaves in shackles. The humans and elves were branded, the orcs were docile. There were more slaves behind shop counters as well.

They went into a shop and saw an elven man dressed in a brown rag. He looked down at the counter and Flea asked how they're treating him and if the slaves were unhappy. Flea could tell he was lying when he said he has been treated kindly. Flea confides in him that they have come to help and asked if the elf knows anything. He gets uncomfortable. He pleaded with them to stop, since he could not give any information. He told them to talk to Nyra, a human with red hair. Before they left, Sakiran handed him a shiv strapped to her leg. She told him it is better to die fighting than to roll over. He handed over a tin of beans to make it look like a purchase.

They walked out and Flea and Jaxon argued over interrogating people, with Jaxon pointing out that it would endanger whoever they ask, though Flea insists on continuing with the plan. They looked for the red haired woman. As they did, they heard laughing and cheering and a distinctive male voice. He sounded refined but they can't quite hear the words.

The crowd groan as something clearly didn't go their way. Sakiran failed to push her way through to the rest of the crowd, but is able to see a stage. Jaxon tried to push through and made it all the way to the front. He saw a wooden platform with a lot of people on it, with one slender and bright pink haired man with white makeup. He was named Arthur-Rose Lorencé and he was dressed incredibly well. His slaves, orcs and orc ladies, in fine clothes, were firing bows and arrows into cages at those he deemed ugly. He asked the crowd for volunteers. He went to an elf slave and commanded him to fetch someone.

Sakiran pushed through to get herself noticed. Arthur-Rose urged her up, saying it was rather unusual for a Drow to be dressed so well. He asked her name and she stammered, presenting herself as "Ana". He asks her owner, as she smirks and tells him her owner is Jaxon, and he recognises him. He loves the scandal of Jaxon "owning" a Drow and asks if he remembers him. He tried to reminisce about an orc dying in a funny way as Jaxon made his way up onto the stage. Arthur-Rose Lorencé told him about his half breeds, especially the youngest he had, as she was 14 when they had their first child. He introduced Jaxon to a new game with Molotov cocktails, where if they hit, the slaves caught fire and danced. Jaxon threw one at a very slim slave who the elf brought back and purposefully missed.

Arthur-Rose hit her with the vial and she lit on fire, but Carl killed her instantly from above. Arthur-Rose expressed his confusion and disgust, as Jaxon goes to shake his hand and casts Inflict Wounds. Blood stabbed into Arthur-Rose's arm and his eyes boiled over, though he was still standing. Flea had not yet been noticed, so he moved to meet the others through the crowd as Carl flew down to try to land quickly.

The crowd thought it was part of the game and roared with applause. Jaxon cast Sacred Flame and they wrapped around Arthur-Rose as he screamed on the ground. Sakiran gave into total, blind rage and tore a chunk of flesh out of him. This display inspired the slaves and the woman who had his children caved in his skull and broke down crying as she had finally killed the man she hated so much. Jaxon stood over him, pleased at the justice that had been brought. Unsatisfied, Sakiran took off into the crowd, having completely lost control and looking for more to kill.