Chaos. Screaming. Panic.
Fire.
Fire.
Fire.
That was the scene Praetorum was met with as he rushed towards the Dust Quarter, ducking past the people trying to escape all around him.
Fire. Fire surging high into the sky, spreading across the Dust Quarter as far as Praetorum could see. Devouring homes and streets and lives, licking its way closer and closer and closer.
"Gods preserve us," Valbjorn gasped from besides him, shaking his head. Praetorum and his mercenaries had been on their way out of the city when the fire started. They stood with him now—Valbjorn, Nellie, and a dozen defenders, watching in shock as the inferno roared before them
For a moment, Praetorum regretted, more than ever, what he'd given up. If he had magic, if he had defiance, if he were still kin to flame, perhaps—
Screams of terror pierced the air, cutting through his thoughts, and Prae shook the thought from his head.
It didn't matter. He might not be a defier anymore.
But he was still Praetorum.
"Change of plans," Prae announced. "This isn't what any of you signed up for, so anyone who wants to head back to the keep, now is the time."
A few of his mercenaries shifted nervously, but in the end, not one of them left. Praetorum nodded then, and narrowed his eyes in thought. Prae no longer had any control over fire, nor did any of his mercenaries. He could start up a line of water buckets, but that would do about as much good as pissing into the fire at this point. This was no small blaze, contained to a building or two. A grand warden might be able to set it out, but Praetorum didn't know if any were still in the city or could get there before the flames consumed the entire dust quarter. Even then, he wasn't sure they could...
No, Prae had no sure way to put out the fire.
But he thought he might know of a way to contain it.
Some years ago, Praetorum had been conscripted to help keep a forest fire from spreading. The justicars hadn't been able to put it out, so they'd sought to keep it from spreading any further, digging ditches and felling trees in a perimeter around the fire to let it burn itself out. A defier at the time, Prae had helped to burn away anything flammable within the perimeter in a controlled blaze before the big fire could get to it.
Perhaps something similar would work here.
Taking in a deep breath, Praetorum raised his hand, and called upon Qylios's blessing, wreathing himself in a
Radiant Mantle. "Rharnians!"
he roared, his voice echoing through the streets. "Panicking won't save your lives, your homes, your families! We need to cut this fire off before it spreads any further! Collect yourselves, and come with me if you want to save this city!"
As he spoke, Praetorum reached too for the power of Ethelynda's mark,
Inspiring those around him to shake off their fears and misgivings. He could not convince everyone to help—not even Qylios herself could have done that, he suspected—but quite a fair few were willing to join him to save their homes.
So with a plan in his head, and the dust quarter at his back, Praetorum set to work.
The dust quarter was laid out along the outside of the walls of Rharne, much longer than it was wide. Rather than try to make a circle around the flame, a hard call with how disorganized this makeshift group was, Praetorum chose instead to set two perimeters cutting along the width of the dust quarter on either side of the fire, and a third one right along the walls of the city.
Dividing his followers into two groups based on skill, Praetorum set them to equally important tasks—evacuating everyone inside of the perimeter, and dismantling the buildings along its edge. By tearing down the buildings at the edge of the perimeter, and transporting all the material—all the wood, the straw, the alcohol—away from the perimeter and further into the city, the flames wouldn't be able to spread any further without fuel, and burn out on its own, saving the rest of the Dust Quarter.
The work was hard, but straightforwards, which was why most of the people Prae had managed to gather were set to this task. The harder job, by far, was in talking to the people whose homes and businesses had to be dismantled.
Here, Prae took charge, taking with him smooth talkers, community leaders, local businessmen, anyone who could help him convince the people on and inside the perimeter to give up on their houses and shops, to take their valuables and leave the danger zone before the fire reached them, perhaps even to help with the demolitions.
Some were assured by Prae's reputation—others by his promise to help them rebuild afterwards. A few relented when Prae pointed out either they could lose the building on their own terms, or lose everything to the fire. And of course, there were a few holdouts, those who hoped the fire would burn out before it reached them, or who did not trust him and his people to take their homes apart, or who refused to give any reason for their refusal.
For these people, Prae knew there was nothing he could do, but move the perimeter backwards around them, along with a promise to return to help them evacuate when the fire drew closer.
As the perimeter began to take form, Prae began arranging for buckets of water to be kept at strategic locations on the outside of the perimeter, to put out any small fires that might start from sparks or falling debris. The inside of the perimeter might burn itself out, but if a fire started on the outside of the perimeter, starting the whole nightmare up again, it would all be for nothing.
So they all toiled, racing against time to try and save their city.
Off Topic
Relevant Powers:
Leadership Capstones
A Broad Back - A leader by example, the sight of Prae's back as he takes command is burned into all who have seen it. As long as Prae is seen in the thick of things, everyone who follows him will feel invigorated and inspired. While obeying his orders, everyone who has seen or hear Prae working with his followers within the last break can choose one skill to boost by one skill level, so long as that skill is used to follow his commands. This effect lasts for as long as they are following the same set of orders from Prae. Orders cannot be something as vague as "stay alive", but must instead be specific instructions: "attack these enemies," "construct this wall", "retreat", etc.
It is necessary for Prae to be seen acting, but not for him to be performing the same actions as anyone else. He could be on the front lines barking orders, and those who are fighting will be able to fight better—he could be protecting his people's rears as they retreat, and they would be able to run faster. What's important is that Prae is seen being active, and putting himself through the same amount of exertion and danger as his followers.
Beacon of Hope - Praetorum's light shines brightest in the darkest of nights. The direr the circumstances, the more Praetorum's presence will encourage people to believe in him and themselves. They will not rout or lose hope, and will be able to stay level headed and cohesive no matter how hopeless the situation. Those who might otherwise flee will stay, and those who might otherwise cower will fight.
Great Expectations - Prae has an aura that makes people want to impress him. People who receive direct instruction from Prae perform whatever task he assigns them to a higher standard or quality than they normally can, or up to twice as fast as they normally could.
Taithir Power - Inspire - When this skill is activated, those around the user find themselves able to resist the fears and doubts that plague their minds, allowing them to act in spite of them when they might otherwise be unable to do so. This does not only apply to martial fears and doubts, but to fears and doubts in all facets of life.
Celarion Power - Radiant Mantle (Minor): Once per trial, the Blessed can call upon their inner light and shroud themselves in an aura of light. The aura draws those around the Blessed to them and holds them in awe. Those bathed in its light are more willing to listen to what the Blessed says and are willing to follow the Blessed in actions that are only slightly against their nature.
