Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2010 15:18:42 GMT -6
((Alright, let’s get this started back up. I hope you guys don’t mind the minor gmodding.))
Lower Ring
So much had changed in such a short time. Where once a proud emblem stood, carved into the wall there now hung a banner. Its image was daunting, red, forked and ominous. The old order was gone, and new one held the same reigns.
Sighing heavily, the former secretariat rubbed his bruises from the battle and escape that they had barely survived. Calling it a victory was much too foolhardy. The Fire Nation’s strength was greater than their own, they escaped by luck and planning. Well, perhaps not planning, from how the entire operation took place they had barely planned to make it to the front door. Without him, they would have failed, been captured, and have been nothing more than an anecdotal story in history.
Looking around, he still unable to control the shock at who the perpetrators of this whole incident were. How they did this, how they had managed all of this was absolutely astounding. The leader was barely half his age, and yet she fought like hardened soldier. There was little doubt in his mind that she was not a native to the city. Turning his head left, the grand secretariat noticed the empty monorail station just a few yards away. He turned back to the young woman, and noticed how proudly she looked as the wind swept her hair while they waited on top of the monorail. It was inspiring, really.
The monorail came so a halt without any noise, and quickly everyone got off of it. Thankfully, nobody failed to grasp the severity of the situations, instructions were spoken in whispers, and those who could not hear put their faith in those that did hear. Long Feng made sure to be the last one to depart. Quickly, he went inside the train and grabbed the helmet that perfected his disguise. Turning around, he quickly chased after the group that was somehow able to move silently through the night, even as they carried their wounded.
They were lead down an alley, crisscrossed the main roads only when it was safe. Considering the size of their retinue the half hour spent on crossing the main roads was very minute. Thankfully, everything was on their side. The night was heavy, and the clouds draped the cityscape in a color perfectly fit to mask their movement. Looking back, in the direction of the Upper Ring, Long Feng tried his best to find a cloud of smoke. Alas, his search wasn’t fruitful. Then again, he wasn’t expecting it to be; this city was massive, the largest ever to exist.
Like mice, when they knew which building they were to shuffle into, they ordered themselves, and quickly entered the building. Although not the last one in, he was certainly near the end. As such, when he entered the building he was mortified by how little room there was for their group. Not wanting to worry about the dankness of it all; he centered his thoughts on the throngs of people who were lining up the wounded, and caring for them.
The Dai Li had certainly not failed him. They were still effective; taking out ten people from atop a monorail that was traveling at its peak was not an easy task. What more, the people who weren’t earthbenders were even more impressive, they kept their footing on a moving monorail and somehow out matched his own players. This group wasn’t as hopeless as it seemed, but they would need a massive overhaul to be able to accomplish anything at all. Unfortunately, that task would probably fall to him; he had trained the Dai Li. He knew their technique, he was a capable fighter when need be; the only problem was this place. However, that small problem could easily be fixed; all he needed to do was to get to his private study. Everything of any importance was there. The only problem was how he would get there, and even then, for sure the Fire Nation would have ransacked his study when they knew how deep his control was. Arg! It was infuriating, all of that hard work, all of that effort thrown away by that damn princess!
That being said, it wasn’t just her fault; no, no, he had given himself up too easily. If he hadn’t undermined her, then there would still be an Earth Kingdom. From what he knew, she had snuck in with the aid of a group that was chasing the Avatar. If only he had paid more attention her motives, then he would have known to keep the king away. But that wasn’t his only error, if the Earth King hadn’t found out about the war, then he wouldn’t have lost his trust. That was the only reason the Fire Nation Princess Azula was able to win over the king’s favor. When he found out about the war, he wanted to do whatever it took to end it. Unfortunately, he did exactly that, but with an alternate result.
All was not lost though. This very group was proved that fact. If he wanted to be back on top, then he would have to use them. They were weak, now, but with his aid they would be the perfect pieces to win back his power.
