text: You got run out of your home town, you got run out of Klyton, you're sick of running even if the ECS aren't driving you out in the traditional sense. Plus you just reunited with Mara, it would probably be best if you stuck by her if you want to continue a good relationship with her.
  
  "Mara, maybe you're right I think we need to fight." You say.
  "I agree, though I'll admit I'm a little scared." Mara replies.
  "Well good. You should be scared, because this is going to be dangerous. However, think of it this way. Right now we've got a numerical advantage and the element of surprise. The guy that spoke to me, Nathan seems to labor under the impression that I'm going to comply with his wishes to tell everyone to join them. Obviously I'm going to do the opposite."
  "Do you think it will work?"
  "Like I said, it's not going to be easy. I'm going to put out feelers for the ones who I know will resist first. In the meantime, I want you to go tell your boyfriend AND urge to him how serious this is. We need to all coordinate an attack plan and strike only when the time is right. If we go in half assed on this, we're all going to hang. Now are you absolutely sure he and the rest of the Black Hooks aren't going to be likely to join the ECS?"
  "Very sure. I certainly don't want to and Marco isn't my boyfriend."
  "... he's not? Hm, guess my information is severely out of date and Dolan isn't as thorough as he claims."
  "Well...  things change, and it hasn't been long. In fact nobody in the Black Hooks really knows yet."
  "Oh. Um, you okay? I mean is there something really bad that happened that you're not telling me?"
  "Yeah. It wasn't a bad split or anything like that. Just wasn't working out. Anyway, I think we got more important things to worry about with the Claws."
  "So we do. Okay, you know what to do and I'm sure we'll be speaking again sometime in the near future. Oh and I suppose you can go ahead and tell Dolan that he doesn't need to worry about spying anymore."
  "Okay."
  
  Before you part ways, you hug Mara who returns it. You tell her to be careful and that you're glad to be speaking with her again.
  
  You get to work immediately and eventually you manage to get together a group that you're sure is going to be receptive to opposing the ECS, however a few of them have other concerns.
  
  "So who's leading this resistance? You?" one of them asks.
  "Well I'm more of an organizer, but I suppose we can all contribute ideas." You say.
  "A council? That sound like a terrible idea. Things like this a lot better with a defined leader." Another says.
  "I dunno, isn't this the sort of thing we're trying to avoid? I mean we're essentially forming a gang to oppose the ECS. And say we actually succeed, then what? We just avoided getting assimilated or eliminated at the cost of being independent in the first place." yet another responds.
  "And what about those Black Hook bastards? You said they're going to be involved? Can't say I'm looking forward to that." A fourth says.
  "I'm telling you one thing right now if that little shit Marco is supposed to be in charge of this, I'm out right now." A fifth says.
  
  You can see how difficult is going to be already.
  
  "Okay, people, people! I understand all these concerns, but let me address some right now! First, this isn't going to be a gang, its not even going to be a guild. This is just going to be a mutually beneficial alliance. We ALL agree to work together to oppose the ECS or any other threat to our interests. After said threat is gone, we can all go back to being little special grains of sand. As for the Black Hooks, we're going to be allying with them as well, even if they're their own separate entity. We just all need to coordinate and get as many people on board with this as possible." You say.
  "Can I just say something?" an older man you only know as "Sneaks" asks.
  "Go ahead."
  "I faced the ECS on a regular basis many years ago back in Holgard. I belonged to the Thieves Guild there that opposed them. We tried our best, but ultimately they wiped us out. I dare say I'm one of the few that got away to my knowledge. Now I already knew they were in this city before you even called this meeting. I actually planned on catching first ship out of here just because I didn't want to go through this mess again. However, while they might be powerful the ECS tends to abandon places if it's going to cost them more effort than it's worth."
  
  The old thief stands up from his chair to continue his speech.
  
  "So I think you're correct in that if we do act now before they get entrenched like they did in Holgard, we might just stop them. I'm going to go try to convince a few others that respect my opinion to join us in this task. I urge you all to do the same because if we just let the ECS come in here, it's going to be worse than you think if we just comply."
  
  Between you and Sneaks' speeches the rest seem more convinced of this cause. You realize it's still going to take some hammering out all the details, but this is a good start.
  
  A bit more discussion goes on and eventually the group breaks up for the night. You tell Sneaks to stick around though since you want to speak with him a little more.
  
  "Hey, a lot of your words really helped I think. Pretty sure some of them would have left otherwise." You say.
  "Well you put all this together so I think you're more responsible than anyone else for this resistance." Sneaks replies.
  "Funny enough I was seriously considering in just complying when the ECS first approached me, it was someone else who felt fighting was a more worthy pursuit. Glad she did now."
  "Mmm, glad she did too. I think you would have found life under ECS yoke far less desirable than even fighting them. I was thinking that while it's been well established that this is just a temporary alliance, a couple people were correct in that we probably should have a single leader instead of all of us just shouting ideas. More will get accomplished quicker if you just become the leader. I doubt if anyone is going to have any major objections."
  "Oh. Well I guess it probably makes the most sense. You seem to have genuine experience in fighting the ECS though, sure you don't want to do it?" you half joke.
  "Nah, I've never been a leader. I have been an advisor on more than one occasion though, so I'll do that if you need."
  
