IC-Scene: The Riot

OOC: Since every order by now has heard about what is going on in the slums of the city to a extend, and is moving to react to that, you can use this thread to tell the other orders what they might observe of your reactions. You can also use this to coordinate how to deal with the situation, if you should choose to do so.

A column of Silvermist rangers and Clarion Call knights had been moving from the Clarion Hall to the market square where it now met with the riders coming in from the gates as well as Captain Breno with 100 men of the city watch from the garrison below the castle.
Riding a caparisoned saddle horse Iskar gave the assembled troops a short inspecting look, then turned to the guard captain:

Order your men to use blunt weapons exclusively, we don't want bloodshed. Let the 40 less experienced men you spoke of collect buckets, so they can form a bucket chain from the closest wells to the burning houses, while the others protect them from the rioters.

The captain saluted and passed on the orders, while Iskar addressed his own men:

Sir Silnord, you lead the rangers over the roofs. Keep the districts under a watchful eye from above. Let yourself be seen once in a while with bows ready. This might intimidate the rioters and keep them from attacking us or setting fire to more houses. If you spot people acting as ringleaders of the riots, direct us to their position, so we can capture them.

Lieutenant Colesey, you and the other knights of the Clarion Call will stay near the city watch while they quell the fires. With 50 horses you should be able to disperse any rioting mob nearing our position. Use weapons only in case of emergency and even then, only the broad sides of your swords. The blunt ends of your lances will be especially useful.

Anything unclear?

The men shook their heads and saluted.

Right, Colesey, Captain Breno with me. We shall start with the fires closest to the border of the slums so as to prevent them from spreading elsewhere. Then we will work our way towards the centre of the district.

Silnord, keep us updated on what is going on in the districts.

He raised his hand.

Everybody, quick pace, march!

OOC: A few facts about the situation, which will hopefully help you in getting a better picture:

Quote :

The riot broke out in district 13, the slums. Actual numbers are hard to come by, but according to rough estimates you are dealing with several hundred rioters. The slums are by are by far the most populated district in Laria, home to almost 2000 people. The fire broke out near the centre of the district, but of course the riot's objective is not to smash their own homes to pieces, and parts of the riot has already entered district 11.

So far you have no reports regarding district 12.

A Gauntlet knight arrives at the headquarters of the city guard, and informs the captain that the order is at their disposal if they call.

Very well, Iskar said with a slight frown, if the Gauntlet insist on ignoring my orders about the city gates, they can at least make themselves useful.

Colesey, take ten men and lead the Gauntlet to us. They shall help us protecting the militia quelling the fires.

Lieutenant Colesey nodded and ordered ten mounted rangers to follow him. Together with the messenger they set off back to the Gauntlet detachment.

Oric was sobering up.
Last thing he could remember was the inside of a crowded and smelly tavern and the sweet taste of Ethos' red.
But know he was walking in the slums surrounded by angry smallfolk and accompanied by a rather strange looking sellsword, at least, the man looked like a sellsword because Oric could not recognise the crest on his shield... and he was certain he knew all the noble crests of Pendor, for had to learn them all during his childhood in Ansen Lodge. The thing that made the strange sellsword strange was the crazed look in his eyes and the way he was commanding everyone to move, as if he had proper military training in a Pendorian army. Now the man was yelling at him, him! Sir Oric of Ansen Lodge! fourth son of Sir Gunnar of Javiksholm, knight of the Falcon. Surely he could not say he was a Falcon knight, or that he hid during the Siege of Ravenstern and gave his armor to a stable boy, who was in turn killed by a burly Dragon knight thinking he was an actual knight. The sight of that poor boy's life blood turning the snow into a sickly red still haunted him to this day. But he was still a knight, and knight deserved some respect!
' ORIC!, are you deaf as well as drunk?!' the sellsword hit him. 'Wake up and help me out here!' he turned, bashed a bystander with his shield so hard that the poor man flew against the nearby well. ' Ah a volunteer!' he yelled grinning.
Oric didn't know what to do. Should he help him and get stuck fighting against the rioters, or worse, against the Duke's men? or should he do what he did twice before: run.
There was no time to decide because the sellsword grabbed him by is tunic and dragged him over to the well, 'I am sure the Duke's men will try to quell the fires, but what will the armed smallfolk do when that happens'. he looked at Oric, obviously wandering if he was sober enough to understand. Did he just say smallfolk? It was Oric's time to speak, but instead he nodded.
'good, start filling the buckets with water and, when he wakes up' he pointed towards the unconscious man he just bashed against the stone well 'tell him to help you'.
Oric had no choice to obey, he started to lower the first bucket into the well while the sellsword tried to get more 'volunteers' to help him out.

