COS 033 - Down Came The Reign

[Started with small retcon of previous day, cut due to going overtime on the previos session; see COS 032 - The Itsy Bitsy Spider]

With Blinsky safe, The Pack quickly had to act amidst a cacophony of anger and bloodlust. Lancelot and Ghalwin immediately went to stop Viktor from running to his teleportation circle. The mage, in turn, dominated Ghalwin's mind, and began to walk away with the paladin as his personal security detail. Atlas noticed Ghalwin's change and channeled a twilight sanctuary, removing Viktor's mental magic and protecting the guards against the enraged mob. Shakti, meanwhile, noticed the orphans were in the middle of the crowd, potentially at risk of a human crush. She conjured a flock of ravens to encircle the children, protecting them from the horde using Barovia's symbol of good luck. 

As Ghalwin came to, Atlas launched magic of his own at Viktor. The mage focused on countering the cleric's spells, and called Izek to help. The guard captain jumped off the stage and started hacking at Atlas, flame leaping to his axe from his devilish arm. Rudolph and Lance flanked Viktor with swords in hand and mouth; now pinned against his own guards, the Baronet sent a mind-addling blast of confusion that also rattled his own allies. Ghalwin's pact with the Ancients protected his friends, but the friendly fire caused further doubt inside Izek. After last night's revealing conversation with The Pack, he was suddenly unsure of who to protect, and ran from the fray as Ghalwin snatched away Viktor's spellbook and spell components.

Shakti wildshaped into a saber-toothed tiger and parted the crowd, intimidating the emboldened horde away from the children. She escorted them through the mass of bodies and back to the orphanage as the people swelled against against the guards, then finally overpowered them. Terrified at the sea change, Viktor, Vargas, and Lydia all turned to run from their subjects. Lancelot caught up to Viktor and cut him low before a horde of angry Vallakians engulfed him, and Ghalwin ran to protect Lydia. He tried to reason with the rioters and they immediately turned against him, but the paladin was able to summon his steed before he, too, was swallowed by the masses. The Baroness barely held onto Verity as they dashed past the Baron, fleeing to the Inn.

As Rudolph and Lancelot snuck off the stage, Atlas flew above the crowd. The cleric realized they would likely not respond to calls for peace, but he could direct their bloodlust. Father Atlas began to call the horde away from Lydia and Ghalwin, instead directing them to burn Vargas and Viktor on the festival's sun. The people gleefully impaled them with spears into the wicker, hoisted them aloft, and immolated them alive amidst a roar of rain and fire. Atop a nearby stall, Fiona shouted encouragements and directions to the rioters, who began upturning carts and torching buildings. Calls to burn down the Burgomaster's Mansion rang amongst the crowd, and they moved westward with intention.

Ghalwin, meanwhile, misty stepped away from his restrainers and beelined for the mansion. A swarm of ravens interposed the crowd from him, allowing him to easily outrun the mob with magical speed. He stole Tasha's mirror and the wedding dress and secreted them away into his Bag of Holding, along with whatever jewelry he could find. Just before the angry mob approached, he jumped from the window and ranas they burned down the Burgomaster's Mansion. Shakti ran back, having rescued the orphans, and found fires spreading from the mansion and town squares. With waves of water and druidic magic, she protected Blinsky Toys from the firestorm around her.

Amidst a tide of ash and flame, Atlas touched down to Fiona Wachter, who was surveying the bedlam below her. The noblewoman revealed that Vallaki's burning had been foretold to her by Madame Eva; she was convinced that this step was necessary to once again bring the sun to Barovia. The Pack spent the next few hours attempting to stop the spread, but the southern half of Vallaki had turned to an inferno, and there was only so much they could do. The fires would rage across southern-central Vallaki in some form for twenty-five hours in an event that would become known as the Riots Of The Blazing Sun. The revolution decimated the core around the square and the Burgomaster's mansion; only the toy shop would remain undamaged by the flames.

Needing a breather, Atlas contacted Ezmerelda, who was nervous about being exposed alone during the full moon. She had met a Revenant named Godfrey that she trusted, and told him that she would lodge in Argynvostholt that night. Additionally, Atlas contacted Muriel as she requested, and was alarmed (if not surprised) to find that she had been captured in Berez. The wereraven said that Baba Lysaga had slit her throat and was draining her blood, but was somehow still keeping her alive.

The Pack had to assist with the fires still raging across the city, had to investigate Argynvostholt to ensure Ezmerelda's safety, and had to race to Berez to rescue Muriel; but they could not be in three places at once. With rain in the sky, embers in the air, and ash at their feet, they were set to make an impossible choice.