The Sin of Pride (Siobhan/Firemane)

[Tegaea Alcori]

News moved quickly in the modern age, but there were still ways that the news could be delayed.

Tegaea was working with [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] in their converted war room on Tygara. There were business decisions to make, personnel to manage and a company to run.

“I think if we can produce 5,000 more of the…” Tegaea was saying. Suddenly the door opened and a breathless aide came in. To her credit, Tegaea didn’t snap at the young woman. She’d given orders they weren’t to be disturbed, and she trusted her staff not to break that unless it was actually important.

“Sorry to interrupt, Ma’am,” she said, speaking to them both. “I feel the Qadiri have done something…rash. We have just picked up on our satellites that a huge fleet is sailing north from Zeheb…heading for the Underealm.”

Tegaea looked to her wife, concern on her face. “We told them to wait…they’re going to try and attack by themselves.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


One moment they had been discussing production plans for Firemane, the next one of their aides burst in. Unlike Tegaea, Siobhan had more of a temper. "What is the..." However, to her credit she was able to cut herself off before completely snapping at the poor woman and let her say her piece.


After having heard what the aide had to say, Siobhan shook her head, looking equal parts concerned and quite irritated by the actions of the Qadiri. "Boldly they're riding and well. Idiots. I guess one of their generals got impatient for glory and slaves." The criticism was very ironic and perhaps a bit hypocritical coming from her. She felt like having whoever was responsible flogged.


"We're months away from being ready. Granted, the Xioquo are primitives, but what Lia told us was troubling. Can we reach the Qadiri commander via comm? Where is their fleet now?" Comm devices had been given to the Qadiri, though unbeknownst to them their communications were monitored by the Eldorai for 'technical support'.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“They are not responding, and our efforts to communicate have been ignored. It seems as though the Shahbânu is just as surprised as us. This appears to be some of her rebellious northern vassals. She claims to know nothing of this expedition, and I think she is being honest.”

“On that we are agreed,” Tegaea said. “She knows very well that she can’t take on the enemy alone, and relies on us to keep her in power. However, she has as much control over her vassals as over a bunch of gizka. How many are we talking?”

“Our scans have picked up over 100 ships of varying sizes. An army has been landed and is approaching overland whilst the fleet makes for the entrance. We estimate they have at least 15-20,000 combatants plus sailors and other support staff.”

Tegaea looked to Siobhan. “At best they’ll blockade the entrance until forced to retreat by lack of supplies. At worst…well. What should we do? If we try to intervene it might make things worse, but if we leave them be they could be massacred.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Siobhan sighed. "My gut instinct is to cut our losses and let them get beaten to teach them a lesson," she admitted bluntly. "But the common grunts don't deserve to suffer because their leaders are idiots and I suppose if we stay passive our enemies at court will spin things to make any disaster appear our fault."


Simply planting a flag and signing a treaty did not mean everyone in the empire of Semiramis was thrilled about the foreign presence. As a matter of fact, tensions had been increasing ever since the Eldorai had settled on the planet. After all, that had not been mentioned at the negotiations! For now the shaky alliance had been maintained because they had a common enemy and Semiramis relied on the allies' support.


"So I suppose we have to pull them out of this mess and punish the fool who was responsible. Eyrecae is available, Taldir may be as well, but we're stretched thin. How many troops and ships can we muster on such short notice?" Xioquo attacks had become less frequent after the last battles, but with its ever-growing commitments the forces at Firemane's immediate disposal were limited. In short, if the Qadiri were walking straight into the jaws of death Firemane could not turn the battle into a victory for them and take the Underrealm, but they could hopefully mitigate the damage.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Tegaea summoned the aide over to a holomap. They brought up a map of the relevant areas and troop deployments therein.
“We have fifty troops and two ships holding the underground citadel with Semiramis’ vanguard. That’s where we’ll jump off for the eventual invasion. I think we can scramble another hundred, maybe hundred-fifty others and get them there in time by air,” Tegaea said, indicating.

