Cleansing and Rebirth

The residents of Zuldazar endured the longest, most agonizing night of their lives.

First, the Royal Palace caught fire. Then cries of battle erupted throughout the city. Ordinary citizens had not witnessed such turmoil in centuries.

Dawn was shattered by the clatter of iron hooves and chains.

The moment the signal of a successful assassination was sent, the rebels poured out in full force. Their main force attacked the Royal Palace, while more of them set fires indiscriminately to stir up chaos.

Only after daybreak did the rebels realize that they had never stood any chance of success. The queen's guards still held the Royal Palace. After fighting all night, the rebels had not even reached its gates. They had merely wandered in circles through illusions or spent the night slaughtering their own companions. It was clearly some profound magical trick.

Now came the reckoning. Before the ringleaders of the rebellion even had time to regret their actions, the queen's guards and the troops loyal to the kingdom began entering the city to purge the rebels.

The Royal Guard, long since deployed and ready, surged like a golden tide. Divided into several columns, they swept precisely toward prominent estates and side halls of temples throughout Zuldazar. They had memorized the target list by heart, and moved swiftly and mercilessly.

"Open the door! In the name of Queen Talanji!"

Heavy gilded gates were split open by Battle Axes or blasted apart by powerful magic. The guards stormed into courtyards that had once been the height of prestige like ravening wolves.

"What are you doing?! I am a councilor of the Zanchul Council! You have no right to break in!"

"Outrageous! I serve Bwonsamdi! The Loa will punish you!"

"I demand to see the Queen! This must be a misunderstanding!"

Furious