The Gauntlet detachment marches into view, armed with clubs and quarterstaffs, their regular weapons plainly visible in their sheaths. Lucius is allowed past the sentries while his men wait behind, and approaches with Colesey.

This is your city, and you know it best. Where do you want us? We are available to block roads, and escort the workers. If there is anything within the district you need us to reach quickly, we can do that too.

We will protect the militia while they extinguish the fires. We have not enough men yet to confront the rioting mob directly. Reinforcements will arrive around Dawn. Until then we will take care of the fires and then set up barricades at the border of the rioting districts to prevent the uprising from spreading to other parts of the city.

Since we have now more men to protect the militia, all of the latter can help quelling the fires. However... captain, I want you to send 20 of your men around the city and buy whatever high proof alcohol they can find, then report back to me. I will provide the necessary money.

Anything unclear? No? Then - he raised his voice and assumed his usual commanding tone - Close formation, double quick, march!

Sir Azrael listened to the head of the City Watch in silence. His temporal partner, Sir Kelren, was following suit. The situation was highly combustible and mistakes couldn't be afforded. 60 guardsmen was a good number given their training. Sadly, Sir Azrael lacked the knowledge of the city layout and peope within. This led him to the conclusion that the Silvermist was probably their best shot at a good strategy.

"Well, Sir Kelren, by chance do you happen to have a plan at hand? I seriously lack in the knowledge of the city and won't be able to make much precise plans for the troops at hand. However, a Griffon in full armour is an imposing sight which could be taken advatage of."

That is certainly true, Sir Kelren said. I shall ask the Lord Constable whether he has any specific task in mind for you.
He sped up his horse and closed in with Iskar. After a short talk he came back to Sir Azrael.

The Lord Constable thinks that you will certainly be a considerable help when rioters approach us. On the other hand it would be helpful if someone oversaw the 20 guardsmen tasked with buying the alcohol. If you choose to stay with us, he would ask you to stay with the Clarion Call Rangers and act as their leader when rioters come into sight, so as to make the biggest impression possible on them. Your call.

Sir Azrael was particularly amused by his choices. On the other hand, he would have to keep watch of 20 men running around the city gathering alcohol. He couldn't be in several places at the time so that would be a logistical nightmare. On the other hand, leading the Clarion Calls would be an interesting challenge too, seeing that Clarion Calls would probably be needed in several places. Still, he would be of more use with the latter.

"I will oversee the Clarion Calls, if your chapter doesn't mind." S

Iskar had approached them while they were talking.

Splendid, Sir Azrael, he said. Your authority as a Knight of the Griffon will be most helpful. The Clarion Call Rangers have orders to use the blunt ends of their lances and the broad sides of their swords only when facing rioting civilians. We don't want any bloodshed in thze streets of Laria and in particular we want to capture the ringleaders alive. I have men positioned on the roofs that will notify us if they spot isolated ringleaders. It would be your task then to move out quickly together with the Clarion Call and capture them. My men on the roofs would then direct you to the target.

He turned to Sir Kelren.

Still the guardsmen need someone to organise the acquistion of the alcohol. You know this task is just as important as quelling the fires, Sir Kelren. Therefore I wish you to oversee it. When you have acquired as much alcohol as you can get for 1000 denari, start distributing it in the rioting districts. Just leave the casks somewhere in the vicinity of the rioting mob. They will find them and the hard alcohol will hopefully render a good part of them unable to move for the rest of the night.

Sir Kelren saluted and turned his saddlehorse.

You over there, he called out to the 20 men detached for the task, with me at the double quick.

Sir Kelren and the men marched off while the rest of the troop continued their way towards the closest fires.

We will advance on the plaza and halt half way in front of them, Iskar said and the officers passed on the orders.

