Exit blocked

You hurry through back streets, making your way towards the nearest gate. You draw plenty of looks when you pass people, your gleaming armor catching a lot of eyes. Kaeli keeps her hood up over her head, trying to stay unnoticed, and Ferra simply follows along. No one has tried to stop you yet, at least.

Finally, you reach the city walls, and find that the gates are closed. There’s a crowd gathered, shouting questions at the cordon of guards keeping them back. Directly in front of the gate, blocking the small door, is a group of guards in different armor. Four figures in black plate, and a pair in black leather. The pair in leather are setting up some kind of device on the ground, while the four in heavy armor stand watch.

Beside you, Kaeli sighs. “Of course. Nullifiers.”

You glance at her. “You know them, I assume?”

She nods. “The Nullifiers are a unit hand picked by Victoria. They’re the elite of the city guards, and utterly loyal to her. The ones in leather will be spellcasters, as well.”

She gestures towards the device they’re setting up. “That device is one Victoria had me create. It will repel anyone approaching that doesn’t have a Nullifier badge. With lethal force.”

There’s only six of them. Why not just rush them?

Ferra nods. “I agree with Lilith.”

Will wonders never cease? This has to be a first.

Kaeli looks confused. “Lilith? Who?”

You touch your breastplate. “The succubus inhabiting my armor. Ferra can hear her when she speaks in my mind.”

Kaeli shakes her head. “I’ll save my questions until we’re safe.”

You watch the Nullifiers for a moment. “If we get you close, can you disable the device?”

She nods slowly. “Yes, but it would kill you if you approach. It won’t hit me, I put in a failsafe, and Ferra would be immune, she’s inorganic. But you have no way to avoid it.”

You grin. “Glad to know some of my secrets are still safe. Follow my lead, we’re breaking out of here.”

So what’s your plan, oh great leader?

You ignore Lilith, making your way through the crowd. People move aside when they see you, and soon you’re near the front. Making sure the guards can’t see you, you start calling out.

“They’re trying to pen us in here!”

Careful to not get spotted, you move closer, with Ferra and Kaeli following. “We’re going to be trapped inside the city!”

A murmuring goes through the crowd, and as you hoped, people start taking up your ideas.

A man shouts at the Nullifiers. “Hey! Stop it! You can’t lock us in!”

You push closer to the front, making sure to jostle people a bit. A woman cries out, “What are the alarms for? Why are you doing this?”

As the crowd becomes more agitated, the Nullifiers in heavy armor draw weapons. They each have heavy, two handed swords, with black blades that seem to absorb light rather than reflecting it. This only riles the crowd up more, and they begin to push at the city guards holding them back.

Kaeli grabs your shoulder and whispers to you. “You’re going to start a riot, here.”

You nod. “Im counting on it. Get ready.”

You reach the front, and your armor catches the sunlight. One of the Nullifiers immediately looks your direction. You can’t hear him over the shouting, but he points in your direction. One of the others nods tersely. From this close, you can see the badges Kaeli mentioned, a small red disk marked with a pair of crossed swords in black. You tense, a hand on the hilt of Caliburn.

Glancing at Ferra and nodding, you then look back to the Nullifiers. “Leave the casters to me. And protect Kaeli.”

Ferra nods, and clenches her fists. You wait until the Nullifier who spotted you begins walking closer, and then…