talien
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Crisis in Freeport: Part 3 – Freeport in Chaos
From the newspaper office, the riots spread like wildfire throughout the city. Within minutes, groups of people that were peacefully gathered before became a riotous mob, violently lashing with other crowds and looting and pillaging as they went. The mobs were increasingly destructive, mowing through the city like a vicious, many-headed serpent. In less than a half hour, Sebastian’s conflagration caused thick billows of black smoke to rise from rooftops around the city.
The sounds of violence echoed down every street as Beldin passed. Those citizens not involved in the riot holed themselves up in their houses and shops, shuttering the windows and barring the doors. Most streets stood empty, with only stray dogs and debris drifting between buildings.
By contrast, the rioting mobs themselves were loud and brutal. Composed of orcs and human gang members, the mobs tore a destructive swathe through Freeport with every passing moment.
Amid the violent brawls and cacophony of the riot, a lone woman sat leaning against the side of a nearby building, eyes unfocused and seemingly unaware of her dangerous surroundings. Strikingly beautiful with long dark red hair and a lithe body, a, she stood out against the ugly backdrop of the unruly crowds. It was likely only her inaction had kept from coming to the attention of the rioters.
Beldin squinted. “You’re Letah Calame, aren’t you?”
“I…” her eyes were glazed. “My bodyguard…we were on the way to the Salon du Masque…”
The dwarf let out a heavy sigh. “Given the lies you’ve been spreading about me and my friends, I don’t see why I should help you, but…” He took out his axe. “Follow me.”
It didn’t take long before he came upon another dangerous scene. Gang members had commandeered buildings to either side of the street. Arrows, crossbow bolts, and stones flew back and forth between the two sets of buildings, creating a dangerous crossfire that passed between all levels of the two- and three-story buildings.
Down the street, a redheaded woman was huddled beneath an overturned cart. Each time an arrow or bolt thunked into the wooden barrier provided by the cart, she let out a shriek of terror.
Beldin recognized her. It was Nell, protégé of Falthar val’Abebi and the new owner of Falthar’s Curios.
Beldin fished a potion out of his belt pouch and handed it to Letah. “Drink this.”
The former cultist of Larissa was coming out of her shock. “What is it?”
“It will protect you from harm. When I say run, you run as fast as you can towards the cart.”
Letah took a swig of the potion. “Wait, we’re running INTO that mess?”
“RUN!” commanded Beldin.
Letah took off, her long legs easily outpacing the huffing dwarf. A bolt fired right towards her head, but stopped in mid-air, inches from her face. She screamed, but kept running.
Letah skidded underneath the cart. Beldin blocked the opening to the overturned cart with his shield.
“Make her drink this.” He threw another potion to Letah. “It will protect her like the other potion protected you. Watch her while I’m gone.”
Letah caught the potion and handed it to Nell. “What’s protecting you?”
Several bolts and arrows jutted from Beldin’s stout frame. Blood trickled out of the wounds in his armor.
“I’m going to go clean up Freeport,” he said.
From the newspaper office, the riots spread like wildfire throughout the city. Within minutes, groups of people that were peacefully gathered before became a riotous mob, violently lashing with other crowds and looting and pillaging as they went. The mobs were increasingly destructive, mowing through the city like a vicious, many-headed serpent. In less than a half hour, Sebastian’s conflagration caused thick billows of black smoke to rise from rooftops around the city.
The sounds of violence echoed down every street as Beldin passed. Those citizens not involved in the riot holed themselves up in their houses and shops, shuttering the windows and barring the doors. Most streets stood empty, with only stray dogs and debris drifting between buildings.
By contrast, the rioting mobs themselves were loud and brutal. Composed of orcs and human gang members, the mobs tore a destructive swathe through Freeport with every passing moment.
Amid the violent brawls and cacophony of the riot, a lone woman sat leaning against the side of a nearby building, eyes unfocused and seemingly unaware of her dangerous surroundings. Strikingly beautiful with long dark red hair and a lithe body, a, she stood out against the ugly backdrop of the unruly crowds. It was likely only her inaction had kept from coming to the attention of the rioters.
Beldin squinted. “You’re Letah Calame, aren’t you?”
“I…” her eyes were glazed. “My bodyguard…we were on the way to the Salon du Masque…”
The dwarf let out a heavy sigh. “Given the lies you’ve been spreading about me and my friends, I don’t see why I should help you, but…” He took out his axe. “Follow me.”
It didn’t take long before he came upon another dangerous scene. Gang members had commandeered buildings to either side of the street. Arrows, crossbow bolts, and stones flew back and forth between the two sets of buildings, creating a dangerous crossfire that passed between all levels of the two- and three-story buildings.
Down the street, a redheaded woman was huddled beneath an overturned cart. Each time an arrow or bolt thunked into the wooden barrier provided by the cart, she let out a shriek of terror.
Beldin recognized her. It was Nell, protégé of Falthar val’Abebi and the new owner of Falthar’s Curios.
Beldin fished a potion out of his belt pouch and handed it to Letah. “Drink this.”
The former cultist of Larissa was coming out of her shock. “What is it?”
“It will protect you from harm. When I say run, you run as fast as you can towards the cart.”
Letah took a swig of the potion. “Wait, we’re running INTO that mess?”
“RUN!” commanded Beldin.
Letah took off, her long legs easily outpacing the huffing dwarf. A bolt fired right towards her head, but stopped in mid-air, inches from her face. She screamed, but kept running.
Letah skidded underneath the cart. Beldin blocked the opening to the overturned cart with his shield.
“Make her drink this.” He threw another potion to Letah. “It will protect her like the other potion protected you. Watch her while I’m gone.”
Letah caught the potion and handed it to Nell. “What’s protecting you?”
Several bolts and arrows jutted from Beldin’s stout frame. Blood trickled out of the wounds in his armor.
“I’m going to go clean up Freeport,” he said.