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Message: <blockquote data-quote="simmo" data-source="post: 1395587" data-attributes="member: 9744">Part 12 If the Modrons Want to March You'd Better Let Themchapter 1 Serena and Malkir at Haven, When the Walls Came DownChaos and panic reigned in the city of Haven. The news of the approaching modrons had spread like wildfire and the evacuation was already well under way. Unfortunately the majority of the ships were not in port and by the time they came back, the modrons would have passed through already. Some of the citizens of the colourful port town were less concerned with the march. They believed that the march would simply proceed down the main thoroughfare and across the river. The mayor belonged to this group of people and he'd spent the morning telling everyone to remain calm and to keep off the streets if at all possible.The mayor was just on his way to meet with the head of the town guard to discuss the protection of Tomeri's holiest shrine in the city, when he spied the new arrivals who'd brought with them a group of Defenders of Tomeri. Whilst their good intentions were honourable, he was somewhat dismayed by how much untoward alarm this would cause to the good citizens of Haven. As he made his way up the street to the large gathering, he began overhear bits of their conversations and his heart sank.“Large portions of the city where the modrons are going to go, there is no problem for them to be there.” Malkir explained, holding the map of the city for the others to see. “We simply have to clear he areas where they are going. Specific houses and specific sections. We have the man power.”“What's going on here?” asked the mayor stepping up the mystic and his friends. “What's this all about?” He pushed his way past the warriors with crystal armour and weapons, apologising as he did so.“Greetings,” said the small seer. “I am Serena Allman, Chosen of Tomeri. I am here to help you.”“Ah, Chosen of Tomeri.” The mayor was pleased to see that there was someone in a position of authority of these newcomers that he could hold a civilized conversation with. “Welcome to our city. Unfortunately we are in a bit of a mess getting ready for our visitors.”“Here.” Serena handed him the map, taken from the modrons. “I have a map of the route that the modrons are going to take.”“This is simply quite unacceptable.” After only a quick glance the aasimar mayor saw that the modrons would not be going straight through the city, but instead splitting off in to smaller and smaller groups before converging at the harbour. “As mayor of this fine city I will not accept them coming down this road and that path will simply not do...”“Tough mate!” Malkir fought to keep the anger out of his voice. “You simply do not have a choice. There are an almost infinite number of modrons coming towards your city. You do not get a choice where they are going. You simply get a choice of who gets out of the way.” The mystic who normally glowed with health was now seething with righteous anger.“Can we not negotiate with them?” the mayor asked plaintively.“I have negotiated,” replied Malkir, who'd reached the end of his patience. “That is why you have got a map.”“Right...” Began the mayor.“I'm telling you this map, which I got from a pentadrone, told me that this is the precise route that they are taking.” Malkir pointed to several streets on the map. “You have an opportunity before they get here to move people out of those houses.”“Right.....” The mayor looked at Serena, hoping that she'd come to his rescue. But she simply crossed her arms and nodded her head in agreement with Malkir. “The modrons will destroy those houses.” Malkir turned away from the mayor and left him with the map in the faint hope that he'd come to his sense. He could now see the modrons slowly approaching the gate and began to draw up plans for getting people to safety. “I'm afraid that you are not going to get a choice over this. Forget the negotiationsat's myhrough!” The mayor exclaimed. The mystic spun around, grabbed the map out of the startled mayor's hands and walked off.“Then I'm terribly sorry,” he said over his shoulder as he walked away. “I can probably give you some money to help rebuild it.” If you survive the march, thought Malkir to himself.Serena called over the commanders of the Defenders of Tomeri and showed them the  map. With the help of Malkir and the others they drew up a quick plan of which houses to evacuate and how best to control the rising panic on the streets of Haven. Each of the groups of Defenders selected one of their members to act as runners to keep everyone informed of what was happening.Caleb, who been staring at the hills for quite some time, caught up with the others after having formulated a plan.“I'M GOING TO TRY TO BUY YOU SOME TIME.” began Caleb slowly. “IF WE CAN CREATE SOME BOGGY GROUND, THE WATER WILL RUN DOWN THE HILL AND CREATE A SMALL SWAMP. OR SOMETHING.” He scratched his head, and tried to think of how to improve the plan. “IT MAY BE A COMPLETE DISASTER, BUT IT WILL SLOW THEM FOR SOME IME.”“If they're planning on crossing the river, then some marshy ground is not going to slow them down for long.” Littleby pointed out.“They're planning on building a bridge across the river.” Andrew clarified. “Building a bridge across the marsh, they can also cross. But it's still going to take time.”“LITTLEBY,” Caleb said, having managed to expand the plan. “CAN YOU CREATE AN IMPASSIBLE BARRIER ACROSS THE GATE?”“I'm not sure that a direct barrier is a good idea.” He replied very quietly.“I think that it is a really helpful plan, but we cannot rely upon it.” Serena was grateful for her friends efforts and wished them well, but was not hopeful of any success.Malkir set off with the Defenders to clear the houses. Caleb, Littleby and Andrew walked a short distance to the gate to put their plan in tot action and Serena headed for the Healing Heart orphanage.</blockquote>

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