  A few days after you've had your meeting with the independents, you meet up with Mara who has brought Marco with her. You haven't been looking forward to this meeting.
  
  You only met him in person once before the first time Mara brought him around two years ago, but he's grown as well. He still has that tone of arrogance in his voice like he knows everything of course. If anything he's even worse.
  
  "I don't see why we're waiting around for a bunch of old fucks before striking at these assholes. Word has it, that they've been setting up in a general store on Typhoon street. Me and my Black Hooks could easily take them out! We've been waiting for something like this, we got the gear and we're ready!" Marco says.
  "Yeah? Well you'll be even more ready if you're just a bit more patient Marco. We need to coordinate plans, not go in half assed. I figured Mara explained this already to you." You reply.
  
  Marco scowls a bit.
  
  "Hey look, I know this guy is your dad and he deals fairly with us with fencing shit, but he needs to know he can't just tell me what to do. I'M the leader of the Black Hooks and after we're done wiping out these Ebony Claw assholes, we're going to be stepping things up to run this entire city!"
  "Great, so Mara have the Claw been in contact with any Black Hooks?" you say already getting sick of talking to Marco and deciding to speak with Mara instead.
  "HEY! I'm the fucking leader! You supposed to be fucking talking to ME about this shit, not my girlfriend!"
  "First off, I'll talk to who the fuck I want, especially my daughter. Second, I thought you guys broke up."
  
  Marco's face drops and he looks more scared than angry.
  
  "You... you told him?! You promised you wouldn't say anything!" Marco says.
  "No! No! I just told him we broke up!" Mara says.
  "I think I'm missing something here." You say.
  
  The rest of the short meeting mostly consists of Mara trying to calm Marco down. You don't know what it's all about, but you've gotten the impression that it's something embarrassing.
  
  By the time Marco does calm down, he's even pissier with you and now he's upset with Mara (Though he doesn't get outright angry) Ultimately he grudgingly accepts the plan of waiting until everyone is ready.
  
  You nearly ask Mara what that was all about after he leaves, but you figure maybe it should wait for now. You just tell her to continue to be the rational influence in the Black Hooks.
  
  You have another meeting later on that week with Sneaks who has already gathered a bit of information on the ECS. He tells you contrary to what Marco believes, they are NOT all gathered in a general store on Typhoon Street. He mentions that's just some front they're already starting to set up. He mentions their real base isn't even in the city; it's in some small ruin on the island.
  
  "You followed them outside the city?" you ask.
  "Yeah, looks like an abandoned temple of Fel. I'm really not surprised given their history."
  "What do you mean?"
  "Some of the ECS, mostly the higher ranking ones, have connections to Fel. You're aware of who that is right?"
  "Sure, god of shadows. Some rogues are into him though most pray to Yag."
  "Well that's probably because most rogues aren't actively religious and it's easier to say few half assed praises to a god who's just rolling the dice anyway. Dedication to Fel, and I mean true dedication to Fel is a little more involved, but it does seem to have benefits and I've seen those unfortunately in action when I was in Holgard."
  "Shit. Are you telling me these folks have divine powers?"
  "No, not all of them, not even most of them. In fact I doubt if any of the ones sent here do. I'm just saying there is a history for high ranking leaders to have shadow powers. In any case, I believe there about thirty or so of them here. It's definitely going to be a fight whenever we attack."
  "Thirty is a lot more than I expected."
  "Yeah well they probably were keeping stuff like that secret so if anyone tried anything now, they could determine who was going to be a problem and retaliate in force if they needed to."
  
  Sneaks goes on to suggest that perhaps the Black Hooks should lead the assault since Marco is so eager. In fact he actually goes so far to not so subtly suggest that something should happen to Marco in particular.
  
  "I'm sort of wondering where this conversation is going Sneaks." You say.
  "Okay, we both know the Black Hooks are a potential problem in the future. I mean yeah they won't be the ECS, but they could start getting pretty territorial really fast if left unchecked. I'm just saying that the rest of us do a little less to help them and let them take most of the casualties. And if some of them just happen to accidentally get shot by a stray bullet or bolt... well shit happens." Sneaks remarks.
  "That's... pretty damn shady. Though I have to admit, I do see the logic in it, and I might actually consider it except for one major thing."
  "What's that?"
  "Mara is in the Black Hooks and I'm not exactly keen on using her as fodder."
  "Okay, so I'll just let everyone else know that your daughter is off limits and is not to be targeted."
  "I dunno. I mean its one thing to let the Black Hooks take the brunt of the casualties, but it's completely another thing to actively kill them in the middle of the fight when we're supposed to be on the same side. Also while Mara might get spared, it's going to be awfully suspicious if she's the only Black Hook survivor. We may not be fond of them, but some of these people are her friends. She isn't a stupid girl and will make her own conclusions."
  "Well, I suppose it's up to you, but I just don't see it as a bad idea."
  > use treachery
  Sneaks is correct, the Black Hooks are going to be just as big of an issue later on. Sure they may be just a bunch of obnoxious teenagers that are half assed thugs and thieves now, but eventually they're going to get smarter, better and more aggressive. And you already know that Marco has ideas about his gang eventually controlling the entire city.
  
