The smoke that billowed up and formed lazily drifting clouds of ashen grey haze could easily be seen from the encampment of prisoners that was situated on the outskirts of the city proper.  Nestled down in the slight dip of a valley as it were, the sounds of war were seemingly funneled by the lands topography through the growing numbers of prisoners.  The distant explosive booms, the rattling of steel, and the cries of men and women engaged in that fierce battle mingled with the more prevalent sounds of distress of the shackled, beaten, and tortured pole bound captives within the make shift prison camp.  Reinforcements to vast to count lingered on the flattened hilltop plateaus that surrounded the internment camp, waiting for their orders to descend into the fray.  It was obvious that the forces of the Empire intended to make an example out of Eastborne for their refusal to bend to the Empires will and submit themselves to their Inquisition.<br/><br/>Rhodri turned his gaze out towards the distant chaos and whistled through his uneven teeth.  "Ainit a damn shame ya know.  Shulda jus opin them gates up and lettem in.  Now tha whole damn city gonna be burnt to tha fukin grund."  He turned back towards the pair of pole buddies and grinned towards them both with his crooked gapped tooth smile.  "Na where's dat hot little cell mate o yours?"  His taunt was directed towards Brigid as he gave her tush a prod with the tip of his sturdy leather boot.  "Sha didn't mak it out?  Sha wouda been a right fine fuck."  He gave a chortled chuckle as he clasped his sides to control his outburst of laughter.<br/><br/>His gaze then swung over to Kestrel and without much more of a warning then the simple hate filled sneer of his lips and narrowing of his eyes upon the tiefling he lashed out with his boot and gave her a solid kick in her gut.  "Don'cha fukin look it me, ya bloody fuckin fiend bitch!"  He snarled towards her as he settled his foot next to the wooden bowl of water.  With a little nudge of his foot he drew the bowl of water away from Kestrels reach and returned his attention towards Brigid.  Rhodri dropped down to a single knee as he reached out and grasped her firmly by the chin and forced her face to look towards his.  "I know ya ain't no mage, but ya new lova ere."  He cringed sarcastically as he thumbed back towards Kestrel.  "Tha Inquisitors thay don take kind to her sort, not one bit."<br/><br/>Rhodri shifted his hand upward and grasped the wooden gag that was wedged in Brigid's mouth.  "But tell ya wat, slut, ya do me cock propah wit those little lips of yours and I'll puts a good word in for ya."  He gave a firm tug, yanking the bit out of her mouth before he moved his hand to wrap about the back of her head.  "Ya best be gentle, or I tell em ya a fucking mage, ya don't wan that, do ya?"<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center">---------------------------------------------------------------​</div><br/>The invisible floating form of the very same wizard that Kestrel had briefly encountered in the abandoned home watched undetected from his lofty perch.  His arms remained folded about his pristine and immaculate white robes that were adorned with swirling patterns of the blue star of Merasheel.  His calculating grey eyes watched with keen interest as the duo of Hrothgar and Flora laid the assembled pike men low.  There was a definitive scowl that worked across his thin lips as he watched Hrothgar put the sundered pole arms deadly tip through the chest of the young unfortunate mage.  Merasheel had a way of weeding out the unworthy, and he never questioned his almighty teachings, especially where they concerned vengeance.<br/><br/>High overhead a brilliant blue sparkling star shaped light that had no physical mass and existed solely as energy was spun into being by an his unknown hidden presence, The bright blue star hovered over Hrothgar and Flora like a beacon as the pair was just beginning to withdraw from the front lines at the half orcs insistence.  It's unmistakable presence in the sky served both as a warning and a summons for the forces of the Empire.  Nearby commanders that were making their way towards the sounding of the horn took note and kept and at once pulled back, keeping their numbers a safe distance from the beacons glow.  Other, far more seasoned and talented members of the Empires forces though were drawn towards its presence as it followed the pair of combatants.  Even if they split, the star would divide itself into two and tail along after them, relentlessly.<br/><br/>From atop the saddle of the dragon he was mounted upon the hooked and helmed head of Sir Fyndrake looked towards the call to arms.  He let out a short huff of breath as he tugged powerfully upon the reins of chain that were lashed around the dragons serpentine head and neck.  The deep crimson scaled beast turned and let out a roar as its sweeping tail cracked against the wooden walls of a nearby shop that was slowly burning towards the ground and sent the front of the store collapsing in on itself.  Swift and lengthy strides of the red wingless dragon quickly closed the distance between itself and the hovering star that trailed after Hrothgar and Flora.  As beast and rider neared the reins were pulled and the dragons course shifted slightly as they turned down a road that ran parallel with the beacons position.<br/><br/>The row of buildings was all that separated the dragon and its rider from the sight lines of the elf and half orc as it surged past the floating blue star that persistently marked their location.  It's gait altered just enough as Fyndrake tugged on the reins as the dragon neared the intersection where they would turn the corner to abruptly greet the pair before they could withdraw from the front lines.  It was a fearsome sight to behold as the highly decorated and imposing knight that was easily equal to Hrothgars mass sat atop the beast with his shield raised and one hand on the rein of chains that led the crimson hued dragon around the corner to meet them.  There was smoke rising in wisps from its flared nostrils, but that wasn't quite the immediate threat as the heavily scaled dragon tore its claws into the ground and anchored its weight, snapping its hips about as its fearsomely destructive tail cracked through the air like a titans whip towards the duo.<br/><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center">---------------------------------------------------------------​</div><br/>The barking grew louder from the other side of the secured cellars opening into the sewers where the Empires men had gathered to investigate the source of alarm. Several dogs snarled and bared their fangs at the doorway as they aggressively barked while their hair rose up and stood on its ends.  The tips of spears jabbed at the door, probing at it and causing the door to jolt slightly as some of the soldiers gathered nearby.  "Let's kick it in and let tha mutts at em!"  One of the men snorted out after giving the door a solid poke with the blunt end of his spear.  "They look hungrah."  He spoke with a sadistic laugh that some of the others joined in with.<br/><br/>"It could be trapped."  A wiry man clad in blackened polished leathers that were reinforced with dull black studs spoke from the shadows.  "You men move along, keep scouring the sewers, I'll handle this one."  HIs ebony hooded features turned to look towards the doorway as he quietly inspected the structure while the others worked to gather up the eager hounds and convince them to move on.<br/><br/>Johnathan never really new how it happened as the assassin silently materialized seemingly out of thin air behind him.  The only way he knew he was there was when that mans pair of thin needle point dagger sank into the gaps of his armor.  They were precise in the locations of their surprise impalements, hitting at pressure points that the silent and swift killer was well versed in.  They caused muscles to seize and grow rigid as the blades twisted deep into the unsuspecting back of Johnathan.  He leaned close to his targets ear and murmured a whisper that was barely audible over the din of barking dogs that were departing.  "Looks like your friends all died, so I'll be merciful, and let you live, so long as you can survive the poison."  With a swift kick of his black studded boot the assassin kicked the weapon out of Johnathan's numbed grasping hands.