Chapter 1: Departure (Day 2)

Both groups gather the last of their things and begin moving toward the massive South Gate. While it stands open, and the harbor beyond can easily be seen, it's well known that the wards prevent any passage through that portal. At the base of the gate are the remains of tokens people have left in remembrance of those that were left outside the wards, whose fate is unknown. Few get left these days, now that so much time has passed.

Athisa nods curtly in thanks to Verrian and Viani. The older woman takes Verrian by the shoulders and pushes her, not entirely gently, toward the gate.

Before she can begin speaking, however, you can hear shouts from multiple places in the crowd. "Look! They're going to go through the wards! Follow them!" That seems to be all it takes for people to start rushing the guards, who seem helpless to stop the crowds.

Athisa spreads her arms, then brings her hands together and up as if lifting something from the ground. Moments later, thick masses of grass and weeds grow up from the cracks and seams between the stones of the square. The plants grab and tangle the citizens trying to rush toward the South Gate, slowing their movements to give you time to make it through the wards unharmed. However, as you watch, people are slowly making their way through the tangles of vegetation and could break through the profusion of plants soon.

Both parties rush toward South Gate. Behind you, more and more citizens are breaking through the line of the Shining Guard, and generally getting caught up in the entangling plant life summoned by Athisa. However, some are starting to break through. While they're not armed, and individually would not be dangerous at all, the mob mentality has taken over, and time is short: the riot has begun.

The members of the other group are running, but are a little bit behind yours. As you make it to the gate, you follow Elora and the disk she carries into the wards. There is a discomforting

twist in your stomach

vision blurs and swirls in colors you have no name for

sounds play in your head

as you move through at what seems like a snail's pace, although you can see behind you that the world not held by the wards has slowed to the same speed. That's when you see the mob break through completely:

People caught in the entanglement getting trampled by their fellow citizens.

Athisa overrun, disappearing into the chaos.

One of the twins -- Narise the cleric you think it must be, given the clothing -- who brings up the rear of the other group stumble and fall. In the panic, none of her comrades notice immediately, and her cries for assistance go unheard in the clamor of the square.

As you watch in slow-motion horror, the mob tramples Narise, and you see nothing more of her.

Finally, you are through the wards. Kramat yells out, "Quickly, away from the wards, so the disks do not keep them open!" He and his party quickly continue down the street, down a gentle slope toward the harbor, or at least most of them do. The other twin, Heira, breaks away from the dwarf Muoghan, who is trying to hold on to her. She rushes back toward the wards, screaming her sister's name. She is too slow, however, and bounces off the faint shimmer that represents the wards.

On the other side, the mob pushes against the wards, which hold strong against the pressure. So strong that you can see the people at front start to get crushed against them as the riot breaks like a tide against the wards.