A sharp click called the attention to one single individual, who then nodded at that young woman, Suki, who had freed him from his cell. Her voice was soft, but firm, proud, and inspiring. Obviously, she introduced herself, and then she introduced a few of the people who had snuck into the prison with her. Instinctively, Long Feng stayed quite, and waited for the right moment. The emotions had to be high; otherwise, he wouldn’t win any respect or receive any possible help. Thankfully, he’d know when to do it. He understood the human psyche, the pressure and vices that made it work the way did. He knew brainwash, mind control, suggestion and grooming. They were his most used tools with the Earth King. His most used tools with the Dai Li. The best kept secret from the world. Nobody knew of the tricks of his trade.
As was required, the young woman began by explaining what they were doing. One city and a small group of people trying to free her. It was a story that only a romantic could love, solely because of its implausibility. Although he was doubtful about what could be done with the group, Long Feng knew well that this was his only option. He didn’t have any other allies, he had lost everything in that short period, and unfortunately this was all he could cling to in his desperate bid to salvage what he could.
At an instant, he knew it was time. Like a predator, he had his chance, and he took it.
“Excuse me, but did you just say that the ultimate goal of this cell is to depose one tyrant for a despot?” With a quick glance, his emerald gaze surveyed the many faces that looked heavy in the dim light cast by the small lantern in their building. Some looked confused, others were stern in their gazes wondering who he was, and more importantly what he meant by his statement.
To clear the air, the statesman introduced himself, as other more prominent members of the group had. “I am Long Feng, former Grand Secretariat of this city. I speak from experience when call that man a despot. He was a horrible hedonist who was only interested in enjoying the rewards which his title granted him. Think about it, did Ba Sing Se do anything when Omashu fell? Did Ba Sing Se do anything to answer the calls from the people outside her walls? No, she didn’t because one man decided that his city would never fall. ‘History always repeats itself,’ those were the words that he paraded around whenever a general refused to make light of the dire predicament at hand. ‘Just as Chin turned heels, so to will the Fire Lord,’ he always added. He was so sure of the city’s might, and in a way he was right, the Fire Nation failed to break through her walls. But believe me; our former Earth King gave our city to the Fire Nation.
“Some of you may not buy into that story,” he began, but before he continued he took another quick glance around. Many eyes were wide open, many hearts and minds were desperately looking for guidance, and he had many of them hooked.
All too easy.
“But I was there, when it happened. The Fire Lord’s daughter snuck into the city, by aid of some traitors. She was quickly apprehended, but then sold her story that she was here to make peace. The King, whose coffers ran dry from an ever-diminishing kingdom, decided to hear her out. Now, I told the king that we were in the perfect position to use the girl to keep the Fire Nation military from ever attacking us again. He did not even care to listen, I therefore continued to press the issue to him, but he consistently insisted that his way was the right way; after all he had the Mandate of Heaven to assure us of his infallibility. Over time, the princess and our king began to write up a treaty for peace. I warned him that he would be betrayed, and the Fire Nation princess overheard my allegations. Cleverly, she began to press my disloyalty to that man with sufficient regard. In time, he believed her, and when I again brought back the allegations of falsehood against her name; he had had enough, and had me put in that prison. Ba Sing Se fell because one man ruled her. The Earth Kingdom fell because one man ruled her.”
The issue had to be pressed into their minds. They needed to come up with the reason themselves, otherwise they wouldn’t believe it. As he gauged their faces, he noted a few whose eyes no longer lingered on his words, but in their own thoughts. Those few had already come up with a solution. For those who hadn’t even envisioned a world without a king, he would have to implant that idea into them.
“I suggest that we instead take back Ba Sing Se in our names; that we do, what we do here, but on a grandeur scale. Such a table for discussion would prevent a tyrant from ever ruling unjustly, a despot from ever passing biased decrees, and it would give the citizen control over his nation. I say to you all that we fight not for a monarchy, but for our sovereignty, a democracy.”
"So, what say you all to my suggestion?"