Tegaea scratched her chin. “We could get there before them and try to warn them. I feel though that they would ignore us. As callous as it is, maybe riding in to the rescue is the best move?”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


Now our heroines faced what in any RPG would be considered a 'moral dilemma'. Would they nobly charge in ahead of the Qadiri and try to warn them? This would obviously give them light side points, but a number of misc. Firemane soldiers might get hurt. Or would they wait and then ride in to the rescue, by which time the Qadiri might have sustained significant casualties? While tactically wise, for some reason this would give them dark side points. Oh, and no matter what you chose, your choices would not matter!


The 'moral dilemmas' in the average RPG are horribly contrived. "Agreed. Semiramis' vassals brought this on themselves," Siobhan said firmly. "Charging in when they won't listen and we don't know what we're up against helps no one. I'll go get ready. You wanna pilot a walker again?" Like the one that was named after Mistress Valora.

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
It was a grim choice. If they stepped in it was possible they might overawe the Qadiri and drive them away. However, even if they did the Xioquo would be emboldened, and it was by no means certain the Qadiri would withdraw.
On the other hand they could let them reap what they sowed and come in to help afterwards. Tegaea believed she was a moral person, but she was also a soldier, and at times one had to perform the arithmetic of death. War was hell, and if the Qadiri were shattered here it might well play into their hands later to bring Semiramis and her vassals on side.

“Yes…yes. Alright, I’ll make the calls and meet you at the landing field,” she said finally. She was clearly a little conflicted, but she finally nodded her final agreement.

“I think I’ll stay in the air for this one and organise the troops for you. I’ll send Eyrecae in to join you with the walker. She’s been bugging me for that for a while.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"]


There was a reason Siobhan had ditched the Jedi many years ago. Well, there had been many reasons for that, but their sanctimony had been one of them. They were more fixated on maintaining their karmic score and halo than on actually doing what was needed. War was not a fairy tale. If you tried to save everyone, you just wound up getting more people into body bags.


Then again, Siobhan was a rather brutal Dark Jedi, so she might be a bit biased! She waited for Tegaea to say her piece, then patted her on the shoulder, though she looked a bit disappointed when her wife said she would stay in the air. "Ok, love. Rain down some death from above. I'll make sure Eyrecae brings the walker home intact," she said giving Tegaea a kiss and a hug before departing to get ready for battle.

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
The army could be detected long before it came into sight. First a plume of dust kicked up by the mounts and soldiers filled the air and darkened the sky. Then the sound of thousands of feet moving in ordered precision could be heard. Finally the glint of armour and spears could be seen twinkling as the host marched down towards its final destination.

It had been a long journey, moving by ship from the warm lands of the south to a landing point a dozen miles from their target. To the east the fleet could be seen sailing up the coast, keeping pace with the army.
Before them lay their target; a vast, snow mountain with an inlet of the sea piercing it and revealing an underwater cave of vast size. The cave was so large the galleons and dhows of the Qadiri army could sail into it without their topmasts touching the roof.
On the landward side great gates of iron were closed fast, and it seemed that no one had seen the approach.

The Qadiri army deployed. Great cannons were wheeled forward, archers and musketeers formed behind spearmen. Yazgid mounted cavalry waited on the flanks to charge and break their enemies. At sea the ships deployed.

http://img03.deviantart.net/7b0f/i/2015/186/9/5/elven_army_by_jasontn-d8zxneh.jpg

Behind the army, on a snowy hill the Mirza of Lakish and her allies and vassals looked upon the scene.
A servant came forward, bowing and offering an iron box. “The machine sounds, Great One,” she said.
The Mirza glanced disdainfully at the ringing communicator, then waved her hand. “I will not use such sorcery. Remove the infernal noise from my presence.” With this done she looked once more on the battlefield.
“Prepare the artillery! We attack at once!”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Sahal Jai Azal"]


"They're not replying, ma'am," a Firemane officer spoke to Siobhan.
Siobhan looked grimly, then shook her head. "Poor bastards. The Mirza will reap what she sowed. I'll punish her myself if she survives the battle. Get us in the air." And with that the small flotilla of Firemane Gunships lifted off into sky.


