Draiss smiled, and nodded politely to the knight, saying that he was delighted that Tasoa had personally observed the performance, and would convey his compliments to his companion, who seemed to have vanished. What surprised him the most about Tasoa was that the man hadn't let himself go soft, even though Ovai and most of the others had relaxed or even stopped training altogether, Tasoa had increased his training regime quite a bit to make up for the slower reflexes. He did suggest that the 'hero' relax, and promised that his next performance, if he got one, would be even better, before heading back to the stage, most of the musicians having left to enjoy a meal with the 'lessers,' only Draiss, Ulden, the lead singer, and the director staying on. He nodded politely to Ellen as he took a chair by the stage, and began the second part of the performance, the first illusionary strings and singer of Requiem for a Dream starting, just barely audible, as Ulden took the director's stand, a SEP spell on him to keep the others from noticing until they look directly at the stage.<br/><br/>The illusion was of the border miasma, though the dead forest revealed it was NOT the side that they knew, as the eleven surviving heroes galloped through the border, several having to dive off their horses as they floundered and died, the poison of the border getting to them. The King and Tasoa would get a sent thought for them to look at the stage, while Ellen got a thought to do the same, but keep an eye on Tasoa at the same time. The music slowly ramped up, as the illusionary heroes argued, Tasoa shoving Ovai back as the cavalier pointed to his horse, still standing though just barely, until the 'traitor' knight errant called them both back to the mission. They traveled through the dying and dead forest, fighting flying lizardmen and corrupted giants who destroyed entire sections of the forest as they sensed the party, the druid and ranger heroes having to stop and retch from the pain of the forest around them several times, the illusion Ulden nudging Ramia back to them as the music swelled, just in time for illusion Ovai to make the fated statement. "This is insane, we can't do this. Lets head back."<br/><br/>In the illusion, everyone froze and stared at him, before Icyn and several others nodded slowly, agreeing it was insane, but not willing to give up yet. They traveled on, before showing the party scrambling to avoid a massive group of corrupted giants and flying lizardmen, standard patrols on the other side of the miasma, spending nearly a full day just trying to avoid them. The finally stopped to make camp, and Ovai spoke again, and, for the first time, Tasoa agreed. "Yes, this is insane, we need more than just a small squad, we would need an army. Lets head back and..."<br/><br/>It was Ulden, in the illusion, who bolted upright, and snarled at them, accusing both of them for being cowards, and traitors to the kingdom and the kings trust. Ramia hushed him, and the blademaster pulled him away, but the split in the party was clear. The group sped up, clearly arguing, though he slowed it at the end, where two of the 'traitors' stayed back to try and talk the larger group of five cowards into continuing on, Ulden and the other three 'traitors' moving ahead to clear a path. Tasoa wasted a minute trying to talk the traitor knight errant into coming back with them, saying that he had a family, and a newborn child to raise, and getting a look of disgust in return, before he reminded Tasoa he was a knight to the king, and his honor and loyalty meant more than surviving. He then added, as the other three traitors went ahead, that no one would survive that column getting to the kingdom, before turning and heading ahead.<br/><br/>The illusion split, showing the 'traitor' group fighting hard to get to the castle, and the 'hero' group camped in some ruins, the two staying back still arguing until Ovai drew his weapon and struck both of them with the flat, silencing them. The traitors kept fighting forward, as the cowards discussed what to to do to get back, before Icyn brought up the point that, even though winning was clearly insane and likely impossible, the group that went ahead could, maybe, just barely, pull off a victory and return. Tasoa and Ovai both argued against it, but Icyn remained firm to the idea, and the others silenced, before one of the other two, hesitantly, mentioned that if they returned after them, claiming victory and telling what happened, all of them would be executed as traitors and cowards. Silence, as the 'traitor' group finally rested, and Ulden asked what they would do with the cowards, the mercenary and only female to go ahead mentioned that no one other than them knew of their cowardice, while Ovai meaningfully drew his sword again, and examined it, before suggesting that only they would know what ACTUALLY happened, and if some died 'along the way' or even for trying to flee, well, that was the truth because no one would say otherwise. After a moment, Ulden suggested to the traitors that the group stayed behind to deter the column from following, the blademaster mentioning it had stopped a day before, and Ulden countering that only they knew what actually happened here. In the other group, Tasoa, staring at Ovai, finally nodded, before standing up. "Then we head back, and ensure they don't come back. No matter what. We are all cowards together. We five for falling back, you two for not advancing with them. You are either in, or we will label you cowards and traitors like we will they when we get back. Icyn will strike first, the others after him, then Ovai, and finally myself. If either Ovai or myself feel you aren't in on the plan, then another will join them."<br/><br/>A quiet moment, before the four cowards nodded, and turned to the two who had stayed behind, the second nodding immediately, Ramia staring at them with hate in her eyes, before slowly nodding, her thoughts appearing.<em>"I will cry out and warn them, I don't care if I die, I won't let them get away with this."</em><br/><br/>The traitors continued on, the music swelling triumphantly while Ulden fought the lich, the other three keeping the lizard queen's guards back, while she, a large dragon, retreated, leaving the 'god' to fight the heroes. Their victory, and the lizards rout, as they looked fierce, but were clearly at the edge of exhaustion, only the knowledge of promised death should they rest keeping them moving. Then Ovai and Tasoa's group setting up in the path just outside the palace as the music dropped, dark and foreboding, as the four 'traitors' stumbled out, Ulden waving as he saw Icyn, Tasoa and Ramia on the path ahead, not seeing the blade Tasoa concealed behind Ramia. Ulden moving forward, the others coming out of the trees behind the others and trapping the 'traitors' between them and the cliff, Ramia gathering her breath as Icyn fired his arrow, his trembling causing the arrow to catch Ulden in the shoulder, the shock of the unexpected blow dropping him to his knees, though he turned as Ovai drove his holy spear through the knight errant's back, a fountain of blood erupting from the knight's mouth, as the music swelled triumphantly and sped up as they mobbed the other three, Icyn's second arrow catching Ulden in the face, through one eye but angle missed penetrating his skull, leaving him bleeding badly as Ramia screamed his name, rushing forward. Several stabs, almost offhandedly from the cowards, before they turned to finish the blademaster and mercenary, allowing Ulden to roll off the cliff, into the bushes as Tasoa started laughing in triumph, Ramia staring at the cliff where Ulden had rolled off, her weapon dropping from her nerveless hands into the pool of blood Ulden had made as both the blademaster and mercenary were cut down.<br/><br/>Ulden was himself again, the illusion concealing him gone, and the music stopped as scene cut to the palace, Tasoa and the others kneeling before the King, and claiming victory over the lizards and the traitors.<em>Alright, hot shot, that is, as near as I can tell, what actually happened. I will keep the guards from interfering, but you have to get justice here. I will not help with that.</em>