Attempt to cast a minor illusion over myself, taping into the aether for power; the desired form is that of an human.
[1] You fail to use the power to cast the illusion - however, you do not fail to take power from the aether. For a second, Polca seems to become extremelly silencious - despite the fires and the riots, not a sound is heard for that single second. Immediatly afterwards, a bright explosion tears your manor into pieces [3] and sends you flying until you collide with a nearby building. [4][5] While the shockwave destroyed your manor and a few surrounding buildings, it didn't wound you, and thanks to some miracle you were not hurt when you landed.
The shockwave makes the peasantry panic and more people join the mob - +1 to rolls for the number of riotersWilliam and his full regiment of Crimson Guards begin to walk into the center of the city. Every group of rioters is given one chance to disperse back into their homes or they'll be killed. Sparing any children or other innocents.
The mob starts marching towards' the Crimson Guards.
Laythe and her guard start marching in order to deal with the looters (Getting the city guard to help).
[4] Somehow, Laythe manages to get her knights together. The regiment heads towards the port to get the looters.[4] They are not attacked by any mob along the way, [3] but once they reach the port they realize that they are too late to stop the raiding. [6] They decide to join their forces with William's, and they meet the Crimson guard in the main street. However, they were followed by the mob in the port - the peasants knew that the place where the soldiers would be was where there would be the most action and the most potential loot. [The main crowd of citizens becomes stronger - +1 to rolls for their numbers].
William and his forces, now three hundred men strong, met the main mob in the main street. [5+2 / 3 = 2.3, rounded up = 3] They are about three regiment strong, but without special training or equipment they are not too threatening.
[5] The mob stops in front of William's little army, unsure of what to do. The peasants greatly outnumber the city's forces, but they are not soldiers. Finally, a man steps forward - the preacher who started the first riot.
"Stand aside, soldiers of Polca! William and his dogs from hell are the only ones who deserve to die for the crimes of this new Lord! Get out of the way of the righteous, and you will not be harmed by the fury of the Bright One's followers!"[2] The old Captain of the Guards might have decided to leave William to his faith, but now the guardsmen have no other commanding officer than the new lord. Their morale takes a bad hit - they are all taloists - [-1 strength to the city watch] but they hold the line, nervously.
Both forces are facing eachother, unsure of what to do.