It would take some time for theme to reach Underealm and actually be in a position to intervene in the battle. The contingent represented all Firemane had been able to muster on such short notice. All in all, it was not more than two hundred soldiers, but they were heavily armoured and armed. Likewise, they'd taken a Valora-class walker with them. Undoubtedly Eyrecae would use it to great effect and cause plenty of carnage.

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
As part of the Mirza’s personal guard was a small contingent of Magi, or users who had embraced the powers of their Zari. These troops were the elite, and with these most in demand from the Shahbânu, no vassal of the Amikarese Empire was allowed many. However, many of the Mirza’s other guards were not so secretly elementalists able to use their powers. They were ‘undeclared’ Zari, which although in theory a risk to keep from her Lady, they were now so far away it barely mattered.

Among the Magi was one of many, Sahal Jai Azal, a warrior wearing the heavy armour and carrying blade and shield. From her vantage she could see the lair of their enemies. It filled her with joy that the enemy would soon be exterminated. No thought of failure entered her head – this was the largest host she had ever seen. Victory was assured.

“Artillery, begin firing!”
The cannons opened up from the hill, sending roundshot into the mountainside and the vast gates. Somehow the gates absorbed the balls though and stayed resolutely shut.
No matter. The dark ones would have to emerge to fight them. The slaughter would be great as the fleet would enfilade them, the artillery would shred them, then they would charge in to finish them off.
The first companies of infantry began to advance down the hill. They would greet any attack with volleys of arrows and muskets so that the Yazgid cavalry could sweep in and massacre the broken foe.

It was then that things started to go wrong. The sky seemed to darken, as though a storm was advancing upon them faster than the winds could possibly allow. Sahal’s eye was drawn to the water by a shout. Suddenly the still water was boiling and heaving. From beneath the massed fleets great tentacles came, as tall as topmasts. With vice-like strength they gripped masts, hulls, spurs, and crushed them. Suddenly all was chaos as the ships started firing at the monsters arising from the deeps, often hitting their own ships in the smoky panic. Ships ran aground, others burns, still more was capsized or dragged under.

Before Sahal could process this there was suddenly a chilling howl. Turning, she saw that coming from behind them were a swarm of white-furred monsters as tall as a Qadiri at the shoulder. Turning back, she saw the gates had opened, but instead of troops to be massacred there came great mechanical monsters. Guns sprouted from them and steam and smoke bellowed from stacks as it ground forward on treads. Cannons fired, but the balls bounced off like hail. Within each of the machines, safe from harm, Xioquo waited.

“Form up! Prepare for battle!” she heard the Mirza call.
Fear pulsed in Sahal’s heart for the first time as she drew her sword and formed ranks.

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Sahal Jai Azal"], [member="Valiens Nantaris"]


At long last, their time had come. Long had the Xioquo been divided and this had cost them bitterly. Schemes and power games had been played out in the depths of the Underealm, with one great family against the other. Armies had been sent to subjugate the inferior Quadir, but they had been beaten back due to their own divisions and the intervention of the daemonic sky people. Crisis had followed, slaves had grown uppity and rebelled against their natural Mistresses. In the dark halls of the Grand Temple, there had been whispers that this might be the end of days. Cowardly heretics had spoken fearfully of the Destroyer and the Banshee, the two daemons who had been summoned by Semiramis to stop the crusade. But now all this had changed...


