Episode 2

Dug-nuna the Stabber takes off like a gazelle down the hill, heading for the north fence and a chance to escape the entire scene, but his pursuer darts at him like a cheetah who has spotted a straggler in the herd.

Sizhen sails down the hill with the speed of a competitive athlete at a festival game. The assassin does make it to the low wall, but not before his pursuer is upon him. When Dug-nuna jumps up to reach the top of the fence to pull over, Sizhen has closed the gap.Optional Action: Sizhen can take Action. Distance 5' when The Stabber leaps to the wall-like fence.

Yashub cuts the angle and bypasses the crowd at the top of the hill, crossing the small path at the high ground and descending directly towards the fence with priority of keeping sight on Dug-nuna and picking an interception route after he makes it to the fields beyond.

Before Dug-nuna can make it over though, the Alijanian catches up to him there at the fence. Yashub continues his angle in not far behind.

Yashub sees the Korvaran guard charging down the hill further back. He shouts out for other guards.

This back low section forms a sort of perimeter pathway for carts and horses. It is relatively empty since most of the sights to see are back on the south side of the ridge within the track and arena area. Now though, off to the right, two Holy Gilded Armsmen on horseback turn and start riding the fence line towards the commotion after hearing the call of the Korvaran soldier. Similarly, off in the distance, down along the opposite end of the path, near the main entrance and stabling area, a Korvaran legionnaire on horseback also turns and starts riding in, following the fence wall line and approaching from the opposite direction.

Yashub knows he can make it to the site of confrontation within seconds, and to the closest point on the fence line even faster. As he moves he watches intently to see what the Alijanian does and whether or not Dug-nuna can make it over the wall.

At the ghetto...

Everyone is talking with one another, and that in multiple languages. A flurry of comments and questions the obvious result of the shocking event.

Thorn and the Seetans are the first to see, and they alert the others. The flesh and even the blood of the wretched head monster is starting to turn to sludge. It looks as if it is "melting", breaking down. Soon a vapor is rising up from it. Cautiously, everyone backs away, either around walkway that rims the side of the house, or back through the rooms within.

Keeping a safe distance, those who wish to observe see that the dissolving continues. The transformed flesh is reduced to a pool of sludge and even that turns to vapor more and more with every passing seconds. The tentacles, the fins, the fang teeth, the skull itself - the are indiscernible now, and soon to be reduced to fumes.

The talking continues. Thorn, Kray, and Gibon speak with Lok and Trece. Oram is speaking with the Hechesi leader and Palla Ba a few steps away.

The exchange is interrupted when one of the Hechesi neighborhood boys calls out a strong signal of warning. Everyone looks towards the front of the house. Warnings start buzzing back and forth among all of the Hechesi. Oram starts walking towards the front of the house.

Gibon translates. "Mil Keldat," he says first. Kray and Thorn have already learned those words, but he continues. "The Gilded Armsmen, they are here."

The athletic fur-clad tribal-looking Hechesi who are armed with spears hop off of the back deck and move out, following a small walk path that hugs the side of the river bank, passing through a low growth of cattails and high grass the blends into the water of the river.

At the track...

Sizhen reaches the fence wall quickly, but is not able to connect as he swipes at the Stabber. The shaggy man pulls up over the fence, but the surprise on his face is apparent. He topples over to the other side, scrambling frantically to get up and run towards the fields.

Sizhen makes little delay, sheathing his swords in one swift movement to get his hands free to make the leap up and over the fence.

Yashub heads straight for the wall, up and over it further east. As he crests the top of the fence, he sees off to the side that the horsemen are riding around to the ends of the fence on both sides, to loop around and close in from both angles eventually. When Yashub lands on the other side he starts to angle in on pursuit.

Sizhen is up and over in short time and is soon on the running man's heels once again.

Soon the Stabber sees that he cannot make it to the large line of pear trees that serve as a far border to the field. There in the chest high grains of the field, he turns to fight.

Order of Attack will be:
1) Sizhen (aka Carl Lewis)
2) Dug-nuna
3) Yashub (arriving moments after)

At the ghetto...

Kray and Thorn direct Gibon, and the three men move out the back, leaving the house behind. They follow a foot path for a time that leads along the river bank. It goes right through a marshy area with tall grass, cat tails and lily pads growing out from nearby pools. They can see the larger mass of the city across the river, with some small boats going here and there across. On the side of the river where they walk, they continue to pass shanty huts and hovels that are the impoverished home of the Hechesi. They see several Hechesi watching them as they travel, saying nothing. Only staring at them.

Further down on the trail, the fur-clad armed Hechesi tribals still march ahead. The rear guard continues to look back from time to time, glaring at Thorn who leads the way.