  "Yeah, it's grim business, but we probably should. We'll let the Black Hooks go charging in first. I'm going to try to keep Mara close to me, but if she should get away from me, I don't have to tell you that she isn't to be targeted. Also you need to make sure she doesn't see anyone killing a Black Hook member." you say.
  "Goes without saying. So should we go over when and how we're going to plan this attack?" Sneaks asks.
  
  You and Sneaks first go over the plans a few times, then you share this information with the rest of the Jicol Alliance, after sharing it with them, you share it with the Black Hooks.
  
  You still aren't sure of when to attack since you want to make sure to get most if not all in one area and not have to chase any down, given how impatient Marco is getting and the fact that you're really never going to know for sure when the best time is, you just decide to do it sooner rather than later, especially since you're as ready as you all are going to get.
  
  You spend the day before the attack mostly getting yourself mentally prepared for this. You haven't killed anyone since Klint and murder in general wasn't really something you ever wanted make a habit of doing. However, you do know it's within you to do it and you're going to have to do it multiple times soon. You just take into consideration that Mara is going to be in danger the whole time and you're going to have to kill in order to make sure she doesn't die.
  
  Not that you think she's going to be helpless, but it's a better frame of mind to put yourself in if you're thinking that way for this task.
  
  Your forces attack the ECS hideout at night. You tell the Black Hooks to take the lead and eliminate the outside sentries first.
  
  They almost succeed in doing it stealthy, but of course some of them fail in a quiet kill and an alarm has already been raised.
  
  The fight on the first floor isn't too bad, but by the time you get to the underground level which is like a maze, the Black Hooks are dropping like flies. Besides getting killed by Ebony Claws lurking around every corner, they're not paying attention to how trapped this place is. At the rate they're dying, nobody will have to bother stabbing any in the back.
  
  The whole time this is going on, you're still trying to keep an eye on Mara who you've seen take out at least one person. You aren't sure if she's done that before or this is her first time. You guess you'll ask after this is all over.
  
  Bullets, bolts, arrows, blades and traps of all kinds are dodged or blocked many times in this battle. The Ebony Claws fight back with everything they got, which includes several, fire powder bombs that take out a large part of your forces, enough to tip the odds in their favor mainly because the Black Hooks have been completely decimated and now the Alliance is starting to take the casualties.
  
  While you planned on killing Marco yourself, he's already dead from getting blown to pieces by a firebomb. Say what you want about the guy, he actually was keeping the remaining Black Hooks from running away. You have no doubt that the run aways will be killed by Alliance members lagging behind, though you're starting to think that employing treachery might not have been the way to go about this.
  
  Eventually you and Mara, reach what you believe to be an altar room of some sort. You see Nathan and his friend that came with him when they first met you.
  
  "You fucking idiots. You have no idea of the deep shit you're all in. You really think even if you some how manage to kill all of us this day, that you're going to get away with it? Kill the bitch, I'm gonna take my time with this one." Nathan shouts while pointing at you.
  
  Nathan at this point spout some sort of gibberish and become blurry and you're having a hard time focusing on him. It would seem that Sneaks wasn't entirely correct about none of their number having access to shadow magic.
  
  I'll deal with the magic asshole, you cut the other one down and then help me!" you shout to Mara.
  
  Nathan is moving at a speed that you can barely defend against. He slashes you across the face with his knife, kicks you in the balls and then slams you to the floor. He then punches you multiple times in the face before blinding you completely by stabbing you in both eyes.
  
  You're left screaming and bloody on the floor and in darkness when Mara knocks Nathan off of you. Mara has only given you temporary relief since Nathan quickly dispatches her.
  
  You crawl around on the floor and hear Nathan gloat about what he's done to you and how he's going to make you suffer even more, and that's when you hear a gunshot, followed by the slumping of a body. The gloating has ceased.
  
  "MARA?! MARA?! Are you there!?" you scream out, hoping that she's still alive. Hoping she's the one that shot Nathan.
  "She's dead I'm afraid." You hear Sneaks say.
  "No!" you cry out. Between your physical pain and now your emotional pain, you're a gibbering wreck.
  
  Sneaks, without another word reloads his flintlock and shoots you. Whether that's because he's a treacherous bastard or whether he was putting you out of your misery, you'll never know.
  
  Doesn't matter since in those last moments, you wanted to die.