The squabbles had been suppressed, the heads of traitors had been placed on pikes for all to see. These now lines the steps towards the temple as a warning to the rest. Rumours abounded that the Goddess had awakned and assumed her throne in the Council of Ten, for if this was a battle for the freedom of the Xioquo, then the Great One would surely not abandon her people. It was time for them to prove that they were worthy of her love, and cast down those who opposed the fulfillment of their manifest destiny.


And so battle was joined, but not the one the heathens had expected. First, the sea monsters had struck with a fury. Massive tentacles gripped masts, hulls, spurs and crushed them. Pure chaos broke out as the Qadiri ships began firing upon the beasts. In some cases tentacles were destroyed and beasts howled in pain, but they were often clever and retreated into the ocean. Moreover, oftentimes the salvoes simply resulted in the Qadiri damaging their own ships. Clouds of smoke billowed up into the sky, fires spread across ships or they were pulled down to their doom.


Back on the ground, from behind the Qadiri came the giant wolves, from the front the steam engines. The cannons of the enemy fired upon the latter, but it was futile. The balls simply bounced off like hail and the mechanical monsters pressed on, implacably. Their cannons belched smoke and shell as they fired upon the ranks of Qadiri soldiers. At the very rear of the advancing engines a Xioquo priestess slammed her elaborate staff into the ground with such force behind due to her magic that the earth seemed to shake. A knife, engraved with ancient runes, sliced across her hand as she allowed her own blood to fuel the spell. With her were several lesser priestesses, all channelling their power and chanting in unison as they called upon the magic of the Goddess. Arcane words of power were spoken, words so ancient that all but the most learned of the race had long forgotten them.


There was a loud, screeching sound, like the cry of a wrathful goddess that was of such power it drowned out the fire of cannons and shouts of soldiers. Suddenly the sky itself seemed to darken, clouds formed and the clap of thunder was heard as eldritch waves of darkness descended upon the Qadiri army. The dark power would be made manifest in an intense feeling of despair, terror and fright.


Suddenly the Xioquo army would appear far more numerous than it actually was, demons from the worst of legends would seemingly be conjured to life assault the invaders, seemingly seeking to drag them into the very pits of hell, while the darkness would cause disorientation. The Xioquo, on the other hand, were used to the darkness and such horrors were not unknown to them, for their very existence was a daily struggle for survival. From behind, charging the flanks, came the great wolves, eager and hungry for flesh to fill their bellies and sometimes ridden by Xioquo warriors. Qadiri who broke ranks and sought cover or tried to retreat would be picked off by them. Xioquo soldiers would disembark from the mechanical behemoths to engage the enemy close up now that the invaders were weakened and disorientated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rtI86rgZ9I​

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]
Chaos, darkness, panic.

Sahal looked down to see the advancing phalanx of warriors hit by the metal machine. Without slowing it ploughed through their formation, crushing or impaling all before it. From the top of the machine loopholes allowed the Xioquo to open a devastating fire, the dark ones taking turns to fire their rifles into the panicking mass.

Then, the sides of the machines dropped, and the Xioquo charged. A phalanx was only as good as its cohesion, and now in the shadows and with the demonic engine grinding through them the warriors began to lose heart.
Swiftly the Xioquo fell upon them, nimbly striking at legs, backs, arms. Those they could they would shoot with blowpipe darts tipped with sedatives. Those who fell in this way were dragged back to machines and taken back to slavery and torment in the Underealm.

However, the Xioquo did not have things all their own way. The Qadiri, despite all which had happened, were professional warriors. The wolves had finally come up against an intact block of spearmen, and these had resisted the suicidal charges long enough for the Yazgid cavalry to counter charge and drive them back.
Sahal herself moved forward with her comrades, and on the command of their captain unleashed blasts of fire and lightning which seemed to halt the tanks.
At sea the surviving ships had moved off from the coast and were successfully using Garsh, or liquid fire, to deter the Kraken from striking.

However, they had slowed only the first onset of the Xioquo.

