Special Delivery|Darkthrone, New Morilanta

[tuo]

"Of course there isn't, the only thing in the entire city that even approaches being a threat to him sits before you, struggling to merely keep rabble outside from marching inside and hanging me." Nissar gives a helpless shrug. "It seems likely to me, that he may become careless in his secure position that he just may befall a tragic accident..possibly in the next few minutes perhaps?" Nissar gives the man a plainly evil grin to the priest as he then tried to instill a feeling of panic, to warn Bastion quickly.

[Kender Bard]

And it worked. Perfectly.

The priest trembled, clearly afraid for his beloved High Priest. He didn't even make any witty passing remark - the priest spun on his heel and tried to run out to go warn Bastion.

[tuo]

There were so many plans for what Nissar could do to the poor fool at this point, many ways to try to strike out at Bastion but he was suddenly very tired of playing games with that Force blinded fool, he could barely muster enough interest to lodge a portion of himself into his mind and try to make him trip near bastion in hopes of impaling his rival on something dangerous or cracking his skull on the temple floor.

With a weary sigh he rises and begins to walk out to a balcony, idly ripping the tail and pincers off the discarded scorpion with his mind signs. "Something is not right...something I've forgotten..oh, of course." A look of comprehension crosses over his face as he begins to give orders to his guards to gather up all of the dissenters outside and the others who seek to cause trouble into a single place where he can overlook them.

[Kender Bard]

In this, the guards were pleased to do their duty. They also put the word out to a few of Nissar's followers lingering near the temple to assist and soon the local dissenters were being harassed and corralled into a single group outside of the palace. Of course, some people had to die. As an example of others. And it was by no means the full extent of Bastion's supporters - only the most outspoken. Or stupid.

A guard overseeing the affair hurried back to Nissar and saluted. "We've grabbed all we could, Majesty."

[tuo]

Nissar gave the guard no mind as he was focused on something else as he stared at the group of dissenters he now overlooked. "Citizens of Morilanta, why do you stand in the shadow of my palace? Why do you risk my wrath?"

[Kender Bard]

The roar of the crowd below gave so many differing cries, all that was truly audible was a general roar of rage and hatred with the loudest voices here and there rising above the rest.

"Hail Bastion!!"
"Traitor-King!!"
"Death to the Imperiator!!"

[tuo]

Nissar allowed the angry shouts to wash over him, not letting himself become upset with them just yet. After the general point of the crowd was made but before it could work itself up to violence he interrupted. "Bastion claims I have failed my duties to take your sins upon myself. He accuses me of dealing with Anarlina and he lies that I have betrayed my own kingdom."

He allowed himself to feel some anger and glared down at the people below. "How could I take in sins that are not given to me? Bastion has failed in his duties to offer your sins to me. Why would I deal with Anarlina when they want nothing more then to kill us all? I would sooner rip my eyes out before dealing with the likes of them." His glare has now intensified to an almost fanatical rage. "Everything I do is for the power and stability of this nation. Bastion is concerned only with removing me and grabbing power for himself. I WILL take your sins onto myself here and now if you will merely offer them."

[Kender Bard]

That took quite a bit of fire out of the people and they quieted, suddenly not quite so sure.

It was then that Bastion decided he had better make a decisive move. The doors to the temple swung open and he strolled out, calm and collected, flanked by a group of his personal priests and his most faithful trailing behind him.

"People of Morilanta, are you going to bend your ear to your tyrant now?" he called out, pitching his voice to carry. "Nissar is sorely pressed; we are here, at his gates, and he has nobody truly close to him from whom he can draw support. He is in a corner, and like any rat in a corner will do, he is lashing out in the only way he knows out; manipulating you and lying to you. This triple Mind delights in invading minds. He might even be in your mind right now, my people! I offer you only words, words to help you make the choice for yourself!"

He stabbed a finger accusingly up towards the balcony where Nissar stood. "So make your choice, citizens! Stand with the foul, blasphemous Nissar or stand with me and the Forces!"

The people, having heard both sides of the story roared out... conflictingly. They seemed split, nearly down to the middle. And then there was a pause as they stared at one another before suddenly all hell broke loose, and both halves fell on one another, attacking one another.

Bastion fell back then, drawing half of his priests with him while the other half charged forward with a large amount of Bastion's supporters, intending to rush the palace.

[tuo]

Nissar turns his glare on Bastion and mentally commands his guards to cut down those who still opposed him without mercy. ~Do you not see what you are doing to this kingdom Bastion?! I have worked to make our people stable in these lands but you would strike out like a child unaware of the consequences of such actions!~ Nissar all but screamed into Bastions mind as he tried to fling him back hard telekinetically.

[Kender Bard]

Bastion stumbled, grabbing onto the priests nearest to him to keep his balance. He uttered a harsh, guttural word to one of his subordinates, who went running, while Bastion hastened into his temple, sending the uncharitable thought to Nissar, You've done nothing. You've sat and brooded and let Morilanta fester when we should be prospering. Burn in hell with your wife, you pathetic coward. He snapped his fingers and his fellow priests slammed the doors to the church shut.