Char Li's Angels: The Skull of Saint Diana - Part XI
The assault on the basilica continues. Figures with obvious energy fields abseil from the ceiling, spraying the congregation with small arms fire as they descend. When they reach the ground one of their number starts working to free the Skull of Saint Diana from it’s reliquary. Outside the chapel other, higher calibre, automatic gunfire can be heard.
Sir Ulrich dives for cover below a pew while Alexi(u)s attempts to draw the attackers fire while demanding that the congregation vacate the building. Belvoir tries, unsuccessfully, to work his way through the panicking crowd of nobles and clergy towards the altar while Zillah once again turns their Subtle Sight on Baron Tochiro. This time they perceive his aura as a column of melting red spikes, and Zillah assumes that the hatred, fatigue and anger he is projecting means that this attack is as much a surprise to the Justinian as it is to them.
Belvoir sees that the ragged looking Phoenix knight has drawn a sword and is advancing on the assailants, so skirts in behind him using the larger warrior to make a path through the chaos. Making good use of the cover provided, the yeoman is able to shoot one of the attackers finding that his low calibre derringer is an ideal weapon to avoid triggering the attackers’ shields. The Phoenix knight follows up, cutting the man down with is sword. Zillah then lines up a shot from their sonic pistol, killing another invader.
The black clad attackers continue to spray the congregation with submachine gun fire. Belvoir is clipped by some shots but most of the fire hits the other assembled guests and officiating clergy. Some people fall where they stand, while those who are wounded try to escape the impending massacre.
Alexi(u)s uses their full fearful mien to command the thief working on the relic to stop, which they immediately do. One of their team mates pushes them out of the way and carries on where they left off.
Relishing the success of their initial attacks Belvoir and Zillah continue to fire on their attackers while the Phoenix knight relentlessly wades through them, sword in hand. Alexi(u)s stands up on a pew so that they can be seen across the church and verbally lays into the one of the invaders. Their scornful words chastise and castigate the attacker but their fellows carry on with their reckless plan.
Zillah then recognises the roar of engines over the gunfire and constant panicked cries and screams, as a shadow is cast over the basilica. Their time in space has made them very familiar with the sound of the engines of a Wagon of Paulus shuttlecraft. One of the attackers has now freed Saint Diana’s Skull and deposited it in a carry all. As they do so their grapple line goes taught as it appears that they have been “hooked” by the hovering shuttle. Zillah snaps off a shot with their screamer pistol, killing the ascending felon as they hang in their harness, but the relic is lifted away as the shuttle craft departs.
Members of the congregation who tried to escape the chapel start to pour back in, being forced back by the battle that appears to be happening outside. Alexi(u)s notices that Lady Bamei Huang Li Halan, captain of the Flavius’ Reign, has been mortally wounded and so jumps down to try to stabilize her.
Belvoir and the Phoenix knight finish the last of the black clad attackers while controlled short bursts of rifle fire are heard outside, cutting through the high calibre automatic fire. It sounds as though Hawkwood reinforcements have arrived.
As the authorities start to try to take control of the situation, Brother Cadog, the Tiger of Tashrak’s medical officer, works with Alexi(u)s to start to triage the injured and perform last rites for the dead. Meanwhile, after doping himself with some of the Elixir he aquired on Bawaabat Samawia Station, Belvoir uses the continuing confusion to pilfer a number of valuables from various noble corpses.
Baron Tochiro voice suddenly cuts through the scene, accusing Countess Chastity of the Decados, believing that she is in some way to blame for the assault. Sir Aldous Redwood Justinian tries to calm him and the Decados party simply turn and try to leave; the Countess shielded by Patience, her wife, devoted bodyguard, and estranged daughter of the Baron. As they pass, Zillah uses their Subtle Sight once more, seeing that the Countess has an aura of vertically spiralling red and black clouds. She seems to be a conflicting mass of fear, anger, doubt and determination.
Alexi(u)s and Cadog have their hands full with the many wounded and dead but soon gain additional support from the local Amaltheans and Apothecary Guild. They discover that Colonel Sir Fa Zhou Li Halan was mortally wounded and he begs to speak to Zillah before he passes. He believes he can trust the Dervish and rasps out a warning to the young Thana knight; there is a traitor in the mission. He passes a small, blood stained, folded piece of paper to them and in his final words tells them to “Find a Martyr...”
As order is slowly restored the troupe realise something; Kibri is missing.
The Troupe advance to Level Four.
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