From holes in the face of the mountain there sprouted barrels of cannons, and before she could even think to cry a warning the air was filled with noise, flame and smoke. A groundburst nearby knocked Sahal to the ground, stunned. As if in a dream she saw the war machines grinding forward again, this time helped by flying machines sweeping overhead. These craft dropped bombs and strafed the Qadiri, immune from harm because of their speed and height.

“Retreat!” a voice called, and in the moment many obeyed it. So sudden was the onslaught and so brutal its strength that the Qadiri could suddenly only think of flight.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Sahal Jai Azal"]


In short, it was an all-out rout of the Qadiri army. Within a matter of minutes, their army had been overwhelmned by the brutal onslaught of the Xioquo. Far from being simple primitives armed with bows and arrows, as the Qadiri and, it should be admitted for fairness, Firemane and the Eldorai had thought, the dark ones had displayed surprising ingenuity. However, there was still a candle in the dark, a ray of hope for the Qadiri as they tried to pull off a disorganised, hasty retreat that made them easy pickings for the war engines and flying machines of the enemy. Salvation did not come from the Goddess they venerated, but perhaps from the next best thing!


The harbinger was the deafening roar of engines and shadows passing across the ground. Then suddenly flying machines were blown out of the sky by the eruption of laser cannons, as crimson beams sizzled through the air and shore through their armour. Flying machines that were far more modern came into view, as Firemane Gunships swept down from the sky and performed a strafing run upon the advancing Xioquo and their war engines.

"Secure a perimeter around the Qadiri and make sure they get out. I want the sky swept clean and the sea monsters kept at bay. Eyrecae, you have the go-ahead to deploy the walker. Remember, we're here to secure the Qadiri's retreat. Not take on the whole Xioquo army on our own," Siobhan spoke grimly into a comm, as she surveyed the battlefield, then gave the pilot a signal. Truth be told, even she was surprised by the strength of the Xioquo assault. "Let me out," she grunted and in full-flight the landing ramp was lowered. The Firemane forces could not win the battle for the Qadiri, for it was already lost, but they could give them breathing space to retreat by keeping the Xioquo at bay through their firepower.


While a Firemane gunner used a shattergun rotary cannon to great effect to spew out a hailstorm of hyper-velocity rounds upon the Xioquo on the ground, rounds that could penetrate even heavy vehicle armour, Siobhan plain and simply jumped out of the gunship, just before it began dropping bombs.


There was a loud roar as the cannons hidden inside the mountains fired, filling the air with deafening noise, smoke and shell. The aforementioned cannons fell silent when she directed her telekinetic might towards them, which thundered towards them like the power of the Force unleashed, causing a small avalanche. On the ground, a war machine mercilessly grinding forward, ploughing its way through retreating Qadiri soldiers as if this were a field on farm, suddenly found itself gripped by an invisible force, pulled into the air and then hurled with titanic might towards its brethren, smashing into another war engine. Blasts of flame and lightning struck her, as did bullets, but they bounced off her armour.

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Panic was everywhere. The Qadiri in places formed squares to resist the enemy, firing their bows and muskets whilst their spearmen stood firm. Such groups though were easy targets, and one by one they were broken up. If dark sorcery didn’t work, then the massive war machines, the artillery or the gyrocopters did.
Soon the battlefield was covered with fleeing troops and Xioquo singing their disturbing warcries as they set upon the survivors.

One group however stood their ground. The Anusiya or companions had withdrawn, but stood defiant around the Mirza. They were sworn to her by oaths, and would not fleet.

Sahal herself took cover behind a pair of large boulders on ground which dropped down steeply behind her to the water. Around her the Companions likewise had taken cover as best they could. Being the best warriors of Lakish they had the best weapons, rifles which could fire six shots without reloading!

At first the Xioquo had sought easier pickings, but when they saw the Mirza’s banner they started to swarm around like moths to a flame.
“Pick your targets! Aim low!” Sahal called. She was fighting with her battle sister Neresh; one reloading whilst the other kept watch and fired.
Taking careful aim, she fired, and though the smoke obscured much she saw the Xioquo officer she’d aimed at fall. Grinning, she aimed and shot down a second.