Silnord, he called up to the roofs, make ready! and turning back to the men on the ground: Close formation, blow the clarions. Sir Azrael, come with me!

With Iskar and Azrael in front the whole formation advanced onto the plaza, while Silnord's rangers took positions on the edges of the stable roofs around it.

When they halted, Iskar took the metal cone from his belt and put it to his mouth.

We're here to save the homes of the righteous people of Laria from the fires, he shouted. Make way to the well and help us quell the fires!

Iskar glowered at the retreating rioters. He was somewhat glad they had retreated so easily, but on the other hand speaking to a ringleader might have revealed more about the riot's cause and could have provided a more stable peace than this fragile armistice. He turned his gaze towards the burning houses and a sudden flash of memories of the burning village of Buillin filled his mind.

Captain Breno's words pulled him out of the reminiscence. What are your orders, milord?

Iskar pulled himself together and turned back to the men.

Sir Lucius, form a shield wall around the militia near the well. Sir Azrael, organise the Clarion Call around those near the houses. Captain Breno, have your men extinguish the fires. Groups of 20 for each house, start with the least damaged and those close to the ones that have not caught fire yet.
Silnord, he finally called up to the roofs, Palta! Tiris Koryali, Tuva Nivyali!

"Roger that, Sir Iskar", was Sir Azrael's immediate reply.

Taking a count of the Clarion Calls around the square he reached the sum of around 50. Quite a lot for a possible skirmish but still manageable. He rode to the nearest cluster and issued his orders to five of Clarion Calls he deemed high-ranking. Sirs Ernest, Aaro, Othel, Ines and Urei, they introduced themselves.

"You five, each of you take 9 of your fellow knights and form a squad. Keep together and keep a small distance to other squads. Your squads will be called after your names for the duration of this mission. Also, prepare to split your squads into teams of 5 if this comes down to a wide skirmish. Now, move!"

As the knights started to fill their given mission, Sir Azrael reflected upon the angry faces of the citizens. The constant events were getting out of control...

As soon as Iskar relayed his commands, Lucius wheeled round on his men and began bellowing orders. His knights unslung their large shields, and within a matter of seconds had surrounded the militia, each man scanning the roofs around him, protecting the men inside the circle. The wall occasionally fluctuated to allow men in and out.

The fires close to the districts border were quelled when Brynden of Barclay noticed the Rangers on the Roofs, heard the horses gallop and the men march. It was time for him to act, because Brynden of Barclay was born for the infiltration of the Duke's enemy's. He called his small militia to him, they would follow.

When Brynden and Oric reached the slums they witnessed a display of power that let several rioters flee inbetween the burning houses. He heard Oric muttering something about the wretched Duke. That would help him if they'd join up with the fleeing rioters. It was now or never, he would try to join them and do what his Knight master had ordered him to do.


OOC: I hope it is oke with you Azlanek if I join up with the rioters.. not sure if it should stay in this thread though

You waste no time and go to work. The militia starts to fill the buckets with water and forms lines to engage the fires eating away at those houses you still deem savable, while the rangers climb down from the roofs and disperse into all directions.

But the angry people of Laria are not idle either. You are still battling the flames on the main square, when one of the mounted rangers spots another fiery glow gaining strength deeper in the district. And even behind you, outside the slums, the situations seems to grow worse with each passing minute, and soon a column of smoke rises into the air.

As they see this, many of the remaining rioters cheer and start running towards these focal points.

Within all of this commotion, suddenly a burly, poorly dressed men appears from one of the narrow alleys, charging madly at the ranger that seems to be in command. Iskar, in that moment directing men to the next house, has his back turned to the man who comes running at him like there was no tomorrow.

Sir Azrael noticed the man charging towards Iskar. Normally, being a Knight of the Griffon, he would shout an alarm as soon as possible. But now he hesitated for a second. Sir Iskar wasn't under his protection and he loathed harming any civilians, dangerous-looking as they may be. Still, he had his horse go towards Iskar as fast as possible and shouted to the soldiers:

"Seize the man! Seize the man!

He could just hope that no one got killed in this. And the soldiers would actually hear him.




OOC: Basically Azrael is riding to get between the man and Iskar.