However, it couldn’t last forever. They were outnumbered now as the Xioquo sought to overwhelm them as the last area of resistance. Two of the demonic engines rolled forward, though they had trouble reaching the Companions in the rocks and rough ground.
Sahal, despite being initially terrified of the machines, now saw they were just that. “Come on! This way!” she called to Neresh.
One of the landships had become struck in some rocks, and so the two Qadiri rushed forward, avoiding fire until Sahal could haul herself up onto the side. Calling on her power, she unleashed a blast of flame and heat into the passenger cabin of the craft. As the Xioquo spilled out, burning and panicked, Neresh shot each one or slashed them with her scimitar. Dropping down to the front, Sahal fired through the doorway into the driver’s area and was rewarded with a scream of pain. Bursting in, she found two Xioquo down, and she dispatched the wounded with her blade.

Victorious, the two Companions looked out on the scene and saw disaster. Further along, a group of the wolves had got among the Companions and broken through. Even now the Mirza was surrounded and guarded by the last few remnants of her guard.

It was then that the new players made their mark. Swooping in were machines even more advanced than the Xioquo. Sahal vaguely recognised the look of them from when the offworlders had attacked and been routed by the Shahbânu. This time though they were fighting against the Xioquo!
War machines erupted in smoke and flame, the gyrocopters were blasted from the sky, and the Xioquo now were being punished.
Sahal watched in awe as the aircraft inflicted such ruin and slaughter. It was then that a monstrous grey walking machine dropped from the sky nearby and proceeded to lay waste to all enemies around.

“Qadiri, we are with you! Form behind me!” a booming voice came from the walker. It seemed Eyrecae was having the time of her life, though she didn’t press too far.

A great horn sounded though and the Xioquo withdrew rapidly to their holes and to the gate. They had achieved their goal of smashing the Qadiri, but could not face the off-worlders in open battle…yet.

Sahal looked up and saw the awesome figure of an armoured woman floating in the air. Had she just seen her use her Zari to pick up a war machine and toss it like it was a toy? Fascination and a little fear kept her rooted in place, standing on the tank she had captured and watching.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Sahal Jai Azal"]


"What a massacre. And without result!" Rage washed over her like a rainfall as the armoured form of Siobhan dropped down from up high on the sky, drawing upon the tangled web of the Force to slow down her descent. As her boots touched down upon the ground, it seemed to tremble beneath her.


In the distance she could see the Xioquo warriors rapidly withdrawing to their holes and gates, retreating into the depths of Underealm. Today, this round went to them. The Qadiri army was broken and battered, many of their soldiers had been taken prisoner and could expect a horrible fate as slaves. All because of one woman's ego and pride.


Squads of Firemane soldiers were landing to secure the perimeter as the Qadiri withdrew. "Help their wounded, keep your eyes sharp for sudden ambushes." The Xioquo had turned tail, but Siobhan was not taking any chances. This battle had been a lesson for her as well, for the Xioquo had turned out to be far craftier and ingenious than she'd thought. Her eyes fell upon the group of Qadiri warriors who had stood firm and fought to the last, for she felt the Force emanating from them. Siobhan's command of the native tongue was still very haphazard, but she remembered their name, the Anusiya.


She gripped her helmet and removed it, revealing her battle-scarred face and firemane. "I am Siobhan Kerrigan, Jaziri of the army of the Amikarese Empire. The Dark Ones call me Karishzar." This meant 'The Destroyer' in the Xioquo tongue. Thanks to her translator device, the natives would understand her. "Gather your wounded, get to your ships. You fought bravely, your companions will be avenged. Justice will be served," she spoke in her most commanding tone, using the Force to make her voice heard and project it across the battlefield. Spotting the Mirza amongst her knights, she immediately headed towards her. The anger she was feeling was palpable for anyone. "This debacle is on you. You incompetent, glory-obsessed idiot," she snarled coldly.

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
The Mirza, seeing that the formidable armoured woman was one of the off-worlders, bristled. She drew herself up to her full height.
“How dare you address me, heathen!” she said. “I am Mirza of Lakish, and I do not need the approval of you or any of your aliens. This defeat was caused by betrayal! Yes, you told the dark ones about our advance as part of your plot to seize our land. But we are onto your plan! Anusiya, seize this infidel!” she commanded.

No one moved. Sahal, who had come to stand beside Siobhan with Neresh, put her hands on her hips.

“Did you not hear me? Attack her!” the Mirza shouted.
“Lady…is she not a representative of the Shahbânu?” the guard captain began.
“Do not question me! She is a heathen, a plotter, she is responsible for all of this!” the Mirza shouted. “Obey! Or are you all cowards?”
The mood within the Companions darkened. Probably through a mix of fear about what Siobhan might do, but mainly anger towards the Mirza, no one moved.
“Will no one do my will? I command you to-,” she began.
Sahal had listened to enough. She stepped forward and launched her left fist, still encased in her armoured gauntlet, right into the Mirza’s stomach.
“You command too much and understand too little,” Sahal spat.
Though each of them had probably wanted to do just that, once Sahal had struck their lady she suddenly became their target…and a target who was not a goddess of immense power. Slowly, they closed around her, intending to arrest her at best, and lynch her at worst!

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Sahal Jai Azal"]


"You are no longer Mirza of anything. The Shahbânu has stripped you of your rank. Your life is forfeit. It is mine," Siobhan spat hatefully, giving the now very humiliated ruler a good kick with her boot.


However, time to further lap abuse on the pompous woman was cut short when the Companions began closing in on Sahal. Well, that was not nice! Sio's first instinct was to smite them, but this was cut short by more rational thoughts. So she quickly stepped in front of the soldier, her aura bristling with power.


"Step away from her. Now. Unless you want me to do unto you as I did to the Dark Ones. You've been deceived by a traitor who led your comrades to their deaths. She did right to strike the traitor down." One of the Companions had lunged at Sahal to throw a punch, but found this movement sabotaged due to the simple fact that a telekinetic grip made her unable to move.

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Sahal looked at Siobhan. “If I stay here they will punish me. Will you not take me with you?”

The Mirza showed that she was not only a bad commander, overconfident and vain, but also stupid by struggling to her feet. A wiser woman would have stayed down and waited for the armoured Destroyer to leave.
“The girl belongs to me. She will be whipped for daring to touch me! I will take off her hand for striking her Mistress!” She looked at Siobhan. “As for you, your usurpation is illegal. If you want to seize my realm you will suffer. I will make your family suffer!”
All things considered that was probably the stupidest thing she could have said. It turned her from a prattling fool into someone threatening Siobhan’s family, and experience showed that was a very, very unwise thing to do.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Sahal Jai Azal"]


And the prize for going full retard goes to...the Mirza. It boggled the mind how she thought this was a good idea. Or how she could threaten someone who could single-handedly thrash war machines. Never mind the fact that even if her soldiers - the few who were still on the follow battlefield - followed her, Siobhan could probably kill most of them herself - and still had air support and Eyrecae on top of that.


In short the Mirza was a complete idiot. In any case, she suddenly found her prattling cut short by the fact that a rather pissed off Siobhan used the Force to choke her. Then, in order to drive the point home even more, Siobhan used her power to lift her into the air and slam her back into the ground.


She was, one might add, not unleashing her full strength. It would still hurt a lot. Her back would not appreciate the pressure. Ouch. "You don't comprehend your place in things, vermin," Siobhan hissed at the woman and then, to add insult to injury, strapped a slave collar to her neck, then cuffed her. "You belong to me now. And I will take everything from you."